What is a good moveset for Kingdra?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Kingdra, 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.

Kingdra Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

The King in Rain

J98 (Kingdra) (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 80 Def / 176 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Outrage
- Flail
- Iron Head

The scariest Pokemon you'll ever face is Kingdra used on one of J98's Rain teams (or TorTran). This thing is just... wow. Waterfall and Outrage are all that are really needed. Iron Head and Flail are very situational. Btw, I meant the King IN Rain. Politoed and Kyogre are more the Kings OF Rain.

Comments

I feel complimented. I still use this thing in Ubers. Ah.. I slightly miss using it in OU, but then I have it used against me and... yeah.

Answer 2

Ah.. I have this thing saved in my PO box, but I think I can list it off of the top of my head.

~ 5 turns of " Screw you! " ~

Bawsin' (Kingdra) @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
Modest Nature
- Rain Dance
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Dragon Pulse

To be blunt, he only needs 5 turns to wreck a team.

Rain gives doubled speed AND let's Hydro Pump get that sexy 50% boost.
Ice Beam is still great coverage overall, while Dragon Pulse offers a back up STAB.

EVs gives him enough bulk to set up Rain Dance with enough speed and attacking power to still sweep amazingly afterwards.

I use this set in UU. I'm also in a plain text mood, so no sprite. Don't edit one in either.

Answer 3

I got destroyed by this set. Now I'm off to destroy others with it, hax will prevail.

Kritz (Kingdra) @ Scope Lens

Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Focus Energy
- Agility
- Draco Meteor
- Surf/Ice Beam

Agility to boost speed, you're reasonably bulky with decent typing so its generally safe. Then, Focus Energy, for an almost garunteed critical hit chance combined with Scope Lens. By then, the SAtk drop from Draco Meteor won't matter, since critical hits also ignore lowered attack stats and raised defenses. Ice Beam or Surf is just extra stuffs to have around. Where Ice Beam provides more type coverage while Surf comes with STAB.

Comments

Oh god, just saw that this was similar to Mews set. Never posting at night again, sorry!

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You should note that Surf gives you STAB while Ice Beam has better coverage

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Alright, I'll fix it then. It's been a while since I've been here and Big pics used to be a thing.

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Maybe you can put Flash Cannon(TM) on it for Fairy coverage.

Answer 4

Kingdra @ Razor Claw
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Focus Energy
- Surf
- Facade
- Dragon Pulse

• Surf: STAB
• Facade: Because most players use toxic or will-o-wisp
• Dragon Pulse: STAB

Your Kingdra will be hated for guaranteed crits.

Comments

I'd take out Facade and add Flash Cannon for dealing with Fairies, but still a great moveset.

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Facade is worthless.

Answer 5

Gen 8 UU
Specs Rain Dance Sweeper
Kingdra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hurricane
- Hydro Pump
- Draco Meteor
- Flip Turn
Explanation: This set is to be used in the rain. Hurricane doesn't miss in the rain. Hydro Pump is STAB that gets boosted by the rain. Draco Meteor is a strong STAB move. Flip Turn is for pivoting and can gain momentum.

Answer 6

Doubles UU

Kingdra @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump / Muddy Water
- Dragon Pulse
- Hurricane
- Protect

This is intended for rain teams. Under Politoed's rain, Kingdra outspeeds every unboosted Pokémon in the tier with the exception of +speed nature Kingdra. Hydro Pump is absurdly strong water STAB in rain, and while Muddy Water isn't as stupidly strong, it causes spread damage. I personally recommend Hydro Pump due to Muddy Water's tendency to miss both opponents. Dragon Pulse is reliable dragon STAB. Hurricane cannot miss in rain and it gives Kingdra nice coverage against grass and fire types. Protect gives Kingdra a turn of safety where it's ally can still attack and potentially take out a threat to Kingdra, and is just a great move in doubles. Life Orb is the item of choice to boost Kingdra's subpar special attack stat while not being restricted by a choice item.

Answer 7

Gen 8 NU

Kingdra @ Leftovers
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Dragon Dance
- Liquidation
- Outrage

Sub Dragon Dance set. Substitute allows you to dodge status conditions such as poisoning, paralysis, and burns. Dragon Dance boosts your attack and speed. Liquidation is strong water STAB and has a chance to lower the defense of opposing Pokemon. Outrage is dragon STAB so you can hit Pokemon who resist or are immune to water moves, such as Vaporeon, Guzzlord, and Toxicroak.

Answer 8

Kingdra @ Scope Lens
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Jolly Nature
- Outrage
- Dragon dance
- Waterfall
- Return

EV it in Atk and Spe for sweeping. Also give it the scope Lens. Scope Lens makes it have a high critical hit chance. Sniper powers up critical hits making a critical hit a one hit kill pretty much. Dragon Dance makes outrage stronger.

Comments

Add Focus Energy for 100% crit.

Answer 9

This Kingdra is literally a TROLL.

Kingdra (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Waterfall
- Iron Head
- Bounce
- Ice Beam

Waterfall will be the savior move, while Ice Beam is optional.

Comments

Why Ice Beam with Jolly Nature, even on a Choice Band set? Bounce doesn't seem to cover anything.

