[OVERVIEW]
Despite an unimpressive spread of base stats, Kingdra is a menace if properly supported in rain. Its two STAB moves threaten every common Pokemon for neutral damage save Ferrothorn, and when boosted by both rain and Life Orb, its Special Attack starts to pack quite a punch, even when using spread Water-type attacks. Because none of Kingdra's standard attacking moves have 100% accuracy, it will inevitably lose games that you would have won had its attacks connected. Despite this, Kingdra remains one of the most dangerous Pokemon in the metagame if not properly checked.
[SET]
Rain Sweeper (Kingdra) @ Life Orb / Lum Berry
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Muddy Water
- Substitute
- Protect
[SET COMMENTS]
* STAB Draco Meteor deals significant damage to everything that does not resist it.
* Muddy Water in rain is capable of 2HKOing bulky targets it hits for neutral damage such as Metagross.
* Substitute lets Kingdra protect itself from status moves, most notably Thunder Wave from Thundurus and Spore from Amoonguss.
* Life Orb helps offset Kingdra’s paltry Special Attack, while Lum Berry ensures it can set up a Substitute in front of Amoonguss and Thundurus.
Other Options
========
* Hydro Pump gives Kingdra a significantly stronger Water-type attacking move.
* Disable can win the mirror matchup against opposing Kingdra and prevent Amoonguss from using Spore.
* Choice Scarf provides Kingdra viability outside of rain, letting it catch Latios and Hydreigon unaware. This also ensures that Kingdra wins the mirror matchup.
Common Partners
========
* Politoed is all but required in order to set rain to activate Kingdra's ability and bolster its damage.
* Amoonguss can draw threatening attacks or status to itself.
* A Lightning Rod user can be run to redirect Thundurus's Thunder Wave to itself, or Kingdra can be paired with a Pokemon capable of quickly wiping Thundurus off the board, such as Landorus-T or Terrakion.
Checks and Counters
========
* Latios can OHKO Kingdra at -2 Special Attack, which Kingdra fails to do in return.
* Snarl Suicune has the natural bulk to not be threatened by Kingdra and can minimize its damage output.
* Amoonguss does not face KO pressure from the majority of Pokemon that encompass standard rain teams—Kingdra, Politoed, Thundurus—and can often freely use Spore against Kingdra and its partners.
* Cresselia also cannot be quickly dispatched by Kingdra and its partners and can use Trick Room or Sunny Day to nullify it as a threat.
* Thundurus neuters non-Lum Berry Kingdra sets with Thunder Wave, removing one of its most valuable assets and making its already inconsistent moves even more so.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kenan.51503/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/radio-free-c-side.619634/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/waffledogefern.712558/
Despite an unimpressive spread of base stats, Kingdra is a menace if properly supported in rain. Its two STAB moves threaten every common Pokemon for neutral damage save Ferrothorn, and when boosted by both rain and Life Orb, its Special Attack starts to pack quite a punch, even when using spread Water-type attacks. Because none of Kingdra's standard attacking moves have 100% accuracy, it will inevitably lose games that you would have won had its attacks connected. Despite this, Kingdra remains one of the most dangerous Pokemon in the metagame if not properly checked.
[SET]
Rain Sweeper (Kingdra) @ Life Orb / Lum Berry
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Muddy Water
- Substitute
- Protect
[SET COMMENTS]
* STAB Draco Meteor deals significant damage to everything that does not resist it.
* Muddy Water in rain is capable of 2HKOing bulky targets it hits for neutral damage such as Metagross.
* Substitute lets Kingdra protect itself from status moves, most notably Thunder Wave from Thundurus and Spore from Amoonguss.
* Life Orb helps offset Kingdra’s paltry Special Attack, while Lum Berry ensures it can set up a Substitute in front of Amoonguss and Thundurus.
Other Options
========
* Hydro Pump gives Kingdra a significantly stronger Water-type attacking move.
* Disable can win the mirror matchup against opposing Kingdra and prevent Amoonguss from using Spore.
* Choice Scarf provides Kingdra viability outside of rain, letting it catch Latios and Hydreigon unaware. This also ensures that Kingdra wins the mirror matchup.
Common Partners
========
* Politoed is all but required in order to set rain to activate Kingdra's ability and bolster its damage.
* Amoonguss can draw threatening attacks or status to itself.
* A Lightning Rod user can be run to redirect Thundurus's Thunder Wave to itself, or Kingdra can be paired with a Pokemon capable of quickly wiping Thundurus off the board, such as Landorus-T or Terrakion.
Checks and Counters
========
* Latios can OHKO Kingdra at -2 Special Attack, which Kingdra fails to do in return.
* Snarl Suicune has the natural bulk to not be threatened by Kingdra and can minimize its damage output.
* Amoonguss does not face KO pressure from the majority of Pokemon that encompass standard rain teams—Kingdra, Politoed, Thundurus—and can often freely use Spore against Kingdra and its partners.
* Cresselia also cannot be quickly dispatched by Kingdra and its partners and can use Trick Room or Sunny Day to nullify it as a threat.
* Thundurus neuters non-Lum Berry Kingdra sets with Thunder Wave, removing one of its most valuable assets and making its already inconsistent moves even more so.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kenan.51503/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/radio-free-c-side.619634/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/waffledogefern.712558/
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