Wonder Guard blocks every attack that isn't super effective, so Shedinja either walls the entire opposing team or goes down to a single hit. Bug/Ghost leaves it open to 5 types — if the opponent has coverage, it's done. Known as the Shed Pokemon.
Attack leads and HP gets almost nothing. That's Shedinja's stat line in a nutshell. 1 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Tough to catch and yields 2 HP EVs.
It is a discarded bug shell that came to life. Peering into the crack on its back is said to steal one’s spirit.
Shedinja Weakness
GoodShedinja is weak to Fire, Flying, Rock, Ghost, and Dark-type moves. On the flip side, it's immune to Normal and Fighting-type moves entirely. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Wonder Guard makes Shedinja immune to all non-super-effective damage.
Nincada's line splits into 2 evolutions, and Shedinja is a unique condition. Each sibling form needs a different method to obtain. Breed through Nincada to get eggs. Ninjask has 220 more total stats, but Shedinja makes up for it with a stronger Attack gain (+45 from Nincada).
How to Evolve
Breed with Shedinja to get Nincada eggs (with patience) using 84 partners from the Mineral egg group.
Ditto only
Bulk and offense in one package. Shedinja runs Heavy-Duty Boots for hazard immunity on every switch-in with a Jolly nature, so it survives long enough to threaten with Protect. Max Attack and Speed EVs and utility options make it hard to safely switch into.
Best Build
Best Shedinja Moveset
- Protect
- Will O Wisp
- Shadow Sneak
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Leveling does the heavy lifting. Shedinja picks up Phantom Force and Bug Buzz along the way, building toward a complete offensive set. TMs add coverage across 7 types, but the foundation's already strong by then.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Egg moves make a real difference. Shedinja gets Bug Bite and Final Gambit exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 7 types rounds out the picture alongside Poltergeist and Phantom Force.
Egg moves make a real difference. Shedinja gets Bug Bite and Bug Buzz exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 8 types rounds out the picture alongside Phantom Force and Bug Buzz.
Egg moves make a real difference. Shedinja gets Bug Bite and Bug Buzz exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 8 types rounds out the picture alongside Phantom Force and Bug Buzz.
You're catching Nincada first, not Shedinja. Nincada appears at decent rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Shedinja in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Nincada is your first catch on the way to Shedinja. You'll find walking and special encounters from Lv. 10-63 across 10 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch NincadaCHALLENGINGEterna ForestBrilliant DiamondUsing PokeRadarLv.10-1222%EarlyForestCHALLENGINGEterna ForestShining PearlUsing PokeRadarLv.10-1222%EarlyForestGrassland CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameGrassland CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSunlit CavernShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSunlit CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Step 2Shedinja ✓
Shedinja doesn't appear wild. Catch Nincada instead, it shows up at solid rates. Evolve it through a special method to get Shedinja. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Shedinja in Sword & Shield
The path to Shedinja starts with Nincada at Lv. 7-18 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch NincadaEFFORTLESSSouth Lake MilochShieldGrassLv.11-1340%EarlyWaterSandstormEFFORTLESSSouth Lake MilochSwordGrassLv.11-1340%EarlyWaterSandstormEFFORTLESSWest Lake AxewellSwordGrassLv.7-1130%EarlyCaveSandstormEFFORTLESSWest Lake AxewellShieldGrassLv.7-1130%EarlyCaveSandstormMODERATESouth Lake MilochShieldGrassLv.11-1310%EarlyWaterIntense SunMODERATESouth Lake MilochSwordGrassLv.11-1310%EarlyWaterIntense SunCHALLENGINGRoute 5SwordGrassLv.16-185%MidRouteAll WeatherCHALLENGINGRoute 5ShieldGrassLv.16-185%MidRouteAll Weather
Step 2Shedinja ✓
Shedinja isn't available in the wild in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Start by transferring Nincada from Ruby, Emerald, or Brilliant Diamond. The evolution path from Nincada to Shedinja is covered in the steps below.
Shedinja isn't available in the wild in Sun & Moon. Start by transferring Nincada from Ruby, Emerald, or Brilliant Diamond. The evolution path from Nincada to Shedinja is covered in the steps below.
Wonder Guard changes the entire equation for Shedinja. The 236 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a trick room.
Shedinja's biggest threats include Arcanine (Fire), Salamence (Flying), and Golem (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Ghost and Dark-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter. At base 40 Speed, Shedinja won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Wonder Guard is what you want on Shedinja. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind.
Base 40 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Shedinja is leaning toward the physical side (base 90 Attack). Defensively? Fragile — can't afford to take many hits. Best used as a trick room.
Shedinja appears in 14 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Available in 14 titles since its debut in Ruby & Sapphire, Shedinja spans 7 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in a solid number of games.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A