Kingdra Best Moveset
Water/Dragon with only one weakness (Fairy) and AbilitySwift Swim doubling 85 Speed under rain. Held ItemChoice Specs with NatureModest at 95 Sp. Atk pushes dual TermStab into threatening range. The moveset depends completely on rain support from Pelipper or Politoed. Without rain, the stats are middling. With rain, the combination of speed, power, and defensive typing competes.
Water/Dragon had only Dragon as a weakness in Gen II (Gold & Silver). That was incredible since Dragon attacks barely existed. RestTalk sets were nearly unbreakable.
Utility Moveset
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Dragon Breath
- Rest
Recommended Teammates
Rain Dance plus Swift Swim doubled Speed in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). 95 Sp. Atk with Rain-boosted Hydro Pump hit hard enough to sweep.
Special Attacker Moveset
- Rain Dance
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Hidden Power Grass
Recommended Teammates
Swift Swim rain sweeping reached its peak in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). Water/Dragon had almost no weaknesses, and Kingdra outsped the entire format in rain.
Best Moves
Best Build
Kingdra best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Draco Meteor
- Hydro Pump
- Surf
- Dragon Pulse
Recommended Teammates
Drizzle plus Swift Swim was banned in Gen V (Black & White). Without automatic rain from Politoed, Kingdra needed manual Rain Dance, costing a precious setup turn.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Ice Beam
- Draco Meteor
- Hydro Pump
- Surf
Recommended Teammates
Sniper became an alternative in Gen VI (X & Y). Focus Energy guaranteed crits at 2.25x damage. A different angle from rain, but inconsistent.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Surf
Recommended Teammates
Both rain and Sniper sets worked in lower tiers of Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Two identities, but neither was strong enough for higher play.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Hydro Pump
Recommended Teammates
Fell further in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield). Rain and Sniper sets were both outclassed by more specialized sweepers.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Draco Meteor
- Hydro Pump
- Surf
- Flip Turn
Recommended Teammates
Fully declined in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Neither identity was strong enough to compete in the modern format.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Draco Meteor
- Hurricane
- Weather Ball
- Ice Beam
Recommended Teammates
Kingdra Weakness
Type-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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Dragon, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Steel |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Fire, Water |
What is Kingdra Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Kingdra
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Kingdra View Moltres builds →Flamethrower7-8% U Turn16-20% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrought ItemHeatrock NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Kingdra View Torkoal builds →Rapid Spin10-12% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPrankster ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Kingdra View Sableye builds →Knock Off13-16% | ||
Recommended Build AbilityIllusion ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves View Zoroark-Hisui builds →
| ||
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves View Rotom-Heat builds →
| ||
Evolution
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
How to Get Kingdra
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.
How to Obtain Kingdra in SV
The path to Kingdra starts with Horsea at Lv. 50-80 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch HorseaCanyon BiomeLv.50-80OverworldCoastal BiomeLv.50-80OverworldPolar BiomeLv.50-80OverworldPolar BiomeLv.68Overworld
Step 2Catch or Evolve SeadraCanyon BiomeLv.50-80OverworldCoastal BiomeLv.50-80OverworldPolar BiomeLv.50-80Overworldor evolve from Horsea (Step 1)
Step 3Kingdra ✓BREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Kingdra egg.
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 BDSP
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 HorseaRoute 226Lv.10-25Good RodRate 35%Fountainspring CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameRiverbank CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameStill-Water CavernLv.58-63CavePost-game
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 SwSh
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 HorseaInsular SeaLv.40-45Surfing on waterRate 20%RainingInsular SeaLv.40-45Surfing on waterRate 20%SnowstormInsular SeaLv.40-45Surfing on waterRate 20%Intense SunInsular SeaLv.40-45Surfing on waterRate 20%Heavy FogInsular SeaLv.40-45Surfing on waterRate 20%SnowingInsular SeaLv.40-45Surfing on waterRate 20%OvercastInsular SeaLv.40-45Surfing on waterRate 20%SandstormInsular SeaLv.40-45Surfing on waterRate 20%Normal WeatherInsular SeaLv.40-45Surfing on waterRate 16%Thunderstorm
Step 2Evolve into SeadraBREEDINGAvailableLeave Kingdra with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Seadra egg.
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.
Base Stats
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.
With the arrival of a storm at sea, this Pokémon will show itself on the surface. When a Kingdra and a Dragonite meet, a fierce battle ensues.
Kingdra Guide
Kingdra looks average on paper at 540 BST. But Swift Swim is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier on our tier list.
Kingdra is obtained by trade-evolving Seadra. Catch or evolve a Seadra first, then trade. Trade needs a Game Boy Advance link cable and a second GBA running another Gen 3 game (FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald). Trade Seadra to a friend, then have them trade it back. The 2026 Switch re-release supports the same trade through local wireless on the Pokemon Center 2F Wireless Club, with no cables required. The Dragon Scale must be held during the trade. Bring one over from a sibling Gen 3 game if needed.
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 a special attacker with base 95 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many.
Game Availability
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.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves