Nidoking in Pokemon GO – Stats, Moves, PvP Tips & More

Nidoking is a popular Poison/Ground-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. With a maximum CP of 2,567, Nidoking 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 Nidoking in Pokemon GO, including its stats, best moveset, counters, and tips for using it effectively in both PvE raids and PvP battles.

📊 Nidoking Base Stats & Overview

Nidoking (#034) is a Poison/Ground-type Pokemon from Generation 1.

Base Stats
Attack	204
Defense	156
Stamina	191
Total Stats	551
Max CP	2,567
Buddy Distance	3 km

With 204 Attack, 156 Defense, and 191 Stamina, Nidoking has a total stat product of 551. While not the highest in any single stat, Nidoking’s balanced stats make it versatile in various battle situations.

⚔️ Best Moveset for Nidoking

Choosing the right moveset is crucial for maximizing Nidoking’s potential in Pokemon GO. The optimal moveset varies depending on whether you’re using Nidoking 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 Poison/Ground-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.

🎯 Nidoking Type Effectiveness

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

⚠️ Weaknesses (Takes Super Effective Damage From)

Nidoking is weak to: Ground, Psychic, Water, Grass, Ice-type moves. When battling against Nidoking, use Pokemon with these types to deal 1.6x (or 2.56x for double weaknesses) damage.

• Ground – Deals increased damage
• Psychic – Deals increased damage
• Water – Deals increased damage
• Grass – Deals increased damage
• Ice – Deals increased damage

🛡️ Resistances (Takes Reduced Damage From)

Nidoking resists: Grass, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Fairy, Rock, Electric-type moves. This means Nidoking takes reduced damage (0.625x or less) from these attack types.

• Grass – Reduced damage
• Fighting – Reduced damage
• Poison – Reduced damage
• Bug – Reduced damage
• Fairy – Reduced damage
• Rock – Reduced damage
• Electric – Reduced damage

🏆 Nidoking PvP Analysis

Nidoking 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 2,567, Nidoking 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)

Nidoking fits well in Ultra League with a max CP of 2,567. It can compete effectively against the meta threats in this league.

Master League (No CP Limit)

Nidoking is generally not recommended for Master League due to its lower max CP (2,567). Focus on other leagues instead.

⚔️ Nidoking Raid Guide

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

Using Nidoking in Raids

When using Nidoking as a raid attacker:

• Best against raid bosses weak to Poison-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 Nidoking

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

Top Counter Pokemon

The best counters exploit Nidoking’s weaknesses to Ground, Psychic, Water, Grass, Ice-type moves:

Pokemon	Type	Why It Works
Garchomp	Dragon/Ground	Mud Shot + Earth Power deals massive damage
Groudon	Ground	Legendary with Precipice Blades
Excadrill	Ground/Steel	High Ground DPS
Mewtwo	Psychic	Best Psychic attacker with Psystrike
Alakazam	Psychic	Glass cannon with high Psychic DPS
Espeon	Psychic	Accessible Psychic attacker

Counter Strategy Tips

1. Prioritize Type Advantage: Use Pokemon with moves that are super effective against Nidoking
2. Consider Bulk: Tankier counters can survive longer and deal more total damage
3. Watch for Coverage Moves: Nidoking 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 Nidoking in Pokemon GO

There are several ways to obtain Nidoking in Pokemon GO:

• Wild Encounters: Nidoking 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 Nidoking

Yes, Shiny Nidoking 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.

Nidoking Evolution

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

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

💡 Pro Tips for Using Nidoking

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

1. IV Optimization

For raids and gym battles, prioritize Nidoking 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 Nidoking, 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

Nidoking works best when paired with Pokemon that cover its weaknesses. As a Poison/Ground type weak to Ground, Psychic, consider adding team members that resist these types.

4. Weather Considerations

Take advantage of weather boosts:

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

📚 Nidoking in the Pokemon Franchise

Nidoking first appeared in Generation 1 of the main Pokemon series. For more detailed lore and information about Nidoking’s origins, check out Bulbapedia.

In Pokemon GO, Nidoking was introduced as part of the Generation 1 Pokemon rollout. Being a Generation 1 Pokemon, Nidoking has been available since the game’s launch in July 2016.

📊 How Nidoking Compares

Let’s see how Nidoking stacks up against other Poison-type Pokemon:

Stat	Nidoking	Type Average	Rating
Attack	204	~180	⭐⭐⭐
Defense	156	~160	⭐⭐
Stamina	191	~170	⭐⭐
Max CP	2,567	~2,500	⭐⭐

🎯 Conclusion

Nidoking is a versatile Poison/Ground-type Pokemon that can be a valuable addition to your Pokemon GO roster. With a max CP of 2,567 and solid base stats (204/156/191), 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 Nidoking’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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