Nincada (Pokémon)

For Pokémon GO information on this species, see the game's section.
← #289: Slaking	Pokémon	#291: Ninjask →

Nincada Trainee Pokémon ツチニン Tutinin #290 Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type Bug Ground Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Abilities Compound Eyes Cacophony Cacophony Run Away Hidden Ability Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Cacophony
Gender ratio Unknown 50% male, 50% female	Catch rate 255 (43.9%)
Breeding Egg Group Bug Hatch time 15 cycles
Height 1'08" 0.5 m Nincada 0'0" 0 m {{{form2}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form3}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form4}}}	Weight 12.1 lbs. 5.5 kg Nincada 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form2}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form3}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form4}}}
Mega Stone [[|]] [[|]]
Base experience yield 65 Gen. III-IV Unknown IV 53 V+	Leveling rate Erratic
EV yield Total: 1 Nincada 0 HP 0 Atk 1 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed
Shape	Footprint {{{form2}}}
Pokédex color   Gray	Base friendship 70
External Links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

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

It evolves into Ninjask starting at level 20. Additionally, if the player has a spare slot in the party and an extra Poké Ball, a Shedinja will appear in the player's party when Nincada evolves. An extra Poké Ball is not necessary to obtain Shedinja in Generation III.

Biology

Nincada is a small, whitish, insectoid Pokémon. It has a pointed snout, a thin stripe that dips in a V-shaped pattern between its eyes, and two whisker-like antennae on its face. Its eyes are black with green iris-like rings inside. As it is virtually blind, it uses its antennae to sense its surroundings. On its back is a pair of small, green wings. Its hind legs are white, but the forelegs are brown and have sharp claws.

The claws are used to carve the roots of tree and absorb moisture and nutrients. Nincada builds underground nests at the roots of trees in tropical and temperate forests. It can occasionally live up to 10 years underground. It does not like sunlight, so it avoids it. Nincada is nearly blind due living almost entirely underground. It uses it antennae to see instead.

In the anime

Nincada in the anime

Major appearances

Nincada debuted in A Three Team Scheme. It belonged to a boy named Keanu, who lived in his Secret Base in solitude. It later became a target for one of Team Rocket's schemes.

Minor appearances

In Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 1), Kellyn used his Capture Styler on a Nincada and had it Dig a pit trap for J's henchmen to fall in.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry AG027 Nincada Ash's Pokédex Nincada, the Trainee Pokémon. Nincada lives most of its life inside the earth and uses its sharp claws to tap into tree roots, extracting nutrients and moisture.

In the manga

Nincada in Pokémon Adventures

In the Ash & Pikachu manga

A Nincada appeared in a flashback in A Pokémon Battle Against An Entire Family?!, under the ownership of the Winstrate family.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In Can I Ninjask You a Question?, Aqua Admin Shelly gave a Nincada to fellow admin Amber. Amber's new Pokémon soon evolved into Ninjask, leaving behind a Shedinja as well.

In the TCG

Main article: Nincada (TCG)

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III Hoenn #042 Kanto #— 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
Generation IV Sinnoh #— Johto #— Diamond It grows underground, sensing its surroundings using antennae instead of its virtually blind eyes. Pearl Platinum HeartGold It can sometimes live underground for more than 10 years. It absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees. SoulSilver
Generation V Unova #— Black It grows underground, sensing its surroundings using antennae instead of its virtually blind eyes. White Black 2 It grows underground, sensing its surroundings using antennae instead of its virtually blind eyes. White 2
Generation VI Kalos Central #111 Hoenn #043 X Because it lived almost entirely underground, it is nearly blind. It uses its antennae instead. Y It can sometimes live underground for more than 10 years. It absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees. Omega 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. Alpha 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.
Generation VII Alola #— Kanto #— This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Generation VII.
Generation VIII Galar #104 Sword Because it lived almost entirely underground, it is nearly blind. It uses its antennae instead. Shield It can sometimes live underground for more than 10 years. It absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees.

