What Pokémon Does King’s Rock Evolve?
The King’s Rock is a coveted evolution item in the Pokémon universe, known for its unique ability to transform certain Pokémon into their evolved forms. Primarily, the King’s Rock facilitates the evolution of two specific Pokémon, both of which are Water-type and were introduced in the initial generations. These Pokémon are:
- Poliwhirl into Politoed
- Slowpoke into Slowking
These evolutions are not achieved through leveling up alone; instead, the King’s Rock is the essential catalyst, combining with Pokémon candy to trigger the change. This makes the King’s Rock a valuable and sought-after item for any Pokémon trainer looking to complete their Pokédex or strengthen their team.
How to Use the King’s Rock
The usage of the King’s Rock differs slightly between core series Pokémon games and Pokémon GO.
Core Series Games
In the core games, the process of evolving Slowpoke into Slowking requires Slowpoke to hold the King’s Rock while being traded. The act of trading with this item causes the evolution to occur. Once traded, the Pokémon will evolve into its alternative form.
Pokémon GO
In Pokémon GO, the process is different. The King’s Rock, once obtained, is simply one of the necessary items for the evolution process. The process generally involves the following steps:
- Select the specific Pokémon you want to evolve (either Poliwhirl or Slowpoke).
- Confirm you have the required amount of candy for that Pokémon (100 Poliwag Candy for Politoed and 50 Slowpoke Candy for Slowking).
- Ensure you have a King’s Rock in your inventory.
- Initiate the evolution process.
It is essential to note that in Pokémon GO, you may also choose to evolve Poliwhirl into Poliwrath simply by using 100 Poliwag Candy and Slowpoke into Slowbro by using 50 Slowpoke Candy, without the use of a King’s Rock. The King’s Rock provides access to these alternate evolutions of Politoed and Slowking.
The Rarity of the King’s Rock
The King’s Rock is considered a rare item, particularly in Pokémon GO. This rarity is a significant factor in its appeal to collectors and trainers.
Pokémon GO
In Pokémon GO, Evolutionary Items, including the King’s Rock, have a low drop rate of less than 1% from interacting with PokeStops or Gyms. This rarity often leads to a lot of grinding to get this rare item, and it makes this item much more valuable to have. This means that each spin of the PokeStop is a gamble, and getting a King’s Rock is a rare and fortunate occasion.
Core Series Games
While the King’s Rock is not as rare in the core games, obtaining it still requires some effort, often involving specific locations or actions within the game. The rarity is intended to make the evolutions feel like a notable achievement.
Significance of Politoed and Slowking
Both Politoed and Slowking, the evolved forms obtained through the King’s Rock, bring their unique strengths to a trainer’s team.
Politoed
Politoed is a Water-type Pokémon with a focus on special attack and special defense, with great overall stats. This Pokémon has very unique features, as it is a dual-type of water and fighting. Politoed is typically used to help provide a high-level tank for battles with the other side of the spectrum, being faster than Poliwrath but lacking in terms of raw power.
Slowking
Slowking is a Water/Psychic type Pokémon, who is very good at special attacks and has a good special defense. Slowking is typically seen as the strategic choice due to its special attacking prowess. It can learn moves such as Nasty Plot which allows it to build up offense, whereas Slowbro is known for bulk.
King’s Rock in Battles
The King’s Rock is more than just an evolution item; it also has battle implications.
Secondary Effect
In the core series games, the King’s Rock also has a secondary effect when held by a Pokémon in battle; there is a chance it may cause the opponent’s attack to cause flinching, making it a very interesting item to add to a Pokémon’s list of items. However, this effect does not stack with similar items such as Stench or Razor Fang.
Pokémon GO
In Pokémon GO, the King’s Rock serves primarily as an evolution item, and this effect is not present.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can King’s Rock evolve any other Pokémon besides Poliwhirl and Slowpoke?
No, the King’s Rock is specifically used for the evolution of Poliwhirl into Politoed and Slowpoke into Slowking. No other Pokémon will evolve with the King’s Rock.
2. Is the King’s Rock more useful in Pokémon GO or the core series games?
The utility of the King’s Rock depends on the player’s game. In the core games, it’s an evolution item that also provides a battle effect, while in Pokémon GO, its primary purpose is for evolution, and it’s considered rare. However, both games hold value for the item.
3. How do you increase your chances of getting a King’s Rock in Pokémon GO?
While the drop rate is low, interacting with as many PokeStops and Gyms as possible increases your chances of finding a King’s Rock over time. There is no single method to guarantee the item.
4. Is Politoed or Poliwrath better in battle?
The better of the two depends on your strategy. Politoed is faster and a special attacker, whereas Poliwrath is a powerful physical attacker with bulk. They both excel in different battle scenarios.
5. Is Slowking or Slowbro the better Pokémon?
Slowking and Slowbro have their niches, with Slowking being more suited to special attacking and being a special wall, while Slowbro is better as a tank with high defense. They perform different roles well in teams.
6. What are the candy requirements for evolving Poliwhirl and Slowpoke?
Poliwhirl needs 100 Poliwag Candy to evolve into Politoed, and Slowpoke requires 50 Slowpoke Candy to evolve into Slowking in Pokémon GO.
7. Is the King’s Rock a consumable item?
In Pokémon GO, the King’s Rock is consumed after you use it to evolve a Pokémon, which means that they must be acquired again if the trainer would like to evolve another Pokémon with that item. The same is not true for the core series.
8. Can you get King’s Rock through special research tasks in Pokémon GO?
Yes, during some special events, certain special research tasks may provide the King’s Rock as a reward.
9. Does the King’s Rock have any other effects in battles?
In the core series games, yes. The King’s Rock can cause the opponent to flinch when hit with a damaging move, giving the attacker an extra turn.
10. How does the King’s Rock compare to other evolution stones?
The King’s Rock has a very specific usage compared to other stones like the Sun Stone or Moon Stone, which each evolve completely different sets of Pokémon. However, all these items are usually rare in their respective games.
11. Is the King’s Rock a necessary item for completing the Pokédex?
Yes, if you intend on completing the Pokédex, you will need the King’s Rock, as Politoed and Slowking are both separate entries from their counterparts, and will not evolve without the item.
12. Can you trade evolved Politoed or Slowking to get the King’s Rock?
No, trading a Politoed or Slowking will not give you a King’s Rock from that trade. You must obtain the King’s Rock through interactions with PokeStops and Gyms.
13. Are there any other items that do the same thing as King’s Rock?
The Razor Fang has a similar effect as a hold item to cause flinching, but is required to evolve Gligar. No item performs the same function as the King’s Rock.
14. What is the difference between evolving with a Kings Rock and just the candy?
The Candy allows Poliwhirl to evolve into Poliwrath, and Slowpoke to evolve into Slowbro. The King’s Rock allows them to evolve into the different Pokémon forms of Politoed and Slowking, respectively.
15. Does a Galarian Slowpoke evolve with a King’s Rock?
No, a Galarian Slowpoke will not evolve into a Slowking when traded holding a King’s Rock, nor in Pokemon GO using a King’s Rock. Instead, a Galarian Slowpoke will evolve into Galarian Slowbro with the use of a Galarica Cuff, or a Galarian Slowking with the use of a Galarica Wreath.