Vulpix (#037) - Ninetales - Jigglypuff (#039)
General
Name (Japanese), Number	Ninetales (Kyukon), 038
Stage	Stage 1
Evolves from	Vulpix
Evolves to	(none)
Video game base stats¹
Hit points	73
Attack	76
Defence	75
Speed	100
Special attack	81
Special defense	100
Biological
Species	Fox Pokémon
Types	Fire
Height	3'07" (1.1 m)
Weight	44.0 lb (19.9 kg)
Pokédex Color	Yellow
Shiny color	Ninetales normally white fur appears silver
Ability	Flash Fire
Signature Attack	Fire Spin
Gender distribution	25% male, 75% female
¹ Stats for trading card versions may vary.

Ninetales (Kyukon (キュウコン Kyuukon) in the original Japanese) is the evolved form of Vulpix. Like Vulpix, it is a fire Pokémon.

Ninetales is inspired by a Japanese fox spirit, the kitsune. Kyuubi-no-kitsune is a nine-tailed fox demon. It is very clever and sinister. It is skilled in mind trickery; one of its favorite tricks is to change shape and assume the identity of somebody else. The story of kitsune originated from India, spread to mainland China and eventually to Japan.

Ninetales is very intelligent and very vengeful. It is said that if you pull one of its nine tails, it will put a thousand-year curse on you. Ninetales casts a sinister light from its bright red eyes to gain total control over a foe's mind.

According to legend, 9 noble saints were united and reincarnated into this Pokemon. Some legends claim that each of its nine tails has its own unique type of special power. Ninetales' tails could actually keep it alive for thousands of years. Ninetales is 3'07" and weighs 44 lbs. Most Ninetales are female, and in Hoenn they all possess the Flash Fire ability, making it impervious to all fire-type attacks and able to heal itself when hit by fire-type attacks.

Name origin

Ninetales' name comes from the fact that it has nine tails, and that the word tail is a homophone of tales. The name is also a reference to a Chinese myth of a nine-tailed fox spirit who serves under Nuwa.

Anime Appearances

In the TV series, Blaine, the Cinnabar Island gym leader, uses a Ninetales against Ash Ketchum's Squirtle, a water-type Pokemon. To everyone's surprise, Ninetales beats Squirtle.

Later in the TV series, the gang meets a 200 year-old Ninetales who tries to subdue Brock into staying with her by using an illusionary woman.