Kingler punches above its weight class thanks to Sheer Force. It drops secondary effects for a straight power boost, which is enough to make up for stats that don't impress on their own. Only weak to Electric and Grass. Known as the Pincer Pokemon.
Kingler's all-in on Attack at the expense of Sp. Atk. The physical lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 2 Attack EVs and follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Its large and hard pincer has 10,000-horsepower strength. However, being so big, it is unwieldy to move.
The large pincer has 10,000-horsepower crushing force. However, its huge size makes it unwieldy to use.
Kingler Weakness
GoodKingler's Water typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric and Grass moves. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Kingler's physical bulk (base 115 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
Kingler is the evolved form of Krabby. Breeding produces Krabby eggs, and they're average hatch time. Evolving from Krabby gave Kingler the biggest boost in HP (+25), bringing the total to 475 stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Kingler to get Krabby eggs easily using 19 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Amnesia, Dig, Flail and 4 more.
The physical wall spread is where Kingler earns its spot. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, Impish nature for the right lean, and Rest handles sustain. Shellarmor does the rest without needing a move slot.
Best Build
Best Kingler Moveset
- Rest
- Hidden Power Fighting
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
You'll want to breed for Amnesia and Dig on Kingler. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Crabhammer and Surf, they expand what Kingler can actually threaten in practice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Kingler tops out at moderate rates across 17 locations in mid-game fishing spots. The encounters below are sorted by rate so you can see exactly what you're working with.
Where To Catch Kingler in FireRed & LeafGreen
To get Kingler, start by catching Krabby through fishing and surfing encounters at Lv. 5-35. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch KrabbyEASYBond BridgeLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyEASYCerulean CityLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyCityEASYCinnabar IslandLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyWaterEASYFive IslandLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyWaterEASYFive Isle MeadowLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyEASYGreen PathLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteEASYIcefall Cave - 1F Room 3LeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyCaveEASYKindle RoadLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteEASYMemorial PillarLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyEASYOne IslandLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyWaterEASYOutcast IslandLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyWaterEASYPallet TownLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyCityEASYResort GorgeousLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyFacilityEASYRoute 10LeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 11LeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 12LeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 13LeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 19LeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 20LeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 21LeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 24LeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 4LeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B3FLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyWaterEASYTanoby RuinsLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRuinsEASYTrainer TowerLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyBuildingEASYTreasure BeachLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyWaterEASYVermilion City - CityLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyCityEASYVermilion City - HarborLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyCityEASYWater LabyrinthLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyBuildingEASYWater PathLeafGreenGood RodLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteEASYBond BridgeLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyEASYCerulean CityLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-35CommonEarlyCityEASYCinnabar IslandLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyWaterEASYFive IslandLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyWaterEASYFive Isle MeadowLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyEASYGreen PathLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyRouteEASYIcefall Cave - 1F Room 3LeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyCaveEASYKindle RoadLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyRouteEASYMemorial PillarLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyEASYOne IslandLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyWaterEASYOutcast IslandLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyWaterEASYPallet TownLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyCityEASYResort GorgeousLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyFacilityEASYRoute 10LeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 11LeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 12LeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 13LeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 19LeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 20LeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 21LeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 24LeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 4LeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-30CommonEarlyWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B3FLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-30CommonEarlyWaterEASYTanoby RuinsLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyRuinsEASYTrainer TowerLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyBuildingEASYTreasure BeachLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyWaterEASYVermilion City - CityLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyCityEASYVermilion City - HarborLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyCityEASYWater LabyrinthLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyBuildingEASYWater PathLeafGreenSuper RodLv.15-25CommonEarlyRouteMODERATECerulean CityFireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyCityMODERATECinnabar IslandFireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyWaterMODERATEPallet TownFireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyCityMODERATERoute 10FireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 11FireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 12FireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 13FireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 19FireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 20FireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 21FireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 24FireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 4FireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATESeafoam Islands - B4FFireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyWaterMODERATESeafoam Islands - B3FFireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyWaterMODERATEVermilion City - CityFireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyCityMODERATEVermilion City - HarborFireRedGood RodLv.5-15UncommonEarlyCityEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FLeafGreenSurfing on waterLv.25-30CommonMidWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B3FLeafGreenSurfing on waterLv.25-30CommonMidWaterEXTREMEVermilion City - CityFireRedSuper RodLv.25-30RareMidCity- Step 2Kingler ✓EXTREMEBond BridgeSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidEXTREMECinnabar IslandSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidWaterEXTREMEFive IslandSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidWaterEXTREMEFive Isle MeadowSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidEXTREMEGreen PathSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMEIcefall Cave - 1F Room 3Super RodLv.25-35RareMidCaveEXTREMEKindle RoadSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMEMemorial PillarSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidEXTREMEOne IslandSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidWaterEXTREMEOutcast IslandSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidWaterEXTREMEPallet TownSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidCityEXTREMEResort GorgeousSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidFacilityEXTREMETanoby RuinsSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidRuinsEXTREMETrainer TowerSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidBuildingEXTREMETreasure BeachSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidWaterEXTREMEWater LabyrinthSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidBuildingEXTREMEWater PathSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteor evolve from Krabby (Step 1)
Don't let Kingler's 475 base stat total fool you. Sheer Force is what makes it tick — it punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier as a support.
Krabby evolves into Kingler at level 28. Kingler is the fully evolved form. It sits at 475 BST in its evolved form.
Run Sheer Force on Kingler. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Kingler also gets Hyper Cutter and Shell Armor, but they don't compare.
Kingler fills the support role. It's leaning toward the physical side (base 130 Attack). Base 75 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Kingler appears in 19 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Kingler first appeared in Red & Blue and spans 19 games across 9 generations. It later gained a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
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 VIIISwShGigantamax
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A