Shadow Nidoking

PVE Movesets Grades

Quick	Charge	ATK	DEF
Poison Jab	Sludge Wave	A	B-
Poison Jab	Megahorn	X	B-
Iron Tail	Sludge Wave	C	B
Iron Tail	Megahorn	X	B
Fury Cutter*	Sludge Wave	B	X
Iron Tail	Earth Power	C	B
Fury Cutter*	Earth Power	A-	X
Poison Jab	Earth Power	B-	B-
Iron Tail	Sand Tomb	X	A
Poison Jab	Sand Tomb	X	A-

Quick	Charge	ATK	DEF
Poison Jab	Earthquake	X	X
Iron Tail	Earthquake	X	X
Fury Cutter*	Earthquake	X	X
Fury Cutter*	Megahorn	X	X
Fury Cutter*	Sand Tomb	X	C

PVE Offensive Moves Explanation

• Poison Jab is slightly superior to Iron Tail for STAB and type effectiveness.

• Fury Cutter has a fast cooldown and high EPS that performs surprisingly well despite lacking STAB.

• Earthpower is Nidoking's best charged move, though it lacks general synergy with any of its fast moves.

• Sludge Wave is only one of Nidoking’s charge moves that can pair typing and STAB with one of Nidoking's Quick Moves. It has limited but unique type coverage with STAB.

• Earthquake is basically a worse Earthpower.

• Megahorn is useless on Nidoking.

• Sand Tomb is meant for PvP.

PVE Defensive Moves Explanation

• Iron Tail is superior for raw damage output against Nidoking’s numerous type counters.

• Poison Jab is decent on defense, but Fury Cutter is completely ineffective.

• Sludge Wave has a combination of high power and not being utterly trivial to dodge.

• Earth Power deals good damage as a 2-bar move, but is easy to dodge. 

• Sand Tomb as a 3-bar move is great for defense, and can be used frequently. 

• Megahorn is weak, but it has the earliest damage window Nidoking’s charge moves.

• Earthquake is outclassed on defense.

PVE Overview

PVP Movesets Grades

Quick	Charge	ATK
Fury Cutter*	Sand Tomb Earth Power	A
Fury Cutter*	Sand Tomb Megahorn	A-

PvP Moveset Explanation

Fury Cutter* or Poison Jab + Sand Tomb and Earth Power or Earthquake or Megahorn

Access to Fury Cutter lets Nidoking stand out from other Pokemon, most notably Nidoqueen. While its damage output is somewhat laughable, its faster energy gains enable Nidoking to access its Charge Moves sooner. Poison Jab is also viable due to its significantly stronger STAB damage output, but going for this option would make Nidoqueen seem more appealing due to her greater bulk. 

Earth Power is the generally preferred ground-type attack due to its faster charge time, though Earthquake offers more raw power and power per energy spent. Megahorn provides solid power and aforementioned counter-coverage against Psychic types, making it the preferred second charged-move. Sand Tomb is recommended for its cheap energy cost, enabling Nidoking to bait shields more easily, as well as applying a guaranteed debuff on the opponent. 

PvP Rating Explanation

Great League: 2 / 5

The Shadow variant doesn't really do Nidoking any favors in PvP. It's simply not a strong option.

Ultra League: 2 / 5

Same story here.

Master League: 0 / 5

Nidoking is entirely unviable in the Master League.

Fast Moves

15

Iron Tail

More Info

Steel

1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS

0.7 secs

CD	DW	EPS	EPU	DPS	DPS w/STAB	True DPS
1.10	0.20	6.36		13.64	17.05

10

Poison Jab

More Info

Poison

1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.51x Damage	VS

0.7 secs

CD	DW	EPS	EPU	DPS	DPS w/STAB	True DPS
0.80	0.60	8.75		12.50	15.63

10

Double Kick

More Info

Fighting

1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.51x Damage	VS

0.7 secs

CD	DW	EPS	EPU	DPS	DPS w/STAB	True DPS
1.00	0.50	13.00		10.00	12.50

Elite Fast Moves

3

Fury Cutter

More Info

Bug

1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS

0.7 secs

CD	DW	EPS	EPU	DPS	DPS w/STAB	True DPS
0.40	0.30	15.00		7.50	9.38

Charge Moves

140

Earthquake

1 Energy

More Info

Ground

1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.51x Damage	VS

0.7 secs

CD	DW	EPS	DPE	DPS	DPS w/STAB	DPE*DPS
3.60	0.80	0.00	1.40	38.89	48.61		54.44

110

Megahorn

1 Energy

More Info

Bug

1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS

0.7 secs

CD	DW	EPS	DPE	DPS	DPS w/STAB	DPE*DPS
2.20	0.20	0.00	1.10	50.00	62.50		55.00

110

Sludge Wave

1 Energy

More Info

Poison

1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.51x Damage	VS

0.7 secs

CD	DW	EPS	DPE	DPS	DPS w/STAB	DPE*DPS
3.20	1.00	0.00	1.10	34.38	42.97		37.81

100

Earth Power

2 Energy

More Info

Ground

1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.51x Damage	VS

0.7 secs

CD	DW	EPS	DPE	DPS	DPS w/STAB	DPE*DPS
3.60	0.70	0.00	2.00	27.78	34.72		55.56

60

Sand Tomb

2 Energy

More Info

Ground

1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
1.6x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.51x Damage	VS

0.7 secs

CD	DW	EPS	DPE	DPS	DPS w/STAB	DPE*DPS
4.00	2.30	0.00	1.82	15.00	18.75		27.27

Exclusive Charge Moves

10

Frustration

3 Energy

More Info

Normal

.714x Damage	VS
.714x Damage	VS
.51x Damage	VS

0.7 secs

CD	DW	EPS	DPE	DPS	DPS w/STAB	DPE*DPS
2.00	0.80	0.00	0.30	5.00	6.25		1.52

Purification Cost

Pokemon Type Chart

Vulnerable

	160% damage
	160% damage
	160% damage
	160% damage

Resistant

	62.5% damage
	39.1% damage
	62.5% damage
	62.5% damage
	39.1% damage
	62.5% damage

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