Nidoking

The Drill Pokémon
#034 - Nidoking
Pre-Evolve	Nidorino
Debut	Pokémon: Red Version Pokémon: Green Version
Species Info
Type	+ +
Height	1.4 m (4'07")
Weight	62.0 kg (136.7 lbs.)
Color	Purple
Gender Ratio	Only ♂
Ability	Poison Point / Rivalry
Hidden Ability
Egg Group	Ground / Monster
Icon		Sprite
		File:034sprite.png
Footprint
30px
Base Statistics
Hit Points	81	Speed	85
Attack	92	Sp. Attack	85
Defense	77	Sp. Defense	75
Training Info
Catch Rate	045	Hatch Steps	5,120
Base Exp.	195	Effort Points	Att
Happiness	70		Att
To Lv.100	Slow		Att

Kanto #	Johto #	Hoenn #	Sinnoh #
< 034 >	< 100 >
Unova #	Johto (IV) #

Nidoking is the vicious evolved form of Nidorino and the final form of the male Nidoran's evolutionary line that was introduced in the first generation Pokémon games. They are exclusively male, like their pre-evolved forms, and its female counterpart is Nidoqueen.

Information

Nidoking evolves from Nidorino when exposed to a Moon Stone. Nidoking takes on the form of a bipedal powerhouse which specalizes in melee combat due to its thick arms, legs and tail. It has a rock-hard hide which is compared to steel and makes its already powerful tackle more potent. It has horns that can, like Nidorino's, pierce a diamond. Also like Nidorino's horn, Nidoking's is sharp and highly venomous. Nidoking also has a large tail that it swings around in battle, which can smash, constrict and then break its prey's bones. Its tail can even snap a Pokémon's spine. and one swing from it can topple a metal transmission tower

If a foe flinches, it will charge at it with its rock-hard body. Once a Nidoking enters a rampage, it is said that there is nothing that can stop it.

Gen		Game	Pokédex entry
I		Red	It uses its powerful tail in battle to smash, constrict, then break the prey's bones.
		Blue
		Yellow	Its steel-like hide adds to its powerful tackle. Its horns are so hard, they can pierce a diamond.
		Stadium	Has a rock-hard hide that is worn like armor. The long horn on its head is sharp and highly venomous.
II		Gold	It swings its big tail around during battle. If its foe flinches, it will charge with its sturdy body.
		Silver	Its tail is thick and powerful. If it binds an enemy, it can snap the victim's spine quite easily.
		Crystal	It uses its thick arms, legs and tail to attack forcefully. Melee combat is its specialty.
III		Ruby	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.
		Sapphire	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.
		Emerald	A Nidoking's thick tail packs enormously destructive power capable of toppling a metal transmission tower. Once it goes on a rampage, there is no stopping it.
		FireRed	It is recognized by its rock-hard hide and its extended horn. Be careful with the horn as it contains venom.
		LeafGreen	It uses its powerful tail in battle to smash, constrict, then break the prey's bones.
IV		Diamond	One swing of its mighty tail can snap a telephone pole as if it were a matchstick.
		Pearl	One swing of its mighty tail can snap a telephone pole as if it were a matchstick.
		Platinum

Appearances

Mainstream Games

Nidoking can only be obtained through evolution in all of the color versions.

Other Games

It can only be obtained through evolution in Pokémon Pinball as well as in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Teams. Nidoking appeared in Pokémon Puzzle League as one of Giovanni's Pokémon. In Pokémon Trozei!, it could be found at Endless Level 2, Forever Level 51, Pair Trozei and Mr. Who's Den. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Space, Nidoking could be found at the first nine floors of Shimmer Desert. A non-playable Explorer Nidoking also appeared in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, within the episode "Igglybuff the Prodigy", where it was pursuing a criminal Armaldo. Nidoking could also be found in Pokémon Rumble at the Eternal Tower.

Other Appearances

In Other Media

• In the Pokémon anime, Nidoking was shown as one of Gary's Pokémon in several episodes. Paul was also later shown to own one that failed to best Brandon's Registeel. Nidoking have made several other appearances throughout the anime's runs, sometimes as powerful Pokémon of trainers and other times as rampaging wild Pokémon, including a pink one that terrorized Team Rocket in one Orange Islands episode.
• Within the Pokémon Adventures Manga, Nidoking is shown as one of Giovanni's Pokémon and winds up destroying his gym with Earthquake during the Red/Green/Blue arc. Red also was shown to have caught a Nidoking in the Safari Zone, but he was never seen using it.

Trivia

• As with the other members of the "Nido" family, the first part of its name could be a play on "needle" or possibly a reference to "ni", the Japanese word for "two", which could reference the Nidoran's two separate genders and evolutionary line. Regardless, the "king" refers to both this Pokémon's gender and power, matching with the "queen" in "Nidoqueen".
• Nidoking and Nidorino are both capable of breeding with other Pokémon, which is peculiar considering that their female counterparts, Nidoqueen and Nidorina, cannot be bred with other Pokémon at all within the games.