03/29/24, 13:57
#229 | Houndoom | Pokédex Strategy Moves Database | Phanpy | #231 |
This article gives you ideas of how to use Kingdra in battle in the Pokémon Black, Pokémon White and Pokemon B2W2 Games. It lists popular movesets used by competitive battlers, as well as a description on how to use each set to help you understand why the moves were chosen. These popular sets are usually the best to use in battle and so reading this guide will help you in your team building.
Gen 4: OverviewKingdra is used on offensive and defensive teams, and provides a setup for sweeping.
Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Swift Swim | Naughty / Lonely | life orb | 0 | 252 | 0 | 240 | 0 | 16 | |
There are no current set statistics analysed |
This set takes full advantage of Kingdra’s evenly distributed offensive stats, letting Kingdra become an effective wall breaker and sweeper. Basically bring in Kingdra on a Pokemon that is either scared of it, or one that can’t hurt Kingdra and Rain Dance on the switch. With the Speed boost, Kingdra will even outpace Pokemon such as Timid Choice Specs Jolteon and Timid Choice Scarf Heatran.
The crux of this set is obviously Rain Dance, which without it, Kingdra has to either rely on other team mates for the Speed boost, or have to Dragon Dance. Waterfall gets an offensive boost from the rain and is your main form of STAB. The option between Surf and Hydro Pump comes down to you. Surf is the more conservative choice because it will never miss, but Hydro Pump hits way harder at the cost of accuracy. Draco Meteor is used primarily to hit anything that resists your Water attacks, as well as guaranteeing to dent or KO at least one Pokemon on your opponent’s team.
Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Swift Swim | Adamant | life orb | 0 | 252 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 232 | |
There are no current set statistics analysed |
With the much needed Outrage that Kingdra gained from Platinum, Kingdra now stands as a force to be reckoned with. Unlike it’s Dragon cousins Flygon and Salamence, Kingdra only takes neutral damage from Ice, and is only weak to Dragon. This alone lets Kingdra have many chances to come in and set up on the opponent. After a Dragon Dance, Kingdra becomes a formidable physical threat. Outrage is your strongest physcial STAB and it will dent or even OHKO most things that don’t resist it. Waterfall hits a large number of Pokemon in the Over Used environment Super Effectively, such as Heatran and Hippowdon. Pokemon such as Metagross and Skarmory are lured in by this set, predicting a purely physical Kingdra, only to be OHKO’d by a STAB Hydro Pump.
The Speed EV’s allow Kingdra to outspeed base 130 Speed Pokemon after a Dragon Dance. Sniper is a viable option, but Swift Swim is usually the superior choice due to being able to take advantage of your opponent’s Rain Dance team, and especially your own.
Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Swift Swim | Adamant | leftovers | 180 | 252 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 76 | |
There are no current set statistics analysed |
A combination of the previous two sets. Rain Dance should be used first, allowing you to outspeed many revenge killers and Choice Scarf users. With the Speed boost, you can now use Dragon Dance and gain a further Speed boost, while increasing the power of Waterfall under the rain. This Kingdra works well on both standard and Rain Dance teams.
Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Swift Swim | Lonely | life orb | 0 | 208 | 0 | 136 | 0 | 164 | |
There are no current set statistics analysed |
The Uber tier has two elements that allow for Kingdra to become a potent sweeper: the abundancy of Dragon-type Pokemon and the permanent Rain support from Kyogre. Garchomp, Rayquaza, Latios, and Latias are easily taken care of, with Kingdra scoring at least a 2HKO on all of them. Physical Giratina variants are able to be OHKO’d after switching in to Stealth Rock twice with Draco Meteor. After a Dragon Dance, not only will Kingdra be able to outspeed the whole Uber metagame, but also be able to boast OHKO’s on every Pokemon in the Uber metagame.
Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Swift Swim | Modest | life orb / damp rock | 92 | 0 | 0 | 252 | 0 | 164 | |
There are no current set statistics analysed |
This is primarily focused on dishing out Special hits, and packs enough EV’s in HP to take a few hits too. Surf is your primary STAB and is 100% accurate, whereas Hydro Pump packs extra power at the cost of a 20% accuracy drop. Dragon Pulse is your second STAB attack, and has near perfect coverage when coupled with Surf. Signal Beam can take care of Celebi and other Grass or Psychic-types, while Hidden Power Electric can better take care of Empoleon and Vaporeon.
Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Sniper | Modest | choice specs | 4 | 0 | 0 | 252 | 0 | 252 | |
There are no current set statistics analysed |
This set makes Kingdra so potentially destructive, that even some of the best speciall walls in the game cannot handle it. With Sniper, critical hits have the chance to take down any Pokemon in the Over Used metagame. Hidden Power Electric is used for Pokemon like Empoleon and Suicune, easily 2HKO’ing them both. Ice Beam can be used to wipe the floor with Celebi and Zapdos, while Dragon Pulse lets you keep your STAB attacks without the Special Attack drop from Draco Meteor.
Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Adamant | Adamant | leftovers | 168 | 188 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 152 | |
There are no current set statistics analysed |
Kingdra´s great bulk and resistances lets it ensure free switches on many Pokemon in the Over Used metagame. As you can see, this Kingdra is obviously bulkier than the Kingdras shown before and can act much like an offensive Suicune. The idea of this set is to bring Kingdra in on a Pokemon that can´t harm it, and Dragon Dance on the switch. With the HP EV´s Kingdra packs, it will likely survive any unboosted hits. Rest when your running low on health, and repeat the process.
Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Swift Swim | Adamant | leftovers / lum berry | 24 | 252 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 232 | |
This set is the most lethal Kingdra set. The idea of this set is to substitute, and then setup Dragon Dance, whilst being protected by the sub. Thanks to Kingdra's typing and good defenses, Electric type attacks aren't very strong - allowing good resistance against normal water type counters.
Once Dragon Dance has been setup a few times, you're then able to sweep the entire opponents team with Waterfall and Outrage, but chose Outrage carefully, as this may force you to switch if you become confused.
Kingra's most used set is the Dragon Dance set or the Sub DD Sweep set, as these are the most powerful sets Kingdra can use.
Other OptionsKingdra’s movepool is nothing to write home about, but he does have access to a Restalk set. Choice Band can be a viable option, but his main physical moves are already listed above.
Usual CountersEmpoleon easily walls any set that doesn´t carry Hidden Power Electric but really can’t do anything to hit Kingdra back. Generally, bulky Waters such as Suicune, Vaporeon, and Milotic can beat the special or mixed sets, but have to be weary of Draco Meteor. Blissey and Snorlax can wall the purely Special Rain Dance set, but a critical hit from either Draco Meteor or Hydro Pump can possibly OHKO them both.
OpinionEasily one of the most fearsome Dragon-types in the game, with many useful resistances and access to both Dragon Dance and Outrage. Kingdra can work well on any type of team, but he truly shines in Rain Dance teams. Kingdra is not the shallow movepool, soft-hitting Pokemon it used to be back in ADV; he is now completely the opposite: serving as a valuable team player, sturdy revenge killer, and a frightening sweeper.