Introduced in the original generation one, with the Pokemon Red, Blue, and Green games, Nidorino is a monotype poison Pokemon. It is the second stage evolution of its three stage evolution line and evolves from Nidoran (Male) once it reaches the level threshold, and into Nidoking once a Moon Stone is used. Nidorino is classified by the Pokedex as the “Poison Pin Pokemon” which may be a nod to its general design. This guide will showcase Nidorino’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Nidorino.
About Nidorino
As one of the original 151 Pokemon, Nidorino first appeared in the Original Series of the anime in the episode Pokemon - I Choose You!. This was the first episode of the entire anime, and a Nidorino fights a Gengar during a battle on television. The Pokedex mentions that Nidorino’s horn is harder than a diamond.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Original Series: Pokemon - I Choose You! |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Red and Green (Japan) Red and Blue (International) |
| Region | Kanto |
| Evolution | Evolves from Nidoran (Male), evolves into Nidoking |
| 1st Evo level | 16 |
| 2nd Evo level | Evolves when a Moon stone is used. |
| Pokedex Entry | Nidorino has a horn that is harder than a diamond. If it senses a hostile presence, all the barbs on its back bristle up at once, and it challenges the foe with all its might. |
Nidorino Base Stats
| HP | 61 |
| ATTACK | 72 |
| DEFENCE | 57 |
| SP. ATTACK | 55 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 55 |
| SPEED | 65 |
| TOTAL | 365 |
Appearance
Nidorino is a small purple Pokemon that resembles a combination of a rhinoceros and a rabbit. Most of its body is purple with darker purple spots found throughout its body and has two large ears that are slightly green on the inside. There is a large horn on top of Nidorino’s head which is apparently stronger than a diamond. It walks on four small legs and each leg has 3 claws each. Nidorino is a smaller Pokemon at 2 feet and 11 inches, or 0.9 meters, tall.
Behavior
In the anime, Nidorino is shown to be an independent Pokemon and while it will listen to its trainer’s commands, it shows and has a fierce spirit. Most trainers within the Pokemon universe know Nidorino to have a short temper and be violent. Similar to a porcupine, Nidorino’s bristles will stand on end when it senses danger. The Pokedex mentions that Nidorino’s horn is strong enough to destroy boulders. You can find Nidorino in hot savannahs and plains.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Nidorino displays a balance of all of its stats. Its strongest stat is its physical attack and its speed stat is a close second. For a middle evolution Pokemon, it is a decent offensive option and can easily inflict poison on many different opposing Pokemon. However, it is not particularly a powerful Pokemon. As a monotype poison Pokemon, Nidorino takes 2x damage from ground and psychic type moves. It is immune to no types, but is resistant to fighting, poison, bug, grass, and fairy type moves.
Best Moveset
In competitive play, there are very few reasons to even consider using Nidorino. If you are a fan of this evolution line it is best to consider its final evolution rather than its middle evolution. A Nidoking with the Sheer Force ability can deal significant damage while also displaying a healthier balance of stats. Consider running Sludge Wave, Earth Power, Ice Beam, and Superpower/Stealth Rock. This build is meant to be as offensive as possible while covering as many types of opposing Pokemon. With Life Orb, as a held item, any attack that connects from Nidoking will deal considerable damage.
| Sludge Wave | Earth Power |
| Ice Beam | Superpower/Stealth Rock |
How to Catch Nidorino in Pokemon Go?
If you would like to obtain a Nidorino in Pokemon Go, the easiest way to do so would be to first obtain a Nidoran (Male) and eventually evolve it into Nidorino. Like most evolved forms of Pokemon, the base evolution is more commonly found in the wild as compared to its final evolution. You can find Nidoran spawning in the wild, at a boosted rate, near wetlands, marshes, lakes, and industrial areas. You can hatch one from 2 and 5 km eggs, and it has also been featured as a tier one raid boss at Pokemon Gyms. You can also find Nidorino as a tier two boss and Nidoking as a tier three raid boss. To evolve Nidoran into Nidorino you will need 25 candies and another 100 to evolve into Nidoking.
Trivia
- Nidorino and Gengar are one of the first Pokemon to be seen in the game and in the anime.
- The inspiration for Nidorino’s design seems to be an amalgamation of a rhinoceros, porcupine, and rabbit.
- The name Nidorino is a combination of the words needle and rhinoceros.
FAQ
Is Nidoran better male or female?
Looking at both of the evolution lines, it seems that both Nidoking and Nidoqueen are fairly comparable in their capabilities. Nidoking has a stronger offensive line up of stats and Nidoqueen has a stronger defensive line up. While they have both been placed similarly throughout competitive history, it seems that Nidoking managed to place higher than Nidoqueen.
Is Nidoran a Rabbit?
Nidoran as a base evolution is meant to be the baby version of a Nidoking/Nidoqueen. The final evolutions seem to be a combination of a rhinoceros, porcupine, and a rabbit. While Nidoran seems like a cute but prickly rabbit, its horn will eventually grow in to showcase its rhino-like qualities.
At what level does Nidoran evolve?
Nidoran will evolve at level 16 regardless of what gender it is. If the Nidoran is a female it will evolve into Nidorina, and if male, it will evolve into Nidorino. Both of these Pokemon will evolve into Nidoqueen and Nidoking respectively when a Moon Stone is used.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Poison Pin Pokemon”. While Nidorino itself has not made a big impact on competitive play, Nidoking has managed to remain relevant for a considerable amount of time. It is rare to see a Pokemon from generation one function so well with a balanced statline and it is welcome with these new generations. Reserve a slot on your team for Nidorino if you want an offensive poison type Pokemon.
