Stats & Training
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 can sometimes live underground for more than 10 years. It absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees.
It can sometimes live underground for more than 10 years. It absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees.
Nincada Weakness
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 |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Scyther Bug | C | |
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
 Golbat Poison | D | |
 Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Chatot builds →Chatter 2x153-181%KO Peck 2x34-41% | ||
 Beautifly Bug | D | |
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x77-91% Aerial Ace 2x77-91% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Butterfree builds →Aerial Ace 2x43-52% Gust 2x91-109%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Golbat builds →Fly 2x91-109%KO Wing Attack 2x62-74% Air Cutter 2x106-126%KO Aerial Ace 2x62-74% | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Chatot builds →Fly 2x77-91% Chatter 2x151-178%KO Aerial Ace 2x51-61% Pluck 2x51-61% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 2x55-65% Gust 2x99-117%KO | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x79-94% Aerial Ace 2x79-94% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Butterfree builds →Aerial Ace 2x43-51% Gust 2x95-113%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Golbat builds →Fly 2x92-109%KO Wing Attack 2x62-74% Air Cutter 2x112-132%KO Aerial Ace 2x62-74% | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Chatot builds →Fly 2x79-94% Chatter 2x158-187%KO Aerial Ace 2x56-66% Pluck 2x56-66% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 2x56-66% Gust 2x105-125%KO | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x77-92% Aerial Ace 2x77-92% | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x97-116%KO Fly 2x64-76% Air Slash 2x165-196%KO Aerial Ace 2x44-52% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Butterfree builds →Aerial Ace 2x40-48% Gust 2x95-112%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Golbat builds →Fly 2x88-104%KO Wing Attack 2x60-72% Air Cutter 2x108-128%KO Aerial Ace 2x60-72% | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Chatot builds →Fly 2x75-88% Chatter 2x152-180%KO Aerial Ace 2x51-60% Pluck 2x51-60% | ||
 Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x91-107%KO Air Slash 2x99-117%KO Air Cutter 2x78-93% Pluck 2x61-72% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x78-93% Aerial Ace 2x78-93% | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x99-117%KO Fly 2x64-76% Air Slash 2x169-200%KO Aerial Ace 2x44-52% | ||
 Gligar Ground | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Golbat builds →Fly 2x91-107%KO Wing Attack 2x61-72% Air Cutter 2x110-131%KO Aerial Ace 2x61-72% | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Gyarados can KO Nincada with Waterfall (152-179%). Empoleon threatens a KO with Hydro Pump (428-504%). Gliscor deals 49-58% with Ice Fang.
 Gyarados Water | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Gyarados builds →Waterfall 2x152-179%KO Earthquake31-37% Ice Fang 2x82-97% | ||
 Empoleon WaterSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemFocus Sash NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Empoleon builds →Ice Beam 2x233-275%KO Hydro Pump 2x428-504%KO Aqua Jet 2x39-46% | ||
 Gliscor Ground | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityHypercutter ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Gliscor builds →Earthquake28-33% Ice Fang 2x49-58% | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Weavile builds →Ice Shard 2x67-80% Pursuit33-40% | ||
 Charizard Fire | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charizard builds →Air Slash 2x343-403%KO Flamethrower 2x410-482%KO | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution
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 48 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Bug Bite, Bug Buzz, Endure and 4 more to offspring.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Nincada Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
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 Leech Life for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
HeartGold & SoulSilver Nincada Locations
2 encounter spots for Nincada at decent spawn rates starting from mid-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Best Locations to Catch Nincada in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Nincada Guide
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 in HeartGold & SoulSilver. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 13 other games across the series.
Game Availability
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