From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Nincada (Japanese: ツチニン Tutinin) is a dual-type Bug/Ground Pokémon introduced in Generation III.
It evolves into Ninjask starting at level 20 and, upon evolution, Shedinja, 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
Nincada is a small, whitish, insectoid Pokémon. It has a pointed snout, a thin stripe that dips in a V-shaped pattern between its eyes, and two whisker-like antennae on its face. Its eyes are black with green iris-like rings inside. As it is virtually blind, it uses its antennae to sense its surroundings. On its back is a pair of small, green wings. Its hind legs are white, but the forelegs are brown and have sharp claws.
The claws are used to carve into the roots of trees and absorb moisture and nutrients. Nincada builds underground nests at the roots of trees in tropical and temperate forests. It can occasionally live up to 10 years underground. It does not like sunlight, so it avoids it. Nincada is nearly blind due to living almost entirely underground, as such, it uses its antennae to see instead.
Evolution
Nincada evolves into Ninjask and 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.
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Generation III
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Hoenn #042
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Kanto #—
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Ruby
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Nincada lives underground for many years in complete darkness. This Pokémon absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees. It stays motionless as it waits for evolution.
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Sapphire
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Nincada lives underground. It uses its sharp claws to carve the roots of trees and absorb moisture and nutrients. This Pokémon can't withstand bright sunlight so avoids it.
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Emerald
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It makes its nest at the roots of a mighty tree. Using its whiskerlike antennae, it probes its surroundings in the pitch-black darkness of soil.
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FireRed
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Because it lived almost entirely underground, it is nearly blind. It uses its antennae instead.
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LeafGreen
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Generation IV
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Sinnoh #—
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Johto #—
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Diamond
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It grows underground, sensing its surroundings using antennae instead of its virtually blind eyes.
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Pearl
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Platinum
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HeartGold
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It can sometimes live underground for more than 10 years. It absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees.
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SoulSilver
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Generation V
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Unova #—
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Black
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It grows underground, sensing its surroundings using antennae instead of its virtually blind eyes.
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White
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Black 2
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It grows underground, sensing its surroundings using antennae instead of its virtually blind eyes.
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White 2
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Generation VI
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Kalos Central #111
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Hoenn #043
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X
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Because it lived almost entirely underground, it is nearly blind. It uses its antennae instead.
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Y
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It can sometimes live underground for more than 10 years. It absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees.
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Omega Ruby
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Nincada lives underground for many years in complete darkness. This Pokémon absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees. It stays motionless as it waits for evolution.
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Alpha Sapphire
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Nincada lives underground. It uses its sharp claws to carve the roots of trees and absorb moisture and nutrients. This Pokémon can't withstand bright sunlight so avoids it.
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Generation VIII
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Galar #104
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Sinnoh #—
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Hisui #—
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This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Legends: Arceus.
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Sword
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Because it lived almost entirely underground, it is nearly blind. It uses its antennae instead.
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Shield
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It can sometimes live underground for more than 10 years. It absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees.
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Brilliant Diamond
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It grows underground, sensing its surroundings using antennae instead of its virtually blind eyes.
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Shining Pearl
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Game locations
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
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In side games
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
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Held items
Stats
Base stats
Stat
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Range
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At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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31
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91 - 138
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172 - 266
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45
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45 - 106
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85 - 207
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90
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85 - 156
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166 - 306
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30
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31 - 90
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58 - 174
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30
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31 - 90
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58 - 174
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40
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40 - 101
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76 - 196
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Total: 266
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
- Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
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Pokéathlon stats
Type effectiveness
Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
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Learnset
Nincada is available in Sword and Shield and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nincada
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Nincada
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
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SwSh
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nincada
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Nincada
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations
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BDSP
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nincada
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Nincada
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations
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SwSh
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- Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Nincada 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 Nincada in that game.
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nincada
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Nincada
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
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BDSP
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- Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Nincada 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 Nincada in that game.
