This fox-like, quadruped Pokémon is covered with a thick, luxurious golden-white fur. It has nine, long tails, each tipped with pale orange. There is a fluffy crest atop its head, and a small mane around its neck. Ninetales has gleaming red eyes that are said to give it the ability to control minds. Its ears are pointed, and it has long, slender legs with three-toed paws.
Ninetales is a very vengeful Pokémon that has been known to curse those who mistreat it. This intelligent Pokémon is able to understand human speech easily. 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. The anime has shown that it can swim. It can be found living in grasslands.
In the Alola region, Ninetales has a different appearance. Its coat is pale blue with white at the tips of its tails, crests, and covering most of its legs. Additionally, it now has larger and wider blue eyes and its fur is more flowing and curled. Alolan Ninetales 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. It lives on a snowy mountain peak in the Alola region that is considered by some to be holy ground. As such, it is revered as a sacred messenger. Alolan Ninetales has a gentle temperament, and is known to aid humans in distress. However, it is territorial and will punish any threat to its domain. [1]
In Just Waiting On A Friend, a very old Ninetales befriended Brock, who bore a resemblance to her long lost master. This Ninetales created all sorts of illusions, including one of a woman through which it spoke.
Ninetales also had a cameo during the opening credits of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, taking part in the festival honoring Sir Aaron. Also, one appeared in the opening of the movie.
A Ninetales appeared in a flashback in Mutiny in the Bounty! as one of J's captured Pokémon.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: 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.
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 a thousand years.
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.
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.
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.
Ninetales's EV yield of 1 Special Defense and 1 Speed is unique.
Origin
Ninetales is based on a fox, particularly the kitsune of Japanese legend, which have many tails, extremely long lifespans, and can breathe fire. After living a long time, kitsune take on spirit forms, which may explain why Ninetales can learn Ghost-type moves. In particular, Ninetales is based on the 九尾の狐 kyūbi no kitsune, a kitsune of advanced age whose fur has turned silver-gold, and, upon gaining its ninth tail, has gained powers equivalent to a deity, bearing omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience.
Alolan Ninetales seems to be based on the Arctic fox.
Name origin
Ninetales is a combination of nine and tales, which itself may combine tails and fairy tales, from the Japanese myth it is based on. It may also reference the cat o' nine tails whip, which was historically used in military punishments.
Kyukon is a combination of 九 kyū (nine) and 恨 kon (grudge, from the curse it may cast on its foes), kon kon (the sound foxes make), コンロ konro (gas stove), or ko, an alternate reading of 狐 kitsune (fox). Alternatively, it can be read as 旧恨 kyūkon (old grudge).