ITEM DEX
King’s Rock
DE: King-Stein · Cost: 5000 ₽
King's Rock is a held item from Generation 2 with two jobs: it makes opponents flinch and triggers the trade evolutions of Poliwhirl and Slowpoke.
What does the item do?
Damaging moves gain a 10% chance to make the target flinch. Traded on a Poliwhirl or Slowpoke, it evolves them. An item to be held by a Pokémon. When the holder successfully inflicts damage, the target may also flinch.
Effect numbers are modern rules. FRLG may differ. See Q&A.
Which Pokémon does King’s Rock evolve?
10% flinch chance per hit, plus two trade evolutions. Flinching only pays off when the holder is faster than the target, otherwise the effect is wasted. In Generations 3 and 4 the chance applies to a fixed list of moves; since Generation 5 it covers all damaging moves without their own flinch effect. Held during a trade, the rock evolves Poliwhirl into Politoed and Slowpoke into Slowking and is consumed. In FireRed/LeafGreen both evolutions need the National Pokédex.
Our Kanto dataset (FireRed/LeafGreen) has no recorded location for King’s Rock. In FireRed/LeafGreen one King's Rock lies in the canyon area on Seven Island in the Sevii Islands, and a second is a Trainer Tower prize. Our Kanto map does not cover either area.
The evolutions are the main prize. Politoed and Slowking are strong, underrated final forms. As a battle item the rock is nice on fast attackers, but not something you build a team around. In a story run it mostly stays trade material.
These Pokémon evolve when traded while holding King’s Rock: Poliwhirl, Slowpoke