Nincada

The Trainee Pokémon
#290 - Nincada
Evolve	Ninjask, Shedinja
Debut	Pokémon: Sapphire Version Pokémon: Ruby Version
Species Info
Type	+ +
Height	0.5 m (1'08")
Weight	5.5 kg (12.1 lbs.)
Color	Gray
Gender Ratio	1♂ : 1♀
Ability	Compoundeyes
Hidden Ability	Run Away
Egg Group	Bug
Icon		Sprite
		File:290sprite.png
Footprint
30px
Base Statistics
Hit Points	31	Speed	40
Attack	45	Sp. Attack	30
Defense	90	Sp. Defense	30
Training Info
Catch Rate	255	Hatch Steps	3,840
Base Exp.	065	Effort Points	Def
Happiness	70
To Lv.100	Erratic

Kanto #	Johto #	Hoenn #	Sinnoh #
< 290 >		< 042 >
Unova #	Johto (IV) #

Nincada is a subterranean cicada-like Pokémon that was introduced in the third generation games. Its evolved form is Ninjask and has the possibility of also producing a Shedinja in the evolution.

Information

Nincada lives underground for many years in complete darkness. It absorbs nutrients and moisture from the roots of trees after carving them with its own claws. They usually remain motionless while awaiting evolution and use their whisker-like antennae to probe their surroundings due to being virtually blind. Nincada can live for over ten years underground.

It evolves into Ninjask at Level 20. If the player has an empty slot in the party as well as a spare Poké Ball, a Shedinja will also come to life.

Appearances

Mainstream Games

In Pokémon: Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Versions, Nincada could be found somewhat commonly at Route 116, In Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, it could appear at Eterna Forest when using the Poké Radar. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, it appeared at the National Park during the Bug-Catching Contest on Thursdays and Saturdays after the National Pokédex was unlocked.

Other Games

In Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, it was found at the Forest. In Pokémon Trozei!, it appeared at Secret Storage 13, Endless Level 20, Forever Level 6 and Mr. Who's Den. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Teams, it could be recruited at the first four floors of Lapis Caves, the forty-fourth through forty-ninth floors of Wish Cave and the forty-fifth through forty-ninth floors of Joyous Tower, while in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness it was recruitable at the first seven basement floors of Quicksand Cave and Midnight Forest. Nincada also appeared in Pokémon Ranger at Lyra Forest.

Other Appearances

Other Media

• One episode of the Pokémon anime's Hoenn series featured a trainer with a Nincada that he used to make his secret base, and it was temporarily captured by Team Rocket. They have also made a few other minor appearances.
• In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Shelly of Team Aqua gave her Nincada to her teammate Amber to use in his battle with Wattson near the end of the Ruby/Sapphire arc. It evolved into a Ninjask and produced a Shedinja during the battle.

Trivia

• Its name is a combination of "ninja" and "cicada".