Hyper Cutter prevents Intimidate, but Water-type attacks still uses Sp.Atk at D-Tier. Kingler's 130 Attack remains mostly wasted in Ruby & Sapphire.
Ability 1Hyper CutterAbility 1Prevents Attack from being lowered by other Pokémon.Ability 2Shell ArmorAbility 2Protects against critical hits.
475HP55Attack130Defense115Speed75Sp.Def50Sp.Atk50
Krabby
Kingler
Weak to
Special
Support
75Speed · Below Avg

Is Kingler Good in Ruby & Sapphire Playthrough?

AbilityHyper Cutter prevents Attack drops from AbilityIntimidate and similar effects. Doesn't fix the core problem: 130 Attack can't power Water moves because Water is still Special in Gen 3. Three generations and the mismatch persists. Trade-only and still broken.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadSGEGEEGTEEEEGRoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6Tate & LizaGym 7WallaceGym 8KinglerTradeSidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4StevenChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Strong

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

Easy KO
Geodude
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
You Win
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
TackleHardenRock ThrowRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Good

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

You Win
Machop
Lv 17
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopSeismic TossBulk Up
You Win
Makuhita
Lv 18
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustKnock OffSand AttackBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Wattson's team.

You Win
Magnemite
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomThunder ShockThunder Wave
Risky
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSelf DestructSparkSonic Boom
Even
Magneton
Lv 23
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomShock WaveThunder Wave
Flannery
Gym 4
Good

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

You Win
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
You Win
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
FlamethrowerRock SlideLight ScreenSunny Day
You Win
Torkoal
Lv 28
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatBody SlamFlailAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.

Even
Slaking
Lv 28
Normal
Truant
EncoreFacadeYawnFeint Attack
You Win
Vigoroth
Lv 30
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFeint AttackFacadeEncore
Even
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
Focus PunchSlack OffFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.

You Win
Swellow
Lv 31
NormalFlying
Guts
Quick AttackAerial AceDouble TeamEndeavor
Even
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
Even
Skarmory
Lv 32
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Even
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Good

Kingler has the type edge here and should clean up Tate & Liza's team.

You Win
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
Even
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Wallace
Gym 8
Tough

Wallace's typing presses Kingler's defenses.

Risky
Luvdisc
Lv 40
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
Even
Whiscash
Lv 42
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 40
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
Risky
Seaking
Lv 42
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseRain DanceFury AttackHorn Drill
Avoid
Milotic
Lv 43
Water
Marvel Scale
Water PulseTwisterRecoverIce Beam
Sidney
Elite Four
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Sidney's team.

You Win
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarTake DownSand AttackCrunch
Risky
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
Fake OutDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
Even
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
Risky
Sharpedo
Lv 48
WaterDark
Rough Skin
CrunchSwaggerSurfSlash
You Win
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceSnatchSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Phoebe's team.

You Win
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseFuture Sight
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallSpiteWill O WispFeint Attack
Even
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallPsychicAttractFeint Attack
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicToxicSkill Swap
Even
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamConfuse RayEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Glacia's team.

You Win
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchHailIce Beam
Even
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamHailIce Ball
Even
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDiveHailBlizzard
You Win
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallCrunchHailIce Beam
Even
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamBlizzardSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Drake's team.

Even
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectCrunch
Even
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Take DownDragon BreathDragon DanceRefresh
You Win
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
DigDragon BreathFlySandstorm
You Win
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathSand Attack
Risky
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawFlyCrunch
Steven
Champion
Good

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

Even
Skarmory
Lv 57
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
ToxicAerial AceSpikesSteel Wing
You Win
Claydol
Lv 55
GroundPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
ReflectLight ScreenAncient PowerEarthquake
You Win
Aggron
Lv 56
SteelRock
Sturdy
ThunderEarthquakeSolar BeamDragon Claw
You Win
Cradily
Lv 56
RockGrass
Suction Cups
Giga DrainAncient PowerSludge BombConfuse Ray
Easy KO
Armaldo
Lv 56
RockBug
Battle Armor
Water PulseAncient PowerAerial AceSlash
Even
Metagross
Lv 58
SteelPsychic
Clear Body
EarthquakePsychicMeteor MashHyper Beam

Trade

Transfer-only
Type
Water
Tier
E

Kingler cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four. Alternatively, transfer the pre-evolution and level it up to Lv 28.

View Kingler locations

How to Get Kingler in Ruby & Sapphire

There is no wild Kingler in Hoenn. Trade a Krabby in and level it to 28 to get one.

How to Obtain Kingler in RS

  1. Krabby
    Step 1Obtain Krabby
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Red & Blue via Super rod · Route 6. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    from Yellow
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Yellow via Super rod · Route 25. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Gold & Silver via Rock smash · Cianwood City. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
  2. Kingler
    Step 2Kingler ✓

How to Get Shiny Kingler in Ruby & Sapphire

Out along Kindle Road in LeafGreen, reel up a shiny Kingler that Hoenn's waters never hold and trade it back. See every game where Shiny Kingler can be hunted

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Kingler in Ruby & SapphireNormal
Shiny Kingler in Ruby & Sapphire Shiny
Color ShiftRedtoGreen
Shiny TierC Tier Shiny

Shiny Kingler Evolution

2 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Kingler Weakness

Kingler's Water typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric and Grass. 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.

Kingler Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

What is Kingler Weak Against

Good
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Kingler Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Kingler

Ludicolo
Ludicolo
WaterGrass
C
B
Cacturne
Cacturne
GrassDark
B
Vileplume
Vileplume
GrassPoison
C
Roselia
Roselia
GrassPoison
C

Kingler Evolutions

Kingler is the evolved form of Krabby. Breeding produces Krabby eggs, and they take an average time to hatch. 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
Krabby
#098Krabby
28
Transfer Only
Kingler
#099Kingler
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

Very Easy

Breed with Kingler to get Krabby eggs easily using 19 partners from the Water 3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Amnesia, Dig, Flail and 4 more.

Egg Groups
Water 3
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
7moves
Breed With (best first)
crawdauntcorsolacorphishomastarkabutopsomanytekabutotentacruelcloysterstarmiestaryutentacool

RS Kingler Best Moveset

130 Attack locked out of its own type damage since Water TermStab runs off 50 Sp. Atk. AbilityHyper Cutter protects that Attack from Intimidate drops. MoveSwords Dance doubles Attack for physical moves like MoveReturn. Held ItemLeftovers sustains. The Attack stat and the typing never align.

Best Build

Experimental
Wall
Ability
Shell Armor
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Kingler
Impish+DEF

Kingler best EVs are HP and Defense

EVs

Wall Moveset

  • RestRecovery
  • Hidden Power Fighting
  • Knock Off
  • Swords Dance

Moves List

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

Lv 1
Bubble
—3010030Water
Lv 1
Leer
D—10030Normal
Lv 1
Vise Grip
C5510030Normal
Lv 5
Leer
D—10030Normal
Lv 12
Vise Grip
C5510030Normal
Lv 16
Harden
A——30Normal
Lv 23
Mud Shot
D559515Ground
Lv 27
Stomp
C6510020Normal
Lv 38
Guillotine
——305Normal
Lv 49
Protect+4
C——10Normal
Lv 57
Crabhammer
B1508510Water

TM Moves

All 24 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45
AttractVerdanturf Townbadge 2
——10015Normal
TM14D120705Ice
HM01C509530Normal
TM28
DigRoute 114badge 3
C6010010Ground
HM08
DiveMossdeep Citybadge 6
B9010010Water
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM42C7010020Normal
TM07
HailShoal Cavebadge 6
———10Ice
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamLilycove Department Storebadge 5
C150905Normal
TM13
Ice BeamAbandoned Shipbadge 2
D9510010Ice
TM17C——10Normal
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
C——5Water
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
B——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
HM06
Rock SmashMauville Citybadge 2
D2010015Fighting
TM39C609510Rock
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
HM04
StrengthRusturf Tunnelbadge 3
—8010015Normal
HM03
SurfPetalburg Citybadge 5
C14210015Water
TM46
ThiefSlateport Citybadge 1
C6010025Dark
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
A—8510Poison
TM03
Water PulsePrize for defeating Wallacenot until badge 8
D9010020Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Amnesia
D——20Psychic
Egg
Dig
C6010010Ground
Egg
Flail
D—10015Normal
Egg
Haze
C——30Ice
Egg
Knock Off
B6510020Dark
Egg
Slam
—807520Normal
Egg
Swords Dance
B——30Normal

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
Abilities
Hyper Cutter
Prevents Attack from being lowered by other Pokémon.
Shell Armor
Protects against critical hits.
EV Yield
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

KINGLER has an enormous, oversized claw. It waves this huge claw in the air to communicate with others. However, because the claw is so heavy, the POKéMON quickly tires.

Pokemon Ruby / Pokemon Sapphire

Kingler Ruby & Sapphire Guide

  • Kingler isn't catchable in Ruby & Sapphire. Catch one in FireRed or LeafGreen, then trade it to Ruby & Sapphire.

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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