Nidoking (Pokémon GO) - Best Movesets, Evolutions and CP

Pokémon type

Poison

Ground

Boosted in Cloudy and Sunny / Clear weather

Nidoking weaknesses

Nidoking is weak to Ground, Water, Psychic and Ice-type moves.

160%

Resistances

Nidoking is resistant to Fighting, Rock, Bug and Fairy-type moves, and doubly resistant to Poison and Electric-type moves.

63%

39%

Best moveset for Nidoking

The best moves for Nidoking are Poison Jab and Earthquake when attacking Pokémon in Gyms. This move combination has the highest total DPS. In Trainer Battles, Poison Sting and Earthquake deal the most damage per turn.

Attacking

Poison Jab

15.6DPS

Earthquake

48DPS

Defending

Poison Jab

15.6DPS

Earth Power

34.3DPS

Trainer Battles

Poison Sting

4.5EPT

Earthquake

2.22DPE

View all moves »

Evolution

There are 3 Pokémon in the Nidoran♂ family. Nidoking evolves from Nidorino for 100 Candy.

Purified Pokémon cost less to evolve: Nidoran♂ for 22 Candy, Nidorino for 90 Candy.

Game images

Nidoking, with the shiny version on the right. There is a very low chance of getting a shiny one.

View 1 costume for Nidoking »

Summary

Nidoking is a Poison & Ground Pokémon which evolves from Nidorino. It is weak to Ground, Water, Psychic and Ice moves. Nidoking's best moveset is Poison Jab & Earthquake and it has a Max CP of 2,902.

About

"Nidoking's thick tail packs enormously destructive power. With one swing, it can topple a metal transmission tower. Once this Pokémon goes on a rampage, there is no stopping it."

Moves & Movesets

All moves

Raids

Trainer Battles

Quick move	Damage	EPS	DPS
Poison Jab	13	9	15.6
Iron Tail	14	6	14
Double Kick	10	13	10
Poison Sting	4	12	9.6
Fury Cutter Elite TM	4	16	8

Main move	Damage	Energy	DPE
Earth Power	100	2	2.4
Sand Tomb	60	3	2.18
Avalanche	85	2	1.7
Earthquake	140	1	1.68
Sludge Wave	105	1	1.26
Megahorn	105	1	1.05
Return Purified	25	3	0.76
Frustration Shadow	10	3	0.3

Quick move	Damage	Turns	DPT	EPT
Poison Sting	4	2	2.4	4.5
Double Kick	8	3	2.7	4
Fury Cutter Elite TM	3	1	3	4
Poison Jab	7	2	4.2	3.5
Iron Tail	10	3	3.3	2.3

Main move	Damage	Energy	DPE
Earthquake	120	65	2.22
Earth Power ▼ def	90	50	2.16
Sludge Wave	110	65	2.03
Megahorn	110	55	2
Avalanche	90	45	2
Return Purified	130	70	1.86
Sand Tomb ▼ def	55	45	1.47
Frustration Shadow	10	70	0.14

The moves highlighted in green benefit from the Same Type Attack Bonus, and deal 20% more damage.

All movesets

Attacking

Defending

Trainer Battles

Quick move	Main move	DPS	Relative
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Earthquake 48 DPS	11.5	100%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Earth Power 34.3 DPS	11.3	98%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Earthquake 48 DPS	11.3	98%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Earth Power 34.3 DPS	11.1	96%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Earthquake 48 DPS	10.7	93%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Earth Power 34.3 DPS	10.7	93%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Earthquake 48 DPS	10.7	93%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Avalanche 34 DPS	10.7	92%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Earth Power 34.3 DPS	10.6	92%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Megahorn 52.5 DPS	10.6	92%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Sludge Wave 42 DPS	10.5	91%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Avalanche 34 DPS	10.1	87%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	10	87%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Earth Power 34.3 DPS	10	87%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Earthquake 48 DPS	9.9	86%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Sludge Wave 42 DPS	9.7	84%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Avalanche 34 DPS	9.7	84%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Avalanche 34 DPS	9.7	84%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Megahorn 52.5 DPS	9.7	84%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Sludge Wave 42 DPS	9.4	82%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Avalanche 34 DPS	9.4	81%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Megahorn 52.5 DPS	9.4	81%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Sludge Wave 42 DPS	9.3	81%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Megahorn 52.5 DPS	9.3	80%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Sludge Wave 42 DPS	9.2	80%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Megahorn 52.5 DPS	9.1	79%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	8.8	76%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	8.7	76%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	8.6	75%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	8.6	74%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Sand Tomb 18 DPS	8.4	73%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	8	69%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Sand Tomb 18 DPS	7.9	68%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Sand Tomb 18 DPS	7.5	65%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Sand Tomb 18 DPS	7.4	65%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Sand Tomb 18 DPS	7.4	64%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	7.2	63%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	5.6	49%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	5.3	46%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	4.9	42%

Quick move	Main move	DPS	Relative
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Earth Power 34.3 DPS	4.6	100%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Earth Power 34.3 DPS	4.6	99%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Earthquake 48 DPS	4.2	90%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Avalanche 34 DPS	4.1	88%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Earthquake 48 DPS	4	86%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Earth Power 34.3 DPS	3.9	84%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Avalanche 34 DPS	3.8	82%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Sand Tomb 18 DPS	3.8	82%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Sludge Wave 42 DPS	3.8	81%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Megahorn 52.5 DPS	3.6	78%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Earthquake 48 DPS	3.6	77%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Sand Tomb 18 DPS	3.6	77%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Earth Power 34.3 DPS	3.5	75%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Avalanche 34 DPS	3.4	74%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Sludge Wave 42 DPS	3.4	74%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Sand Tomb 18 DPS	3.3	72%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Sludge Wave 42 DPS	3.2	70%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Megahorn 52.5 DPS	3.2	69%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Megahorn 52.5 DPS	3.1	68%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Earth Power 34.3 DPS	3.1	67%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	3.1	67%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Earthquake 48 DPS	2.8	61%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Avalanche 34 DPS	2.8	61%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Sand Tomb 18 DPS	2.8	60%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	2.8	60%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Earthquake 48 DPS	2.6	56%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Avalanche 34 DPS	2.6	55%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Sand Tomb 18 DPS	2.6	55%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	2.6	55%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Sludge Wave 42 DPS	2.4	51%
Poison Jab 15.6 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	2.3	50%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Sludge Wave 42 DPS	2.2	48%
Iron Tail 14 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	2.2	48%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Megahorn 52.5 DPS	2.2	47%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Megahorn 52.5 DPS	2.1	45%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	1.8	38%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	1.7	37%
Double Kick 10 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	1.6	35%
Poison Sting 9.6 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	1.2	25%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 8 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	1.1	23%

Quick move	Main move	Turns	DPT	Relative
Poison Sting 4.5 EPT	Earthquake 2.22 DPE	16	12.4	100%
Poison Sting 4.5 EPT	Earth Power ▼ def 2.16 DPE	12	12.1	98%
Poison Jab 3.5 EPT	Earthquake 2.22 DPE	20	12	97%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 4 EPT	Earthquake 2.22 DPE	17	11.9	96%
Poison Jab 3.5 EPT	Earth Power ▼ def 2.16 DPE	16	11.8	95%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 4 EPT	Earth Power ▼ def 2.16 DPE	13	11.6	94%
Poison Sting 4.5 EPT	Sludge Wave 2.03 DPE	16	11.5	93%
Double Kick 4 EPT	Earthquake 2.22 DPE	18	11.5	93%
Poison Sting 4.5 EPT	Megahorn 2 DPE	14	11.4	92%
Poison Sting 4.5 EPT	Avalanche 2 DPE	10	11.4	92%
Poison Jab 3.5 EPT	Sludge Wave 2.03 DPE	20	11.3	91%
Double Kick 4 EPT	Earth Power ▼ def 2.16 DPE	15	11.3	91%
Poison Jab 3.5 EPT	Megahorn 2 DPE	16	11.2	91%
Poison Jab 3.5 EPT	Avalanche 2 DPE	14	11.2	91%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 4 EPT	Sludge Wave 2.03 DPE	17	11.1	90%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 4 EPT	Megahorn 2 DPE	14	11	89%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 4 EPT	Avalanche 2 DPE	12	11	89%
Double Kick 4 EPT	Sludge Wave 2.03 DPE	18	10.8	87%
Poison Sting 4.5 EPT	Return Purified 1.86 DPE	16	10.8	87%
Poison Jab 3.5 EPT	Return Purified 1.86 DPE	20	10.7	86%
Double Kick 4 EPT	Megahorn 2 DPE	15	10.7	86%
Double Kick 4 EPT	Avalanche 2 DPE	12	10.7	86%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 4 EPT	Return Purified 1.86 DPE	18	10.4	84%
Double Kick 4 EPT	Return Purified 1.86 DPE	18	10.1	82%
Poison Jab 3.5 EPT	Sand Tomb ▼ def 1.47 DPE	14	9.3	75%
Poison Sting 4.5 EPT	Sand Tomb ▼ def 1.47 DPE	10	9	73%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 4 EPT	Sand Tomb ▼ def 1.47 DPE	12	8.9	72%
Double Kick 4 EPT	Sand Tomb ▼ def 1.47 DPE	12	8.5	69%
Iron Tail 2.3 EPT	Earthquake 2.22 DPE	30	8.5	69%
Iron Tail 2.3 EPT	Earth Power ▼ def 2.16 DPE	24	8.4	68%
Iron Tail 2.3 EPT	Sludge Wave 2.03 DPE	30	8.1	65%
Iron Tail 2.3 EPT	Megahorn 2 DPE	24	8	65%
Iron Tail 2.3 EPT	Avalanche 2 DPE	21	8	65%
Iron Tail 2.3 EPT	Return Purified 1.86 DPE	30	7.7	62%
Iron Tail 2.3 EPT	Sand Tomb ▼ def 1.47 DPE	21	6.8	55%
Poison Jab 3.5 EPT	Frustration Shadow 0.14 DPE	20	4.7	38%
Iron Tail 2.3 EPT	Frustration Shadow 0.14 DPE	30	3.7	30%
Fury Cutter Elite TM 4 EPT	Frustration Shadow 0.14 DPE	18	3.6	29%
Double Kick 4 EPT	Frustration Shadow 0.14 DPE	18	3.2	26%
Poison Sting 4.5 EPT	Frustration Shadow 0.14 DPE	16	3	25%

A rough guide only. Turns is how many turns of Fast Attacks it takes to reach the Charged Attack; DPT is the damage per turn over repeated Fast and Charged Attacks, from move power and STAB. It leaves out shields, stat changes and matchups.

Counters & Raids

Top Nidoking counters

For the full ranking, the boss's moves and a raid simulator, see best Nidoking Raid Counters »

Pokémon Moveset Trainers

1
Mewtwo (Shadow)

Confusion

Psystrike

0.47
2
White Kyurem

Ice Fang

Ice Burn

0.51
3
Landorus (Incarnate Forme) (Shadow)

Mud Shot

Sandsear Storm

0.52
4
Kyogre (Shadow)

Waterfall

Origin Pulse

0.54
5
Black Kyurem

Dragon Tail

Freeze Shock

0.54

The best Mega or Primal to bring is Mega Mewtwo Y with Psycho Cut and Future Sight+.

All Nidoking counters »

Stats & IVs

Base stats

Attack		204
Defense		156
Stamina		191

Max HP

Level 40	162
Level 50	173

Average size

Height	1.4 m
Weight	62 kg

Second charged move cost

Stardust	50,000
Candy	50

Purification cost

Stardust	3,000
Candy	3

Other

Buddy walk distance

3 km

Max CP

Level 15 Research encounters	1,100
Level 20 Max hatched / raids	1,466
Level 30 Max wild	2,200
Level 40	2,567
Level 50	2,902

Max CP with weather boost

Level 25 (raids)	1,833
Level 35 (wild)	2,383

Costumes

Nidoking costumes

Nidoking (Crown)