A fast Fire-type special attacker in Emerald, Ninetales combines Flash Fire with Will-o-Wisp support and Flamethrower same-type attacks. B-Tier and reliable.
Ability 1Flash FireAbility 1Protects against fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.
505HP73Attack76Defense75Speed100Sp.Def100Sp.Atk81
Vulpix
Ninetales
Weak to
Special
Pivot
100Speed · Fast

Is Ninetales Good in Emerald Playthrough?

Fast Fire-type with AbilityFlash Fire for Fire immunity. Ninetales handles Glacia and Sidney in the E4 without much trouble. Wallace's Water Champion team is the wall every Fire import hits in Emerald. The endgame favors Water answers, not Fire attackers.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTEGEEEEEGGGTTRoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6VulpixCatchableNinetalesEvolveTate & LizaGym 7JuanGym 8SidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4WallaceChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Tough

Roxanne's team hits Vulpix's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
Risky
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
Risky
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
BlockHardenTackleRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Even

Vulpix trades roughly evenly with Brawly's team.

Even
Machop
Lv 16
Fighting
Guts
Karate ChopLow KickSeismic TossBulk Up
Even
Meditite
Lv 16
FightingPsychic
Pure Power
Focus PunchLight ScreenReflectBulk Up
Even
Makuhita
Lv 19
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustVital ThrowReversalBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Good

Vulpix has the type edge here and should clean up Wattson's team.

Even
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSparkSelf DestructShock Wave
You Win
Electrike
Lv 20
Electric
Static
Shock WaveLeerQuick AttackHowl
You Win
Magneton
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicShock WaveThunder WaveSonic Boom
Even
Manectric
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder WaveShock WaveHowl
Flannery
Gym 4
Even

Vulpix trades roughly evenly with Flannery's team.

Even
Numel
Lv 24
FireGround
Oblivious
OverheatTake DownMagnitudeSunny Day
Even
Slugma
Lv 24
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
Even
Camerupt
Lv 26
FireGround
Magma Armor
OverheatTackleSunny DayAttract
Risky
Torkoal
Lv 29
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatSunny DayBody SlamAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Even

Vulpix trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.

Even
Spinda
Lv 27
Normal
Own Tempo
Teeter DancePsybeamFacadeEncore
Even
Vigoroth
Lv 27
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFacadeEncoreFeint Attack
Even
Linoone
Lv 29
Normal
Pickup
SlashBelly DrumFacadeHeadbutt
Risky
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
CounterYawnFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Even

Vulpix trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.

You Win
Swablu
Lv 29
NormalFlying
Natural Cure
Perish SongMirror MoveSafeguardAerial Ace
Easy KO
Tropius
Lv 29
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
Sunny DayAerial AceSolar BeamSynthesis
Risky
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
You Win
Skarmory
Lv 31
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Avoid
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Even

Ninetales trades roughly evenly with Tate & Liza's team.

Even
Claydol
Lv 41
GroundPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
EarthquakeAncient PowerPsychicLight Screen
Even
Xatu
Lv 41
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
PsychicSunny DayConfuse RayCalm Mind
Risky
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
Risky
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Juan
Gym 8
Even

Ninetales trades roughly evenly with Juan's team.

Even
Luvdisc
Lv 41
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
Risky
Whiscash
Lv 41
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 43
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
Risky
Crawdaunt
Lv 43
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
Water PulseCrabhammerTauntLeer
Risky
Kingdra
Lv 46
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
Water PulseDouble TeamIce BeamRest
Sidney
Elite Four
Good

Ninetales has the type edge here and should clean up Sidney's team.

You Win
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarDouble EdgeSand AttackCrunch
Easy KO
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
TormentDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
Easy KO
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
Risky
Crawdaunt
Lv 48
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
SurfSwords DanceStrengthFacade
Even
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceRock SlideSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Good

Ninetales has the type edge here and should clean up Phoebe's team.

You Win
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseProtect
You Win
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallGrudgeWill O WispFeint Attack
You Win
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallDouble TeamNight ShadeFeint Attack
You Win
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicThunderboltFacade
Even
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamRock SlideEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Good

Ninetales has the type edge here and should clean up Glacia's team.

You Win
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamHailIce Ball
Easy KO
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchIcy WindIce Beam
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDouble EdgeHailBlizzard
You Win
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallExplosionHailIce Beam
Even
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamIce BeamSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Tough

Drake's team hits Ninetales's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectDouble Edge
Risky
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Double EdgeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Risky
Kingdra
Lv 53
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
SmokescreenDragon DanceSurfBody Slam
Risky
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathEarthquake
Avoid
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawRock SlideCrunch
Wallace
Champion
Tough

Wallace's team hits Ninetales's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Wailord
Lv 57
Water
Water Veil
Rain DanceWater SpoutDouble EdgeBlizzard
Even
Tentacruel
Lv 55
WaterPoison
Clear Body
ToxicHydro PumpSludge BombIce Beam
Even
Ludicolo
Lv 56
WaterGrass
Swift Swim
Giga DrainSurfLeech SeedDouble Team
Risky
Whiscash
Lv 56
WaterGround
Oblivious
EarthquakeSurfAmnesiaHyper Beam
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 56
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon DanceEarthquakeHyper BeamSurf
Risky
Milotic
Lv 58
Water
Marvel Scale
RecoverSurfIce BeamToxic

Catch Vulpix

Available after Badge 6
Type
Fire
Tier
F

Catch Vulpix in Mt. Pyre (walking, Lv 25-29, common).

View Vulpix locations

Evolve Vulpix to Ninetales

Use Fire Stone
Type
Fire
Tier
B

Vulpix evolves into Ninetales with a Fire Stone. You can pick up the Fire Stone in Fiery Path.

Recommended Moves

How to Get Ninetales in Emerald

Ninetales has no wild form in Emerald. Find a Vulpix on Mt. Pyre, then use a Fire Stone to evolve it. That mountain catch is the only path to the line.

Wild Ninetales may be holding when caught:

Rawst Berry (always) A hold item that heals a burn in battle.

Catch Vulpix at any of these 1 spot to eventually evolve into Ninetales.

Encountered via tall grass encounters

  1. 1
    Catch Vulpix
  2. 2
    Evolve NinetalesUse Fire Stone
Badge 6

How to Obtain Ninetales in E

  1. Ninetales
    Step 2Ninetales ✓
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Vulpix egg.

How to Get Shiny Ninetales in Emerald

Ninetales won't appear wild, so track a shiny Vulpix through the grass of Mt. Pyre, then apply a Fire Stone once you catch the tell-tale glimmer. Compare Shiny Ninetales odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Ninetales in EmeraldNormal
Shiny Ninetales in Emerald Shiny
Color ShiftYellowtoBlue
Shiny TierA Tier Shiny

Shiny Ninetales Evolution

2 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Emerald Shiny Ninetales Calculator

2 Methods
Shiny Odds

Both methods here share the same odds, about 1 in 8,192 on each try. Pick whichever fits how you play.

Step 1 · Encounter Method2 in Emerald

Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.

Breeding: Hatch eggs of this line; each egg rolls at the base shiny rate (no Masuda before Gen IV).

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 8,192Full Odds
Chance By Now50.0%at 5,678 encountersAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few864----
25%one in four2,357----
50%coin flip5,678----
90%very likely18,862----
How is this calculated?

Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.

chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N,  where  p = 1 / odds per try

Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.

The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.

These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.

Where these shiny odds come from: Read our full methodology

Planning a longer hunt? Set up Ninetales in the Emerald Shiny Odds Calculator to compare every method side by side.

Ninetales Weakness

Type-wise, Ninetales takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. The Fire typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. 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.

Ninetales Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Ground, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

What is Ninetales Weak Against

Avg
3Weak
5Resist
1Immune
Score-1
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune

What is Ninetales Strong Against

4Strong
4Resisted
0Immune
Score0
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Ninetales

Kyogre
Kyogre
Water
S
Groudon
Groudon
Ground
S
Swampert
Swampert
WaterGround
S
Walrein
Walrein
IceWater
C
Rhydon
Rhydon
GroundRock
B

Ninetales Evolutions

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

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Vulpix
Fire
Ninetales
Fire
HP
38
73+35
ATK
41
76+35
DEF
40
75+35
SP.ATK
50
81+31
SP.DEF
65
100+35
SPE
65
100+35
BST
299F-Tier
505B-Tier+206
ROLE
Balanced
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Mixed

Breeding

Easy

Breed with Ninetales to get Vulpix eggs easily using 102 partners from the Field egg group. Notable egg moves include Disable, Feint Attack, Flail and 5 more.

