Competitive Information for Kingdra [Sword/Shield]
Water / Dragon
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Kingdra? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Kingdra is a notable Water and Dragon-typed Pokemon. It's a pretty common sight to see Kingdra out in the 8th generation battlefield. Kingdra's only type-related weaknesses are Dragon and Fairy.
Item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk |
Moveset:
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
- Hurricane
- Muddy Water / Hydro Pump
- Protect
Special Sweeper Kingdra (Popular/Trending)
Kingdra is a spectacular Special Sweeper. This moveset attempts to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Kingdra from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Life Orb boosts the power of Kingdra's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Swift Swim, Kingdra's speed is doubled during rainy weather.
♦ Dragon Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a great amount of damage.
♦ Hurricane is a special 110-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to confuse target. can't miss in rain).
♦ Muddy Water is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move (30% chance to lower the foes accuracy by 1 stage).
♦ Hydro Pump is a special STAB-boosted 110-base power Water-type move that deals a vast amount of damage.
♦ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Kingdra this turn).
Item: Scope Lens / Shell Bell
Ability: Sniper
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Outrage / Breaking Swipe
- Liquidation / Waterfall
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Iron Head
Physical Sweeper Kingdra (Sniper)
Kingdra is a phenomenal Physical Sweeper. It was designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Scope Lens/Razor Claw increases Kingdra critical hit ratio by 1 stage and combined with Kingdra's Sniper ability will increase the amount of damage done by those critial hits. The Shell Bell item option is to help Kingdra recover from the recoil damage it may take from Double-Edge. With Sniper, if Kingdra strikes with a critical hit the damage is multiplied by 1.5.
♦ Breaking Swipe is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Dragon-type move (100% chance to lower the foes attack by 1 stage).
♦ Liquidation is a physical STAB-boosted 85-base power Water-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
♦ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Iron Head is a physical 80-base power Steel-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
Item: Scope Lens / Eject Pack
Ability: Sniper
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk |
Moveset:
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
- Surf / Scald
- Ice Beam / Aurora Beam
- Flash Cannon
Special Sweeper Kingdra (Sniper)
Kingdra is popular Special Sweeper. It tries to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Scope Lens/Razor Claw increases Kingdra critical hit ratio by 1 stage and combined with Kingdra's Sniper ability will increase the amount of damage done by those critial hits. With Sniper, if Kingdra strikes with a critical hit the damage is multiplied by 1.5.
♦ Dragon Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a decent amount of damage.
♦ Surf is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. double damage on dive).
♦ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. thaws target).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Aurora Beam is a special 65-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
♦ Flash Cannon is a special 80-base power Steel-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 229 Hp / 225 Atk / 56 Spe
Moveset:
- Dragon Dance
- Dive
- Rain Dance
- Waterfall
Kingdra Physical Tank (King Dragon)
Kingdra is a stupendous Physical Tank. The purpose of this moveset is to take a great amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Life Orb boosts the power of Kingdra's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Swift Swim, Kingdra's speed is doubled during rainy weather.
♦ Dive is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (dives underwater turn 1, strikes turn 2).
♦ Rain Dance is a status move (for 5 turns, heavy rain powers water moves).
♦ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Damp
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk |
Moveset:
- Scald
- Substitute
- Ice Beam
- Disable
Kingdra Special Sweeper (Disabling Draco)
Kingdra is a pretty decent Special Sweeper. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Life Orb boosts the power of Kingdra's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Damp, prevents explosion/mind blown/misty explosion/self-destruct/aftermath while active.
♦ Substitute is a status move (Kingdra takes 1/4 its max hp to put in a substitute).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Disable is a status move (for 4 turns, disables the target's last move used).
Item: Scope Lens
Ability: Sniper
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 64 Hp / 252 SpA / 192 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk |
Moveset:
- Draco Meteor
- Focus Energy
- Agility
- Ice Beam
Kingdra Special Sweeper (Crit Hit )
Kingdra is a decent Special Sweeper. It is designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Scope Lens/Razor Claw increases Kingdra critical hit ratio by 1 stage and combined with Kingdra's Sniper ability will increase the amount of damage done by those critial hits. With Sniper, if Kingdra strikes with a critical hit the damage is multiplied by 1.5.
♦ Focus Energy is a status move (raises your Kingdra's critical hit ratio by 2 stages).
♦ Agility is a status move (raises your Kingdra's speed by 2 stages).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Kingdra? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Waterfall
- Outrage
- Bounce
- Icy Wind
Doubles Physical Sweeper Kingdra (Popular VGC)
Kingdra is a phenomenal Physical Sweeper. This particular build was popular during recent competitions. It is primarily designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Kingdra's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Swift Swim, Kingdra's speed is doubled during rainy weather.
♦ Outrage is a physical STAB-boosted 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. confuses your Kingdra afterwards).
♦ Bounce is a physical 85-base power Flying-type move (bounces turn 1. hits turn 2. 30% paralyze).
♦ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
Item: Scope Lens / Shell Bell
Ability: Sniper
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Breaking Swipe / Outrage
- Liquidation / Waterfall
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Iron Head
Doubles Physical Sweeper Kingdra (Sniper)
Kingdra is an outstanding Physical Sweeper. It attempts to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Scope Lens/Razor Claw increases Kingdra critical hit ratio by 1 stage and combined with Kingdra's Sniper ability will increase the amount of damage done by those critial hits. The Shell Bell item option is to help Kingdra recover from the recoil damage it may take from Double-Edge. With Sniper, if Kingdra strikes with a critical hit the damage is multiplied by 1.5.
♦ Outrage is a physical STAB-boosted 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. confuses your Kingdra afterwards).
♦ Liquidation is a physical STAB-boosted 85-base power Water-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
♦ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Iron Head is a physical 80-base power Steel-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
Item: Scope Lens / Eject Pack
Ability: Sniper
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk |
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Flash Cannon
Doubles Special Sweeper Kingdra (Sniper)
Kingdra is a remarkable Special Sweeper. It tries to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Scope Lens/Razor Claw increases Kingdra critical hit ratio by 1 stage and combined with Kingdra's Sniper ability will increase the amount of damage done by those critial hits. With Sniper, if Kingdra strikes with a critical hit the damage is multiplied by 1.5.
♦ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. thaws target).
♦ Draco Meteor is a special STAB-boosted 130-base power Dragon-type move (lowers your Kingdra's special attack by 2 stages).
♦ Dragon Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a hefty amount of damage.
♦ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Flash Cannon is a special 80-base power Steel-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Kingdra learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Kingdra can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Kingdra
- Moves: Endure + Flail
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Ability: Sniper + Item: Scope Lens
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect
Most notable and possible best moves for Kingdra
- Blizzard
- Draco Meteor
- Dragon Pulse
- Hurricane
- Hydro Pump
- Muddy Water
- Protect
- Scald
Common Effort Values for Kingdra in Sword and Shield
- Modest Nature ( 4/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/4/252 )
- Optimize Kingdra's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
Here are various how-to-use and competitive moveset analysis video guides for Kingdra in Sword/Shield. These featured videos will most likely contain additional strategies and combos not listed on our site. Disclaimer: All videos belong to their respective owners along with the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the videos. They belong solely to the author and not to us.
Here are the best movesets for Kingdra. Top rated Kingdra Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Kingdra builds Sword/Shield. Kingdra movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Kingdra Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Kingdra in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution