What is a good moveset for Alolan Ninetales?

This thread is forAlolan Ninetales. For Kantonian Ninetales, please gohere.

If you have a good competitive moveset for Alolan Ninetales,post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to includefull set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated.Access the full list of guidelines here.

Ninetales Pokédex and learnsetfor reference.

Pleaselog inorregisterto add a comment.

Ninetales-Alola(F) @ Light Clay / Icy RockAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 SpeTimid NatureIV: 0 Atk- Blizzard / Freeze Dry- Moonblast- Aurora Veil- Encore

Alolan Ninetales is one of, if not the most reliable setter ofAurora Veil, which is basically Reflect and Light Screen combined that can only be used in Hail. Thanks to her Hidden Ability, Snow Warning, she can set it up reliably first turn with her good base speed. The hail also boosts the accuracy of Blizzard to 100%. The choice between Blizzard and Freeze Dry depends on whether you want more power, or the ability to hit bulky Water types super effectively. You can OHKO Pelipper and Kingdra with Freeze Dry, thus making you a solid check to rain teams since you take away both their weather and force them out/kill them with Freeze Dry. Moonblast is good, reliable STAB, and Encore serves to lock enemies into unfavourable moves should they attempt to set up on you.

Ninetales-Alola @ Light ClayAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpABold Nature- Blizzard- Moonblast- Aurora Veil- Calm Mind

The idea here is a bulky special wall, with a better typing than Kantonian Ninetales. Dies to Steel, but obviously you switch. Anyway, the idea here is be a wall that can hit hard. Two STAB moves, because one you can abuse with item/Hidden Ability, and the other helps you survive special hits (which is why Bold, and Defense EVs).

Alolan Ninetales is pretty standard if you want to use Aurora Veil, but since that’s easy to find. Here’s an offensive Atails set that I think is pretty much optimised. Replace Icy Rock with Leftovers if not paired with Arctozolt (not covering here unless requested since the sets are pretty standard). Also this is for singles, so make sure you use a different set for BSD / VGC.

Ninetales-Alola @ Icy Rock / LeftoversAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 40 HP / 32 Def / 228 SpA / 208 SpeTimid NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Nasty Plot- Psyshock- Freeze-Dry- Blizzard

Nasty Plot is needed for this set. Because of Ninetales’s poor Special Attack and Defense, Calm Mind is not an option. Blizzard is also needed for Rillaboom, as Freeze Dry will not OHKO without a boost. Psyshock OHKOs Nihilego at +1, and can threaten Blissey at +2, with +4 threatening a 2HKO under hail (though Arctozolt is better equipped for Blissey). Freeze Dry 2HKOs Slowbro and threatens an OHKO at +2, and is important to stop it from walling Ninetales completely. Hidden Power Ground is an option over Psyshock in National Dex on Pokémon Showdown, however the resulting decrease in damage presented by Blizzard along with the length of Hail can be problematic, and both Heatran and Magnezone survive one HP Ground, and then OHKO back. Even specially defensive Heatran sets, the more common set, live a +2 HP Ground.

These EVs prevent a Life Orb Rillaboom from OHKOing Ninetales with Grassy Glide, the only way Rillaboom will outspeed Ninetales. 208 speed and a Timid nature allow Ninetales to outspeed a +0 Nihilego and threaten an OHKO with Psyshock. While Moonblast is a nice STAB move to have, the combination of Blizzard and Psyshock threatens anything that Moonblast would regularly, barring Pokémon like Bisharp (who would still live a Moonblast and OHKO back with Iron Head), and so is useless.

