Gen 1's physical/special split cripples Kingler at F-Tier. Its 130 Attack is wasted because all Water moves run off its much weaker Special stat.
475HP55Attack130Defense115Speed75Sp.Def50Sp.Atk50
Krabby
Kingler
Weak to
Special
Wallbreaker
75Speed · Below Avg

Is Kingler Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

Kingler has one of the highest Attack stats in the game, and almost none of it matters. Water moves are Special in Gen 1, which means that massive Attack doesn't power any Water damage. All that physical strength goes toward Normal-type moves instead. A Pokemon that would be great in a different generation.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadEEEEEEGSEGTEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6KrabbyCatchKinglerCatchableBlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Misty
Gym 2
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Even
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
You Win
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Risky
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

Risky
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
Even
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
Risky
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
You Win
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Risky
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
Even
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
Even
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Kingler has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

Easy KO
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
Easy KO
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Strong

Kingler resists most of Giovanni's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
You Win
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
Risky
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
Risky
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Kingler has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Tough

Agatha's typing presses Kingler's defenses.

Risky
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
Risky
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

You Win
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 61
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 63
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberLeerTake Down
Risky
Venusaur
Lv 65
GrassPoison
Overgrow
Razor LeafGrowthMega DrainSolar Beam

Catchable

Available after Badge 6
Type
Water
Tier
E

Catch Kingler on Seafoam Islands (walking, Lv 37, rare).

View Kingler locations

Catch Krabby

Available after Badge 6
Type
Water
Tier
E

Catch Krabby on Seafoam Islands (walking, Lv 28-30, uncommon).

View Krabby locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Kingler in Red & Blue

Ten encounters spread across a handful of spots, off the Super Rod and along the shore. A Krabby reaches level 28 and pincers up into Kingler, usually before the wild version shows.

3 locations to catch Kingler

Encountered via fishing with a Rod, tall grass encounters

Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8
Post-Game

Where To Catch Kingler in RB

The path to Kingler starts with Krabby at Lv. 15-33 via fishing and walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in Red & Blue for Kingler.

Kingler Weakness

Kingler's Water typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric and Grass. Its Water typing keeps the defensive matchups simple. Kingler's physical bulk (base 115 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Kingler Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Kingler Weak Against

Avg
2Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-1
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Kingler Strong Against

3Strong
3Resisted
0Immune
Score0
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Kingler

Parasect
Parasect
BugGrass
C
Venusaur
Venusaur
GrassPoison
C
Tangela
Tangela
Grass
C
Exeggutor
Exeggutor
GrassPsychic
S
Jolteon
Jolteon
Electric
A

Kingler Evolutions

Evolve Krabby at level 28 to get Kingler. At 475 stats, this Water type caps the chain without any egg option. Evolving from Krabby gave Kingler the biggest boost in HP (+25), bringing the total to 475 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Krabby
Water
Kingler
Water
HP
30
55+25
ATK
105
130+25
DEF
90
115+25
SP.ATK
25
50+25
SP.DEF
25
50+25
SPE
50
75+25
BST
325E-Tier
475E-Tier+150
ROLE
Attacker
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Kingler Best Moveset

130 Attack and all Water moves using the Special stat (50) instead. Same problem as Gyarados and Flareon but worse, since the Special is too low to even fake Water damage. The move slots rely on MoveBody Slam and MoveHyper Beam because the actual Water TermStab can't use the one good stat.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Kingler
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Swords Dance
  • CrabhammerSTAB
  • Hyper Beam
  • Body Slam

Moves List

Without TMs, Kingler's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get Normal and Ice coverage on top of Crabhammer and Surf for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bubble
—3010030Water
Lv 1
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 1
Vise Grip
—5510030Normal
Lv 20
Vise Grip
—5510030Normal
Lv 25
Guillotine
——305Normal
Lv 34
Stomp
C6510020Normal
Lv 42
Crabhammer
B1508510Water
Lv 49
Harden
D——30Normal

TM Moves

All 19 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM14
BlizzardPokémon Mansionbadge 6
D110905Ice
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
B8510015Normal
TM11D9710020Water
HM01
CutS.S. Annebadge 2
—509530Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
B12010015Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
B150905Normal
TM13D9510010Ice
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
HM03
SurfSafari Zonebadge 4
C14210015Water
TM03
Swords DanceSilph Co.badge 5
B——30Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison
TM12
Water GunMt. Moonbadge 1
D6010025Water

Tutor Moves

Kingler can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Above
HP55
D
Attack130
A
Defense115
B
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def50
D
Speed75
C
Total475
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging60 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.3 m
Weight60.0 kg
Base XP166
EV Yield
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

The large pincer has 10000 hp of crushing power. However, its huge size makes it unwieldy to use.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Kingler Red & Blue Guide

  • In Red & Blue, use Kingler as a wallbreaker. Special attacks are the main output. Speed is middling, Crabhammer is the primary attack.

  • Gigantamax Kingler is exclusive to Sword & Shield, so it's not usable in Red & Blue. The form has a unique appearance and a signature G-Max move.

Game Availability

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.

Explore

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