Nidoking Report

Nidoking (the Drill Pokémon) is a rare Poison/Ground-type Pokémon found among grassy fields and mountainous terrain within the Kanto, Johto, Kalos and Galar regions as well as the Sinnoh and Unova regions on rare occasions. Though they might lack the compassionate heart possessed by Nidoqueen, Nidoking are monstrous animals capable of literally crushing anything without strong armor to dust in an instant. They might not have high enough physical stats to make them among the strongest of combatants, but it's unlikely that anyone will be insulting their combat capabilities after seeing their Pokémon crushed into a pancake by their massive tails!

Nidoqueen and Nidoking are perhaps the most extreme example of sexual dimorphism within adults (to the point where they too are considered separate species along with their pre-evolved forms) and their abilities and personalities differ so radically from one another that it's a wonder that they are related at all. In the case of Nidoqueen, copious amounts of estrogen within their systems allows them to possess heightened female characteristics and overall makes them very calm, complacent but nonetheless potentially brutal creatures. Nidoking, on the other hand, have exceptionally low amounts of estrogen in their systems and instead have their bloodstream dominated by testosterone, making them beyond brutish, lethal and absolutely monstrous to face in any battle unprepared. Although each species has specialized stats that are only slightly different from one another and both can naturally gain access to the Sludge Wave attack with a bit of artificial help, Nidoqueen and Nidoking are otherwise worlds apart and are never seen amongst each other outside of mating season (which does them no good anyways since Nidoqueen are completely sterile). It is interesting to note, however, that aside from stats, the only attacks these creatures get access to as a byproduct of evolution also differ, as while the rugged, heavily-armored bodies of Nidoqueen allow them to learn the devastating Superpower attack upon evolving, the immense physical strength and horns of Nidoking allow them to learn the Megahorn attack instead. Outside of battle, Nidoqueen are relatively easy to take care of and are generally favored by trainers despite their inability to breed while Nidoking are such a danger to themselves and others that they are sometimes banned in tournaments and rarely seen at high levels amongst trainers. Both species, however, are more than worth battling with and are exceptionally well-balanced overall, so the choice is truly up to the trainer in all cases.

If Nidorino can be described as pure aggression, then Nidoking are rightfully labeled as pure rage wrapped up in forceful and spirited pride over their strength and are perhaps among the most unsafe creatures for humans and Pokémon alike to be near in any situation. As a result of a genetic defect, the adrenal glands of Nidoking end up releasing copious amounts of adrenaline into their systems at all times, making them constantly aggressive and enraged beyond all belief; the slightest thing can set these beasts off, and once they have started rampaging, there is very little capable of stopping them, though it is noted that they will calm down in the presence of a Nidoqueen mate they have known for a while. This as a whole wouldn't be so much of a problem if Nidoking weren't also such a problem to deal with in battle even when in a good mood. For one thing, the thick armor of scales that covers their body not only grants them Ground-type properties but helps to buffer against direct attacks in battle; moreover, it actually tends to increases the strength of their direct physical attacks, making their Thrash attack absolutely devastating against unarmored fighters. Secondly, their large central horn is still hard enough to pierce through most armor and is filled with a highly-toxic fluid that will be released when the horn undergoes sudden physical shock from an impact, filling the target with a lethal dose of venom that even the strongest of antidotes have a hard time curing. Most importantly of all, however, Nidoking are able to defeat most opponents in the blink of an eye using one appendage that few trainers think to look out for: their tail. The bone inside of a Nidoking's tail is actually very small relative to the tail’s overall size (though incredibly sturdy) and is heavily dominated by the armor covering it and the immense amount of muscular tissue packed into its confines. A single swing from a Nidoking tail is enough to topple a steel radio tower and snap a telephone pole in half like a matchstick, so the decimation it is capable of in battle is more than apparent. In fact, Nidoking prefer to use their tail above all other things to defeat and devour their opponents and prey, wrapping it around them tightly before constricting so hard and suddenly that it instantly shatters the target's bones and kills them instantaneously (usually from the rib cage impaling their internal organs). This has managed to make Nidoking a banned species in some tournaments despite the fact that they are only among the most moderately powerful of Pokémon in terms of stats alone, but when it comes to delivering physical beat downs that few will ever walk away from, Nidoking are masters of the trade and should only ever be tackled with special attacks for safety's sake.

While they might not be the most powerful of Poison or even Ground-type available to a trainer, Nidoking are well-balanced brutes that can efficiently deal and take damage in battle without a moment's hesitation. They might be frowned upon by many for their sheer destructive powers and uncontrollable fighting spirits, but as long as you can get a handle on keeping their anger to a minimum, you shouldn't have any trouble turning these otherwise impossible monstrosities into loyal fighters. Just do your best to stay out of their way when they're trying to entangle an opponent for a finishing blow; they might not intend to, but considering how much adrenaline is running through their system, it's not uncommon for these creatures accidentally grab their own trainers and put the final squeeze on them by accident!

Professor Wormwood