Special
Attacker
CTier
85Speed · Above Avg

Stats & Training

Attack and Sp. Atk carry most of Nidoking's stat budget. Sp. Def's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 3 Attack EVs. Follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.

Base Stats
High
HP81
C
Attack102
B
Defense77
C
Sp. Atk85
C
Sp. Def75
C
Speed85
C
Total505
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 PointRare
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 ForceHATop Pick
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. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses.

Nidoking Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Ice, Ground, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)Fighting, Bug, Rock, Fairy
0.25x (Resist)Poison
0x (Immune)Electric
Type ChartAvg
4Weak
5Resist
1Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
WaterIceGroundPsychic
½xResist
FightingBugRockFairy
¼xResist
Poison
0xImmune
Electric
STAB (7)
GrassFairyFireElectricPoisonRockSteel
How to Beat Nidoking in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire (Best Counters)

In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Zapdos deals 35-41% with Heat Wave.

Heatran
HeatranImmune to Poison, threatens with Earth Power
FireSteel
A
Recommended Build
AbilityFlashfire
ItemLeftovers
NatureCalm
Moves
  • Stealth Rock
  • Lava Plume
  • Earth Power
  • TauntUtility
View Heatran builds →

Omega Ruby & Alpha 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). Attack grew the most through evolution (+45 over Nidoran M), and Nidoking peaks at 505 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 200 partners from the Ground and Monster egg groups. Notable egg moves include Amnesia, Beat Up, Chip Away and 11 more.

Egg Groups
GroundMonster
Gender
♂100.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
14moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachugolduckampharosvenusaurcharizardblastoisemeganiumferaligatrsceptileswampertrhydon
12 of 200·

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire 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

Solid pick
Ability
Sheer Force
Item
Life OrbPOWER
Best Nature for Nidoking
Timid+SPE

Nidoking best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • Earth PowerSTAB
  • Ice Beam
  • Sludge WaveSTAB
  • FlamethrowerCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Excadrill
ExcadrillGood
Azumarill
AzumarillDecent

Moves

Hard to wall, honestly. Nidoking threatens 14 types beyond its own STAB, with Fighting and Bug standing out. Pair that with Earthquake and Sludge Wave and switchins need to think twice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Double Kick
—3010030Fighting
Lv 1
Focus Energy
D——30Normal
Lv 1
Megahorn
C1208510Bug
Lv 1
Peck
—3510035Flying
Lv 1
Poison Sting
—1510035Poison
Lv 23
Chip Away
—7010020Normal
Lv 35
Thrash
—12010010Normal
Lv 43
Earth Power
S9010010Ground
Lv 58
Megahorn
C1208510Bug

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
D—10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
B110705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
C7510015Fighting
TM78
Bulldoze
C6010020Ground
TM100
Confide
———20Normal
HM01
Cut
D509530Normal
TM28
Dig
B8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM82
Dragon Tail-6
D609010Dragon
TM26
Earthquake
B10010010Ground
TM49
Echoed Voice
D4010015Normal
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
A110855Fire
TM35
Flamethrower
A9010015Fire
TM56
Fling
D—10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
C120705Fighting
TM21
Frustration
D—10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM01
Hone Claws
C——15Dark
TM15
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
S9010010Ice
TM59
Incinerate
—6010015Fire
TM84
Poison Jab
B8010020Poison
TM98
Power-Up Punch
D4010020Fighting
TM17
Protect+4
A——10Normal
TM60
Quash
——10015Dark
TM18
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
C——20Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
C759010Rock
HM06
Rock Smash
—4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
D609515Rock
TM48
Round
D6010015Normal
TM37
Sandstorm
D——10Rock
TM94
Secret Power
—7010020Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
C8010015Ghost
TM65
Shadow Claw
C7010015Ghost
TM88
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM36
Sludge Bomb
C9010010Poison
TM34
Sludge Wave
S9510010Poison
TM23
Smack Down
D5010015Rock
TM71
Stone Edge
C100805Rock
HM04
Strength
—8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
HM03
Surf
C9010015Water
TM87
Swagger
——9015Normal
TM12
Taunt
C—10020Dark
TM46
Thief
C6010025Dark
TM25
Thunder
C1107010Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
B9010015Electric
TM41
Torment
——10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
C—9010Poison
TM09
Venoshock
C6510010Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Amnesia
D——20Psychic
Egg
Beat Up
D—10010Dark
Egg
Chip Away
—7010020Normal
Egg
Confusion
—5010025Psychic
Egg
Counter-5
D—10020Fighting
Egg
Disable
C—10020Normal
Egg
Endure+4
D——10Normal
Egg
Head Smash
B150805Rock
Egg
Iron Tail
C1007515Steel
Egg
Poison Tail
—5010025Poison
Egg
Sucker Punch+1
C801005Dark
Egg
Supersonic
——5520Normal
Egg
Take Down
—908520Normal
Egg
Venom Drench
D—10020Poison

