What is a good moveset for Ninetales?

This thread is forKantonian Ninetales. For Alolan Ninetales, please gohere.

If you have a good competitive moveset for Ninetales,post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions 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.

Gen VNinetales (F) @ LeftoversAbility: DroughtEVs: 128 HP / 120 Def / 8 SpA / 252 SpDCalm Nature- Calm Mind- Fire Blast- Hypnosis- Solar Beam

Obviously, bring out the SUN! If you know your opponent has weather different from Sun on their team, just switch out ASAP so you can bring out your other weather team counters and bring out Ninetales later in the hope of taking control of the game after defeating their instant weather. You’ll want to start off using Hypnosis, this way you can set up a Calm Mind or two. This makes you hard to take out on the Special side and allows you to do good damage. Your Special Attack still isn’t going to be that high, but STAB and Sun boosted Fire Blast is going to do some damage, as is your high base power Solarbeam. Your EVs are intended to help you survive some hits (not high powered ones like a Conkeldurr or Haxorus, but normal lead stuff.) Leftovers also goes along with this.

Ninetales (F) @ Life OrbAbility: DroughtEVs: 64 HP / 128 SpA / 64 SpD / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Will-O-Wisp- Hex- Flamethrower- SolarBeam/Nasty Plot

Flash Fire can also be good, depends on what suits rest of team. (If you have like a Ferrothorn or something Flash Fire is definitely worth taking a look at.)

Will-O-WispHalves the foe’s attack.HexGets powered up by Will-O-Wisp.FlamethrowerSTAB.SolarbeamIs good with Drought,Nasty PlotIs very nice boosting move.

Here’s a SubMind set that I love to run on Tales.

EVs provide some bulk and some allowance for Subbing. Speed is to…outspeed…(:P) and then SpA. With Calm Mind it can get some nice set up going on behind that sub. Energy Ball hates on all of it’s weaknesses. Defensive Poli is outsped, allowing me to get the initial sub, hoping for a switch as they predict my switch. I get my sub up, and begin Calming my Mind. Fire Blast is main STAB and hits wickedly hard in sun. I do rely on help from teammates to take down opposing Heatrans and SpD TTars, but most teams rely on help from teammates.

Gonna give credit to:JonaandBlob, who worked with me on this team so long ago, and with whom, we created this boss set.

Btw Blob, Jona, the team is insanely ground weak :P

Gen 8 ZU

Ninetales @ Heavy-Duty BootsAbility: Flash FireEVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Flamethrower / Fire Blast- Energy Ball- Scorching Sands- Nasty Plot

Flamethrower and Fire Blast are STAB that can get a Flash Fire boost. Flamethrower is more accurate, Fire Blast is stronger. Energy Ball covers all of Ninetales' weaknesses. Scorching Sands covers Rock types and has a solid burn chance of 30%. Nasty Plot to become a dangerous Special sweeper.

Role: Special AttackerNinetales (M) @ LeftoversAbility: Flash FireEVs: 4 HP / 248 Def / 160 SpA / 48 SpD / 48 SpeModest Nature- Hypnosis- Nasty Plot- Flamethrower- Energy Ball

Okay, almost everyone uses Drought Ninetails. But let’s see what it can do without it.

Hypnosis is your Obvious first move, to put foe asleep, meaning their Either gonna take a nap for a few turns, or switch out, meaning you get to set up at least 1 Nasty Plot. Flamethrower gives you a rather powerful STAB attack, and Energy Ball Covers all of your weaknesses.

Ninetales @ Life OrbAbility: DroughtEVs: 64 HP / 128 SpA / 64 SpD / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Nasty Plot- Solar Beam- Will-O-Wisp- Hex

Makes use of Will-O-Wisp + Hex, which simultaneously cripples physical attackers and gives Ninetales a powerful attack that hits different targets to Fire. Nasty Plot enhances Ninetales’s wallbreaking potential and Solar Beam hits common switchins to Fire-types.

Gen III

Ninetales (M) @ Petaya BerryAbility: Flash FireEVs: 56 HP / 72 SpA / 252 SpD / 128 SpeModest Nature- Grudge- Overheat- Faint Attack- Imprison

Yeah, he sucks.

Overheat is pretty nice with STAB for a single use Attack, he can buff off special hits pretty well. Faint attack is cool coverage, all he really has for special without Hypno Dream eater.

Now onto his support, I use him on my Mono-Type Fire Gen III team, and he rocks. Grudge knocks out super effective moves that take you down. Example:

Blastoise:SurfIce BeamSubstituteRapid Spin

He wants to take you down with Surf, and you Grudge him. Now you have a free turn to use something like a Charizard that favors setting up while he switches out. And Imprison can be handy to screw over someone else’s fire type with Overheat, or heck. It can even take down another Grudger, even though they aren’t common.

