Kingdra

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
Kingdra
Image:Kingdra.png
National Pokédex
Houndoom - Kingdra (#230) - Phanpy
Johto Pokédex
Seadra - Kingdra (#188) - Gligar
Hoenn Pokédex
Seadra - Kingdra (#186) - Bagon
Japanese name Kingdra
Evolves from Seadra
Evolves into None
Generation Second
Species Dragon Pokémon
Type Water / Dragon
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight 335.0lb lb (152 kg)
Ability Swift Swim / Snipe(the latter from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl onwards)

Kingdra (キングドラ Kingudora?) is one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon from the Pokémon Franchise – a series of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri.

The name originates in the words king, indicating the species' high level of regality, and dragon, referring to its second type. The element "-dra" might also have been taken from the name of the unevolved form Seadra, to demonstrate the relationship, or perhaps Hydra, a mythical creature who dwelled in the seas.

Contents

[edit] Biological characteristics

It is said that Kingdra lives and sleeps at the bottom of the sea floor, at extreme underwater depths that are otherwise devoid of life due to water pressure. It also usually hides in underwater caves. It is believed to create whirlpools by yawning. When a storm arrives, it is said to awaken and wander about in search of prey. When it comes to the surface, it creates a huge whirlpool that can swallow even ships.

Like Horsea and Seadra, Kingdra is based on the seahorse (specifically a sea dragon). Kingdra almost looks like a real seahorse, except that it has two branch-like horns on his head, two pairs of flippers on each side of its head, making it probably closer in appearance to the closely-related sea dragon. Even its back fin has branch-like protrusions.

[edit] In the video games

Kingdra can only be obtained by evolving Seadra. This is done by trading a Seadra holding a Dragon Scale. The level of the Seadra has no effect whatsoever on evolution.

As the final form of the water-type Horsea evolutionary chain, Kingdra is intriguing because it becomes a Water/Dragon dual type. As Dragon-types are highly regarded for their rarity (Kingdra was the only new Pokémon with the Dragon subtype in the Gold and Silver era of games, added to the only other three- the Dratini family line- in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow), Kingdra is viewed as a unique Pokémon to use. After all, none of the Dragon-types introduced in the Ruby and Sapphire versions are Water-type otherwise. Also, due to its unique type combination, Kingdra's only weakness is Dragon-type moves. Even though more Dragon-type moves were introduced in Gold/Silver such as Dragonbreath and Outrage the weakness to Dragon could be negligible as those moves were not common.

It also appears in Pokemon Ranger as a challenge.

Statistically, Kingdra has good base stats in Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Speed, and Special Defense, but not as good in Hit Points. Its Swift Swim ability doubles its Speed in rain, while the new ability Snipe, introduced in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, increases the base power of a move during a critical hit.

[edit] Anime Appearances

Three Kingdra have been seen in the anime, all three of which were used in battle. The first was in the third movie, and was used in Molly's battle with Misty, but wasn't really a real Kingdra. Another was used in the Whirl Cup against Ash's Totodile. And the third was used by Clair, the Blackthorn City Gym Leader, in Ash's last Johto Gym Battle. Although in the episode "Dueling Heroes", many fans either found Kingdra's portrayal humorous or disrespectful to its dark portrayal in other media. This is because he was defeated by Totodile, something Kingdra should defeat easily however Kingdra got bitten on the snout when attempting a Hydro Pump, causing it to back up with water, inflating its belly like a giant water balloon.

[edit] Manga Appearances

Two Kingdra appeared in the Johto saga of Pokémon Adventures. The first was owned by Silver and traded to Gold for a short time. The other was owned by Clair.

[edit] In the Pokémon Trading Card Game

Kingdra, as seen in the Pokémon Trading Card Game
Kingdra, as seen in the Pokémon Trading Card Game

Kingdra has appeared on six different trading cards, always as a stage 2 water card (except in one special case). The expansions it is found in are the following:

  • Neo Genesis (Water-type)
  • Neo Revelation (Water-type)
  • Aquapolis (Water-type)
  • Aquapolis (Colorless-type, with the Crystal Type Poke-Body)
  • EX Dragon (Water-type, as Kingdra EX)
  • EX Team Rocket Returns (Water-type)
  • EX Holon Phantoms (Fire/Metal type)

In Neo Revelation and Aquapolis it is a rare card, while in Neo Genesis, Aquapolis (again), EX Dragon, EX Holon Phantoms, and EX Team Rocket Returns it is a rare holographic card. Kingdra is also a secret-rare Colourless card with the Crystal Type Poke-Body in Aquapolis. In EX Holon Phantoms, Kingdra is a Delta species variation and has a Fire/Metal typing.

The Neo Revelation Kingdra wields a Genetic Memory attack, which copies and executes the attacks on the Horsea and Seadra cards it is on top on and thus evolved from. Kingdra EX also has the Genetic Memory attack.

Kingdra will star as a Pokémon-ex in the final third-generation set, EX Dragon Frontiers, alongside other Pokémon-ex dragons.

[edit] References

Publications
  • Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
  • Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
  • Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../k/i/n/Kingdra.html"
In other languages