Ninetales is a fox-like, quadruped 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. 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 that are said to give it the ability to control minds. The anime has shown that it can swim. Being the result of an evolution via evolutionary stone, Ninetales is rarely found in the wild, though they can be found in grasslands.
In the Alola region, Ninetales has a different appearance. Its coat is pale blue, and its fur is more flowing and wispier. This 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. Finally, 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 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. 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.[1]
A Ninetales appeared in Riddle Me This, under the ownership of Blaine. It was used against Ash in their first Gymbattle, where it battled Squirtle and won before being recalled when Charizard was sent out. It reappeared in a flashback in Volcanic Panic.
A Ninetales appeared in Mewtwo Strikes Back, under the ownership of Neesha. It was one of the Pokémon that were captured and cloned by Mewtwo. The Ninetales clone is seen again in Mewtwo Returns.
A very old Ninetales appeared in Just Waiting On A Friend, where it 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.
Two Ninetales appeared in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. One was seen during the opening intro of the movie, while the other was under the ownership of a Trainer participating in the Rota tournament.
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.
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: Ninetales returns, asking the player to visit its hideout at the Forest of Fairies. Upon arrival, the player will connect with both Ninetales and Absol.
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 red fox and also 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).
Gold Leaf (100%)
Rawst Berry (100%)
Chesto Berry (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Ninetales images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
