A noticeably popular and beautifully designed Pokémon (in both of its forms), many fans saw Ninetales as a no-brainer to include in Pokémon’s MOBA debut. It was much to their (and my) delight then to see that Alolan Ninetales would be included in the game’s initial roster. Boasting an impressive mix of offense and utility with its Moves, Ninetales is a versatile and dazzling combatant, using waves of freezing air and bright light to lock down the opposition, dish out damage, and even set up its teammates for success. However, as with any character Ninetales is not without a weakness, being a largely immobile Ranged Attacker with frail defenses. That being the case, let’s examine how to utilize Alolan Ninetales’ frozen fervor to grant enemies a chilling defeat.

Available Abilities

Alolan Ninetales, true to its image as a blizzard-wielding frozen fox, has a very thematically appropriate set of capabilities. To understand their synergy, look no further than Ninetales’ Passive Ability: Snow Warning. When an attackable Pokémon (enemy or wild) gets within a certain range, snow falls from the sky and deals damage in a marked circle on the ground, refreshing after a short time. This snow also slows the enemy, leaving them marked with a frozen debuff stack temporarily. These stacks are also inflicted upon the opponents by many of Ninetales’ other abilities, and once a single enemy reaches four stacks they are frozen in place, stunning them for a brief moment. With that in mind, Ninetales’ Standard Attack makes use of this ability as well, becoming a boosted attack with every third strike to deal damage in an area, slow any enemies hit, and leave them with a stack of freeze as well.

At Level 1, Alolan Vulpix may choose between two different damaging Moves, receiving the other automatically at Level 3. The first option is Powder Snow, a small cone of frozen matter that slows and deals damage, applying a frozen stack in the process. The second option is Icy Wind, a blast of cold air that strikes in a straight line, similar to Powder Snow in that it deals damage and slows foes while leaving them with a frozen stack. However, while Icy Wind’s cooldown is three seconds longer (eight as opposed to five), it also slightly shoves opponents backward, creating distance between them and the user. Regardless of which option is selected first, Powder Snow and Icy Wind will remain until Levels 4 and 6, respectively, at which points the player will be given options for upgraded Moves.

Move Upgrade Options

When Alolan Vulpix reaches Level 4, not only does it evolve, but it also receives the choice between two upgraded replacements for Powder Snow: Dazzling Gleam and Avalanche. Dazzling Gleam emits a harsh light in a cone (a far larger one than Powder Snow, mind you), dealing damage to foes and inflicting a frozen stack upon them. However, while Powder Snow merely slows opponents, Dazzling Gleam outright stuns them for a moment, allowing Ninetales and its teammates a brief chance to reposition themselves if necessary. Upon reaching Level 11, Dazzling Gleam itself is upgraded, simply increasing its damage output and slightly raising the duration of its stun.

Avalanche, on the other hand, creates an icy wall in a small area within a long range from Ninetales. This wall deals damage as it appears, lasts for one and a half seconds as an artificial blockade, and then explodes, dealing damage once again to any enemies that remain nearby. Upon reaching Level 11, Avalanche is upgraded to slow opponents that approach and/or remain near the wall for its duration. Both of these options have considerable range and offer strategic value in hindering enemy movement, while simultaneously dealing damage and inflicting a frozen stack to them as well.

On the other side, Icy Wind gets upgraded at Level 6, after Ninetales has already evolved. Again, the player is presented with two options, albeit starkly contrasting ones. The former of these is Aurora Veil, a unique Move that temporarily creates a small buffed area in a circle centered around Ninetales’ location at the time of casting. This buff works twofold; any allied Pokémon (including Ninetales) inside of the circle that is struck by an enemy will take significantly reduced damage, and as long as Ninetales itself remains inside the circle, each of its Standard Attacks will become boosted, rather than every third one. What’s more, at Level 13, the move upgrades, increasing even further the damage reduction granted to allies within the indicated area.

While Aurora Veil replaces Icy Wind with a buff, the second option of Blizzard bears far more resemblance to the original damaging Move. As such, Blizzard strikes with a gust of chilled wind in a straight line, much like Icy Wind. However, the width of the line is greatly increased from the original, and Blizzard deals damage in two waves consecutively upon casting. The first wave simply slows any opponents hit, while the second shoves them backward, forming a small area-of-effect blast if an enemy is shoved into a wall of any kind. Upon being upgraded at Level 13, Blizzard’s damage simply increases, allowing for even greater burst potential.

Speaking of burst damage, look no further than Ninetales’ Unite Move: Snow Globe. Available starting at Level 9, Snow Globe causes the frozen fox to jump up into the air where it stands, becoming invulnerable for just a moment before launching a massive icy blast in a large circular area centered around it. This Move does significant damage to enemies in the circle regardless of their location within it, and it adds a stack of freeze onto them as well. What’s more, if any opponents are already frozen when hit by Snow Globe’s blast, then the damage the Unite Move deals to them is even greater. This Move is a fantastic way to secure a fight around a stationary objective such as Zapdos or Drednaw, finishing off any low-health targets (including the objective) and weakening others involved, allowing for a swing of momentum that your team can easily take advantage of.

Managing Mobility (and the Lack Thereof)

While Alolan Ninetales boasts impressive damage, considerably long range, and a plethora of movement-impairing abilities to boot, this elegant Pokémon is not without a significant weakness. Unfortunately, those movement-impairing abilities can only do so much to keep foes at bay, as Ninetales struggles greatly from a dire lack of mobility, meaning that without proper setup or assistance it can be quite vulnerable to agile predators. Many of Ninetales’ abilities have a small delay before their effects take place, meaning that enemies with high mobility can rather easily skirt around and away from the fox’s attacks. In addition, Ninetales itself is quite frail defensively, meaning that opponents that do manage to avoid its icy onslaught will find themselves in prime position to defeat it.

To take advantage of Ninetales’ strengths—as well as to cover this glaring weakness—Ninetales is best paired with allies that can help defend it. Defenders such as Snorlax and Blastoise can form a thick wall between Ninetales and the enemy, allowing the former to pepper the latter with its impressive range. In addition, seek to utilize teammates’ movement-impairing abilities to make landing your own easier. Slowbro’s long-lasting utility, Pikachu’s targeted stun, and Wigglytuff’s relentless Sing are all fantastic and reliable setups with which to take aim with Ninetales’ Moves, leading to devastating combinations that are rather simple to execute and that can swing the tide of teamfights when positioned properly. With a solid front line and adequate setup, Ninetales can flourish with its large area-of-effect Moves and devastating burst damage.

Seeing as Ninetales naturally pairs well with Defenders, the elegant vulpine tends to function best from the top lane, where these bulky friends tend to populate. While not as common, however, Ninetales can also work perfectly fine from the bottom lane, if paired with a bulky support that can offer similar benefits or as a protective support itself (more on that later). While not impossible, Ninetales tends to shy away from the central area due to its vulnerability and lack of mobility, instead preferring to stay close to friends and avoid potential brush-ambushes. Try to avoid walking up to dark areas that haven’t been scouted out yet and be wary of potential flanks in dangerous areas such as Zapdos’ pit. Finally, keep an eye out for enemy Pokémon with long-range stuns such as Pikachu, as getting locked down will spell a quick end to such a frail fox.

Favorable Held Items

Held Items on Alolan Ninetales are rather flexible, fortunately, with a multitude of viable build paths available for use. As a Special Attack focused Ranged Attacker, the standard (and somewhat expected) offensive Special Attack items in Choice Specs and Wise Glasses work wonders. However, Ninetales has some interesting synergies with other Held Items as well. For example, as Ninetales’ Standard Attacks have a very powerful effect with their freezing ability, Muscle Band offers a buff to Attack Speed that can allow for quicker utilization of the boosted third attacks. In addition, Shell Bell also finds surprising value as an offensive and utility item. While Ninetales tends to not care too much about the sustain the item provides, Shell Bell gives a small boost to Special Attack, as well as a notable boost to a Pokémon’s Cooldown Reduction stat. As many of Ninetales Moves have rather long cooldowns (such as Aurora Veil with thirteen seconds), this effect can have a surprisingly substantial impact.

Defensively, Focus Band remains the gold standard; Ninetales’ frailty means that it can benefit greatly from the item’s top-of-class protection and sustain. However, despite its effectiveness, Focus Band is far from the only defensive item that Ninetales can use. For example, Buddy Barrier can be a fantastic supportive item for your team. Snow Globe has an incredible effective range, and as Ninetales itself prefers to stay close to teammates for protection it stands to reason that allies will inevitably be caught in the blast as well. With Buddy Barrier in tow, crowded teamfights can be swung even harder in your team's favor, both weakening enemies and shielding your allies. Finally, with its supportive capabilities with stuns and freezes—not to mention Aurora Veil’s defensive buff—Ninetales finds an interesting niche as a borderline support Pokémon. As such, in conjunction with Buddy Barrier the Exp. Share Held Item can be incredibly useful, leaning hard into this alternative enchanter-esque strategy.

Favorable Battle Items

While Held Items can be flexibly employed on Alolan Ninetales, unfortunately Battle Items struggle to keep up in this regard. Due to the frozen fox’s struggles with mobility, it becomes incredibly difficult to validate Battle Items other than Eject Button and X Speed. Eject Button works well to give Ninetales a much-needed blink, and should remain the primary option for the majority of builds. However, X Speed finds use in prolonged kiting rather than a single jump. For example, enemies with the potential for multiple dashes, such as Absol, Gengar, or Garchomp (during its Unite Move) can often reach beyond the escape of Eject Button, especially if they carry one themselves. X Speed can offer a prolonged increase in Movement Speed, allowing for an equally elongated attempt at survival.

While valid non-mobility Battle Items are rather scarce with Ninetales, there are options that exist. If playing with teammates that can easily protect you, Potion can be a useful defensive tool for sustain through repeated engages or small-scale skirmishes, as well as in teamfights with proper setup that offer you a stable front line to sit behind. In games where a defensive option isn’t expected to be necessary, X Attack can offer a substantial boost to your damage output while relying on Held Items or teammates’ protection for sustainability. Just be aware that these types of strategies render you even more vulnerable to speedy assailants, so exercise caution and coordinate with teammates before attempting to utilizing such a strategy.

Strong Build Paths

One of the best parts of MOBA gameplay is experimenting with different characters and their build paths. There’s a certain amount of satisfaction to be had when you manage to find something unique that works, and Alolan Ninetales scratches that itch surprisingly well. With a flexible set of Moves and an equally impressive range of viable Held Item options, experimenting with build paths for Ninetales is a pleasantly creative experience. That being the case, the frozen fox can pride itself on a plethora of viable options, many of which include wildly contrasting playstyles from one another. Let’s take a look at three drastically different approaches to playing Ninetales, and how each can be perfectly valid in their own right when utilized properly.

Snowstorm

This build is highly regarded as the standard option for Alolan Ninetales. Avalanche and Blizzard provide the highest bang for your buck in Special Attack damage, and when utilized together they can create impressive burst. Look to use them in conjunction with one another, creating a wall with Avalanche to then shove them into it with Blizzard, maximizing the damage output of the latter and keeping pesky melee foes at bay. Make sure to stay at long range, and to combo your abilities with the crowd control effects of teammates to take down foes with maximum efficiency.

