Physical
Wallbreaker
75Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

Kingler's all-in on Attack at the expense of Sp. Atk. The physical lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 2 Attack EVs and follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
Above
HP55
D
Attack130
A
Defense115
B
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def50
D
Speed75
C
Total475
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging60 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.3 m
Weight60.0 kg
Base XP166
Abilities
Hyper CutterRare
Prevents Attack from being lowered by other Pokémon.
Shell Armor
Protects against critical hits.
Sheer ForceHATop Pick
Strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.
EV Yield
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training target
Pokedex Entries

The flow of Gigantamax energy has spurred this Pokémon’s left pincer to grow to an enormous size. That claw can pulverize anything.

Kingler Weakness

Kingler's Water typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric and Grass. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Kingler's physical bulk (base 115 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Kingler Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
Type ChartGood
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None
How to Beat Kingler in Sword & Shield (Best Counters)
C
Available Moves
Moves
  • Solar BeamTM11
  • Petal BlizzardLv. 36
  • Giga DrainLv. 24
  • Mega DrainLv. 8
Damage vs Kingler
Solar Beam 2x
181-214%KO
Petal Blizzard 2x
61-73%
Giga Drain 2x
114-135%KO
Mega Drain 2x
61-73%
View Maractus builds →

Sword & Shield Evolution

Kingler is the evolved form of Krabby. Breeding produces Krabby eggs, and they're average hatch time. Evolving from Krabby gave Kingler the biggest boost in HP (+25), bringing the total to 475 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Krabby
Water
Kingler
Water
HP
30
55+25
ATK
105
130+25
DEF
90
115+25
SP.ATK
25
50+25
SP.DEF
25
50+25
SPE
50
75+25
BST
325C-Tier
475C-Tier+150
ROLE
Attacker
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Physical
Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Kingler to get Krabby eggs easily using 32 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Ancient Power, Hammer Arm, Knock Off and 2 more.

Egg Groups
Water3
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
5moves
Breed With (best first)
drapionclawitzergolisopodcursolacrawdauntcorsolaskorupiclaunchercorphisharcheopsomastarkabutops

Sword & Shield Kingler Best Moveset

One boost from Swords Dance and Kingler gets dangerous fast. The Adamant nature targets max Attack without Speed, and Sheerforce backs the whole approach. Liquidation and the remaining moves handle most of what's left standing.

Best Build

Experimental
Ability
Sheer Force
Item
Life OrbPOWER
Best Nature for Kingler

Kingler best EVs are Attack and Defense

EVs

Physical Tank Moveset

  • Knock Off
  • LiquidationSTAB
  • Swords Dance
  • High Horsepower

Moves

You'll want to breed for Ancient Power and Hammer Arm on Kingler. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Hydro Pump and Crabhammer, they expand what Kingler can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Hammer Arm
C1009010Fighting
Lv 1
Harden
30Normal
Lv 1
Leer
D10030Normal
Lv 1
Metal Claw
C509535Steel
Lv 1
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 1
Wide Guard+3
C10Rock
Lv 12
Mud Shot
D559515Ground
Lv 16
Protect+4
C10Normal
Lv 20
Bubble Beam
D6510020Water
Lv 24
Stomp
6510020Normal
Lv 31
Flail
D10015Normal
Lv 36
Razor Shell
B759510Water
Lv 42
Slam
807520Normal
Lv 48
Swords Dance
S20Normal
Lv 54
Crabhammer
A1009010Water
Lv 60
Guillotine
305Normal

TM Moves

TM
TR12
Agility
A30Psychic
TR83
Ally Switch+2
C15Psychic
TR17
Amnesia
C20Psychic
TM31
Attract
C10015Normal
TR06
Blizzard
D110705Ice
TR01
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
TM43
Brick Break
C7510015Fighting
TM55
Brine
D6510010Water
TM97
Brutal Swing
C6010020Dark
TM15
Dig
C8010010Ground
TM45
Dive
B8010010Water
TR26
Endure+4
C10Normal
TM39
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM94
False Swipe
D4010040Normal
TM59
Fling
10010Dark
TM09
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM35
Hail
C10Ice
TR94
High Horsepower
S959510Ground
TR03
Hydro Pump
C110805Water
TM08
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TR05
Ice Beam
D9010010Ice
TM27
Icy Wind
D559515Ice
TR46
Iron Defense
C15Steel
TR98
Liquidation
S8510010Water
TM53
Mud Shot
D559515Ground
TM25
Protect+4
C10Normal
TM33
Rain Dance
C5Water
TM83
Razor Shell
B759510Water
TM21
Rest
C10Psychic
TM22
Rock Slide
C759010Rock
TM48
Rock Tomb
C609515Rock
TM76
Round
D6010015Normal
TR84
Scald
C8010015Water
TR27
Sleep Talk
C10Normal
TM24
Snore
5010015Normal
TM98
Stomping Tantrum
C7510010Ground
TR20
Substitute
C10Normal
TR39
Superpower
B1201005Fighting
TR04
Surf
C9010015Water
TM
Swords Dance
S20Normal
TM23
Thief
C6010025Dark
TM36
Whirlpool
D358515Water
TR60
X-Scissor
A8010015Bug

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Ancient Power
D601005Rock
Egg
Hammer Arm
C1009010Fighting
Egg
Knock Off
S6510020Dark
Egg
Night Slash
C7010015Dark
Egg
Slash
C7010020Normal

Tutor Moves

Kingler can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Kingler in Sword & Shield

Kingler appears at decent spawn rates across 8 spots in late-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.

Where To Catch Kingler in Sword & Shield

Krabby is your first catch on the way to Kingler. You'll find walking and fishing encounters from Lv. 7-42 across 52 total spots in the chain.

