Shedinja (Japanese: ヌケニン Nukenin) is a dual-type Bug/Ghost Pokémon introduced in Generation III.

It is considered a special evolution of Nincada, appearing only when Nincada evolves into Ninjask starting at level 20, if the player has an empty slot in their party and an extra Poké Ball on hand.

(Specifics may differ in past games. Refer to Game data→Evolution data for these details.)

Biology

Shedinja is a Pokémon resembling a cicada's shed exoskeleton. Most of its body is light brown, but the abdomen is gray. It has four protrusions on its underside instead of legs; the top pair is brown, while the lower is gray. There are round protrusions on the side of its head with narrow slits for eyes. Two lines encircle its abdomen and a white crescent-shaped halo floats above its head. On its back is a pair of tattered wings divided into three wingtips. A hole between its wings reveals that its body is completely hollow and dark, as it possesses no internal organs.

Shedinja is said to be a very strange and peculiar Pokémon due to how it is created from an empty shell. It has the ability to inhabit an empty Poké Ball after it evolves from Nincada. It is said that looking into this empty space will steal one's spirit. Its shell is very hard, which gives it strong defense but renders it incapable of movement. It does not breathe and floats without moving its wings. It lives in tropical and temperate forests.

Shedinja is the only known Pokémon that can have Wonder Guard as an Ability.

Evolution

When Nincada evolves into Ninjask, it can also evolve into Shedinja simultaneously, which appears in an empty Poké Ball.

(For specifics on this Pokémon's evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III Hoenn #044 Kanto #— Ruby Shedinja's hard body doesn't move - not even a twitch. In fact, its body appears to be merely a hollow shell. It is believed that this Pokémon will steal the spirit of anyone peering into its hollow body from its back. Sapphire Shedinja is a peculiar Pokémon. It seems to appear unsought in a Poké Ball after a Nincada evolves. This bizarre Pokémon is entirely immobile - it doesn't even breathe. Emerald A peculiar Pokémon that floats in air even though its wings remain completely still. The inside of its body is hollow and utterly dark. FireRed A most peculiar Pokémon that somehow appears in a Poké Ball when a Nincada evolves. LeafGreen
Generation IV Sinnoh #— Johto #— Diamond A discarded bug shell that came to life. Peering into the crack on its back is said to steal one's spirit. Pearl Platinum HeartGold A strange Pokémon--it flies without moving its wings, has a hollow shell for a body, and does not breathe. SoulSilver
Generation V Unova #— Black A discarded bug shell that came to life. Peering into the crack on its back is said to steal one's spirit. White Black 2 A discarded bug shell that came to life. Peering into the crack on its back is said to steal one's spirit. White 2
Generation VI Kalos Central #113 Hoenn #045 X A discarded bug shell that came to life. Peering into the crack on its back is said to steal one's spirit. Y A most peculiar Pokémon that somehow appears in a Poké Ball when a Nincada evolves. Omega Ruby Shedinja's hard body doesn't move—not even a twitch. In fact, its body appears to be merely a hollow shell. It is believed that this Pokémon will steal the spirit of anyone peering into its hollow body from its back. Alpha Sapphire Shedinja is a peculiar Pokémon. It seems to appear unsought in a Poké Ball after a Nincada evolves. This bizarre Pokémon is entirely immobile—it doesn't even breathe.
Generation VIII Galar #106 Sinnoh #— Hisui #— This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Legends: Arceus. Sword A most peculiar Pokémon that somehow appears in a Poké Ball when a Nincada evolves. Shield A strange Pokémon—it flies without moving its wings, has a hollow shell for a body, and does not breathe. Brilliant Diamond It is a discarded bug shell that came to life. Peering into the crack on its back is said to steal one's spirit. Shining Pearl

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Generation IX

In side games

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Cross-Generation

In events

Stats

Base stats

• Shedinja's HP stat is not calculated with the traditional formula, and is instead always equal to 1.

Pokéathlon stats

Jump 5/5 ★★★★★

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:

Damaged normally by:

Immune to:

Resistant to:

Shedinja can also be damaged by Struggle and any of the Shadow moves from Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD. The moves Beat Up, Future Sight, and Doom Desire could hit Shedinja prior to Generation V due to dealing typeless damage.

In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, the standard A-button tackle will do 1 HP damage. In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, foe Shedinja always has a maximum of 5 HP, whereas in Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness and Explorers of Sky, foe Shedinja always has a maximum of 10 HP. However, as a team member, Shedinja's HP is not capped.

Learnset

Shedinja is available in Sword and Shield and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

By leveling up

Generation VIII

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Shedinja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Shedinja Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM/TR

SwSh

Generation VIII

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Shedinja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Shedinja Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

BDSP

Generation VIII

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Shedinja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Shedinja Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

SwSh

Generation VIII

Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Shedinja in Generation VIII Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation. Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Shedinja in that game. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Shedinja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Shedinja Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

BDSP

Generation VIII

Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Shedinja in Generation VIII Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation. Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Shedinja in that game. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Shedinja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Shedinja Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

Generation VIII

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Shedinja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Shedinja Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

By a prior evolution

Generation VIII

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Shedinja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Shedinja Click on the generation numbers at the top to see moves from other generations

By transfer from another generation

Generation VIII Other generations: IV - V - VI - VII - IX

Transferred Pokémon only retain these moves in Pokémon Sword and Shield A striped background indicates a generation in which the move can only be obtained via event or as a special move Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Shedinja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Shedinja × indicates a move that cannot be used in Sword and Shield Click on the generation numbers at the top to see transfer-only moves for other generations

Side game data

Pokémon Ranger Group: Poké Assist: Field move: None Loops: 6 Min. exp.: 36 Max. exp.: 70 Browser entry R-033 Shedinja is difficult to capture because it fades in and out of view.
Pokémon Rumble Rush Walking Speed: 1.67 seconds Base HP: 15 Base Attack: 66 Base Defense: 44 Base Speed: 60

In Pokémon GO, Shedinja can be obtained by completing the Special Research, Level 43 Challenge. Shedinja can not be used in Trainer Battles, but can be used in Team GO Rocket battles.

Evolution data

Shedinja is considered a special evolution of Nincada, appearing only when Nincada evolves into Ninjask starting at level 20, if the player has an empty slot in their party and an extra Poké Ball on hand. Note that the Poké Ball has to be a regular Poké Ball. In Generation III, an extra Poké Ball is not necessary to obtain Shedinja.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, Shedinja will not be mentioned when evolving Nincada, but will subsequently appear in Chimecho's Assembly.

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation IX.
Cross-Generation

In the anime

Major appearances

Shedinja debuted in The Princess and the Togepi, under the ownership of Colonel Hansen. It was his main battling Pokémon. It reappeared in A Togepi Mirage!, where it was eventually defeated by a Flamethrower attack from Misty's Gyarados.

In The Spectral Express!, a wild Ninjask left behind a Shedinja upon evolving. The Shedinja entered one of Goh's empty Poké Balls, becoming his Pokémon.

Minor appearances

In Hi Ho Silver Wind! and Deceit and Assist, a Coordinator's Shedinja competed in the Hoenn Grand Festival. Another Shedinja was also in a visualization in the former episode.

A Coordinator's Shedinja appeared in The Saffron Con.

In A Relay in the Sky!, a Trainer's Shedinja participated in the Pokémon Sky Relay. It was in a team also consisting of Vibrava and Ninjask.

Pokédex entries

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Shedinja first appeared in Can I Ninjask You a Question?, when Amber, having been deprived of his Pokémon after being abandoned by Archie, borrowed a Nincada from his comrade Shelly, which then immediately evolves into a Ninjask, putting Wattson in quite a pinch with the incredible speed it gained by the minute. Although the old Gym Leader eventually managed to defeat it, a Shedinja formed from the shell Ninjask shed and attacked him from behind, sending him sinking into the ocean.

In A Dust-Up With Dusclops, Emerald used a Shedinja during his Battle Pyramid challenge, exploiting the fact that it required no healing due to it always having just one HP to save on items.

In Sneaky Like Shedinja, Greta used a Shedinja to battle Emerald's Sudowoodo.

A student's Shedinja appeared in Movie Panic.

In the TCG

Main article: Shedinja (TCG)

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Shedinja appears as a Spirit. In the Spirit Battle, Shedinja, depicted as a yellow Mr. Game & Watch, has only 1 HP like in the core series games, but Wonder Guard is depicted as giving Shedinja complete invincibility for 90% of the match, as well as reflecting all projectiles. However, the invincibility is disabled periodically for about a second, allowing the player to KO Shedinja with just one hit.

Trivia

• From Generation IV onwards, a basic Poké Ball (a requirement for evolution) is removed from the Bag upon evolution to produce a Shedinja. In Generation III, Shedinja instead copied the ball Nincada was in; this is one of only two legitimate ways to obtain Shedinja in a non-standard Poké Ball until Generation VIII, where Shedinja can be caught in Max Raid Battles or transferred from Pokémon GO.
  • The other option is to catch a Nincada in HeartGold or SoulSilver via the Bug Catching Contest in a Sport Ball, trade it to Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum, and evolve it there. Because the Sport Ball is not coded to exist in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, it copies the Ball to the Shedinja without reassigning it to have a basic Poké Ball. This effect would also apply to any other Balls that are considered "out-of-bounds" by these games, such as Apricorn Balls, but in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Nincada is only obtainable in the wild from the Bug Catching Contest, in which only Sport Balls can be used.
• No other Pokémon has the same type combination as Shedinja.
• Shedinja:
• Shedinja is the only evolved Pokémon that has a lower base stat total than its pre-evolved form.
• Shedinja is exclusively part of the Mineral Egg Group, but its pre-evolution is exclusively part of Bug Egg Group. These two are the only evolutionarily-related Pokémon to not share identical Egg Groups, excluding those that transition in or out of the No Eggs Discovered egg group.
• Shedinja inherits the same game of origin, personality value, IVs, EVs, OT, Trainer ID number and Secret ID number, and met location as the Nincada that shed it. It also inherits the Pokérus if the Nincada had it. Among other things, due to keeping the same game of origin, personality value, and Trainer and Secret ID numbers, Shedinja will be Shiny if and only if the Nincada was Shiny.
• The Shedinja shed from a Nincada has no nickname, and the player is not given an opportunity to nickname it. The only way to give Shedinja a nickname is to take it to a Name Rater.
• Shedinja's Wonder Guard Ability renders it immune to 13 of 18 move types, the most of any Pokémon; four of these immunities (to Ice, Bug, Steel, and Fairy) are entirely unique to Shedinja.
• Prior to Generation V, if Nincada learns a move upon evolving into Ninjask, Shedinja will also know this move. This means that Shedinja can learn any of Ninjask's level up moves starting at level 20, but can only simultaneously have multiple of them if they are learned at the same level. From Generation V onward, Shedinja starts with the moves Nincada knew prior to evolution.
• Shedinja is the only Pokémon in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team to be able to change its name.
• In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, wild Shedinja will spawn on any tile where a wild Nincada was defeated after several turns have passed. They move once every two turns and do not attack. Additionally, other wild Pokémon will try to attack the wild Shedinja if they are nearby, allowing them to awaken without defeating the player or their allies if they succeed in causing it to faint.
• Shedinja is the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 236.
• Shedinja is the only evolved Pokémon with lower HP than its pre-evolution.
• Shedinja's barrier in Max Raid Battles requires the most hits to break, with 8. However, because it still faints in one hit, and it is immune to False Swipe and Hold Back, breaking the barrier is impossible.
• In Pokémon GO, Shedinja and Ditto are the only Pokémon that cannot be used in Trainer Battles, unless the battle is against Team GO Rocket.
• Despite Shedinja's HP being its lowest stat, Shedinja awards HP EVs.

1 HP trivia

Shedinja has the lowest HP of all Pokémon, with only 1. As such, it has many unique characteristics:

• Excluding Starmobiles, Shedinja is the only Pokémon to have a stat not calculated by the standard formula; if it were, Shedinja would have at least 11 HP even at level 1.
  • Shedinja can gain HP EVs, but they will have no effect.
• Having only 1 HP, Shedinja's Defense and Special Defense stats normally have no practical purpose in battle. However, if Shedinja receives a substitute through Baton Pass or Shed Tail, its Defense and Special Defense are factored into damage the substitute takes. Shedinja's Defense and Special Defense stats also become relevant if a Pokémon uses Transform on it or if Shedinja uses Power Trick or Body Press (both via Mimic), or if an opponent has Download.
• From Generation IV onward, Shedinja is the only Pokémon that can knock itself out from full health with the recoil damage from Struggle.
• Outside of battle, Shedinja immediately recovers from poison after four steps in Generation IV; in Generation III, it will immediately faint after four steps.
• Despite it being able to learn Substitute, Bide, and Rest, they will always fail; consequently, the only way Shedinja can have a substitute is via Baton Pass or Shed Tail.
  • It can also have Final Gambit from one of Nincada's Egg Moves, but it will only do 1 HP damage, due to Final Gambit doing damage equal to the user's current HP.
• Although Shedinja can learn Sandstorm, it cannot normally use the move without fainting as a result of damage from the sandstorm. Use of Safety Goggles allows this to be circumvented.
• If Shedinja uses Pain Split (via Mimic), it will cut the target's current HP in half, similarly to Super Fang, Nature's Madness, and Ruination.
• Shedinja is the only Pokémon that has its HP restored to maximum when leveled up with a Rare Candy (prior to Generation VI) or revived with a Revive.
• From Generation V onward, if a Shedinja has Sturdy, it can survive any damaging move or confusion damage an indefinite number of times.
• If a Shedinja is holding a Focus Sash, it can survive any single damaging hit (including confusion damage) and remain at full HP.
• Shedinja is the only Pokémon that can never recover HP using an HP-draining move.
• Although Shedinja can eat Dynamax Candies, its HP will remain at 1 regardless when it Dynamaxes. This makes it the only Pokémon that doesn't get an HP boost when it Dynamaxes.
• Eruption, Water Spout, or Dragon Energy used by Shedinja via Mimic will always have 150 base power, while Flail from Nincada's Egg Moves and Reversal via Mimic will always have 20 base power, due to Shedinja always having full HP.

Origin

Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:

Shedinja appears to be based on the shed husk that cicadas leave behind when they finish their metamorphosis into adults. It also appears to be a reference to the fabled ninjutsu technique 空蝉 utsusemi, where a ninja uses a dummy or replica of themselves to evade and escape from threats, and where its namesake also alludes to the cast off shed husk of a cicada. It may also be based on a guardian angel due to the halo-like object floating above its head and its Wonder Guard Ability.

Name origin

Shedinja may be a combination of shed (to cast off shell) and ninja.

Nukenin may be a combination of 抜け殻 nukegara (empty shell) and 忍者 ninja, as well as a pun on 抜け忍 nukenin (fugitive ninja).

In other languages

More languages Hindi निनिकल Ninikal From ninja and निकल nikal Russian Шединья Shedin'ya Transcription of English name Thai นูเคนิน Nukhenin Transcription of Japanese name

External links

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