[OVERVIEW]
Kingdra's decent Speed stat in combination with Swift Swim allows it to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, as well as most Choice Scarf users, when in the rain. This combined with a decent Special Attack stat should garner it heavy consideration for a spot on most rain teams. Kingdra's access to a powerful secondary STAB move in Draco Meteor is what sets it apart from other Swift Swim users, giving it the means to deal heavy damage to many common Pokemon that resist Water such as Mega Venusaur and Mantine. Kingdra also boasts serviceable bulk and decent defensive typing, which means it's often not easily revenge killed if it manages to stay healthy. Unfortunately, bulky Water- and Grass-types such as Tapu Fini, Ferrothorn, and Assault Vest Tangrowth are some of the most common defensive Pokemon in OU, meaning that Kingdra will usually face one, if not multiple, roadblocks during a majority of battles, which can make it tough for it to perform to the greatest effect. Kingdra is also heavily dependent on rain in order to be effective, as it is relatively weak and slow for an offensive Pokemon outside of it. This can make it somewhat tough to support, as Pelipper must constantly be coming in to set the rain so that Kingdra can perform effectively. Lastly, most rain builds are fairly linear, meaning that they can be predictable to play against. While this may not necessarily be detrimental in all cases it also means that, unfortunately, countering rain teams can be done relatively reliably when constructing a defensive team, so Kingdra will generally be far less threatening when facing defensive teams.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Surf
move 3: Draco Meteor
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Choice Specs
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Kingdra's main STAB move of choice. Boosted by rain and boasting high power, Hydro Pump is a powerful move that can heavily dent many defensive Pokemon. Surf is slightly weaker, trading that power for 100% accuracy, making it a reliable option if the additional power isn't required. Draco Meteor is a powerful secondary STAB move that can deal heavy damage to common Water-resistant Pokemon such as Toxapex and Keldeo. Ice Beam gives Kingdra a move to nail Grass-types such as Amoonguss and Tangrowth with while also hitting Dragon-types such as Garchomp and Salamence without having to suffer a Special Attack drop or a 10% chance to miss.
Set Details
========
Swift Swim is what enables Kingdra to be a threatening sweeper, doubling its Speed when in the rain. Maximum Special Attack investment combined with a Modest nature and Choice Specs enables Kingdra to hit as hard as possible, while maximum Speed investment allows Kingdra to outspeed everything up to and including base 110 Choice Scarf users such as Gengar and Latios when factoring in Swift Swim.
Usage Tips
========
One of the biggest things to keep in mind when using Kingdra is that one cannot afford to play passively. Taking full advantage of the 8 turns of rain provided by Pelipper is one of the first things that one should aim to do. Once the rain is set, aim to bring Kingdra onto the field as quickly as possible and start firing off attacks. The more turns of rain that Kingdra has to operate in the more threatening that it can be. Kingdra's decent defensive typing and serviceable bulk can help in instances such as allowing it to switch in on Pokemon such as Heatran or Keldeo. A common thread that links a number of common Kingdra counters is their lack of a recovery move. Pokemon such as Tapu Fini, Ferrothorn, and Rotom-W will eventually be overwhelmed by Kingdra's rain-boosted Hydro Pump, so don't be afraid to throw out attacks early-game in order to weaken those defensive Pokemon so that they can be picked off at a later stage. It is also worth noting that if the opponent's Kingdra countermeasure is something obvious, such as Gastrodon or Toxapex, it can often be a smart idea to double switch out of Kingdra into another Pokemon that would be able to better threaten that Pokemon to maintain offensive pressure. Kingdra can be somewhat exploitable once it is locked into a move, as there are a multitude of adept Dragon- and Water-type checks in OU, so be mindful of that when selecting an attack.
Team Options
========
Pelipper is the obvious first choice and almost a mandatory partner when you consider that Kingdra requires rain support in order to take advantage of its Swift Swim ability. Pelipper also happens to provide momentum via U-turn, which can be useful to bring Kingdra in safely. Kabutops and Omastar are the next best best Swift Swim Pokemon in OU and can be great partners for Kingdra, forming somewhat of an offensive core aiming to wear down shared checks to create opportunities to sweep. Tapu Koko is a good partner for its ability to pressure bulky Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Toxapex while also wearing down defensive Grass-types such as Ferrothorn. Defensively, Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and even Mega Metagross are good partners for Kingdra, as they resist Dragon while also benefiting from the rain lessening their trouble with Fire-type moves. Ferrothorn can be used to set entry hazards, while Mega Scizor can provide momentum with U-turn. Lastly, Tapu Lele can be a nice partner with its Psychic Terrain ability, preventing Pokemon from revenge killing Kingdra with priority moves. Tapu Lele also appreciates Kingdra's ability to defeat Steel- and Fire-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Kingdra can opt to run Hidden Power Grass to hit Gastrodon or Hidden Power Electric to snipe Mantine, although they are both subpar options as coverage moves in the majority of situations. A mixed attacking set utilizing Life Orb alongside physical moves such as Outrage and Waterfall can be used to defeat dedicated special walls such as Chansey.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Grass-types**: Ferrothorn, Amoonguss, and Assault Vest Tangrowth all resist Kingdra's main STAB move, avoiding the 2HKO from rain-boosted Hydro Pump. However, Ferrothorn lacks reliable recovery, and Amoonguss and Tangrowth must be wary of switching in to Ice Beam.
**Bulky Water-types**: Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Azumarill are tough Pokemon for Kingdra to take down. Toxapex boasts good special bulk and reliable recovery, while Tapu Fini and Azumarill resist Water and are immune to Dragon-type attacks. Mantine and Gastrodon are slightly different but are just as effective, as both possess abilities that make them immune to Water-type attacks, making it very tough for Kingdra to break them down.
**Chansey**: Chansey's incredible special bulk in combination with reliable recovery allows it to consistently deal with Kingdra, easily avoiding the 2HKO from even rain-boosted Hydro Pump.
**Revenge Killers**: Priority users such as Mega Mawile, Choice Band Zygarde, and Bisharp can all pick off Kingdra if it has been weakened a bit. Choice Scarf Tapu Koko is so fast that it outspeeds Kingdra even under the rain. Mega Alakazam can trace Kingdra's Swift Swim ability to outspeed it and deal heavy damage with Psychic or Dazzling Gleam.
**Alternative Weather Setters**: Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Mega Charizard Y, and Alolan Ninetales are able to hamper Kingdra by changing the weather condition. Tyranitar will summon sand, boosting its Special Defense and allowing it to easily tank Hydro Pump. Mega Charizard Y will summon sun, weakening all Water-type attacks. Lastly, Alolan-Ninetales will summon hail, which will allow it to outspeed Kingdra, threatening to OHKO it with Freeze-Dry or Moonblast.
Kingdra's decent Speed stat in combination with Swift Swim allows it to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, as well as most Choice Scarf users, when in the rain. This combined with a decent Special Attack stat should garner it heavy consideration for a spot on most rain teams. Kingdra's access to a powerful secondary STAB move in Draco Meteor is what sets it apart from other Swift Swim users, giving it the means to deal heavy damage to many common Pokemon that resist Water such as Mega Venusaur and Mantine. Kingdra also boasts serviceable bulk and decent defensive typing, which means it's often not easily revenge killed if it manages to stay healthy. Unfortunately, bulky Water- and Grass-types such as Tapu Fini, Ferrothorn, and Assault Vest Tangrowth are some of the most common defensive Pokemon in OU, meaning that Kingdra will usually face one, if not multiple, roadblocks during a majority of battles, which can make it tough for it to perform to the greatest effect. Kingdra is also heavily dependent on rain in order to be effective, as it is relatively weak and slow for an offensive Pokemon outside of it. This can make it somewhat tough to support, as Pelipper must constantly be coming in to set the rain so that Kingdra can perform effectively. Lastly, most rain builds are fairly linear, meaning that they can be predictable to play against. While this may not necessarily be detrimental in all cases it also means that, unfortunately, countering rain teams can be done relatively reliably when constructing a defensive team, so Kingdra will generally be far less threatening when facing defensive teams.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Surf
move 3: Draco Meteor
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Choice Specs
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Kingdra's main STAB move of choice. Boosted by rain and boasting high power, Hydro Pump is a powerful move that can heavily dent many defensive Pokemon. Surf is slightly weaker, trading that power for 100% accuracy, making it a reliable option if the additional power isn't required. Draco Meteor is a powerful secondary STAB move that can deal heavy damage to common Water-resistant Pokemon such as Toxapex and Keldeo. Ice Beam gives Kingdra a move to nail Grass-types such as Amoonguss and Tangrowth with while also hitting Dragon-types such as Garchomp and Salamence without having to suffer a Special Attack drop or a 10% chance to miss.
Set Details
========
Swift Swim is what enables Kingdra to be a threatening sweeper, doubling its Speed when in the rain. Maximum Special Attack investment combined with a Modest nature and Choice Specs enables Kingdra to hit as hard as possible, while maximum Speed investment allows Kingdra to outspeed everything up to and including base 110 Choice Scarf users such as Gengar and Latios when factoring in Swift Swim.
Usage Tips
========
One of the biggest things to keep in mind when using Kingdra is that one cannot afford to play passively. Taking full advantage of the 8 turns of rain provided by Pelipper is one of the first things that one should aim to do. Once the rain is set, aim to bring Kingdra onto the field as quickly as possible and start firing off attacks. The more turns of rain that Kingdra has to operate in the more threatening that it can be. Kingdra's decent defensive typing and serviceable bulk can help in instances such as allowing it to switch in on Pokemon such as Heatran or Keldeo. A common thread that links a number of common Kingdra counters is their lack of a recovery move. Pokemon such as Tapu Fini, Ferrothorn, and Rotom-W will eventually be overwhelmed by Kingdra's rain-boosted Hydro Pump, so don't be afraid to throw out attacks early-game in order to weaken those defensive Pokemon so that they can be picked off at a later stage. It is also worth noting that if the opponent's Kingdra countermeasure is something obvious, such as Gastrodon or Toxapex, it can often be a smart idea to double switch out of Kingdra into another Pokemon that would be able to better threaten that Pokemon to maintain offensive pressure. Kingdra can be somewhat exploitable once it is locked into a move, as there are a multitude of adept Dragon- and Water-type checks in OU, so be mindful of that when selecting an attack.
Team Options
========
Pelipper is the obvious first choice and almost a mandatory partner when you consider that Kingdra requires rain support in order to take advantage of its Swift Swim ability. Pelipper also happens to provide momentum via U-turn, which can be useful to bring Kingdra in safely. Kabutops and Omastar are the next best best Swift Swim Pokemon in OU and can be great partners for Kingdra, forming somewhat of an offensive core aiming to wear down shared checks to create opportunities to sweep. Tapu Koko is a good partner for its ability to pressure bulky Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Toxapex while also wearing down defensive Grass-types such as Ferrothorn. Defensively, Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and even Mega Metagross are good partners for Kingdra, as they resist Dragon while also benefiting from the rain lessening their trouble with Fire-type moves. Ferrothorn can be used to set entry hazards, while Mega Scizor can provide momentum with U-turn. Lastly, Tapu Lele can be a nice partner with its Psychic Terrain ability, preventing Pokemon from revenge killing Kingdra with priority moves. Tapu Lele also appreciates Kingdra's ability to defeat Steel- and Fire-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Kingdra can opt to run Hidden Power Grass to hit Gastrodon or Hidden Power Electric to snipe Mantine, although they are both subpar options as coverage moves in the majority of situations. A mixed attacking set utilizing Life Orb alongside physical moves such as Outrage and Waterfall can be used to defeat dedicated special walls such as Chansey.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Grass-types**: Ferrothorn, Amoonguss, and Assault Vest Tangrowth all resist Kingdra's main STAB move, avoiding the 2HKO from rain-boosted Hydro Pump. However, Ferrothorn lacks reliable recovery, and Amoonguss and Tangrowth must be wary of switching in to Ice Beam.
**Bulky Water-types**: Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Azumarill are tough Pokemon for Kingdra to take down. Toxapex boasts good special bulk and reliable recovery, while Tapu Fini and Azumarill resist Water and are immune to Dragon-type attacks. Mantine and Gastrodon are slightly different but are just as effective, as both possess abilities that make them immune to Water-type attacks, making it very tough for Kingdra to break them down.
**Chansey**: Chansey's incredible special bulk in combination with reliable recovery allows it to consistently deal with Kingdra, easily avoiding the 2HKO from even rain-boosted Hydro Pump.
**Revenge Killers**: Priority users such as Mega Mawile, Choice Band Zygarde, and Bisharp can all pick off Kingdra if it has been weakened a bit. Choice Scarf Tapu Koko is so fast that it outspeeds Kingdra even under the rain. Mega Alakazam can trace Kingdra's Swift Swim ability to outspeed it and deal heavy damage with Psychic or Dazzling Gleam.
**Alternative Weather Setters**: Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Mega Charizard Y, and Alolan Ninetales are able to hamper Kingdra by changing the weather condition. Tyranitar will summon sand, boosting its Special Defense and allowing it to easily tank Hydro Pump. Mega Charizard Y will summon sun, weakening all Water-type attacks. Lastly, Alolan-Ninetales will summon hail, which will allow it to outspeed Kingdra, threatening to OHKO it with Freeze-Dry or Moonblast.
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