How to Catch and Evolve Nickit in Pokémon GO

Nickit, the Fox Pokémon originally discovered in the Galar region, made its highly anticipated debut in Pokémon GO during the "Deep Depths" event in March 2025. As a pure Dark-type Pokémon, Nickit brings more than just its cunning looks to the game; it offers trainers a new evolutionary line to complete and a potential "spice" pick for competitive formats like the Little Cup.

For those looking to optimize their Pokédex or bolster their Dark-type roster, understanding the mechanics of finding, catching, and evolving this elusive fox is essential.

Quick Facts About Nickit

Before diving into the detailed strategies, here is the essential data for Nickit in Pokémon GO:

Type: Dark
Weaknesses: Bug, Fairy, Fighting (160% damage)
Resistances: Psychic (39%), Ghost (63%), Dark (63%)
Evolution: Evolves into Thievul (Costs 50 Nickit Candy)
Maximum CP: 808 (at Level 50)
Shiny Status: Currently unavailable (as of late 2025)
Buddy Distance: 1 km per Candy

Nickit Base Stats and Potential

In Pokémon GO, a Pokémon's utility is defined by its base stats and its Combat Power (CP) ceiling. Nickit is designed as an unevolved Pokémon, meaning its raw power is limited, but it has specific niches.

Base Stat Breakdown

Attack: 85
Defense: 82
Stamina: 120

With a maximum CP of 808 at Level 50, Nickit is not a candidate for the Great League or Ultra League. However, its stamina of 120 is relatively decent for its size, allowing it to survive a few hits in the Little Cup (where the CP limit is 500). Its evolution, Thievul, scales much higher, making Nickit primarily a stepping stone for collection and candy grinding.

How to Get Nickit in Pokémon GO

Since its introduction in the March 2025 Deep Depths event, the availability of Nickit has shifted through various game cycles. Unlike some rare regional exclusives, Nickit is generally available globally, though its spawn rate varies depending on active events and seasons.

1. Wild Encounters

Nickit is most commonly found in the wild. As a Dark-type, it has a significantly higher spawn rate during Foggy weather. In our observations during various seasonal rotations, Nickit tends to appear more frequently in urban biomes and during night-time hours in-game, reflecting its lore as a nocturnal thief.

2. Egg Hatches

During its debut event, Nickit was added to the 7km Egg pool (obtained by opening Gifts from friends). While the egg pools rotate frequently, Nickit often returns to the 7km or 5km pools during Galar-themed events. It is important to check the current egg transparency feature in the app to see if Nickit is a potential hatch before spending incubators.

3. Field Research and Timed Research

Nickit is a frequent reward for Research tasks that involve Dark-type Pokémon or Team GO Rocket interactions. During the Deep Depths event, tasks such as "Defeat two Team GO Rocket Grunts" specifically rewarded Nickit encounters. These encounters are particularly valuable because Research Pokémon have a minimum IV floor of 10/10/10, giving you a better chance at a "Wonder" or 3-star Nickit.

4. Raid Battles

While not a permanent fixture, Nickit has appeared as a Tier 1 Raid Boss. These raids are easily soloable by any trainer and provide another avenue for high-IV hunting.

How to Evolve Nickit into Thievul

Evolving Nickit is a straightforward process, but maximizing the efficiency of your candy collection can save you time.

The Evolution Cost

To evolve Nickit into Thievul, you need 50 Nickit Candy. There are no special items (like Sinnoh Stones) or walking requirements needed for this specific evolution.

Tips for Fast Candy Accumulation

Pinap Berries: Always use a Pinap Berry or Silver Pinap Berry when catching Nickit in the wild. This doubles the catch candy from 3 to 6 (or more during double-candy events).
Mega Evolution Bonus: Having an active Dark-type Mega Evolution—such as Mega Tyranitar, Mega Houndoom, or Mega Absol—while catching Nickit grants you at least one additional candy per catch. This is the most efficient way to grind for Thievul during an event where Nickit spawns are boosted.
Transferring: While it’s tempting to keep every fox you catch, transferring lower-CP Nickit during "2x Transfer Candy" spotlight hours is a great way to top up your reserves.
Buddy System: With a 1km walking distance per candy, Nickit is one of the easiest Pokémon to earn candy for while simply exploring.

Best Moveset for Nickit

If you are using Nickit in the Little Cup or just for gym clearing, you need to optimize its moveset. Nickit has access to several fast and charged attacks that benefit from Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB).

Fast Attacks

Snarl (Dark): This is the superior choice for almost all scenarios. While it deals moderate damage, its energy generation is among the best in the game, allowing Nickit to reach its Charged Attacks rapidly.
Sucker Punch (Dark): A faster animation than Snarl but offers lower energy gains.
Quick Attack (Normal): Generally avoided as it lacks STAB and does not provide the utility of Snarl.

Charged Attacks

Play Rough (Fairy): This is a crucial coverage move. Since Nickit is a Dark-type, it is weak to Fighting and Bug types. Play Rough deals massive damage to Fighting types, providing a "surprise" factor in battles.
Night Slash (Dark): A low-energy cost move that benefits from STAB. It also has a small chance to significantly increase Nickit’s Attack stat in battle.
Foul Play (Dark): A reliable, high-damage Dark move, though often overshadowed by the utility of Night Slash.

The Optimal Moveset: For general performance, run Snarl + Play Rough. This combination provides the best coverage and energy efficiency.

Is Shiny Nickit Available?

One of the most frequent questions from the community is regarding the "Shiny" version of Nickit.

As of the current game update following the 2025 Deep Depths event, Shiny Nickit is not yet available in Pokémon GO. Niantic typically releases the standard form of a Pokémon first and saves the Shiny debut for a future Community Day, Safari Zone, or themed event.

In the main series games, a Shiny Nickit features a distinct grey/silver coat instead of its usual reddish-brown fur, making it a highly anticipated release for collectors.

Nickit in Competitive Play: Little Cup Analysis

While Nickit is too weak for the Great League, it occasionally finds a home in the Little Cup (500 CP limit).

Why Use Nickit?

In a meta often dominated by Psychic and Ghost types (like Cottonee or Wynaut), Nickit acts as a hard counter. Its access to Snarl allows it to outpace many opponents, and Play Rough ensures it isn't completely helpless against the Dark-type's natural enemies.

Counters to Watch Out For

If you bring Nickit into a battle, be wary of:

Cottonee: Its Fairy typing and Charm fast move will delete Nickit in seconds.
Bronzor: While Nickit resists Psychic moves, Bronzor’s bulk and heavy tackle damage can outlast Nickit.
Fighting Types: Any Pokémon with Counter (like Machop) will make short work of this fox.

Detailed Evolution: Meet Thievul

Once you spend those 50 candies, you get Thievul. Thievul is significantly more imposing, with a Max CP reaching up to 2411 at Level 50.

While Thievul isn't a top-tier meta threat in the Ultra League, it serves as an excellent "Budget Dark Type" for newer players who might not have access to Darkrai or Hydreigon. Its playstyle mirrors Nickit—relying on high energy generation and debuffing or coverage moves to wear down opponents.

Conclusion

Nickit is a fantastic addition to the Pokémon GO roster, bringing the flavor of the Galar region to mobile devices worldwide. While it may not be the king of the Master League, its unique moveset and easy evolution path make it a must-have for any trainer. Focus on catching Nickit during Foggy weather, use your Mega Evolutions to maximize candy, and keep an eye out for future events that might finally debut its silver Shiny form.

Whether you're a competitive battler looking for a Little Cup dark horse or a collector aiming to finish the Galar medal, Nickit is a rewarding Pokémon to track down.

FAQ

What is the best moveset for Nickit?

The best moveset is Snarl as the Fast Attack and Play Rough as the Charged Attack. This provides high energy gain and excellent coverage against Fighting-type weaknesses.

How do I evolve Nickit?

You can evolve Nickit into Thievul by using 50 Nickit Candy. No other items or conditions are required.

Is Nickit rare in Pokémon GO?

Nickit is considered an "uncommon" spawn. It appears more frequently during events focused on the Galar region or Dark-type Pokémon, and its spawn rate increases during Foggy weather.

Can Nickit be shiny?

No, Shiny Nickit is not currently available in Pokémon GO. It is expected to be released during a future special event.

What is the max CP for Nickit?

At Level 50, Nickit reaches a maximum CP of 808. At Level 40 (without XL candy), its CP caps at 714.