Nidoking
Nidoking is a Poison/Ground-type Pokémon, the Drill Pokémon, number 34 (#0034) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 1 and comes from the Kanto region. It is 1.4 m tall and weighs 62 kg.
Nidoking is the Drill Pokémon, a proud Poison and Ground type whose tail can bring down a metal transmission tower and whose horn can crush diamonds. When it rampages, only a Nidoqueen it has lived beside for years can calm it down.
How to pronounce Nidoking
Nidoking is pronounced NEE-doh-king. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Nidoking said out loud:
In Japanese it is ニドキング.
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Nidoking is a large, bipedal, purple mammal with reptilian touches: narrow eyes, large spiny ears, tufts on its cheeks, a short snout of pointed teeth, a venomous horn and a ridge of spines. Grey plates cover its chest and belly, and each elbow has a grey spine. It is 1.4 m tall and weighs 62 kg. The Pokédex says it uses its tail to smash, constrict and snap the bones of its prey, and that its steel-like hide strengthens its charge.
Behaviour
Nidoking is very proud of its strength and fights forcefully, swinging its thick tail to keep foes at a distance before it charges. Once it goes on a rampage it cannot be controlled, and the Pokédex says only a Nidoqueen that has shared its life for a long time can settle it.
Habitat
The Pokédex lists it as a grassland Pokémon. Bulbapedia says it can be found on savannas and plains but is rarely seen in the wild, since it only exists after a stone evolution.
Powers
Poison Point can poison attackers on contact, Rivalry boosts damage against Pokémon of the same gender, and its hidden Ability is Sheer Force. It hits hard with Megahorn, Poison Jab and Earth Power. With base Attack 102, Special Attack 85 and a base total of 505, it is a sturdy mixed attacker.
Name origin
Nidoking may combine ニードル (nīdoru, 'needle') and 'king', and may also involve nido (二度, 'twice'). The Japanese name is Nidoking (ニドキング).
Design inspiration
Ken Sugimori designed Nidoking, and Bulbapedia, citing a 2001 designer interview, says it was among the very first Pokémon created. It was given a kaiju (giant monster) motif, and physically it appears to borrow from rhinoceroses, gorillas, rabbits and porcupines.
Evolution notes
Nidorino becomes Nidoking when exposed to a Moon Stone, and it has no further evolution.
In the games
Nidoking is an original Kanto Pokémon, reached by using a Moon Stone on Nidorino. Bulbapedia lists it as unobtainable in Scarlet and Violet and in Legends: Z-A, though it appears in Sword and Shield through the Expansion Pass.
In the anime
Gary's Nidoking beat Giovanni's Golem in 'The Battle of the Badge' before Mewtwo overwhelmed it. Paul's Nidoking fought Brandon's Registeel in 'A Pyramiding Rage!'.
Fun facts
- In 'In the Pink', a pink Nidoking living on Pinkan Island attacks Jessie and James when they try to catch a pink pair of Nidoran.
- During the 2023 Pokémon World Championships livestreams, a segment on commonly mispronounced names gave its pronunciation as 'NEE-do-king'.
- In 'Showdown at the Oak Corral', a Nidoking fell for Cassidy when she wore a Nidoqueen costume.
- In flashbacks in 'Enter Pikachu!', a young Goh and Chloe watch a Nidoking battle a Mew that is copying its moves.
Base stats
- HP: 81
- Attack: 102
- Defense: 77
- Sp. Atk: 85
- Sp. Def: 75
- Speed: 85
Nidoking’s base stat total is 505. Its highest stat is Attack.
Type matchups
What is Nidoking weak to?
Nidoking takes extra damage from Water (2×), Ice (2×), Ground (2×), Psychic (2×) moves.
It resists Poison (¼×), Fighting (½×), Bug (½×), Rock (½×), Fairy (½×).
It is immune to Electric moves.
Evolution
What does Nidoking evolve from?
Nidoking evolves from Nidorino (Moon Stone).
Nidoking is the final stage of its evolution family.
The whole family: Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking.
Abilities
- Poison Point: Has a 30% chance of poisoning attacking Pokémon on contact.
- Rivalry: Increases damage inflicted to 1.25× against Pokémon of the same gender, but decreases damage to 0.75× against the opposite gender.
- Sheer Force (hidden ability): Strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.
