Kingdra Guide: Best Moveset, Counters & Pokemon GO Tips

Kingdra is a popular Water/Dragon-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. With a maximum CP of 2,641, Kingdra is a solid choice for Ultra League battles and various raid encounters.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Kingdra in Pokemon GO, including its stats, best moveset, counters, and tips for using it effectively in both PvE raids and PvP battles.

📊 Kingdra Base Stats & Overview

Kingdra (#230) is a Water/Dragon-type Pokemon from Generation 2.

Base Stats
Attack	194
Defense	194
Stamina	181
Total Stats	569
Max CP	2,641
Buddy Distance	3 km

With 194 Attack, 194 Defense, and 181 Stamina, Kingdra has a total stat product of 569. While not the highest in any single stat, Kingdra’s balanced stats make it versatile in various battle situations.

⚔️ Best Moveset for Kingdra

Choosing the right moveset is crucial for maximizing Kingdra’s potential in Pokemon GO. The optimal moveset varies depending on whether you’re using Kingdra for raids, gym battles, or PvP.

Best Raid & Gym Moveset

For PvE content like raids and gym battles, you want moves that maximize DPS (Damage Per Second). The best Water/Dragon-type moves will benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), increasing damage by 20%.

Best PvP Moveset

In PvP battles, energy generation and coverage moves become more important. You’ll want a fast move that charges energy quickly and charged moves that provide good type coverage.

🎯 Kingdra Type Effectiveness

Understanding type effectiveness is crucial for both using Kingdra effectively and knowing how to counter it. As a Water/Dragon-type Pokemon, Kingdra has specific strengths and weaknesses.

⚠️ Weaknesses (Takes Super Effective Damage From)

Kingdra is weak to: Ice, Dragon, Fairy-type moves. When battling against Kingdra, use Pokemon with these types to deal 1.6x (or 2.56x for double weaknesses) damage.

• Ice – Deals increased damage
• Dragon – Deals increased damage
• Fairy – Deals increased damage

🛡️ Resistances (Takes Reduced Damage From)

Kingdra resists: Fire, Water, Ice, Steel, Electric, Grass-type moves. This means Kingdra takes reduced damage (0.625x or less) from these attack types.

• Fire – Reduced damage
• Water – Reduced damage
• Ice – Reduced damage
• Steel – Reduced damage
• Electric – Reduced damage
• Grass – Reduced damage

🏆 Kingdra PvP Analysis

Kingdra can be used in Pokemon GO’s GO Battle League PvP battles. Here’s how it performs in each league:

Great League (1500 CP Limit)

With a max CP of 2,641, Kingdra would need to be under-leveled for Great League. Check if the stats at 1500 CP are competitive before investing resources.

Ultra League (2500 CP Limit)

Kingdra fits well in Ultra League with a max CP of 2,641. It can compete effectively against the meta threats in this league.

Master League (No CP Limit)

Kingdra is generally not recommended for Master League due to its lower max CP (2,641). Focus on other leagues instead.

⚔️ Kingdra Raid Guide

Kingdra is primarily used as a raid attacker rather than a raid boss. Here’s how to use it effectively in raids:

Using Kingdra in Raids

When using Kingdra as a raid attacker:

• Best against raid bosses weak to Water-type moves
• Power up to at least level 30-35 for decent performance
• Ensure you have the optimal moveset for maximum DPS

🎯 Best Counters for Kingdra

Whether you’re battling Kingdra in raids, gyms, or PvP, knowing the best counters is essential for victory. Here are the top Pokemon to use against Kingdra:

Top Counter Pokemon

The best counters exploit Kingdra’s weaknesses to Ice, Dragon, Fairy-type moves:

Pokemon	Type	Why It Works
Mamoswine	Ice/Ground	Best Ice attacker with Powder Snow + Avalanche
Glaceon	Ice	Accessible Ice attacker with high damage
Weavile	Dark/Ice	Fast Ice damage dealer
Rayquaza	Dragon/Flying	Dragon Tail + Outrage
Salamence	Dragon/Flying	Dragon Tail + Draco Meteor
Dragonite	Dragon/Flying	Accessible Dragon attacker

