What does Nincada evolve into?

Nincada has 2 evolution paths: Ninjask at level 20 and Shedinja at level 20. Different conditions, different results.

At what level does Nincada evolve?

Nincada has 2 evolution paths: Ninjask at level 20 and Shedinja at level 20. Different method for each one.

Should I use Nincada?

In X & Y, 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.

Where can you catch Nincada?

Nincada is catchable in X & Y. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 13 other games across the series.

Nincada - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Utility

Balanced

DTier

40Speed · Very Slow

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.

Base Stats

Below

HP31

Attack45

Defense90

Sp. Atk30

Sp. Def30

Speed40

Total266

Details

Catch Rate

Guaranteed255 / 255

Growth Rate

Erratic600,000 XP

Height0.5 m

Weight5.5 kg

Base XP53

Abilities

Compound Eyes

Increases moves' accuracy to 1.3×.

Run AwayHA

Ensures success fleeing from wild battles.

EV Yield

HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe

Defense training source

Pokedex Entries

Because it lived almost entirely underground, it is nearly blind. It uses its antennae instead.

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.

Nincada Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Fire, Water, Ice, Flying
0.5x (Resist)	Fighting, Poison, Ground
0x (Immune)	Electric

Type ChartAvg

4Weak

3Resist

1Immune

Score-2

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Fire Water Ice Flying

½xResist

Fighting Poison Ground

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Electric

STAB (8)

Grass Psychic Dark Fire Electric Poison Rock Steel

How to Beat Nincada in X & Y (Best Counters)

Archen RockFlying	C
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves Wing AttackLv. 1 PluckLv. 15 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Nincada Wing Attack 2x 83-100%KO Pluck 2x 83-100%KO Aerial Ace 2x 83-100%KO View Archen builds →
Drifloon GhostFlying	D
Available Move Moves GustLv. 8 Damage vs Nincada Gust 2x 73-88% View Drifloon builds →
Woobat PsychicFlying	D
Available Moves Moves Aerial AceTM40 GustLv. 8 Damage vs Nincada Aerial Ace 2x 46-56% Gust 2x 69-81% View Woobat builds →
Doduo NormalFlying	D
Available Moves Moves Aerial AceTM40 PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Nincada Aerial Ace 2x 69-81% Peck 2x 42-50% View Doduo builds →
Ducklett WaterFlying	D
Available Moves Moves Bubble BeamLv. 19 Wing AttackLv. 9 Water PulseLv. 13 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Nincada Bubble Beam 2x 90-106%KO Wing Attack 2x 46-56% Water Pulse 2x 83-100%KO Aerial Ace 2x 46-56% View Ducklett builds →

X & Y 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

2 Evolutions

#290Nincada

#291NinjaskLevel 20

#292ShedinjaLevel 20

Stat Comparison 3 Stages

Nincada

BugGround

Ninjask

BugFlying

Shedinja

BugGhost

61+30

1-30

ATK

90+45

DEF

45-45

SP.ATK

50+20

SP.DEF

50+20

SPE

160+120

BST

266D-Tier

456C-Tier+190

236C-Tier-30

ROLE

Balanced

Pivot

Trick Room

TYPE

Utility

Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Nincada easily with 68 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Bug Bite, Bug Buzz, Endure and 5 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

Bug

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

15 cycles·3,855 steps

Quick~4 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

8moves

Breed With (best first)

X & Y Nincada Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 6.

