Dragonite, The Dragon Pokémon. This Pokémon saved a shipwrecked man, taking him to a remote island—a paradise occupied solely by Dragonite. Incur the wrath of this normally calm Pokémon at your peril, because it will smash everything to smithereens before it’s satisfied.
Overview
It's the original Dragon-type Pokémon, Dragonite. Despite being a Generation 1 Pokémon, Dragonite has never really fallen out of the really useful category for Pokémon. While some Pokémon exist that can do what it does a bit better, such as Salamence, Dragonite definitely still has its uses. Its uses haven't really changed much over the years: It's fast and it can hit hard, so if you've run one in previous generations, you can typically run it the same way without many additional issues
Positives
+Base 134 Attack and base 100 Special Attack mean both of its attacking stats are usable, though not going for physical is madness.
+It has decent defences of 95 and 100 respectively. This isn't the best, but it provides a solid foundation for this Pokémon
+Multiscale is a great ability and allows for Dragonite to setup to do what it does best
Negatives
-The 4x weakness to Ice is never fun. Even after Multiscale it can do significant damage, if not KO the Pokémon, if used by the right ones
-It's not exactly fast. Base 80 Speed means you won't be outspeeding much until you get a Dragon Dance off
-Extreme Speed won't be legal on Dragonite until Bank updates and even after that it's ridiculous to get. You can only get it by getting a special Dratini in HeartGold & SoulSilver and breeding it.
Abilities
Inner Focus: This Pokémon will not flinch. Does not prevent flinching with Focus Punch. - Inner Focus isn't a bad ability. In the age of Fake Out, especially in Doubles, having Inner Focus can be quite useful. It's just with its other ability, there's little reason to pick it.
Hidden Ability (Available):
Multiscale: Reduces damage afflicted to the Pokémon by 50% if at maximum HP - This is a fantastic ability, there's no doubt about it. Reducing damage by 50% can negate its 4x weakness into a 2x weakness. However, if there are entry hazards around, this becomes functionally useless
Movesets
Dancing Barney
-Dragon Dance
-Outrage / Dragon Claw
-Extreme Speed
-Earthquake
Item Attached: Lum Berry / Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
This is a rather standard set for Dragonite. Thanks to Multiscale, you're more likely to get a Dragon Dance off, which causes Dragonite to be able to do a lot of damage, as well as outspeed most threats. Outrage can then do a LOT of damage, and with the Lum Berry attached it will negate the Confusion for the first round, but you may want to go a bit safer and go with the Dragon Claw/Leftovers combo, but that's your choice. I personally would go Outrage just for the sheer power of it. Extreme Speed is a move that provides decent priority, and after a Dragon Dance can do a lot of damage and Earthquake is a powerful move in all standards with no drawbacks except Flying/Levitate having immunity.
I Choose You. You Choose Me. We're A Choice Band Family
-Outrage / Dragon Claw
-Extreme Speed
-Fire Punch / Thunder Punch
-Earthquake
Item Attached: Choice Band
Ability: Multiscale
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
A Choice Band Dragonite set is one that could still work. It's essentially a free Dragon Dance without the Speed boost, which is a bit unfortunate but it's still a bit usable. Outrage and Dragon Claw are options, but with Outrage you'll need to switch out when the Confusion hits, else you will be potentially damaging yourself and that's not what you want. Extreme Speed is a good shout, but now can be stopped a little bit more than in past times due to Dazzling, Queenly Majesty and Psychic Terrain. The rest of the moves provide some decent coverage.
Other Options
-Using a Dragonium Z with Outrage can mean that Dragonite can do a LOT of damage. Devastating Drake gets 190 base power and so that will OHKO most neutral Pokémon. Is it worth losing the Lum Berry over? That's your choice!
-Roost is a good option for recovery. Not only can it bring you back up to 100% with a couple of uses, but it will temporarily remove the Flying-type and thus removing the Rock weakness and halving damage from Ice-type attacks. Very useful indeed.
-Dragonite has a decent Special Attack, so going with Special moves including Draco Meteor, Thunder, Flamethrower etc. is a viable strategy. It won't hit as hard, but it can do some decent damage
-Stone Edge & Iron Tail are good physical Rock & Steel-type moves that can provide coverage if you can overlook its dodgy accuracy. Iron Tail especially due to the increased usage of Fairy-type Pokémon
-Waterfall is another decent coverage move and, if you have Dragon Danced, can potentially flinch the opponent
VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options
Dragonite has always performed better in singles than in doubles. Multiscale is not as effective when you may be hit with two attacks in a turn instead of one, making it much harder to set up one or more Dragon Dances. The bigger problem, however, is that Dragonite suffers even more from 4-move-slot-syndrome. The necessity of Protect on most Pokemon in doubles takes away an important coverage move from Dragonite, further limiting its usefulness.
