best time to evolve nidoking

[pokeslob]

I'm playing Soul Silver right now and I am training a Nidorino (adamant nature).
I have a moon stone right now, and Nidorino is lv. 20. When would be the best time to use the moonstone, to make Nidoking an optimal fighter?

 

[Zeb]

Their level up moves aren't that great tbh, you'll probably want to use some TMs. But Nidorino learns Poison Jab at level 43 if you want that move and don't have/can't get the TM for it (can't remember where it's found). Nidoking also learns Earth Power at level 43 too if you don't have Earthquake - even with an Adamant nature it'll probably work ok in-game.

If that's too long to wait to evolve it then you'll have to patch them up with TMs.

 

[pokeslob]

Their level up moves aren't that great tbh, you'll probably want to use some TMs. But Nidorino learns Poison Jab at level 43 if you want that move and don't have/can't get the TM for it (can't remember where it's found). Nidoking also learns Earth Power at level 43 too if you don't have Earthquake - even with an Adamant nature it'll probably work ok in-game.

If that's too long to wait to evolve it then you'll have to patch them up with TMs.

Poison Jab is a good move, I'll see if I can find the TM somewhere. His stats won't be hindered if I wait that long to evolve him, though, will it? I'm not 100% sure how that works, honestly

 

[Zeb]

Poison Jab is a good move, I'll see if I can find the TM somewhere. His stats won't be hindered if I wait that long to evolve him, though, will it? I'm not 100% sure how that works, honestly

Nah, the stats won't be affected by when you choose to evolve it. No need to worry there.

Sucks that Nidoking's level up moves aren't very good but then that's true of a lot of stone evolutions. You'd think it would learn Earthquake and Poison Jab by level at least so Nidorino didn't need to be babied so much.

 

[pokeslob]

Nah, the stats won't be affected by when you choose to evolve it. No need to worry there.

Sucks that Nidoking's level up moves aren't very good but then that's true of a lot of stone evolutions. You'd think it would learn Earthquake and Poison Jab by level at least so Nidorino didn't need to be babied so much.

well that's a relief!

I checked, and the poison jab TM isn't obtained until you beat Anzu in Kanto, so I think I'll deal with Nidorino until level 43.

Thanks for the advice!