Nothing fancy in Ninetales's spread. It leans mixed with Speed out front. And you'll get 2 Sp. Def and Speed EVs per KO for it. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It is said to live 1,000 years, and each of its tails is loaded with supernatural powers.
Very smart and very vengeful. Grabbing one of its many tails could result in a 1,000-year curse.
Type-wise, Ninetales takes extra damage from Steel, Fire, Poison, and Rock. Watch out for Steel attacks, those deal 4x damage. Dragon moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. Ninetales's special bulk (base 100 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Steel |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Poison, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Ice, Bug, Dark |
| 0x (Immune) | Dragon |
 Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Corviknight builds →Steel Wing 4x132-157%KO | ||
 Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Ferroseed builds →Flash Cannon 4x62-74% Metal Claw 4x69-83% | ||
 Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Growlithe builds →Flame Wheel 2x51-60% Ember 2x31-37% | ||
 Sizzlipede FireBug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Sizzlipede builds →Flame Wheel 2x46-55% Ember 2x23-28% | ||
 Klink Steel | D | |
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Corviknight builds →Steel Wing 4x126-150%KO | ||
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Ferroseed builds →Flash Cannon 4x53-63% Metal Claw 4x67-79% | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Growlithe builds →Fire Fang 2x50-59% Flame Wheel 2x46-55% Ember 2x26-32% | ||
Sizzlipede FireBug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Sizzlipede builds →Flame Wheel 2x43-51% Ember 2x22-28% | ||
Klink Steel | D | |
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Corviknight builds →Steel Wing 4x127-150%KO | ||
 Pawniard DarkSteel | C | |
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Ferroseed builds →Flash Cannon 4x54-64% Iron Head 4x96-114%KO Metal Claw 4x67-79% | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Growlithe builds →Fire Fang 2x51-61% Flame Wheel 2x45-54% Ember 2x26-32% | ||
 Salandit PoisonFire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Salandit builds →Poison Fang 2x30-36% Ember 2x26-32% Smog 2x20-25% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
 Durant BugSteel | C | |
 Mawile SteelFairy | C | |
Pawniard DarkSteel | C | |
 Honedge SteelGhost | C | |
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Durant BugSteel | C | |
Mawile SteelFairy | C | |
Pawniard DarkSteel | C | |
Honedge SteelGhost | C | |
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Durant BugSteel | C | |
 Perrserker Steel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Perrserker builds →Iron Head 4x166-195%KO Metal Claw 4x105-124%KO | ||
Mawile SteelFairy | C | |
Pawniard DarkSteel | C | |
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Durant BugSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Durant builds →Iron Head 4x167-197%KO Rock Slide 2x52-61% Rock Tomb 2x41-49% Metal Claw 4x105-124%KO | ||
Perrserker Steel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Perrserker builds →Iron Head 4x167-197%KO Metal Claw 4x108-128%KO | ||
Mawile SteelFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Mawile builds →Iron Head 4x136-160%KO Rock Slide 2x43-50% Rock Tomb 2x34-41% | ||
 Cufant Steel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Cufant builds →Iron Head 4x132-156%KO Rock Slide 2x41-49% Rock Tomb 2x34-40% Rollout 2x18-21% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
 Ferrothorn GrassSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Ferrothorn builds →Flash Cannon 4x79-93% Iron Head 4x151-177%KO Metal Claw 4x96-114%KO | ||
 Copperajah Steel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Copperajah builds →Iron Head 4x197-232%KO Rock Slide 2x61-72% Rock Tomb 2x49-58% Rollout 2x25-30% | ||
Durant BugSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Durant builds →Iron Head 4x168-199%KO Rock Slide 2x52-62% Rock Tomb 2x43-51% Metal Claw 4x108-127%KO | ||
 Doublade SteelGhost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Doublade builds →Iron Head 4x172-203%KO Rock Slide 2x54-63% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Incineroar threatens a KO with Flare Blitz (175-206%). Lunatone deals 46-54% with Psychic.
| A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Ferrothorn builds →Knock Off10-11% | ||
 Incineroar FireDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemSitrus Berry NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Incineroar builds →Knock Off24-28% Flare Blitz 2x175-206%KO | ||
 Lunatone RockPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemPower Herb NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Lunatone builds →Ice Beam15-18% Moonblast32-38% Psychic46-54% | ||
 Skuntank PoisonDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityAftermath ItemAir Balloon NatureJolly Moves View Skuntank builds →
| ||
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Volcarona builds →Psychic39-46% | ||
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. Speed saw the largest single gain at +44. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Ninetales to get Vulpix eggs easily using 152 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Baby-Doll Eyes, Flail, Freeze-Dry and 4 more.
Fire Blast is the main STAB option after a Nasty Plot boost. Heavy-Duty Boots gives Ninetales hazard immunity on every switch-in to survive the setup turn, and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs make the boosted hits count. The remaining moves catches resists.
Best Build
Ninetales best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Fire Blast
- Energy Ball
- Nasty Plot
- Will O Wisp
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Solar Beam
- Scorching Sands
- Heat Wave
- Incinerate
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breeding's the move. Baby-Doll Eyes and Flail give Ninetales options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 8 types already covers a decent range on top of Blizzard and Moonblast. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
A few locations for Alolan Ninetales with decent spawn rates across endgame routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Ninetales in Sword & Shield
To get Ninetales, start by catching Vulpix through walking encounters at Lv. 7-58. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch VulpixRolling FieldsSwordOverworld Lv.7-1060%EarlyIntense SunWest Lake AxewellSwordGrass Lv.7-11 Cave40%EarlyIntense SunDappled GroveSwordGrass Lv.11-15 Forest40%EarlyIntense SunWest Lake AxewellSwordOverworld Lv.8-14 Cave35%EarlyIntense SunEast Lake AxewellSwordGrass Lv.8-12 Cave30%EarlyIntense SunSouth Lake MilochSwordGrass Lv.11-13 Water30%EarlyIntense SunRolling Fields - 2SwordOverworld Lv.7-1025%EarlyIntense SunEast Lake AxewellSwordOverworld Lv.10-15 Cave25%EarlyIntense SunSouth Lake MilochSwordOverworld Lv.14-16 Water25%EarlyIntense SunRolling FieldsSwordGrass Lv.7-920%EarlyIntense SunWatchtower RuinsSwordGrass Lv.11-14 Building20%EarlyIntense SunRoute 3SwordOverworld Lv.10-14 Route15%EarlyAll WeatherSouth Lake Miloch - 2SwordOverworld Lv.14-16 Water15%EarlyIntense SunDappled GroveSwordOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest2%EarlyIntense SunHammerlocke HillsShieldGrass Lv.28-3040%MidIntense SunWatchtower RuinsSwordOverworld Lv.26-29 Building10%MidIntense SunNorth Lake MilochSwordOverworld Lv.26-28 Water5%MidIntense SunAxew's EyeSwordGrass Lv.35-4040%LateIntense SunDusty BowlShieldOverworld Lv.42-4730%LateIntense SunGiant's SeatSwordOverworld Lv.33-38 Water5%LateIntense SunAxew's EyeSwordOverworld Lv.36-405%LateIntense Sun
Step 2Ninetales ✓Lake of OutrageOverworld Lv.55-58 Water25%PostIntense Sunor evolve from Vulpix (Step 1)
In Sword & Shield, Ninetales looks average on paper at 505 BST. But Snow Warning is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. A-Tier pivot on our tier list. Fire Blast with Heavy-Duty Boots is the standard set.
Ninetales gets Snow Warning and Snow Cloak. But Snow Warning 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 109 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. Fits the pivot role.
In Sword & Shield, the best way to handle Ninetales: Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Steel, Fire, and Poison-type attackers hit hardest.
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