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

Lv 1

Harden

———30Normal

Lv 1

Scratch

—4010035Normal

Lv 5

Leech Life

D2010010Bug

Lv 9

Sand Attack

——10015Ground

Lv 14

Fury Swipes

—188015Normal

Lv 19

Mind Reader

———5Normal

Lv 25

False Swipe

—4010040Normal

Lv 31

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

Lv 38

Metal Claw

—509535Steel

Lv 45

Dig

D8010010Ground

TM Moves

TM40

Aerial Ace

D60—20Flying

TM100

Confide

———20Normal

HM01

Cut

D509530Normal

TM28

Dig

D8010010Ground

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM42

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM54

False Swipe

—4010040Normal

TM70

Flash

D—10020Normal

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM01

Hone Claws

C——15Dark

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM48

Round

D6010015Normal

TM37

Sandstorm

D——10Rock

TM30

Shadow Ball

D8010015Ghost

TM88

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM22

Solar Beam

D12010010Grass

TM76

Struggle Bug

D5010020Bug

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM06

Toxic

C—9010Poison

TM81

X-Scissor

D8010015Bug

Egg Moves

Egg

Bug Bite

D6010020Bug

Egg

Bug Buzz

D9010010Bug

Egg

Endure+4

D——10Normal

Egg

Feint Attack

—60—20Dark

Egg

Final Gambit

D—1005Fighting

Egg

Gust

—4010035Flying

Egg

Night Slash

D7010015Dark

Egg

Silver Wind

D601005Bug

Tutor Moves

Nincada can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 3

Double-Edge

D12010015Normal

Gen 4

Fury Cutter

D409520Bug

Gen 3

Mimic

———10Normal

Gen 4

Natural Gift

D—10015Normal

Gen 4

String Shot

——9540Bug

X & Y Nincada Locations

Nincada starts showing up in early-game routes at decent spawn rates across 2 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.

Best Locations to Catch Nincada in X & Y

Route 6

YGrass Lv.12 Route

UncommonEarly

Tall grass only

Route 6

XGrass Lv.12 Route

UncommonEarly

Tall grass only

Nincada Guide

Nincada has 2 evolution paths: Ninjask at level 20 and Shedinja at level 20. Different conditions, different results.
Nincada has 2 evolution paths: Ninjask at level 20 and Shedinja at level 20. Different method for each one.
In X & Y, 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 X & Y. 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

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Combee BugFlying	D
Available Move Moves GustLv. 1 Damage vs Nincada Gust 2x 60-72% View Combee builds →
Fennekin Fire	D
Obtain MethodAquacorde Town Gift Available Move Moves EmberLv. 5 Damage vs Nincada Ember 2x 68-84% View Fennekin builds →
Fletchling NormalFlying	D
Upcoming Move Moves PeckLv. 10 Learns Peck at Level 10 View Fletchling builds →
Pidgey NormalFlying	D
Upcoming Move Moves GustLv. 9 Learns Gust at Level 9 View Pidgey builds →
Froakie Water	D
Obtain MethodAquacorde Town Gift Available Move Moves BubbleLv. 5 Damage vs Nincada Bubble 2x 68-84% View Froakie builds →

Hawlucha FightingFlying	C
Available Moves Moves BounceLv. 32 Wing AttackLv. 8 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Nincada Bounce 2x 93-110%KO Wing Attack 2x 68-80% Aerial Ace 2x 68-80% View Hawlucha builds →
Sigilyph PsychicFlying	C
Available Moves Moves Air CutterLv. 21 Aerial AceTM40 GustLv. 1 Damage vs Nincada Air Cutter 2x 146-173%KO Aerial Ace 2x 49-59% Gust 2x 100-118%KO View Sigilyph builds →
Emolga ElectricFlying	C
Available Moves Moves Aerial AceTM40 AcrobaticsLv. 30 Damage vs Nincada Aerial Ace 2x 56-68% Acrobatics 2x 54-63% View Emolga builds →
Archen RockFlying	C
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves Wing AttackLv. 1 PluckLv. 15 Aerial AceTM40 AcrobaticsLv. 28 Damage vs Nincada Wing Attack 2x 79-93% Pluck 2x 79-93% Aerial Ace 2x 79-93% Acrobatics 2x 72-85% View Archen builds →
Yanma BugFlying	C
TM Move Moves Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Nincada Aerial Ace 2x 54-63% View Yanma builds →

Aerodactyl RockFlying	C
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 Fire FangLv. 1 Ice FangLv. 1 Wing AttackLv. 1 Damage vs Nincada Fly 2x 107-127%KO Fire Fang 2x 52-62% Ice Fang 2x 52-62% Wing Attack 2x 75-89% View Aerodactyl builds →
Hawlucha FightingFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 BounceLv. 32 Wing AttackLv. 8 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Nincada Fly 2x 96-114%KO Bounce 2x 93-110%KO Wing Attack 2x 68-80% Aerial Ace 2x 68-80% View Hawlucha builds →
Sigilyph PsychicFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 Air CutterLv. 21 Aerial AceTM40 GustLv. 1 Damage vs Nincada Fly 2x 72-85% Air Cutter 2x 146-173%KO Aerial Ace 2x 49-59% Gust 2x 100-118%KO View Sigilyph builds →
Emolga ElectricFlying	C
Available Moves Moves Aerial AceTM40 AcrobaticsTM62 Damage vs Nincada Aerial Ace 2x 56-68% Acrobatics 2x 54-63% View Emolga builds →
Chatot NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 ChatterLv. 21 Aerial AceTM40 PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Nincada Fly 2x 75-89% Chatter 2x 146-173%KO Aerial Ace 2x 54-63% Peck 2x 31-38% View Chatot builds →

