Kingdra
Kingdra's swift swim ability gives a nearly unmatched speed tier in rain. It's good bulk and defensive typing allow it to consistently set up with Rain Dance. This makes it a good cleaner, especially against frailer offensive teams. However, it is completely walled by Blissey and common bulky Water-types like Milotic and Suicune. Snorlax can also take multiple hits and threaten back, but it lacks recovery. Explosion users like Forretress and Metagross can also check it in a pinch if healthy. Tyranitar's Sand Stream ability can also cut it's sweep short by depriving it of Rain. Lastly, it's sweep can easily be cut short by Paralysis and Toxic. Kingdra isn't seen often due to the above reasons, but it is formidable threat if given the right support.
Standard Rain Sweeper
Kingdra @ Lum Berry
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 104 HP / 252 SpA / 152 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 3 Atk / 30 SpA
- Rain Dance
- Surf /Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Electric] / Hidden Power [Grass] / Toxic
Set Details
Rain Dance in conjuction with Swift Swim makes Kingdra faster than all relevant unboosted Pokemon and powers up your chosen water-type STAB. Surf's perfect accuracy makes it more consistent at cleaning up late game. However, Hydro Pump hits some notable benchmarks like 0hkoing bulkless Tyranitar and having a chance to 0hko bulkless Zapdos. Ice Beam lets you hit Salamence, Celebi, Flygon and Venusaur. HP Electric lets you hit Gyarados and other water types hard. HP Grass hits Swampert without risking a Hydro Pump miss and hits other water types decently. Toxic can force Suicune to use Rest. Substitute lets you avoid Thunder Wave from Zapdos and Jolteon and Toxic from the likes of Skarmory and Swampert. It can also be used to avoid explosion from the likes of Metagross and Foretress. 152 speed lets you outspeed max speed Jolly Tyranitar.
Usage Tips
Send Kingdra in late game after its counters have been weakened or heavily chipped. Beware of paralysis or poison whille setting up if lacking Lum Berry. Kingdra can setup on most Pokemon that don't have a super-effective attack on it that it can threaten back.
Team Options
Other Options
Substitute can be used in the last slot with Petaya Berry.
Checks and Counters
Blissey: Blissey can stomach any hit from Kingdra and retaliate with status like Thunder Wave and Toxic or with Seismic Toss. However, it does have to beware of Kingdra's frequent teammate Dugtrio, which can trap and 2hko it.
Suicune: Suicune can come in on any of Kingdra's attacks and set up on it with Calm Mind.
Milotic: Milotic can take any hit from Kingdra and retaliate with Toxic.
Snorlax: Can take two Hydro Pumps and threaten it with Body Slam or Self-Destruct.
Specially Defensive Celebi: Sp.Def sets can take an ice beam and heal off damage with Leech Seed and Recover.
Explosion users: If healthy, explosion users like Bulky Metagross, Cloyster and Foretress can take a hit and 0ko non substitute variants of Kingdra.
Status: Non Lum Berry Kingdra is very vulnerable to Thunder Wave from Jolteon and Zapdos while setting up. This ruins its speed tier and stops it from sweeping most of the time. Toxic from Skarmory, Swampert etc. can also cut a potential sweep short, especially in conjunction with protect.
Note: Got approval from moderators(johnnyg2) on Discord.
Kingdra's swift swim ability gives a nearly unmatched speed tier in rain. It's good bulk and defensive typing allow it to consistently set up with Rain Dance. This makes it a good cleaner, especially against frailer offensive teams. However, it is completely walled by Blissey and common bulky Water-types like Milotic and Suicune. Snorlax can also take multiple hits and threaten back, but it lacks recovery. Explosion users like Forretress and Metagross can also check it in a pinch if healthy. Tyranitar's Sand Stream ability can also cut it's sweep short by depriving it of Rain. Lastly, it's sweep can easily be cut short by Paralysis and Toxic. Kingdra isn't seen often due to the above reasons, but it is formidable threat if given the right support.
Standard Rain Sweeper
Kingdra @ Lum Berry
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 104 HP / 252 SpA / 152 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 3 Atk / 30 SpA
- Rain Dance
- Surf /Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Electric] / Hidden Power [Grass] / Toxic
Set Details
Rain Dance in conjuction with Swift Swim makes Kingdra faster than all relevant unboosted Pokemon and powers up your chosen water-type STAB. Surf's perfect accuracy makes it more consistent at cleaning up late game. However, Hydro Pump hits some notable benchmarks like 0hkoing bulkless Tyranitar and having a chance to 0hko bulkless Zapdos. Ice Beam lets you hit Salamence, Celebi, Flygon and Venusaur. HP Electric lets you hit Gyarados and other water types hard. HP Grass hits Swampert without risking a Hydro Pump miss and hits other water types decently. Toxic can force Suicune to use Rest. Substitute lets you avoid Thunder Wave from Zapdos and Jolteon and Toxic from the likes of Skarmory and Swampert. It can also be used to avoid explosion from the likes of Metagross and Foretress. 152 speed lets you outspeed max speed Jolly Tyranitar.
Usage Tips
Send Kingdra in late game after its counters have been weakened or heavily chipped. Beware of paralysis or poison whille setting up if lacking Lum Berry. Kingdra can setup on most Pokemon that don't have a super-effective attack on it that it can threaten back.
Team Options
- Kingdra requires support against Blissey and bulky Water-types like Milotic and Suicune, as these wall it endlessly.
- Dugtrio is an excellent partner as It can trap and 2hko Blissey and Celebi.
- Zapdos can bait special walls like Blissey with Baton Pass for Dugtrio to trap them.
- Hypnosis Gengar generates setup oppotunities with Hypnosis and can lure in and use Explosion on Blissey.
- Choice Band Metagross can bait in and use Explosion on Suicune and Milotic.
- SubCM Suicune can setup on Blissey and Milotic. Kingdra's removal of sand allows to 1v1 Blissey and greatly enhances its longevity.
- SubCM and Wish + CM Jirachi can also set up on Kingdra's counters.
- CM Pass Celebi sets up on Milotic and Suicune, which wall Kingdra.
- Curse Snorlax greatly appreciates Kingdra's sand removal as well as this gives it leftovers recovery.
- Dragon Dance Tyranitar can heavily chip Milotic and Suicune, checks Snorlax and can pressure and setup on Blissey thanks to Lum Berry.
- Regice can lure in Blissey and use Explosion on it. This allows it's frequent partner Dugtrio to follow up with a free KO.
Other Options
Substitute can be used in the last slot with Petaya Berry.
Checks and Counters
Blissey: Blissey can stomach any hit from Kingdra and retaliate with status like Thunder Wave and Toxic or with Seismic Toss. However, it does have to beware of Kingdra's frequent teammate Dugtrio, which can trap and 2hko it.
Suicune: Suicune can come in on any of Kingdra's attacks and set up on it with Calm Mind.
Milotic: Milotic can take any hit from Kingdra and retaliate with Toxic.
Snorlax: Can take two Hydro Pumps and threaten it with Body Slam or Self-Destruct.
Specially Defensive Celebi: Sp.Def sets can take an ice beam and heal off damage with Leech Seed and Recover.
Explosion users: If healthy, explosion users like Bulky Metagross, Cloyster and Foretress can take a hit and 0ko non substitute variants of Kingdra.
Status: Non Lum Berry Kingdra is very vulnerable to Thunder Wave from Jolteon and Zapdos while setting up. This ruins its speed tier and stops it from sweeping most of the time. Toxic from Skarmory, Swampert etc. can also cut a potential sweep short, especially in conjunction with protect.
Note: Got approval from moderators(johnnyg2) on Discord.
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