It was because Waterfall was on the original set, they just haven't changed it.
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Kingdra: GP [1/2]
- Thread starter President Shinra
- Start date
- Status
I updated the spread with a little bit of bulk (+ enough speed to outspeed base 130s after one DD)
Remove Lum Berry on the Substitute set. Also I'd like other QC member opinions on the ordering of the Dragon Dance and Rain Dance set.
Other than that, QC 1/3.
Lefties is probably better to the extent it shouldn't have anything slashed with it.
Last edited:
I think Iron head should be getting a mention somewhere seeing as it can reliably two hit Florges and with some prior damage can actually kill it, e.g volt switch SR damage where it got forced to switch, something like that.
+1 252+ Atk Kingdra Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 232 Def Florges: 238-280 (66.1 - 77.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 252+ Atk Kingdra Waterfall vs. 252 HP / 232 Def Florges: 178-210 (49.4 - 58.3%) -- 64.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 252+ Atk Kingdra Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 232 Def Florges: 238-280 (66.1 - 77.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 252+ Atk Kingdra Waterfall vs. 252 HP / 232 Def Florges: 178-210 (49.4 - 58.3%) -- 64.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Get a mention on the DD set? Well, the only problem is that Waterfall / Outrage are generally more valuable, and giving up Substitute for another attacking move isn't a good idea.
Being able to reliable two hit the 'dragon counter' in the tier is more than enough merit to warrant it being slashed with Substitute since a lot of the time, Kingdra is going to have to be getting boosts on things that would break the sub making it almost useless in a lot of circumstances. Substitute still should be the first slash but 3 attacks + DD is also another option.
Alright, that's now slashed with Substitute, and the set's name is now just "Dragon Dance".
So, Calloflochie, is this ready?
So, Calloflochie, is this ready?
Last edited:
Oh also, i know limitless said to remove lum which is fine for Sub but with 3 attacks you want to have lum so have the slashes in accordance with that 4th move so lefties with sub and lum with iron head :] I also say that the DD set should definitely be above the rain dance set, I have found that this generation the classic rain dance sweeper that terrorised Gen 5 UU just doesn't have the same potency, it just seems like there are more things this generation to wall that particular Kingdra so idk. Kingdra in general has gotten worse with the inclusion of stuff like Infiltrator to hit through the subs, weather being allowed in UU, reducing how potent the rain dance set is and Critdra always having the problem of never being able to get up the 2 boosts needed in order to sweep (and even when the boosts were obtained, still getting beaten by shit like Florges). So imo the order should be Critdra, DD, Rain Dance but tbh seeing as no one of Kingdra's sets are really that good, I don't see which order these sets are in being the be all and end all of UU analyses :]
Yeah, the order of those last two really isn't the biggest thing in the world. Also, Lum slashed, and set details says to use it when you are DD + 3 Attacks.
Last edited:
In critdra set you've mentioned timid/hasty but the set has modest as the nature, please change that.
Other than that, this analysis is looking good so QC 2/3
Other than that, this analysis is looking good so QC 2/3
Write-up is finished, sorry for late but eh real life what can I say.
seems good enough. 3/3
Welp, that's awkward. Is the new format right?
This is the correct form entirely:
**Florges**:add colon As stated many times, Florges is a full stop for many of Kingdra's sets, being able to live any special hit or unboosted physical hit and OHKO back with Moonblast. The Dragon immunity also helps out Florges heavily.
Add space
**Bulky Waters**: add colon Bulky Water types such as Suicune can take hits and phaze out Kingdra, even though Dragon STAB still can put a dent into these walls.
fix'd
Still need some GP checks here.
President Shinra
REMOVE CHANGE COMMENTS
1/2
There were a disappointing number of errors here. Half of these could have been found through simple proofreading. Please make an effort to do this in the future.
REMOVE CHANGE COMMENTS
Overview
########
Back in Generation V, Kingdra was, as its name suggested, one of the kings of UU. With the transition to the XY era, Kingdra lost a bit of its luster, but it is still a powerful and versatile threat, what with its few weaknesses and ability to double its Speed. Kingdra also received a couple of new toys, such as the ability to, after one turn of setup, produce a Sniper-boosted critical hit. This is combined with the already existing Dragon Dance and rain sweeper sets makes Kingdra a very diverse Pokemon, and one that is difficult to counter. Unfortunately, Kingdra is far from perfect, as even at +1 Speed it is revenged killed by every other Choice Scarf Dragon-type in the tier, meaning setting up can be difficult. Also, with the advent because of the Fairy type, Kingdra's Dragon STAB is not nearly as safe as it was last Generation, and using Outrage ing is very dangerous. Nevertheless, despite these flaws, Kingdra is still a powerful threat that can fill many different roles on a team.
Critdra
############
name: Critdra
move 1: Focus Energy
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 4: Agility
ability: Sniper
item: Scope Lens
evs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
=========
Ever since XY changed the critical hit mechanics, this has been Kingdra's new flagship set. While it lacks the Speed and sweeping capabilities of Kingdra's rain Sweeper and Dragon Dance sets, it more than makes up for this with its wallbreaking ability. The reason for this is Focus Energy, the pivotal key move of this set. The reason for this is because after Kingdra sets up a Focus Energy, that boost to critical hit percentage combined with the Scope Lens produces a guaranteed critical hit on every attack. This critical boost, in combination with Sniper, will make Draco Meteor an absolutely devastating attack, easily 2HKOing the likes of Umbreon and specially defensive Forretress. Hydro Pump is the best choice for a secondary STAB, as it can hit Florges the hardest out of Kingdra's entire special movepool. However, if the odds of missing Hydro Pump are too great, then Surf is a workable alternative, just be aware that Surf does not 2HKO 252+ Florges with critical hits. The last move is given to Agility, as something a Pokemon this powerful has no need for coverage moves. So, if you ever get two turns to set up, a Focus Energy + an Agility can lead to an easy sweep if they your opponent lacks a special wall.
Set Details
=========
With the 1.5x boost it gives to critical hits, Sniper is the obvious choice for an ability here, as without it the set is much less functional and pretty much unviable. Alongside this boost, 252 EVs are put into Special Attack, (RC) to further boost the power of these Draco Meteors. The rest are put into Speed, (RC) to Speed tie with neutral base 85s, like such as opposing Critdra, Nidoking, and Heracross. And while a Timid nature would help with outrunning these threats, Modest is simply necessary, as that is what gives Hydro Pump and Draco Meteor that extra push that they need to finish off threats. which key threats?
Usage Tips
=========
This Kingdra set places a lot of emphasis on proper prediction, because firing off a Draco Meteor into a Fairy-type and getting forced out is exactly what you don't want, as you just wasted two perfectly good turns. This is also true with Dragon resistances, albeit less so because Kingdra 2HKOes most of them. Another thing you have to keep in mind when you use Critdra is that, even though you invested 252 EVs and the nature into Special Attack, Kingdra still only has a base of 95 in that stat, meaning that Draco Meteors and Hydro Pumps that are not critical hits will do fairly middling damage. For example, without a critical hit, a Hydro Pump will do a paltry ~25% to max 252 HP / 252+ max SDef Florges, an amount that can be easily Wished off. Also, before Agility, Kingdra's base Speed of 85 is outsped by many things, including every single Dragon-type in the tier.
Team Options
==========
SubCM Jirachi is an excellent partner for Kingdra, as it can come in and get a free Substitute on the Fairy-types that Kingdra lures in. Other Steel-types such as Cobalion or Metagross can come in for free, (RC) and attempt to threaten the remainder of the opponent's team. Entry hazards are also a big help for something like Critdra, which gives it the extra help it needs to take down dedicated special walls such as Umbreon, Slowking, (AC) or Florges. Therefore, Forretress and Froslass are good partners as they not only cover the Kingdra's Fairy weakness but also have the ability to lay down Spikes, (AC) (and Stealth Rock in Forretress's case).
Mixed Rain Sweeper
############
name: Mixed Rain Sweeper
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Draco Meteor
move 4: Waterfall
ability: Swift Swim
item: Life Orb
evs: 60 Atk / 252 SAtk / 196 Spe
nature: Mild
Moves
=========
This is the set that made Kingdra a top-tier threat in Generations IV and V. The main move on this set is Rain Dance, which in combination with Swift Swim will double Kingdra's Speed. This means that one move turns Kingdra from a slow-ish attacker into an extremely threatening sweeper. And now in the rain, STAB Hydro Pumps will absolutely tear everything up, doing immense damage even to dedicated walls. give an example of this Draco Meteor is a good choice for secondary STAB, hitting the Water resistances for with a strong 130 Base Power STAB attack. The last slot goes to Waterfall, providing a 100% accurate STAB attack, along with the rain boost and with the ability to hit special walls on the physical side.
Set Details
=========
The EVs are chosen to outpace Choice Scarf Mienshao in rain, along with the other base 105 Choice Scarf users. The remainder are poured into Special Attack, (RC) with the leftovers put into Attack to boost the power of Waterfall. A Mild nature is also chosen, because Kingdra has no need for more Speed and the its special attacking power side is more important than the its physical side.
Usage Tips
=========
While setting up rain is usually Kingdra's first priority when running this set, preserving health is often very important, so taking out a weakened slower threat with an attacking move is usually preferable to setting up rain, because taking the hit in return is often worse, especially considering Kingdra has no Leftovers. You always have the choice to predict the opponent's switch and set up rain, but this can be dangerous. Also, when in rain, Hydro Pump is your Kingdra's most damaging attack, but also your its least accurate, so Waterfall is recommended if the power is not needed.
Team Options
==========
Grass- and Electric-types are good partners, because this Kingdra's biggest threats are is bulky Water-types which are specially defensive enough to take Draco Meteors. Therefore, strong threats that hit those for super effective like Mega Manectric are effective teammates. Also, specially defensive Florges is coaxed out as well, so things like Substitute + Swords Dance Cobalion can come in and start setting up and attempt to take over the game. SubCM Jirachi also works just as well. Also, just like the last set, good team support utility from entry hazards is very helpful, but even more so for a dedicated sweeper like this Kingdra. Team utility support can also come in the form of rain setters, as this can save a the turn of setting up.
Dragon Dance
############
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Outrage
move 4: Substitute / Iron Head
ability: Sniper
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
evs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
=========
Unlike the last two sets which were focused on hitting on the special side, This Kingdra set one is fully physical; (SC) the reason for this is Dragon Dance, a boosting move that not only buffs Kingdra's Speed, but also its physical Attack. If a Dragon Dance is able to be set up on the switch, Kingdra has the possibility to tear through the enemy team. STAB Waterfall after a Dragon Dance is a very powerful move, and it also has the added benefit of a flinch chance odds. Outrage is also a strong STAB move, with greater power at the cost of locking yourself Kingdra in. The last move is a toss-up—Substitute is the most common choice, as it provides security and is a great move to use on a predicted switch. However, Iron Head is another very viable choice, as it 2HKOes Kingdra's old nemesis, Florges, (AC) and also sports the good 30% flinch chance odds.
Set Details
=========
Leftovers are generally the best item for this set, as they not only recover off health lost from Substitutes, but they give much more survivability in general. However, Lum Berry is also a good choice on the a Dragon Dance + 3 Attacks set, as it gives Kingdra more setup opportunities and makes Outrage confusion less of a problem. Unless you are using a rain team, Sniper is given the nod over Swift Swim to boost the potential rogue critical hit. The EVs are chosen to maximize Attack, with an Adamant nature used to boost the this attack further. Speed is boosted to the point where you Kingdra can outspeed base 130s at +1, with the rest dumped in HP.
Usage Tips
=========
Substitute, if you have use it, is usually the best choice if you are predicting a switch, or if you don't think the opponent can break it, as it gives a free opportunity to set up without fear of critical hits, statuses, (AC) or super effective hits. Behind a Substitute, choosing whether or not to use Dragon Dance can be difficult. For example, if they your opponent has have a Choice Scarf Flygon waiting in the wings, DDing using Dragon Dance is pretty futile because you'll Kingdra will still be forced out/killed KOed. So, in a situation like this, 2 Waterfalls is are better than one Dragon Dance + Waterfall. Also, killing off KOing something slower while behind a Substitute is preferable to letting your Kingdra's Substitute die for a Dragon Dance, as you Kingdra can either set up or threaten the following switch-in while behind a Substitute.
Team Options
==========
Just like most Kingdra sets, this benefits greatly from entry hazards, as it often lacks the power, even with STAB and at +1, to break through bulky attackers or walls. Sticky Web is also a big asset, as this slows down grounded Choice Scarf users to the point where they can be outsped at +1, which is a huge help if Kingdra is going for a sweep. Another helpful team option is to have something like a special sweeper like Calm Mind Jirachi or Nasty Plot Celebi to set up on and threaten out physical walls DD Kingdra will certainly bait in, such as Tangrowth. Also, a Steel-type is a good defensive partner, as they one would resist both of Kingdra's two weaknesses in Fairy and Dragon.
Other Options
############
A Choice Specs set can be quite a powerful cleaner, but it requires rain support to be at all effective. Rest with a Chesto Berry can be put on the Dragon Dance set, but this can be risky as you Kingdra loses the safety provided by a Substitute or the coverage of Iron Head. An offensive Dragon Dance set with 3 Attacks and a Life Orb is possible, and can hit much harder than the Substitute + Dragon Dance set at the cost of survivability. An all-special Rain Dance set is possible, but the extra coverage move is not worth being walled by any specially bulky Pokemon like Umbreon. Finally, a support set is possible, (RC) with Scald to cripple physical attackers. However, low base HP and defenses are problematic, even with investment.
Checks & Counters
#############
**Florges**: As stated many times, Florges is a full stop for many of Kingdra's sets, being able to live any special hit or unboosted physical hit and OHKO back with Moonblast. The Dragon immunity also helps out Florges heavily.
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Suicune can take hits and phaze out Kingdra, even though Dragon STAB still can put a dent into these walls.
**Dedicated Special Walls**: Special-based sets are shut down by Assault Vest Snorlax, Umbreon, (AC) and Porygon2, as even a rain-boosted Hydro Pump cannot kill KO these Pokemon easily.
**Choice Scarf Dragon-types**: Choice Scarf Flygon or Hydreigon can also act as checks, as they outspeed all Kingdra sets under +2 Speed, so they can easily force out or kill KO Kingdra.
########
Back in Generation V, Kingdra was, as its name suggested, one of the kings of UU. With the transition to the XY era, Kingdra lost a bit of its luster, but it is still a powerful and versatile threat, what with its few weaknesses and ability to double its Speed. Kingdra also received a couple of new toys, such as the ability to, after one turn of setup, produce a Sniper-boosted critical hit. This is combined with the already existing Dragon Dance and rain sweeper sets makes Kingdra a very diverse Pokemon, and one that is difficult to counter. Unfortunately, Kingdra is far from perfect, as even at +1 Speed it is revenged killed by every other Choice Scarf Dragon-type in the tier, meaning setting up can be difficult. Also, with the advent because of the Fairy type, Kingdra's Dragon STAB is not nearly as safe as it was last Generation, and using Outrage ing is very dangerous. Nevertheless, despite these flaws, Kingdra is still a powerful threat that can fill many different roles on a team.
Critdra
############
name: Critdra
move 1: Focus Energy
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 4: Agility
ability: Sniper
item: Scope Lens
evs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
=========
Ever since XY changed the critical hit mechanics, this has been Kingdra's new flagship set. While it lacks the Speed and sweeping capabilities of Kingdra's rain Sweeper and Dragon Dance sets, it more than makes up for this with its wallbreaking ability. The reason for this is Focus Energy, the pivotal key move of this set. The reason for this is because after Kingdra sets up a Focus Energy, that boost to critical hit percentage combined with the Scope Lens produces a guaranteed critical hit on every attack. This critical boost, in combination with Sniper, will make Draco Meteor an absolutely devastating attack, easily 2HKOing the likes of Umbreon and specially defensive Forretress. Hydro Pump is the best choice for a secondary STAB, as it can hit Florges the hardest out of Kingdra's entire special movepool. However, if the odds of missing Hydro Pump are too great, then Surf is a workable alternative, just be aware that Surf does not 2HKO 252+ Florges with critical hits. The last move is given to Agility, as something a Pokemon this powerful has no need for coverage moves. So, if you ever get two turns to set up, a Focus Energy + an Agility can lead to an easy sweep if they your opponent lacks a special wall.
Set Details
=========
With the 1.5x boost it gives to critical hits, Sniper is the obvious choice for an ability here, as without it the set is much less functional and pretty much unviable. Alongside this boost, 252 EVs are put into Special Attack, (RC) to further boost the power of these Draco Meteors. The rest are put into Speed, (RC) to Speed tie with neutral base 85s, like such as opposing Critdra, Nidoking, and Heracross. And while a Timid nature would help with outrunning these threats, Modest is simply necessary, as that is what gives Hydro Pump and Draco Meteor that extra push that they need to finish off threats. which key threats?
Usage Tips
=========
This Kingdra set places a lot of emphasis on proper prediction, because firing off a Draco Meteor into a Fairy-type and getting forced out is exactly what you don't want, as you just wasted two perfectly good turns. This is also true with Dragon resistances, albeit less so because Kingdra 2HKOes most of them. Another thing you have to keep in mind when you use Critdra is that, even though you invested 252 EVs and the nature into Special Attack, Kingdra still only has a base of 95 in that stat, meaning that Draco Meteors and Hydro Pumps that are not critical hits will do fairly middling damage. For example, without a critical hit, a Hydro Pump will do a paltry ~25% to max 252 HP / 252+ max SDef Florges, an amount that can be easily Wished off. Also, before Agility, Kingdra's base Speed of 85 is outsped by many things, including every single Dragon-type in the tier.
Team Options
==========
SubCM Jirachi is an excellent partner for Kingdra, as it can come in and get a free Substitute on the Fairy-types that Kingdra lures in. Other Steel-types such as Cobalion or Metagross can come in for free, (RC) and attempt to threaten the remainder of the opponent's team. Entry hazards are also a big help for something like Critdra, which gives it the extra help it needs to take down dedicated special walls such as Umbreon, Slowking, (AC) or Florges. Therefore, Forretress and Froslass are good partners as they not only cover the Kingdra's Fairy weakness but also have the ability to lay down Spikes, (AC) (and Stealth Rock in Forretress's case).
Mixed Rain Sweeper
############
name: Mixed Rain Sweeper
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Draco Meteor
move 4: Waterfall
ability: Swift Swim
item: Life Orb
evs: 60 Atk / 252 SAtk / 196 Spe
nature: Mild
Moves
=========
This is the set that made Kingdra a top-tier threat in Generations IV and V. The main move on this set is Rain Dance, which in combination with Swift Swim will double Kingdra's Speed. This means that one move turns Kingdra from a slow-ish attacker into an extremely threatening sweeper. And now in the rain, STAB Hydro Pumps will absolutely tear everything up, doing immense damage even to dedicated walls. give an example of this Draco Meteor is a good choice for secondary STAB, hitting the Water resistances for with a strong 130 Base Power STAB attack. The last slot goes to Waterfall, providing a 100% accurate STAB attack, along with the rain boost and with the ability to hit special walls on the physical side.
Set Details
=========
The EVs are chosen to outpace Choice Scarf Mienshao in rain, along with the other base 105 Choice Scarf users. The remainder are poured into Special Attack, (RC) with the leftovers put into Attack to boost the power of Waterfall. A Mild nature is also chosen, because Kingdra has no need for more Speed and the its special attacking power side is more important than the its physical side.
Usage Tips
=========
While setting up rain is usually Kingdra's first priority when running this set, preserving health is often very important, so taking out a weakened slower threat with an attacking move is usually preferable to setting up rain, because taking the hit in return is often worse, especially considering Kingdra has no Leftovers. You always have the choice to predict the opponent's switch and set up rain, but this can be dangerous. Also, when in rain, Hydro Pump is your Kingdra's most damaging attack, but also your its least accurate, so Waterfall is recommended if the power is not needed.
Team Options
==========
Grass- and Electric-types are good partners, because this Kingdra's biggest threats are is bulky Water-types which are specially defensive enough to take Draco Meteors. Therefore, strong threats that hit those for super effective like Mega Manectric are effective teammates. Also, specially defensive Florges is coaxed out as well, so things like Substitute + Swords Dance Cobalion can come in and start setting up and attempt to take over the game. SubCM Jirachi also works just as well. Also, just like the last set, good team support utility from entry hazards is very helpful, but even more so for a dedicated sweeper like this Kingdra. Team utility support can also come in the form of rain setters, as this can save a the turn of setting up.
Dragon Dance
############
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Outrage
move 4: Substitute / Iron Head
ability: Sniper
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
evs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
=========
Unlike the last two sets which were focused on hitting on the special side, This Kingdra set one is fully physical; (SC) the reason for this is Dragon Dance, a boosting move that not only buffs Kingdra's Speed, but also its physical Attack. If a Dragon Dance is able to be set up on the switch, Kingdra has the possibility to tear through the enemy team. STAB Waterfall after a Dragon Dance is a very powerful move, and it also has the added benefit of a flinch chance odds. Outrage is also a strong STAB move, with greater power at the cost of locking yourself Kingdra in. The last move is a toss-up—Substitute is the most common choice, as it provides security and is a great move to use on a predicted switch. However, Iron Head is another very viable choice, as it 2HKOes Kingdra's old nemesis, Florges, (AC) and also sports the good 30% flinch chance odds.
Set Details
=========
Leftovers are generally the best item for this set, as they not only recover off health lost from Substitutes, but they give much more survivability in general. However, Lum Berry is also a good choice on the a Dragon Dance + 3 Attacks set, as it gives Kingdra more setup opportunities and makes Outrage confusion less of a problem. Unless you are using a rain team, Sniper is given the nod over Swift Swim to boost the potential rogue critical hit. The EVs are chosen to maximize Attack, with an Adamant nature used to boost the this attack further. Speed is boosted to the point where you Kingdra can outspeed base 130s at +1, with the rest dumped in HP.
Usage Tips
=========
Substitute, if you have use it, is usually the best choice if you are predicting a switch, or if you don't think the opponent can break it, as it gives a free opportunity to set up without fear of critical hits, statuses, (AC) or super effective hits. Behind a Substitute, choosing whether or not to use Dragon Dance can be difficult. For example, if they your opponent has have a Choice Scarf Flygon waiting in the wings, DDing using Dragon Dance is pretty futile because you'll Kingdra will still be forced out/killed KOed. So, in a situation like this, 2 Waterfalls is are better than one Dragon Dance + Waterfall. Also, killing off KOing something slower while behind a Substitute is preferable to letting your Kingdra's Substitute die for a Dragon Dance, as you Kingdra can either set up or threaten the following switch-in while behind a Substitute.
Team Options
==========
Just like most Kingdra sets, this benefits greatly from entry hazards, as it often lacks the power, even with STAB and at +1, to break through bulky attackers or walls. Sticky Web is also a big asset, as this slows down grounded Choice Scarf users to the point where they can be outsped at +1, which is a huge help if Kingdra is going for a sweep. Another helpful team option is to have something like a special sweeper like Calm Mind Jirachi or Nasty Plot Celebi to set up on and threaten out physical walls DD Kingdra will certainly bait in, such as Tangrowth. Also, a Steel-type is a good defensive partner, as they one would resist both of Kingdra's two weaknesses in Fairy and Dragon.
Other Options
############
A Choice Specs set can be quite a powerful cleaner, but it requires rain support to be at all effective. Rest with a Chesto Berry can be put on the Dragon Dance set, but this can be risky as you Kingdra loses the safety provided by a Substitute or the coverage of Iron Head. An offensive Dragon Dance set with 3 Attacks and a Life Orb is possible, and can hit much harder than the Substitute + Dragon Dance set at the cost of survivability. An all-special Rain Dance set is possible, but the extra coverage move is not worth being walled by any specially bulky Pokemon like Umbreon. Finally, a support set is possible, (RC) with Scald to cripple physical attackers. However, low base HP and defenses are problematic, even with investment.
Checks & Counters
#############
**Florges**: As stated many times, Florges is a full stop for many of Kingdra's sets, being able to live any special hit or unboosted physical hit and OHKO back with Moonblast. The Dragon immunity also helps out Florges heavily.
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Suicune can take hits and phaze out Kingdra, even though Dragon STAB still can put a dent into these walls.
**Dedicated Special Walls**: Special-based sets are shut down by Assault Vest Snorlax, Umbreon, (AC) and Porygon2, as even a rain-boosted Hydro Pump cannot kill KO these Pokemon easily.
**Choice Scarf Dragon-types**: Choice Scarf Flygon or Hydreigon can also act as checks, as they outspeed all Kingdra sets under +2 Speed, so they can easily force out or kill KO Kingdra.
1/2
There were a disappointing number of errors here. Half of these could have been found through simple proofreading. Please make an effort to do this in the future.
Last edited:
AMcheck
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Ther were a few things missed here such as not writing out move names (DD is not acceptable!).
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Overview
########
Back in Generation V, Kingdra was, as its name suggested, one of the kings of UU. With the transition to the XY era, Kingdra lost a bit of its luster, but it is still a powerful and versatile threat, with its few weaknesses and ability to double its Speed. Kingdra also received a couple of new toys, such as the ability to, after one turn of setup, produce a Sniper-boosted critical hit. This combined with the already existing Dragon Dance and rain sweeper sets makes Kingdra a very diverse Pokemon, and one that is difficult to counter. Unfortunately, Kingdra is far from perfect, as even at +1 Speed it is revenge killed by every other Choice Scarf Dragon-type in the tier, meaning setting up can be difficult. Also, because of the Fairy type, Kingdra's Dragon STAB is not nearly as safe as it was, and using Outrage is very dangerous. Nevertheless, Kingdra is still a powerful threat that can fill many different roles on a team.
Critdra
############
name: Critdra
move 1: Focus Energy
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 4: Agility
ability: Sniper
item: Scope Lens
evs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
=========
Ever since XY changed the critical hit mechanics, this has been Kingdra's new flagship set. While it lacks the Speed and sweeping capabilities of Kingdra's rain and Dragon Dance sets, it more than makes up for this with its wallbreaking ability. The reason for this is Focus Energy, the key move of this set. The reason for this is because you say "the reason for this" twice in a row After Kingdra sets up a Focus Energy, that boost to critical hit percentage combined with the Scope Lens produces a guaranteed critical hit on every attack. This boost, in combination with Sniper, will make Draco Meteor an absolutely devastating attack, easily 2HKOing the likes of Umbreon and specially defensive Forretress. Hydro Pump is the best choice for a secondary STAB, as it can hit Florges the hardest out of Kingdra's entire special movepool. However, if the odds of missing Hydro Pump are too great, then Surf is a workable alternative, just be aware that Surf does not 2HKO 252+ Florges with critical hits. The last move is given to Agility, as a Pokemon this powerful has no need for coverage moves. So, if you ever get two turns to set up, a Focus Energy + an Agility can lead to an easy sweep if your opponent lacks a special wall.
Set Details
=========
With the 1.5x boost it gives to critical hits, Sniper is the obvious choice for an ability here, as without it the set is much less functional and pretty much unviable. Alongside this boost, 252 EVs are put into Special Attack, to further boost the power of Draco Meteor. The rest are put into Speed, to Speed tie with neutral base 85s, such as opposing Critdra, Nidoking, and Heracross. And while a Timid nature would help with outrunning these threats, Modest is simply necessary, as that is what gives Hydro Pump and Draco Meteor that extra push that they need to finish off threats.
Usage Tips
=========
This Kingdra set places a lot of emphasis on proper prediction, because firing off a Draco Meteor into a Fairy-type and getting forced out is exactly what you don't want, as you just wasted two perfectly good turns. This is also true with Dragon resists, albeit less so because Kingdra 2HKOes most of them. Another thing you have to keep in mind when you use Critdra,(AC) is that,(RC) even though you invested 252 EVs and the nature into SAtk, Kingdra still only has a base of 95 in that stat, meaning that Draco Meteors and Hydro Pumps that are not criticals hits will do fairly middling damage. For example, without a critical hit, a Hydro Pump will do a paltry ~25% to max HP/max 252 HP / 252 SDef Florges with a Calm nature, an amount that can be easily wished off. Also, before Agility, Kingdra's base Speed of 85 is outsped by many things, including every single Dragon-type in the tier.
Team Options
==========
Substitute + Calm Mind Jirachi is an excellent partner for Kingdra, as it can come in and get a free sub on the Fairy-types that Kingdra lures in. Other Steel-types such as Cobalion or Metagross can come in for free, and attempt to threaten the remainder of the opponent's team. Entry hazards are also a big help for something like Critdra, which gives it the extra help it needs to take down dedicated special walls such as Umbreon, Slowking,(AC) or Florges. Therefore, Forretress and Froslass are good partners as they not only cover the Fairy weakness,(AC) but also have the ability to lay down Spikes (and SR Stealth Rock never use "SR" in Forretress's case).
Mixed Rain Sweeper
############
name: Mixed Rain Sweeper
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Draco Meteor
move 4: Waterfall
ability: Swift Swim
item: Life Orb
evs: 60 Atk / 252 SAtk / 196 Spe
nature: Mild
Moves
=========
This is the set that made Kingdra a top tier threat in Generations IV and V. The main move on this set is Rain Dance, which in combination with Swift Swim will double Kingdra's speed. This means that one move turns Kingdra from a relatively slow-ish attacker into an extremely threatening sweeper. And now in the rain, STAB Hydro Pumps will absolutely tear everything up, doing immense damage even to dedicated walls. Draco Meteor is a good choice for secondary STAB move, hitting the Water-type resists for strong 130 Base Power STAB. The last slot goes to Waterfall, providing a 100% accurate STAB attack, along with the rain boost and the ability to hit special walls on the physical side.
Set Details
=========
The EVs are chosen to outpace Scarf Mienshao in rain, along with the other base 105 Scarfers. The remainder are poured into Special Attack, with the leftovers put into Attack to boost the power of Waterfall. A Mild nature is also chosen,(RC) because Kingdra has no need for more speed and the special attacking side is more important than the physical side.