Calcs:252+ Atk Life Orb Rillaboom Grassy Glide vs. 40 HP / 32 Def Ninetales-Alola in Grassy Terrain: 251-296 (84.5 - 99.6%) – guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

+2 228 SpA Ninetales-Alola Psyshock vs. 80 HP / 0 Def Nihilego: 450-530 (118.7 - 139.8%) – guaranteed OHKO

+2 228 SpA Ninetales-Alola Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Blissey: 225-265 (31.5 - 37.1%) – guaranteed 3HKO after hail damage+4 228 SpA Ninetales-Alola Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Blissey: 337-397 (47.1 - 55.6%) – 78.5% chance to 2HKO

228 SpA Ninetales-Alola Freeze-Dry vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Slowbro: 198-234 (50.2 - 59.3%) – guaranteed 2HKO+2 228 SpA Ninetales-Alola Freeze-Dry vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Slowbro: 390-462 (98.9 - 117.2%) – 93.8% chance to OHKO (Guaranteed OHKO after Hail)

EDIT: I do want to add that Choice Specs is sorta viable but loses out on the extended hail turns for Arctozolt to use, unless this is in doubles formats, where longer weather is less desirable (it should be noted that this is prone to weather resetting and so a support set with Hail, Freeze-dry, Blizzard, and Protect is likely more desirable as a whole).

Ninetales-Alola @ Choice ScarfAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 SpeTimid NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Grudge- Blizzard- Moonblast- Freeze-Dry

Alolan Ninetales has a niche on Fairy teams as a Scarf user that can make dealing with certain Steel types easier. For those wondering, “How does Alolan Ninetales make dealing with certain steel-types easier?”, I’ll explain. This set uses the move Grudge, which deletes the PP of the move that makes the Grudge user faint. This means that if Excadrill uses Iron Head and Melmetal uses Double Iron Bash on Alolan Ninetales on the turn it uses Grudge, they’ll lose the PP of their Steel STAB, which Fairy-types are weak to. The rest of the moves on this set are just attacking moves to use if you don’t need to use Grudge. Blizzard is a strong Ice STAB move that doesn’t miss when Alolan Nintales' Snow Warning is up. Moonblast is used for Fairy STAB. Freeze-Dry is used for an Ice STAB that deals super effective damage to Pokemon such as Pelipper, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad. Choice Scarf is used as the item so you can be able to use Grudge against Choice Scarf Excadrill, as well as providing speed control.

Here’s my Showdown one:

Elegancy (Ninetales-Alola) (F) @ Life OrbAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Nasty Plot- Ice Beam- Moonblast- Psyshock

Ninetales-Alola (F) @ Never-Melt Ice / Life Orb / Icium ZAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpDModest Nature- Aurora Veil- Blizzard- Extrasensory / Hidden Power [Ground]- Moonblast / Dazzling Gleam

No disrespect, but let me start by saying that holding items like Light Clay and Icy Rock seem to be a waste UNLESS you plan on throwing out more than one Ice Pokemon in which then, that may be useful. Why is that? Well, if people battled to battle and not switch out their Pokemon 30 times in one battle because they didn’t train their Pokemon for coverage, then there is no need for the worry of running out of Snow Warning or Aurora Veil. With that said…if you threw out A-Nine (A-9), then most likely, the reason you threw her out was because the Pokemon in front of you may not survive a Blizzard or two.

Moving on… Aurora Veil should be the opener as it reduces both special attacks and physical attacks and partners well with Snow Warning. Blizzard hits like a train and has a (STAB). Extrasensory and Hidden Power [Ground] can cover weaknesses. That isn’t a bad thing seeing as one of A-9’s primary stats is speed… so she may actually go first and take a decent chunk out of anything that dares an attempt to prey on her.Do keep in mind that you may not get Hidden Power [Ground] as my HP would be Steel if I went with it. I fought someone and theirs was ground and Legolas21 posted ground so I guess it’s possible and those two trainers are the only reason I am even posting HP as an option.Last could be Moonblast for single target battles OR Dazzling Gleam for Double or Triple Battles. SO, for those people out there that think Moonblast is a “given,” it’s not. Dazzling Gleam may not hit as hard as Moonblast, no, but it has way better coverage as far as hitting multiple Pokémon and can still cause some trouble for other teams or Pokemon weak to Fairy moves. Both moves also come equipped with a (STAB) and both depending on what you’re doing are excellent choices.

