Physical
Balanced
CTier
85Speed · Above Avg

Stats & Training

An unusually even spread gives Nidoking flexibility. Attack barely edges ahead. But Special isn't far off. Tough to catch and follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve. Yields 3 Attack stat exp.

Base Stats
Above
HP81
C
Attack92
B
Defense77
C
Sp. Atk85
C
Sp. Def75
C
Speed85
C
Total495
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height1.4 m
4'07"Average
Weight62.0 kg
136.7 lbsStandard
Base XP227
High Yield
Abilities
Abilities were introduced in Generation III. Shown below for reference.
Poison Point
Has a 30% chance of poisoning attacking Pokémon on contact.
Rivalry
Increases damage inflicted to 1.25× against Pokémon of the same gender, but decreases damage to 0.75× against the opposite gender.
Sheer ForceHA
Strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.
EV Yield
HPAtk+3DefSpASpDSpe
Strong Attack training target
Pokedex Entries

It uses its powerful tail in battle to smash, constrict, then break the prey’s bones.

Nidoking Weakness

Type-wise, Nidoking takes extra damage from Water, Ice, Ground, Psychic, and Bug. Electric moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity.

Nidoking Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Ice, Ground, Psychic, Bug
0.5x (Resist)Fighting, Rock
0.25x (Resist)Poison
0x (Immune)Electric
Type ChartVulnerable
5Weak
3Resist
1Immune
Score-3
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
WaterIceGroundPsychicBug
½xResist
FightingRock
¼xResist
Poison
0xImmune
Electric
STAB (6)
GrassBugFireElectricPoisonRock
How to Beat Nidoking in Red & Blue (Best Counters)

In Red & Blue, Cloyster's Blizzard hits Nidoking for 79-93%. Articuno's Blizzard also KOs at 86-102%.

Jolteon
JolteonThreatens with Pin Missile, outspeeds
Electric
A
Recommended Build
Moves
  • ThunderboltSTAB
  • Thunder Wave
  • Double Kick
  • Pin Missile
Damage vs Nidoking
Pin Missile 2x
11-13%
View Jolteon builds →

Red & Blue Evolution

Nidoran♂ (male)'s chain ends at Nidoking (using a Moon Stone). Despite 495 base stats, this Poison/Ground type doesn't breed. Special 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

3 Forms
Nidoran♂ (male)
#032Nidoran♂ (male)
16
Level 16
Nidorino
#033Nidorino
Moon Stone
Moon Stone
Nidoking
#034Nidoking
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Nidoran♂ (male)
Poison
Nidorino
Poison
Nidoking
PoisonGround
HP
46
61+15
81+20
ATK
57
72+15
102+30
DEF
40
57+17
77+20
SP.ATK
40
55+15
85+30
SP.DEF
40
55+15
75+20
SPE
50
65+15
85+20
BST
273D-Tier
365D-Tier+92
505C-Tier+140
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Mixed
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Red & Blue Nidoking Best Moveset

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 1
Item
Not in Gen 1
Nature
Not in Gen 1

Utility Moveset

  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • Rock Slide
  • ThunderboltCoverage
  • Ice Beam

Recommended Teammates

Alakazam
AlakazamGood
Gengar
GengarGood
Dragonite
DragoniteDecent

Moves

TMs carry this one. Nidoking learns Earthquake and Poison Sting naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Ice and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Horn Attack
—6510025Normal
Lv 1
Poison Sting
—1510035Poison
Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 1
Thrash
—12010020Normal
Lv 8
Horn Attack
—6510025Normal
Lv 14
Poison Sting
—1510035Poison
Lv 23
Thrash
—12010020Normal

TM Moves

TM
TM34
Bide+1
———10Normal
TM14
Blizzard
B110905Ice
TM08
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
TM11
Bubble Beam
D6510020Water
TM18
Counter-5
D—10020Fighting
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM10
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
TM26
Earthquake
S10010010Ground
TM38
Fire Blast
C120855Fire
TM27
Fissure
——305Ground
TM07
Horn Drill
——305Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
A9510010Ice
TM05
Mega Kick
C120755Normal
TM01
Mega Punch
C808520Normal
TM31
Mimic
———10Normal
TM16
Pay Day
—4010020Normal
TM20
Rage
—2010020Normal
TM33
Reflect
C——20Psychic
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM48
Rock Slide
S759010Rock
TM19
Seismic Toss
D—10020Fighting
TM40
Skull Bash
C10010010Normal
HM04
Strength
—8010015Normal
TM17
Submission
D808025Fighting
TM50
Substitute
C——10Normal
HM03
Surf
C9510015Water
TM09
Take Down
—908520Normal
TM25
Thunder
C1107010Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
S9510015Electric
TM06
Toxic
C—9010Poison
TM12
Water Gun
D4010025Water

Egg Moves

Nidoking doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Nidoking can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Nidoking in Red & Blue

Can't catch Nidoking directly. Start with Nidoran♂ (male) at solid rates from the locations below, then evolve through a special method. The 3-stage chain from Nidoran♂ (male) to Nidoking is where the leveling time goes.

How to Obtain Nidoking in Red & Blue

To get Nidoking, start by catching Nidoran♂ (male) through walking and gift encounters at Lv. 2-33. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

  1. Nidoran♂ (male)
    Step 1Catch Nidoran♂ (male)
    Route 22
    RedGrass Lv.2-4 Route
    40%Early
    Route 22
    BlueGrass Lv.3-4 Route
    40%Early
    Safari Zone - Center
    RedGrass Lv.22 Facility
    20%Mid
    Safari Zone - North
    RedGrass Lv.22 Facility
    20%Mid
    Safari Zone - East
    RedGrass Lv.24 Facility
    20%Mid
    Safari Zone - West
    RedGrass Lv.25 Facility
    20%Mid
    Safari Zone - East
    BlueGrass Lv.24 Facility
    5%Mid
    Safari Zone - West
    BlueGrass Lv.25 Facility
    5%Mid
  2. Nidorino
    Step 2Catch or Evolve Nidorino
    Safari Zone - North
    RedGrass Lv.30 Facility
    10%Mid
    Safari Zone - North
    BlueGrass Lv.30 Facility
    5%Mid
    Celadon City - Game Corner
    BlueGift from NPC Lv.17 City
    LimitedMid
    Purchase: 1,200 coins
    Safari Zone - Center
    RedGrass Lv.31 Facility
    10%Late
    Safari Zone - East
    RedGrass Lv.33 Facility
    10%Late
    Safari Zone - West
    RedGrass Lv.33 Facility
    10%Late
    Safari Zone - Center
    BlueGrass Lv.31 Facility
    5%Late
    or evolve from Nidoran♂ (male) (Step 1)
  3. Nidoking
    Step 3Nidoking ✓

Nidoking Guide

  • For Red & Blue, we rate Nidoking C-Tier: a niche pick in Red & Blue's meta. At 495 BST, the stats are spread pretty evenly. Earthquake anchors the moveset.

  • In Red & Blue, Nidoking's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Cloyster (Ice), and Golem (Ground), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Psychic and Bug-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.

  • Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Nidoking is a physical attacker with base 92 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.

  • For Red & Blue, the core moveset is Earthquake, Rock Slide, Thunderbolt, and Ice Beam. Earthquake leads at 24% usage. Earthquake provides reliable STAB damage.

  • In Red & Blue, the best way to handle Nidoking: Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Water, Ice, and Ground-type attackers hit hardest.

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

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