QC Approved: 3 / 3 : Oglemi, Snunch and Chou Toshio
GP Approved: 0 / 2 :
[Overview]
<p>Kingdra was one of the many Pokemon that suffered from a tier drop this generation. While being one premier sweepers of OU and Ubers in Gen 4. It has now become one of the few UU Dragons. Its dual STAB coverage has new walls such as Ferroseed to deal with and the prevalent Empoleon but still possessing good defensive typing giving Kingdra only one weakness to the uncommon Dragon type. It has good stats to back it up giving it both offensive and defensive capabilities but it doesn't focus in one single area causing it to be lose out on the other sweepers and walls UU has to offer coupled with its decent movepool giving it just what it could need but not much else. With balanced but solid stats all around, a limited but perfectly focused movepool, and tools such as Dragon Dance and Rain Dance, Kingdra can easily find itself sweeping through teams.</p>
[SET]
Name: Dragon Dance
Move 1: Dragon Dance
Move 2: Waterfall
Move 3: Outrage
Move 4: Substitute
Item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Dragon Dance is one of the well known sweeping tools of Dragons such as Rayquaza, Salamence and Garchomp who have never been allowed into UU until now. Kingdra's decent bulk and offensive stats allow it to sweep easily with a Dragon Dance or 2 under its belt. Waterfall and Outrage provide near perfect coverage and both get the STAB. Substitute is there for scouting and to protect status. Lum Berry cures status but more importantly cures the confusion from Outrage. The EV spread and nature offers maximum offensive stats.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Little change can really be made on the nature and EVs. Jolly could be used over Adamant but it only allows you to out speed +1 Adamant Haxorus and +1 Modest Yanmega. Leftovers is the secondary item working very well with Substitute and healing off HP used to make Substitutes or from entry hazards damage but Lum Berry is superior.</p>
<p>Ferroseed and Empoleon wall the Dragon and Water-type moves coming from Kingdra. Therefore, a Fighting-type pairs well with Kingdra. Notable mentions include Lucario and Hitmonlee. Lucario's Steel typing lets it wall Gyro Balls from Ferroseed while dealing the hurt with Close Combat. Hitmonlee is identical but possesses no Steel typing, It does have a 4X Super-effective Blaze Kick. Entry Hazards and Dual Screens help Kingdra set up more Dragon Dances and have that extra damage on opponents switching in. Uxie and Azelf can set up Duall Screens, Frosslass and Deoxys-D are good at setting up hazards.</p>
[SET]
Name: Rain Dance Sweeper
Move 1: Rain Dance
Move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
Move 3: Draco Meteor
Move 4: Ice Beam
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest
EVs: 92 HP / 252 SpA / 164 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Swift Swim, Kingdra can just rip through teams in the Rain. The coverage provided by Hydro Pump, Draco Meteor and Ice Beam is nothing to be taken lightly. 164 Speed lets you go before +1 Base 100's in the rain. With Max Special Attack and a Modest nature dealing a lot of damage to anything in your way.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The 92 remaining EV's are in HP for extra bulk, more EV's can be put into speed but nothing notable is outsped. Rain Dance can be replaced by a coverage move like Hidden Power Fire or Electric but setting up rain with Kingdra isn't difficult to do in UU. Damp Rock or Leftovers can be used in the Item slot for more rain or durabilty but Life Orb helps out more by dealing enough damage. Kingdra does not have to be in a rain team and can work on its own but using a Damp Rock with this in mind can screw over some of your teammates. Dragon Pulse can be used as an alternative to Draco Meteor but does not do enough damage instantly.</p>
<p>This set mainly has problems with bulky waters so your own bulky water types or Toxic users can help wear them down enough to not impede Kingdra. Lucario or Hitmonlee can deal with Ferroseed and Empoleon.</p>
[SET]
Name: Choice Specs
Move 1: Draco Meteor
Move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
Move 3: Dragon Pulse
Move 4: Hidden Power Electric
Item: Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Timid / Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While wearing a nice pair of spectacles Kingdra can inflict higher amounts damage instantly. The coverage available is also second to none with Water and Dragon being unresisted by UU except for Empoleon and Ferroseed. However due to the power of Choice Specs you have nothing to worry about by using a super-effective Hidden Power to deal decent damage to such counters. The set has a unique selling point by wearing down teams by using Dragon-type moves early then finishing up with Water-type moves. Dragon Pulse is there for cleaning up late-game when Pokemon are weakened through the course of the battle but can still be used for sweeping if your opponent has nothing to resist it. Timid is the preferable nature ensuring you outspeed other Base 85s like Heracross. Swift Swim can work well with rain teams or against them as your sweeping ability is increased. </p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Modest can give you extra power but higher speed is often more practical. The EV spread could be changed to 92 HP / 252 SpAtk / 164 Spe if you are using rain or trying to counter by using a Kingdra but you will lose to Heracross. Other kinds of Choice sets are not as forgiving to Kingdra, Choice Scarf is outclassed by rain and Choice Band has limited coverage. Ice Beam could be used over Dragon Pulse but you Draco Meteors deal good enough amounts of damage to Grass-types. Surf can be used for its better accuracy but the power drop is not recommended. Hidden Power Fire can be used in the last slot for hurting Ferroseed and Shedninja but hey aren't as common as Empoleon.</p>
<p>This set's counters depend on what move you lock yourself into : Hydro Pump / Surf brings out Empoleon, Zapdos and Gastrodon while Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse brings out Registeel, Empoleon and Lucario. A Fighting-type of your own can deal with any of Kingdra's counters especially Chansey who can come in on anything. Entry hazards help get some extra damage often caused by switch-ins to a counter. Registeel has great synergy with Kingdra forming a Dragon-Steel combination which a=has always been popular in Ubers and OU having good defensive synergy. Tis set can deal with water resists so having another water type of your own can use the opportunity made.</p>
[SET]
Name: ChestoRest
Move 1: Dragon Dance
Move 2: Rest
Move 3: Waterfall
Move 4: Outrage
Item: Chesto Berry
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 184 HP / 160 Atk / 164 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With reliable recovery Kingdra can easily set up in front of walls or status user like Chansey or Milotic. Chesto Berry allows Kingdra to set up Dragon Dances until it get low on health, Rest up and wake up instantly and prepare to sweep. It also makes great sleep fodder. Waterfall and Outrage give nice coverage in UU. 164 Speed allow it to outspeed +1 Base 100's after 2 Dragon Dances and 184 HP lets you easily live Ice Beams from Slowbro or Giga Drains from Celebi with the rest of the EVs dumped into attack.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Obviously a pure offensive EV spread with no bulk could be used but does not have as much merit. Sleep Talk can be used over Waterfall but the lack of coverage and unreliability of Sleep Talk doesn't make it worthwhile. A Jolly nature shouldn't be used either as you have enough speed so attack investment would be better. This set is weaker than other sets and should be used as a late game sweeper. Fighting types to deal with Ferroseed and Empoleon although you could turn the situation around if you have enough Dragon Dances.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Kingdra has a limited movepool with only one purpose : Offensive. It has good coverage but nothing else worth noting. Granted it is outclassed by other bulky waters and has a niche for being one of the few offensive water-types. Anyway, for moves there is Yawn for sleep can can be used to get Dragon Dances up and can be used over Substitute but isn't as reliable due to random sleep turns. Scald is outclassed by Hydro Pump although the burn chance is tempting. Ice Beam is outclassed by other coverage moves like Hidden Power Electric and Agility is outclassed by rain but if you are using a Sunny Day team rain could hinder your team but it could also stop sand and hail which are more common.
<p>Mixed Dragon Dance and Double Dance (Rain Dance and Dragon Dance) sets aren't viable enough to get mentioned in the main part of the analysis. THis is mainly due to the fact they are outclassed, useless or hard to set up so you should pass on them but they are there.
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Kingdra loses to Empoleon and Ferroseed all the time, Chansey on the special sets, Bulky Waters like Milotic and Registeel. Fighting types like Heracross, Lucario or Hitmonlee help take them out. It should be noted that if running a physical Kingdra a special Fighting-type has better synergy due to a mix of physical and special but you'll probably lose to Registeel.
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You may recognise the thread as HuntoftheLion's thread with some alterations I added since it was in the Skeleton stage and had some contributions to it so feel free to comment on this analysis as Oglemi as let me take over it.