Counter Strategy Tips

1. Prioritize Type Advantage: Use Pokemon with moves that are super effective against Kingdra
2. Consider Bulk: Tankier counters can survive longer and deal more total damage
3. Watch for Coverage Moves: Kingdra may have moves that counter its own counters
4. Weather Boost: Take advantage of weather conditions that boost your counter’s attacks

📍 How to Get Kingdra in Pokemon GO

There are several ways to obtain Kingdra in Pokemon GO:

• Wild Encounters: Kingdra can spawn in the wild, especially in areas matching its type
• Eggs: May hatch from 3km eggs
• Evolution: Evolve from its pre-evolution using Candy
• Raids: Occasionally appears in raid battles
• Research Tasks: Complete field research for a chance to encounter
• Trading: Trade with friends

Shiny Kingdra

Yes, Shiny Kingdra is available in Pokemon GO! The shiny variant has a different coloration and is highly sought after by collectors. The shiny rate for wild encounters is approximately 1 in 500, though this can be boosted during special events like Community Days or Spotlight Hours.

Kingdra Evolution

Check the Pokédex for complete evolution information including candy costs and special evolution requirements.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

💡 Pro Tips for Using Kingdra

Here are some advanced strategies and tips to maximize Kingdra’s potential in Pokemon GO:

1. IV Optimization

For raids and gym battles, prioritize Kingdra with high Attack IVs (15 Attack is ideal). The Attack stat contributes most to damage output in PvE content.

For PvP battles, the ideal IVs depend on the league:

• Great League: Look for low Attack, high Defense and HP (0/15/15 is often ideal)
• Ultra League: Similar to Great League, optimize for stat product under 2500 CP
• Master League: Perfect 15/15/15 IVs are best since there’s no CP cap

2. Power Up Priority

Before investing Stardust and Candy into Kingdra, consider:

• Do you have enough resources? (Powering to level 50 costs 296,000 Stardust and 296 Candy)
• Will this Pokemon fill a gap in your battle team?
• Are there better alternatives for the same role?
• Do you have the optimal moveset or need Elite TMs?

3. Team Composition

Kingdra works best when paired with Pokemon that cover its weaknesses. As a Water/Dragon type weak to Ice, Dragon, consider adding team members that resist these types.

4. Weather Considerations

Take advantage of weather boosts:

• When catching: Weather-boosted Kingdra spawns at higher levels (up to 35)
• When battling: Weather that boosts Water moves increases your damage output
• When raiding: Spawn weather-boosted counters by raiding in appropriate weather

📚 Kingdra in the Pokemon Franchise

Kingdra first appeared in Generation 2 of the main Pokemon series. For more detailed lore and information about Kingdra’s origins, check out Bulbapedia.

In Pokemon GO, Kingdra was introduced as part of the Generation 2 Pokemon rollout. It became available to catch after Niantic released the Generation 2 Pokemon update.

📊 How Kingdra Compares

Let’s see how Kingdra stacks up against other Water-type Pokemon:

Stat	Kingdra	Type Average	Rating
Attack	194	~180	⭐⭐
Defense	194	~160	⭐⭐
Stamina	181	~170	⭐⭐
Max CP	2,641	~2,500	⭐⭐

🎯 Conclusion

Kingdra is a versatile Water/Dragon-type Pokemon that can be a valuable addition to your Pokemon GO roster. With a max CP of 2,641 and solid base stats (194/194/181), it performs well in Ultra League PvP and can serve as a reliable raid attacker against appropriate targets.

Remember to:

• Optimize IVs based on your intended use (PvP vs PvE)
• Use the recommended moveset for maximum effectiveness
• Build a team that covers Kingdra’s weaknesses
• Take advantage of weather boosts when possible

For more Pokemon guides and the complete Pokedex, visit our Pokemon GO Database. Check out our PvP Rankings for the current meta and Raid Guides for battle strategies.

Last updated: January 2026. Information based on the latest Pokemon GO game data.

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