Kingler's 130 Attack means nothing in Yellow because Water moves run off Special in Gen 1. F-Tier and one of the biggest stat-system victims.
475HP55Attack130Defense115Speed75Sp.Def50Sp.Atk50
Krabby
Kingler
Weak to
Special
Wallbreaker
75Speed · Below Avg

Is Kingler Good in Yellow Playthrough?

One of the highest Attack stats in the game, and it barely matters. Water is Special in Gen 1, so Kingler's physical power goes toward Normal-type coverage instead of its actual typing. A Pokemon built for a different generation.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadSETTETGGTGTEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5KrabbyCatchKinglerCatchableSabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Strong

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

Easy KO
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
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 GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's team hits Kingler's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's team hits Kingler's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Risky
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Risky
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

You Win
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Risky
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Tough

Sabrina's typing presses Kingler's defenses.

Even
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Risky
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

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

You Win
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

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

You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
Even
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Even
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Tough

Lorelei's typing presses Kingler's defenses.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Risky
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Risky
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Risky
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
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 SlideScreechSlamDig
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Tough

Agatha's team hits Kingler's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Risky
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Easy KO
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Risky
Cloyster
Lv 61
WaterIce
Shell Armor
Ice BeamClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
You Win
Ninetales
Lv 63
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Risky
Jolteon
Lv 65
Electric
Volt Absorb
Pin MissileThunder WaveQuick AttackThunder

Catchable

Available after Badge 5
Type
Water
Tier
E

Catch Kingler on Seafoam Islands (walking, Lv 28, rare).

View Kingler locations

Catch Krabby

Available after Badge 5
Type
Water
Tier
E

Catch Krabby on Seafoam Islands (walking, Lv 25-27, common).

View Krabby locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Kingler in Yellow

Kingler does show up on the Super Rod and the odd beach spot, rare in places. A Krabby caught early and bumped to level 28 is less of a wait.

3 locations to catch Kingler

Encountered via fishing with a Rod, tall grass encounters

Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5

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

Magneton
Magneton
Electric
C
Jolteon
Jolteon
Electric
A
Raichu
Raichu
Electric
C
Parasect
Parasect
BugGrass
C
Vileplume
Vileplume
GrassPoison
C

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

Y Kingler Best Moveset

130 Attack, the second highest in the format, completely unable to power any Water move because Water damage uses the 50 Special stat. MoveBody Slam and MoveHyper Beam work from the Attack side, but the Water TermStab that should define a Water-type sits behind the wrong number.

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

One claw grew massively and as hard as steel. It has 10,000-HP strength. However, it is too heavy.

Pokemon Yellow

Kingler Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, 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 Yellow. 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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