Nothing fancy in Nincada's spread. It leans mixed with Defense out front. And you'll get 1 Defense EV per KO for it. Follows a standard growth curve.
It grows underground, sensing its surroundings using antennae instead of its virtually blind eyes.
It grows underground, sensing its surroundings using antennae instead of its virtually blind eyes.
Type-wise, Nincada takes extra damage from Fire, Water, Ice, and Flying. Electric moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. Nincada's physical bulk (base 90 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Water, Ice, Flying |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Poison, Ground |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
Volcarona threatens a KO with Heat Wave (185-218%). Noivern's Draco Meteor also KOs at 107-126%.
 Dondozo Water | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Dondozo builds →
| ||
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemGrassyseed NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Volcarona builds →Heat Wave 2x185-218%KO | ||
 Noivern Dragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityInfiltrator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Noivern builds →Draco Meteor107-126%KO U Turn7-8% | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Weavile builds →Knock Off20-24% Ice Shard 2x25-29% | ||
 Charizard Fire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charizard builds →Scorching Sands21-24% Flamethrower 2x161-189%KO Hurricane 2x196-231%KO Air Slash 2x134-158%KO | ||
Nincada can evolve into Ninjask and Shedinja. Nincada sits before the split, so check the evolution methods below to pick your path. Evolving adds up to 190 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Nincada easily with 91 breeding partners from the Bug egg group.
Nincada's built to absorb hits. Impish nature leans into physical wall duty, Eviolite gives it a bulk boost that only works before full evolution, and the moveset handles sustain. Compoundeyes and max HP and Defense EVs tie the defensive profile together.
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Special Attacker Moveset
- Sleep Talk
- Hone Claws
- Confide
- Unknown
Recommended Teammates
Special Attacker Moveset
- Sleep Talk
- Hone Claws
- Confide
- Unknown
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Most of Nincada's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Bug Buzz and Dig, but Normal and Grass and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
The egg pool carries weight here. Bug Bite and Final Gambit aren't available any other way for Nincada, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Bug Buzz and Dig for solid options.
The egg pool carries weight here. Bug Bite and Bug Buzz aren't available any other way for Nincada, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Bug Buzz and Dig for solid options.
The egg pool carries weight here. Bug Bite and Bug Buzz aren't available any other way for Nincada, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Bug Buzz and Dig for solid options.
A solid number of locations for Nincada with decent spawn rates across early-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations to Catch Nincada in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
10 walking and special encounters at Lv. 10-63 for Nincada across Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. A few locations are version-exclusive, so your copy of the game affects what's available.
high spawn rates in early-game routes across 8 locations. Nincada's one of the easier catches on the list. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Best Locations to Catch Nincada in Sword & Shield
You can catch Nincada through 8 walking encounters from Lv. 7-18, but availability differs between Shield and Sword. Some spots are exclusive to one version.
Nincada can't be caught in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Bring it over from Ruby, Emerald, or Brilliant Diamond instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
For a casual playthrough, Nincada works as a placeholder. Bug/Ground coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Ninjask. That's where the stats start mattering.
Nincada is catchable across 14 games. Debuted in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl and most recently available in Ruby & Sapphire and FireRed & LeafGreen.
Debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Nincada appears in 14 games across 8 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through catching or hatching as a base form.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves