Dragonite, the Dragon Pokémon. It is said that somewhere in the ocean lies an island where these gather. Only they live there. It can fly in spite of its big and bulky physique. It circles the globe in just 16 hours. It is said to make its home somewhere in the sea. It guides wrecked ships to shore.
Overview
After an absurdly successful run in the ninth generation, Dragonite returns with aplomb in Champions ready to wreak havoc. A task very easy to do given its massive base 134 Attack allowing Dragonite to hit like a truck even before boosting up with Dragon Dance and coverage for the Fairy and Steel types that resist its ferocious Dragon STAB. This fantastic Attack stat also fuels Dragonite’s amazing Extreme Speed, an immensely strong priority move that out prioritizes other priority moves, and always a consideration for any Pokémon that gets the move. Dragonite backs all this offense up with a solid defensive profile. Good HP and workable defenses alongside the many resists of Dragon Flying allow Dragonite to absorb a few blows, but Multiscale takes Dragonite to a whole new level. With Multiscale, Dragonite is very difficult to OHKO, all but ensuring it gets one move off, if not two, and with Dragonite’s immense power and Dragon Dance, that can be all that’s needed to seal a match.
Despite all this, Dragonite’s position is not as strong as it was in the ninth generation. Dragonite was easily one of the biggest winners of Terastalization and its current removal has not only drastically cut into Extreme Speed’s power but also brought all the flaws of Dragonite’s typing to the forefront. Dragonite’s extreme weakness to Ice gives many Pokémon an easy out to it even through Multiscale. These defensive issues are exasperated by Dragonite’s mediocre speed. While base 80 isn’t horrible, Dragonite falls short of a wide range of offensive threats, making its Ice and Fairy weaknesses that much easier to exploit especially if it can’t use Extreme Speed or Dragon Dance to make up the difference. Dragonite’s longstanding issues with its physical STABs also hold it back. With no physical Flying STAB outside of Aerial Ace and Dragon STAB locked to the underwhelming Dragon Claw or the easily punishable Outrage can have Dragonite wanting for power despite its incredible base Attack. Reliance on Outrage is very troublesome given the prevalence of Fairy types able to turn Outrage into a free switch, to the point that Outrage could be considered a dead moveslot in such circumstances. Yet despite these issues of power, speed and weaknesses, the fact that Dragonite has been excelling, even with other Dragons as competition is testament to its efficacy. While Dragonite may have stumbled in the generation shift, it has not fallen and the original Dragonite is more than capable of carrying many-a trainer to victory.
Positives
Multiscale is an absurd ability, enabling Dragonite to setup on just about anything not carrying status when completely healthy and is recurable thanks to Roost.
Base 134 Attack is incredibly potent, even uninvested Dragonite will hit hard.
Dragonite has an incredibly wide moveset, with a veritable plethora of coverage, setup and disruptive options
Negatives
Extreme Ice weakness gives many teams an easy out to Dragonite, even through Multiscale.
Base 80 Speed is unimpressive, leaving Dragonite reliant on setup or priority to outspeed most offensive targets.
Lack of good physical STABs can have Dragonite miss knockouts despite its high Attack, or be easily punished.
Movesets
Dragonite Dance
-Dragon Dance
-Dragon Claw
-Earthquake
-Extreme Speed
Ability: Multiscale
Item: Dragon Fang
EVs and Nature:
2 HP / 32 Atk /32 Spe
Jolly Nature
Dragonite reprises its roles as one of the most consistent Dragon Dance users in all of Pokémon thanks to Multiscale making Dragonite very difficult to KO while setting up or be knocked out from a pivot. Dragon Dance does wonders for Dragonite, addressing both its middling Speed and pushing its power to dizzying heights. Dragon Claw is Dragonite’s primary STAB valuable both for its wide neutral coverage and its good matchup into the many other Dragons running around like Garchomp, Dragapult, and Hydreigon. Earthquake complements Dragon Claw, blasting the Steel types resistant to Dragon Claw on top of being fantastic coverage in general. Extreme Speed rounds out the set as even at +1 Dragonite is still prone to being outsped and Extreme Speed is a great clean up move in general, not even requiring setup for Dragonite to get an easy knock out.
EVs and Items:
Max Speed and Attack are recommended for Dragonite to get the most out of Dragon Dance. Whether one wants to go Adamant or Jolly is up to preference. Adamant is heavily recommended when not running Outrage, giving Dragonite appreciable stopping power with its moves and allowing a reliable OHKO on Basculegion with +1 Dragon Fang Dragon Claw, to OHKO offensive Archaludon with +1 Earthquake, favored to OHKO Rotom-Wash with +1 Dragon Fang Dragon Claw after Stealth Rocks, 2HKO Max HP/Def Corviknight with +1 Fire Punch, favored to 2HKO Umbreon with +1 Dragon Fang Dragon Claw, Reliably OHKO Mega Starmie with +1 Dragon Fang Dragon Claw and more. All these Dragonite misses or is much less favored to reach with Jolly. However without Jolly, Dragonite is outran by positive natured base 130 and above Pokémon Mega Gengar, Mega Lopunny, Mega Greninja and Dragapult as well as Scarf Basculegion, all of which Jolly Dragonite outspeeds. Dragon Fang is recommended for the power bump it gives to Dragon Claw, making it much more viable of an attack. Alternatively, Lum Berry is fantastic, preventing status from permanently shutting off Multiscale and preventing Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave from stopping a Dragon Dance sweep before it starts. Silk Scarf is a similarly offensive item that helps Dragonite reach higher KO thresholds with Extreme Speed. Alternatively, the Yache or Haban berries help Dragonite much better endure Ice or Dragon attacks, especially if Multiscale was broken beforehand.
Partners:
Allies for Dragon Dance Dragonite are contingent on what is missing in its moveset. For Dragonite lacking Fire Punch, Corviknight and Skarmory become hard walls so allies that can handle them are invaluable. Mega Charizard Y stands king among these for its ability to immediately melt them even through Iron Defense while resisting Body Press.
If not running Iron Head, or Outrage, anti Fairy options are paramount given Dragonite’s difficulty with them. Aegislash is fantastic thanks to its Fairy resistance and solid bulk allowing it to easily pivot into Fairy types as well as Ice attacks looking to remove Dragonite. Mega Scizor is also solid given its fantastic bulk and potent priority good at cleaning up targets Dragonite just barely missed. Glimmora also deserves mention for being able to hit Primarina and Azumarill that Steel typed answers do not directly address as well as setup hazards in Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes that make it so much easier for Dragonite to pick up OHKOs after Dragon Dance.
Other Options:
Outrage is a much stronger Dragon option, that can easily pick up OHKOs left and right, but is hard to use if there are any Fairy types in team preview as they can easily punish Dragonite and come in for free.
Fire Punch is Dragonite’s best option into Skarmory and Corviknight who otherwise wall Dragon-Ground with ease as well as handle other Dragon resistant Steel types.
Thunder Punch also handles Skarmory and Corviknight while handling Electric weak Fairies like Azumarill, Primarina and Mega Clefable.
Iron Head is a direct answer for Fairy types as well as crushing Mega Froslass.
Roost allows Dragonite to reestablish Multiscale, giving it much more longevity.
Inner Focus does have some merit in Singles, blocking Gyarados’ Intimidate as well as Mega Lopunny and Mega Kangaskhan’s Fake Outs, preventing them from getting free damage, but is overall rather niche compared to Multiscale.
Low Kick can smash heavier Steel types like Kingambit with ease but are also insufficient
Doubles and VGC Options
With the lose of tools like Tera Normal, Chien-Pao’s Sword of Ruin, and the currently unavailable Choice Band, Dragonite can no longer devastate teams with Extreme Speed alone as it could in Scarlet and Violet. This has not stopped Dragonite from excelling in the current Champions meta just as well as its own Mega Evolution. Inner Focus is a house of an ability in Doubles, protecting the physically inclined Dragonite from getting its offense slashed by Intimidate as well as blocking Fake Out from Incineroar and Sneasler, allowing Dragonite to apply pressure and act where few other Pokémon can and limiting the tempo swings and Fake Out cycling that one’s opponent can use to control the flow of a match. Even without all the available tools, Extreme Speed is still an incredible clean up move, especially given the higher instances of priority in Doubles, allowing Dragonite to clean up threats the way very few other Pokémon can. Add in Dragonite’s high power, solid coverage, and speed control options and it can find a slot on many teams. However, Dragonite’s extreme Ice weakness does hold it back, as does the numerous other Dragons such as Garchomp that compete for similar team space with Dragonite.
Double Dragons
-Tailwind
-Extreme Speed
-Dragon Claw
-Protect
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Dragon Fang
EVs and Nature:
21 HP / 32 Atk / 13 Spe
Adamant Nature
Between Inner Focus and Dragonite’s good base bulk, it is a reliable Tailwind setter, able to setup through Fake Out and secure its team a speed advantage for the next few turns, making it fantastic at opening a battle. Extreme Speed is Dragonite’s other claim to fame, able to pick off Focus Sash users, even those as impossibly fast as Unburden Sneasler, or those packing priority of their own like Whimsicott, limiting the value they can generate, to say nothing of other Pokémon hanging on by a thread. Dragon Claw is Dragonite’s primary source of damage being a reliable single target STAB attack with wide neutral coverage. Protect is the doubles staple, punishing focus fire attempts, scouting for attacks, stalling out detrimental field conditions, stalling for allied setup, and more, the utility of Protect in Doubles cannot be understated.
Max Attack investment, Adamant nature and Dragon Fang gives Dragonite as much stopping power as possible on its main STAB, OHKOing Sneasler, dealing 65-78% to Basculegion, and 72-85% to Mega Charizard Y, on top of solidly 3HKOing the likes of Incineroar, Milotic, and Sinistcha through Sitrus Berries/Leftovers recovery. The attack investment also gives Dragonite the greatest margins for grabbing knockouts with Extreme Speed, dealing a whopping 49-57% to Sneasler, 43-51% to Whimsicott and Talonflame, and 22-27% to Aerodactyl. The HP investment helps Dragonite survive Mega Froslass’ Blizzard and almost always survive Adamant Garchomp’s Dragon Claw to help setup Tailwind, while the 13 Speed ensures Dragonite can outspeed Scarf Hydreigon in Tailwind as well as every unboosted threat, while still outrunning max Speed neutral natured base 60s like Primarina, Incineroar and Sylveon out of Tailwind.
Preferred Partners & Other Options:
Fairy types continue to a problem for Dragonite, so allies that can answer them are greatly appreciated. Kingambit is notable for being one such answer that can benefit from Tailwind as a surprise speedy attacker that can preemptively eliminate opposing Fairy types. Mega Gengar is another fantastic anti Fairy answer whose Shadow Tag pairs wonderfully well with Dragonite’s Extreme Speed, pinning weakened opponents for a certain KO.
Dragonite is one of the few users of Haze available and is invaluable against setup sweepers like Bulk Up Corviknight, Electroshot/Stamina Archaludon, and Clanging Scales Kommo-o.
Low Kick is an amazing option into Kingambit and Tyranitar as well as dealing 70-83% to offensive Mega Kangaskhan.
Countering Dragonite
Dragonite’s sheer power, wide coverage and potent boosting options make it a difficult chore to take down. Dragon Dance Dragonite even avoids some of the issues other speed boosting sweepers run into, being hard to KO while setting up and having Extreme Speed to invalidate a good number of Scarf users.
Dragonite does struggle to fit every move it wants into a set. Dragonite lacking Fire or Thunder Punch find ungrounded Steel types like Skarmory and Corviknight to be impossible foes to break through without an absurd number of Dragon Dances while they can chip away at Dragonite with their own STABs. Dragonite with only Fire Punch for Steel types however miss OHKOs against bulkier Steel types like Archaludon, Kingambit and Mega Excadrill, opening itself up to be KO’d in turn.
If running Outrage, Fairy types heavily punish Dragonite, able to come in freely on Dragonite and immediately confusing it, making Dragonite dispatching them that much more unlikely. If lacking Thunder Punch, Azumarill and Primarina both easily come in and threaten with super effective STABs of their own. If lacking Iron Head, Unaware Max HP Defense Clefable is a hard wall to Dragon Dance Dragonite taking at most 33% from Earthquake and easily 2HKOing it with Moonblast.
Status is another great way to shutdown Dragonite. Will-O-Wisp especially guts any offense Dragonite can mount while ensuring Multiscale is inactive, while Thunder Wave prevents Dragon Dance Dragonite from becoming unmanageable. Mimikyu is an amazing Burn inducer given how it can survive any one attack with Disguise and is immune to both Dragonite’s Dragon STAB and Extreme Speed.
Offensively checking Dragonite is difficult given how most naturally faster checks struggle to tank an Extreme Speed and it is difficult to OHKO Dragonite through Multiscale. Not impossible though, with strong Ice attackers like Mega Greninja, Mega Froslass, Mega Starmie, and Mamoswine all able to OHKO through multiscale, as well as Mega Floette’s Light of Ruin and Weavile and Meowscarada’s Triple Axel with an unboosted Extreme Speed unable to OHKO any of them. Mega Aerodactyl, while unable to OHKO through Multiscale is notable for outspeeding Mega Dragonite even at +1 and being resistant to Extreme Speed, making it very reliable at revenge KOing Dragonite with Stone Edge or Ice Fang.
Stealth Rocks makes offensively checking Dragonite much easier, breaking Multiscale and removing a chunk of Dragonite’s health to the point it can struggle to setup safely and is much more vulnerable to priority like Mamoswine’s Ice Shard.
Mega Dragonite, the Dragon Pokémon. Mega Evolution has excessively powered up this Pokémon's feelings of kindness. It finishes off its opponents with mercy in its heart.
Overview
A slight surprise that for not getting a Mega Evolution the first time, Mega Dragonite flips the script and fulfills the full potential offered by its moveset. Long has Dragonite languished due to its massive Special movepool being nothing more than a niche option due to its underwhelming base 100 Special Attack. Mega Dragonite on the other hand boasts a fierce base 145 Special Attack, giving it incredible stopping power and able to make full use of the wide coverage its movepool provides. Offensive prowess is not the only area where Mega Dragonite got buffs. Speed going from a mediocre base 80 to a standard defining base 100 places Mega Dragonite in the same speed tier as a lot of other offensive Mega Evolutions and staples like the Mega Charizards, Mega Kangaskahn, Palafin, and Volcarona. Add in Extreme Speed and its superb priority bracket and Mega Dragonite is an excellent clean up artist against even naturally faster attacks. This alone would make Mega Dragonite see serious consideration, but it goes beyond that. Mega Dragonite is a juggernaut of an attacker with good 115/125 defenses backing up a solid base 91 HP allowing Mega Dragonite to soak up all sorts of attacks. Mega Dragonite can go the distance with these defenses as well, not only possessing the fantastic array of resistances provided by the Dragon-Flying typing, but Multiscale as well making Mega Dragonite difficult to OHKO at all. Add in Roost to shake off damage and reestablish Multiscale and Mega Dragonite not only proves to be a dangerous attacker but a sticky one at that.
Mega Dragonite’s shield and spear are not flawless. While Dragon Flying is a good type combination, that crippling extreme weakness to Ice makes it a simple chore to remove Mega Dragonite, though Multiscale ensure that only the strongest of STAB Ice attackers will have a chance oh OHKOing it. To say nothing of the other prominent Dragon and Fairy attackers running about, especially Garchomp and Mega Floette who outspeed and threaten horrific damage. Offensively, while Mega Dragonite boasts absurd coverage, especially with access to the BoltBeam combo, it isn’t flawless. Dragonite has no means of boosting its Special Attack meaning absurdly specially bulky Pokémon like Mega Floette, Hisuian-Goodra and Galarian-Slowking can weather Mega Dragonite’s storm with ease. Mega Dragonite’s special STABs being innately flawed does not help matters either, with Mega Dragonite having to wrestle with either the one and done nature of Draco Meteor or the imperfect accuracy of Hurricane outside of Rain, making it even harder for Mega Dragonite to muscle through those bulky threats where sheer power is needed the most. The flaws in Mega Dragonite’s armaments do not negate the fact that it is still an overwhelming threat that must be respected, and with proper team support can seal a battle against any foe.
Positives
Base 145 Special Attack is absurd, and Mega Dragonite’s wide coverage leaves few safe targets from assaults.
Base 100 Speed meets a good standard tying with many prominent offensive threats.
Amazing defensive profile between good HP and defenses, Multiscale and access to Roost
Base form is viable with different movesets, allowing for mind games in team preview.
Negatives
Defensive merits mean little in the face of a quadruple Ice weakness and easily exploitable Dragon and Fairy weaknesses.
Speed creep has left Mega Dragonite still exposed to a huge range of Mega Evolved threats.
Preferred Special STABs are flawed and Mega Dragonite cannot boost its Special Attack to compensate.
Movesets
Dragonstorm
-Draco Meteor
-Flamethrower
-Thunderbolt
-Surf
Ability: Multiscale -> Multiscale
Item: Dragoninite
EVs and Nature:
2 HP / 32 SAtk / 32 Spe
Modest Nature
This Mega Dragonite site makes the most of Mega Dragonite’s wide coverage to act as a bulky attacker, absorbing a wide variety of blows and crushing opponents with its immense power. Draco Meteor is a veritable delete button with Mega Dragonite’s immense special attack only with the bulkiest of special sponges, Fairy and Steel types able to reliably stomach such blows. Flamethrower prevents Steel types like Kingambit, Aegislash, Corviknight and Skarmory from safely pivoting in, further reducing counterplay against Mega Dragonite. Thunderbolt gives Mega Dragonite a tool against many Water types who oft carry Ice coverage as well as the part Fairy Primarina and Azumarill, greatly increasing the breadth of targets Mega Dragonite can threaten. The ability to threaten Mega Clefable as well as Mega Charizard Y are nice bonuses as well. Last move is up for preference. Surf offers great coverage against physically bulky walls like Hippowdon and Garganacl, giving Mega Dragonite an option to remove them without relying on Draco Meteor and if not OHKOing them, compromising them to the point that Mega Dragonite’s physically inclined teammates can clean up. Multiscale is recommended as the ability for base Dragonite, allowing it to aggressively pivot in without having to Mega Evolve first.
EVs and Items:
As with most attackers max Speed and Special Attack are recommended for Mega Dragonite to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding as many foes as possible. Modest is recommended over Timid, given Mega Dragonite has no way to boost its special attack so it needs every drop of stopping power it can muster. With Modest, Mega Dragonite can OHKO Mega Froslass, Mega Starmie, and Max HP Archaludon with Draco Meteor, reliably 2HKO offensive Tyranitar with Surf, reliably 2HKO Mega Clefable through a Calm Mind boost with Thunderbolt as well as Calm Toxapex, all these Mega Dragonite misses by going Timid. Even when Modest, max Speed base 85s like Archaludon. Alternatively, one could go the max HP route to maximize Mega Dragonite’s bulk allowing Mega Dragonite to survive even Mega Froslass’ Blizzard with Multiscale. Item is locked to the Dragoninite.
Partners:
Mega Dragonite heavily struggles against bulky sponges, especially Fairy types, so physical attackers that can answer them are greatly appreciated. Steel types especially excel at this role, given their innate resistance to Ice as well, allowing them to absorb devastating Ice attacks that would otherwise delete most of Mega Dragonite’s HP. Aegislash is an excellent example its titanic bulk absorbing all sorts of blows, with its Steel STAB smashing most Fairy types and Poltergeist easily handling Galarian-Slowking. Scizor is another great partner its Bullet Punches easily cleaning up anything that barely survives Mega Dragonite’s attacks and can get Mega Dragonite in with its Multiscale intact with its relatively slow U-Turns. Steel types in turn love Mega Dragonite and its ability to pivot into Fighting, Fire and Ground moves, addressing most of their weaknesses. Corviknight is also notable thanks to its access to Defog, which is vital for keeping Stealth Rocks off the field and Mega Dragonite’s Multiscale intact.
Other Options:
Air Slash is secondary STAB and while weak, it is much more reliable than Hurricane, especially with the prevalence of Mega Charizard Y slashing the latter’s accuracy.
Dragon Pulse is a much more reliable Dragon STAB option that doesn’t slash Mega Dragonite’s attack power but lacks much of the universal stopping power of Draco Meteor.
Ice Beam in conjunction with Thunderbolt grants Mega Dragonite the fabled BoltBeam coverage combination, though the most important target (Dragons) are largely handled by Dragonite’s Dragon STAB.
Extreme Speed, even with Mega Dragonite’s lowered Attack, is a great clean up tool for targets hanging on by a thread or Focus Sash.
Roost allows Mega Dragonite to survive protracted battled and even reestablish Multiscale.
Doubles and VGC Options
With the huge ball of stats Mega Dragonite is, including its phenomenal power, impressive durability and good for Doubles speed it seems to be inconceivable that it wouldn’t make a splash after the massive success its base form has enjoyed in VGC. Indeed Mega Dragonite has flourished in Champions VGC as the Mega of Choice for many Rain teams. This is due to Mega Dragonite’s insanely powerful Hurricane’s with their perfect accuracy in the Rain, obliterating Grass support pieces and attackers like Mega Scovillain, Whimsicott, Mega Meganium, Sinistcha, and (Mega) Venusaur that are many a team’s answer to Rain on top of being a strong offensive type in general. Mega Dragonite complements this with its wide coverage along with potent speed control with options like Tailwind, Icy Wind and Thunder Wave giving Mega Dragonite a move for almost every situation. Yet despite this wealth of options, nothing Mega Dragonite does is truly unique. Pelipper already provides speed control and Flying typed offense with its own Tailwind and Hurricanes, while Mega Dragonite’s secondary Dragon STAB and anti Water Electric coverage can be done by Archaludon. However, none of these options can do this as well as Mega Dragonite and Mega Dragonite being able to fill up these niches opens up moveslots for its teammates.
Dragon Ruler of Storms
-Hurricane
-Weather Ball
-Surf
-Extreme Speed
Ability: Inner Focus/Multiscale -> Multiscale
Item: Dragoninite
EVs and Nature:
2 HP / 32 SAtk / 32 Spe
Modest Nature
This Mega Dragonite serves as a bulky Rain attacker, threatening severe damage while being hard to remove thanks to Multiscale and its insane defenses. Hurricane is Mega Dragonite’s key niche for Rain teams, with its insane Special Attack and STAB obliterating any Grass type in Dragonite’s team’s way. Weather Ball in the Rain is a powerful spammable single target move that compliments Hurricane well, and allows Mega Dragonite to serve its Grass removing role in when the weather war is lost against Sun teams, able to fire off a Fire Weather Ball into opposing Grass types like Venusaur. Surf is a Rain empowered spread option for Mega Dragonite, which most opponents won’t be expecting from it. While the friendly fire aspect is unfortunate, it works quite well for when paired with Dry Skin Heliolisk. Extreme Speed, despite being a physical move is invaluable for picking off low health targets, especially Focus Sash users like Sneasler, Aerodactyl, and Whimsicott, especially with the latter given Extreme Speed outprioritizing Prankster.
Standard EV spread of Max Special Attack and Speed, with Modest preferred for the extra power, as Mega Dragonite will often have speed control in the form of Tailwind from Pelipper or itself. One can sacrfice some speed for bulk though not too much as to leave Mega Dragonite vulnerable. 23 Speed points outruns positive speed natured base 78s like Basculegion, Mega Feraligatr, and Mega Blastoise while 11 is sufficient for the Adamant and Modest ones. Ability is up to preference. Multiscale is good for allowing Dragonite to act as an aggressive pivot even before Mega Evolution, while Inner Focus is for the circumstances where Dragonite needs to remove a target with Extreme Speed while blanking Fake Out from an opposing Sneasler or Incineroar.
Preferred Partners & Other Options:
As Mega Dragonite needs Rain for perfect accuracy Hurricane, partners with Drizzle are vital for it. Pelipper and Politoed are the only currently available Drizzle users, but provide excellent utility in addition to setting Rain. While Pelipper may be redundant with Mega Dragonite given its own Hurricanes and Tailwind, Mega Dragonite taking over these roles opens space for Pelipper to fit in Wide Guard for Blizzard. Politoed is invaluable on its own for its access to Encore in shutting down opposing Pokémon.
As noted, this set is meant to be used with Heliolisk, whose typing and Dry Skin makes it immune to Basculegion’s STABs, while running Electric STAB to clean up opposing Water types as well. Dry Skin also makes Heliolisk a natural fit for Rain teams given the passive recovery Rain provides for it. Other Rain abusers like Swift Swim Basculegion also value Dragonite for its Anti-Grass (and potentially Water) capabilities.
Steel types also nicely fit with Mega Dragonite on Rain, loving the Rain and this Mega Dragonite easily cleaning up opposing Fire types as well as Ground and Fighting types with Weather Ball and Hurricane respectively. Steel types in turn handle opposing Fairies like Mega Floette and Sylveon, as well as help win the weather war against Mega Froslass. Kingambit is quite effective at the latter thanks to its Dark subtyping giving Mega Froslass no recourse
Protect is the best move in Doubles and Mega Dragonite is no exception, in fact loving its use for blocking Fake Out that could be used to preemptively break Multiscale.
Thunder is powerful anti-Water coverage, allowing Mega Dragonite to handle opposing Basculegion, Mega Blastoise and the like.
