Kingambit is the third and final evolution of Bisharp in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet and has, to date, the most complicated and difficult evolution process in the franchise. Evolving a Bisharp into Kingambit is a multi-step process that, with even one error, can leave you standing back at square one. Its strange complexity is practically impossible to find on accident, and so following a guide is required for the player attempting to evolve Kingambit for the first time.
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Nevertheless, the difficulty is immensely rewarding in the end when earning Kingambit that, with its excellent typing (Steel/Dark), superb physical stats, and new signature move: Kowtow Cleave, can become a real threat on any balanced team. In the late game, you'll find Kingambit indispensable and a real linchpin to the strategies your opponents use - in PvE, Raid, and PvP alike.
Finding Pawniard And Bisharp
The first step to worry about is finding a pokemon in this line to eventually evolve into Kingambit. If you're wanting to grow your pokemon with your team throughout your playthrough, you can grab a Pawinard early south of Artazon in the South Province (Area Five). It evolves at level fifty-two into Bisharp.
If you wish instead to catch a Bisharp and skip the grinding levels needed to evolve it, you can find them spawning in the bamboo forest in the North Province sandwiched between Area One and Area two and next to Fury Falls (a flyable location). It is at this location where the bulk of this evolution process will need to happen.
Evolving Bisharp
To evolve Bisharp, you will need to place it at the front of your party and locate three other Bisharp who spawn as in a group of Pawinard in the aforementioned bamboo forest in the North Province. This may take some time as Bisharp only has a standard spawn rate of thirty percent on its own, and the chances for it to spawn a group are even lower.
Forget The Leader's Crest
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need the Leader's Crest. The Leader's Crest item does not need to be obtainedor given to your pokemon in order for it to evolve into Kingambit.
This item is only used by the game itself to mark the Bisharp that count toward defeating the correct number of them to evolve. If you choose to place this item on a Bisharp, it will have no effect. The item, outside the game's calculation system, has no apparent in-game effect. The Leader's Crest is only found on Bisharp surrounded by Pawinard.
You can also increase your odds of finding a Bisharp by making one of these sandwiches:
- Great Tropical Sandwich - Encounter Power 1: Dark
- Great Smoky Sandwich - Encounter Power 1: Dark
- Variety Sandwich - Encounter Power 1: Dark
- Decadent Sandwich - Encounter Power 1: Dark
- Ultra Decadent Sandwich - Encounter Power 2: Dark
- Ultra Avacado Sandwich - Encounter Power 2: Dark
- Potato Salad Sandwich - Encounter Power 1: Steel
- Hefty Sandwich - Encounter Power 1: Steel
- Ultra Fried Fillet Sandwich - Encounter Power 1: Steel
- Ultra Tower Sandwich - Encounter Power 2: Steel
To make fighting these Bisharp easier/faster, you can teach your Bisharp to use Low Sweep (TM) or Brick Break (TM) in order to give an advantage against other Bisharp.
When your Bisharp has defeated three other leaders - and if they didn't already level up during the third and final fight - they need only level up once in order to evolve into Kingambit. How your Bisharp levels up once three are defeated does not matter. Eventually, you will be prompted by its evolution.
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Kingambit Moves, Stats, And Use
Kingambit is an exceptional addition to any team and is also used in Geeta's Champion team. It's incredibly easy to underestimate this pokemon given its quadruple weakness against Fighting type. However, its movepool is exceptional, its stats are deadly, and its access to both Defiant and Supreme Overlord as abilities make it a devastating addition to any team.
Stats
Stats
HP
Attack (Atk)
Defense (Def)
100
135
120
Sp. Attack (Sp. Atk)
Sp. Defense (Sp. Def)
Speed (SpD)
60
85
50
read moreMoves
Learnable Moves
Level
Name
Type
Category
Power
Accuracy
PP
Sp. Effect
Evolve
Kowtow Cleave
Dark
Physical
85
--
10
This attack never misses
--
Leer
Normal
Effect
--
100
30
Lower target's Def by one stage
--
Scratch
Normal
Physical
40
100
35
--
--
Fury Cutter
Bug
Physical
40
95
20
More powerful with successive attacks
--
Metal Burst
Steel
Effect
??
100
10
Returns 1.5x damage dealt
--
Metal Claw
Steel
Physical
50
95
35
May increase Atk by one stage
15
Torment
Dark
Effect
--
100
15
Target unable to use the same attack twice
20
Scary Face
Dark
Effect
--
100
10
Lowers target's Speed by two stages
25
Assurance
Dark
Physical
60
100
10
2x damage if attacked same round
30
Metal Sound
Steel
Effect
--
85
40
Lowers target Sp. Def by two stages
35
Slash
Normal
Physical
70
100
20
High critical hit chance
40
Night Slash
Dark
Physical
70
100
15
High critical hit chance
45
Iron Defense
Steel
Effect
--
100
15
Raises Def by two stages
50
Retaliate
Normal
Physical
70
100
5
2x damage if an ally fainted the last turn
57
Iron Head
Steel
Physical
80
100
15
Chance to flinch target
64
Swords Dance
Normal
Effect
--
100
20
Raises Atk by two stages
71
Guillotine
Normal
Physical
??
30
5
If hit, the target faints instantly
Egg Moves
Name
Type
Category
Power
Accuracy
PP
Effect
Headbutt
Normal
Physical
70
100
15
Chance to flinch target
Sucker Punch
Dark
Physical
70
100
5
Always hit first; fail if the target isn't attacking
Quick Guard
Fight
Effect
--
100
15
Protect self and allies from priority moves
Mean Look
Normal
Effect
--
100
5
Prevent target from escape
TM Moves
TM #
Name
Type
Category
Power
Accuracy
PP
Effect
TM001
Take Down
Normal
Physical
90
85
20
Take recoil damage
TM006
Scary Face
Normal
Effect
--
100
10
Lower the target's Speed by two stages
TM007
Protect
Normal
Effect
--
100
10
Nullify attacks; fail chance increases with use
TM012
Low Kick
Fighting
Physical
??
100
20
Power increases with the target's weight
TM018
Thief
Dark
Physical
60
100
25
Steal an item from the target
TM025
Facade
Normal
Physical
70
100
25
Moves power is doubled under a status effect
TM027
Aerial Ace
Flying
Physical
60
100
20
Attack never misses
TM030
Snarl
Dark
Special
55
95
15
Lower target Sp. Atk by one stage
TM031
Metal Claw
Steel
Physical
50
95
35
May boost attack by one stage
TM036
Rock Tomb
Rock
Physical
60
95
15
Lower the target Speed by one stage
TM039
Low Sweep
Fighting
Physical
65
100
20
Lower the target Speed by one stage
TM047
Endure
Normal
Effect
---
100
10
Endure any attack with at least 1HP
TM050
Rain Dance
Water
Effect
---
100
5
Summon a rainstorm
TM051
Sandstorm
Rock
Effect
---
100
10
Summon a sandstorm
TM055
Dig
Ground
Physical
80
100
10
Burrow underground and attack the next turn
TM057
False Swipe
Normal
Physical
40
100
40
Leave target with 1HP
TM058
Brick Break
Fighting
Physical
75
100
15
Breaks Light Screen and Reflect
TM059
Zen Headbutt
Psychic
Physical
80
90
20
May make the target flinch
TM061
Shadow Claw
Ghost
Physical
70
100
15
High critical chance
TM062
Foul Play
Dark
Physical
95
100
15
More power with the target's Atk stat
TM065
Air Slash
Flying
Special
75
95
15
May make the target flinch
TM070
Sleep Talk
Normal
Effect
---
100
10
Randomly use a move when asleep
TM081
Grass Knot
Grass
Special
??
100
20
More power per target's weight
TM082
Thunder Wave
Electric
Effect
??
90
20
Paralyze the target
TM083
Poison Jab
Poison
Physical
80
100
20
May poison the target
TM085
Rest
Psychic
Effect
---
100
5
The user goes to sleep and heals fully
TM087
Taunt
Dark
Effect
---
100
20
The target must attack three turns
TM088
Swords Dance
Normal
Effect
---
100
20
Raise Atk by two stages
TM093
Flash Cannon
Steel
Special
80
100
10
May lower target's Sp. Def
TM094
Dark Pulse
Dark
Special
80
100
15
May make the target flinch
TM099
Iron Head
Steel
Physical
80
100
15
May make the target flinch
TM103
Substitute
Normal
Effect
---
100
10
Sacrifice half of the user's HP to create a substitute
TM104
Iron Defense
Steel
Effect
---
100
15
Raise Def by two stages
TM105
X-Scissor
Bug
Physical
80
100
15
---
TM116
Stealth Rock
Rock
Effect
---
100
20
Lay trap of stones
TM134
Reversal
Fighting
Physical
??
100
15
More power the less HP the user has
TM150
Stone Edge
Rock
Physical
100
80
5
High critical chance
TM152
Giga Impact
Normal
Physical
150
90
5
Can't move next turn
TM158
Focus Blast
Fighting
Special
120
70
5
May lower target's Sp. Def by one stage
TM163
Hyper Beam
Normal
Special
160
90
5
Can't move next turn
TM170
Steel Beam
Steel
Special
140
95
5
User takes recoil
TM171
Tera Blast
??
Sp/Phys
80
100
10
When Terastallized, use Tera Type & highest damage stat
read morePvE Use
For standard gameplay (PvE), you can expect Kingambit to play a pivotal role in crushing Fairy and Psychic type pokemon. You'll have to keep an eye out for fighting, fire, and ground types, but with the right and smart strategy, they don't provide much of a challenge. When it comes to fighting gym leaders (especially for the rematches), you'll definitely want Kingambit on your team for the match against Tulip as it is a full counter against her team with only slight concern for her Gallade counter-mon. It's a solid option against Nemona for a good portion of her team and a number of other late-game gym leaders as well, and in regards to the Ace Tournament, it can serve as a decent bulky sweeper in the back of your party. Overall, Kingambit has few rivals in terms of performance in the late game.
PvP Use
For PVP, Kingambit's standard use in the competitive scene is still under development, but popular strategies make use of its movepool and speed stat in two ways:
- Using slow speed & priority moves to their advantage - using Sucker Punch for priority and Assurance when moving last
- Setting Up Trick Room - setting up for a fast-sweeping Kingambit with Supreme Overlord in the far back of the party
Kowtow Cleave is nice for PvE, but accuracy teams in the competitive scene are regarded as niche. Using Kowtow Cleave to its fullest in PvP is very conditional.Iron Head for flinching and covering Fairy types is always recommended, and Brick Break and Zen Headbutt as coverage moves are on the list of popular options.
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Level up your gaming knowledge with TheGamer, your passport to the world of gaming. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.Defiant and Supreme Overlord are both excellent abilities. For competitive, Defiant is best used in doubles and in VGC where group stat lowering is relatively common, as is the ability Intimidate. In Singles, Supreme Overlord Kingambit has seen immense popularity and is generally a better option for the bulky late sweeper.
You can maximize Defiant's potential in niche teams by pairing it with Foul Play. As it scales off of a pokemon's attack stat, the ability and Kingambit's already high base stat can create a devastating combination. Paired with a working Trick Room team, the results can be catastrophic for opponents that don't counter quickly enough.
The best nature for this pokemon is Adamant (+Atk/-Sp. Atk), with a recommended EV spread of +252HP/+252Atk/+4SpD. The list of recommended held items for Kingambit include:
- Black Glasses
- Life Orb
- Choice Band
- Assault Vest
NEXT: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: How To Unlock The Academy Ace Tournament