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Aqua Tail
C909010Water
Tutor
Dragon Pulse
C8510010Dragon
Tutor
Drill Run
C809510Ground
Tutor
Earth Power
S9010010Ground
Tutor
Fire Punch
C7510015Fire
Tutor
Focus Punch-3
B15010020Fighting
Tutor
Helping Hand+5
C——20Normal
Tutor
Ice Punch
C7510015Ice
Tutor
Icy Wind
D559515Ice
Tutor
Iron Tail
C1007515Steel
Tutor
Outrage
B12010010Dragon
Tutor
Shock Wave
—60—20Electric
Tutor
Snore
—5010015Normal
Tutor
Stealth Rock
C——20Rock
Tutor
Super Fang
D—9010Normal
Tutor
Superpower
B1201005Fighting
Tutor
Thunder Punch
C7510015Electric
Tutor
Uproar
C9010010Normal
Tutor
Water Pulse
D6010020Water

Reminder Moves

Rem
Rem
Captivate
——10020Normal
Rem
Flatter
——10015Dark
Rem
Fury Attack
—158520Normal
Rem
Helping Hand+5
C——20Normal
Rem
Horn Attack
—6510025Normal
Rem
Horn Drill
——305Normal
Rem
Leer
——10030Normal
Rem
Poison Jab
B8010020Poison
Rem
Toxic Spikes
C——20Poison

Transfer Moves

Gen
Gen 4
Avalanche-4
C6010010Ice
Gen 3
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Gen 3
Defense Curl
———40Normal
Gen 3
Double-Edge
B12010015Normal
Gen 3
Dynamic Punch
D100505Fighting
Gen 4
Fury Cutter
D409520Bug
Gen 4
Headbutt
C7010015Normal
Gen 3
Mega Kick
C120755Normal
Gen 3
Mega Punch
—808520Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
———10Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Gen 4
Natural Gift
D—10015Normal
Gen 3
Seismic Toss
D—10020Fighting
Gen 4
Whirlpool
—358515Water

How to Get Nidoking in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

Nidoking can't be caught in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. 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 Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

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

    Catch in the wild in:

    XWalking · Route 11 · Horde battle

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

    Also found in:

    RedYellowGoldCrystalFireRedDiamond
  2. Nidorino
    Step 2Evolve into Nidorino

    Catch in the wild in:

    XWalking · Route 11 · Horde battle

    Also found in:

    RedYellowGoldCrystalFireRedDiamond
  3. Nidoking
    Step 3Nidoking ✓

Nidoking Guide

  • In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Sheer Force changes the entire equation for Nidoking. The 505 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as an attacker. Earthpower with Life Orb is the standard set.

  • In Omega Ruby & Alpha 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 special attacker with base 85 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as an attacker.

  • For Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, the core moveset is Earthpower, Ice Beam, Sludgewave, and Flamethrower. Earthpower leads at 22% usage. This set covers the attacker 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

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