What is a good moveset for Ninjask?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Ninjask, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Ninjask Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Gen 8 NU

Ninjask @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 188 HP / 252 Atk / 68 Spe
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Swords Dance
- Dual Wingbeat
- Protect

This is a Ninjask set that doesn't have fully inveseted speed. 68 Speed EVs outspeeds Inteleon. 252 EVs in Attack, and the rest of the EVs go to HP to try to help Ninjask survive unboosted priority moves. Heavy-Duty Boots is so that Ninjask won't be crippled by Stealth Rock. U-Turn is for pivoting and can do chip damage to its checks. Swords Dance boosts Ninjask's attack. Dual Wingbeat is STAB and can hit the opponent twice. Protect is to get a free turn for Speed Boost to activate.

Comments

I wouldn't really suggest U-turn on a Pokemon with Swords Dance and Speed Boost, I would however suggest Leech Life or X-Scissor.

Answer 2

Ninjask @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- X-Scissor
- Night Slash
- Aerial Ace

Swords Dance doubles its attack which will not be baton passed, yes that is right this Ninja doesn't baton pass.
X-Scissor is there for some fresh STAB, so is Aerial Ace.
Night Slash is a good move and hits Ghosts and Psychics.
make sure to have a rapid spinner or just something to avoid/get rid of those annoying stealth rocks that steals 50% of Ninjask's HP, thief :o
So yeah, that's annoying.

Comments

shedinja?

Answer 3

Baton Passer

Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- X-Scissor / Protect
- Baton Pass

Use Substitute for protection, allowing you to then set up with Swords Dance. Baton Pass allows you to switch out, passing the increases in Attack and Speed (from Swords Dance and Speed Boost, respectively) onto whoever replaces Ninjask. In case you do need to attack, X-Scissor is STAB with a high critical hit ratio, but you could otherwise replace X-Scissor with Protect to use when Substitute's not in use, allowing for a free turn for Speed Boost to increase your Speed.

Physical Sweeper

Ninjask @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- X-Scissor
- Substitute
- Night Slash
- Aerial Ace

X-Scissor and Aerial Ace are STAB, Substitute is for protection, and Night Slash is coverage. The Life Orb will boost the power of X-Scissor, Aerial Ace and Night Slash.

Comments

X-Scissor does not have a high crit rate. It actually doesn't have a secondary effect at all.

Answer 4

Ninjask @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Spe / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass
- Protect
- X-Scissor

Basically Swords Dance until your opponent breaks the sash, then either Protect for an extra Speed Boost or Baton Pass out. X-Scissor is simply a filler slot. Be careful of priority when using this set, as it will most likely take Ninjask out.

Comments

Cool, I have the same set

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Leech Life would be better in Gen 7 and 8.

Answer 5

National Dex AG

Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Protect
- Baton Pass

Explanation: The role of this Ninjask is to Baton Pass stats to other Pokemon. Use Substitute to get the chance to set up Swords Dance. While in the Substitute, Speed Boost will up your Speed. Leftovers slowly recovers HP. If you run out of HP for Substitute, you can use Protect to get in one more Speed Boost, then use Baton Pass to transfer the stats to another Pokemon.

Comments

You get crippled by Taunt.

Answer 6

Speed Boost

Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Toxic
- Dig
- Protect
- Substitute

Start with Substitute, then Toxic comes, after Toxic hit with Dig for Toxic damage and Dig. Finally use Protect for Speed Boost.

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Baton Passer

Ninjask @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- X-Scissor
- Aerial Ace
- Baton Pass

Start with Swords Dance, then hit with Aerial Ace or X-Scissor and Baton Pass comes last.

Answer 7

Ninjask @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- X-Scissor
- Baton Pass
- Endure
- Swords Dance

Basically, you first use Swords Dance (plus one stage for Speed and two for Attack!)
Then Ninjask would probably have one HP now, use Endure for another Speed Boost (another stage up) and then baton pass this over to a strong physical sweeper or use this power for itself and you got a nice Ninjask!
Hope this helps!

Answer 8

I've tried for a set that's primarily offensive, and I had to make work with the subpar moveset Ninjask has. I think that this is a great fun set to use.

Ninjask @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- X-Scissor
- Aerial Ace
- Swords Dance
- Dig

Switch in with a Swords Dance. Keep setting until they hit you with an attack or when you think worthy. Then hit with STAB Aerial Ace, or X-Scissor. Perhaps the most fun I've had with this is OHKOing a Mega Charizard X with a Ninjask. Thank you Rig.

Some things to watch out for:
Ninjask has no priority moves
2nd fastest Pokemon in the game ladies and gentlemen!!!
So, if you do hang on with the Focus Sash, beware of priority.
You need to get rid of hazards
Dig is a 2-turn attack

Answer 9

Ninjask @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Double Team
- Baton Pass
- Aerial Ace

Swords Dance: For setting up sweeps
Double Team: nobody can hurt you
Aerial Ace: just in case the opponent is a Double Teamer too

Answer 10

I use this Ninjask set and it destroys.

Ninjask @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- X-Scissor
- Aerial Ace
- Double Team
- Swords Dance

• X-Scissor: for STAB and to wreck threats like Mega Alakazam
• Aerial Ace: for more STAB and gets rid of Mega Beedrill and Mega Pinsir
• Double Team: to make up for its Defense
• Swords Dance: to raise Attack

Double Team is the lead move. It should live at least one turn because of the Focus Sash. After two Double Teams, you should avoid lots of attacks. Use Double Team at least 4 times. After that, use Swords Dance for Attack. Then, your Ninjask is ready to sweep!
Hope this helped!

Answer 11

Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Protect
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Swords Dance / Roost / Agility / Dig / X-Scissor /Any move you want

Start off with a Protect to get a free speed boost and know what your move your opponent will try to use. If you got a perfect switch-in, Baton Pass out and take advantage of the small speed boost on the switch in. If you don't have a good switch-in, use Substitute to set up a nightmare. If they instantly break your Sub, use protect to gain more speed and next move, use substitute again. You're at 62% of your health now with x3 speed (-50% from substitutes and +12% from Leftovers). You can choose to Protect + Sub once again but usually the x3 speed is enough to setup a sweeper, so now baton pass out and start sweeping.

Swords Dance, Roost or any of the other moves are for either finishing off an opponent that has like >10% of their health left, or for setting up extra if a Pokemon tried to use a status move on your Substitute or just doesn't break your Substitute with their attack. Bear in mind you can also choose to go for the Baton pass instead on that point to pass on not only the speed boost but also the substitute.

Answer 12

Sweeper/Baton Pass Ninjask

Ninjask @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 HP / 0 Def / 0 SpD
- Swords Dance
- Leech Life
- Baton Pass
- Acrobatics

On the first turn, use Swords Dance and boost Attack. Survive with Focus Sash and have a 110 power Acrobatics. If you are against something that you know can kill you, use Baton Pass. I suggest having bad HP, SpD, and Def IVs so you will always have to use the Sash and Acrobatics gets boosted. Leech Life is for extra STAB.

Answer 13

Gen 8
Personally I use him for physical sweeping

Ninjask @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Protect
- Swords Dance
- X-Scissor
- Acrobatics

The idea is that you can set up a Swords Dance, live on 1 HP thanks to the Sash, then hit hard with Acrobatics and X-Scissor. Acrobatics gets its double power when your Focus Sash is gone, so with an Attack boost from Swords Dance, you're probably going to hit pretty hard. When you're on 1 HP though, this might be countered by priority moves, so use Protect and watch out for any. If they do, you're probably going to have to switch out, and use Ninjask to finish something at low HP later on. Otherwise, you can use X-Scissor or Acrobatics and hit really hard.

Answer 14

Ok I swept (basically) a whole team with this set in a Gen 5 random battle. Since it was a random battle, I’m not sure of the EVs, so I’ll put the EVs I would use.

Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- X-Scissor
- Protect
- Substitute

Pretty basic. Leftovers heals you of your Substitute damage, and if your opponent gets chip damage on you, you can shrug it right off. Speed Boost is for the +1 speed at the end on each turn, which works well with Substitute and Protect. Adamant is because you’re already so fast with Speed Boost and 252 Speed, and the Attack boost is always nice. Swords Dance is to boost its attack. X-Scissor is STAB. Protect is for a free speed boost and Leftovers recovery, but I actually didn’t end up using it. Substitute is to boost your stats while not taking damage.

Replay

Answer 15

Role: Physical Sweeper/Baton Passer

Ninjask @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leech Life
- Acrobatics
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass

Leech Life: STAB, heals some of your lost HP
Acrobatics: STAB, does more damage when the focus sash is used
Swords Dance: Increases Attack by 2 stages
Baton Pass: Switches Ninjask out, and gives the next Pokemon all stat increases
__

Because Ninjask is the fastest Pokemon, it should outspeed everything that doesn't have a Choice Scarf, but it still will outspeed most Pokemon with Choice Scarfs. Use Swords Dance once or twice, and then start attacking. When Ninjask has low HP, then use Baton Pass to switch out, and give the next Pokemon your Attack and Speed increases.

Comments

Instead of sitrus berry use focus sash, because ninjask is so frail it will have trouble taking a not very effective hit. besides that,  this is a good set

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That's a good idea. Thank you! :)

Answer 16

Ninjask @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Acrobatics
- X-Scissor
- Night Slash

It’s lightning fast, and gets a speed boost every turn. After Sash is consumed, Acrobatics will be awesome. Night Slash is pretty much it’s only coverage

Answer 17

Role: Baton Pass Swapper

Ninjask @ Bright Powder
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold / Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 SpA
- Substitute
- Protect
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass

A full non-attacking Ninjask set. Bold and Impish Natures both work because you are increasing your Defense, which Ninjask doesn't have much of, and decreasing Attack or Special Attack which aren't even on this Ninjask moveset. Keep using Substitute and Protect and get as many Speed Boosts up as possible. While you are using Substitute and Protect, the opposing Pokemon may miss an attack because of Bright Powder. If they do, you have the opportunity to Swords Dance and get your Attack up. Once you think you have enough stat boosts, Baton Pass into a Pokemon that can utilize these stat boosts to their advantage.

Answer 18

Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Double Team / Substitute
- Leech life
- Baton Pass

Leftovers, EVs, Substitute, and Leech Life allow it to live longer and as a result provide more boosts. The rest is self-explanatory.

Comments

Go for the speed instead of psychical defense, then you can first use double team and you won't die so easily, even after leech life.

Answer 19

Ninjask @ Aguav Berry / Liechi Berry
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Speed
Jolly Nature
- Leech Life / Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Double Team

- Leech Life / Baton Pass Ninjask's offensive option for STAB damage and is used with Aguav Berry, but can be substituted with Baton Pass to fill a more supportive role for Ninjask and pass it's boosts to another Pokemon and is used with Liechi Berry.
- Substitute Used to enable Ninjask's setup.
- Swords Dance Gives Ninjask an Attack boost that he can either pass on or use to it's own advantage.
- Double Team This move is whats makes Ninjask so dangerous. If you can manage to reach 3x Evasion, the other team may as well forfeit. Plus, you can pass this boost on to an offensive core and make them unstoppable.

In order to use this set properly, first you Substitute for protection while setting up with Double Team. You will do this until they can no longer hit you. Then Swords Dance and sweep with Leech Life all the way to the end. You can also Baton Pass the boosts over to another Pokemon and turn them into something dangerous.

Answer 20

Gen IV

Ninjask (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Double Team
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass
- X-Scissor

The perfect leadoff for speed, power and evasion. Start with double team until down to 1 hp with focus sash then baton pass to a special sweeper. Swords dance helps a physical sweeper. X-scissor for stab.