Nidoking Raid Guide
Weak to Ground, Ice, Psychic, Water — every counter below is ranked by DPS against Nidoking.
Best counters
Ranked by DPS against Nidoking. Tap a row for full stats.
Budget counters
No Shadow, Mega or Primal forms needed.
Stats & weaknesses
- Raid tier
- 3-Star
- Weather boost
- Cloudy, Sunny
- Shiny available
- Yes
- Base Attack
- 204
- Base Defense
- 156
- Base Stamina
- 191
Weak to — use these types
Resists — avoid these types
Catch CP after the raid
The CP you will see on the encounter screen.
| IVs | Lv 20 CP | Lv 25 CP (weather) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 / 10 / 10 floor | 1,429 | 1,778 |
| 15 / 15 / 15 100% | 1,503 | 1,870 |
Raid guide
How the fight goes and what to bring.
Do not bring Electric, Poison, Bug damage — Nidoking resists it and your lobby will run out of time before it runs out of HP. Everything in the counter list above already hits for super effective damage, so pick the six highest entries you actually own and power up.
In Cloudy, Sunny weather the boss hits harder and survives longer, but the catch encounter is level 25 instead of 20 — a harder fight for a better reward. Bring one extra trainer on boosted runs.
On the catch screen, use Golden Razz Berries and aim for Excellent curveball throws; the shiny check happens the moment the encounter loads, so you will know before your first throw.
FAQ
How many trainers do I need to beat Nidoking?
Nidoking can be beaten by 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters. 4+ is comfortable, and 5–6 is the safe number in a public lobby where you cannot see anyone's team.
Can I beat Nidoking without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes. The best non-Shadow, non-Mega option is Mewtwo at 37.647 DPS. Budget teams trade about one trainer's worth of damage, so add one or two extra bodies to the lobby.
Can Nidoking be shiny?
Yes — shiny Nidoking is available from raid encounters. The rate for legendary raids is roughly 1 in 20. Use a Pinap Berry if you already have the shiny and want the extra candy.
What weather boosts Nidoking?
Nidoking is boosted in Cloudy, Sunny weather. The raid is harder because the boss's moves gain a 1.2× multiplier, but the catch is level 25 instead of level 20 and the IV floor rises to 4/4/4.
Is Nidoking worth raiding?
Nidoking is a lower-tier boss you can solo or clear with one friend. It is good for candy, XP and a high-IV specimen, but it does not justify Premium Passes.
What is the best moveset for Nidoking?
The counter list on this page is for beating Nidoking. For the moves Nidoking should use as your attacker, open its full stats page — it lists every fast and charged move with raid DPS and PvP rankings.