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nincada
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Nincada
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nincada
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Nincada
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations
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By transfer from another generation
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- 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 Nincada
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Nincada
- × 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
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TCG-only moves
Side game data
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Pokémon Ranger
Group:
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Poké Assist:
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Field move:
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(Cut ×1)
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Loops: 3
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Min. exp.: 25
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Max. exp.: 45
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Browser entry R-031
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Nincada burrows underground. It can cut things with its claws.
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Pokémon Rumble Rush
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Walking Speed: 2.67 seconds
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Base HP: 42
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Base Attack: 65
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Base Defense: 51
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Base Speed: 60
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Evolution data
Nincada evolves into Ninjask starting at level 20 and, upon evolution, Shedinja 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.
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This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation IX.
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In the anime
Major appearances
Nincada debuted in A Three Team Scheme. It belonged to a boy named Keanu, who lived in his Secret Base in solitude. It later became a target for one of Team Rocket's schemes.
Minor appearances
In Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 1), Kellyn used his Capture Styler on a Nincada and had it Dig a pit trap for J's henchmen to fall in.
Multiple Nincada appeared in The Spectral Express!, where they evolved into Ninjask. One of them left behind a Shedinja, which entered one of Goh's Poké Balls and became his Pokémon.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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AG027
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Nincada
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Ash's Pokédex
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Nincada, the Trainee Pokémon. Nincada lives most of its life inside the earth and uses its sharp claws to tap into tree roots, extracting nutrients and moisture.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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JN091
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Nincada
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Goh's Rotom Phone
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Nincada, the Trainee Pokémon. A Bug and Ground type. Nincada can live underground for more than 10 years, taking in nutrients from tree roots.
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In the manga
Ash & Pikachu
A Nincada appeared in a flashback in A Pokémon Battle Against An Entire Family?!, under the ownership of the Winstrate family.
Pokémon Adventures
In Can I Ninjask You a Question?, Aqua Admin Shelly gave a Nincada to fellow admin Amber. Amber's new Pokémon soon evolved into Ninjask, leaving behind a Shedinja as well.
In the TCG
- Main article: Nincada (TCG)
Trivia
- Nincada is the only Pokémon that evolves into two Pokémon at once.
- Nincada is the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 266.
- Nincada is the only Pokémon to have a higher base stat total than its evolved form, as it has 30 more base stat points than Shedinja.
- Nincada is the only Pokémon to have a gender, be able to learn TM moves, but not to learn Attract or Captivate. This is possibly to prevent Shedinja from knowing these moves due to being gender unknown.
- Nincada is exclusively in the Bug Egg Group, but Shedinja is exclusively in the Mineral 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.
Origin
Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:
Nincada appears to be based on a cicada nymph. Its association with ninjas may be inspired by stories of ninjas using cicadas to mask their own sounds, or a reference to fabled ninja techniques: doton no jutsu (escape jutsu), a technique of sneaking into a pre-dug hole and hiding until the opponent is gone and utsusemi no jutsu (cicada skin technique), a technique using decoys to misdirect opponents.
Name origin
Nincada may be a combination of ninja and cicada.
Tutinin may be a combination of 土に埋める tsuchi ni umeru (to bury in the ground) and 忍者 ninja.
In other languages
Language
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Title
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Meaning
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Japanese
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ツチニン Tutinin
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From 土に埋める tsuchiniumeru and 忍者 ninja
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French
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Ningale
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From ninja and cigale
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Spanish
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Nincada
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Same as English name
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German
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Nincada
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Same as English name
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Italian
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Nincada
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Same as English name
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Korean
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토중몬 Tojungmon
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From 토중 (土中) tojung and monster
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Mandarin Chinese
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土居忍士 Tǔjūrěnshì
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From 土 tǔ, 居 jū, 忍者 rěnzhě, and 士 shì
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Cantonese Chinese
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土居忍士 Tóugēuiyáhnsih
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From 土 tóu, 居 gēui, 忍者 yánjé, and 士 sih
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More languages
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Hindi
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माटिन्जा Maatinja
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From माटी maati and ninja
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Russian
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Нинкада Ninkada
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Transcription of English name
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Thai
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สึจินิน Suechinin
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Transcription of Japanese name
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External links
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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
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