Ash's Kingler

Ash's Kingler
サトシのキングラー Satoshi's Kingler
Bag Poké Ball SV Sprite.png
Ash Kingler.png
Ash's Kingler
Debuts in Mystery at the Lighthouse
Caught at Route 25 near Bill's Lighthouse
Evolves in Round One - Begin!
Gender Unknown
Ability Unknown
Current location In rotation
HOME098.png HOME099.png
This Pokémon spent 62 episodes as Krabby.
Voice actor Japanese English
As Krabby Rikako Aikawa
As Kingler Unshō Ishizuka

Ash's Kingler (Japanese: サトシのキングラー Satoshi's Kingler) was the sixth Pokémon that Ash caught in the Kanto region, and his seventh overall. It was also the first of Ash's Pokémon to primarily reside at Professor Oak's Laboratory in Pallet Town.

In the anime

History

Original series

Kanto
 
As a Krabby

Ash originally obtained Kingler as a Krabby in Mystery at the Lighthouse, when he became angry at Misty for saying that it was a fluke that he caught all of his other Pokémon. Storming down to the beach, he discovered a minuscule Krabby and made fun of it. Krabby challenged Ash, who fought it with a nearby stick and then captured it in a Poké Ball. Having six Pokémon already in his party, the newly caught Krabby's Poké Ball was immediately teleported away, much to Ash's surprise and concern. He soon learned Krabby was sent to Professor Oak.

 
Krabby being compared to Gary's bigger Krabby

Ash quickly rang Oak, initially horrified at the thought that Oak was eating his new Krabby. However, the Professor pointed out that he was eating tofu. Ash's initial relief changed to jealousy after Oak revealed that Gary had also caught a Krabby, although his Krabby was far larger. Later, in Showdown at the Po-ké Corral, Gary sniggered at the sight of Krabby's minuscule size.

Krabby made its battling debut in Round One - Begin! when Ash used it during the first round of the Pokémon League against Mandi. He reasoned that Krabby would be perfect for a battle on the water field despite Misty's protests.

It seemed at first that Misty's forebodings would prove true; Mandi's Exeggutor used Psychic to trap Krabby in a whirlpool. However, Krabby escaped and took control of the battle with Vise Grip. It avoided Exeggutor's Hypnosis and took victory with Leer and Stomp. The intensity of the battle caused it to evolve into a Kingler. It was able to finish the rest of the match single-handedly, defeating Mandi's Seadra by slowing it down with Bubble before knocking it out with Crabhammer; Kingler also defeated Mandi's Golbat with a Hyper Beam. This was despite Misty and Brock's real concerns about Kingler's ability to prevail against Seadra's speed and Golbat's air attacks.

 
Kingler, Muk, and Tauros offering to fight Drake

Ash also used Kingler in his battle on the ice field in Fire and Ice, where Kingler defeated Pete Pebbleman's Cloyster by striking its protective shell with a fury of unrelenting Crabhammers. It went up against his Arcanine, but its Bubble was dodged by the Fire-type Pokémon, and Kingler was knocked out by a Dragon Rage attack.

Orange Islands

Kingler spent its time at Oak's lab as Ash and his his friends traveled the Orange Islands. Kingler and Muk offered to fight for Ash in the Orange Island Championship battle against Drake in Hello, Pummelo!, but Ash chose Tauros instead.

Johto
 
Kingler in the Whirl Cup

In A Farfetch'd Tale, Kingler crowded into Ash's screen with Muk, Tauros, and Snorlax to wish him luck for his next Gym battle with Whitney.

After realizing he only had one Water-type Pokémon, Totodile, in The Perfect Match!, Ash had Kingler rejoin his party in time for the Whirl Cup tournament. In the second round, after Totodile's loss to Poliwhirl, Kingler knocked out Poliwhirl with a powerful one-two punch Crabhammer. However, when Ash ordered it to use Vise Grip on Psyduck, the pain gave Psyduck the ability to tap into its Psychic powers and defeat Kingler with an overwhelming Confusion attack. Kingler was sent back to Oak's lab afterward.

In Love, Pokémon Style, Ash planned to use Kingler in the Johto League Silver Conference against Macy's array of Fire Pokémon, but it was injured while rescuing a trio of runaway Voltorb, who shocked Kingler when it caught them. Nurse Joy informed Ash that Kingler would need to rest up; luckily Squirtle arrived in time to fill Kingler's spot.

Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire and Pokémon Chronicles

In Showdown at the Oak Corral, Kingler made a cameo appearance telling the other Pokémon about Cassidy and Butch.

In Journey to the Starting Line!, Kingler watched a group of Marill dance. This caused it to get dizzy and clamp onto Phanpy's tail, which led to a turn of events that caused a group of first partner Pokémon to escape Professor Oak's lab.

In The Right Place and the Right Mime, Kingler quickly made friends with Ash's Corphish.

Pokémon the Series: Black & White

Kingler was reunited with Ash in The Dream Continues!, where it and the rest of Ash's Pokémon posed in a group photo with him.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

 
Kingler and Ash

Kingler, along with the rest of Ash's Pokémon at the lab, reunited with Ash in Friends, Rivals, Lend Me Your Spirit!. During the visit, it was seen relaxing with Corphish, and they later watched the battle between Ash and Paul. Before Ash left, it posed with the rest of Ash's Pokémon in a group photo with him.

From Battling as Hard as Stone! onwards, Kingler watched Ash's Masters Eight Tournament matches against Steven, Cynthia, and Leon. In Partners in Time!, Kingler appeared as a vision to Pikachu during his battle against Leon's Charizard.

In Heroes Unite!, Kingler, along with the rest of the Pokémon at the lab, welcomed Ash back to Pallet Town after his victory over Leon.

In Ride, Lapras, Ride!, Kingler was shown to have rejoined Ash's team. During the episode, it helped free a trapped Wailmer. Despite Wailmer evolving into a Wailord and getting stuck again, they were able to free the Float Whale Pokémon.

Personality and characteristics

In its debut, Krabby appeared to be fiery and brash, challenging Ash to a fight, despite him not even being a Pokémon. However, after being caught, Krabby mellowed out significantly and became a modest and quiet Pokémon. This is most likely due to its residence with Professor Oak, who said in Showdown at the Po-ké Corral that Pokémon take on the personality of the person who spends the most time with it.

In battle, Kingler was quite determined, not giving up against Mandi despite, at face value, being the underdog against all three of his Pokémon. Kingler was a very modest victor, happily hugging its Trainer, but not waving to the crowd or gloating at Mandi. These are more of Oak's traits coming through, as opposed to the rest of Ash's team. This is likely why Kingler never secured a permanent position on Ash's team. It has proven strong in battle, loyal, and caring, but the little time spent together has likely made Ash feel more secure using his other Pokémon. Kingler, like Muk and Tauros, remains a trump card in Ash's arsenal.

Moves used

 
Using Leer
as a Krabby
 
Using Water Gun
Move First Used In
Harden Round One - Begin!
Vise Grip  Round One - Begin!
Leer Round One - Begin!
Stomp Round One - Begin!
Water Gun  Round One - Begin!
Bubble  Round One - Begin!
Crabhammer  Round One - Begin!
Hyper Beam  Round One - Begin!
A shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Artwork

 
Poster for
Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master

In the manga

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

 
Kingler in The Electric Tale of Pikachu

Ash caught Kingler off-screen as a Krabby and used it in Welcome to the Big Leagues. During the battle, it defeated a Golbat, allowing Ash to move on in the Indigo League tournament.

Moves used

 
Using Crabhammer
Move First Used In
Crabhammer Welcome to the Big Leagues
A shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Trivia

 
Krabby's Poké Ball teleporting away due to Ash having a full team

See also

For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Krabby and Kingler.


  This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.