Usage Tips
=========
While setting up rain is usually Kingdra's first priority when running this set, preserving health is often very important, so taking out a weakened slower threat with an attacking move is usually preferable to setting up rain, because taking the hit in return is often worse,(RC) especially considering Kingdra has no Leftovers. You always have the choice to predict the opponent's switch and set up rain, but this can be dangerous. Also, when in rain, Hydro Pump is your most damaging attack, but also your least accurate, so Waterfall is recommended if the power is not needed.
Team Options
==========
Grass-(add hyphen) and Electric-types are good partners, because this as Kingdra's biggest threats is are bulky Waters Water-types, which are specially defensive enough to take Draco Meteors. Therefore, strong threats that hit those for super effective damage like Mega Manectric are effective teammates. Also, specially defensive Florges is coaxed out as well, so things like Substitute + Swords Dance Cobalion can come in and start setting up and attempt to take over the game. Substitute + Calm Mind Jirachi also works just as well. Also, just like the last set, good team utility from entry hazards is are very helpful, but even more so for a dedicated sweeper like this Kingdra. Team utility can also come in the form of rain setters, as this can save the turn of setting up.
Dragon Dance
############
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Outrage
move 4: Substitute / Iron Head
ability: Sniper
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
evs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
=========
Unlike the last two sets which were focused on hitting on the special side, this one is fully physical. The reason for this is Dragon Dance, a boosting move that not only buffs Kingdra's Speed, but also its physical Attack. If a Dragon Dance is able to be set up on the switch, Kingdra has the possibility to tear through the enemy team. STAB Waterfall after a Dragon Dance is a very powerful move, and it also has the added benefit of a chance to flinch odds. Outrage is also a strong STAB move, with greater power at the cost of locking yourself in. The last move is a toss-up-. Substitute is the most common choice, as it provides security and is a great move to use on a predicted switch. However, Iron Head is another very viable choice, as it 2HKOes Kingdra's old nemesis, Florges and also sports the good 30% flinch odds chance.
Set Details
=========
Leftovers are generally the best item for this set, as they not only recover off health lost from Substitutes, but they give much more survivability in general. However, Lum Berry is also a good choice on the Dragon Dance + 3 Attacks set, as it gives Kingdra more setup opportunities and makes Outrage confusion less of a problem. Unless you are using a rain team, Sniper is given the nod over Swift Swim to boost the potential rogue critical hit.(add space)The EVs are chosen to maximize attack, with an Adamant nature used to boost the attack further. Speed is boosted to the point where you can outspeed base 130s at +1, with the rest dumped in HP.
Usage Tips
=========
Substitute, if you have it, is usually the best choice if you are predicting a switch, or if you don’t think the opponent can break it, as it gives a free opportunity to set(add space)up "set up" is the verb while "setup" is an adjective without fear of crits critical hits, statuses,(AC) or super effective hits. Behind a Substitute, choosing whether or not to use Dragon Dance can be difficult. For example, if they have a scarfed Flygon waiting in the wings, DDing using Dragon Dance is pretty futile because you'll still be forced out/ or killed. So, in a situation like this, 2 two Waterfalls is are better than Dragon Dance + Waterfall. Also, killing off something slower while behind a Substitute is preferable to letting your Substitute die for a Dragon Dance, as you can either set up or threaten the following switch-in while behind a Substitute.
Team Options
==========
Just like most Kingdra sets, this benefits greatly from entry hazards, as it often lacks the power, even with STAB and +1 Attack, to break through bulky attackers or walls. Sticky web is also a big asset, as this slows down grounded Scarfers to the point where they can be outsped at +1, which is a huge help if going for a sweep. Another helpful team option is to have something like Calm Mind Jirachi or Nasty Plot Celebi to set up on and threaten out physical walls Dragon Dance Kingdra will certainly bait in, such as Tangrowth. Also, a Steel-type is a good defensive partner, as they resist both of Kingdra's two weaknesses in Fairy and Dragon.
Other Options
############
A Choice Specs set can be quite a powerful cleaner, but it requires Rain Support to be at all effective. Rest with a Chesto berry can be put on the DD set, but this can be risky as you lose the safety provided by a Substitute or the coverage of Iron Head. An offensive Dragon Dance set with 3 three Attacks and Life Orb is possible, and can hit much harder than the Substitute + Dragon Dance set at the cost of survivability. An all-special Rain Dance set is possible, but the extra coverage move is not worth being walled by any specially bulky Pokemon like Umbreon. Finally, a support set is possible, with Scald to cripple physical attackers. However, low base HP and defenses are problematic, even with investment.
Checks & Counters
#############
**Florges**: As stated many times, Florges is a full stop for many of Kingdra's sets, being able to live any special hit or unboosted physical hit and OHKO back with Moonblast. The Dragon immunity also helps out Florges heavily.
**Bulky Waters**: Bulky Water-(add hyphen)types such as Suicune can take hits and phaze out Kingdra, even though Dragon STAB still can put a dent into these walls.
**Dedicated Special Walls**: Special-based sets are shut down by Assault Vest Snorlax, Umbreon and Porygon2, as even Rain-boosted Hydro Pump cannot kill these pokes Pokemon easily.
**Scarfed Dragons**: Choice Scarf Flygon or Hydreigon can also act as checks, as they outspeed all Kingdra sets under +2 Speed, so they can easily force out or kill Kingdra.
########
Back in Generation V, Kingdra was, as its name suggested, one of the kings of UU. With the transition to the XY era, Kingdra lost a bit of its luster, but it is still a powerful and versatile threat, with its few weaknesses and ability to double its Speed. Kingdra also received a couple of new toys, such as the ability to, after one turn of setup, produce a Sniper-boosted critical hit. This combined with the already existing Dragon Dance and rain sweeper sets makes Kingdra a very diverse Pokemon, and one that is difficult to counter. Unfortunately, Kingdra is far from perfect, as even at +1 Speed it is revenge killed by every other Choice Scarf Dragon-type in the tier, meaning setting up can be difficult. Also, because of the Fairy type, Kingdra's Dragon STAB is not nearly as safe as it was, and using Outrage is very dangerous. Nevertheless, Kingdra is still a powerful threat that can fill many different roles on a team.
Critdra
############
name: Critdra
move 1: Focus Energy
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 4: Agility
ability: Sniper
item: Scope Lens
evs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
=========
Ever since XY changed the critical hit mechanics, this has been Kingdra's new flagship set. While it lacks the Speed and sweeping capabilities of Kingdra's rain and Dragon Dance sets, it more than makes up for this with its wallbreaking ability. The reason for this is Focus Energy, the key move of this set. The reason for this is because you say "the reason for this" twice in a row After Kingdra sets up a Focus Energy, that boost to critical hit percentage combined with the Scope Lens produces a guaranteed critical hit on every attack. This boost, in combination with Sniper, will make Draco Meteor an absolutely devastating attack, easily 2HKOing the likes of Umbreon and specially defensive Forretress. Hydro Pump is the best choice for a secondary STAB, as it can hit Florges the hardest out of Kingdra's entire special movepool. However, if the odds of missing Hydro Pump are too great, then Surf is a workable alternative, just be aware that Surf does not 2HKO 252+ Florges with critical hits. The last move is given to Agility, as a Pokemon this powerful has no need for coverage moves. So, if you ever get two turns to set up, a Focus Energy + an Agility can lead to an easy sweep if your opponent lacks a special wall.
Set Details
=========
With the 1.5x boost it gives to critical hits, Sniper is the obvious choice for an ability here, as without it the set is much less functional and pretty much unviable. Alongside this boost, 252 EVs are put into Special Attack, to further boost the power of Draco Meteor. The rest are put into Speed, to Speed tie with neutral base 85s, such as opposing Critdra, Nidoking, and Heracross. And while a Timid nature would help with outrunning these threats, Modest is simply necessary, as that is what gives Hydro Pump and Draco Meteor that extra push that they need to finish off threats.
