Is Nidorina Good in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Playthrough?
Use a Moon Stone as soon as possible. Nidoqueen is the payoff.
Roark's Pokemon outpace and outclass Nidoran♀ (female) here.
Nidorina has the type edge here and should clean up Gardenia's team.
Nidoqueen has the type edge here and should clean up Maylene's team.
Nidoqueen trades roughly evenly with Crasher Wake's team.
Nidoqueen trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.
Nidoqueen has the type edge here and should clean up Byron's team.
Nidoqueen has the type edge here and should clean up Candice's team.
Nidoqueen has the type edge here and should clean up Volkner's team.
Nidoqueen trades roughly evenly with Aaron's team.
Nidoqueen trades roughly evenly with Bertha's team.
Nidoqueen has the type edge here and should clean up Flint's team.
Nidoqueen trades roughly evenly with Lucian's team.
Nidoqueen trades roughly evenly with Cynthia's team.
Catch Nidoran F on Route 201 (Poké Radar, Lv 3, common).
Your Nidoran♀ (female) should hit Level 16 before you reach Gardenia, at typical leveling pace.
You can usually obtain this item before you reach Maylene.
How to Get Nidorina in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Nidorina appears at decent spawn rates across 20 spots in mid-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Where To Catch Nidorina in BDSP
Nidoran♀ (female) is your first catch on the way to Nidorina. You'll find walking and special encounters from Lv. 2-63 across 38 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch Nidoran♀ (female)Route 201Lv.3Using PokeRadarBrilliant DiamondRate 20%Route 201Lv.2Using PokeRadarShining PearlRate 2%Bogsunk CavernLv.58-63GrassPost-gameDazzling CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameGrassland CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameRiverbank CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameStargleam CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameStill-Water CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameSunlit CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameSwampy CaveLv.58-63GrassPost-game
Step 2Nidorina ✓Valor LakefrontLv.21-22Using PokeRadarBrilliant DiamondRate 20%Route 221Lv.29Using PokeRadarBrilliant DiamondRate 20%Valor LakefrontLv.22Using PokeRadarShining PearlRate 2%Route 221Lv.30Using PokeRadarShining PearlRate 2%Bogsunk CavernLv.58-63GrassPost-gameDazzling CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameGrassland CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameRiverbank CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameStargleam CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameStill-Water CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameSunlit CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameSwampy CaveLv.58-63GrassPost-gameor evolve from Nidoran♀ (female) (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into Nidoqueen
Nidorina Weakness
Type-wise, Nidorina takes extra damage from Ground and Psychic. It resists 5 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, Fairy |
What is Nidorina Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Nidorina
 Marowak Ground | C | |
 Kadabra Psychic | B | |
 Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
 Bronzor SteelPsychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nidorina View Bronzor builds →Dream Eater 2x49-59% Earthquake 2x30-35% | ||
 Girafarig NormalPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nidorina View Girafarig builds →Dream Eater 2x118-138%KO Earthquake 2x63-75% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
 Bronzong SteelPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nidorina View Bronzong builds →Dream Eater 2x105-123%KO Earthquake 2x66-79% | ||
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
Girafarig NormalPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nidorina View Girafarig builds →Dream Eater 2x114-135%KO Earthquake 2x60-71% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Bronzong SteelPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nidorina View Bronzong builds →Dream Eater 2x102-120%KO Earthquake 2x64-77% | ||
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
Girafarig NormalPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nidorina View Girafarig builds →Dream Eater 2x115-136%KO Earthquake 2x59-70% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Nidorina View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x172-203%KO | ||
Bronzong SteelPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nidorina View Bronzong builds →Future Sight 2x122-144%KO Earthquake 2x65-77% | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
 Steelix SteelGround | B | |
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Garchomp can KO Nidorina with Earthquake (89-105%). Alakazam threatens a KO with Psychic (123-145%).
Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Nidorina View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x89-105%KO | ||
 Alakazam Psychic | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Nidorina View Alakazam builds →Shadow Ball36-43% Psychic 2x123-145%KO Focus Blast27-32% Energy Ball20-24% | ||
Nidorina Evolutions
This Poison-type links Nidoran♀ (female) to Nidoqueen. Nidorina has 365 stats but sits in the Undiscovered egg group. HP has grown the most so far (+15), but there's still another 140 stats to gain in the final evolution. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
BDSP Nidorina Best Moveset
Middle evolution at 62/67/55/55 with the same hidden AbilityHustle that doesn't help competitively. The moveset has some Poison presence but nothing to justify a slot. One evolution from Nidoqueen's B-tier AbilitySheer Force offense.
Best Build
Nidorina best EVs are HP and Sp. Atk
Special Tank Moveset
- Sludge Bomb
- Toxic Spikes
- Poison Jab
- Disable
Moves List
Stall teams hate this. Nidorina can spread damage across 10 types, with Normal and Fighting punishing common defensive pivots. STAB from Sludge Bomb and Poison Jab keeps the pressure honest on 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
When it senses danger, it raises all the barbs on its body. These barbs grow more slowly than Nidorino’s.
Nidorina Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Guide
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Nidorina isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Nidoqueen to unlock its full potential. At 365 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
Poison Point is the go-to ability for Nidorina. It has a 30% chance of poisoning attacking Pokémon on contact. Its hidden ability Hustle can work in specific setups. Rivalry is the other option. Pick based on what your team needs.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Nidorina fills the balanced role. It's a mixed attacker with base 62 Attack and 55 Sp. Atk. At base 56 Speed, it won't be moving first often.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Nidorina does the job early-game if you need a Poison type on your team. Evolve it into Nidoqueen before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
Game Availability
Nidorina 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