#0291 · Hoenn · Generation 3

Ninjask

Ninja Pokémon · Bug/Flying-type

Ninjask is a Bug/Flying-type Pokémon, the Ninja Pokémon, number 291 (#0291) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 3 and comes from the Hoenn region. It is 0.8 m tall and weighs 12 kg.

Ninjask is the Ninja Pokémon and, with a base Speed of 160, the fastest Pokémon that is not Legendary or Mythical. The Pokédex says it moves so fast that it was long believed to be invisible, even though its piercing cry can be heard clearly.

How to pronounce Ninjask

Ninjask is pronounced NIN-jask. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Ninjask said out loud:

In Japanese it is テッカニン (Tekkanin).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Ninjask is a small, cicada-like insect, 0.8 m tall and 12 kg, mostly black with yellow and grey accents. Gleaming red eyes sit either side of a black band on its yellow head, and its grey arms end in small yellow claws. It has two pairs of large, veined wings with red triangular tips.

Behaviour

The Pokédex says an untrained Ninjask refuses to obey and cries loudly non-stop, which is why it is said to test its Trainer. Hearing that cry for too long can cause a headache.

Habitat

Bulbapedia files it with the tropical and temperate forest Pokémon. In Sword and Shield it is found in Galar's Rolling Fields and Stony Wilderness.

Diet

The Pokédex says it is fond of tree sap.

Powers

Its Ability Speed Boost raises its Speed every turn, and the hidden Infiltrator slips attacks past Light Screen, Reflect and Safeguard. It knows Double Team, Screech and Fury Cutter on evolving, learns Agility, Slash, Swords Dance and X-Scissor, and can pass its boosts on with Baton Pass. With base Attack 90 but Defense 45 it is fast and fragile.

Name origin

Ninjask may combine 'ninja' and 'mask'. The Japanese name is Tekkanin (テッカニン), which may combine Tekkamen (the Man in the Iron Mask) with ninja, and may also involve tekka (gunfire).

Design inspiration

Ninjask looks like an adult cicada, in the colours of a bush cicada. Bulbapedia also sees a ninja in its name, quick movement, Double Team (a staple ninja trick in Japanese fiction) and cutting attacks. These are fan readings, not official statements.

Evolution notes

Ninjask evolves from Nincada at level 20.

In the games

In Pokémon Ranger, Ninjask is among the easiest Pokémon to catch, needing only one loop, and Bulbapedia says it is the only evolved Pokémon with that distinction. It first appeared in Ruby and Sapphire and is not available in Scarlet, Violet or Legends: Z-A.

In the anime

Paul's Ninjask lost to Infernape in 'A Real Rival Rouser!', Paul's Full Battle against Ash at the Lily of the Valley Conference. In 'From the Cradle to Save', Evian's Ninjask is captured by Team Rocket and freed by Ash's Grovyle.

Fun facts

• Ninjask's base Speed jumps by 120 when Nincada evolves, a record it shares with Accelgor in the poke.si game data.
• Ninjask shares its Ninja Pokémon category with Greninja.
• In the film 'Zoroark: Master of Illusions', Goone uses swarms of Ninjask to capture and carry Pokémon.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Ninjask (Pokémon) · Serebii: Ninjask (Sword/Shield Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 61
• Attack: 90
• Defense: 45
• Sp. Atk: 50
• Sp. Def: 50
• Speed: 160

Ninjask’s base stat total is 456. Its highest stat is Speed.

Type matchups

What is Ninjask weak to?

Ninjask takes extra damage from Rock (4×), Fire (2×), Electric (2×), Ice (2×), Flying (2×) moves.

It resists Grass (¼×), Fighting (¼×), Bug (½×).

It is immune to Ground moves.

Evolution

What does Ninjask evolve from?

Ninjask evolves from Nincada at level 20.

Ninjask is the final stage of its evolution family.

The whole family: Nincada, Ninjask, Shedinja.

• Nincada evolves into Shedinja (Spare Poké Ball in the bag).

Abilities

• Speed Boost: Raises Speed one stage after each turn.
• Infiltrator (hidden ability): Bypasses Light Screen, Reflect, and Safeguard.

Moves

Moves Ninjask learns by level up in Sword / Shield

“Evo” means Ninjask learns the move the moment it evolves: Double Team, Screech and Fury Cutter.

TM moves (30)

Ninjask can learn 30 moves from TMs in Sword / Shield: Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Solar Beam, Dig, Screech, Rest, Thief, Snore, Protect, Giga Drain, Sandstorm, Sunny Day, Facade, Swift, U-turn, Round, Acrobatics, False Swipe, Air Slash, Swords Dance, Agility, Leech Life, Substitute, Endure, Sleep Talk, Baton Pass, Shadow Ball, Uproar, X-Scissor, Bug Buzz.

Egg moves (5), which Nincada can hatch knowing:Bug Bite, Final Gambit, Flail, Gust, Night Slash.

Move tutor moves (2): Dual Wingbeat, Skitter Smack.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Bug.
• Egg cycles: 15 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 1,920).
• Catch rate: 120 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Slow Then Very Fast (600,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 2 Speed effort values.
• Base experience yield: 160.

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon is so quick, it is said to be able to avoid any attack. It loves to feed on tree sap. (FireRed, LeafGreen, Shield)

Its cry leaves a lasting headache if heard for too long. It moves so quickly that it is almost invisible. (HeartGold, SoulSilver, X, Sword)

If Ninjask is not trained properly, it will refuse to obey the Trainer and cry loudly continuously. Because of this quality, this Pokémon is said to be one that puts the Trainer's abilities to the test. (Sapphire, Alpha Sapphire)

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. (Ruby, Omega Ruby)

Because it moves so quickly, it sometimes becomes unseeable. It congregates around tree sap. (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Black, White, Black 2, White 2, Y)

Because it darts about vigorously at high speed, it is very difficult to see. Hearing its distinctive cries for too long induces a headache. (Emerald)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Fastest Flying type: 160 Speed.
• Fastest Bug type: 160 Speed.
• Fastest Pokémon in Gen 3: 160 Speed.
• Fastest Flying type in Gen 3: 160 Speed.
• Fastest Bug type in Gen 3: 160 Speed.
• Taller than 39% of all Pokémon (0.8 m).
• Heavier than 31% of all Pokémon (12 kg).
• Base stat total 456, ranked #493 of 1,025.
• Its best stat is Speed, ranked #2 of 1,025.
• One of 13 Pokémon that are both Bug and Flying.
• One of 88 yellow Pokémon.
• Number 40 of 135 Pokémon introduced in Generation 3 (Hoenn).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 49 different moves in Sword / Shield.
• Catch rate 120: about 15.7% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 6 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Ninjask (Pokémon), Serebii: Ninjask (Sword/Shield Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (NIN-jask): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Bug-type Pokémon · Flying-type Pokémon · Bug/Flying weaknesses and matchups · Ninjask vs Shedinja · Hoenn region guide · Speed Boost ability · Infiltrator ability · Compare Ninjask · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 3 Bug-type Pokémon · Gen 3 Flying-type Pokémon · Gen 3 Pokémon list · Yellow Pokémon list · Bug egg group · Pokémon that start with N · Bug Pokémon

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