Is Nincada Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?
Bug/Ground from Hoenn, trade-only. AbilityCompound Eyes boosts accuracy. Evolution at 20 produces both Ninjask and Shedinja simultaneously. Two Pokemon from one evolution. Unique mechanic.
Nincada trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.
Misty's team hits Nincada's weaknesses hard.
Nincada trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.
Erika's typing presses Nincada's defenses.
Koga's typing presses Nincada's defenses.
Nincada trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Nincada trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.
Nincada has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.
Nincada trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.
Nincada trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.
Agatha's team hits Nincada's weaknesses hard.
Lance's team hits Nincada's weaknesses hard.
Terry'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. On GBA, cross-region trading unlocks post-game after Celio's Sevii Islands Ruby & Sapphire quest. The Switch re-release supports only one-way transfers out to Pokemon HOME.
- STARTING (Lv 5)
- LV 5BugLeech Life120100%10
- After Erika
- TM22GrassSolar Beam120100%10
- TM30GhostShadow Ball80100%15
- TM19GrassGiga Drain75100%10
- TM06PoisonToxic—90%10
- LV 45GroundDig120100%10
- After Giovanni
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- Post-Game
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Ninjask cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. On GBA, cross-region trading unlocks post-game after Celio's Sevii Islands Ruby & Sapphire quest. The Switch re-release supports only one-way transfers out to Pokemon HOME.
- STARTING (Lv 1)
- LV 1BugLeech Life120100%10
- After Lt. Surge
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- After Erika
- TM40FlyingAerial Ace90100%20
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- TM22GrassSolar Beam120100%10
- TM30GhostShadow Ball80100%15
- TM19GrassGiga Drain75100%10
- After Giovanni
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- Post-Game
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Shedinja cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. On GBA, cross-region trading unlocks post-game after Celio's Sevii Islands Ruby & Sapphire quest. The Switch re-release supports only one-way transfers out to Pokemon HOME.
- LV 5BugLeech Life120100%10
- After Lt. Surge
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- After Erika
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- TM22GrassSolar Beam120100%10
- TM06PoisonToxic—90%10
- LV 38GhostShadow Ball120100%15
- After Sabrina
- TUTORPsychicDream Eater100100%15
- After Giovanni
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- Post-Game
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
How to Get Nincada in FireRed & LeafGreen
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 |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Nincada Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Nincada
 Charmander Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
 Pidgey Normal | D | |
 Squirtle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
 Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
 Zubat Poison | D | |
 Spearow Normal | C | |
 Charmeleon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charmeleon builds →Ember 2x83-98% Aerial Ace 2x38-45% | ||
Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Zubat Poison | D | |
Spearow Normal | C | |
Charmeleon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charmeleon builds →Ember 2x83-98% Aerial Ace 2x38-45% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Vaporeon builds →Waterfall 2x208-245%KO Ice Beam 2x165-194%KO | ||
 Golbat Poison | C | |
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Gyarados builds →Waterfall 2x132-157%KO Ice Beam 2x105-123%KO Flamethrower 2x105-123%KO | ||
Charmeleon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charmeleon builds →Flamethrower 2x191-226%KO Aerial Ace 2x35-43% | ||
 Fearow Normal | C | |
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x251-296%KO Ice Beam 2x167-197%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Gyarados builds →Surf 2x156-185%KO Ice Beam 2x104-123%KO Flamethrower 2x104-123%KO | ||
 Dodrio Normal | B | |
Fearow Normal | C | |
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x251-296%KO Ice Beam 2x167-197%KO | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Lapras builds →Surf 2x205-242%KO Ice Beam 2x205-242%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Gyarados builds →Surf 2x156-185%KO Ice Beam 2x104-123%KO Flamethrower 2x104-123%KO | ||
Dodrio Normal | B | |
 Charizard Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charizard builds →Overheat 2x374-441%KO Fly 2x71-84% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x255-300%KO Ice Beam 2x170-200%KO | ||
Dodrio Normal | B | |
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Lapras builds →Surf 2x209-246%KO Ice Beam 2x209-246%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
 Moltres Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodMt Ember Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Moltres builds →Overheat 2x433-509%KO Fly 2x84-99% | ||
Charizard Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charizard builds →Overheat 2x385-453%KO Fly 2x75-88% | ||
 Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Articuno builds →Ice Beam 2x235-277%KO Fly 2x75-88% Water Pulse 2x99-117%KO | ||
 Flareon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Gyarados builds →Hydro Pump 2x207-243%KO Fire Blast 2x138-162%KO Ice Beam 2x108-128%KO | ||
 Ho-oh Fire | S | |
Obtain MethodNavel Rock Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Ho-oh builds →Overheat 2x394-463%KO Fly 2x103-122%KO | ||
Moltres Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodMt Ember Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Moltres builds →Overheat 2x439-517%KO Fly 2x82-97% | ||
Charizard Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charizard builds →Overheat 2x392-461%KO Fly 2x72-85% | ||
 Suicune Water | A | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Suicune builds →Surf 2x226-267%KO Ice Beam 2x151-178%KO Gust 2x26-30% | ||
 Entei Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter | ||
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Charizard can KO Nincada with Fire Blast (226-266%).
Charizard Fire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemLeftovers NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charizard builds →Fire Blast 2x226-266%KO | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Gyarados builds →Earthquake20-24% | ||
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
FRLG Nincada Best Moveset
Bug/Ground with AbilityCompound Eyes boosting accuracy and 90 Defense. Evolves into both Ninjask (speed) and Shedinja (1 HP immunity) simultaneously.
Best Build
Nincada best EVs are Defense and Sp. Def
Wall Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power Ground
- Silver Wind
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
The egg pool carries weight here. Endure and Feint Attack aren't available any other way for Nincada, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Leech Life 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
Because it lived almost entirely underground, it is nearly blind. It uses its antennae instead.
Nincada FireRed & LeafGreen Guide
No. Nincada isn't catchable in FireRed & LeafGreen. Catch one in Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald, then trade it over.
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