Ninetales (Pokémon): Difference between revisions

← #037: Vulpix

Pokémon

#039: Jigglypuff →

Ninetales キュウコン Kyukon #038
Art by Ken Sugimori from FireRed and LeafGreen
Type Fire ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Fox Pokémon
Abilities Flash Fire Blue-Striped ----- Drought Hidden Ability
Exp. at Lv. 100 1,000,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #038 Johto #128 Hoenn #154 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R-172 Oblivia R-168 N-109
Height 3'07" Imperial 1.1 m Metric 3'07"/1.1 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 43.9 lbs. Imperial 19.9 kg Metric 43.9 lbs./19.9 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Yellow	Catch rate 75 (9.8%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown 25% male, 75% female
Breeding Ground group 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 1 Speed 1 Base Exp.: 178 Battle Exp.: 1781*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Ninetales (Japanese: キュウコン Kyukon) is a Template:Type2 Pokémon.

It evolves from Vulpix when exposed to a Fire Stone.

Biology

Physiology

This fox-like Pokémon is covered with a thick, luxurious golden-white fur, as well as having nine tails, each of which is tipped with orange. They also have a fluffy crest atop their heads and a similar ruff around their necks. Ninetales have gleaming red eyes that are said to give them the power of mind control. They can also live up to one thousand years.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Ninetales are based on the kitsune of Japanese mythology, giving them abilities to wield Template:Type2 attacks such as Confuse Ray, and the fairly Ghost exclusive Will-O-Wisp. They are also very vengeful Pokémon and have been known to curse those who mistreat them. Ninetales are highly intelligent Pokémon that understand human speech. Many legends surround this Pokémon, one of which states that Ninetales was born when 9 saints were united and reincarnated as this Pokémon. Ninetales have also been shown on several occasions to be able to swim, most notably in Mewtwo Returns and The Power Of One, which is unusual for most Fire-types.

Behavior

This Pokémon's extreme intelligence lends to what most consider Template:Type2 characteristics, though Ninetales has never officially been described as anything other than a Template:Type2. It also seems to hold grudges very easily and will curse humans and Pokémon alike if they touch one of its tails.

Habitat

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

In the anime

Ninetales in the anime

Major appearances

In Beauty and the Breeder, a friend of Suzy named Zane had a Ninetales and used it in a Pokémon breeding contest.

In Just Waiting On A Friend, a very old Ninetales befriended Brock, who bore a resemblance to her long lost master. This Ninetales created all sorts of illusions, including one of a woman through which it spoke.

Minor appearances

Ninetales was first seen in The Battling Eevee Brothers.

A Ninetales made a cameo appearance in Electric Soldier Porygon.

The Cinnabar Island Gym Leader, Blaine, used a Ninetales against Ash in their first Gym battle.

In Mewtwo Strikes Back, a Ninetales owned by Neesha was one of the Pokémon that were captured and cloned by Mewtwo. The Ninetales clone is seen again in Mewtwo Returns.

A Ninetales made a cameo appearance in Misty Meets Her Match. This Ninetales belonged to Rudy.

An injured Ninetales appeared under the care of Katrina in A Bite to Remember.

Ninetales also had a cameo during the opening credits of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, taking part in the festival honoring Sir Aaron.

A Ninetales appeared in a flashback in Mutiny in the Bounty! as one of J's captured Pokémon.

Pokédex entries

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In Pokémon Adventures, Red and Blue both tried catching the same Ninetales. In the scuffle for its Poké Ball, Blue managed to claim it, asserting that the right belongs to him, as his Machamp was the one who weakened it. It is not seen very much since its capture, but was able to use a powerful Fire Blast to super-heat the tournament arena at the Pokémon League finals where the two had one final match to determine the region's champion. This inadvertently led to Blue's defeat when the water vapor its attack expelled from Poli became charged with Pika's electricity, providing a large thundercloud for Saur to exploit using its vine, which was wrapped around Blue's Charizard at the time.

It has since been placed into his secondary team at the Viridian Gym, where it was trained to battle challengers in the event that Blue was absent.

Magma Admin Courtney uses a Ninetales as her main battler.

In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team manga

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team, the Curse of Ninetales is the reason why main character Ginji was transformed into a Torchic.

In the TCG

Main article: Ninetales (TCG)

Game data

NPC appearances

• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ninetales cast a curse on a human that would turn it into a Pokémon, bringing on many natural disasters. The player is blamed for this and travels to the home of Ninetales at the top of Mt. Freeze to learn the truth. Ninetales later appears when Gengar wishes to right what he did to Gardevoir. He gives Gengar the Crest - O - Ninetales and sending him and the player to Murky Cave.

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Emerald*		Rawst Berry (100%)

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

By leveling up

By TM/HM

Generation V Other generations: I - II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
TM		Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	TM03	Psycho Shock	Psychic	Special	08080	100}}100%	10
	TM04	Calm Mind	Psychic	Status	0000—	—}}—%	20
	TM05	Roar	Normal	Status	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM06	Toxic	Poison	Status	0000—	090}}90%	10
	TM10	Hidden Power	Normal	Special	0000—	100}}100%	15
	TM11	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	0000—	—}}—%	5
	TM15	Hyper Beam	Normal	Special	150150	090}}90%	5
	TM17	Protect	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM20	Safeguard	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	25
	TM21	Frustration	Normal	Physical	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM22	SolarBeam	Grass	Special	120120	100}}100%	10
	TM27	Return	Normal	Physical	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM28	Dig	Ground	Physical	08080	100}}100%	10
	TM32	Double Team	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	15
	TM35	Flamethrower	Fire	Special	09595	100}}100%	15
	TM38	Fire Blast	Fire	Special	120120	085}}85%	5
	TM42	Facade	Normal	Physical	07070	100}}100%	20
	TM43	Nitro Charge	Fire	Physical	05050	100}}100%	20
	TM44	Rest	Psychic	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM45	Attract	Normal	Status	0000—	100}}100%	15
	TM48	Canon	Normal	Special	06060	100}}100%	15
	TM50	Overheat	Fire	Special	140140	090}}90%	5
	TM53	Energy Ball	Grass	Special	08080	100}}100%	10
	TM59	Devastate	Fire	Special	03030	100}}100%	15
	TM61	Will-O-Wisp	Fire	Status	0000—	075}}75%	15
	TM66	Payback	Dark	Physical	05050	100}}100%	10
	TM68	Giga Impact	Normal	Physical	150150	090}}90%	5
	TM77	Psych Up	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM85	Dream Eater	Psychic	Special	100100	100}}100%	15
	TM87	Swagger	Normal	Status	0000—	090}}90%	15
	TM90	Substitute	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Ninetales Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Ninetales Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
Father	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	Disable	Normal	Status	—	100%	20
	Evil Eye*	Ghost	Special	50	100%	10
	Extrasensory	Psychic	Special	80	100%	30
	Faint Attack	Dark	Physical	60	—%	20
	Flail	Normal	Physical	—	100%	15
	Flare Blitz	Fire	Physical	120	100%	15
	Heat Wave	Fire	Special	100	90%	10
	Howl	Normal	Status	—	—%	40
	Hypnosis	Psychic	Status	—	60%	20
	Power Swap	Psychic	Status	—	—%	10
	Secret Power*	Normal	Physical	70	100%	20
	Spite	Ghost	Status	—	100%	10
	Sweep Slap	Normal	Physical	25	85%	10
Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Ninetales in Generation V 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 Ninetales in that game. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Ninetales Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Ninetales Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball    Acquisition: Evolve		Pokémon Pinball RS    Acquisition: Evolve		Pokémon Trozei!    Rarity: Rare
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team Body size: 1 Recruit rate: Evolve Friend Area: Darkness Ridge Phrases 51%-100% HP Feel privileged to see the 1,000-year knowledge of our clan! 26%-50% HP This won't do. I've only half my health remaining. 1%-25% HP My eyes grow dim... Is this how our 1,000-year legacy ends? Level up Rejoice! My level has gone up! Partner phrases 51%-100% HP <name>, my HP is between 51% and 100%. 26%-50% HP <name>, my HP is between 26% and 50%. 1%-25% HP <name>, my HP is between 1% and 25%. Level up Rejoice! My level has gone up!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: -4.5% IQ group: G
Pokémon Ranger Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: None Loops: 0 Min. exp.: 0 Max. exp.: 0 Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group:  Fire  Poké Assist: ( Fire ) Field move: (Burn ×4) Browser entry   While protecting itself with a ghostly ring of fire, it breaths streams of fire to attack.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Group: Poké Assist: Field move:  Fire  ( Fire ) Past ( Normal ) (Burn ×2) Past (Electrify ×1) Browser entry   It sends out pillars of fire to attack.
Pokémon Rumble N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed			Pokémon Rumble Blast N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure PokéPark Pad entry: Ninetales came to the Lava Zone in search of fun. Which is just what she found at Absol's Hurdle Bounce!
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond Strong: {{{Park2strong}}} Weak: {{{Park2weak}}} PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
Pokémon Conquest HP: Move: {{{ConquestMove}}} Attack: Ability 1: {{{ConquestAbility1}}} Defense: Ability 2: {{{ConquestAbility2}}} Speed: Ability 3: {{{ConquestAbility3}}} Does not evolve. Range: 0 Perfect Links: {{{ConquestLink}}}

Evolution

Unevolved Vulpix  Fire

Fire Stone →

First evolution Ninetales  Fire

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

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

Trivia

• Ninetales's name was originally spelled as "Nine Tales".
• Ninetales's name is misspelled as "Ninetails" in the Pokémon Trading Card Game for the Game Boy Color.
• Despite what many of its Pokédex descriptions say, it cannot learn the move Curse other than by TM03 in Generation II. Even still, due to its typing, Ninetales can only alter its stats with Curse, rather than place one on the target.
  • However, it is still capable of learning Grudge, another "curse-like" move which it can learn by its pre-evolutionary form.
• In Pokémon Platinum, Ninetales is the one of the few Pokémon not in the Sinnoh Pokédex, and not introduced in Generation IV, to have a new sprite. Muk, Oddish, Hitmonlee, Meowth, Primeape, and Registeel are the others.
• Despite what numerous Pokédex entries imply, Ninetales cannot learn Revenge, possibly due to this move being classified as physical.
• Vulpix and Ninetales are the only two Template:Type2 Pokémon species where females outnumber males.
• In Generation IV, Ninetales's family is able to learn Energy Ball by breeding, but can't through TM. Oddly enough, in Generation V, the reverse occurs.
• Ninetales has been inconsistently shown with either solid yellow tails or yellow tails with orange tips. The solid yellow tails appear in its original art as well as its Generation I, II, and III sprites while the orange-tipped ones appear in its revamped art, its model in Pokémon Stadium, and its Generation IV sprites.
• As of Generation V, Ninetales' EV Yield (1 Sp. Def, 1 Speed) is unique.

Origin

Ninetales, like Vulpix, are based on foxes. However, in Japan there are certain legends concerning foxes, or kitsune, as they are known there. One such legend which relates to Ninetales the most is how many-tailed foxes can breathe fire, create illusions, and have extremely long lifespans. After living a long time, these creatures take on spirit forms, which may be the reason why these two related Pokémon can learn Template:Type2 moves. In particular, Ninetales is based on the 九尾の狐, the nine-tailed fox, which is a fox of advanced age whose fur has turned silver-gold. It is said to have the power of infinite vision.

Name origin

Its name simply refers to the nine tails it has, although "tales" is used in place of "tails", perhaps to reference the many myths in Japan that it is based on. However, only its English name seems to reference its numerous mythological and in-game legends. Notable but unlikely is the cat o' nine tails whip. While Ninetales are associated with revenge and the number nine in Japan is associated with suffering, the cat o' nine tails is a much more Western idea than the clear kitsune inspiration for the Fox Pokémon family.

Kyūkon can be taken to mean 旧恨, old grudge, although it is worth noting that the first syllable spells out 九 kyū, nine and kon from the Japanese onomatopoeia konkon - the sound that foxes make. Furthermore, a コンロ konro is a gas burner stove. Also, an alternate reading of the Japanese word for fox, 狐 kitsune, is ko.

In other languages

• German: Vulnona - From Vulpes and nona (Latin for "the ninth" with a female ending).
• French: Feunard - From feu (fire) and renard (fox).
• Korean: 나인테일 Nainteil
• Chinese (Taiwan and Hong Kong): 九尾 Jiǔ Wěi - Literally means "Nine tails".

Notes

← #037: Vulpix

Pokémon

#039: Jigglypuff →

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