Is Nincada Good in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Playthrough?
Bug/Ground that evolves into Ninjask at level 20. If you have an empty party slot and a spare Poke Ball, Shedinja also appears. Nincada is too weak to use, but both evolutions have unique tricks.
Nincada trades roughly evenly with Ilima's team.
Hala's team hits Nincada's weaknesses hard.
Lana's team hits Nincada's weaknesses hard.
ElectricSteelReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Moon only)
BugElectricReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GrassReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GhostFairyReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou...
Kiawe's team hits Nincada's weaknesses hard.
Nincada trades roughly evenly with Mallow's team.
Nincada trades roughly evenly with Olivia's team.
Sophocles's team hits Nincada's weaknesses hard.
Acerola's typing presses Nincada's defenses.
Nanu's typing presses Nincada's defenses.
Mina's Pokemon outpace and outclass Nincada here.
Nincada trades roughly evenly with Hapu's team.
Nincada trades roughly evenly with Molayne's team.
Nincada trades roughly evenly with Olivia's team.
Acerola's team hits Nincada's weaknesses hard.
Kahili's Pokemon outpace and outclass Nincada here.
Kukui's team hits Nincada's weaknesses hard.
Nincada cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
Ninjask cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
Shedinja cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
How to Get Nincada in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Nincada isn't available in the wild in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Start by transferring Nincada from Ruby & Sapphire, Emerald, or Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. The evolution path from Nincada to Nincada is covered in the steps below.
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 |
What is Nincada Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Nincada
 Toucannon Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Toucannon builds →Beak Blast 2x134-159%KO Flame Charge 2x47-56% | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
 Salamence Dragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Salamence builds →Fly 2x134-159%KO Fire Fang 2x66-78% | ||
 Hawlucha Fighting | A | |
 Oricorio Fire | C | |
 Talonflame Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Talonflame builds →Flare Blitz 2x122-144%KO Fly 2x92-109%KO | ||
Toucannon Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Toucannon builds →Beak Blast 2x139-164%KO Overheat 2x177-208%KO | ||
 Houndoom DarkFire | C | |
 Salazzle PoisonFire | B | |
Obtain MethodHeahea Beach Gift | ||
 Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
 Charizard Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charizard builds →Overheat 2x344-405%KO Air Slash 2x200-236%KO | ||
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Volcarona builds →Overheat 2x412-485%KO Hurricane 2x233-274%KO | ||
Talonflame Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Talonflame builds →Flare Blitz 2x116-137%KO Fly 2x89-105%KO | ||
Toucannon Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Toucannon builds →Beak Blast 2x135-160%KO Overheat 2x169-200%KO | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Blaziken builds →Overheat 2x347-409%KO Aerial Ace 2x55-66% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | A | |
Charizard Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charizard builds →Overheat 2x346-408%KO Air Slash 2x201-237%KO | ||
 Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Volcarona builds →Overheat 2x416-489%KO Hurricane 2x235-277%KO | ||
 Flareon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | A | |
Charizard Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charizard builds →Overheat 2x359-422%KO Air Slash 2x207-244%KO | ||
 Braviary Normal | C | |
 Moltres Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodUltra Space Wilds Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Moltres builds →Overheat 2x404-476%KO Air Slash 2x234-276%KO | ||
Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Gyarados can KO Nincada with Bounce (162-191%). Kyurem threatens a KO with Ice Beam (341-401%). Charizard's Fire Blast also KOs at 499-587%.
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMoxie ItemFlyiniumz NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Gyarados builds →Waterfall 2x152-179%KO Earthquake32-37% Bounce 2x162-191%KO | ||
 Kyurem DragonIce | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Kyurem builds →Ice Beam 2x341-401%KO | ||
Charizard Fire | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charizard builds →Air Slash 2x341-401%KO Flamethrower 2x408-479%KO Fire Blast 2x499-587%KO | ||
Talonflame Fire | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityGalewings ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Talonflame builds →Flare Blitz 2x171-201%KO | ||
Nincada Evolutions
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
USUM Nincada Best Moveset
Bug/Ground at 45 Attack with AbilityCompound Eyes boosting accuracy. The moveset at pre-evolution stats has no role. Evolves into Ninjask at 160 Speed, and Shedinja splits off with AbilityWonder Guard and 1 HP.
Best Build
Nincada best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Attacker Moveset
- Sleep Talk
- Hone Claws
- Confide
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
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
Nincada Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Guide
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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.
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 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
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