Egg Groups
Field
Gender
♂25.0%♀75.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
8moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy

E Ninetales Best Moveset

Special Fire tank at 100 Sp. Def and 100 Speed. AbilityFlash Fire absorbs Fire attacks entirely and powers up future Fire moves. The moveset punishes Fire-type opponents on the switch while firing MoveFlamethrower from 81 Sp. Atk. Fast enough to support or attack depending on the matchup.

Best Build

Experimental
Special Attacker
Ability
Flash Fire
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Ninetales
Modest+SPA

Ninetales best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Special Attacker Moveset

  • FlamethrowerSTAB
  • Will O WispSTAB
  • OverheatSTAB
  • HypnosisUtility

Moves List

Breeding's the move. Disable and Feint Attack give Ninetales options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Ground coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Overheat and Fire Blast. The egg moves push it further.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Confuse Ray
D—10010Ghost
Lv 1
Ember
—6010025Fire
Lv 1
Quick Attack+1
D4010030Normal
Lv 1
Safeguard
D——25Normal
Lv 45
Fire Spin
—527015Fire

TM Moves

All 19 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45
AttractVerdanturf Townbadge 2
——10015Normal
TM28
DigRoute 114badge 3
C6010010Ground
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM42D7010020Normal
TM38
Fire BlastLilycove Department Storebadge 5
A180855Fire
TM35
FlamethrowerMauville Game Cornerbadge 2
B14210015Fire
TM21
FrustrationPacifidlog Townbadge 5
D—10020Normal
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamLilycove Department Storebadge 5
C150905Normal
TM23
Iron TailMeteor Fallsnot until badge 8
D1007515Steel
TM50A210905Fire
TM17C——10Normal
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6Route 114badge 3
A——20Normal
TM20D——25Normal
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
TM11
Sunny DayScorched Slabbadge 5
C——5Fire
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Disable
D—5520Normal
Egg
Feint Attack
—60—20Dark
Egg
Flail
D—10015Normal
Egg
Heat Wave
C1509010Fire
Egg
Howl
D——40Normal
Egg
Hypnosis
A—6020Psychic
Egg
Psych Up
D——10Normal
Egg
Spite
——10010Ghost

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Body Slam
A8510015Normal
Tutor
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Tutor
Endure+4
C——10Normal
Tutor
Mimic
D——10Normal
Tutor
Sleep Talk
D——10Normal
Tutor
Snore
—4010015Normal
Tutor
Substitute
C——10Normal
Tutor
Swagger
D—9015Normal
Tutor
Swift
—60—20Normal

Reminder Moves

Rem
Rem
Flamethrower
B14210015Fire
Rem
Grudge
D——5Ghost
Rem
Imprison
———10Psychic
Rem
Roar-6
A——20Normal
Rem
Tail Whip
——10030Normal
Rem
Will-O-Wisp
B—7515Fire

Base Stats

Base Stats
High
HP73
C
Attack76
C
Defense75
C
Sp. Atk81
C
Sp. Def100
B
Speed100
B
Total505
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging75 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.1 m
Weight19.9 kg
Base XP177
Abilities
Flash Fire
Protects against fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.
Flash Fire grants Fire immunity
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpD+1Spe+1
Special Defense training target
Pokedex Entry

It has long been said that each of the nine tails embody an enchanted power. A long-lived NINETALES will have fur that shines like gold.

Pokemon Emerald

Ninetales Emerald Guide

  • In Emerald, Ninetales plays as a pivot. It outspeeds most threats, so it can pressure opponents before they move. Flamethrower is the primary attack.

  • In Emerald, Ninetales pairs best with Swampert, Dusclops, and Venusaur. Swampert has Good synergy and covers what Ninetales can't handle on its own.

  • Yes. Alolan Ninetales is a regional variant with different typing and a reworked stat spread. Introduced in Gen 7. Plays completely differently from the original.

  • In Emerald, Modest is the go-to nature for Ninetales. That's +Sp. Atk / -Attack. Pair it with 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe EVs. Fits the pivot role.

Game Availability

Available since Red & Blue, Ninetales appears in 21 games spanning 9 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained an Alolan form in Generation 7.

Explore

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback