Dragalge, The Mock Kelp Pokémon. Dragalge uses a poisonous liquid capable of corroding metal to send tankers that enter its territory to the bottom of the sea. Dragalge generates dragon energy by sticking the plume on its head out above the ocean's surface and bathing it in sunlight.

Overview

Dragalge’s reprises its role as one of the most anti-Fairy Dragon types after its reintroduction in the Isle of Armor. Possessing massive Special Defense, Dragalge is one of the best defensive users of its rare typing sponging hits from many threats such as Rillaboom, Clefable, and Tapu Koko before setting up Toxic Spikes or knocking the target out with its Adaptability boosted STABs. Flip Turn is another significant boon from the Isle of Armor, enabling Dragalge to act as a slow pivot to get its frailer teammates in safely.

However, Dragalge has a lot holding it back. It is horribly slow, outsped by even Hippowdon and lacks the reliable recovery to make best use of its bulk. Dragalge is also heavily reliant on its STABs for damage, which leaves struggling against most Steel types and finds it difficult to fit in the coverage moves for them. Dragon types have many excellent Pokémon and most teams already struggle in avoiding to stack Ice and Ground weak Pokémon, making it difficult to justify Dragalge over other options.
Positives
Excellent Special Defense and wide array of resistances give Dragalge many opportunities to pivot in and setup.
Adaptability means that Dragalge hits surprisingly hard with its STABs Negatives
Painfully slow. Dragalge will almost always take a hit before dealing one.
Lack of reliable recovery, hampers Draglage’s ability to take hits especially since it is so slow.
Common weaknesses in Ice and Ground
Suffers badly from Four Moveslot syndrome, unable to fit all the moves it likes onto one set which leaves Dragalge prone to being walled by Steel types.

Movesets

Red Kelp Tide

-Draco Meteor
-Sludge Wave
-Focus Blast
-Toxic Spikes
Item Attached: Choice Specs
Ability: Adaptability
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature

Bulky Sweeper Dragalge aims to leverage the insane power of Choice Specs Adaptability Draco Meteor to blow past anything that doesn't resist it. Fairies can't answer Draco Meteor, as they would be slaughtered by Sludge Wave if the Fairy switch in is predicted. Focus Blast answers most Steel types that otherwise can weather Dragalge's assault Toxic Spikes rounds out the set as the utility provided enables sweeps later and gives Dragalge a soft answer against Sponges that can otherwise weather its assaults.

DYNAMAX:
While Dragalge is on the slow side, its STABs synergize very well with Dynamaxing as well as breaking the Choice lock. Max Ooze becomes the star of the show here, rocketing Dragalge's damage to even higher heights. Having a Drawback-less Draco Meteor that softly patches up Dragalge's weaker defense makes Max Wyrmwind quite attractive too. Max Knuckle should be avoided unless facing a Steel type as the power drop from losing Specs and going from Focus Blast to Max Knuckle leaves Dragalge more exposed to Steel types.

EVs and Items:
Max Special Attack and HP to maximize damage and bulk. Choice Specs is preferred as the item of Choice as Dragalge's Special Attack is average at best. Investing in speed may be tempting but max Speed Dragalge only outspeeds neutral Base 52 Speed Pokémon at best (assuming max Speed EVs) and is generally not worth the effort without extensive team support..

Other Options:
Thunderbolt -Deals with Skarmory, Bronzong and Celesteela better than any of Dragalge's other moves

Partners:
As this Dragalge will constantly be switching out thanks to the Special Attacks Drops from Draco Meteor, entry hazard Control is imperative. Defoggers like Mandibuzz, and Corviknight stand out, not only for their ability to Defog, but also their ability to pivot into several of Dragalge's weaknesses. Xatu with Magic Bounce can provide a similar function.
Pokémon that can pivot Dragalge in safely enable it to do as much damage as possible also make valuable partners. Zoroark with U-Turn stands out for the mind games it plays, being able to blank Psychic moves, and attracting Fighting types that Dragalge generally walls. Rotom-Heat and Volt Switch do well, able to blank Ground moves and threaten Steel types with its Fire STABs. Talonflame is similar in that regard and can pull double duty in providing Defog support as well. Stakataka is another great partner, providing Trick Room support and pivots into Dragon, Ice and Psychic attacks easily. Hatterene provides Trick Room, anti Dragon and Psychic and Anti Entry Hazard support as well.

Despoiled Sargasso

-Toxic Spikes
-Flip Turn
-Draco Meteor
-Sludge Wave
Item Attached: Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Calm Nature

Dragalge’s fantastic Special Defense and amazing typing enable it to check many Fairy, Grass and Fighting types with ease and thanks to its own immunity to Toxic can use opposing walls as setup fodder for Toxic Spikes. Toxic Spikes offers great utility for a team, wearing down walls and compromising counters for a late game sweep. Flip-Turn works great in conjunction with Dragalge’s poor speed, essentially acting as a Teleport against all but the slowest Pokémon, allowing Dragalge to easily pivot out of predicted switch ins and regain momentum. Draco Meteor and Sludge Wave round out the set, as even uninvested, Adaptablility boosted STABs hit hard.

DYNAMAX:
Don’t Dynamax this set. This Dragalge thrives on its Toxic Spikes setup and slow pivots with U-Turns and is not a dedicated sweeper, regardless of how Synergistic Max Ooze and Max Wyrmwind are for Dragalge.

EVs and Items:
Max HP and Special Defense to maximize Dragalge’s strongest point; its fantastic special bulk. Defense or Special Attack investment can be considered depending on your needs. 76 Defense will enable Dragalge to be guaranteed survive an Earthquake from Jolly Excadrill, while 44 Special Attack guarantees an OHKO on a Grimmsnarl that decided to Taunt you.

Other Options:
Venom Drench/Haze -Enables Dragalge to punish setup sweepers that don’t mind the Poison from Toxic Spikes and in Venom Drench’s case can open up a window for a setup Sweeper to sweep.
Scald -Water coverage option that patches up Dragalge’s defense by Burns, but relies on there not being Toxic Spikes or the target being immune.

Partners:
Physical walls that compliment Dragalge’s own special walling tendencies tend to make for excellent partners. Bronzong, Corviknight, Skarmory all excel at this role, their defenses and weaknesses complimenting Dragalge’s very well. Wish Support removes one of Dragalge’s biggest downsides, its lack of reliable recovery. Sylveon and Umbreon standout, the form handling Dragon types, the latter handling Psychic types while in turn enjoying the Toxic Spikes Dragalge sets up. Steel types wall this set hard, so Pokémon that can punish or take advantage of Steel types work well with Dragalge. Magnezone and Magneton stand out as the preeminent Steel type eliminators and aside from the shared Ground weakness make excellent pivots for Dragalge thanks to resisting Dragalge’s other weaknesses and furthering the pivots with their own Volt Switch. Volcarona can use non Heatran Steel types as setup fodder, as can Blaziken when not facing down Corviknight.

Countering Dragalge

Dragalge has a wide enough movepool that it can answer most Pokémon and those that it can’t it can Toxic. However, Dragalge struggles to fit every move it needs so there are always gaps in its coverage. On any set lacking Focus Blast, most bulky Steel types safely wall Dragalge. Bronzong, Heatran, Jirachi all comfortably eat an Adaptability Draco Meteor or multiple Focus Blasts.
On any set lacking Thunderbolt, Corviknight and Celesteela can readily hand Dragalge, Roosting off the Draco Meteor damage and Defogging Toxic Spikes as well.
Otherwise, preying on Dragalge’s low speed, lack of recovery and physical frailty can make it simple to revenge KO. Landorus-Therian, Weavile, and Starmie among others can pull this off easily

Anime Appearences

Dragalge has made a couple of appearances in the anime. In its main one, it was defending a sunkern ferry from excavators # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics 827 An Undersea Place to Call Home! The Castle on the Seabed! Skrelp & Dragalge!! Pics M17 Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction The Cocoon of Destruction and Diancie Pics 1192 The Future is Now, Thanks to Strategy! Ash & Clemont! Special Friendship Training!! Pics 1193 Taking Two For The Team! Ultra Class! VS Elite Four Drasna! Pics 31 Song Within the Mist The Song in the Mist Pics 32 Lapras's Feelings for its Friends Lapras' Thoughts for its Companions Pics