Stats & Training
An unusually even spread gives Nidoqueen flexibility. Attack barely edges ahead. But Sp. Atk isn't far off. Tough to catch and follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve. Yields 3 HP EVs.
Nidoqueen is better at defense than offense. With scales like armor, this Pokémon will shield its children from any kind of attack.
It pacifies offspring by placing them in the gaps between the spines on its back. The spines will never secrete poison while young are present.
Nidoqueen Weakness
Nidoqueen's Poison/Ground typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Ice, Ground, and Psychic. It shrugs off Electric-type attacks completely. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ice, Ground, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Bug, Rock, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Poison |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
In Sword & Shield, Excadrill's Earthquake hits Nidoqueen for 76-89%. Slowking deals 49-58% with Scald.
 Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Nidoqueen View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x76-89% Rapid Spin13-15% | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Nidoqueen View Weavile builds →Knock Off23-27% Ice Shard 2x28-33% | ||
 Slowking WaterPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemColbur Berry NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Nidoqueen View Slowking builds →Scald 2x49-58% | ||
 Tapu Lele PsychicFairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPsychic Surge ItemChoice Scarf NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Nidoqueen View Tapu Lele builds →Moonblast24-28% Psyshock 2x81-95% Focus Blast20-24% Psychic 2x91-107%KO | ||
 Starmie WaterPsychic | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityAnalytic ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Nidoqueen View Starmie builds →Ice Beam 2x60-71% Hydro Pump 2x110-130%KO | ||
Sword & Shield Evolution
The Poison/Ground-type Nidoqueen caps Nidoran♀ (female)'s chain at 505 stats. No daycare options for this one. Attack grew the most through evolution (+45 over Nidoran F), and Nidoqueen peaks at 505 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Sword & Shield Nidoqueen Best Moveset
Toxic Spikes is the priority every time Nidoqueen comes in. Relaxed nature and flexible EVs keep it alive long enough to get layers down, while Black Sludge provides Poison-type passive recovery. Poison Point rounds it out.
Best Build
Nidoqueen best EVs are Defense and Sp. Def
Doubles Hazard Setter Moveset
- Toxic Spikes
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch
- Body Press
Recommended Teammates
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Beam
Recommended Teammates
Special Tank Moveset
- Sludge Wave
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breadth over depth defines this movepool. Nidoqueen won't stack one type's damage ceiling, but coverage across 11 types means it always has an effective option. Earthquake and High Horsepower anchor the STAB core.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Nidoqueen in Sword & Shield
No wild encounters for Nidoqueen. The 3-stage chain runs through Nidoran♀ (female), which you can catch at solid rates from the locations below. Evolve through a special method once you've got the levels.
How to Obtain Nidoqueen in Sword & Shield
Nidoran♀ (female) is your first catch on the way to Nidoqueen. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 60-65 across 64 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch Nidoran♀ (female)Old CemeterySwordOverworld Lv.60-6535%PostNormal WeatherOld CemeteryShieldOverworld Lv.60-6535%PostNormal WeatherGiant's BedShieldOverworld Lv.60-6526%PostOvercastGiant's BedShieldOverworld Lv.60-6526%PostNormal WeatherGiant's BedShieldOverworld Lv.60-6526%PostThunderstormGiant's BedShieldOverworld Lv.60-6526%PostSnowingGiant's BedShieldOverworld Lv.60-6526%PostRainingOld CemeteryShieldOverworld Lv.60-6525%PostIntense SunOld CemeterySwordOverworld Lv.60-6525%PostIntense SunOld CemeterySwordOverworld Lv.60-6525%PostRainingOld CemeteryShieldOverworld Lv.60-6525%PostRainingGiant's BedShieldOverworld Lv.60-6524%PostSnowstormGiant's BedShieldOverworld Lv.60-6524%PostIntense SunGiant's BedShieldOverworld Lv.60-6522%PostHeavy FogOld CemeterySwordOverworld Lv.60-6522%PostHeavy FogGiant's BedSwordOverworld Lv.60-6521%PostOvercastGiant's BedSwordOverworld Lv.60-6521%PostNormal WeatherGiant's BedSwordOverworld Lv.60-6521%PostThunderstormGiant's BedSwordOverworld Lv.60-6521%PostSnowingGiant's BedSwordOverworld Lv.60-6521%PostRainingGiant's BedSwordGrass Lv.60-6520%PostNormal WeatherGiant's BedShieldGrass Lv.60-6520%PostNormal WeatherGiant's BedSwordGrass Lv.60-6520%PostSnowstormGiant's BedShieldGrass Lv.60-6520%PostSnowstormGiant's BedSwordGrass Lv.60-6520%PostSnowingGiant's BedShieldGrass Lv.60-6520%PostSnowingGiant's BedSwordGrass Lv.60-6520%PostRainingGiant's BedShieldGrass Lv.60-6520%PostRainingGiant's BedSwordGrass Lv.60-6520%PostHeavy FogGiant's BedShieldGrass Lv.60-6520%PostHeavy FogGiant's BedSwordGrass Lv.60-6520%PostOvercastGiant's BedShieldGrass Lv.60-6520%PostOvercastOld CemeteryShieldOverworld Lv.60-6520%PostThunderstormOld CemeterySwordOverworld Lv.60-6520%PostThunderstormOld CemeterySwordOverworld Lv.60-6520%PostSnowingOld CemeteryShieldOverworld Lv.60-6520%PostSnowingOld CemeterySwordGrass Lv.60-6520%PostNormal WeatherOld CemeteryShieldGrass Lv.60-6520%PostNormal WeatherOld CemeterySwordOverworld Lv.60-6520%PostOvercastOld CemeteryShieldOverworld Lv.60-6520%PostOvercastOld CemeterySwordOverworld Lv.60-6520%PostSnowstormOld CemeteryShieldOverworld Lv.60-6520%PostSnowstormGiant's BedSwordOverworld Lv.60-6519%PostSnowstormGiant's BedSwordOverworld Lv.60-6519%PostIntense SunGiant's BedSwordOverworld Lv.60-6517%PostHeavy FogOld CemeteryShieldOverworld Lv.60-6517%PostHeavy FogGiant's BedShieldGrass Lv.60-6516%PostThunderstormGiant's BedSwordGrass Lv.60-6516%PostThunderstormGiant's BedShieldGrass Lv.60-6516%PostIntense SunGiant's BedSwordGrass Lv.60-6516%PostIntense SunOld CemeterySwordGrass Lv.60-6516%PostIntense SunOld CemeteryShieldGrass Lv.60-6516%PostIntense SunOld CemeterySwordGrass Lv.60-6516%PostSnowingOld CemeteryShieldGrass Lv.60-6516%PostSnowingOld CemeteryShieldGrass Lv.60-6516%PostRainingOld CemeterySwordGrass Lv.60-6516%PostRainingOld CemeteryShieldGrass Lv.60-6516%PostHeavy FogOld CemeterySwordGrass Lv.60-6516%PostHeavy FogOld CemeteryShieldGrass Lv.60-6516%PostOvercastOld CemeterySwordGrass Lv.60-6516%PostOvercastOld CemeterySwordGrass Lv.60-6516%PostSnowstormOld CemeteryShieldGrass Lv.60-6516%PostSnowstormOld CemeterySwordGrass Lv.60-6514%PostThunderstormOld CemeteryShieldGrass Lv.60-6514%PostThunderstorm
Step 2Evolve into Nidorina
Step 3Nidoqueen ✓
Nidoqueen Guide
In Sword & Shield, Sheer Force changes the entire equation for Nidoqueen. The 505 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier. Toxic Spikes with Black Sludge is the standard set.
Sheer Force is what you want on Nidoqueen. 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 Nidoqueen worth using.
Base 76 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Nidoqueen is a physical attacker with base 92 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.
In Sword & Shield, run Toxic Spikes, Earthquake, Firepunch, and Bodypress on Nidoqueen. Toxic Spikes is the most common pick at 25% usage. Earthquake provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
One of the original 151, Nidoqueen 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