#0290

Nincada

Trainee Pokémon

Bug Ground

It can sometimes live underground for more than 10 years. It absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees.

In Pokémon GO · 768 max CP

Details

Height0.5 m

Weight5.5 kg

Gender50.0% ♂ · 50.0% ♀

Catch rate255(43.9%)Easy catch

Base friendship70Standard

Hatch time15 cycles · ~4,080 steps

Growth rateslow then very fast

Base EXP53

Abilities

Compound Eyes

Increases moves' accuracy to 1.3×.

Run AwayHidden

Ensures success fleeing from wild battles.

Egg groups: Bug

Contents

Stats
Movesets
Locations
Evolution
Best moves
Moves
Breeding
Sprites

Base stats

Attack

Defense

Sp. Atk

Sp. Def

Speed

Total

266

Base Stat Total

Type defenses

Damage taken from each attacking type.

Competitive movesets

Smogon University

Battle-ready sets by tier, straight from Smogon. Pick a generation and format — a “/” means either option works in that slot.

Generation

Final Gambit

Moves

Item

Eviolite

NatureNaive+Spe/−SpD

EV spread

HP188

Atk76

Def36

Spe▲196

Source: Smogon (via pkmn) · Data snapshot: Jul 31, 2026 · 18,880 rows

Where to find Nincada

Wild encounter locations across the games. Availability may also include trades, evolution, gifts, and events not listed here.

Ruby

Sapphire

Emerald

Diamond

Pearl

Platinum

HeartGold

SoulSilver

Friend Safari Route 6

Omega Ruby

Route 116

Alpha Sapphire

Route 116

Sword

Route 5 South Lake Miloch West Lake Axewell

Shield

Route 5 South Lake Miloch West Lake Axewell

Evolution

#0290Nincada

Lv. 20

#0291Ninjask

shed

#0292Shedinja

All Pokémon evolution families

Notable moves

The strongest damaging moves Nincada can learn — same-type (STAB) moves get a 1.5× power bonus in battle.

Moves

Lv.	Move & effect	Type	Class	Power	Acc.	PP
1	Sand Attack Lowers the target’s accuracy by one stage.	Ground	Status	—	100	15
1	Scratch Inflicts regular damage with no additional effect.	Normal	Physical	40	100	35
5	Harden Raises the user’s Defense by one stage.	Normal	Status	—	—	30
5	Leech Life Drains half the damage inflicted to heal the user.	Bug	Physical	80	100	10
10	False Swipe Cannot lower the target’s HP below 1.	Normal	Physical	40	100	40
15	Mud-Slap Has a chance to lower the target’s accuracy by one stage.	Ground	Special	20	100	10
21	Absorb Drains half the damage inflicted to heal the user.	Grass	Special	20	100	25
25	Metal Claw Has a chance to raise the user’s Attack by one stage.	Steel	Physical	50	95	35
29	Bide User waits for two turns, then hits back for twice the damage it took.	Normal	Physical	—	—	10
30	Fury Swipes Hits 2-5 times in one turn.	Normal	Physical	18	80	15
35	Mind Reader Ensures that the user’s next move will hit the target.	Normal	Status	—	—	5
40	Dig User digs underground, dodging all attacks, and hits next turn.	Ground	Physical	80	100	10