Double/Triple battle

Ninetales (M) @ Life OrbAbility: Flash FireEVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Imprison- Heat Wave- Protect- Dark Pulse / Hidden Power [Dragon]

Since Drought is banned, we’ll have to make use with Flash Fire. Heat Wave is STAB and hits multiple Pokemon. Dark Pulse can hit any foe in a Triple Battle. However, HP Dragon gets perfect (except for Heatran) coverage with Heat Wave. Imprison can screw over some foes. I mean, them not being able to protect themselves with Protect is fairly damaging. And Heat Wave sees good usage. Protect protects you from Surf and earthquake from teammates and opposing attacks.

Ninetales @ LeftoversAbility: DroughtEVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpeModest Nature- Solar Beam- Heat Wave- Nasty Plot- Substitute

I find this mostly useful in Double battles as heat wave pretty much Doubles in power due to Sun + STAB and being able to hit the entire team. Just sub then nasty plot and then you can pretty much brute force your way through resistances. Solar Beam is 120 base attack and 1 turn in sun which provides some coverage.

Ninetales @ LeftoversAbility: DroughtEVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Disable- Will-O-Wisp- Substitute- Fire Blast

Fast sacrifice lead. Disable is for any choiced leads. Will-o-wisp is for any physical leads predicting Ninetales. Sub to be annoying. Fire Blast’s just for damage.

Ninetales (M) @ Leftovers / Choice SpecsAbility: DroughtEVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpeModest Nature- Fire Blast- Solar Beam- Will-O-Wisp- Nasty Plot / Flamethrower

Since offensive Ninetales can’t take many hits, I’d go with Choice Specs Flamethrower or Fire Blast if you’re feeling lucky. Solar Beam covers all of Ninetales’s weaknesses and only takes 1 turn to charge with drought. Ninetales with Choice specs can kill most sweepers and wear down walls. Only use nasty plot if your using leftovers. It’s basically stronger than Choice specs but takes a turn to use while C-specs is instant and since Ninetales can’t take many hits it’s probably better. Will-O-Wisp for walls and burn halves their attack making Physical sweepers useless.

Gen 6!

Role: Special Sweeper

Ninetales @ Leftovers / Wide Lens / CharcoalAbility: Drought / Flash FireEVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpeModest Nature- Flamethrower / Heat Wave / Fire Blast- Solar Beam / Energy Ball- Dark Pulse / Extrasensory / Hypnosis- Nasty Plot / Clam Mind

A good Special Sweeper to counter a lot. Energy Ball / Solar beam gives counter for allweaknesses (Water, Rock and Ground), and Dark pulse or Extrasensory are just great moveswith a chance of Flinch. Dark pulse has a larger chance or flinch but Extrasensory has more PP.I know a lot of people goes for Hypnosis but I dont really find it “useful” on it IMO, but I still putit on the list because people use it!

Personally, I went for:

Leftovers + Drought

Works absolutely fantastic! Strongly recommended!

This is gonna be less of a simple moveset and more of an overview or analysis of XY sun teams in general. Ninetales is horrible this generation and so are most of the sun sweepers. Ninetales only niche over Zard Y is Heat Rock and better typing. All the dedicated sun sweepers like Houndoom and Venusaur are terrible and only Zard Y is actually good.

Ninetales @ Heat RockAbility: DroughtEVs: 248 HP / 10 SpA / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Flamethrower- Substitute- Will-O-Wisp- Pain Split

There is no reason to use an offensive Ninetales now because you are better off with Zard Y. This is probably the most useful set it has to offer as Will O' Wisp is much more reliable than Hypnosis and also allows opportunities to sweep. I am making you not want to use Ninetales but I speak from expirience, Ninetales sucks, and dedicated sun teams are not worth it.

Ninetales @ Heat RockAbility: DroughtEVs: 252 SpD / 252 SpeCalm Nature- Fire Blast- Solar Beam- Confuse Ray / Hypnosis- Will-O-Wisp

I’ve had my Ninetales for a while now and she’s been pretty solid in battles.Fire blast and Solarbeam are hard hitters with the sunlight out and the heat rock makes sure you can use Solar Beam in one move for longer. Will o wisp weakens the attack stat and decreases the hp. Ninetales already has amazing sp defense so you EV train it in that, use will o wisp and they’ll have a hard time taking you out. Confuse ray and hypnosis are just added annoyances, I personally use Confuse Ray. It’s not a perfect set but it works for me.

