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In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, there is no required level for evolving Nidorino into Nidoking. The evolution happens when you use a Moon Stone, so the timing is your choice. Level 22 is the most useful target if you want Nidorino’s Horn Attack and Nidoking’s Thrash. If you do not care about Horn Attack, evolve as soon as you have the Moon Stone to get Nidoking sooner.
You cannot level up into Nidoking directly. Nidoking is reached only by evolving Nidorino, so the question is when to spend the Moon Stone. The advice below applies to FireRed and LeafGreen. Other games use different learnsets, so check them separately.
How the Moon Stone evolution works
Nidorino does not evolve by reaching a set level. It evolves when you use a Moon Stone on it, at whatever level it happens to be. That means the level question is really about what you want Nidorino to learn first and how soon you want Nidoking in your party.
- Open the Bag and select the Moon Stone.
- Choose Use, then select Nidorino from the party.
- Nidorino evolves immediately into Nidoking, and any level-up moves tied to the new level are then available.
The trade-off: moves versus earlier access
Waiting keeps Nidorino in its pre-evolution form longer, so it keeps learning its own moves through level-up. Evolving early gets you Nidoking sooner, and Nidoking then learns its own level-up moves from that point on. Neither choice is wrong. The right timing depends on which moves you want and how much you value having Nidoking early.
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Level-by-level options in FireRed and LeafGreen
The milestones below are the ones that matter most when choosing when to spend the Moon Stone.
| Evolve timing | Nidorino move gained before evolving | Nidoking milestone | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| As soon as you have the Moon Stone | None beyond what Nidorino has already learned | Nidoking arrives earliest | Nidorino does not learn Horn Attack |
| Level 22 | Horn Attack | Thrash at level 22 | Requires waiting until Nidorino reaches level 22 |
| Level 43 | Not applicable as a move target for this comparison | Megahorn at level 43 | Nidoking gets Megahorn later, and you go a long stretch without it |
| Level 53 | Horn Drill (listed for Nidorino at level 53) | Not stated for this comparison | A specialized choice for players who want Horn Drill |
Level 22: the practical compromise
Level 22 is the sensible default in FireRed and LeafGreen if you want both Nidorino’s Horn Attack and Nidoking’s Thrash. Nidorino can learn Horn Attack at that level, and Nidoking learns Thrash there as well. You get the full move pairing without a long delay.
Evolving as soon as possible
If Nidoking’s early presence matters more than Horn Attack, use the Moon Stone as soon as you get it. You will not lose any level-up moves that Nidorino has already learned, but you will skip Horn Attack from Nidorino’s own list.
Waiting for Megahorn or Horn Drill
Megahorn is learned by Nidoking at level 43. Horn Drill is listed for Nidorino at level 53, so keeping Nidorino until then is the only way to get it through level-up. Both are specialized choices. Waiting to level 43 or 53 means carrying a weaker Nidorino for a long time, so only do it if one of these moves is central to your team.
Other games and later generations
Level-up learnsets change between generations. Newer-generation listings show different relearn and evolution moves for Nidoking, including moves that do not appear in FireRed and LeafGreen. Before applying any level from this guide, check the learnset for the exact game you are playing.
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