Usage Tips
=========
This Kingdra set places a lot of emphasis on proper prediction, because firing off a Draco Meteor into a Fairy-type and getting forced out is exactly what you don't want, as you just wasted two perfectly good turns. This is also true with Dragon resists, albeit less so because Kingdra 2HKOes most of them. Another thing you have to keep in mind when you use Critdra,(AC) is that,(RC) even though you invested 252 EVs and the nature into SAtk, Kingdra still only has a base of 95 in that stat, meaning that Draco Meteors and Hydro Pumps that are not criticals hits will do fairly middling damage. For example, without a critical hit, a Hydro Pump will do a paltry ~25% to max HP/max 252 HP / 252 SDef Florges with a Calm nature, an amount that can be easily wished off. Also, before Agility, Kingdra's base Speed of 85 is outsped by many things, including every single Dragon-type in the tier.
Team Options
==========
Substitute + Calm Mind Jirachi is an excellent partner for Kingdra, as it can come in and get a free sub on the Fairy-types that Kingdra lures in. Other Steel-types such as Cobalion or Metagross can come in for free, and attempt to threaten the remainder of the opponent's team. Entry hazards are also a big help for something like Critdra, which gives it the extra help it needs to take down dedicated special walls such as Umbreon, Slowking,(AC) or Florges. Therefore, Forretress and Froslass are good partners as they not only cover the Fairy weakness,(AC) but also have the ability to lay down Spikes (and SR Stealth Rock never use "SR" in Forretress's case).
Mixed Rain Sweeper
############
name: Mixed Rain Sweeper
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Draco Meteor
move 4: Waterfall
ability: Swift Swim
item: Life Orb
evs: 60 Atk / 252 SAtk / 196 Spe
nature: Mild
Moves
=========
This is the set that made Kingdra a top tier threat in Generations IV and V. The main move on this set is Rain Dance, which in combination with Swift Swim will double Kingdra's speed. This means that one move turns Kingdra from a relatively slow-ish attacker into an extremely threatening sweeper. And now in the rain, STAB Hydro Pumps will absolutely tear everything up, doing immense damage even to dedicated walls. Draco Meteor is a good choice for secondary STAB move, hitting the Water-type resists for strong 130 Base Power STAB. The last slot goes to Waterfall, providing a 100% accurate STAB attack, along with the rain boost and the ability to hit special walls on the physical side.
Set Details
=========
The EVs are chosen to outpace Scarf Mienshao in rain, along with the other base 105 Scarfers. The remainder are poured into Special Attack, with the leftovers put into Attack to boost the power of Waterfall. A Mild nature is also chosen,(RC) because Kingdra has no need for more speed and the special attacking side is more important than the physical side.
Usage Tips
=========
While setting up rain is usually Kingdra's first priority when running this set, preserving health is often very important, so taking out a weakened slower threat with an attacking move is usually preferable to setting up rain, because taking the hit in return is often worse,(RC) especially considering Kingdra has no Leftovers. You always have the choice to predict the opponent's switch and set up rain, but this can be dangerous. Also, when in rain, Hydro Pump is your most damaging attack, but also your least accurate, so Waterfall is recommended if the power is not needed.
Team Options
==========
Grass-(add hyphen) and Electric-types are good partners, because this as Kingdra's biggest threats is are bulky Waters Water-types, which are specially defensive enough to take Draco Meteors. Therefore, strong threats that hit those for super effective damage like Mega Manectric are effective teammates. Also, specially defensive Florges is coaxed out as well, so things like Substitute + Swords Dance Cobalion can come in and start setting up and attempt to take over the game. Substitute + Calm Mind Jirachi also works just as well. Also, just like the last set, good team utility from entry hazards is are very helpful, but even more so for a dedicated sweeper like this Kingdra. Team utility can also come in the form of rain setters, as this can save the turn of setting up.
Dragon Dance
############
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Outrage
move 4: Substitute / Iron Head
ability: Sniper
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
evs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
=========
Unlike the last two sets which were focused on hitting on the special side, this one is fully physical. The reason for this is Dragon Dance, a boosting move that not only buffs Kingdra's Speed, but also its physical Attack. If a Dragon Dance is able to be set up on the switch, Kingdra has the possibility to tear through the enemy team. STAB Waterfall after a Dragon Dance is a very powerful move, and it also has the added benefit of a chance to flinch odds. Outrage is also a strong STAB move, with greater power at the cost of locking yourself in. The last move is a toss-up-. Substitute is the most common choice, as it provides security and is a great move to use on a predicted switch. However, Iron Head is another very viable choice, as it 2HKOes Kingdra's old nemesis, Florges and also sports the good 30% flinch odds chance.
Set Details
=========
Leftovers are generally the best item for this set, as they not only recover off health lost from Substitutes, but they give much more survivability in general. However, Lum Berry is also a good choice on the Dragon Dance + 3 Attacks set, as it gives Kingdra more setup opportunities and makes Outrage confusion less of a problem. Unless you are using a rain team, Sniper is given the nod over Swift Swim to boost the potential rogue critical hit.(add space)The EVs are chosen to maximize attack, with an Adamant nature used to boost the attack further. Speed is boosted to the point where you can outspeed base 130s at +1, with the rest dumped in HP.
Usage Tips
=========
Substitute, if you have it, is usually the best choice if you are predicting a switch, or if you don’t think the opponent can break it, as it gives a free opportunity to set(add space)up "set up" is the verb while "setup" is an adjective without fear of crits critical hits, statuses,(AC) or super effective hits. Behind a Substitute, choosing whether or not to use Dragon Dance can be difficult. For example, if they have a scarfed Flygon waiting in the wings, DDing using Dragon Dance is pretty futile because you'll still be forced out/ or killed. So, in a situation like this, 2 two Waterfalls is are better than Dragon Dance + Waterfall. Also, killing off something slower while behind a Substitute is preferable to letting your Substitute die for a Dragon Dance, as you can either set up or threaten the following switch-in while behind a Substitute.
Team Options
==========
Just like most Kingdra sets, this benefits greatly from entry hazards, as it often lacks the power, even with STAB and +1 Attack, to break through bulky attackers or walls. Sticky web is also a big asset, as this slows down grounded Scarfers to the point where they can be outsped at +1, which is a huge help if going for a sweep. Another helpful team option is to have something like Calm Mind Jirachi or Nasty Plot Celebi to set up on and threaten out physical walls Dragon Dance Kingdra will certainly bait in, such as Tangrowth. Also, a Steel-type is a good defensive partner, as they resist both of Kingdra's two weaknesses in Fairy and Dragon.
Other Options
############
A Choice Specs set can be quite a powerful cleaner, but it requires Rain Support to be at all effective. Rest with a Chesto berry can be put on the DD set, but this can be risky as you lose the safety provided by a Substitute or the coverage of Iron Head. An offensive Dragon Dance set with 3 three Attacks and Life Orb is possible, and can hit much harder than the Substitute + Dragon Dance set at the cost of survivability. An all-special Rain Dance set is possible, but the extra coverage move is not worth being walled by any specially bulky Pokemon like Umbreon. Finally, a support set is possible, with Scald to cripple physical attackers. However, low base HP and defenses are problematic, even with investment.
Checks & Counters
#############
**Florges**: As stated many times, Florges is a full stop for many of Kingdra's sets, being able to live any special hit or unboosted physical hit and OHKO back with Moonblast. The Dragon immunity also helps out Florges heavily.
**Bulky Waters**: Bulky Water-(add hyphen)types such as Suicune can take hits and phaze out Kingdra, even though Dragon STAB still can put a dent into these walls.
**Dedicated Special Walls**: Special-based sets are shut down by Assault Vest Snorlax, Umbreon and Porygon2, as even Rain-boosted Hydro Pump cannot kill these pokes Pokemon easily.
**Scarfed Dragons**: Choice Scarf Flygon or Hydreigon can also act as checks, as they outspeed all Kingdra sets under +2 Speed, so they can easily force out or kill Kingdra.
Ther were a few things missed here such as not writing out move names (DD is not acceptable!).
President Shinra you should get a GPer too look over this
hi
gp 2/2
Overview
########
Back in Generation V, Kingdra was, as its name suggested, one of the kings of UU.With the transition to the XY era,Though Kingdra losis not a bit ofs strong as its luster, but was in B/W, it is still a powerful and versatile threat, withas its has few weaknesses and the ability to double its Speed. Kingdra also received a couple of new toys, such as the ability to, after one turn of setup, produce a Sniper-boosted critical hit after one turn of setting up. This, when combined with the already existing Dragon Dance and rain sweeper sets makes Kingdra a very diverse Pokemon, and one that is difficult to counter. Unfortunately, Kingdra is far from perfect, as even at +1 Speed, it is revenge killed by every other Choice Scarf Dragon-type in the tier, meaning setting up can be difficult. Also, because of the Fairy -type, Kingdra's Dragon STAB is not nearly as safpammable as it was, and using Outrage is very dangerousrisky. Nevertheless, Kingdra is still a powerful threat that can fill many different roles on a team.
Critdra
############
name: Critdra
move 1: Focus Energy
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 4: Agility
ability: Sniper
item: Scope Lens
evs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
=========
Ever since XY changed the critical hit mechanics, this has been Kingdra's new flagship set. While it lacks the Speed and sweeping capabilities of Kingdra's rain and Dragon Dance sets, it more than makes up for this with its wallbreaking ability. The reason for this is Focus Energy, the key move of this set. The reason for this is because after Kingdra setsup a Focus Energy up, that boost toits critical hit percentage combined with the Scope Lens produces a guaranteed critical hit on every attack. This boost, in combination with Sniper, will make Draco Meteor an absolutely devastating attack, easily 2HKOing the likes of Umbreon and specially defensive Forretress. Hydro Pump is the best choice for a secondary STAB, as it can hit Florges the hardest out of Kingdra's entire special movepool. However, if the odds of missing Hydro Pump are too great, then Surf is a workable alternative, just be aware that Surf does not 2HKO Calm 252+ SDef Florges with critical hits. The last move is given to Agility, as a Pokemon this powerful has no need for coverage moves. So, if you ever get two turns to set up, a Focus Energy +with an Agility can lead to an easy sweep if your opponent lacks a special wall.
Set Details
=========
With the 1.5x boost it gives to critical hits, Sniper is the obvious choice for an ability here, as without it, the set is much less functional andpretty muchquite unviable. Alongside this boost, 252 EVs are put into Special Attack, to further boost the power of Draco Meteor. The rest are put into Speed, to Speed tie with neutral base 85s, such as opposing CritKingdra, Nidoking, and Heracross. And while a Timid nature would help with outrunning these threats, Modest is simply necessary, as that is what gives Hydro Pump and Draco Meteor that extra push that they need to finish off threats.
Usage Tips
=========
This Kingdra set places a lot of emphasis on proper prediction, because firing off a Draco Meteor into a Fairy-type and getting forced out is exactly what you don't want, as you just wasted two perfectly good turns. This is also true with Dragon resists, albeit less so because Kingdra 2HKOes most of them. Another thing you have to keep in mind when you useCritKingdra is that, even though you invested 252 EVs and the nature into SAtk, Kingdra still only has a base of 95 in that statSpecial Attack, meaning that Draco Meteors and Hydro Pumps that are not critical hits will do fairly middling damage. For example, without a critical, a Hydro Pump will do a paltry ~25% to max HP/max SDef Florges, an amount that can be easily wished off. Also, before Agility, Kingdra's base speed of 85 is outsped by many things, including every single Dragon-type in the tier.
Team Options
==========
SubCM Jirachi is an excellent partner for Kingdra, as it can come in and get a freesubSubstitute on the fFairy-types that Kingdra lures in. Other sSteel-types such as Cobalion or Metagross can come in for free, and attempt to threaten the remainder of the opponent's team. Entry hazards are also a big help for something like Critsuch as Kingdra, which gives it the extra help it needs to take down dedicated special walls such as Umbreon, Slowking or Florges. Therefore, Forretress and Froslass are good as they not only cover the Fairy weakness but also have the ability to lay down Spikes (and Stealth Rock in Forretress's case).
Mixed Rain Sweeper
############
name: Mixed Rain Sweeper
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Draco Meteor
move 4: Waterfall
ability: Swift Swim
item: Life Orb
evs: 60 Atk / 252 SAtk / 196 Spe
nature: Mild
Moves
=========
This is the set that made Kingdra a top tier threat in Generations IV and V. The main move on this set is Rain Dance, which in combination with Swift Swim will, doubles Kingdra's speed. This means that one move turns Kingdra from a slow-ishightly slow attacker into an extremely threatening sweeper. And now in the rain, STAB Hydro Pumps will absolutely tear everything upapart, doealing immense damage even to dedicated walls. Draco Meteor is a good choice for secondary STAB, hitting the wWater-type resists for strong 130 Base Power STAB. The last slot goes to Waterfall, providing a 100% accurate STAB attack, along with the rain boost and the ability to hit special walls on the physical side.
Set Details
=========
The EVs are chosen to outpace Scarf Mienshao in rain, along with the other base 105 Scarfers. The remainder are poured into SAtk, with the leftovers put into Attack to boost the power of Waterfall. A Mild Nature is also chosen, because Kingdra has no need for more speed and the special attacking side is more important than the physical side.
Usage Tips
=========
While setting up rain is usually Kingdra's first priority when running this set, preserving health is often very important, so taking out a weakened slower threat with an attacking move is usually preferable to setting up rain, because taking the hit in return is often worse, especially considering Kingdra has no Leftovers. You always have the choice to predict the opponent's switch and set up rain, but this can be dangerous. Also, when in rain, Hydro Pump is your most damaging attack, but also your least accurate, so Waterfall is recommended if the power is not needed.
Team Options
==========
Grass and Electric-types are good partners, because this Kingdra's biggest threat iss are bulky Waters which are specially defensive enough to take Draco Meteors. Therefore, strong threats that hit those for super effective likdamage such as Mega Manectric are effective teammates. Also, specially defensive Florges is coaxed out as well, so things like Sub + SD Cobalion can come in and start setting up and attempt to take over the game. Sub+CM Jirachi also works just as well. Also, just like the last set, good team utility from entry hazards is very helpful, but even more so for a dedicated sweeper like this Kingdra. Team utility can also come in the form of rain setters, as this can save the turn of setting up.
Dragon Dance
############
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Outrage
move 4: Substitute / Iron Head
ability: Sniper
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
evs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
=========
Unlike the last two sets which were focused on hitting on the special side, this one is fully physical. The reason for this is Dragon Dance, a boosting move that not only buffs Kingdra's speed, but also its physical attack. If a Dragon Dance is able to be set up on the switch, Kingdra has the possibility to tear through the enemy team. STAB Waterfall after a Dragon Dance is a very powerful move, and it also has the added benefit of being able to flinch the oddspponent. Outrage is also a strong STAB move, with greater power at the cost of locking yourself in. The last move is a toss-up-; Substitute is the most common choice, as it provides security and is a great move to use on a predicted switch. However, Iron Head is another very viable choice, as it 2HKOes Kingdra's old nemesis, Florges and also sports the good 30% flinch odds.
Set Details
=========
Leftovers are generally the best item for this set, as they not only recover off health lost from Substitutes, but they give much more survivability in general. However, Lum Berry is also a good choice on the DD + 3 Attacks set, as it gives Kingdra more setup opportunities and makes Outrage confusion less of a problem. Unless you are using a rain team, Sniper is given the nod over Swift Swim to boost the potentialrogue critical hit. The EVs are chosen to maximize aAttack, with an Adamant nature used to boost the aits Attack further. Speed is boosted to the point where you can outspeed Base 130s at +1, with the rest dumped in HP.
Usage Tips
=========
Substitute, if you have it, is usually the best choice if you are predicting a switch, or if you don’t think the opponent can break it, as it gives a free opportunity to set up without fear of critical hits, statuses or super effective hits. Behind a sSubstitute, choosing whether or not to use Dragon Dance can be difficult. For example, if they have a sScarfed Flygon waiting in the wings, DDingusing Dragon Dance is pretty futile because you'll still be forced out/kill or KOed. So, in a situation like this, 2 Waterfalls isare better than DD + Waterfall. Also, killKOing off something slower while behind a Substitute is preferable to letting your Substitute die for a Dragon Dance, as you can either set up or threaten the following switch-in while behind a Sub.
Team Options
==========
Just like most Kingdra sets, this benefits greatly from entry hazards, as it often lacks the power, even with STAB and +1, to break through bulky attackers or walls. StickywWeb is also a big asset, as this slows down grounded Scarfers to the point where they can be outsped at +1, which is a huge help if going for a sweep. Another helpful team option is to have something like Calm Mind Jirachi or Nasty Plot Celebi to set up on and threaten out physical walls DD Kingdra will certainly bait in out, such as Tangrowth. Also, a sSteel-type is a good defensive partner, as they resist both of Kingdra's two weaknesses in Fairy and Dragon.
Other Options
############
A Choice Specs set can be quite a powerful cleaner, but it requiresRrain Ssupport to be at all effective. Rest with a Chesto bBerry can be put on the Dragon Dance set, but this can be risky as you lose the safety provided by a Substitute or the coverage of Iron Head. An offensive Dragon Dance set with 3 Attacks and LO is possible, and can hit much harder than the Sub + DD set at the cost of survivability. An all-completely special Rain Dance set is possible, but the extra coverage move is not worth being walled by any specially bulky pPokemon likesuch as Umbreon. Finally, a support set is possible, with Scald to cripple physical attackers. However, Kingdra's low base HP and defenses are problematic, even with investment.
Checks & Counters
#############
**Florges**: As stated many times, Florges is a full stop for many of Kingdra's sets, being able to live any special hit or unboosted physical hit and OHKO back with Moonblast. The Dragon immunity also helps out Florges heavily.
**Bulky Waters**: Bulky Water -types such as Suicune can take hits and phaze out Kingdra, even though Dragon STAB still can put a dent into these walls.
**Dedicated Special Walls**: Special-ly based sets are shut down by Assault Vest Snorlax, Umbreon, and Porygon2, as even Rain-boosted Hydro Pump cannot kill these pokes easily.
**Scarfed Dragons**: Choice Scarf Flygon or Hydreigon can also act as checks, as they outspeed all Kingdra sets under +2 Speed, so they can easily force out orkillKO Kingdra.
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Back in Generation V, Kingdra was, as its name suggested, one of the kings of UU.
Critdra
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name: Critdra
move 1: Focus Energy
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 4: Agility
ability: Sniper
item: Scope Lens
evs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
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Ever since XY changed the critical hit mechanics, this has been Kingdra's new flagship set. While it lacks the Speed and sweeping capabilities of Kingdra's rain and Dragon Dance sets, it more than makes up for this with its wallbreaking ability. The reason for this is Focus Energy, the key move of this set. The reason for this is because after Kingdra sets
Set Details
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With the 1.5x boost it gives to critical hits, Sniper is the obvious choice for an ability here, as without it, the set is much less functional and
Usage Tips
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This Kingdra set places a lot of emphasis on proper prediction, because firing off a Draco Meteor into a Fairy-type and getting forced out is exactly what you don't want, as you just wasted two perfectly good turns. This is also true with Dragon resists, albeit less so because Kingdra 2HKOes most of them. Another thing you have to keep in mind when you use
Team Options
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SubCM Jirachi is an excellent partner for Kingdra, as it can come in and get a free
Mixed Rain Sweeper
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name: Mixed Rain Sweeper
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Draco Meteor
move 4: Waterfall
ability: Swift Swim
item: Life Orb
evs: 60 Atk / 252 SAtk / 196 Spe
nature: Mild
Moves
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This is the set that made Kingdra a top tier threat in Generations IV and V. The main move on this set is Rain Dance, which in combination with Swift Swim
Set Details
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The EVs are chosen to outpace Scarf Mienshao in rain, along with the other base 105 Scarfers. The remainder are poured into SAtk, with the leftovers put into Attack to boost the power of Waterfall. A Mild Nature is also chosen, because Kingdra has no need for more speed and the special attacking side is more important than the physical side.
Usage Tips
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While setting up rain is usually Kingdra's first priority when running this set, preserving health is often very important, so taking out a weakened slower threat with an attacking move is usually preferable to setting up rain, because taking the hit in return is often worse, especially considering Kingdra has no Leftovers. You always have the choice to predict the opponent's switch and set up rain, but this can be dangerous. Also, when in rain, Hydro Pump is your most damaging attack, but also your least accurate, so Waterfall is recommended if the power is not needed.
Team Options
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Grass and Electric-types are good partners, because this Kingdra's biggest threat
Dragon Dance
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name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Outrage
move 4: Substitute / Iron Head
ability: Sniper
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
evs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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Unlike the last two sets which were focused on hitting on the special side, this one is fully physical. The reason for this is Dragon Dance, a boosting move that not only buffs Kingdra's speed, but also its physical attack. If a Dragon Dance is able to be set up on the switch, Kingdra has the possibility to tear through the enemy team. STAB Waterfall after a Dragon Dance is a very powerful move, and it also has the added benefit of being able to flinch the o
Set Details
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Leftovers are generally the best item for this set, as they not only recover off health lost from Substitutes, but they give much more survivability in general. However, Lum Berry is also a good choice on the DD + 3 Attacks set, as it gives Kingdra more setup opportunities and makes Outrage confusion less of a problem. Unless you are using a rain team, Sniper is given the nod over Swift Swim to boost the potential
Usage Tips
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Substitute, if you have it, is usually the best choice if you are predicting a switch, or if you don’t think the opponent can break it, as it gives a free opportunity to set up without fear of critical hits, status
Team Options
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Just like most Kingdra sets, this benefits greatly from entry hazards, as it often lacks the power, even with STAB and +1, to break through bulky attackers or walls. Sticky
Other Options
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A Choice Specs set can be quite a powerful cleaner, but it requires
Checks & Counters
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**Florges**: As stated many times, Florges is a full stop for many of Kingdra's sets, being able to live any special hit or unboosted physical hit and OHKO back with Moonblast. The Dragon immunity also helps out Florges heavily.
**Bulky Waters**: Bulky Water -types such as Suicune can take hits and phaze out Kingdra, even though Dragon STAB still can put a dent into these walls.
**Dedicated Special Walls**: Special
**Scarfed Dragons**: Choice Scarf Flygon or Hydreigon can also act as checks, as they outspeed all Kingdra sets under +2 Speed, so they can easily force out or
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Alright, so I'm away all of this month, but when I have internet I will try to make these changes (probably will have it where I'm staying, no guarantees though).
- Status