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Nidoking

Base Set / #11/102

Nidoking

Printed language: English · Pokémon

Set (printed edition)
Base Set
Rarity (source)
Rare
Illustrator
Ken Sugimori
Source reference
base1-11

CARDEX BACKGROUND

The Pokémon’s story

Nidoking moves with tough skin, a horn capable of piercing hard materials and a tail of formidable strength. When enraged, it can topple metal structures and becomes difficult to stop. Yet entries describe it calming when reunited with Nidoqueen, its longstanding partner. This contrast between fury and attachment gives the Pokémon less uniform behaviour than its imposing silhouette might suggest.

Background on the species in the video games; its forms and card versions may have appeared later.

A detail worth noticing

Pokémon Sword states that Nidoking, though uncontrollable when angry, calms before Nidoqueen. Pokémon Shield praises the strength of its horn and tail. Its lasting relationship with its partner is therefore the most surprising counterpoint to this power.

Sources for this background

Card details

HP
90
Type (source)
Grass
Stage (source)
Stage2
Evolves from (printed name)
Nidorino
Pokédex number
34
Retreat cost
3 Energy
Weakness (source)
Psychic ×2

Printed card text — English

Quoted source text is retained in the card’s printed language so this exact printing can be identified. The CarDex background above is translated into English.

Description from the source

Uses its powerful tail in battle to smash, constrict, then break its prey's bones.

Attacks

Thrash

Cost: Grass · Colorless · Colorless

Damage: 30+

Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 30 damage plus 10 more damage; if tails, this attack does 30 damage and Nidoking does 10 damage to itself.

Toxic

Cost: Grass · Grass · Grass

Damage: 20

The Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned. It now takes 20 Poison damage instead of 10 after each player's turn (even if it was already Poisoned).

Documented variants

Versions reported by the source; identification for sales still needs verification.

  • Holographic
  • First Edition
  • holo · unlimited · standard
  • holo · shadowless · standard · 1st-edition
  • holo · shadowless · standard
  • holo · 1999-2000-copyright · standard

View the TCGdex source ↗

Price history

No verified price observations are available for this printing. History will begin once reference matching has been validated; no past prices have been reconstructed.

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