Stats & Training
An unusually even spread gives Nidoking flexibility. Attack barely edges ahead. But Sp. Def isn't far off. Tough to catch and follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve. Yields 3 Attack EVs.
One swing of its mighty tail can snap a telephone pole as if it were a matchstick.
One swing of its mighty tail can snap a telephone pole as if it were a matchstick.
Nidoking Weakness
Type-wise, Nidoking takes extra damage from Water, Ice, Ground, and Psychic. Electric moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ice, Ground, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Bug, Rock |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Poison |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
In Black 2 & White 2, Politoed deals 66-78% with Scald.
 Jirachi SteelPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySerenegrace ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Nidoking View Jirachi builds →U Turn10-12% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves View Skarmory builds →
| ||
 Politoed Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Nidoking View Politoed builds →Scald 2x66-78% | ||
 Mamoswine IceGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityThickfat ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Nidoking View Mamoswine builds →Earthquake 2x221-260%KO Ice Shard 2x89-105%KO Superpower44-52% | ||
Black 2 & White 2 Evolution
Getting Nidoking requires an evolution item, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Nidoran♂ (male). Breed this form to get Nidoran♂ (male) eggs (average hatch time). Sp.Atk grew the most through evolution (+45 over Nidoran M), and Nidoking peaks at 495 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Nidoking to get Nidoran M eggs using 181 partners from the Ground and Monster egg groups. Notable egg moves include Amnesia, Beat Up, Chip Away and 10 more.
Black 2 & White 2 Nidoking Best Moveset
Nothing fancy here. Nidoking builds around Life Orb for extra damage on every hit for a health trade, Timid nature for the right stat lean, and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs. Sheerforce does its job quietly.
Best Build
Nidoking best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Sludge Wave
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Hard to wall, honestly. Nidoking threatens 14 types beyond its own STAB, with Fighting and Flying standing out. Pair that with Earthquake and Sludge Wave and switchins need to think twice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Nidoking in Black 2 & White 2
Nidoking can't be caught in Black 2 & White 2. Transfer Nidoran♂ (male) from Red, Yellow, or Let's Go Pikachu and evolve through the 3-stage chain to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Nidoking in Black 2 & White 2
Step 1Obtain Nidoran♂ (male)
Step 3Nidoking ✓
Nidoking Guide
In Black 2 & White 2, Sheer Force changes the entire equation for Nidoking. The 495 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier. Earthpower with Life Orb is the standard set.
Sheer Force is what you want on Nidoking. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Poison Point, Rivalry) work on paper but Sheer Force is what makes Nidoking worth using.
Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Nidoking is a special attacker with base 85 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.
For Black 2 & White 2, the core moveset is Earthpower, Ice Beam, Sludgewave, and Flamethrower. Earthpower leads at 22% usage. This set covers the balanced role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
One of the original 151, Nidoking has appeared in 19 games — most mainline games. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves