Crown Clash 2025 Recap: Kingambit's Debut, Crowned Nidoking and Nidoqueen
By Matt · Published · Updated Crown Clash ran from 10 to 18 May 2025 and debuted Kingambit. To get it, you evolve Pawniard into Bisharp with 50 Candy, then win 15 raids against Dark or Steel type bosses with Bisharp as your buddy. Nidoking and Nidoqueen wearing crowns were in 3-star raids with a boosted shiny rate, and Slowpoke, Combee and Litleo had boosted shiny odds too.
| Pokémon | Where | Hundo CP | Weather boosted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nidoking | 3-star raids | 1466 | 1833 Cloudy or Sunny |
| Nidoqueen | 3-star raids | 1421 | 1777 Cloudy or Sunny |
Crown Clash brought royalty to Pokémon GO, including the long-awaited debut of Kingambit.
How Kingambit worked
- Evolve Pawniard into Bisharp with 50 Candy.
- Make Bisharp your buddy and defeat 15 Dark or Steel type raid bosses.
Bisharp doesn’t need to be in the raid, it just needs to be your buddy, and any raid tier counts, including 1-star raids. Using only your daily free raid pass, that takes about two weeks, which was fine because the evolution stayed in the game permanently after 18 May.
If you didn’t have a Pawniard, there was a rare chance of one spawning in the wild during the event, but most came from Eggs.
Crowned Nidoking and Nidoqueen
Nidoking and Nidoqueen wearing crowns were in 3-star raids, easy to solo, with a boosted shiny rate.
- Nidoking hundo: 1466 CP, or 1833 weather boosted in Cloudy or Sunny weather.
- Nidoqueen hundo: 1421 CP, or 1777 weather boosted in Cloudy or Sunny weather.
Other shiny boosts
Slowpoke, Combee and Litleo also had increased shiny odds. So much shiny!
Kingambit came back with its special move at Pawniard Community Day in November 2026: see my Pawniard Community Day guide.
FAQ
How do you evolve Bisharp into Kingambit?
Make Bisharp your buddy and defeat 15 Dark or Steel type raid bosses. The raids can be any tier, including 1-star raids, and Bisharp doesn't need to be in the battle.
Did you need to evolve Kingambit during Crown Clash?
No. Kingambit's evolution stayed in the game permanently after the event.
Where did you get Pawniard during Crown Clash?
Mostly from Eggs, with a rare chance of finding one in the wild during the event.
What were the crowned Nidoking and Nidoqueen hundos?
Nidoking 1466 CP (1833 weather boosted) and Nidoqueen 1421 CP (1777 weather boosted), in Cloudy or Sunny weather.
Get Matt's full take
The extended write-up on Patreon has Matt’s commentary, what to prioritise and Matt’s own plan.