Answer 10

Gen VI

Kingdra @ Mystic Water / Splash Plate / Damp Rock
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 8 HP / 252 SpA / 124 Def / 124 SpD
Modest Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Scald
- Flash Cannon
- Rain Dance

• Dragon Pulse: STAB, main power, deals with dragons.
• Scald: STAB, chance to burn. Gets a boost with Rain Dance.
• Flash Cannon: Deals with Fairy weakness.
• Rain Dance: Increases speed with Swift Swim, boosts Scald.

Answer 11

Kingdra @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Rain Dance
- Surf
- Dragon Pulse
- Rest

As a lead Pokemon I've found that this guy can be quite devastating, lead with rain dance (basically ensuring he goes first the next 4 turns), spam STAB moves until low on HP, then Rest and do it again.

Answer 12

Kingdra @ Scope Lens
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Scald
- Focus Energy
- Flash Cannon

Dragon pulse: good stab, high accuracy, Draco meteor is a bad idea for this special set.
Scald: good stab high accuracy, good chance for a burn.
Focus energy: Making good use of the sniper ability
Flash cannon: Special coverage to fairies, good power high accuracy.

Answer 13

Kingdra @ Leftovers
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 29 Def / 252 SpA / 29 SpD / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Dragon Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Flash Cannon

Weaknesses are covered, two STAB moves - what more could you ask for? And don't say Dragon Dance!

Answer 14

Kingdra @ Damp Rock
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Timid Nature
- Rain Dance
- Yawn
- Scald
- Draco Meteor

I made this one for the isle of armor expansion for Pokemon sword and shield, I use this on a balanced team, though it is good on a rain team as well, whimsicott is a good partner in double battles do to it learning tailwind and has good coverage.

Answer 15

Gen 8
Kingdra @ Choice Band
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Liquidation
- Outrage
- Iron Head
- Flip Turn

To be used in the rain. Liquidation is STAB. Outrage is STAB. Iron Head is for fairy types. Flip Turn is for pivoting.

Answer 16

Gen 8 NFE

Seadra @ Eviolite
Ability: Poison Point
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Flip Turn
- Clear Smog
- Toxic

Scald is STAB and has a chance to burn. Flip Turn is for pivoting. Clear Smog is to get rid of the opposing Pokemon's stat boosts. Toxic is to poison opposing Pokemon.

Answer 17

Kingdra (M) @ Choice Specs / Scope Lens
Ability: Swift Swim (You can run Sniper, but it's meant to be a rain sweeper, but run Sniper if you want the crits)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature=
- Surf / Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
- Rain Dance

Alright, so this is a bit of a fever dream of sorts I had. Special attacking Kingdra. I've gone for a more traditional and simple set, running a Modest with a spread focusing on SpAtk and SpDef, with Surf for reliable STAB, but you can run Hydro Pump if you really want power. Ice Beam is here for amazing coverage and Draco Meteor is the main move for a Special Variant. However, I also think that depending on the situation, you could just use Dragon Pulse, it doesn't drop stats like Draco Meteor. With the right plays, this thing can be a decently bulky Swift Swim sweeper. Oh, and Rain Dance if it needs to setup its own rain, thought it would be convenient. Pretty basic set, but I think the Special Variants need some attention. Also, manual rain is only if you are running a scope lens, if not then stick to just Draco Meteor and Surf/Hydro Pump for the situation. However, this was just meant to be a framework for builds.

Comments

Why would you run choice specs and rain dance? You’d be locked on to rain dance, and manual rain isn’t good anyway.

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Sorry, I only realized now I forgot to add Scope Lens. It was supposed to be a situational thing, run rain if you want crits, and Sniper, I think I uploaded the incomplete draft. I'll fix it.

Answer 18

Gen 9 NU Rain Sweeper

Kingdra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Weather Ball
- Draco Meteor
- Flip Turn

Since Kingdra is now in NU, here is a Choice Specs set it can use there. This set MUST be used on manual rain teams in order to maximize the damage output of this Choice Specs set. Hydro Pump is an incredibly powerful Water STAB, being dangerous to switch into since it gets boosted by Rain and Choice Specs. Kingdra gets access to Weather Ball in Gen 9, letting it have an accurate Water STAB stronger than Surf when it is used in the Rain. Draco Meteor is for a powerful Dragon STAB that allows Kingdra to hit Water resists and immunities quite hard. Flip Turn allows Kingdra to be able to pivot and bring in a teammate should to deal with Special Walls such as Chansey that can switch into Kingdra's attacks. Tera Water is used to boost the power of Kingdra's Water STABs, though you can consider Tera Dragon to make Draco Meteor a powerful nuke move.

Answer 19

Rain Set

Kingdra @Shell Bell
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Nature
~ Twister / Dragon Pulse
~ Hydro Pump
~ Blizzard
~ Rain Dance

This Dragon-type has a really good movepool and has a nice ability, Swift Swim, which doubles your Speed in Rain. This 'mon is really great for Rain teams. Blizzard is type coverage, while Rain Dance activates Swift Swim.

Comments

Why would you use Twister over Dragon Pulse? The only thing Twister has going for it is a 30% flinch rate, but it has only 40 BP. Dragon Pulse will be better in 90% of cases for its raw power, especially if you don't want to rely on RNG.

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I think Draco Meteor is also viable.  Why a Shell Bell over something like a Life Orb?  Why Blizzard when you can choose Ice Beam or Hurricane?