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III Ruby Sapphire Route 116 Emerald Route 116 FireRed LeafGreen Trade Colosseum Trade XD Trade
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Eterna Forest (Poké Radar) Platinum Eterna Forest (Poké Radar) HeartGold SoulSilver National Park (Bug-Catching Contest)ThSa Pal Park Forest
Generation V Black White Poké Transfer Black 2 White 2 Poké Transfer Dream World Dream Park
Generation VI X Y Route 6, Friend Safari (Ground) Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire Route 116
Generation VII Sun Moon Pokémon Bank Ultra Sun Ultra Moon Pokémon Bank Let's Go Pikachu Let's Go Eevee Unobtainable
Generation VIII Sword Shield Route 5, West Lake Axewell, South Lake Miloch

In side games

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III Pinball: R&S Forest (Both Fields) Trozei! Secret Storage 13, Endless Level 20, Forever Level 6, Mr. Who's Den MD Red MD Blue Lapis Cave (1F-4F), Wish Cave (44F-49F), Joyous Tower (45F-49F) Ranger Lyra Forest
Generation IV MD Time MD Darkness Quicksand Cave (B1F-B7F), Midnight Forest (B1F-B21F) MD Sky Quicksand Cave (B1F-B7F), Midnight Forest (B1F-B21F)
Generation V Rumble Blast Forest: Misty Edgewater Rumble U Flower Garden: Guardians of the Flower Patch
Generation VI Battle Trozei Sky-High Ruins: Stage 5 Shuffle Graucus Hall: Stage 453 Rumble World Gold Plateau: Verdant Grove (All Areas), White Ruins: Everspring Valley (All Areas)

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Omega Ruby	Alpha Sapphire	Soft Sand (5%)
Sword	Shield	Soft Sand (5%)

Stats

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 31		91 - 138	172 - 266
Attack: 45		45 - 106	85 - 207
Defense: 90		85 - 156	166 - 306
Sp. Atk: 30		31 - 90	58 - 174
Sp. Def: 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 (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.

Pokéathlon stats

Speed 2/3 ★★☆	Power 2/3 ★★☆
Skill 3/4 ★★★☆	Stamina 3/5 ★★★☆☆
Jump 2/3 ★★☆	Total 12/18 ★★☆

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:

Damaged normally by: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 2× Poison ½× Ground ½× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 2× Water 2× Grass 1× Electric 0× Psychic 1× Ice 2× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 2× Poison ½× Ground ½× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 2× Water 2× Grass 1× Electric 0× Psychic 1× Ice 2× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 2× Poison ½× Ground ½× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 2× Water 2× Grass 1× Electric 0× Psychic 1× Ice 2× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 2× Poison ½× Ground ½× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 2× Water 2× Grass 1× Electric 0× Psychic 1× Ice 2× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Notes: If this Pokémon is given a Ring Target, the effectiveness of  Electric-type  moves is 1×.

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation VIII Other generations: III - IV - V - VI - VII - IX

Level   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 011 Sand Attack Ground Status 0000— 100100% 15 011 Scratch Normal Physical 04040 100100% 35 055 Harden Normal Status 0000— 00——% 30 1010 False Swipe Normal Physical 04040 100100% 40 1515 Mud-Slap Ground Special 02020 100100% 10 2121 Absorb Grass Special 02020 100100% 25 2525 Metal Claw Steel Physical 05050 09595% 35 3030 Fury Swipes Normal Physical 01818 08080% 15 3535 Mind Reader Normal Status 0000— 00——% 5 4040 Dig Ground Physical 08080 100100% 10

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nincada Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Nincada Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM/TR

Generation VIII Other generations: III - IV - V - VI - VII - IX

TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  TM11 TM11 Solar Beam Grass Special 120120 100}}100% 10 TM15 TM15 Dig Ground Physical 08080 100}}100% 10 TM21 TM21 Rest Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM24 TM24 Snore Normal Special 05050 100}}100% 15 TM25 TM25 Protect Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM28 TM28 Giga Drain Grass Special 07575 100}}100% 10 TM32 TM32 Sandstorm Rock Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM34 TM34 Sunny Day Fire Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM39 TM39 Facade Normal Physical 07070 100}}100% 20 TM76 TM76 Round Normal Special 06060 100}}100% 15 TM94 TM94 False Swipe Normal Physical 04040 100}}100% 40 TR18 TR18 Leech Life Bug Physical 08080 100}}100% 10 TR20 TR20 Substitute Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TR26 TR26 Endure Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TR27 TR27 Sleep Talk Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TR33 TR33 Shadow Ball Ghost Special 08080 100}}100% 15 TR60 TR60 X-Scissor Bug Physical 08080 100}}100% 15 TR61 TR61 Bug Buzz Bug Special 09090 100}}100% 10