Gen 3Ninetales @ LeftoversAbility: Flash FireEVs: 252 HP / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Substitute- Toxic- Pain Split- Extrasensory

This set is for pure speed and hp stat, Sustitute avoid status problems and toxic+extrasensory for some flitch. Pain Split is pretty good vs wall like chansey and others! and this help to toxic work more fast.

Gen VIINinetales @ Life Orb / Charcoal / Spell Tag / Firium ZAbility: DroughtEVs: 6 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpeModest Nature-Fire Blast / Flamethrower / Overheat-Solar Beam-Will-O-Wisp / Hypnosis-Hex / Nasty Plot

Fire Blast / Flamethrower / Overheat(STAB)Solar Beam(covers weakness)

(1)Fire Blast hits like a train coming from a Modest Ninetales and comes equipped with a STAB. Overheat is good if your Ninetales is utilizing Nasty Plot a lot because you can hit for more damage without a Sp. Atk penalty, and it also has a STAB. Flamethrower is weaker than Fire Blast but has better accuracy and yes… a STAB is included. Solar Beam covers ALL the weaknesses and hits in one turn instead of two thanks to Drought. Will-O-Wisp sets up Hex while also debuffing the enemy reducing the targets damage output. Keep in mind: Burned targets deal reduced damage. Hex would now hit for double the base damage (130) instead of the norm (65) because the target is inflicted with a status condition, specifically the burned status condition due to Will-O-Wisp. The double is now doubled (260) if it hits a Pokemon weak to ghost type moves (Psychic or Ghost) and if holding the spell tag, it will increase the move Hex by 20% making it the second hardest move Ninetales has in its arsenal.

(2)Another option is to have Ninetales set up its moves using Hypnosis, and then Nasty Plot twice - and assuming the target stays asleep for at least 2 turns - utilizing Solar Beam or one of the fire moves will surely knock the target Pokémon out of the arena.NOTE:This option is HIGHLY risky and unfavorable, mainly due to the fact that Hypnosis has such a low accuracy (60). It makes the move about as competitive as having the move Inferno instead of Will-O-Wisp on your moveset. Effective IF it lands, but way too risky in competitive or even PvE gameplay.

Ninetales- Fast Specs

Ninetales @ Choice SpecsAbility:DroughtEVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 SpeModest Nature- Flamethrower- Solar Beam- Psyshock- Nasty Plot

Sun setter:

Ninetales @ Heat RockAbility: DroughtEVs: 128 HP / 128 SpA / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Heat Wave / Flamethrower- Solar Beam- Will-O-Wisp- Disable

Heat wave in doubles, flamethrower in singles for STAB. Solar beam for coverage. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical mons, and special mons already have to deal with his great natural special defense. Disable is annoying and fun.

Gen VIIINinetales@ CharcoalNature: ModestEvs: 252 Sp.A / 4 Spd / 126 Sp.D / 126 DefAbility: Drought- Nasty Plot- Flamethrower / Fire Blast / Fire Spin- Energy Ball / Solar Beam- Sunny Day / Hex

Drought sets up the sun so Ninetales gains a power boost as soon as it is sent out. Nasty Plot further boosts Ninetales' special attack, therefore boosting the power of its attacks. The STAB move, you can decide from Flamethrower, Fire Blast and Fire Spin (personally I would use Fire Spin). Your coverage move depends on whether you use Sunny Day or Hex. If you choose Hex, use Energy Ball. If you choose Sunny Day you get a boost in your Fire moves and Solar Beam executes in 1 turn. Sunny Day and Energy Ball can also be used.

Gen 9 NU Sun SetterVulpix @ Heat RockAbility: DroughtTera Type: FireEVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpeTimid NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Flamethrower / Weather Ball- Will-O-Wisp- Encore- Healing Wish

Yes, this is a Vulpix set that should use in Gen 9 NU. DLC 1 came out recently, giving NU a Drought user. If you decide to use a Sun team in NU at the time this was posted, Vulpix is the only Drought Pokemon that can be used in NU. Flamethrower is used as the STAB move should Vulpix need to attack something. Weather Ball can be used for a slightly stronger Fire STAB when sun is up. Will-O-Wisp allows Vulpix to cripple physical wallbreakers switching in. Encore allows Vulpix to take advantage of passive Pokemon. Healing Wish can potentially give a Sun abuser a second chance at sweeping. I didn’t change the Tera Type since you shouldn’t be using your Tera on Vulpix. Heat Rock is used to extend the turns of Sun.

252 EVs are used in Speed so Vulpix can be as fast as possible should it need to actually use its utility moves. 248 HP EVs are used since a base 50 Special Attack isn’t really going to do much lmao. Since this is a Sun team, Hattrem is a required teammate since it has Magic Bounce to prevent Stealth Rock from coming onto your side.