Is Nidorino Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?
Contact still triggers poison through AbilityPoison Point during Nidorino's mid-stage. Moon Stone evolves to Nidoking whenever you want. No level gate. The question isn't whether to evolve, but when.
Nidoran♂ (male) trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.
Nidorino trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.
Nidorino trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.
Nidoking has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.
Nidoking has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Nidoking trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Nidoking resists most of Blaine's coverage and hits back hard.
Nidoking has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.
Nidoking has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.
Nidoking has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Nidoking trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.
Nidoking trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.
Nidoking has the type edge here and should clean up Terry's team.
Nidoran M can be received through an in-game trade on Route 3.
- After Lt. Surge
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- After Erika
- TM36PoisonSludge Bomb135100%10
- TM14IceBlizzard11070%5
- TM13IceIce Beam90100%10
- TM24ElectricThunderbolt90100%15
- HM04NormalStrength80100%15
- After Giovanni
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Your Nidoran♂ (male) should hit Level 16 before you reach Misty, at typical leveling pace.
- After Lt. Surge
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- After Erika
- TM36PoisonSludge Bomb135100%10
- TM14IceBlizzard11070%5
- TM13IceIce Beam90100%10
- TM24ElectricThunderbolt90100%15
- HM04NormalStrength80100%15
- After Giovanni
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
You can pick up the Moon Stone in Mt. Moon. 3 other locations are also available.
- STARTING (Lv 24)
- LV 24NormalThrash120100%10
- After Lt. Surge
- TM28GroundDig120100%10
- After Erika
- TM36PoisonSludge Bomb135100%10
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- LV 43BugMegahorn12085%10
- After Koga
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- After Giovanni
- TM26GroundEarthquake150100%10
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
How to Get Nidorino in FireRed & LeafGreen
Every one of Nidorino's seven encounters is rare or uncommon. Both versions, through Safari Zone walking or trading a Nidorina on Route 11.
2 locations to catch Nidorino4 locations to catch Nidoran♂ (male)
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5Catch Nidoran♂ (male) at any of the 4 locations below, then level it up to 16 — it evolves into Nidorino.
Badge 1
Badge 2 Badge 3 Badge 4 Badge 5Where To Catch Nidorino in FRLG
Nidoran♂ (male) is your first catch on the way to Nidorino. You'll find walking and trade encounters from Lv. 6-33 across 17 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch Nidoran♂ (male)Route 3Lv.6-7GrassFireRedRate 14%Route 3Lv.6GrassLeafGreenRate 1%Route 5Lv.7In-game tradeLeafGreenLimitedTrade for (give Nidoran♀)Underground Path 5-6Lv.7In-game tradeLeafGreenLimitedTrade for (give Nidoran♀)
Step 2Nidorino ✓Safari Zone - NorthLv.30FloorFireRedRate 10%Safari Zone - WestLv.30FloorFireRedRate 10%Safari Zone - NorthLv.30FloorLeafGreenRate 5%Route 11Lv.16In-game tradeLeafGreenLimitedTrade for (give Nidorina)or evolve from Nidoran♂ (male) (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into NidokingBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Four Island Pokemon Day Care to receive a Nidoking egg. Requires the Rainbow Pass to access Four Island.
Nidorino Weakness
Ground and Psychic moves hit Nidorino for super-effective damage. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Ground, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Poison, Bug |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Nidorino Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Nidorino
 Deoxys Psychic | A | |
Obtain MethodBirth Island Interact Encounter Available Move Moves
Damage vs Nidorino View Deoxys builds →Psycho Boost 2x264-311%KO | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
 Mewtwo Psychic | S | |
Obtain MethodCerulean Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nidorino View Mewtwo builds →Psychic 2x174-205%KO Earthquake 2x94-110%KO | ||
 Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Nidorino View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x187-220%KO | ||
 Marowak Ground | C | |
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Alakazam can KO Nidorino with Psychic (149-176%).
 Alakazam Psychic | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySynchronize ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Nidorino View Alakazam builds →Psychic 2x149-176%KO | ||
Nidorino Evolutions
Nidorino is partway through a three-stage line between Nidoran♂ (male) and Nidoking. The chain involves an evolution item, so it's not a straightforward grind. So far, Defense got the biggest boost (+17 from Nidoran M). The final form adds another 140 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Nidorino to get Nidoran M eggs using 102 partners from the Ground and Monster egg groups. Notable egg moves include Amnesia, Beat Up, Confusion and 4 more.
FRLG Nidorino Best Moveset
Middle stage heading toward Nidoking's Poison/Ground power. AbilityPoison Point poisons on contact. Stats trail competitive thresholds. One evolution from the moveset depth that earns a top-tier spot.
Best Build
Nidorino best EVs are Defense and HP
Wall Moveset
- Sludge Bomb
- Double Edge
- Poison Sting
- Toxic
Moves List
Coverage runs deep. Nidorino can hit 10 types beyond STAB, including Flying and Fighting. The offense anchors on Sludge Bomb and Poison Sting while TMs handle everything else.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
It is easily angered. By swinging its well-developed horn wildly, it can even punch through diamond.
An aggressive POKéMON that is quick to attack. The horn on its head secretes a powerful venom.
Nidorino FireRed & LeafGreen Guide
- Should I evolve Nidorino early or late?
Wait until Nidorino reaches Lv. 22 before using the Moon Stone. Evolving earlier permanently locks Nidorino out of Horn Attack, a move Nidoking cannot relearn.
- Lv. 22learns Horn Attack
- Lv. 22+Use the Moon Stone
- Where in the FireRed & LeafGreen Safari Zone can I find Nidorino?
See the Locations section above for where to find Nidorino in FireRed & LeafGreen.
Safari rules: You can only use Safari Balls. No battling. Two tactical items shift the catch/flee trade-off:
Action Catch chance per ball Flee rate per turn Default 22% 25% Bait 10% 5% Rock 45% 50% Effects last 2-6 random turns; throwing one cancels the other. Catch chance assumes full HP and a Safari Ball (the only ball allowed).
- Where do I get the Moon Stone in FireRed & LeafGreen?
Use a Moon Stone to evolve Nidorino into Nidoking.
Moon Stone
Evolves Nidorino into Nidoking
Trade a Nidorina to the man on Route 11. This is an NPC trade, so the Nidorino you receive is yours immediately, no transfer cable needed.
Game Availability
Nidorino has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 19 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves