[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 2 onwards
**Price Range**: 18 points
**Overview**: Kingambit boasts great Attack and two great abilities in that make it a terrifying presence when it comes onto the field. Although Supreme Overlord is used more often, Defiant is great to dstop Pokemon with Intimidate from checking it reliably. Despite its low Speed, Kingambit has the bulk to take on strong neutral hits and hit back with its good STAB combination and priority, making it tough to remove, especially as a Tera Captain. Furthermore, it has a good number of utility options to support its team if needed. However, like a king on a chess board, Kingambit requires a lot of support from its teammates to function at its best. In addition, Kingambit has no form of reliable recovery, so it often has to take hits before dishing out any damage, as well as being extremely reliant on Sucker Punch to maintain its ability to clean up weakened teams.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Kingambit can deal enormous damage to a multitude of foes, especially as very few can switch in reliably to check it. Various damage-boosting items can elevate its attacking power further, leaving lasting wounds that a teammate can take advantage of to clean up over the course of a match.
**Setup Sweeper**: With access to Swords Dance, Kingambit can become a late-game wincon and cleave through even the sturdiest of walls, and it can pick off faster, frailer threats with Sucker Punch. While this requires great support from its teammates, it has a great payoff, as Kingambit can destroy entire teams if timed correctly.
**Utility Attacker**: Kingambit can provide support if needed with moves such as Stealth Rock and Thunder Wave to disrupt foes while remaining strong due to its natural strength. Kingambit can also be a bulky attacker with either an Assault Vest or a Resistance Berry to maintain its presence and trade blows against problematic foes for a teammate to take out afterwards.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Kowtow Cleave, Sucker Punch, Iron Head
**Setup Moves**: Swords Dance
**Utility Moves**: Thunder Wave, Stealth Rock, Substitute, Brick Break, Taunt
**Coverage**: Tera Blast, Low Kick, Poison Jab, Rock Tomb, Stone Edge, X-Scissor, Zen Headbutt
Niche Moves
========
**Metal Burst**: On bulkier sets, Kingambit can use Metal Burst to surprise foes and hit back with massive damage, which it can then finish off with a well-timed Sucker Punch.
**Lash Out**: Kingambit can use Lash Out to potentially deal horrifying damage to foes that lower its stats, especially as it has access to Defiant.
**Facade**: Kingambit can use Facade to punish foes that may use status moves in order to try and check it.
Common Items
========
**Damage-boosting Items**: Damage-boosting items allow Kingambit to elevate its power further without being Choice-locked, which can be detrimental due to its low Speed. Black Glasses gives Kingambit's Dark-type moves more power to chip foes better. It can also use Expert Belt reliably, as it has good coverage.
**Leftovers**: Kingambit can use Leftovers to give itself some longevity, especially on Swords Dance.
**Mental Herb**: Against problematic Encore or Taunt users, Kingambit may appreciate Mental Herb to guarantee setting up with Swords Dance to aid in its sweep.
**Lum Berry**: Kingambit can use Lum Berry if it doesn't have the flexibility to Terastallize into a type that can ignore a burn or paralysis.
Niche Items
========
**Air Balloon**: Air Balloon allows Kingambit to briefly ignore Ground-type coverage and is a potential lead option to disrupt problematic foes with Thunder Wave or to set up entry hazards. It can also force a foe to hit Kingambit with a weaker move, which it will then have to take an attack back.
**Assault Vest**: If going up against specially based teams, Kingambit can use an Assault Vest to maintain its presence over the course of a match. It can also gain more power through either Supreme Overlord or Defiant to muscle through foes.
**Resistance Berries**: If Kingambit does not expect to Terastallize in a matchup, Resistance Berries can be used against a problematic foe so that Kingambit can cripple back with either a strong attack of its own or status.
**Choice Band**: Choice Band allows Kingambit to become almost impossible to switch into. This item can become more reliable against teams that lack Dark- and Steel-resistant foes.
**Protective Pads**: If it goes up against a Pokemon with Flame Body or Static, Kingambit can use Protective Pads to ignore these abilities, especially as most of its primary moves and coverage make contact.
**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry can allow Kingambit to surprise faster foes and fire off a status move or chip down a foe before it goes down.
Tera
========
Kingambit should always be your primary Tera Captain of choice if drafted. It is one of the top Tera Captains, as in a vacuum, it can Terastallize into any type it wants and still gain an advantage over foes provoking head-scratching during preparations. Tera Dark and Steel power up its STAB attacks further, Tera Fire can prevent it from being burned if it expects to go up against status users, and Tera Fairy, Flying, and Water are generally great defensive options to either gain a turn setting up or cripple a foe, as well as gaining necessary coverage to deal with foes with Tera Blast.
Draft Strategy
========
Kingambit requires an immense amount of support to be a threat on the field. For this reason, it is often passed over for other great Tera Captains and often delayed for choosing other Pokemon to fulfil certain roles. If you intend to draft Kingambit, it should be paired with the following Pokemon with roles to support its weaknesses and open an opportunity to show its worth as king.
**Bulky Pivots**: While Kingambit can take a few hits, it prefers being able to enter the field healthy to be able to chip or cleave through as many foes as it can during a match. For this reason, it appreciates other bulky Pokemon that can pivot it in such as Galarian Slowking, Rotom-W, and Zapdos.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Kingambit can struggle to break through physical walls, so it should be paired with special wallbreakers such as Iron Valiant, Iron Moth, and Latios to lure these physical walls in and chip down.
**Fast Attackers**: Fast Pokemon can chip through foes to grant Kingambit the opportunity to finish them off with a Sucker Punch and force the opponent to invest more in Speed EVs. Pokemon such as Cinderace, Iron Bundle, and Meowscarada are good examples to consider.
**Fighting-type Punishes**: Kingambit can often struggle to deal with Fighting-type Pokemon, and while it can Terastallize to deal with these threats, it appreciates teammates to handle them, such as Iron Valiant, Dragonite, and Deoxys-S.
**Healing Wish**: As Kingambit has no form of reliable recovery, it appreciates teammates with Healing Wish like Latias, Mesprit, and Alomomola so that it can break foes mid-game, and return late-game to clean up weakened foes. This also has the added benefit of removing any status conditions it has been afflicted with.
Checks and Counters
========
**Disruption**: As a slow setup attacker, nearly every foe can outspeed Kingambit and lock it into an unfavorable move or setup with Encore unless it has a Mental Herb. They may also Taunt to prevent Swords Dance and thus prevent Kingambit from accomplishing a sweep.
**Colbur Berry**: While Kingambit has the means to deal with Ghost- and Psychic-types, they can often run Colbur Berry as a means to check Kingambit and its powerful Sucker Punch and fire off a power move or status in return, crippling Kingambit for the rest of the match.
**Physical Walls**: Kingambit can struggle to break through physical walls such as Great Tusk, Iron Hands, and Ting-Lu, all of which can absorb the damage and fire off massive damage in return.
**Contact Abilities / Rocky Helmet**: As most of Kingambit's moves make contact, it is susceptible to being afflicted with status or chip damage from Rocky Helmet. It has to be aware of Pokemon such as Zapdos, Moltres, and common Rocky Helmet users such as Garchomp and Skarmory. Kingambit can use Protective Pads to get around this issue, but this removes its item flexibility when it would rather have a damage-boosting item instead.
**Status Moves**: As Kingambit is very reliant on Sucker Punch, foes can exploit it with a well-timed Substitute, status move, or a setup move, which can be disastrous in late-game scenarios.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theuncultured.629845/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
**Draft Order**: Round 2 onwards
**Price Range**: 18 points
**Overview**: Kingambit boasts great Attack and two great abilities in that make it a terrifying presence when it comes onto the field. Although Supreme Overlord is used more often, Defiant is great to dstop Pokemon with Intimidate from checking it reliably. Despite its low Speed, Kingambit has the bulk to take on strong neutral hits and hit back with its good STAB combination and priority, making it tough to remove, especially as a Tera Captain. Furthermore, it has a good number of utility options to support its team if needed. However, like a king on a chess board, Kingambit requires a lot of support from its teammates to function at its best. In addition, Kingambit has no form of reliable recovery, so it often has to take hits before dishing out any damage, as well as being extremely reliant on Sucker Punch to maintain its ability to clean up weakened teams.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Kingambit can deal enormous damage to a multitude of foes, especially as very few can switch in reliably to check it. Various damage-boosting items can elevate its attacking power further, leaving lasting wounds that a teammate can take advantage of to clean up over the course of a match.
**Setup Sweeper**: With access to Swords Dance, Kingambit can become a late-game wincon and cleave through even the sturdiest of walls, and it can pick off faster, frailer threats with Sucker Punch. While this requires great support from its teammates, it has a great payoff, as Kingambit can destroy entire teams if timed correctly.
**Utility Attacker**: Kingambit can provide support if needed with moves such as Stealth Rock and Thunder Wave to disrupt foes while remaining strong due to its natural strength. Kingambit can also be a bulky attacker with either an Assault Vest or a Resistance Berry to maintain its presence and trade blows against problematic foes for a teammate to take out afterwards.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Kowtow Cleave, Sucker Punch, Iron Head
**Setup Moves**: Swords Dance
**Utility Moves**: Thunder Wave, Stealth Rock, Substitute, Brick Break, Taunt
**Coverage**: Tera Blast, Low Kick, Poison Jab, Rock Tomb, Stone Edge, X-Scissor, Zen Headbutt
Niche Moves
========
**Metal Burst**: On bulkier sets, Kingambit can use Metal Burst to surprise foes and hit back with massive damage, which it can then finish off with a well-timed Sucker Punch.
**Lash Out**: Kingambit can use Lash Out to potentially deal horrifying damage to foes that lower its stats, especially as it has access to Defiant.
**Facade**: Kingambit can use Facade to punish foes that may use status moves in order to try and check it.
Common Items
========
**Damage-boosting Items**: Damage-boosting items allow Kingambit to elevate its power further without being Choice-locked, which can be detrimental due to its low Speed. Black Glasses gives Kingambit's Dark-type moves more power to chip foes better. It can also use Expert Belt reliably, as it has good coverage.
**Leftovers**: Kingambit can use Leftovers to give itself some longevity, especially on Swords Dance.
**Mental Herb**: Against problematic Encore or Taunt users, Kingambit may appreciate Mental Herb to guarantee setting up with Swords Dance to aid in its sweep.
**Lum Berry**: Kingambit can use Lum Berry if it doesn't have the flexibility to Terastallize into a type that can ignore a burn or paralysis.
Niche Items
========
**Air Balloon**: Air Balloon allows Kingambit to briefly ignore Ground-type coverage and is a potential lead option to disrupt problematic foes with Thunder Wave or to set up entry hazards. It can also force a foe to hit Kingambit with a weaker move, which it will then have to take an attack back.
**Assault Vest**: If going up against specially based teams, Kingambit can use an Assault Vest to maintain its presence over the course of a match. It can also gain more power through either Supreme Overlord or Defiant to muscle through foes.
**Resistance Berries**: If Kingambit does not expect to Terastallize in a matchup, Resistance Berries can be used against a problematic foe so that Kingambit can cripple back with either a strong attack of its own or status.
**Choice Band**: Choice Band allows Kingambit to become almost impossible to switch into. This item can become more reliable against teams that lack Dark- and Steel-resistant foes.
**Protective Pads**: If it goes up against a Pokemon with Flame Body or Static, Kingambit can use Protective Pads to ignore these abilities, especially as most of its primary moves and coverage make contact.
**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry can allow Kingambit to surprise faster foes and fire off a status move or chip down a foe before it goes down.
Tera
========
Kingambit should always be your primary Tera Captain of choice if drafted. It is one of the top Tera Captains, as in a vacuum, it can Terastallize into any type it wants and still gain an advantage over foes provoking head-scratching during preparations. Tera Dark and Steel power up its STAB attacks further, Tera Fire can prevent it from being burned if it expects to go up against status users, and Tera Fairy, Flying, and Water are generally great defensive options to either gain a turn setting up or cripple a foe, as well as gaining necessary coverage to deal with foes with Tera Blast.
Draft Strategy
========
Kingambit requires an immense amount of support to be a threat on the field. For this reason, it is often passed over for other great Tera Captains and often delayed for choosing other Pokemon to fulfil certain roles. If you intend to draft Kingambit, it should be paired with the following Pokemon with roles to support its weaknesses and open an opportunity to show its worth as king.
**Bulky Pivots**: While Kingambit can take a few hits, it prefers being able to enter the field healthy to be able to chip or cleave through as many foes as it can during a match. For this reason, it appreciates other bulky Pokemon that can pivot it in such as Galarian Slowking, Rotom-W, and Zapdos.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Kingambit can struggle to break through physical walls, so it should be paired with special wallbreakers such as Iron Valiant, Iron Moth, and Latios to lure these physical walls in and chip down.
**Fast Attackers**: Fast Pokemon can chip through foes to grant Kingambit the opportunity to finish them off with a Sucker Punch and force the opponent to invest more in Speed EVs. Pokemon such as Cinderace, Iron Bundle, and Meowscarada are good examples to consider.
**Fighting-type Punishes**: Kingambit can often struggle to deal with Fighting-type Pokemon, and while it can Terastallize to deal with these threats, it appreciates teammates to handle them, such as Iron Valiant, Dragonite, and Deoxys-S.
**Healing Wish**: As Kingambit has no form of reliable recovery, it appreciates teammates with Healing Wish like Latias, Mesprit, and Alomomola so that it can break foes mid-game, and return late-game to clean up weakened foes. This also has the added benefit of removing any status conditions it has been afflicted with.
Checks and Counters
========
**Disruption**: As a slow setup attacker, nearly every foe can outspeed Kingambit and lock it into an unfavorable move or setup with Encore unless it has a Mental Herb. They may also Taunt to prevent Swords Dance and thus prevent Kingambit from accomplishing a sweep.
**Colbur Berry**: While Kingambit has the means to deal with Ghost- and Psychic-types, they can often run Colbur Berry as a means to check Kingambit and its powerful Sucker Punch and fire off a power move or status in return, crippling Kingambit for the rest of the match.
**Physical Walls**: Kingambit can struggle to break through physical walls such as Great Tusk, Iron Hands, and Ting-Lu, all of which can absorb the damage and fire off massive damage in return.
**Contact Abilities / Rocky Helmet**: As most of Kingambit's moves make contact, it is susceptible to being afflicted with status or chip damage from Rocky Helmet. It has to be aware of Pokemon such as Zapdos, Moltres, and common Rocky Helmet users such as Garchomp and Skarmory. Kingambit can use Protective Pads to get around this issue, but this removes its item flexibility when it would rather have a damage-boosting item instead.
**Status Moves**: As Kingambit is very reliant on Sucker Punch, foes can exploit it with a well-timed Substitute, status move, or a setup move, which can be disastrous in late-game scenarios.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theuncultured.629845/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Last edited:
