12 Hardest Nidoking Pokémon Cards to Pull
Ranked by estimated pull rates from English booster packs.
Nidoking’s collection stretches from the Crystal card in Aquapolis to Team Rocket’s modern Nidoking ex artworks. Those cards offer very different styles of chase. This guide ranks existing English pull-rate estimates, keeping the collector number, finish and confidence label beside each entry.
Pull rates are estimates—see how this ranking works.
Estimated odds, limited coverage. This uses the same estimates as our pull-rate calculators, including labelled rough models and very-low-confidence assumptions. It does not establish the hardest Nidoking ever printed; nearby estimates may not represent a real difference in difficulty.
How the ranking works ↓We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through our eBay links. Card images are artwork references; edition stamps and foil finishes may differ.
Nidoking pull rates at a glance
A larger pack figure means a lower estimated chance. Figures are rounded to two significant digits; matching rounded estimates share a rank.
| Rank | Card & set | Estimated packs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Rocket's Nidoking ex 233/182Destined Rivals · Holofoil | ~1 in 1,000 |
| 2 | Team Rocket's Nidoking ex 216/182Destined Rivals · Holofoil | ~1 in 340 |
| 3 | Nidoking 174/165Pokémon 151 · Holofoil | ~1 in 190 |
| 4 | Nidoking (150) 150/147Aquapolis · Holofoil | ~1 in 160Rough estimate |
| 5 | Nidoking (24) 24/147Aquapolis · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 150Rough estimate |
| 6 | Nidoking 59/181Team Up · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 140Rough estimate |
| 7 | Nidoking 34/132Secret Wonders · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 130Rough estimate |
| 8 | Nidoking 31/110Legendary Collection · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 110 |
| 9 = | Nidoking 8/112EX FireRed & LeafGreen · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 100Rough estimate |
| 9 = | Nidoking 58/116Plasma Freeze · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 100Rough estimate |
| 9 = | Nidoking 34/165Pokémon 151 · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 100Rough estimate |
| 9 = | Nidoking 29/111Rising Rivals · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 100Rough estimate |
The hardest-to-pull Nidoking countdown
#9 (joint) · Nidoking
Rising Rivals · 29/111 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 100 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$14.29 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This Rising Rivals printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 102 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#9 (joint) · Nidoking
Pokémon 151 · 34/165 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 100 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$1.55 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
The reverse holo is a separate finish of this numbered 151 card, rather than an illustration rare. A shared artwork image does not show every foil difference, so match the finish as well as the collector number.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1.5 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 153 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#9 (joint) · Nidoking
Plasma Freeze · 58/116 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 100 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$19.69 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This Plasma Freeze printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 100 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#9 (joint) · Nidoking
EX FireRed & LeafGreen · 8/112 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 100 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$58.99 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
The reverse-holo finish gives this EX FireRed & LeafGreen printing its own place in a set checklist. Compare the number carefully where the expansion includes another artwork of the same Pokémon.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 103 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#8 · Nidoking
Legendary Collection · 31/110 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 110 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$262.50 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Legendary Collection’s distinctive reverse-holo treatment makes this a different collecting target from the ordinary finish. The displayed image may be an artwork reference; check the actual foil pattern when buying.
Where this estimate comes from
The estimated rarity frequency is divided across the eligible cards in that pool, assuming equal individual chances. It is not a measured count of this particular card.
Reverse holos use the community single-sheet estimate of 1/110. Common and uncommon estimates approximate the mixed nine-card sheet.
#7 · Nidoking
Secret Wonders · 34/132 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 130 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$31.30 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This Secret Wonders printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 130 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#6 · Nidoking
Team Up · 59/181 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 140 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$3.04 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This Team Up reverse holo is a separate target from its ordinary finish. Where a set has more than one artwork of the same Pokémon, the collector number matters just as much as the name.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 145 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#5 · Nidoking (24)
Aquapolis · 24/147 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 150 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$41.38 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This Aquapolis printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 151 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#4 · Nidoking (150)
Aquapolis · 150/147 · English · Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 160 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$400.00 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
The Crystal Type label and 150/147 number identify this Aquapolis Nidoking. Its older holo design offers a very different collecting style from modern ex cards. The displayed odds are a rough comparison estimate, not a verified individual Crystal pull rate.
Where this estimate comes from
Uses the median group frequency (1.9% per pack) from Team Rocket, divided among 3 cards in this set's group. Those sets are comparisons, not evidence for this set.
#3 · Nidoking
Pokémon 151 · 174/165 · English · Holofoil
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 190 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$15.40 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Nidoking stands among vines and layered green foliage in this illustration rare. It brings a quieter woodland setting to a Pokémon often shown attacking. Number 174/165 separates it from the ordinary 034/165 printing.
Where this estimate comes from
The estimated rarity frequency is divided across the eligible cards in that pool, assuming equal individual chances. It is not a measured count of this particular card.
Published TCGplayer opening frequencies. Specific-card rates assume an equal share of its rarity pool; these are estimates, not manufacturer odds. Common and uncommon cards use a uniform slot approximation. Ordinary reverse odds are unavailable. Independent pack calculations do not reproduce print-sheet collation.
#2 · Team Rocket's Nidoking ex
Destined Rivals · 216/182 · English · Holofoil
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 340 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$2.34 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Purple and teal give this full-art Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex a forceful, graphic appearance. It is 216/182, separate from the scene-based special illustration rare at 233/182.
Where this estimate comes from
The estimated rarity frequency is divided across the eligible cards in that pool, assuming equal individual chances. It is not a measured count of this particular card.
Published TCGplayer opening frequencies. Specific-card rates assume an equal share of its rarity pool; these are estimates, not manufacturer odds. Common and uncommon cards use a uniform slot approximation. Ordinary reverse odds are unavailable. Independent pack calculations do not reproduce print-sheet collation.
#1 · Team Rocket's Nidoking ex
Destined Rivals · 233/182 · English · Holofoil
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 1,000 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$66.28 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Nidoking lunges into the foreground with Giovanni behind it in this dramatic special illustration rare. The owner’s name and 233/182 number distinguish it from the other Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex artworks.
Where this estimate comes from
The estimated rarity frequency is divided across the eligible cards in that pool, assuming equal individual chances. It is not a measured count of this particular card.
Published TCGplayer opening frequencies. Specific-card rates assume an equal share of its rarity pool; these are estimates, not manufacturer odds. Common and uncommon cards use a uniform slot approximation. Ordinary reverse odds are unavailable. Independent pack calculations do not reproduce print-sheet collation.
How we compare Nidoking pull rates
We compare the chance of pulling one exact card from one English pack of its release. A rarity’s overall hit rate is different from the odds of finding a particular Nidoking within that rarity. Evidence ranges from reported community openings and print-sheet models to rough comparisons and assumed rarity frequencies. Each rough estimate carries its warning beside the odds; expand its explanation for the actual basis.
Japanese cards, guaranteed promos, deck cards and box toppers are outside this ranking. Vintage editions with shared odds take one position. Distinct pack-pulled finishes can qualify separately. Prices do not affect the order, and a missing price does not remove an otherwise eligible card.
Up to ten cards are selected automatically from available estimates, with any tie at the cutoff kept together. Estimates are rounded to two significant digits for comparison, not presented as precise measurements. New cards can enter when a matching printing and estimate are available; prices refresh with the catalogue. Descriptions stay with their card when the order changes.
Nidoking pull-rate questions
Which Nidoking card is hardest to pull?
Team Rocket's Nidoking ex 233/182 (Destined Rivals, Holofoil) has the lowest estimated chance among the qualifying cards here: about 1 in 1,000 packs. This is the current model’s ordering, including any rough assumptions labelled above. It does not cover every Nidoking ever released.
Will opening 1,000 packs guarantee the top-ranked card?
No. For the first card listed at rank 1, opening 1,000 independent packs gives an estimated 61.9% chance of at least one copy. The average waiting time is not a promise; actual packs and factory collation can behave differently from this model.
Is the hardest Nidoking to pull also the most expensive?
Not necessarily. Artwork, demand, condition and how much product exists also matter to collectors. This guide ranks estimated pack odds. Our most expensive Nidoking guide compares available raw prices instead.
Do a booster box or an Elite Trainer Box guarantee a Nidoking?
These estimates do not establish any product-level guarantee. A named Nidoking promo included in a product is separate from the random cards inside its booster packs. Use the exact-card calculator to explore pack quantities and its stated assumptions.
Why can a reverse-holo Nidoking rank above a rarer-looking card?
This compares one exact printing. A large reverse-holo pool can make a particular card’s modelled chance small even when reverse holos overall are common. Most of these estimates assume equal chances within the pool. That does not prove this Pokémon is short-printed, and it does not describe the ordinary non-holo version.