Moves
Moves Nidoking learns by level up in Sword / Shield
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evo | Megahorn | Bug | Physical | 120 |
| 1 | Megahorn | Bug | Physical | 120 |
| 1 | Fury Attack | Normal | Physical | 15 |
| 1 | Toxic Spikes | Poison | Status | — |
| 1 | Double Kick | Fighting | Physical | 30 |
| 1 | Horn Attack | Normal | Physical | 65 |
| 1 | Helping Hand | Normal | Status | — |
| 1 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — |
| 1 | Flatter | Dark | Status | — |
| 1 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 |
| 1 | Earth Power | Ground | Special | 90 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 |
| 1 | Peck | Flying | Physical | 35 |
| 1 | Focus Energy | Normal | Status | — |
“Evo” means Nidoking learns the move the moment it evolves: Megahorn.
TM moves (72)
Nidoking can learn 72 moves from TMs in Sword / Shield: Mega Punch, Mega Kick, Pay Day, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Dig, Rest, Rock Slide, Thief, Snore, Protect, Icy Wind, Attract, Sandstorm, Rain Dance, Sunny Day, Whirlpool, Beat Up, Facade, Helping Hand, Brick Break, Rock Tomb, Sand Tomb, Mud Shot, Rock Blast, Fling, Avalanche, Shadow Claw, Venoshock, Round, Hex, Bulldoze, Smart Strike, Stomping Tantrum, Body Slam, Flamethrower, Surf, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Earthquake, Focus Energy, Fire Blast, Amnesia, Substitute, Sludge Bomb, Outrage, Endure, Sleep Talk, Megahorn, Iron Tail, Shadow Ball, Uproar, Taunt, Superpower, Toxic Spikes, Poison Jab, Dragon Pulse, Focus Blast, Earth Power, Stone Edge, Stealth Rock, Sludge Wave, Drill Run, Venom Drench, High Horsepower, Throat Chop, Body Press.
Egg moves (10), which Nidoran♂ can hatch knowing:Confusion, Counter, Disable, Head Smash, Horn Drill, Poison Tail, Sucker Punch, Supersonic, Take Down, Thrash.
Move tutor moves (1): Scorching Sands.
Breeding & training
- Gender: 100% male, 0% female.
- Egg groups: Monster, Field.
- Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
- Catch rate: 45 out of 255.
- Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
- Growth rate: Medium Slow (1,059,860 experience points to reach level 100).
- Defeating it gives 3 Attack effort values.
- Base experience yield: 227.
Pokédex entries
Nidoking prides itself on its strength. It's forceful and spirited in battle, making use of its thick tail and diamond-crushing horn. (Shield)
When it goes on a rampage, it's impossible to control. But in the presence of a Nidoqueen it's lived with for a long time, Nidoking calms down. (Sword)
Its steel-like hide adds to its powerful tackle. Its horns are so hard, they can pierce a diamond. (Yellow, Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Let’s Go, Eevee!)
Nidoking's thick tail packs enormously destructive power. With one swing, it can topple a metal transmission tower. Once this Pokémon goes on a rampage, there is no stopping it. (Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)
One swing of its mighty tail can snap a telephone pole as if it were a matchstick. (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Black, White, Black 2, White 2, Y)
It is recognized by its rock-hard hide and its extended horn. Be careful with the horn as it contains venom. (FireRed, X)
Names around the world
| Japanese | ニドキング |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Nidoking |
| French | Nidoking |
| German | Nidoking |
| Spanish | Nidoking |
| Italian | Nidoking |
| Korean | 니드킹 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 尼多王 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 尼多王 |
Trivia
- Highest Sp. Atk among Ground types in Gen 1: 85.
- Highest base stat total among Ground types in Gen 1: 505, shared with 1 other.
- Taller than 68% of all Pokémon (1.4 m).
- Heavier than 73% of all Pokémon (62 kg).
- Base stat total 505, ranked #262 of 1,025.
- One of 3 Pokémon that are both Poison and Ground.
- One of 87 purple Pokémon.
- Number 34 of 151 Pokémon introduced in Generation 1 (Kanto).
- Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
- Can learn 91 different moves in Sword / Shield.
- Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
- Appears in 12 distinct Pokédex entries.
Sources and fact-checking
- Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
- Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Nidoking (Pokémon), Serebii: Nidoking (Sword/Shield Pokédex; page not found for Scarlet/Violet).
- Pronunciation (NEE-doh-king): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.
Last checked: . Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.
Explore
Poison-type Pokémon · Ground-type Pokémon · Poison/Ground weaknesses and matchups · Nidoking vs Nidoqueen · Kanto region guide · Poison Point ability · Rivalry ability · Sheer Force ability · Compare Nidoking · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
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