  1. Krabby
    Step 1Catch Krabby
    West Lake Axewell
    SwordGrass Lv.7-11 Cave
    40%Early
    Overcast
    West Lake Axewell
    ShieldGrass Lv.7-11 Cave
    40%Early
    Overcast
    West Lake Axewell
    SwordGrass Lv.7-11 Cave
    30%Early
    Heavy Fog
    West Lake Axewell
    ShieldGrass Lv.7-11 Cave
    30%Early
    Heavy Fog
    West Lake Axewell
    SwordGrass Lv.7-11 Cave
    30%Early
    Normal Weather
    West Lake Axewell
    ShieldGrass Lv.7-11 Cave
    30%Early
    Normal Weather
    South Lake Miloch
    SwordOverworld Lv.14-16 Water
    30%Early
    Normal Weather
    South Lake Miloch
    ShieldOverworld Lv.14-15 Water
    30%Early
    Normal Weather
    South Lake Miloch
    SwordOverworld Lv.14-16 Water
    30%Early
    Thunderstorm
    South Lake Miloch
    ShieldOverworld Lv.14-16 Water
    30%Early
    Thunderstorm
    West Lake Axewell
    SwordGrass Lv.7-11 Cave
    20%Early
    Thunderstorm
    West Lake Axewell
    ShieldGrass Lv.7-11 Cave
    20%Early
    Thunderstorm
    West Lake Axewell
    SwordGrass Lv.7-11 Cave
    20%Early
    Raining
    West Lake Axewell
    ShieldGrass Lv.7-11 Cave
    20%Early
    Raining
    Fields of Honor
    SwordOverworld Lv.10-15
    20%Early
    Thunderstorm
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldOverworld Lv.10-15
    20%Early
    Thunderstorm
    Fields of Honor
    SwordOverworld Lv.10-15
    20%Early
    Raining
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldOverworld Lv.10-15
    20%Early
    Raining
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldGrass Lv.13-18
    15%Early
    Thunderstorm
    Fields of Honor
    SwordGrass Lv.13-18
    15%Early
    Raining
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldGrass Lv.13-18
    15%Early
    Raining
    Fields of Honor
    SwordGrass Lv.13-18
    15%Early
    Thunderstorm
    West Lake Axewell
    SwordOverworld Lv.8-14 Cave
    10%Early
    Raining
    West Lake Axewell
    ShieldOverworld Lv.8-14 Cave
    10%Early
    Raining
    West Lake Axewell
    SwordOverworld Lv.8-14 Cave
    10%Early
    Normal Weather
    West Lake Axewell
    ShieldOverworld Lv.8-14 Cave
    10%Early
    Normal Weather
    South Lake Miloch
    SwordOverworld Lv.14-16 Water
    10%Early
    Raining
    South Lake Miloch
    ShieldOverworld Lv.14-16 Water
    10%Early
    Raining
    South Lake Miloch
    SwordOverworld Lv.14-16 Water
    10%Early
    Overcast
    South Lake Miloch
    ShieldOverworld Lv.14-16 Water
    10%Early
    Overcast
    South Lake Miloch
    SwordOverworld Lv.14-16 Water
    10%Early
    Snowing
    South Lake Miloch
    ShieldOverworld Lv.14-16 Water
    10%Early
    Snowing
    West Lake Axewell
    SwordOverworld Lv.8-14 Cave
    5%Early
    Snowstorm
    West Lake Axewell
    ShieldOverworld Lv.8-14 Cave
    5%Early
    Snowstorm
    Giant's Cap
    SwordSuper Rod Lv.26-28
    35%Mid
    Giant's Cap
    ShieldSuper Rod Lv.26-28
    35%Mid
    Loop Lagoon
    SwordOverworld Lv.16-21
    20%Mid
    Thunderstorm
    Loop Lagoon
    ShieldOverworld Lv.16-21
    20%Mid
    Thunderstorm
    Loop Lagoon
    SwordOverworld Lv.16-21
    20%Mid
    Raining
    Loop Lagoon
    ShieldOverworld Lv.16-21
    20%Mid
    Raining
    Loop Lagoon
    SwordGrass Lv.19-24
    15%Mid
    Thunderstorm
    Loop Lagoon
    ShieldGrass Lv.19-24
    15%Mid
    Thunderstorm
    Loop Lagoon
    SwordGrass Lv.19-24
    15%Mid
    Raining
    Loop Lagoon
    ShieldGrass Lv.19-24
    15%Mid
    Raining
  2. Kingler
    Step 2Kingler
    Axew's Eye
    ShieldOverworld Lv.36-40
    25%Late
    Normal Weather
    Axew's Eye
    SwordOverworld Lv.36-40
    25%Late
    Normal Weather
    Route 9
    SwordGrass Lv.38-42 Route
    25%Late
    All Weather
    Route 9
    ShieldGrass Lv.38-42 Route
    25%Late
    All Weather
    Axew's Eye
    SwordOverworld Lv.36-40
    10%Late
    Thunderstorm
    Axew's Eye
    ShieldOverworld Lv.36-40
    10%Late
    Thunderstorm
    Axew's Eye
    ShieldOverworld Lv.36-40
    5%Late
    Overcast
    Axew's Eye
    SwordOverworld Lv.36-40
    5%Late
    Overcast
    or evolve from Krabby (Step 1)

Kingler Guide

  • In Sword & Shield, Don't let Kingler's 475 base stat total fool you. Sheer Force is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier as a wallbreaker. Knock Off with Life Orb is the standard set.

  • In Sword & Shield, watch for Raikou (Electric) and Venusaur (Grass) when using Kingler. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • In Sword & Shield, Run Sheer Force on Kingler. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Kingler also gets Hyper Cutter and Shell Armor, but they don't compare. On wall sets, Sheer Force pairs with Kingler's base 115 Defense to absorb physical hits on the switch.

  • In Sword & Shield, Kingler fills the wallbreaker role. It's a physical attacker with base 130 Attack. Base 75 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.

  • In Sword & Shield, run Knock Off, Liquidation, Swords Dance, and Highhorsepower on Kingler. Knock Off is the most common pick at 24% usage. Liquidation provides reliable STAB damage.

Game Availability

Kingler first appeared in Red & Blue and spans 20 games across 10 generations. It later gained a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.

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