Aerodactyl RockFlying	C
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 Fire FangLv. 1 Ice FangLv. 1 Wing AttackLv. 1 Damage vs Nincada Fly 2x 107-127%KO Fire Fang 2x 52-62% Ice Fang 2x 52-62% Wing Attack 2x 75-89% View Aerodactyl builds →
Hawlucha FightingFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 BounceLv. 32 Wing AttackLv. 8 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Nincada Fly 2x 96-114%KO Bounce 2x 93-110%KO Wing Attack 2x 68-80% Aerial Ace 2x 68-80% View Hawlucha builds →
Sigilyph PsychicFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 Air CutterLv. 21 Aerial AceTM40 GustLv. 1 Damage vs Nincada Fly 2x 72-85% Air Cutter 2x 146-173%KO Aerial Ace 2x 49-59% Gust 2x 100-118%KO View Sigilyph builds →
Emolga ElectricFlying	C
Available Moves Moves Aerial AceTM40 AcrobaticsTM62 Damage vs Nincada Aerial Ace 2x 56-68% Acrobatics 2x 54-63% View Emolga builds →
Chatot NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 ChatterLv. 21 Aerial AceTM40 PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Nincada Fly 2x 75-89% Chatter 2x 146-173%KO Aerial Ace 2x 54-63% Peck 2x 31-38% View Chatot builds →

Aerodactyl RockFlying	C
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 Fire FangLv. 1 Ice FangLv. 1 Wing AttackLv. 1 Damage vs Nincada Fly 2x 110-130%KO Fire Fang 2x 53-63% Ice Fang 2x 53-63% Wing Attack 2x 76-90% View Aerodactyl builds →
Hawlucha FightingFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 BounceLv. 32 Wing AttackLv. 8 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Nincada Fly 2x 98-116%KO Bounce 2x 95-112%KO Wing Attack 2x 67-80% Aerial Ace 2x 67-80% View Hawlucha builds →
Sigilyph PsychicFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 Air CutterLv. 21 Aerial AceTM40 GustLv. 1 Damage vs Nincada Fly 2x 70-83% Air Cutter 2x 157-184%KO Aerial Ace 2x 48-58% Gust 2x 107-127%KO View Sigilyph builds →
Emolga ElectricFlying	C
Available Moves Moves Aerial AceTM40 AcrobaticsTM62 Damage vs Nincada Aerial Ace 2x 58-69% Acrobatics 2x 54-65% View Emolga builds →
Chatot NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 ChatterLv. 21 Aerial AceTM40 PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Nincada Fly 2x 76-90% Chatter 2x 153-181%KO Aerial Ace 2x 52-61% Peck 2x 34-40% View Chatot builds →

Volcanion FireWater	A
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves Steam Eruption FlamethrowerSTAB Sludge Bomb Hidden Power Grass Damage vs Nincada Flamethrower 2x 357-420%KO Sludge Bomb 59-70% View Volcanion builds →
Gastrodon WaterGround	B
Recommended Build AbilityStormdrain ItemLeftovers NatureQuiet Moves Earth Power ScaldSTAB RecoverRecovery ProtectPriority Damage vs Nincada Scald 2x 231-272%KO View Gastrodon builds →
Gliscor GroundFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureCareful Moves EarthquakeSTAB RoostRecovery Swords Dance Knock Off Damage vs Nincada Earthquake 28-33% Knock Off 25-29% View Gliscor builds →
Gyarados WaterFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemSitrus Berry NatureCareful Moves WaterfallSTAB ProtectPriority TauntUtility Thunder Wave Damage vs Nincada Waterfall 2x 120-142%KO View Gyarados builds →
Charizard FireFlying	C
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemPetayaberry NatureTimid Moves Heat Wave ProtectPriority Air Slash OverheatSTAB Damage vs Nincada Heat Wave 2x 333-392%KO Air Slash 2x 264-310%KO Overheat 2x 455-535%KO View Charizard builds →