There are many ways to build a Pokémon and many different people each have an opinion as I too, have mine. Good luck with all your builds. :-)

Ninetales-Alola @ Icy Rock / Light ClayAbility: Snow WarningNature: Modest / TimidEVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD- Blizzard / Freeze-Dry- Moonblast- Aurora Veil- Encore / Calm Mind / Confuse Ray / Freeze-Dry

Move #1: Your choice of Ice STAB. Blizzard deals more damage and is 100% accuracy in Hail, but Freeze-Dry can KO some common threats with it being strong against Water.Move #2: Fairy STABMove #3: Mandatory set-up move. Alolan Ninetales is nothing without it.Move #4: Your choice, however you want to mess with your opponent.

Sweeper Set

Ninetales-Alola @ Life Orb / Focus SashAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 252 Spe / 252 SpA / 4 DefTimid Nature- Blizzard- Nasty Plot- Moonblast- Hidden Power [Ground]

Explanation: No Aurora Veil? A Hail Sweeper Alolan Ninetales can work. Blizzard is STAB and it has 100% accuracy in the hail + a chance to freeze the foe. Nasty Plot raises Special Attack by 2 Stages. Moonblast is also STAB and it has a chance to lower the foe’s Special Attack by 1 stage. Hidden Power [Ground] covers all of Alolan Ninetales' Weaknesses. If you can’t risk using a Life Orb on Ninetales, then use a Focus Sash.

Ninetales-Alola @ Light Clay / Never-Melt IceAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpDModest Nature- Moonblast- Freeze Dry / Blizzard- Aurora Veil / Nasty Plot- Dark Pulse / Hidden Power [Ground]

Moonblast is a given.

Freeze-Dry is for the Water coverage, and better with the Never-Melt Ice. Otherwise, use Blizzard to work with Snow Warning.

Aurora Veil works with Snow Warning as well, and Light clay if you don’t run Freeze-Dry. Without Light Clay, you can still keep it or use Nasty Plot as a boost.

Normally Shadow Ball is preferable to Dark Pulse, but as pulse is it’s only option, and Fairy can cover Fighting, Dark Pulse is acceptable. Otherwise, a good coverage move like Hidden Power can fill the space.

By the way, all of its weaknesses are weak to Ground, so Hidden Power [Ground] is perfect.

Nickname: Dragon SlayerThe perfect nickname for your A-Ninetales being it’s Ice and Fairy typing. Two types which are both super effective against Dragon types!

Ninetales-Alola @ Icy RockAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Hypnosis- Nasty Plot- Blizzard / Freeze-Dry- Moonblast

You enter the battlefield; Snow Warning activates and a Hailstorm is summoned. Use Hypnosis first to put your enemy to sleep. Setup on them while they’re asleep with Nasty Plot and you have a potential sweep on your hands with your two main STABs: Blizzard / Freeze-Dry and Moonblast!

Special Atacker with no Hidden Ability.

Ninetales-Alola (F) @ Icy RockAbility: Snow CloakEVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Hail- Moonblast- Blizzard- Aurora Veil

Ninetales-Alola @ Focus SashAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Blizzard- Ice Beam- Dazzling Gleam- Aurora Veil

I don’t know if this is good so let me know. I’m skeptical about this.

Ninetales-Alola @ Icy Rock / Light ClayAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 4 SpeTimid NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Blizzard / Freeze-Dry- Moonblast- Nasty Plot- Aurora Veil

My in S&M game Ninetales :D

Keokeo (Ninetales-Alola) @ Never-Melt IceAbility: Snow CloakEVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpeModest Nature- Ice Beam- Dazzling Gleam- Extrasensory- Dark Pulse

Hope you like it-S&M Out

Gen 8 OU

Ninetales-Alola @ Light Clay / Heavy-Duty BootsAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpeTimid Nature

Blizzard is very powerful Ice-type STAB that never misses in hail, which is set by Alolan Ninetales' Snow Warning. Moonblast is STAB. Aurora Veil is team support and helps enable set up from monsters like Blaziken, Garchomp, Buzzwole, and Spectrier. Speaking of set up, Nasty Plot doubles Alolan Ninetale’s Special Attack and makes it much easier for it to sweep or break holes in the opposition.

Ninetales-Alola @ Light ClayAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 SpeTimid NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Aurora Veil- Blizzard- Moonblast- Psyshock

Aurora veil is better than dual-screening, and the snow warning ability makes it a reliable way to start off a match. Light clay extends its use to 8 turns. Blizzard and moonblast for STAB, plus, blizzard becomes unmissable in hail from snow warning. Psyshock is good for coverage but also it attacks based on defence, so its good for getting around moves that raise Sp. Def.

Ninetales-Alola @ Focus SashAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpeTimid NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Aurora Veil- Reflect- Blizzard- Moonblast

That’s the one I use for showdown, the idea is that it’s a speedy support, setting up aurora veil and reflect, the HP EVs and focus sash serve to buy it time while it does that.

Blizzard can’t miss in the hail that Ninetales automatically sets up, plus STAB and Moonblast is also for STAB.

Can work with a hail team or with a rain team, sending in Ninetales as a lead before switching into Pelipper or something with drizzle to change the weather to your benefit.

Alolan Ninetales ( staller )

Ninetales-Alola @ LeftoversAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 252 Spe / 252 HP / 6 SpDTimid Nature- Hypnosis- Aurora Beam / Blizzard / Freeze-Dry- Aurora Veil- Moonblast

The idea is to abuse healing using Leftovers, while setting up Aurora Veil. Moonblast is a fairy type STAB and can lower the opponent’s Special Attack, which means it reduces a whole lot of damage from special attackers ( if Aurora Veil is already set ). Aurora Beam can lower the opponent’s Attack, and again, massively reduces damage if Aurora Veil is set. Another option is Blizzard or Freez-Dry, and the choice between Blizzard and Freeze Dry depends on whether you want more power, or the ability to hit bulky Water types super effectively, as well as sweep Rain Dance teams. Hypnosis puts the opponent to sleep, and prevents them from setting up for free.

Hope this helped!

Gen 9 National Dex UU Aurora Veil SetterNinetales-Alola @ Light ClayAbility: Snow WarningEVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpeTimid NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Freeze-Dry- Aurora Veil- Hail- Encore / Hypnosis

An Aurora Veil set for Gen 9 NatDex UU. With Snow replacing Hail, Aurora Veil HO teams are really good now. With Snow giving a +1 defense to Ice-types, this means that a bulky EV spread for an Aurora Veil Alolan Ninetales is better.

Freeze-Dry is used as Alolan Nintales' Ice STAB on this set to allow you to deal super effective damage to Water-types such as Gastrodon, Slowbro, Gyarados, and Slowking. Aurora Veil is used to half damage taken and acts as Light Screen and Reflect in one move. While Hail might seem weird at first glance since Alolan Ninetales has Snow Warning, it is used to get rid opposing weather should a Hippowdon, Torkoal, or Pelipper switch in to disrupt Snow to prevent you from using Aurora Veil. Encore lets you take advantage of passive Pokemon and Pokemon setting up by locking them into the move they previously used. Hypnosis can be used instead to put a Pokemon to sleep so you can have a good opportunity to switch out.

Gen 9 UU Snow Setter

Ninetales-Alola @ Light Clay / Icy RockAbility: Snow WarningTera Type: Fairy / Water / IceEVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpeTimid NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Aurora Veil- Moonblast- Chilling Water- Blizzard

A great snow setter in Gen 9 UU! This pairs well with Ice Body, Slush Rush, and Snow Cloak Pokémon. Light Clay is for Aurora Veil, but Icy Rock helps snow stay for longer. Fairy Tera or Ice Tera for more STAB in Moonblast / Blizzard but water works to negate the Steel and Fire weaknesses. Timid Nature to outspeed even more Pokémon. Aurora Veil is a must have on this Pokémon as it lowers the damage from Special Attacks and Physical Attacks by 50% for 5 turns (8 if you use Light Clay). Moonblast for STAB and counters Pokémon like Garchomp, Greninja, Hydrapple, and Kommo-o. Chilling Water is a Water-type attack that lowers the opponents Attack stage by -1 which helps Ninetales stay a little longer from Physical Attacks. Blizzard is STAB and is 100% accurate in Snow.

Good luck on your Snow teams and enjoy the set!