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nincada Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Nincada Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation VIII Other generations: III - IV - V - VI - VII - IX

Parent   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  Bug Bite Bug Physical 60 100% 20 Final Gambit Fighting Special — 100% 5 Flail Normal Physical — 100% 15 Gust Flying Special 40 100% 35 Night Slash Dark Physical 70 100% 15

Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Nincada in Generation VIII Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation. Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Nincada in that game. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nincada Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Nincada Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

Generation VIII Other generations: III - IV - V - VI - VII - IX

Game   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  Sw Sh EP BD SP Skitter Smack Bug Physical 70 90% 10

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nincada Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Nincada Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

TCG-only moves

Move	Card
Bite	Nincada (EX Dragon 67)

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball RS   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 Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 6.4% IQ group: D
Pokémon Ranger Group: Ground Poké Assist: Bug Field move: (Cut ×1) Loops: 3 Min. exp.: 25 Max. exp.: 45 Browser entry R-031 Nincada burrows underground. It can cut things with its claws.
Pokémon Rumble Blast Attack ● Defense ●● Speed ●●●
Pokémon Battle Trozei Bug Attack Power: ★★★★★			Pokémon Shuffle Bug Attack Power: 30 - 85 5 #633 Barrier Bash Removes one barrier-type disruption without fail.
Pokémon GO Base HP: 104 Base Attack: 80 Base Defense: 126 Egg Distance: N/A* Buddy Distance: 5 km Evolution Requirement: 50 Fast Attacks: Scratch, Bug Bite Charged Attacks: Night Slash, Bug Buzz, Aerial Ace

Evolution

Unevolved Nincada  Bug  Ground	Level 20 →	First Evolution Ninjask  Bug  Flying
If... Poké Ball in bag (Poké Ball not needed in Generation III)	Space in party →	Castoff evolution Shedinja  Bug  Ghost

Note: The Poké Ball has to be a regular Poké Ball.
Note: In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, Shedinja will not be mentioned when evolving Nincada, but will subsequently appear in Chimecho's Assembly.

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III Ruby Sapphire Emerald FireRed LeafGreen Front Back Front Back Front Back
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Platinum HeartGold SoulSilver Front Back Front Back Front Back
Generation V Black White Black 2 White 2 Front Back Front Back
Generation VI X Y Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire Front Back Front Back
Generation VII Sun Moon Ultra Sun Ultra Moon Front Back Front Back

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

Trivia

• Nincada is the only Pokémon that evolves into two Pokémon at once.
• Nincada is the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 266.
• Nincada is the only Pokémon to have a higher base stat total than its evolution, as it has 30 more base stat points than Shedinja.
• Nincada is the only Ground-type Pokémon to not be able to learn Earthquake, other than Silvally as a Ground-type.

Origin

Nincada appears to be based on a cicada nymph.

Name origin

Nincada is a combination of ninja and cicada.

Tutinin is a combination of 土に埋める tsuchiniumeru (to bury in the ground) and ninja.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese ツチニン Tutinin From 土に埋める tsuchiniumeru and ninja French Ningale From ninja and cigale Spanish Nincada Same as English name German Nincada Same as English name Italian Nincada Same as English name Korean 토중몬 Tojungmon From 토중(土中) tojung and monster Mandarin Chinese 土居忍士 Tǔjūrěnshì Literally "Earth-residing ninja" Cantonese Chinese

More languages Hindi निनकडा Nincada Transcription of English name Russian Нинкада Ninkada Transcription of English name Thai ซึชินิน Tsuchinin Transcription of original Japanese name

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 species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.