Introduced in generation three, with the Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire games, Ninjask is a dual type bug and flying Pokemon. It is part of a unique evolution line and will evolve from Nincada once it reaches the level threshold. Ninjask is classified by the Pokedex as the “Ninja Pokemon” which indicates its general design. This guide will showcase Ninjask’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Ninjask.
About Ninjask
As a generation three Pokemon, Ninjask first appeared in the Ruby and Sapphire season of the anime in the episode The Princess and the Togepi. It appeared alongside Shedinja in this episode to showcase its unique evolution line. Ninjask will evolve from Nincada once it reaches level 20 but if the player also has an extra Pokeball and another slot on their team, they will obtain a Shedinja as well. The Pokedex states that Ninjask can move so quickly it cannot be seen by the naked eye, it was believed to be invisible for a long time.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire The Princess and the Togepi |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire |
| Region | Hoenn |
| Evolution | Evolves from Nincada, not known to evolve into any other Pokemon |
| 1st Evo level | 20 |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | Ninjask moves around at such a high speed that it cannot be seen, even while its crying can be clearly heard. For that reason, this Pokémon was long believed to be invisible. |
Ninjask Base Stats
| HP | 61 |
| ATTACK | 90 |
| DEFENCE | 45 |
| SP. ATTACK | 50 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 50 |
| SPEED | 160 |
| TOTAL | 456 |
Appearance
Ninjask is a small bug-like Pokemon that resembles a bumblebee in color. Most of its body is black with yellow stripes and it seems to be wearing a mask over its face. There is a yellow crest on top of its head and its mouth seems to be covered with bandages. It has two large red eyes and two pairs of clear wings with red tips, and also has two small arms and a plated body. Ninjask is a small Pokemon at only 2 feet and 7 inches, or 0.8 meters, tall.
Behavior
Ninjask is an incredibly fast Pokemon that moves fast enough that it cannot be seen. They tend to live in tropical areas and will typically only eat tree sap. In the anime, they are typically seen in groups in the wild or alongside its other final evolution, Shedinja. Trainers often have trouble with Ninjask as it requires proper training and will cry loudly if it is not properly trained. The Pokedex states that its cry can cause headache and its speed makes it difficult to see.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Almost all of Ninjask’s stats are incredibly mediocre, however, its speed stat is one of the highest in the entire franchise. Its physical attack is respectable and it can be used offensively. It can also come with the Speed Boost ability which can ensure Ninjask typically moves first. As a dual type flying and bug type Pokemon, Ninjask takes 2x damage from flying, fire, electric, and ice type moves while taking 4x damage from rock type moves. It is immune to ground type moves and resistant against fighting, bug, and grass type moves.
Best Moveset
Since its introduction in generation three, Ninjask has appeared throughout almost every tier of competitive play. Its high speed stat along with moves like Baton Pass would help set up other Pokemon for sweeping. Unfortunately, it is currently near the bottom of competitive formats, but it can still function as a quick offensive/utility Pokemon. Consider running U-Turn, Aerial Ace, X-Scissor, and Night Slash/Swords Dance. U-Turn gives you an efficient switch out, Aerial Ace and X-Scissor both benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), and Night Slash/Swords Dance are interchangeable as type coverage of sweeping potential respectively.
| U-Turn | Aerial Ace |
| X-Scissor | Night Slash/Swords Dance |
How to Catch Ninjask in Pokemon Go
If you would like to obtain a Ninjask in Pokemon Go, the easiest way to do so would be to first capture a Nincada and eventually evolve it into Ninjask. That is because like most final evolutions, the base evolution is a more common spawn to encounter in the wild. You can find Nincada spawning in the wild, at a boosted rate, near parks, farmland, forests, gardens, and other grassy areas. Nincada can also be hatched from 5, 7, and 10 km eggs but while Nincada has not appeared as a raid boss, you can find Ninjask as a tier four raid boss at Pokemon Gyms. To evolve Nincada into Ninjask you will just need 50 candies.
Trivia
- Ninjask has the highest base speed stat of any bug, flying, and non-legendary Pokemon.
- The inspiration for Ninjask’s design is based on the adult cicada.
- The name Ninjask is a combination of the words ninja and mask.
Explainer Video
FAQ
Is Shedinja or Ninjask better?
While Shedinja has a unique ability that makes it immune to any non-super effective move, it is not particularly reliable. Ninjask will offer you one of the highest speed stats in the entire franchise while also providing stat boosts to your other Pokemon through Baton Pass.
How do you evolve Ninjask into Sedinja?
Ninjask is one of the final evolutions of Nincada, it does not evolve into Shedinja. To obtain Shedinja, you will just need to evolve your Nincada while having a spare Pokeball in your inventory and an extra slot available in your party. Once Nincada evolves at level 20, you will obtain a Ninjask and a Shedinja if you fulfill the conditions.
Does a Ninjask evolve again?
Ninjask is the final evolution of its line and does not evolve further. It evolves from Nincada at level 20 and has no special conditions to fulfill. While Nincada is technically a three stage evolution Pokemon, it is due to the fact that Nincada can evolve into two Pokemon at once. Both Shedinja and Ninjask will evolve from Nincada simultaneously as long as you fulfill the conditions for Shedinja.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Ninja Pokemon”. Ninjask has one of the highest base speed stats in the game and a respectable physical attack stat to go along with it. Unfortunately, it has trouble setting up a sweep due to its weak typing and weak defensive stats. Regardless, it can be used in a variety of strategies making Ninjask a desirable Pokemon. Reserve a slot on your team for Ninjask if you want a bug and flying type Pokemon that will often outspeed your opponents.