For Held Items, Choice Specs and Wise Glasses maximize your Special Attack stat, and ensure that your Moves will do as much damage as possible. Due to Ninetales’ low mobility, Focus Band is a useful utility item that can help you survive ambushes and chaotic teamfights. Using these three items is highly recommended, however if you do not possess them at high level, then Shell Bell and Special Attack Specs can be viable offensive substitutes. For Battle Items, Eject Button is the gold standard; injecting some mobility into the frail fox is often paramount to survival. In this vein, X Speed can also be utilized, providing prolonged kiting ability rather than a single elusive dodge.

Supportive

For those who prefer a more utility-based approach, this build allows for a protective playstyle. Through the utilization of Aurora Veil’s buffing ability and Dazzling Gleam’s area-of-effect stun, Ninetales can carve out an interesting niche as a pseudo-Supporter Pokémon. This build focuses primarily on defensive itemization, however Shell Bell is also employed—not for the base Special Attack increase (although that does help), but rather for the Move Cooldown Reduction buff it also provides. With it, your high-cooldown moves will be available more often, allowing you to be more useful as a protector.

As you will be filling the Supporter role, Exp. Share is a must-have; raising your partners’ level quickly and efficiently post-evolution while allowing them to farm should be a high priority, as it is with all Supporters. Finally, Buddy Barrier is incredibly useful alongside Ninetales’ Snow Globe, with its impressive range. The Unite Move’s base damage is high enough to be useful even without offensive itemization, and the huge range means that several teammates are likely to be shielded as a result of Buddy Barrier’s effect, helping to swing teamfights firmly in your favor. If you do not have Buddy Barrier leveled up high enough, then other defensive items such as Focus Band and Assault Vest can help you at least survive for a bit longer to continue aiding your allies. The approach with Battle Items is identical to that of the previous build; Eject Button or X Speed should be utilized to keep yourself safe and sound as you follow your teammates into battle—or if you find yourself being singled out.

Standard Attacker

Finally, this rather unorthodox build seeks to turn Alolan Ninetales into an Attack-based carry, utilizing Aurora Veil offensively for its boosted Standard Attack effect as your primary damage output. Both Avalanche and Dazzling Gleam are viable in this build, the former for its damage and blocking capabilities and the latter for its ability to help you reposition. Aurora Veil is the key to success with this strategy, and to make the most efficient use of it the Shell Bell is required to reduce its long cooldown timer. Muscle Band, while odd to use on an entirely Special Attack reliant Pokémon, finds use in increasing your Attack Speed stat. This will upgrade the rate at which you shell out boosted attacks during Aurora Veil, the item also increasing the damage these attacks do substantially. Finally, as with other offensive builds, Focus Band is a wonderful defensive tool, allowing you to survive while your Aurora Veil is on cooldown.

These three items are difficult to substitute, but if absolutely necessary Buddy Barrier can replace Focus Band in defensive value. If you would prefer to utilize a third offensive item instead, then Attack Weight can lean even harder into your reliance on your Standard Attacks, whereas Choice Specs and Wise Glasses are more standard options for Ninetales’ damage. For Battle Items, Eject Button is still incredibly useful, but risk-prone players may consider using X Attack for increased damage output. Coordinating your X Attack with your Aurora Veil buff can yield devastating results in the arena, however, be keenly aware that this option limits your already lackluster mobility severely. Stay close to your teammates and keep a wary eye out for potential ambushes if you go down this route!

Conclusion

All in all, Alolan Ninetales is a wonderfully elegant addition to Pokémon UNITE’s roster of playable characters. With a highly flexible move pool and a wide array of unique strategies to choose from, playing as the elegant ice fox can be incredibly rewarding for those willing to experiment. The vulpine’s lack of mobility is certainly a weakness (and a large one at that), however this can be mitigated through careful consideration of team composition, positioning, and itemization. Overall, I would highly recommend this Ranged Attacker and pseudo-Supporter to any and all players looking for a coordinated, calculated approach with a high skill ceiling and rewarding gameplay—with a fabulous foxy flair to boot.