From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

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, as long as there is an extra space in the player's party and an extra Poké Ball in the player's bag. An extra Poké Ball is not necessary to obtain Shedinja in Generation III.

Biology

Shedinja is a Pokémon based on 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 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.

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.

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 Misty's Gyarados's Flamethrower.

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

Episode Pokémon Source Entry AG044 Shedinja May's Pokédex Shedinja, the Shed Pokémon. Shedinja possesses a hard, powerful body, giving it strong defenses.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

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

Other appearances

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.

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 VII Alola

#— Kanto

#— This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Generation VII. Generation VIII Galar

#106 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.

Game locations

In side games

In events

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

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 can hit Shedinja prior to Generation V.

In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, the standard A-button tackle will do one 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

Generation VIII Other generations: III - IV - V - VI - VII Game Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Sw Sh IoA Poltergeist Ghost Physical 110 90% 5 Sw Sh IoA Skitter Smack Bug Physical 70 90% 10 Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Shedinja

indicates a move that gets when used by Shedinja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Shedinja

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 Other generations: III - IV - V - VI - VII Stage Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP This Pokémon has no moves exclusive to prior evolutions. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Shedinja

indicates a move that gets when used by Shedinja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Shedinja

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

Side game data

In Pokémon GO, Shedinja can't be used in Trainer Battles.

Evolution

Note: The Poké Ball has to be a regular Poké Ball.

Note: 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

Trivia

1 HP trivia

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

Origin

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 itself 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 and ninja.

Nukenin may be a pun on 抜け忍 nukenin, a term for ninja who has abandoned their clan and lord. It may also combines 抜け殻 nukegara (casting off skin) and ninja.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese ヌケニン Nukenin Pun on 抜け忍 nukenin , from 抜け殻 nukegara and ninja French Munja From mue and ninja Spanish Shedinja Same as English name German Ninjatom From Ninja and Phantom Italian Shedinja Same as English name Korean 껍질몬 Kkubjilmon From 껍질 kkeop'jil and monster Cantonese Chinese Mandarin Chinese 脫殼忍者 / 脱壳忍者 Tuōkérěnzhě'' Literally "Shedding ninja". May also be from 金蟬脫殼 Jīn​chán ​tuōké More languages Hindi शेडिंजा Shedinja Transcription of English name Russian Шединья Shedin'ya Transcription of English name Thai นูเคนิน Nukenin Transcription of Japanese name







