Physical
Balanced
CTier
85Speed · Above Avg

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.

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
Poison PointTop Pick
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 ForceHANot in game
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

NIDOKING’s thick tail packs enormously destructive power. With one swing, it can topple a metal transmission tower. Once this POKéMON goes on a rampage, there is no stopping it.

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.

Nidoking Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Ice, Ground, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)Fighting, Bug, Rock
0.25x (Resist)Poison
0x (Immune)Electric
Type ChartAvg
4Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Score0
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
WaterIceGroundPsychic
½xResist
FightingBugRock
¼xResist
Poison
0xImmune
Electric
STAB (6)
GrassFireElectricPoisonRockSteel
How to Beat Nidoking in Ruby & Sapphire (Best Counters)

In Ruby & Sapphire, Starmie threatens a KO with Surf (115-136%).

Magneton
MagnetonImmune to Poison, wears down with Toxic, sturdy guarantees survival
ElectricSteel
A
Recommended Build
AbilityMagnetpull
ItemMagnet
NatureModest
Moves
  • ThunderboltSTAB
  • Hidden Power Fire
  • ToxicUtility
  • Thunder Wave
View Magneton builds →

Ruby & Sapphire 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

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

Moderate

Breed with Nidoking to get Nidoran M eggs using 102 partners from the Ground and Monster egg groups. Notable egg moves include Amnesia, Beat Up, Confusion and 4 more.

Egg Groups
GroundMonster
Gender
♂100.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
7moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachugolduckampharosvenusaurcharizardblastoisemeganiumferaligatrsceptileswampertrhydon
12 of 102·

Ruby & Sapphire Nidoking Best Moveset

Poison Point helps Nidoking stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, spread EVs for the right balance, and Earthquake as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.

Best Build

Solid pick
Utility
Ability
Poison Point
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Nidoking
Rash+SPA

Nidoking best EVs are Speed and Defense

EVs

Utility Moveset

  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • Ice Beam
  • Fire Blast
  • Sludge BombSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Tyranitar
TyranitarDecent
Aerodactyl
AerodactylDecent
Zapdos
ZapdosDecent

Moves

Hard to wall, honestly. Nidoking threatens 12 types beyond its own STAB, with Fighting and Flying standing out. Pair that with Earthquake and Sludge Bomb and switchins need to think twice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Double Kick
—3010030Fighting
Lv 1
Focus Energy
D——30Normal
Lv 1
Peck
—3510035Flying
Lv 1
Poison Sting
—1510035Poison
Lv 23
Thrash
—12010020Normal

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
——10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
C120705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
C7510015Fighting
HM01
Cut
—509530Normal
TM28
Dig
—6010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
S10010010Ground
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
A120855Fire
TM35
Flamethrower
C9510015Fire
TM01
Focus Punch-3
B15010020Fighting
TM21
Frustration
——10020Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
A9510010Ice
TM23
Iron Tail
C1007515Steel
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
C——20Normal
HM06
Rock Smash
—2010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
—609510Rock
TM37
Sandstorm
———10Rock
TM43
Secret Power
—7010020Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
C8010015Ghost
TM34
Shock Wave
—60—20Electric
TM36
Sludge Bomb
A9010010Poison
HM04
Strength
—8010015Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
HM03
Surf
C9510015Water
TM12
Taunt
C—10020Dark
TM46
Thief
D6010025Dark
TM25
Thunder
C1207010Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
C9510015Electric
TM41
Torment
D—10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
C—8510Poison
TM03
Water Pulse
—6010020Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Amnesia
D——20Psychic
Egg
Beat Up
D—10010Dark
Egg
Confusion
—5010025Psychic
Egg
Counter-5
D—10020Fighting
Egg
Disable
——5520Normal
Egg
Supersonic
——5520Normal
Egg
Take Down
C908520Normal

Tutor Moves

Nidoking can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Nidoking in Ruby & Sapphire

Nidoking isn't available in the wild in Ruby & Sapphire. Start by transferring Nidoran♂ (male) from Red, Yellow, or Let's Go Pikachu. The evolution path from Nidoran♂ (male) to Nidoking is covered in the steps below.

How to Obtain Nidoking in Ruby & Sapphire

  1. Nidoran♂ (male)
    Step 1Obtain Nidoran♂ (male)

    Catch in the wild in:

    FireRedWalking · Safari Zone

    Then trade to Ruby & Sapphire to continue the evolution chain.

    Also found in:

    RedYellowGoldCrystalDiamondPlatinum
  2. Nidorino
    Step 2Evolve into Nidorino

    Catch in the wild in:

    FireRedWalking · Safari Zone

    Also found in:

    RedYellowGoldCrystalDiamondPlatinum
  3. Nidoking
    Step 3Nidoking ✓

Nidoking Guide

  • In Ruby & Sapphire, Sheer Force changes the entire equation for Nidoking. The 495 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier. Earthquake with Leftovers is the standard set.

  • In Ruby & Sapphire, Nidoking's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Cloyster (Ice), and Golem (Ground), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Psychic-type attackers are also a problem.

  • 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 physical attacker with base 92 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.

  • In Ruby & Sapphire, Sheer Force is the hidden ability. It strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects. Worth hunting for if you want Nidoking to compete at a higher level.

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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