Ninetales

Ninetales
Vulpix
038
Jigglypuff
Ability	Flash Fire Drought (Kantonian Hidden) Snow Cloak (Alolan) Snow Warning (Alolan Hidden)
Egg group	Field
First game	Pokémon Red and Blue
Creator	Game Freak

Ninetales<sup>(JPJapanese: キュウコン

Romaji: Kyukon)</sup> is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a Fire-type Pokémon that made its first appearance in the first generation games Red and Blue. In Alola, it developed into an Ice and Fairy Pokémon and now evolves with an Ice Stone.

Physiology and Behavior

Ninetales is a quadrupedal canine Pokémon covered in thick, luxurious golden-white fur. It has a small mane of thicker fur around its neck and a long, fluffy crest atop its head. It has slender legs with three-toed paws and nine, long tails with pale orange tips. It has red eyes, pointed ears, and a triangular black nose.

While intelligent enough to easily understand human speech, Ninetales is a very vengeful Pokémon that has been known to curse those who mistreat it. The curse can last up to 1,000 years. As mentioned in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, once a Ninetales casts its curse, it cannot be removed even by Ninetales itself. It can live for 1,000 years due to the energy within its nine tails, each of which is said to have a different mystical power. Flames spewed from its mouth can hypnotize an opponent and its gleaming red eyes are said to give it the ability to control minds. The anime has shown that it can swim while Pokémon-Amie shows that Ninetales lick their paws to clean themselves. Being the result of an evolution via Evolution stone, Ninetales are rarely found in the wild, though they can be found in grasslands.

Alolan Ninetales

In the Alola region, Ninetales have a different appearance. Its coat is pale blue, and its fur is more flowing and wispier. The tips of its tails and crest, as well as the lower halves of its legs, are white. The crest on its head is longer and its nine tails are less distinct from each other. Additionally, it has larger eyes, which are blue, and small tufts of fur in front of its ears.

Alolan Ninetales lives on Alola's snow-capped Mount Lanakila, which is considered by some to be holy ground. As such, it is revered as a sacred messenger or deity. Alolan Ninetales has a gentle and calm temperament and is known to aid lost humans in distress, though this is primarily done to keep them out of its territory. It will punish any threat to its pack of Vulpix. Those who anger it will be frozen stiff in an instant. It can produce ice crystals from its fur, which it can use for both offense and defense. The ice crystals can act as a shield or form balls that can be fired like bullets with enough force to shatter rock. They can also be found in the Polar Biome of Blueberry Academy's Terarium, where Alola's island life is simulated.

Appearances

Other Pokémon games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team: Ninetales cast a curse on a human that would turn it into a Pokémon, bringing on many natural disasters. The player is blamed for this and travels to the home of Ninetales at the top of Mt. Freeze to learn the truth. Ninetales appears again when Gengar wishes to make right what he did to Gardevoir. He gives Gengar the 9-Tail Crest and sends him and the player to Murky Cave.

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: Ninetales returns, asking the player to visit its hideout. Upon arrival, the player will connect with both Ninetales and Absol.

In Pokkén Tournament

Ninetales can be used as an assist in Pokkén Tournament.

In-game information

Pokédex entries

Title	Entry
First Pokémon generation
Pokémon Red and Blue	Very smart and very vengeful. Grabbing one of its many tails could result in a 1000-year curse.
Pokémon Yellow	According to an enduring legend, 9 noble saints were united and reincarnated as this Pokémon.
Pokémon Stadium	It is extremely vindictive. It is said to lay a 1,000-year long curse if its tail is pulled as a joke.
Second Pokémon generation
Pokémon Gold	Some legends claim that each of its nine tails has its own unique type of special mystic power.
Pokémon Silver	Its nine beautiful tails are filled with a wondrous energy that could keep it alive for 1,000 years.
Pokémon Crystal	It is said to live a thousand years, and each of its tails is loaded with supernatural powers.
Third Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ruby	Ninetales casts a sinister light from its bright red eyes to gain total control over its foe's mind. This Pokémon is said to live for one thousand years.
Pokémon Sapphire	Legend has it that Ninetales came into being when nine wizards possessing sacred powers merged into one. This Pokémon is highly intelligent - it can understand human speech.
Pokémon Emerald	It has long been said that each of the nine tails embody an enchanted power. A long-lived Ninetales will have fur that shines like gold.
Pokémon FireRed	It has nine long tails and fur that gleams gold. It is said to live for 1,000 years.
Pokémon LeafGreen	Very smart and very vengeful. Grabbing one of its many tails could result in a 1,000-year curse.
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Diamond	Its nine tails are said to be imbued with a mystic power. It can live for a thousand years.
Pokémon Pearl	Its nine tails are said to be imbued with a mystic power. It can live for a thousand years.
Pokémon Platinum	Its nine tails are said to be imbued with a mystic power. It can live for a thousand years.
Pokémon HeartGold	Some legends claim that each of its nine tails has its own unique type of special mystic power.
Pokémon SoulSilver	Its nine beautiful tails are filled with a wondrous energy that could keep it alive for 1,000 years.
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	Its nine tails are said to be imbued with a mystic power. It can live for a thousand years.
Pokémon White	Its nine tails are said to be imbued with a mystic power. It can live for a thousand years.
Pokémon Black 2	Each of its nine tails is imbued with supernatural power, and it can live for a thousand years.
Pokémon White 2	Each of its nine tails is imbued with supernatural power, and it can live for a thousand years.
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	Each of its nine tails is imbued with supernatural power, and it can live for a thousand years.
Pokémon Y	Each of its nine tails is imbued with supernatural power, and it can live for a thousand years.
Pokémon Omega Ruby	Ninetales casts a sinister light from its bright red eyes to gain total control over its foe's mind. This Pokémon is said to live for one thousand years.
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire	Legend has it that Ninetales came into being when nine wizards possessing sacred powers merged into one. This Pokémon is highly intelligent—it can understand human speech.
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sun	Legend has it that this mystical Pokémon was formed when nine saints coalesced into one.
Pokémon Moon	Said to live for a thousand years, this Pokémon uses its supernatural abilities to manipulate fire. It can burn its prey to a crisp as it pleases.
Pokémon Ultra Sun	It is vindictive and relentless by nature. Those who cross it even once will be cursed for a thousand years, along with their descendants.
Pokémon Ultra Moon	The flickering flames it spews from its mouth leave its opponents hypnotized. Then, this extremely intelligent Pokémon attacks.
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu	According to an enduring legend, nine noble saints were united and reincarnated as this Pokémon.
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee	According to an enduring legend, nine noble saints were united and reincarnated as this Pokémon.
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	It is said to live 1,000 years, and each of its tails is loaded with supernatural powers.
Pokémon Shield	Very smart and very vengeful. Grabbing one of its many tails could result in a 1,000-year curse.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond	Its nine tails are said to be imbued with a mystic power. The Pokémon is said to live for 1,000 years.
Pokémon Shining Pearl	Its nine tails are said to be imbued with a mystic power. The Pokémon is said to live for 1,000 years.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus	The coat of gleaming golden fur is quite magnificent. This species is said to store sacred power in its nine long tails and to live for a millennium.
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	Some legends claim that each of its nine tails has its own unique type of special mystical power.
Pokémon Violet	It has nine long tails and fur that gleams gold. It is said to live for 1,000 years.

Alolan Ninetales

Title	Entry
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sun	It creates drops of ice in its coat and showers them over its enemies. Anyone who angers it will be frozen stiff in an instant.
Pokémon Moon	Possessing a calm demeanor, this Pokémon was revered as a deity incarnate before it was identified as a regional variant of Ninetales.
Pokémon Ultra Sun	The reason it guides people all the way down to the mountain's base is that it wants them to hurry up and leave.
Pokémon Ultra Moon	Some said that deities visited mountains where Ninetales live, so in times long past, no one was allowed to go into those mountains.
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu	It lives on mountains perpetually covered in snow and is revered as a deity incarnate. It appears draped in a blizzard.
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee	It lives on mountains perpetually covered in snow and is revered as a deity incarnate. It appears draped in a blizzard.
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	A deity resides in the snowy mountains where this Pokémon lives. In ancient times, it was worshiped as that deity's incarnation.
Pokémon Shield	While it will guide travelers who get lost on a snowy mountain down to the mountain's base, it won't forgive anyone who harms nature.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus	Dwells on sacred peaks perpetually covered in snow. Said to appear to virtuous people who have lost their way on mountain paths—it then guides them back down to the mountain's base.
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	Possessing a calm demeanor, this Pokémon was revered as a deity incarnate before it was identified as a regional variant of Ninetales.
Pokémon Violet	It creates drops of ice in its coat and showers them over its enemies. Anyone who angers it will be frozen stiff in an instant.

Game locations

Kanto

Until the fifth generation, the only way to get Ninetales was evolving Vulpix.

Title	Location(s)
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	Abundant Shrine (rustling grass)
Pokémon White	Abundant Shrine (rustling grass)
Pokémon Black 2	Abundant Shrine (rustling grass)
Pokémon White 2	Abundant Shrine (rustling grass)
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	Friend Safari (Fire)
Pokémon Y	Friend Safari (Fire)
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sun	Pokémon Bank
Pokémon Ultra Sun	Pokémon Bank
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee	Routes 7 and 8
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	Lake of Outrage Max Raid Battle: Dusty Bowl, Giant's Cap, Hammerlocke Hills, Lake of Outrage, Stony Wilderness
Pokémon Shield	Lake of Outrage Max Raid Battle: Dusty Bowl, Giant's Cap, Hammerlocke Hills, Lake of Outrage, Stony Wilderness
Pokémon Legends: Arceus	Firespit Island Alabaster Icelands: massive mass outbreaks
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	Tera Raid Battles
Pokémon Violet	Tera Raid Battles

Alola

The only way to get Alolan Ninetales is to evolve an Alolan Vulpix.

Evolution

Vulpix	Use Fire Stone.	Ninetales

Vulpix	Use Ice Stone	Ninetales

Base Stats

Normal

Base Stats
HP	73
Attack	76
Defense	75
Sp. Attack	81
Sp. Defense	100
Speed	100
Total	505

Alolan

Base Stats
HP	73
Attack	67
Defense	75
Sp. Attack	81
Sp. Defense	100
Speed	109
Total	505

Gallery

Sprites

Sprites
Red Green	Red Blue	Yellow
Gold	Silver	Crystal File:PKMNC038.gif File:PKMNC038-S.gif
Ruby Sapphire File:PKMNRS038-S.png	Emerald File:PKMNE038.gif File:PKMNE038-S.gif	Fire Leaf File:PKMNFRLG038.png File:PKMNFRLG038-S.png
Diamond Pearl File:PKMNDP038-S.png	Platinum File:PKMNP038.png File:PKMNP038-S.png	Heart Soul File:PKMNHGSS038.png File:PKMNHGSS038-S.png
Black White File:PKMNBW038-S.png	Black 2 White 2 File:PKMNBW2038.png File:PKMNBW2038-S.png	X Y File:PKMNXY038-S.png
Pikachu Eevee File:PKMNLGPE038-S.png	Sword Shield File:PKMNSS038-S.png	Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl File:PKMNBDSP038.png File:PKMNBDSP038-S.png
Legends Arceus File:PKMNPLA038-S.png	Scarlet Violet File:PKMNSV038-S.png

Renders
Sun Moon File:PKMNSM038-A-S.png Pikachu Eevee File:PKMNLGPE038-A-S.png Sword Shield File:PKMNSS038-A-S.png Legends Arceus File:PKMNPLA038-A-S.png
Scarlet Violet File:PKMNSV038-A-S.png

Reception

Both forms of Ninetales have received generally positive reception, with commendation for its usability in gameplay and visual design being commonly cited. It has also been discussed in the context of mythology, particularly fox spirits, with multiple critics discussing the episode and how it relates to this mythology, as well as comparing it to the mythological story of Tamamo-no-Mae.

Trivia

• No other Pokémon has the same type combination as Alolan Ninetales.
• Vulpix and Ninetales are the only Pokémon whose Alolan forms are obtainable in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
  • Alolan Ninetales is the only Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus which is unobtainable without using evolution.
• Ninetales's name is misspelled as Ninetails in the Pokémon Trading Card Game for the Game Boy Color and in some prerelease material.