Special Delivery
-Dragon Claw
-Dragon Dance
-Extreme Speed / Fire Punch
-Protect / Fire Punch / Earthquake
Item Attached: Weakness Policy / Lum Berry
Ability: Multiscale
EVs and Nature:
84 HP / 252 Atk / 172 Spe
Jolly Nature
While it is far from dominant, Dragonite's best bet to succeed is still by setting up a Dragon Dance or two. Max attack maximizes its damage output, while 172 speed EVs with a Jolly nature outspeeds positive-nature Tapu Koko after you Dragon Dance once. Additional EVs can be added to speed creep other Pokemon also trying to outspeed Tapu Koko, or 188 EVs will outspeed neutral-natured Pheromosa. The rest of the EVs can put be into HP to maximize bulk, and Multiscale further helps its bulk. Weakness Policy punishes any Pokemon hitting you super-effectively, especially if Multiscale is in effect. Many opponents will predict this, however, and try to burn or paralyze you, which can be counteracted by Lum Berry.
Dragon Claw is Dragonite's strongest Dragon STAB move, since Outrage is terrible in doubles as it targets a random opponent. Dragon Dance allows Dragonite to set up and hit hard and fast. Protect is generally needed in doubles to absorb double targets, stall out turns of speed control, or dodge Fake Out (which breaks Dragonite's Multiscale), but it does eliminate a slot for another attack. In the remaining 1-2 slots, Extreme Speed gives Dragonite a strong source of priority (but is unavailable until Pokebank is updated for Sun and Moon), Fire Punch hits Steel types that resist Dragon moves hard, and Earthquake is Dragonite's strongest spread move (which also hits Steel types).
Other Options & Team Ideas
-Inner Focus isn't bad depending on your team composition, especially if you hate Rock Slide flinches.
-Thunder Punch (especially for Gyarados), Waterfall, Brick Break (useful for breaking an opponent's Aurora Veil), and Rock Slide/Stone Edge are all solid coverage moves.
-Iron Tail is Dragonite's main way to hit fairies, but is unreliable.
-Dragonite's Special Attack is much lower at base 100, but still respectable for a special set. Draco Meteor of course is very strong, and Dragonite learns a wide variety of special moves, including Hurricane, Thunderbolt/Thunder, Ice Beam/Blizzard, Flamethrower/Fire Blast, Surf, and Dragon Pulse.
-Dragonite has some nice options for a bulky support set. Thunder Wave offers a form of speed control. Roar can prevent Trick Room from setting up (especially with Inner Focus). Haze is a nice surprise to get rid of your opponent's Calm Mind, Dragon Dance, or Extreme Evoboost boosts, or reset any Intimidate Attack drops on your own Pokemon. Dragonite can also learn each of the weather abilities. Combined with its bulk, it can typically set one up to potentially mess with an opponents' strategy.
-Roost can recover HP to keep Dragonite alive, though it isn't as effective in singles and is tougher to fit on a set.
-Competitive and Defiant Pokemon like Milotic, Braviary, Primeape, and Passimian (when its Hidden Ability is released) all punish your opponent from Intimidating Dragonite if they are on the field as well.
-Alolan Ninetales can set up Aurora Veil to make Dragonite even bulkier to try to set up.
-Redirection from Parasect, Clefable, Clefairy, or Smeargle can redirect attacks away from Dragonite so help it set up. Clefairy's Friend Guard can make Dragonite even bulkier, and Parasect and Smeargle can also learn Wide Guard to prevent spread moves like Blizzard or Dazzling Gleam from hitting Dragonite.
-Politoed and Pelipper both give Drizzle support to set up Dragonite's 100% accurate Hurricane and Thunder.
-Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, or Tapu Bulu are good partners to get rid of opposing Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain, which halves the damage of Dragonite's dragon moves. Bulu may be the most reliable since it naturally underspeeds Fini if you lead with it, and it also threatens Fini with its grass moves. Grassy Terrain will weaken your Earthquake if you run it, however.
-Any way to prevent Fake Out from breaking Multiscale (especially if you don't run Protect) like Psychic Terrain or fast Quick Guard users help Dragonite.
Countering Dragonite
Ice-type attacks. No really, go for the Ice-type attacks. A good option would be Mamoswine. Mamoswine can take a hit from Dragonite but hit it with two Ice Shards that will just ruin it. Alolan Ninetales is another good shout. It can absorb the Dragon-type moves and hit with a Blizzard that, even with Multiscale, will bring it close to a OHKO without a critical hit. Alternatively, going in for physical hits are a good shout. Dragonite has significant bulk, but with Rock or Fairy-type moves, it can be hurt very easily. Mimikyu's Play Rough will potentially 2HKO it even without a Swords Dance boost.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Evolve Dragonair
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Evolve Dragonair
Colosseum/XD:
Snagged from Wanderer Miror B in Gateon Port (XD)
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen (Colosseum)
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
Animé Appearences
