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.
A most peculiar Pokémon that somehow appears in a Poké Ball when a Nincada evolves.
A strange Pokémon—it flies without moving its wings, has a hollow shell for a body, and does not breathe.
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 60 partners from the Mineral egg group. Notable egg moves include Bug Bite, Final Gambit, Flail and 2 more.
Ditto only
utility options is what separates a good sweep from a wasted boost. After Swords Dance, Shedinja threatens a wide range with max Attack and Speed EVs and Focus Sash backing every hit.
Best Build
Best Shedinja Moveset
- Protect
- Mimic
- Ally Switch
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
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.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
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 ✓
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