Nincada (Pokémon)

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Pokémon

#291: Ninjask →

Nincada ツチニン Tutinin

Artwork from R/S/E

Types Species  Bug  Ground  Trainee Pokémon Ability Exp. at 100 Compoundeyes 600,000 Pokédex National #290 Johto #— Hoenn #042 Sinnoh #— Browser Fiore R-031 Almia R— Height Weight 1'08" 12.1 lbs. Pokédex color Body style Footprint Catch rate Gray 255 Gender ratio   50% male   50% female Egg groups Egg cycles Bug 16 (4080 steps*) EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 1 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Exp. 65 External links On Legendary Pokémon Pokédex: Generation III Generation IV On Pokémon Palace Network Pokédex (Gen. III) On Smogon Pokédex: Generation III Generation IV On Eevee's Pokédex (Gen. III-IV) On Psypoke Pokédex On Pokecharms Pokédex (Gen. III-IV) On Marriland Pokédex (Gen. IV) On Serebii's Pokédex: Generation III (Spin-Off games) Generation IV (Spin-Off games) On Ultimate Pokémon Center Pokédex (Gen. I-IV) Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Nincada (Japanese: ツチニン Tutinin) is a dual-type Bug/Ground Pokémon.

It evolves into Ninjask starting at level 20. Also, If the player has a spare spot and an extra Poké Ball, a Shedinja will appear in the player's party when Nincada evolves.

Contents 1 Biology 1.1 Physiology 1.1.1 Gender differences 1.1.2 Special abilities 1.2 Behavior 1.3 Habitat 1.4 Diet 2 In the anime 3 In the manga 4 In the TCG 5 Game data 5.1 Pokédex entries 5.2 Game locations 5.2.1 In side games 5.3 Base stats 5.4 Type effectiveness 5.5 Learnset 5.5.1 By leveling up 5.5.2 By TM/HM 5.5.3 By breeding 5.5.4 By tutoring 5.6 Side game data 5.7 Evolution 5.8 Sprites 6 Trivia 6.1 Origin 6.1.1 Name origin 7 In other languages 8 External links

Biology

Physiology

Nincada is a small, whitish insect Pokémon. Nincada's hind legs are white and the forelegs are brown. Nincada has small, green wings on its back and whisker-like antenna on its face.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Behavior

Habitat

Nincada live buried in soil and will usually remain underground until they evolve.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Nincada sustain themselves by drinking nutrients from tree roots.

In the anime

Nincada first appeared in A Three Team Scheme. It belonged to a boy named Keanu, who lived in his Secret Base in solitude.

In Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Part One, Kellyn used his Capture Styler on a Nincada and had it Dig a pit trap for J's Henchmen to fall in.

In the manga

In the TCG

Main article: Nincada (TCG)

Game data

Pokédex entries

Gen	Game	Pokédex entry
I	This Pokémon was not available in Generation I.
II	This Pokémon was not available in Generation II.
III	Ruby	Nincada lives underground for many years in complete darkness. This Pokémon absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees. It stays motionless as it waits for evolution.
	Sapphire	Nincada lives underground. It uses its sharp claws to carve the roots of trees and absorb moisture and nutrients. This Pokémon can't withstand bright sunlight so avoids it.
	Emerald	It makes its nest at the roots of a mighty tree. Using its whiskerlike antennae, it probes its surroundings in the pitch-black darkness of soil.
	FireRed	Because it lived almost entirely underground, it is nearly blind. It uses its antennae instead.
	LeafGreen	Because it lived almost entirely underground, it is nearly blind. It uses its antennae instead.
IV	Diamond	It grows underground, sensing its surroundings using antennae instead of its virtually blind eyes.
	Pearl	It grows underground, sensing its surroundings using antennae instead of its virtually blind eyes.
	Platinum	It grows underground, sensing its surroundings using antennae instead of its virtually blind eyes.

Game locations

Gen	Game		Rarity	Area
I	This Pokémon was not available in Generation I.
II	This Pokémon was not available in Generation II.
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Uncommon	Route 116
	Emerald		Uncommon	Route 116
	FireRed	LeafGreen	None	Trade
	Colosseum		None	Trade
	XD		None	Trade
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Rare	Eterna Forest (Poké Radar)
	Platinum		Rare	Eterna Forest (Poké Radar)
	Pal Park		Forest

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire	Forest
Pokémon Trozei!	Secret Storage 13 Endless Level 20 Forever Level 6 Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Lapis Cave (1F-4F) Wish Cave (44F-49F) Joyous Tower (45F-49F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Quicksand Cave (B1-B7) Midnight Forest (B1-B24)
Pokémon Ranger	Lyra Forest

Base stats

Stat Base At Lv. 50 At Lv. 100 Min. Max. Min. Max. HP: 31   91 138 172 266 Attack: 45   45 106 85 207 Defense: 90   85 156 166 306 Special Attack: 30   31 90 58 174 Special Defense: 30   31 90 58 174 Speed: 40   40 101 76 196 Total: 266 Other Pokémon with this total Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and a helpful nature.

Type effectiveness

Weak to	Resistant to	Immune to	Normal effectiveness
Flying : 2×  Fire : 2×  Water : 2×  Ice : 2×	Fighting : ½×  Poison : ½×  Ground : ½×	Electric : 0×	Normal : 1×  Rock : 1×  Bug : 1×  Ghost : 1×  Steel : 1×  Grass : 1×  Psychic : 1×  Dragon : 1×  Dark : 1×

Learnset

Nincada is capable of learning the following moves in Generation IV.

• Moves in bold are damaging moves to which STAB applies.

Moves in Italics aren't STAB for Nincada, but are for some/all evolutions.

By leveling up

Generation IV Other generation learnsets: III

Level Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Contest Appeal Start Scratch Normal Physical 40 100% 35 Tough 3 ♥♥♥ Start Harden Normal Status — —% 30 Tough 2 ♥♥ 5 Leech Life Bug Physical 20 100% 15 Smart 1 ♥ 9 Sand-Attack Ground Status — 100% 15 Cute 2 ♥♥ 14 Fury Swipes Normal Physical 18 80% 15 Tough 2 ♥♥ 19 Mind Reader Normal Status — —% 5 Smart 1 ♥ 25 False Swipe Normal Physical 40 100% 40 Cool 0 31 Mud-Slap Ground Special 20 100% 10 Cute 3 ♥♥♥ 38 Metal Claw Steel Physical 50 95% 35 Cool 2 ♥♥ 45 Dig Ground Physical 80 100% 10 Smart 1 ♥ Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon

By TM/HM

Generation IV Other generation learnsets: III

TM Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Contest Appeal TM06 Toxic Poison Status — 85% 10 Smart 2 ♥♥ TM10 Hidden Power Normal Special — 100% 15 Smart 1 ♥ TM11 Sunny Day Fire Status — —% 5 Beauty 2 ♥♥ TM17 Protect Normal Status — —% 10 Cute 0 TM19 Giga Drain Grass Special 60 100% 10 Smart 1 ♥ TM21 Frustration Normal Physical — 100% 20 Cute 2 ♥♥ TM22 SolarBeam Grass Special 120 100% 10 Cool 1 ♥ TM27 Return Normal Physical — 100% 20 Cute 2 ♥♥ TM28 Dig Ground Physical 80 100% 10 Smart 1 ♥ TM30 Shadow Ball Ghost Special 80 100% 15 Smart 2 ♥♥ TM32 Double Team Normal Status — —% 15 Cool 2 ♥♥ TM37 Sandstorm Rock Status — —% 10 Tough 2 ♥♥ TM40 Aerial Ace Flying Physical 60 —% 20 Cool 2 ♥♥ TM42 Facade Normal Physical 70 100% 20 Cute 2 ♥♥ TM43 Secret Power Normal Physical 70 100% 20 Smart 2 ♥♥ TM44 Rest Psychic Status — —% 10 Cute 0 TM54 False Swipe Normal Physical 40 100% 40 Cool 0 TM58 Endure Normal Status — —% 10 Tough 2 ♥♥ TM70 Flash Normal Status — 100% 20 Beauty 2 ♥♥ TM81 X-Scissor Bug Physical 80 100% 15 Beauty 2 ♥♥ TM82 Sleep Talk Normal Status — —% 10 Cute 3 ♥♥♥ TM83 Natural Gift Normal Physical — 100% 15 Cool 2 ♥♥ TM87 Swagger Normal Status — 90% 15 Cute 2 ♥♥ TM90 Substitute Normal Status — —% 10 Smart 1 ♥ HM01 Cut Normal Physical 50 95% 30 Cool 3 ♥♥♥ Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon

By breeding

Generation IV Other generation learnsets: III

Father Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Contest Appeal Ariados Ninjask Yanmega Bug Bite Bug Physical 60 100% 20 Tough 0 Butterfree Venomoth Ledyba, Ledian Yanma, Yanmega Beautifly Dustox Masquerain Volbeat Kricketune Mothim Bug Buzz Bug Special 90 100% 10 Cute 2 ♥♥ Heracross Endure Normal Status — —% 10 Tough 2 ♥♥ Gligar, Gliscor Trapinch, Vibrava,Flygon Faint Attack Dark Physical 60 —% 20 Smart 2 ♥♥ Butterfree Venomoth Beautifly Dustox Masquerain Mothim Combee Gust Flying Special 40 100% 35 Smart 3 ♥♥♥ Scyther, Scizor Heracross Yanmega Gliscor Night Slash Dark Physical 70 100% 15 Beauty 3 ♥♥♥ Butterfree Venomoth Ledyba, Ledian Beautifly Dustox Masquerain Mothim Silver Wind Bug Special 60 100% 5 Beauty 2 ♥♥ Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB from an evolution of this Pokémon *Indicates a move only available by chain breeding

By tutoring

Generations III and IV Other generation learnsets: III

Game Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Contest Appeal FR LG E XD D P Pt Double-Edge Normal Physical 120 100% 15 Tough 0 FR LG E XD D P Pt Endure Normal Status — —% 10 Tough 2 ♥♥ FR LG E XD D P Pt Fury Cutter Bug Physical 10 95% 20 Cool 2 ♥♥ FR LG E XD D P Pt Mimic Normal Status — —% 10 Cute 0 FR LG E XD D P Pt Mud-Slap Ground Special 20 100% 10 Cute 3 ♥♥♥ FR LG E XD D P Pt Sleep Talk Normal Status — —% 10 Cute 3 ♥♥♥ FR LG E XD D P Pt Snore Normal Special 40 100% 15 Cute 3 ♥♥♥ FR LG E XD D P Pt Spite Ghost Status — 100% 10 Tough 2 ♥♥ FR LG E XD D P Pt Substitute Normal Status — —% 10 Smart 1 ♥ FR LG E XD D P Pt Swagger Normal Status — 90% 15 Cute 2 ♥♥ Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon A colored initial indicates that the move is not available to be tutored in this game, while a colored background indicates that the move is available.

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
	Acquisition: Catch
Pokémon Trozei!
	Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team
Body size: 1	Recruit Rate: 7.4%	Friend Area: Secretive Forest
Phrases
51%-100% HP	My antennae serve as my eyes.
26%-50% HP	Oh, what's up? How could my HP be down by half so soon?
1%-25% HP	I think I've had it... I can't get any strength...
Level Up	OK! I leveled up! I'll try harder!
Pokémon Ranger
Group:  Ground	Loops: 3	Minimum Experience: 25
Poké Assist: ( Bug )	Field Move: (Cut ×1)	Maximum Experience: 45
"Nincada burrows underground. It can cut things with its claws."
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness
Body size: 1	Recruit Rate: 6.4%	IQ Group: D

Evolution

	Unevolved	→ Level 20	First evolution
	Nincada  Bug  Ground		Ninjask  Bug  Flying
	If...	→ Space in party	Castoff evolution
	Poké Ball in bag		Shedinja  Bug  Ghost

Note: In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 2, Shedinja will not be mentioned when evolving Nincada, but will subsequently appear in Chimecho's Assembly.

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow	Red (Ja)	Green	Back
	This Pokémon did not appear during Generation I.
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal			Back
	This Pokémon did not appear during Generation II.
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald	FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
	File:Spr 3r 290 s.png		File:Spr 3e 290 s.gif	File:Spr 3f 290 s.png		File:Spr b g3 290 s.png
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum	HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
				NO SPRITES AVAILABLE

For other sprites and images, please see Nincada images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Nincada is the only Pokémon that evolves into two Pokémon at once.
• In its Generation III sprites, its color is brownish-cream, but in Generation IV sprites and official artwork, it is white.
• Because a Shedinja cast off from Nincada retains all moves the Nincada had before evolution, and due to Shedinja not having a gender, Nincada is the only Pokémon with a gender that can learn TMs and HMs but cannot learn Attract or Captivate.
• Nincada and Phione are the only Pokémon obtainable by breeding a Pokémon they cannot evolve into (as Shedinja is technically a shed shell).

Origin

It appears to be based on a cicada larva.

Name origin

Nincada's name is a combination of ninja and cicada. Its Japanese name is a combination of 土に埋める tsuchiniumeru, to bury in the ground, and ninja.

In other languages

• German: Nincada
• French: Ningale - From ninja and cigale (cicada).
• Korean: 토중몬 Tojungmon

External links

← #289: Slaking

Pokémon

#291: Ninjask →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.