Electric moves don't affect Nidoking at all — that's the advantage of Poison/Ground typing. Sheer Force drops secondary effects for a straight power boost. Known as the Drill Pokemon. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets.
Attack and Sp. Atk carry most of Nidoking's stat budget. Sp. Def's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 3 Attack EVs. Follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
A NIDOKING’s thick tail packs enormously destructive power capable of toppling a metal transmission tower. Once it goes on a rampage, there is no stopping it.
Nidoking Weakness
AvgType-wise, Nidoking takes extra damage from Water, Ice, Ground, and Psychic. Electric moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
Getting Nidoking requires an evolution item, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Nidoran♂ (male). Breed this form to get Nidoran♂ (male) eggs (average hatch time). Attack grew the most through evolution (+45 over Nidoran M), and Nidoking peaks at 505 total stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Nidoking to get Nidoran M eggs using 102 partners from the Ground and Monster egg groups. Notable egg moves include Amnesia, Beat Up, Confusion and 4 more.
Poison Point helps Nidoking stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, a spread EV build EVs for the right balance, and Earthquake as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.
Best Build
Best Nidoking Moveset
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Bomb
Recommended Teammates
Hard to wall, honestly. Nidoking threatens 13 types beyond its own STAB, with Fighting and Flying standing out. Pair that with Earthquake and Sludge Bomb and switchins need to think twice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Nidoking can't be caught in Emerald. Transfer Nidoran♂ (male) from Red, Yellow, or Let's Go Pikachu and evolve through the 3-stage chain to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Nidoking in Emerald
Step 1Obtain Nidoran♂ (male)- Step 3Nidoking ✓
Sheer Force changes the entire equation for Nidoking. The 505 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as an attacker.
Sheer Force is what you want on Nidoking. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Poison Point, Rivalry) work on paper but Sheer Force is what makes Nidoking worth using.
Base 85 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Nidoking is a physical attacker with base 102 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as an attacker.
Nidoking appears in 19 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
One of the original 151, Nidoking has appeared in 19 games — most mainline games. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.
- 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 VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A