What is a good moveset for Kingler?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Kingler, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Kingler Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Kingler (M) @ Leftovers

Role: Tank/Hazer

Trait: Sheer Force

EVs: 128 HP / 32 Atk / 96 Def / 252 SDef

Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)

• Hone Claws
• Crabhammer
• Haze
• Rock Slide

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I've got a bit of a soft spot for crabby here.

Now down to business, This is a classic straight up tank set.

Hone Claws provides Accuracy for Rock Slide and Crabhammer, Haze being great for support against things he's tanking.

EV spread and Item excels tanking usage.

Comments

I like this moveset, but would it be good to have Sheer Force and lose the flinching chance on Rock Slide?

Answer 2

Double/Triple battle

Kingler (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Wide Guard
- Rock Slide
- Crabhammer
- Brick Break

Wide Guard protects teammates from multiple Pokemon hitting moves. Rock Slide hits multiple foes. Crabhammer is STAB. Brick Break is coverage. Hyper Cutter protects Kingler from Intimidate.

Answer 3

NU SubCurse Set

Kingler @ Leftovers
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 204 HP / 252 Atk / 52 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Curse
- Crabhammer
- X-Scissor/ Knock Off

SubCurse is classic I guess, as Kingler is not that fast, so Curse to raise attack and defense while Substitute to prevent getting Wisped or Toxiced. Crabhammer is powerful STAB. X-scissor for type coverage against Grass types. Knock off is another option to render the opponent's item useless and boosted power. Hyper Cutter to prevent Intimidate mons like Hitmontop. High HP and investment in SpD so Kingler can survive a hit and strike back.

Hope you like this moveset :).

Answer 4

Gen 8 NU

Kingler @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Liquidation
- Knock Off
- Rock Slide
- Superpower

If you want to use Kingler in NU for some reason, here is a set. Liquidation is for STAB that is boosted by Sheer Force. Knock Off is for coverage against Pokemon like Decidueye, Celebi, Bronzong, and non itemless / Colbur Berry Dhelmise, as well as removing items from opposing Pokemon. Rock Slide is for coverage that gets boosted by Sheer Force that can hit Pokemon like Mantine super effectively. Superpower allows you to OHKO Copperajah and Tyrantrum and also 2HKOes Guzzlord after some chip damage.

252+ Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Kingler Liquidation vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sylveon: 243-289 (61.6 - 73.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

252+ Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Kingler Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Braviary: 387-458 (95.7 - 113.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock (Sub Bulk Up Braviary set)

252+ Atk Life Orb Kingler Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 88+ Def Bronzong: 224-265 (66.2 - 78.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

252+ Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Kingler Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 120+ Def Mantine: 320-377 (85.5 - 100.8%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

252+ Atk Life Orb Kingler Superpower vs. 0 HP / 252+ Def Guzzlord: 393-463 (66.9 - 78.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

Answer 5

Kingler (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 100 Def / 156 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Liquidation
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance / Agility
- Rock Slide / X-Scissor

Liquidation is STAB and is used over Crabhammer due to Crabhammer having lower accuracy, and moves with increased critical hit chances being unaffected by Sheer Force (though you can use it regardless). Knock Off is good coverage and can get rid of the opponents held item. Swords Dance is to heighten your attack, or you can use Agility to heighten the speed of Kingler, allowing you to sweep. Rock Slide and X-Scissor are coverage, with Rock Slide getting the Sheer Force boost and it helps to deal with Ice types Kingler may have trouble dealing with, and X-Scissor is coverage against Grass types. The EV spread and nature allows Kingler to outspeed uninvested base 105 speed Pokemon, while maximizing its attack and defense to deal more damage and take more hits.

Answer 6

Gen V

Kingler (M) @ Life Orb

Trait: Hyper Cutter

EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 Spd

Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)

• Crabhammer
• Hone Claws
• Rock Slide
• Brick Break

Hone Claws provides Kingler with accuracy (for Crabhammer and Rock Slide) and Attack boosts. Hyper Cutter prevents these Attack boosts from being taken away. Now, Crabhammer is STAB. Rock Slide and Brick Break are there for type coverage. Life Orb helps make up for the fact that Hone Claws is only a one stage boost (Crabhammer's higher base power also makes up for this). Your EVs give you offense, while also helping you survive attacks on the physical side.

Answer 7

Kingler @ Life Orb
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Agility
- Crabhammer
- Knock Off
- X-Scissor

Comments

Maybe replace Agility with Swords Dance to make it hit hard.

Answer 8

Assault vest kingler
__

Role:physical sweeper

Ability: Inconsequential (doesn't matter)

EVs: 252Atk, 248sp.def, 8def

Nature: Adamant

Item: Assault vest

Moves:

Crabhammer/waterfall: Both for stab. One has high crit ratio while other has chance to flinch.

Knock off/x-scissor: Coverage and knock off does double damage for foe who holds an item ( drops item as well).

Super power: More coverage

Rock slide: Even more coverage and chance to flinch

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One of the most underrated Pokemon out there. Its such a shame hes only in PU.

Answer 9

Kingler @ Assault Craft
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Liquidation
- Rock Slide
- Knock Off
- Brick Break

Here's a set I came up with, role is Bulky Attacker/General Nuisance(tough to kill gets rid of items and screens) haven't been able to test it much but let me know what you think

Answer 10

Kingler- Gmax @ Leftovers

Role- Bulky Physical Sweeper

Nature- Naughty (+Atk, -Spd)

EVs- 252 Hp, 252 Atk, 4 Sp. Atk

Trait- Shell armour, helps bad defence by having immunity to critical hits

Moves:
Crabhammer- STAB, helped by the physical EVs
Knock off- great for weakening the opposition by removing their item
Swords dance- powers up attack so Kingler can hit harder
Iron defence- helps boost trash defence

Comments

Why do u mean 115 is trash Def?

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It has base 50 def and sp. def

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https://pokemondb.net/pokedex/kingler
no it doesn't

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Mine does

Answer 11

Role: Tank/Physical Sweeper
Kingler @ Shell Bell
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 126 Def / 126 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Crabhammer
- Swords Dance
- X-Scissor
- High Horsepower

Crabhammer is for STAB. Sword Dance to set up. X-scissor for grass types and High Horsepower for electric types. The Defense and Special Defense split allows you to be hit by one super-effective move and fire back another move with health regain because of shell bell. And Hyper Cutter makes sure that it's not a victim to intimidate.

Answer 12

Gen 8 NU

Kingler @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Liquidation
- Rock Slide
- Swords Dance
- Agility

Swords Dance doubles your attack. Agility doubles your speed. If you can somehow get both off, Kingler can hit hard. Liquidation is STAB and gets the Sheer Force boost. Rock Slide is for coverage and also gets the Sheer Force boost.

Answer 13

Gen 3

Kingler @ Salac Berry
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Hidden Power [Ghost]
- Flail
- Endure
- Swords Dance

Flail + Endure set for Kingler in Gen 3 since all water type moves are special moves in Gen 3. Swords Dance boosts your attack. Endure is so you can take a hit that would OHKO you, consume your Salac Berry, then you use Flail. HP Ghost deals with Ghost Types.

Answer 14

Cookie cookie! This set is intended to be used in Gen 8 ZU

Kingler @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature

• Liquidation
• Knock Off
• Agility
• High Horsepower

Liquidation is STAB and devastates almost any switch in that isn't resistant or immune to the move with the Sheer Force + Life Orb + STAB boost. Knock Off is useful item removal and hits threats like Metang, Beheeyem, Drakloak, and Dusclops very hard. A lot of Pokemon run Eviolite thanks to the high amount of LCs and NFEs in ZU, making Knock Off even more useful. Agility makes Kingler a horrifying sweeper, doubling its good Speed stat and making sure no scarfer will be able to outspeed it. High Horsepower is coverage for Electric types like Boltund, Electivire, and Manectric.

252 Atk Life Orb Kingler Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Dusclops: 221-260 (77.8 - 91.5%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

252 Atk Life Orb Kingler High Horsepower vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Electivire: 374-442 (128.5 - 151.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Kingler Liquidation vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Vespiquen: 231-273 (67.3 - 79.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Kingler Liquidation vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Marshtomp after the average Life Orb Kingler Knock Off: 212-251 (61.6 - 72.9%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Kingler Liquidation vs. 248 HP / 220+ Def Gabite after the average Life Orb Kingler Knock Off: 230-270 (67.8 - 79.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

Answer 15

Kingler @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Liquidation
- Rock Slide
- High Horsepower
- Knock Off

Nobody’s done Scarf Kingler? Seriously? I’m disappointed in you guys. 75 Base Speed, Jolly, and a Choice Scarf makes it’s speed quite good. Liquidation is hard-hitting-sheer-force-boosted-STAB, Rock Slide and High Horsepower give you EdgeQuake coverage, and knock off is self explanatory

Answer 16

Kingler @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Crabhammer
- High Horsepower
- Superpower
- Night Slash

Explanation: Invest in Kingler's Speed, which will be boosted by Choice Scarf. Crabhammer is a powerful STAB boosted by Sheer Force despite losing its high critical hit ratio. High Horsepower covers Kingler's weakness to Electric types, and if you are locked into using this move, at least it isn't too damaging. Superpower is a very powerful Fighting type move that provides coverage and while it decreases Kingler's defense and attack, using a Choice Scarf probably means you're going to be switching out soon. (Ground and Fighting type moves are typically considered more offensive as they cover a lot of other typings) Night Slash is extra coverage and its high critical hit ratio is replaced by a boosted BP. None of these moves decreases Kingler's speed so even if you are locked into using only that move and cannot switched out, at least you will be likely to attack first.

Comments

High critical hit ratio moves aren't boosted by Sheer Force, just thought I'd mention that.

Answer 17

Double Dance Gen 8 NU

Kingler @ Life Orb
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spe/4 Def
Ability: Sheer Force
Adamant Nature
-Liquidation
-Swords Dance
-Rock Slide
-Agility

Liquidation is used over Crabhammer because of sheer force boost, which is main stab, swords dance is setup, rock slide is coverage and sheer force profeit and agility will make kingler fast to sweep.