Ash's Kingler

Ash's Kingler was the seventh Pokemon Ash caught in the Kanto Region and his seventh overall. It was also the first of Ash's Pokemon to primarily reside at Professor Oak's Laboratory in Pallet Town.

## **Personality:**

Upon capture,Krabby mellowed significantly and became a very modest and quiet Pokémon. This is most likely due to his residence with Professor Oak,who said in *Showdown at the Po-ké Corral* that Pokemon take on the personality of the person who spends the most time with it. In battle,Kingler was quietly determined,not giving up against Mandi despite on face value being the underdog against all three of his Pokémon. Kingler was a very modest victor,happily hugging his Trainer but not waving to the crowd or gloating at Mandi. He has proven strong in battle,loyal and caring. Kingler,like Muk and Tauros,remains a trump card in Ash's arsenal.

## **History:**

### **Prior to the original series:**

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 his other Pokemon. 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 Pokeball. Having six Pokemon already in his party at the time,the newly caught Krabby's Pokeball was immediately teleported away,much to Ash's surprise and concern. He soon learned that Krabby was sent to Professor Oak. Ash quickly rang Oak and was initially horrified at the thought that Oak was eating his new Krabby. However,the Professor pointed out that he was actually eating tofu. Ash's initial relief changed to jealousy after Oak also revealed that Gary had also caught a Krabby,although his Krabby was far larger in size. Later,Gary actually 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 Pokemon 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 managed to escape 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 and 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. 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 Pokemon,and Kingler was knocked out by a Dragon Rage attack.

#### **Orange Islands:**

Kingler spent most of the time at Oak's lab as Ash and 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:**

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. Ash had Kingler rejoin his party in time for the Whirl Cup tournament. 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,Pokemon Style**,Ash planned to use Kingler in the Johto League Silver Conference against Macy's array of Fire Pokemon,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.

### **Advanced Saga:**

#### **Chronicles:**

In **Showdown at the Oak Corral**,Kingler made a cameo appearance telling the other Pokemon about Cassidy and Butch. In **Journey to the Starting Line**,Kingler watched a group of Marill do a 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 starter Pokemon to escape Professor Oak's lab. In **The Right Place and the Right Mime**,Kingler quickly made friends with Ash's Corphish.

### **Black and White:**

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

### **Journeys:**

Kingler,along with the rest of Ash's Pokemon at the lab,reunited with Ash. During the visit,it was seen relaxing with Corphish and later watched the battle between Ash and Paul. Before Ash left,it posed with the rest of Ash's Pokemon in a group photo with him. From **Battling as Hard as Stone** and onwards,Kingler watched Ash's Masters Eight Tournament matches against Steven,Cynthia and Leon. In **Partners in Time**,Kingler appeared as a vision to Raichu during his battle against Leon's Charizard. Kingler assisted Ash on helping a stuck Wailmer and again after Wailmer evolved into Wailord when it got stuck again.

## **Moveset:**

* Harden
* Vice Grip
* Leer
* Stomp
* Water Gun
* Bubble
* Crabhammer
* Hyper Beam