Kingdra's stats are solid on their own, but Swift Swim is what pushes it over the line. It doubles its Speed in rain. Only weak to Dragon and Fairy. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets. A longtime staple going back to Gen 2.
You won't find a real weakness in Kingdra's stat line. It's well-rounded for the Dragon Pokemon, and what it does with that depends on moveset and items. Yields 3 Attack and Sp. Atk and Sp. Def EVs, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It lives in caves on the seafloor and creates giant whirlpools every time it moves.
Kingdra Weakness
GoodType-wise, Kingdra takes extra damage from Dragon and Fairy. Not many exploitable gaps in the Water/Dragon typing defensive chart. With 75 HP and balanced defenses, Kingdra can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
Kingdra evolved from Horsea's chain using a trade. It's a non-standard trigger, so check the details below. Breed this form to get Horsea eggs (average hatch time). The evolution from Horsea pushed Kingdra to 540 total stats. Sp.Def saw the largest single gain at +70.
How to Evolve
Breed with Kingdra to get Horsea eggs easily using 72 partners from the Dragon and Water1 egg groups.
Flying coverage keeps opponents guessing about Kingdra's real targets. Life Orb provides extra damage on every hit for a health trade while max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs and Modest nature handle the stat profile. Swiftswim ties it together.
Best Build
Best Kingdra Moveset
- Draco Meteor
- Protect
- Hurricane
- Muddy Water
Recommended Teammates
Most of Kingdra's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Draco Meteor and Wave Crash, but Ice and Normal and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Breeding's the move. Aurora Beam and Clear Smog give Kingdra options it can't learn any other way, and Ice and Normal coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Draco Meteor and Outrage. The egg moves push it further.
Breeding's the move. Aurora Beam and Clear Smog give Kingdra options it can't learn any other way, and Ice and Normal coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Outrage and Hydro Pump. The egg moves push it further.
Breeding's the move. Aurora Beam and Clear Smog give Kingdra options it can't learn any other way, and Ice and Normal coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Draco Meteor and Outrage. The egg moves push it further.
Kingdra isn't available in the wild in Scarlet & Violet. Start by transferring Horsea from Red, Yellow, or Ruby. The evolution path from Horsea to Kingdra is covered in the steps below.
The chain to Kingdra requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Horsea at solid rates and level through the stages, but line up the trade first. The rest of the chain runs on levels alone.
How to Obtain Kingdra in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
To get Kingdra, start by catching Horsea through walking and fishing encounters at Lv. 10-63. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch HorseaEASYRoute 226Shining PearlGood RodLv.10-2535%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 226Brilliant DiamondGood RodLv.10-2535%EarlyRouteFountainspring CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameFountainspring CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Step 2Catch or Evolve SeadraEASYRoute 226Shining PearlSuper RodLv.30-5535%MidRouteEASYRoute 226Brilliant DiamondSuper RodLv.30-5535%MidRouteor evolve from Horsea (Step 1)
Step 3Kingdra ✓
Kingdra's 3-stage chain starts with Horsea, which appears at decent rates in the locations below. Level through 3 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.
How to Obtain Kingdra in Sword & Shield
Horsea is your first catch on the way to Kingdra. You'll find surfing encounters from Lv. 40-45 across 18 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch HorseaMODERATEInsular SeaShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterNormal WeatherMODERATEInsular SeaSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterOvercastMODERATEInsular SeaShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterSnowstormMODERATEInsular SeaSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterNormal WeatherMODERATEInsular SeaSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterSnowstormMODERATEInsular SeaShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterIntense SunMODERATEInsular SeaShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterSnowingMODERATEInsular SeaSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterIntense SunMODERATEInsular SeaShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterSandstormMODERATEInsular SeaSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterSnowingMODERATEInsular SeaShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterRainingMODERATEInsular SeaSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterSandstormMODERATEInsular SeaShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterHeavy FogMODERATEInsular SeaSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterRainingMODERATEInsular SeaShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterOvercastMODERATEInsular SeaSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4520%LateWaterHeavy FogMODERATEInsular SeaShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4516%LateWaterThunderstormMODERATEInsular SeaSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4516%LateWaterThunderstorm
Step 2Evolve into Seadra
Step 3Kingdra ✓
A trade step sits in Kingdra's 3-stage chain from Horsea. The step cards below map each stage with catch locations and evolution methods. Horsea shows up at moderate rates, so the starting catch is the easy part.
Kingdra looks average on paper at 540 BST. But Swift Swim is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. B-Tier on our tier list.
Kingdra gets Swift Swim, Sniper, and Damp. But Swift Swim is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Kingdra is leaning toward the physical side (base 95 Attack). Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 85 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many.
Kingdra appears in 17 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.
Since Gold & Silver, Kingdra has been in 17 games. Requiring a trade evolution to obtain means it's consistently available but requires more effort than simply catching it in the wild.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A