NationalDex
ninetales
#038

Ninetales

Fox Pokémon

Fire

Its nine tails are said to be imbued with a mystic power. It can live for a thousand years.

Base Stats

HP 73
Attack 76
Defense 75
Sp. Atk 81
Sp. Def 100
Speed 100
Total 505

Type Effectiveness

Abilities

Held Items

Evolution Chain

Moves

Locations

Details

Category Fox Pokémon
Height 1.1 m
Weight 19.9 kg
Base Exp 177
Growth Rate Medium
Capture Rate 75
Base Happiness 70
Gender 25% ♂ / 75% ♀
Habitat Grassland
Egg Groups Ground

Sprites

ninetales Front Front
ninetales Back Back
ninetales Front Shiny Front Shiny
ninetales Back Shiny Back Shiny
ninetales Official Art Official Art
ninetales Official Art (Shiny) Official Art (Shiny)

Competitive

Sunny Day Attacker
Moves
Heat Wave / Flamethrower
Will-O-Wisp / Energy Ball
Item
Focus Sash / Shuca Berry / Charti Berry
Ability
Drought
Nature
Modest
EVs
HP 4
SpA 252
Spe 252
Sun Support
Moves
Heat Wave / Flamethrower
Will-O-Wisp / Energy Ball
Item
Iron Ball
Ability
Drought
Nature
Quiet
EVs
HP 252
Def 4
SpA 252

Strategy Overview

While Ninetales may have often been forgotten in VGC past, labeled as "too weak" and "too frail", BW granted it access to an ability that rockets it upwards in usage: Drought. The ability to bring eternal sun instantly makes Ninetales a must-have for any team looking to abuse Sunny Day and its effects. Not only that, but Ninetales powers up its own STAB Fire-type moves with the sun it brings, making it a force on its own. That is not to say that Ninetales is without its downsides, though. With weaknesses to common spread moves such as Surf, Rock Slide, and Earthquake, Ninetales must tread carefully or risk being KOed. Still, Ninetales is quite the force to be reckoned with in VGC.

Competitive data from Smogon University via data.pkmn.cc