Dragon Pulse and Draco Meteor are fantastic Dragon STAB options and fantastic into the many other Dragon types running about. Dragon Pulse is more reliable, while Draco Meteor is great at deleting a target at the cost of forcing Mega Dragonite out.
Mega Dragonite makes for a fantastic Tailwind setter, given its good bulk. It may be prudent in running Inner Focus if running Tailwind to help guarantee a first turn Tailwind setup.
Countering Mega Dragonite
Mega Dragonite’s immense power and incredible bulk along with Multiscale making it near impossible to OHKO make it a chore to handle, though not impossible.
Given Mega Dragonite’s inability to boost its special attack, dedicated Special walls do well against it. Bulky Mega Floette is an excellent example, as while it is 2HKOd by Hurricane, Mega Dragonite lacking that struggle to deal damage and even those that do can easily be outlasted by Draining Kiss, which will OHKO Dragonite once Multiscale is broken. Specially Bulky Galarian-Slowking is only 3HKO’d by Hurricane, and while it normally only 4HKOs with Sludge Bomb back, Sludge Bomb’s high Poison chance permanently turning off Multiscale, Psychic Noise to prevent Roost and its own Slack Off enable Galarian-Slowking to easily outlast Mega Dragonite. Hisuian-Goodra while unable to recover, takes at most 48% from Draco Meteor and can threaten Mega Dragonite back with its own Draco Meteor once Multiscale is broken.
If Mega Dragonite is lacking Hurricane, it struggles to deal with Fairy types in general given how many possess high Special Defense, though Primarina, and Azumarill must also be wary of Thunderbolt, Mega Meganium of Air Slash, Ice Beam, Flamethrower, and Mega Clefable of Ice Beam and Thunderbolt. Sylveon and Hatterene are both 3HKOd at best by Mega Dragonite’s neutral coverage and recover with Draining Kiss if not OHKO with Hyper Voice/Moonblast. Mimikyu can soak up a hit with Disguise and ruin Multiscale with Curse or 2HKO with Play Rough after Multiscale is broken.
If lacking Surf, Specially Defensive Tyranitar is a nightmare, with a single Draco Meteor doing 40% at best, while Sand Stream ensures Multiscale remains offline and Tyranitar’s Rock Blast 2HKOing assuming three hits each time.
Offensively checking Mega Dragonite first means dealing with Multiscale. The damage reduction from Multiscale with Mega Dragonite’s own bulk is insane with only a handful of threats able to break through it. Mega Froslass is notable for being the only Pokémon that can overcome Mega Dragonite’s Multiscale with overwhelming power as its Blizzard can OHKO offensive Mega Dragonite. Otherwise it mandates multi hit moves like Meowscarada’s and Weavile’s Triple Axel to break through Mega Dragonite’s Multiscale.
Best way to deal with Multiscale is through Stealth Rocks, which rip a brutal 25% off Mega Dragonite upon switch in, greatly reducing its bulk let alone breaking Multiscale and making Mega Dragonite easy to OHKO, such as with Garchomp, Scarf Hydreigon, Mega Starmie, and Greninja all outspeeding and OHKOing.
Even without Stealth Rocks, Ice Attack in general do horrific damage to Mega Dragonite, causing it to trade poorly and is often unable to reestablish Multiscale with a later Roost.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Evolve Dragonair
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Evolve Dragonair
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Evolve Dragonair
Colosseum/XD:
Snagged from Wanderer Miror B in Gateon Port
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Dragonair
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Evolve Dragonair
Black/White:
Dragonspiral Tower
Black 2/White 2:
Dragonspiral Tower
X/Y:
Evolve Dragonair
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Trade from X & Y
Sun/Moon:
Poni Gauntlet
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Poni Gauntlet
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Route 1, Route 2, Route 3, Route 4, Route 6,, Route 7, Route 8, Route 10, Route 11, Route 12, Route 13, Route 14, Route 15, Route 16, Route 17, Route 18, Route 19, Route 21, Route 22, Route 23, Route 24, Route 25
Sword/Shield:
Ballimere Lake
Max Raid Battles: Giant's Bed, Path to the Peak, Frigid Sea, Three-Point Pass, Ballimere Lake
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Evolve Dragonair
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Scarlet/Violet:
North Province Area Two
Fixed: Casseroya Lake, North Province Area Two
Tera Raid Battles: 5 Star Raid Battles, 6 Star Raid Battles
Legends: Z-A:
Wild Zone 20
Anime Appearences
