Nothing fancy in Ninetales's spread. It leans mixed with Sp. Def out front. And you'll get 2 Sp. Def and Speed EVs per KO for it. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It creates drops of ice in its coat and showers them over its enemies. Anyone who angers it will be frozen stiff in an instant.
Possessing a calm demeanor, this Pokémon was revered as a deity incarnate before it was identified as a regional variant of Ninetales.
Type-wise, Ninetales takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. It resists 6 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Ninetales's special bulk (base 100 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy |
 Tapu Fini WaterFairy | A | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Hope Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Tapu Fini builds →Hydro Pump 2x82-97% Muddy Water 2x67-79% Surf 2x67-79% Waterfall 2x64-75% | ||
 Primarina WaterFairy | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Popplio (Iki Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Primarina builds →Hydro Pump 2x103-122%KO Sparkling Aria 2x86-101%KO Surf 2x86-101%KO Scald 2x76-89% | ||
 Zygarde DragonGround | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 16 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Zygarde builds →Earthquake 2x98-116%KO Stone Edge 2x65-77% Land's Wrath 2x89-105%KO Dig 2x79-93% | ||
 Nihilego RockPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Nihilego builds →Head Smash 2x89-105%KO Power Gem 2x77-91% | ||
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Wimpod (Poni Breaker Coast Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Golisopod builds →Surf 2x48-57% Liquidation 2x101-120%KO Scald 2x43-51% Waterfall 2x95-111%KO | ||
In Sun & Moon, Mamoswine threatens a KO with Earthquake (206-242%). Greninja's Hydro Pump also KOs at 160-188%.
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureSassy Moves View Ferrothorn builds →
| ||
 Mamoswine IceGround | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityThickfat ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Mamoswine builds →Earthquake 2x206-242%KO Ice Shard21-24% Knock Off45-53% | ||
 Greninja WaterDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBattlebond ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Greninja builds →Dark Pulse59-69% Ice Beam22-26% Hydro Pump 2x160-188%KO | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Pelipper builds →Hurricane56-66% Scald 2x82-96% | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Terrakion builds →Close Combat129-152%KO Stone Edge 2x215-253%KO Earthquake 2x143-169%KO | ||
Ninetales evolved from Vulpix's chain using an evolution item. It's a non-standard trigger, so check the details below. Breed this form to get Vulpix eggs (average hatch time). The evolution from Vulpix pushed Ninetales to 505 total stats. HP saw the largest single gain at +35. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Ninetales to get Vulpix eggs easily using 218 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Captivate, Disable, Extrasensory and 11 more.
the remaining moves keeps opponents guessing about Ninetales's real targets. Heatrock provides extra utility while max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs and Modest nature handle the stat profile. Drought ties it together.
Best Build
Ninetales best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Solar Beam
- Protect
- Heat Wave
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Nasty Plot
- Will O Wisp
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breeding's the move. Captivate and Disable give Ninetales options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Dark coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Overheat and Flare Blitz. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
Can't catch Ninetales directly. Start with Vulpix at solid rates from the locations below, then evolve through a special method. The 2-stage line from Vulpix to Ninetales is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Ninetales in Sun & Moon
The path to Ninetales starts with Vulpix at Lv. 28-45 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch VulpixRoute 14Grass Lv.28-31 Route10%MidTapu VillageGrass Lv.28-31 City10%MidMount Lanakila - OutsideGrass Lv.42-45 Cave30%Late
Step 2Ninetales ✓
In Sun & Moon, Ninetales looks average on paper at 505 BST. But Drought is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier pivot on our tier list. Solarbeam with Heatrock is the standard set.
Ninetales gets Drought and Flash Fire. But Drought is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Ninetales is a special attacker with base 81 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. Fits the pivot role.
In Sun & Moon, Drought is the hidden ability. It summons strong sunlight that lasts indefinitely upon entering battle. Worth hunting for if you want Ninetales to compete at a higher level.
Available since Red & Blue, Ninetales appears in 21 games spanning 10 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained an Alolan form in Generation 7.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
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 7SMAlolan
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