Introduced in generation two, with the Pokemon Gold and Silver games, Kingdra is a dual type water and dragon Pokemon. It is the final evolution of Horsea and evolves from Seadra which is fairly unique as these Pokemon were introduced in the generation prior. Kingdra is classified by the Pokedex as the “Dragon Pokemon”. This guide will showcase Kingdra’s appearances in the anime, its capabilities in battle and other general facts about Kingdra.
About Kingdra
While Kingdra was introduced in generation two, its pre-evolutions were part of the original 151 Pokemon. Both Horsea and Seadra were introduced in the Pokemon Red, Blue, and Green games. But while Seadra evolves from Horsea at level 32, Kingdra requires a unique condition in order to evolve from Seadra. It needs to be traded while holding a Dragon Scale in order for it to evolve. Kingdra did not see much screen time throughout the anime’s history, it first appeared in the Pokemon movie Spell of the Unown: Entei. The Pokedex states that Kindra tend to live in uninhabited ocean environments which makes them quite rare, and impossible to encounter in the wild, in the Pokemon universe.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Movie: Spell of the Unown: Entei |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Gold and Silver |
| Region | Johto |
| Evolution | Final evolution of Horsea, evolves from Seadra |
| 1st Evo level | 32 |
| 2nd Evo level | Evolves from Seadra when traded holding a Dragon Scale |
| Pokedex Entry | Kingdra lives at extreme ocean depths that are otherwise uninhabited. It has long been believed that the yawning of this Pokémon creates spiraling ocean currents. |
Kingdra Base Stats
| HP | 75 |
| ATTACK | 95 |
| DEFENCE | 95 |
| SP. ATTACK | 95 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 95 |
| SPEED | 85 |
| TOTAL | 540 |
Appearance
Kingdra appears to be a blue seahorse with coral shaped appendages on its back. It has multiple spikes and protrusions around its body which allows it to blend in with coral found across the ocean. There is a single wing on its back and Kingdra has a red eye with a black pupil but while most of Kingdra’s body is blue, it does have a yellow underbelly. Kingdra is quite tall at 5 feet and 11 inches or, 1.8 meters, tall.
Behavior
Most of Kingdra’s appearances in the anime are limited to gym leader interactions or as a plot device in the movies. A lot of what we understand about Kingdra comes from the Pokedex and it is shown to be stoic and reliable throughout its appearances in anime. The Pokedex states that Kingdra spends its time at extreme ocean depths that are otherwise uninhabited. Folk tales in the Pokemon universe state that Kingdra’s yawns can cause giant whirlpools.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Up until generation six, Kingdra only had one type that was 2x effective against it. As a water and dragon type Pokemon, it has a good lineup against many of the other types in the game. It only takes 2x damage from dragon and fairy type moves and is resistant to steel, fire, and water type moves. In terms of competitive play, it managed to maintain a top bracket status in the early generations but fell from grace with the release of newer and more powerful Pokemon.
Shiny Kingdra
Shiny Kingdra is fairly distinct from regular Kingdra especially when it is compared to its pre-evolutions, the color palette swap on Horsea and Seadra are more muted than it is on Shiny Kingdra. The blue colors on regular Kingdra are swapped to a dark purple color which means while the other colors remain the same, the difference is easier to distinguish. Like all shiny Pokemon, Shiny Kingdra gains a starry animation upon entering battle.
Best Moveset
Kingdra can hold its own in competitive battling as its balanced stat distribution along with the Swift Swim ability can give Kingdra a strong foundation for your team. It is typically run as an offensive sweeper with Choice Specs as a held item. Consider running Hydro Pump, Draco Meteor, Scald, and Ice Beam as its ideal moveset. All these moves are considered for type coverage, high base power, and have the best chance to One Hit KO your opponent’s Pokemon. With Choice Specs, you will be locked into your move so choose wisely depending on your opponent’s team.
| Hydro Pump | Draco Meteor |
| Scald | Ice Beam |
How to Catch Kingdra in Pokemon Go
If you want to obtain Kingdra in Pokemon Go, the easiest way to go about it would be to find a Horsea and eventually evolve it into Kingdra. Catching enough Horsea can be daunting, but unfortunately Kingdra has not appeared as a raid boss in the past so you will have to do things the old fashioned way. You will need 25 Horsea candies in order to evolve into Seadra and you will need another 100 candies plus a Dragon Scale in order to evolve a Seadra into Kingra.
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Trivia
- Of all the Pokemon added to generation two, Kingdra was the only dragon added during this time.
- The inspiration for Kingdra’s design likely comes from the weedy seadragon.
- The name Kingdra is likely a combination of the words king, dragon, or hydra.
FAQ
How do you Evolve Kingdra?
Kingdra is the final evolution, so there is no way to evolve your Kingdra. In order to evolve your Seadra into Kingdra you will need to trade it while it is holding a Dragon Scale. In Pokemon Go, you will need 100 Horsea candies and a Dragon Scale in order to evolve it from a Seadra. There is no Pokemon beyond Kingdra and it does not evolve again.
What is 230 in the Pokedex?
The Pokedex assigns a number to every Pokemon, typically in sequential order with their evolutions. Since Kingdra was added to the game a generation after Horsea and Seadra, its number is not in sequential order, but it is Pokemon 230. This number can help you keep track of how many Pokemon you have obtained as well as understand when it was released.
Where is Kingdra located?
Kingdra can only be encountered in the wild in Pokemon Black and White and in Black and White 2. If you travel around routes 17 and 18 you can see rippling water where you can fish and encounter a Kingdra. In all other generations of the franchise, you will need to evolve your Seadra in order to obtain a Kingdra.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Dragon Pokemon”. While Kingdra’s relevance in competitive play was fairly limited to older generations, it is hard to find a Pokemon with such balanced base stats. It can still hold its own in newer generations but it is a bit difficult to run. Nevertheless, it has a very strong defensive typing along with a high speed potential which means a Kingdra on your team is a very solid Pokemon.
