Kingler (Pokémon)
Kingler (Japanese: キングラー Kingler) is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I.
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Type
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Abilities
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Gender ratio
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Catch rate
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Breeding
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Height
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Weight
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Base experience yield
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Leveling rate
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EV yield
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Footprint
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Pokédex color
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Base friendship
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It evolves from Krabby starting at level 28.
Kingler has a Gigantamax form.
Biology
Kingler is a crustacean Pokémon resembling a crab. Its strong shell covers the outside of its body, featuring a red upper half and a light tan lower half. Its upper half is topped with six tall, thin spikes that resemble a crown. Its light tan arms are also connected to its upper body. Its lower half doubles as its jaw with six fangs overlapping its upper body. Its two outer fangs are much larger than the inner four and are roughly half as tall as Kingler's entire body. Its hips visibly protrude from its lower body and connect to its four long, thin legs. Each leg has a single, claw-like foot. Kingler's main features are its orange pincers. Its left claw is roughly twice as large as the other and is as hard as steel.
Kingler is often found on the edges of water, usually the ocean. Its powerful claws have 10,000 horsepower and are capable of prying open the shells of Shellder and Cloyster. While Kingler's large, left claw is its main tool for offensive maneuvers, it is so large and heavy that Kingler can barely lift it. It causes balancing problems and Kingler may quickly become fatigued from continuous use. However, it has been shown to communicate with other Kingler by waving its pincers around. In the past, Crabhammer was its signature move.
As Gigantamax Kingler, it has gained a larger, spikier appearance. Three red clouds float around the crown spikes on its head and the white sclera of its eyes are bright red. It now has foaming bubbles around its mouth in the shape of a mustache and long beard. The left pincer of Kingler has become much larger and its arms and legs have become longer as a result of Gigantamaxing. There is white, striped armor similar to teeth inside the pincers. The arms and legs both have several spikes. Kingler's claw-like feet have become orange and straighter.
The left pincer of Gigantamax Kingler can destroy anything it hits. The bubbles it releases are strongly alkaline. Should any opponent be struck by the bubbles, their bodies will quickly melt away.
Gigantamax Kingler is the only known Pokémon capable of using the exclusive G-Max Move G-Max Foam Burst.
In the anime
Main series

Ash's Kingler
In Round One - Begin!, Ash's Krabby evolved into a Kingler during Ash's first-round battle in the Indigo Plateau Conference.
Other
In The Battle of the Badge, Giovanni used a Kingler during his Gym battle against Gary's Arcanine. Despite the type disadvantage, Kingler was defeated. He later loaned it to Jessie, James, and Meowth when he put them in charge of the Viridian Gym. Kingler managed to keep Ash's Bulbasaur at bay, but it was driven off by Pikachu. Another Kingler was seen being held in a cage.
In Expedition to Onix Island!, a Kingler got into trouble with Oshawott and Piplup on the deserted island.
In The Cuteness Quotient!, James pulled a Kingler from the Rocket Prize Master during Team Rocket's scheme to steal the Pokémon participating in the Friendship Festival.
Minor appearances
Kingler debuted in Showdown at Dark City, where it was one of the Kaz Gym's Pokémon.
In Princess vs. Princess, a Kingler battled in the Queen of the Princess Festival.
In Mewtwo Strikes Back, a Trainer's Kingler was defeated by Mewtwo while it was serving Giovanni.
In Pikachu's Vacation, a Kingler was at the Pokémon Theme Park.
In Pikachu Re-Volts, a Kingler was controlled by Cassidy and Butch via their Drowzee at Mandarin Island North.
A Kingler appeared in Marina's fantasy in Bye Bye Psyduck.
In The Joy of Pokémon, a Trainer's Kingler was treated by the Nurse Joy of an unnamed island.
In The Power of One, multiple Kingler sensed the disturbance caused by Lawrence III.
Multiple wild Kingler appeared in Pikachu's Rescue Adventure.
In Beauty and the Breeder, a Pokémon Breeder's Kingler participated in a Pokémon breeding competition.
In The Heartbreak of Brock, a Kingler lived at Temacu's father's lab.
In Octillery The Outcast, a Trainer's Kingler competed in the Whirl Cup.
In Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, multiple Kingler were present during the final showdown with The Phantom and his crew.
In Up Close and Personable!, a Kingler lived in the lake near the Pokémon Summer Academy.
In Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, a Trainer used a Kingler to travel to New Island.
A Kingler appeared in Legend? Go! Friends? Go!.
In The Cuteness Quotient!, a Kingler was featured on a poster for the Friendship Festival.
In Getting More Than You Battled For!, a Kingler living in a swamp at Cero Island attacked Goh.
Pokédex entries
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Pokémon Evolutions
In The Show, a Kingler briefly appeared in the seas around the Whirl Islands.
In the manga


The Electric Tale of Pikachu
- Main article: Ash's Kingler
Ash has a Kingler that he caught off-screen. It was first seen defeating a Trainer in the Indigo League; it was later revealed that it evolved from a Krabby in doing so.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
A Kingler appeared in JNM15.
Pokémon Adventures
In Pokémon Adventures, Kingler is shown under the ownership of several Team Rocket Grunts. One is later shown in a flashback during Giovanni's speech regarding experimented Pokémon that were shipped on the S.S. Anne, under the ownership of Harry in Long Live the Nidoqueen!?.
A Kingler appeared in The Last Battle XIII as one of the Pokémon sent to participate in the fight in Ilex Forest.
Much later, in My, My, My Mimic, a Kingler is shown being caught by Carr to try to ambush Red and Blue, but it is frozen and beaten by the newly arrived Lorelei.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
Clefairy hooked a Kingler in Great Success in the Mountains or the Seas!?. Another Kingler appeared in the same chapter, under the ownership of Lt. Surge.
Red obtained a Kingler in Regain the Deserted Power Plant!.
A Kingler appeared in Which One is the Real Clefairy!?.
A Kingler appeared in Fierce Competition at the Pokémon Baseball Tournament!, where it was one of the Pokémon that took part in a baseball match.
Other appearances
Detective Pikachu
Two Kingler appeared in Detective Pikachu.
Game data
Pokédex entries
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Game locations
In side games
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Wild Area News
| Games | Event | Gigantamax | Level | Distribution period |
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| Sw | Wild Area News | Yes | 40, 50, 60 | February 7 to 16, 2020 |
| Sw | Wild Area News | Yes | 30, 40, 50, 60 | February 16 to March 8, 2020 |
| Sw | Wild Area News | No | 30, 40, 50, 60 | February 16 to March 8, 2020 |
| Sw | Wild Area News | Yes | 30, 40, 50, 60 | February 27 to March 1, 2020 |
| Sw | Wild Area News | Yes | 40 | June 2 to 29, 2020 |
| Sw | Wild Area News | Yes | 40 | June 17 to 28, 2020 |
| SwSh | Wild Area News | No | 40 | July 17 to 19, 2020 |
| SwSh | Wild Area News | Yes | 50 | July 17 to 19, 2020 |
Base stats
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| At Lv. 50 | At Lv. 100 | ||
HP: 55 |
115 - 162 | 220 - 314 | |
130 |
121 - 200 | 238 - 394 | |
115 |
108 - 183 | 211 - 361 | |
50 |
49 - 112 | 94 - 218 | |
50 |
49 - 112 | 94 - 218 | |
75 |
72 - 139 | 139 - 273 | |
Total: 475 |
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Pokéathlon stats
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Type effectiveness
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Learnset
Kingler is available in Sword and Shield and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
By leveling up
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By TM/TR
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By breeding
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By tutoring
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By a prior evolution
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By transfer from another generation
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Side game data
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Gigantamax
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Sprites
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Trivia
- Kingler shares its category name with Scizor. They are both known as the Pincer Pokémon, though Scizor was originally called the Scissors Pokémon.
- Kingler's number in the National Pokédex and the Galar Pokédex in Sword and Shield are the same: 099.
Origin
Kingler appears to be very similar to a fiddler crab or a terrestrial crab of the genus Cardisoma, which usually have one claw larger than the other. It may also draw inspiration from pliers and hammers. Conceptually, its crown of spikes and its name may allude to king crab.
Its Gigantamax form may be based on Japanese spider crabs with a bubble beard, that may be a reference to the fact that crabs blow bubbles to keep oxygen flowing to the gills when they are out of the water. It may also be a reference to a bearded king.
In other languages
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Related articles
External links
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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species. |




















































































