**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 7-8 points
**Overview**: Kingdra is a solid wallbreaker and sweeper due to its great offensive STAB combination. Though primarily drafted as a rain attacker, it has the potential to fit onto hyper offense and dual screens teams with the ability to set up with Dragon Dance or Focus Energy + Sniper to become even stronger. Kingdra's shortcomings include how it is very setup reliant, requiring rain support or dual screens to reach its full potential due to its relatively average stat spread and middling Speed otherwise. Other shortcomings include its vulnerability to entry hazards, reduced coverage outside of its STAB moves, and lack of defensive utility options. That said, those who are building rain-based draft teams or hyper offense should consider Kingdra for the traits it offers.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Rain Wallbreaker**: Under rain, Kingdra outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame and a good amount of the boosted metagame to boot. Utilizing its ferocious STAB combination and high-base power attacks, Kingdra can either punch holes into the opposing team for the benefit of its teammates or clean up the game itself with its boosted attacks. Furthermore, it has high-power attacks, both physically and specially, which can make walling it extra difficult, and it possesses Flip Turn to escape the matchups that might give it trouble.
**Setup Sweeper**: With Dragon Dance, Kingdra can make itself both stronger and faster, especially under rain, at which point a +1 Swift Swim Kingdra will outrun pretty much anything. It can also utilize the combination of Sniper + Scope Lens or Razor Claw + Focus Energy to launch constant boosted critical hits on the opponent if given the chance to set up. This is especially dangerous with Draco Meteor, which becomes a no-drawback special attack with increased power thanks to Sniper. Furthermore, it packs Agility in situations where Crit-Dra, as it is infamously named, needs to outspeed opposing offense.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, Outrage, Hydro Pump, Surf, Scald, Liquidation, Wave Crash, Waterfall, Flip Turn
**Setup Moves**: Dragon Dance, Agility, Focus Energy
**Utility Moves**: Clear Smog, Substitute
**Coverage**: Tera Blast, Flash Cannon, Ice Beam, Iron Head, Hurricane.
Niche Moves
========
**Yawn**: Kingdra should primarily stick with attacking; however, Yawn can be used on a predicted switch to preserve momentum, as the target risks falling asleep or being forced out.
**Scale Shot**: While Kingdra prefers to boost with either Dragon Dance or Agility, Scale Shot can be situationally useful in scenarios whereit Kingdra wants to boost its Speed without disruption or when it wants a Dragon-type attack that doesn’t lock it into Outrage.
**Rain Dance**: Kingdra can set up itself with Rain Dance as a last resort in cases where the weather setter has been KOed by an opponent or when predicting a switch in from an opposing weather setter.
**Weather Ball**: Compared to Surf, Weather Ball is slightly stronger under rain and can allow for extra power without having to risk the accuracy of Hydro Pump.
Common Items
========
**Choice Specs / Choice Band**: Kingdra is a fantastic Choice Specs user because of its high-power STAB attacks and coverage options, as well as being able to pivot out with Flip Turn to preserve momentum. It can also utilize Choice Band to catch opponents expecting a special set with a powerful Wave Crash or Outrage, with the additional bonus of a stronger Flip Turn.
**Damage-boosting items**: Life Orb, Mystic Water, and Dragon Fang can be utilized to boost the strength of Kingdra's attacks without locking it into a specific move.
Niche Items
========
**Lum Berry**: When setting up with Dragon Dance, this can prevent status from afflicting Kingdra and also free Kingdra from Outrage confusion.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Kingdra generally prefers having items that boost its offensive capabilities, as it is relatively average stat-wise. However, Heavy-Duty Boots can help Kingdra avoid getting worn down from hazards in a longer game since it is susceptible to them otherwise.
**Resistance Berries**: To be used for enabling set up or to deny revenge killing.
**Razor Claw / Scope Lens**: To be used only on Crit-Dra, but when utilized, it can allow for constant critical hits on Kingdra's attacks. This allows it to be ferociously strong, as Dragon / Water coverage is very hard to deal with.
**Choice Scarf**: Only to be used when trying to outspeed a specific target that cannot be done otherwise with Swift Swim alone while allowing for instant revenge killing. This would include Dragapult after a Dragon Dance and Iron Crown after Agility.
Tera
========
Kingdra usually shouldn't be your primary Tera Captain, as you generally want to enable stronger captains on your team. However, Kingdra works as an attractive secondary Tera Captain, since with Terastallization, it can boost either its Dragon or Water STAB moves to even more frightening levels. Terastallization can also give Kingdra Tera Blast as a coverage move to enable it to hit targets for super effective coverage that it cannot hit otherwise. Tera Water makes its water attacks even stronger under rain and can allow Kingdra to brute force its way past things that might otherwise withstand it. It can also utilize defensive Tera types such as Steel and Fairy to make setting up easier. Other Tera types such as Poison or Grass can be utilized to get past specific match ups.
Draft Strategy
========
Kingdra should be drafted with the intention of it helping a rain or hyper offense draft, as Kingdra by itself lacks the stats to be a team's sole offensive Pokemon. To get the most out of Kingdra, it requires good partners that can draw its full potential and overcome its shortcomings that might prevent it from being used otherwise.
**Rain Setters**: Kingdra wants rain to excel and, as such, Pelipper is a fantastic rain-setting teammate that can heal itself with Roost and pivot with U-turn. That said, Politoed can work as a cheaper option if you want to draft more expensive Pokemon. Klefki and Thundurus can also function as rain setters, as they have priority Rain Dance due to Prankster though it is recommended to have Drizzle to enable Kingdra to its fullest.
**Other Offensive Wallbreakers**: Kingdra works best as an additional form of offense, and as such, wants to be paired alongside threatening sweepers and wallbreakers. Urshifu-R, Rillaboom, and Zapdos are fantastic partners since they can either punch holes for Kingdra or benefit from the holes punched into the opposing team by Kingdra itself. Tornadus-T and Archaludon are noteworthy as great partners since they excel under the rain and can help make a rain draft more dangerous.
**Dual Screens Setters**: Dual screens support can help Kingdra set up safely and also makes revenge killing Kingdra a harder prospect. Jirachi, Sandy Shocks, and Azelf are a few good choices to give as much support as possible for Kingdra.
**Fairy-type Checks**: Kingdra is weak to fairy attacks, so it prefers having partners that can switch into these attacks such as Gholdengo, Iron Crown, and Amoonguss.
**Entry Hazard Control**: Kingdra greatly prefers the existence of entry hazards to help wear down its checks to make itself and its teammates more potent offensively. Good setters of hazards include Deoxys-S and Iron Treads, the latter of which can also remove hazards with Rapid Spin while the former denies them with Taunt. Glimmora makes for a fantastic partner since it can set all hazards, including Toxic Spikes, and potentially remove opposing hazards with Mortal Spin.
Checks and Counters
========
**Water-Immune/ -Resistant Pokemon**: Pokemon that are immune to water attacks such as Ogerpon-W and Clodsire can really ruin Kingdra's day since it wants to use its rain-boosted Water-type attacks most of the time. Primarina and Empoleon are particularly bothersome, as they are bulky water types that do not fear either of Kingdra's STAB moves or any of its coverage, with the former being immune to Dragon.
**Entry Hazards and Chip Damage**: Since Kingdra lacks recovery and is vulnerable to all entry hazards, it can be worn down over the course of a battle and denied the chance to wallbreak. Self-chip damage from the likes of Wave Crash and Life Orb can accelerate this. Sticky Web is also annoying, as it can prevent Kingdra from getting the crucial Speed advantage even under rain.
**Priority**: Kingdra lacks priority of its own and can be revenge killed by strong priority attacks from the likes of Dragonite, Raging Bolt, and Rillaboom.
**Opposing Weather**: Kingdra greatly prefers the rain to be effective, and as such, it can be accounted for with opposing weather that removes its Swift Swim ability. Alolan Ninetales is threatening since it is immune to Dragon and will instantly threaten Kingdra out with Freeze Dry while the other Ninetales can weaken its water attacks with Drought.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/patar136.571123/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theuncultured.629845/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
**Price Range**: 7-8 points
**Overview**: Kingdra is a solid wallbreaker and sweeper due to its great offensive STAB combination. Though primarily drafted as a rain attacker, it has the potential to fit onto hyper offense and dual screens teams with the ability to set up with Dragon Dance or Focus Energy + Sniper to become even stronger. Kingdra's shortcomings include how it is very setup reliant, requiring rain support or dual screens to reach its full potential due to its relatively average stat spread and middling Speed otherwise. Other shortcomings include its vulnerability to entry hazards, reduced coverage outside of its STAB moves, and lack of defensive utility options. That said, those who are building rain-based draft teams or hyper offense should consider Kingdra for the traits it offers.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Rain Wallbreaker**: Under rain, Kingdra outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame and a good amount of the boosted metagame to boot. Utilizing its ferocious STAB combination and high-base power attacks, Kingdra can either punch holes into the opposing team for the benefit of its teammates or clean up the game itself with its boosted attacks. Furthermore, it has high-power attacks, both physically and specially, which can make walling it extra difficult, and it possesses Flip Turn to escape the matchups that might give it trouble.
**Setup Sweeper**: With Dragon Dance, Kingdra can make itself both stronger and faster, especially under rain, at which point a +1 Swift Swim Kingdra will outrun pretty much anything. It can also utilize the combination of Sniper + Scope Lens or Razor Claw + Focus Energy to launch constant boosted critical hits on the opponent if given the chance to set up. This is especially dangerous with Draco Meteor, which becomes a no-drawback special attack with increased power thanks to Sniper. Furthermore, it packs Agility in situations where Crit-Dra, as it is infamously named, needs to outspeed opposing offense.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, Outrage, Hydro Pump, Surf, Scald, Liquidation, Wave Crash, Waterfall, Flip Turn
**Setup Moves**: Dragon Dance, Agility, Focus Energy
**Utility Moves**: Clear Smog, Substitute
**Coverage**: Tera Blast, Flash Cannon, Ice Beam, Iron Head, Hurricane.
Niche Moves
========
**Yawn**: Kingdra should primarily stick with attacking; however, Yawn can be used on a predicted switch to preserve momentum, as the target risks falling asleep or being forced out.
**Scale Shot**: While Kingdra prefers to boost with either Dragon Dance or Agility, Scale Shot can be situationally useful in scenarios where
**Rain Dance**: Kingdra can set up itself with Rain Dance as a last resort in cases where the weather setter has been KOed by an opponent or when predicting a switch in from an opposing weather setter.
**Weather Ball**: Compared to Surf, Weather Ball is slightly stronger under rain and can allow for extra power without having to risk the accuracy of Hydro Pump.
Common Items
========
**Choice Specs / Choice Band**: Kingdra is a fantastic Choice Specs user because of its high-power STAB attacks and coverage options, as well as being able to pivot out with Flip Turn to preserve momentum. It can also utilize Choice Band to catch opponents expecting a special set with a powerful Wave Crash or Outrage, with the additional bonus of a stronger Flip Turn.
**Damage-boosting items**: Life Orb, Mystic Water, and Dragon Fang can be utilized to boost the strength of Kingdra's attacks without locking it into a specific move.
Niche Items
========
**Lum Berry**: When setting up with Dragon Dance, this can prevent status from afflicting Kingdra and also free Kingdra from Outrage confusion.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Kingdra generally prefers having items that boost its offensive capabilities, as it is relatively average stat-wise. However, Heavy-Duty Boots can help Kingdra avoid getting worn down from hazards in a longer game since it is susceptible to them otherwise.
**Resistance Berries**: To be used for enabling set up or to deny revenge killing.
**Razor Claw / Scope Lens**: To be used only on Crit-Dra, but when utilized, it can allow for constant critical hits on Kingdra's attacks. This allows it to be ferociously strong, as Dragon / Water coverage is very hard to deal with.
**Choice Scarf**: Only to be used when trying to outspeed a specific target that cannot be done otherwise with Swift Swim alone while allowing for instant revenge killing. This would include Dragapult after a Dragon Dance and Iron Crown after Agility.
Tera
========
Kingdra usually shouldn't be your primary Tera Captain, as you generally want to enable stronger captains on your team. However, Kingdra works as an attractive secondary Tera Captain, since with Terastallization, it can boost either its Dragon or Water STAB moves to even more frightening levels. Terastallization can also give Kingdra Tera Blast as a coverage move to enable it to hit targets for super effective coverage that it cannot hit otherwise. Tera Water makes its water attacks even stronger under rain and can allow Kingdra to brute force its way past things that might otherwise withstand it. It can also utilize defensive Tera types such as Steel and Fairy to make setting up easier. Other Tera types such as Poison or Grass can be utilized to get past specific match ups.
Draft Strategy
========
Kingdra should be drafted with the intention of it helping a rain or hyper offense draft, as Kingdra by itself lacks the stats to be a team's sole offensive Pokemon. To get the most out of Kingdra, it requires good partners that can draw its full potential and overcome its shortcomings that might prevent it from being used otherwise.
**Rain Setters**: Kingdra wants rain to excel and, as such, Pelipper is a fantastic rain-setting teammate that can heal itself with Roost and pivot with U-turn. That said, Politoed can work as a cheaper option if you want to draft more expensive Pokemon. Klefki and Thundurus can also function as rain setters, as they have priority Rain Dance due to Prankster though it is recommended to have Drizzle to enable Kingdra to its fullest.
**Other Offensive Wallbreakers**: Kingdra works best as an additional form of offense, and as such, wants to be paired alongside threatening sweepers and wallbreakers. Urshifu-R, Rillaboom, and Zapdos are fantastic partners since they can either punch holes for Kingdra or benefit from the holes punched into the opposing team by Kingdra itself. Tornadus-T and Archaludon are noteworthy as great partners since they excel under the rain and can help make a rain draft more dangerous.
**Dual Screens Setters**: Dual screens support can help Kingdra set up safely and also makes revenge killing Kingdra a harder prospect. Jirachi, Sandy Shocks, and Azelf are a few good choices to give as much support as possible for Kingdra.
**Fairy-type Checks**: Kingdra is weak to fairy attacks, so it prefers having partners that can switch into these attacks such as Gholdengo, Iron Crown, and Amoonguss.
**Entry Hazard Control**: Kingdra greatly prefers the existence of entry hazards to help wear down its checks to make itself and its teammates more potent offensively. Good setters of hazards include Deoxys-S and Iron Treads, the latter of which can also remove hazards with Rapid Spin while the former denies them with Taunt. Glimmora makes for a fantastic partner since it can set all hazards, including Toxic Spikes, and potentially remove opposing hazards with Mortal Spin.
Checks and Counters
========
**Water-Immune/ -Resistant Pokemon**: Pokemon that are immune to water attacks such as Ogerpon-W and Clodsire can really ruin Kingdra's day since it wants to use its rain-boosted Water-type attacks most of the time. Primarina and Empoleon are particularly bothersome, as they are bulky water types that do not fear either of Kingdra's STAB moves or any of its coverage, with the former being immune to Dragon.
**Entry Hazards and Chip Damage**: Since Kingdra lacks recovery and is vulnerable to all entry hazards, it can be worn down over the course of a battle and denied the chance to wallbreak. Self-chip damage from the likes of Wave Crash and Life Orb can accelerate this. Sticky Web is also annoying, as it can prevent Kingdra from getting the crucial Speed advantage even under rain.
**Priority**: Kingdra lacks priority of its own and can be revenge killed by strong priority attacks from the likes of Dragonite, Raging Bolt, and Rillaboom.
**Opposing Weather**: Kingdra greatly prefers the rain to be effective, and as such, it can be accounted for with opposing weather that removes its Swift Swim ability. Alolan Ninetales is threatening since it is immune to Dragon and will instantly threaten Kingdra out with Freeze Dry while the other Ninetales can weaken its water attacks with Drought.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/patar136.571123/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theuncultured.629845/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
Last edited:
