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Navigation: Main → Competitive → Analyses → Dragonite → Read
Analysis - Dragonite Type: Dragon / Flying Ability: Inner Focus Height: 7'3" / 2.2 m Weight: 463.1 lb. / 210.0 kg Gender: ♂ 50% / ♀ 50%
Defensive CombinationsDragonite’s Dragon / Flying typing has few weaknesses: a 4x weakness to Ice-type attacks, a 2x weakness to Rock-type and Dragon-type attacks. Unfortunately for it, these attack types are pretty common. The good thing about Dragonite is that its Defenses are higher than the other Dragons. Yet, it still needs something to absorb the most powerful attacks, like the common Ice Beam and Draco Meteor. Steel types are included in this category. Magnezone, Jirachi, Bronzong and Metagross are examples of these steel types. Actually, Magnezone is the one that fits it better. Dragonite resists or is immune to everything that is super-effective to Magnezone and Magnezone resists everything that nails Dragonite.Special sided bulky Water types don’t mind an Ice Beam coming towards them, like Slowbro, Empoleon and Suicune (although Slowbro fears a Crunch coming from Tyranitar). A Regirock in middle of a Sandstorm can take Ice, Rock and Dragon attack very well, with an emphasis in HP and Defense, since its Special Defense is boosted by the Sandstorm. Hitmontop, with its superior Special Defense, Intimidate and the usual Bulk Up, is able to take attacks that are Super Effective to Dragonite. Curselax is also a good option, with huge HP and Special Defense and a move that boosts its Defense, although the Fighting weakness and the speed loss might hurt if attacks aren’t predicted well. Dragonite can get in easily with prediction. Otherwise, it’s better to send it with one of your Pokémons faint, unless you’re using a bulky variation that can actually survive a powerful attack. Actually, it’s better to lure in a Pokémon that is locked in a Ground or Fighting move so you can switch in safely and deal damage to the Pokémon that enters the fray. Magnezone is included. It’s bait to ScarfChomp, so, when you predict a Earthquake coming, you switch into Dragonite and rack up damage. Be cautious, though: if you use this strategy many times against the same opponent, you can get outpredicted and, when that happens, it is going to be hard to be get back up from a tough hit. General CountersDragonite, sometimes, is very predictable. Most of the Dragonite used online are Dragon Dance variants, making them easy to counter. Dragonite’s counters are pretty much the same all over: bulky Waters and Cresselia. Gyarados, Celebi and Slowbro deal with it very well, threatening it with status moves, with potential OHKO’s or just phaze it away. Celebi can pose a big danger with its bulkiness and the imminent threat of Thunder Wave will force Dragonite to switch. Max Attack Gyarados with a positive nature always OHKO’s with Stealth Rock and has a 33% chance of OHKO’ing with no Stealth Rock. Slowbro can resist every attack Dragonite throws at it and Slack Off the damage. A Dragonite with Dragon Dance will 2HKO Slowbro with Outrage, with no Dragon Dance, there is a 22% chance of 2HKO. Slowbro can also phaze Dragonite with Yawn, much like Uxie. Special variants are rare due to this Pokémon’s much higher Attack. Even if one existed, it’d have a physical attack, such as Earthquake or Dragon Claw, to deal with special counters, such as Blissey, Regice, Registeel, Uxie and Tentacruel. For those who don’t flinch, they can get a ScarfChomp in a predicted Earthquake or Fire Blast and OHKO Dragonite with Outrage. Physical Bulky Salamence also laughs at Dragonite lowering its Attack and resisting one of its main attacks, Earthquake, proceeding to Dragon Dance and KO it with Dragon Claw(does 103% on average, assuming it holds Life Orb).These calculations show how much damage Dragonite does to its common counters, assuming they have Leftovers. Cresselia – 204 HP / 252 Def / 52 SpAtk Bold, translates into 432 HP / 372 Def / 296 SpDef, which means it is able to come in an Outrage and never be 2HKO’d by it, even with Stealth Rock. Be careful, if it has DD’d up, this becomes a 2HKO. And it’s not pretty to see one of the best walls in the game being taken down by Dragonite. Suicune – 240 HP / 204 Def Bold, translates into 401 HP / 343 Def, which means that the standard Resttalk Suicune can come in against non-Dragon Dance versions of Dragonite and either stall or beat the hell out of it with Pressure and Ice Beam, respectively. If it is using DDNite, however, Suicune has a small, but possible chance of a 2HKO. Mesprit – 6 HP / 252 Spd / 252 SpAtk Modest, translates into 302 HP / 309 Spd / 339 SpAtk, which means that Scarf Mesprit can come into a non-boosted Outrage without Stealth Rock up, outspeed Dragonite, and OHKO it right away with a powerful Ice Beam. Other variations except BandNite and ScarfNite are more dangerous, as they will wither KO Mesprit or heavily damage it and score a surprise KO in the next turn. Slowbro – 252 HP / 252 Def Bold, translates into 394 HP / 350 Def, which means that a physical wall Slowbro can come in against Dragonite’s Outrage, Thunder Wave it, Slack Off the damage and potentially OHKO it with an Ice Beam. A Rain Dance version of DDNite, though, gives it more trouble with Thunder, which is a certain 2HKO, not counting accuracy. BandNite or a Dragonite with a boosted attack will give lots of trouble, though, due to their enormous attack, but it’s still a 2HKO. Registeel – 252 HP / 200 Def / 108 SpDef Impish, translates into 364 HP / 409 Def / 363 SpDef, which means that this Registeel can always come into a Dragonite’s Outrage, absorb it and cripple it with Thunder Wave then, attack it. This Registeel is also rarely 2HKO’d by an un-boosted Earthquake coming from Standard DDNite, taking an average of 50% before Leftovers. Bronzong – 164 HP / 100 Def / 212 SpDef Relaxed, translates into 316 HP / 322 Def / 321 SpDef, which means that the Standard leading Bronzong laughs at Dragonite. It is never 2HKO by an un-boosted Outrage, and a Dragon Dance’d Outrage still has a very very slim chance of a 2HKO. A Fire Blast is more dangerous. It does more damage, but it still has a small 2HKO chance. The SubSalac set is soundly walled by Bronzong, as well as AgiliNite, S. Bulky Nite and SubPunch. Actually, every set except the very rare SpecsNite is soundly walled by Bronzong, and then, a Special version with Heatproof laughs at it. So, to summarize this, Cresselia is the best Dragonite counter, Bronzong can wall Dragonite that focus on both sides of the spectrum and Mesprit can get in for a surprise kill. Putting It All TogetherDDNite + CBCross + Standard Bronzong – The standard DDNite has some problems with physically bulky Pokémon, like Hippowdon, Suicune and Cresselia, who can either Ice Beam and put Dragonite in a tough position or paralyze it and making it unable to move. CBCross can deal with all of those with a STAB’d Megahorn / Close Combat or Pursuit them as they run. Also, it can absorb a Will-O-Wisp coming for Dragonite if it has Guts and/or Facade and Sleep Talk versions can predict an Hypnosis, activate Guts and destroy the opposite team with Megahorn. Bronzong will set up Stealth Rock and inflict status with Hypnosis, while taking a good chunk of health out of the opponent with Gyro Ball and Earthquake.SubSalacNite + Magnet Rise Magnezone + Paraflinch SR Jirachi – SubSalacNite has big problems with levitating or flying Steel-types, as well as Gyarados, who resists Earthquake, lowers Dragonite’s Attack and can threaten it with Avalanche or Ice Fang. Magnezone resists everything Dragonite is weak to, but it must work with prediction. Switching into a Choice-locked move like Dragon Claw, Sub up in the switch in, Magnet Rise after they break your Sub and then destroy them with a STAB’d Thunderbolt (Bronzong, Gyarados, Skarmory) or predict their switch into Garchomp and laugh as it goes down with HP Ice. Jirachi will work as a annoyer, paralyzing one Pokémon, setting up Stealth Rock and damage as they switch. AgiliNite + TS Spinning Forretress + CBVire – AgiliNite is much like its twin, DDNite: Cresselia, Suicune and Hippowdon all give it trouble. A Forretress can set Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock on an enemy tank / wall and spin away SR that give Dragonite trouble and Spikes / Toxic Spikes that make Electivire’s power plant go haywire. Non-Resttalk versions of Suicune and Hippowdon will be obliterated by the accumulating Toxic damage. For the Resttalking sets, CBVire will crush Suicune with Thunderpunch. Hippowdon can Earthquake Electivire, but it’ll be KO’d by the Toxic damage plus Ice Punch before that happens. Cresselia is the one who gives more trouble, but a STAB’d CB Thunderpunch based of 123 base Attack hurts. A lot. SubPunch + SDScizor + SD BP Ninjask – SubPunching Dragonite have trouble with, you guessed it, Cresselia and bulky Waters, namely Suicune, Vaporeon and Slowbro. SDScizor deals with Cresselia and Vaporeon, and beneficts more of SD with BP’d Speed Boosts and SD’s from Ninjask. Dragonite can also receive stat boosts and SD’s from Ninjask. Scizor will annihilate Cresselia with STAB’d X-Scissor with some Attack boosts. Vaporeon won’t survive long as well, with its low Defense stat. Slowbro won’t have that stupid smile across its face after Scizor operates it. S. Bulky DNite + Standard Bronzong + Magnet Rise Magnezone – Bulky Dragonite has trouble with CBTar, who also deals with Dragonite’s best friend, Magnezone, with some prediction. For that, we have Bronzong who resists half of CBTar’s main attacks but still is nailed by a Pursuit or Crunch. Then Magnezone can switch into the Crunch, Sub up, and paralyze whatever comes in or use Magnet Rise so that it can’t hit that massive Ground weakness. Besides, both Magnezone and Bronzong cover Dragonite’s weaknesses and vice-versa. Magnezone can also deal with Choice-locked Dragons, switching in on them, and threaten Garchomp with HP Ice or screw Salamence with Thunder Wave or simply set a Sub up. Set - DDNite
[ Information | Other Options | Offensive Combos | Strategic Combos | Set Counters ] The most standard Dragonite set that emphases on its massive Attack stat and its unique characteristic: the ability to use Outrage and Dragon Dance, which only Dragonair, Dragonite and Rayquaza can use effectively. After one Dragon Dance, a Jolly nature and 200 Speed EV’s, this guy hits 405 Speed, enough to outspeed Adamant CS Heracross and OHKO it with Outrage. That and Life Orb to help a possible 2HKO in Cresselia. The HP IV’s were tweaked so you have a **9 number, which means that you have 11 chances to attack instead of 10. Other OptionsThere aren’t many options to this set. You can switch Fire Blast by Fire Punch, but a Reflect wall and a physically based wall won’t be good for your game. You can also use a novelty Dragonite, but, instead of Earthquake and Fire Blast, you’ll use Waterfall and Thunder. It’s a good set for Uber teams, but as you can guess, it’s very situational and must be used in rain due to Thunder’s crappy accuracy. Offensive CombinationsDDNite might need one or two Pokemon to hit on the special side. Magnezone does the trick as it protects Dragonite from eventual fainting and hits hard with a nice Special Attack base stat and BoltBeam, without mentioning that an Electric, Ice and Ground attack combination hits every Pokémon existent for at least neutral damage. Strategic CombinationsStealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes and Sandstorm / Hail are all good options as some 2HKO’s become OHKO’s with these assets (Skarmory comes to mind). Sandstorm and Hail might be a problem though, because the recoil damage and the weather damage combined together aren’t pretty (16.25%), not to mention the foe’s attack. A Ground Pokémon will help as well, such as CB Dugtrio and Yache Garchomp. Why? Because Pokémon such as Blissey and Cresselia, fearing a powerful attack that will hurt them, will try to paralyze Dragonite and cripple it for good. If you predict well, Dugtrio and Garchomp can come in and inflict pain with a Pursuit. Set CountersVery few Pokémon resist this wall-breaking set. The most physically sturdy Cresselia, Bold nature and with maxed out HP and Defense is one of the few Pokémon that aren’t 2HKO’d by this set and can fight back with Ice Beam. A similar Suicune (Bold, max HP and Def), isn’t virtually 2HKO’d (there’s a 0.07% chance of 2HKO) by Dragonite’s non boosted Outrage and, as Cresselia, blast Dragonite with Ice Beam. Set - SubSalacNite
[ Information | Other Options | Offensive Combos | Strategic Combos | Set Counters ] This set is based solely on prediction. Use Substitute on a predicted switch and proceed either to Dragon Dance, which is the most preferable option, or to attack the foe with Outrage or Earthquake. If you’re sure that the Pokémon that is switched in has Choice Scarf and outspeeds Dragonite even with 1 Dragon Dance up (CS Gengar and Jolly CS Heracross), set up another Substitute, as you’re sure that they’ll attack you first to break your Sub. Next turn, they’ll attack first, so you set up another Sub. Continue this until your Salac Berry boosts your attack, then, proceed to sweep. Remember it is only a 1.5 boost. With a Dragon Dance in, it’s even easier, as your Attack is boosted to 550 and your Speed to an amount that outspeed max positive natured Scarf Gengar. Other OptionsThere aren’t many options left to this set. Either you can use Dragon Claw instead of Outrage, not to be locked into this move, or Fire Punch or Fire Blast to scare off some Steel walls, but gives you less coverage instead, not covering beasts as Infernape and Heatran. Offensive CombinationsA Fire type might help with this Dragonite’s coverage. Infernape is a great option, getting STAB on Overheat / Flare Blitz and Close Combat, which definitively makes Skarm run. Nasty Plot Infernape is the most recommended; when you have Nasty Plot there isn’t nothing much that can stop you, not even the bulkiest Bronzong and Blissey. Strategic CombinationsSpikes and Toxic Spikes help a lot. But the primary strategy here might be a Swords Dance Ninjask BP. Combine that with its ability and its pretty much gg. Belly Drum Smeargle helps a lot. Spore, then Sub, then Belly Drum, finally pass it. You have yourself a beast. Beware of Taunters, though, because one might come in and ruin your whole strategy. Tauntrados is probably the biggest threat, that and Taunt Aerodactyl, possible, but rare. Set CountersA flying or levitating Steel type works as a counter. A Cresselia that emphases on HP and Def can take well a Outrage or Earthquake coming from Dragonite and force it to switch with Ice Beam, breaking its Sub, Salac boost, Dragon Dance or all of them. Vaporeon with Acid Armor and max HP takes hits well and can destroy it with another Ice Beam. Scarf Gengar can avoid the Earthquake and destroy with HP Ice. ScarfChomp can get an hit from a non-boosted EQ as well. Note that these last three counters don’t always work, because if Dragonite gets at least a Salac boost and a Dragon Dance, it’s difficult to battle it with another sweeper. Ninjask can stall it to death and BP a nice amount of Speed to a SashGon-Z, who can destroy Dragonite with Ice Beam. Set - AgiliNite
[ Information | Other Options | Offensive Combos | Strategic Combos | Set Counters ] This is one of the most dangerous sets Dragonite can use, with no a joke. Dragonite’s enormous attack combined with slightly above average speed and a speed-boosting move isn’t for playing around. Life Orb boosts your already great Attack, besides, raises your Sp. Attack. Without it, Fire Blast wouldn’t OHKO max HP / min SpDef Skarmory. Max HP / max SpDef Forretress is also OHKO’d by Fire Blast, and this kind is very, very rare, even impossible. The same kind of Scizor is OHKO’d as well. Dragon Claw works better than Outrage. Of course, the loss of base power is big, from 120 to 90, but Dragon Claw helps when you face a Magnezone that predicts an Outrage without an Attack boost, then, nail it with Earthquake. The HP IV’s have been tweaked so you can have 11 chances of attack with Life Orb instead of 10. Other OptionsIf you want and it your team is desperate for a powerful move, Outrage is your way to go. Look out though; it isn’t even a 2HKO in Cresselia, who can dent Dragonite with Ice Beam. Suicune’s the same: virtually no 2HKO. Offensive CombinationsSD Heracross can help a lot to destroy Cresselia. It takes about 60% damage from Psychic from a min SpAtk Cresselia, with no SpDef EV’s. You can set up a Swords Dance and KO it with a max Atk, SD boosted, STAB’d Megahorn, which is a 37% OHKO. Suicune is still a problem, especially CM Cune. CB Electivire or Specs Porygon-Z 2HKO it, with out a Calm Mind boost, with Thunderpunch and Thunderbolt, respectively. Strategic CombinationsSince Cresselia and Suicune are the biggest threats to this kind of Dragonite, you might want to have Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes. Stealth Rock hits both, but for neutral damage. Toxic Spikes helps a lot against those Suicune that don’t have Rest, especially if it is two layered. So Cresselia is your main threat. A BP from Smeargle or Ninjask containing a SD or Belly Drum is very effective and the Attack boost plus Dragonite’s threatening attack, isn’t exactly laugh matter. Set CountersBulky waters and Cresselia are this Dragonite’s worst nightmare. Vaporeon with Acid Armor wreaks havoc, as it takes a hit easily and counters with Ice Beam. CM Cresselia is an appropriate wall as well. It takes a Fire Blast / Dragon Claw well and avoids Earthquake with its ability. CM Suicune, as a bulky water, has no problem switching into a Dragon Claw and set up with Calm Mind, while recovering health with Recover / Rest. Set - SubPunchNite
[ Information | Other Options | Offensive Combos | Strategic Combos | Set Counters ] Dragonite, unfortunately, can’t produce Substitutes that survive a Seismic Toss, although no Blissey wants to switch in on it. This set takes advantage of Dragonite’s supreme movepool. 248 HP EV’s allow it to hit, not a lefties number, but that plus 1, which means that Dragonite has the chance to take 5 Stealth Rock attacks. However, Dragonite still recovers 24 HP every turn. Other OptionsThere aren’t any other options left. You can take 4 EV’s from HP to Attack or Speed. Don’t take many EV’s from Attack to Speed if you want, otherwise Dragonite will lose all its power. Offensive CombinationsCresselia comes in without anything to fear. You best bet is to attack it when it breaks your Sub, then switch out (or if you don’t have Substitute up, switch immediately) to a safe counter. SD Scizor and BandCross are your best bets, with STAB’d X-Scissor and Megahorn respectively. SD Weavile may also be good, as it resists the common Ice Beam and is immune to the omnipresent Psychic, but have a Spinner in hand so the damage doesn’t rack up. Strategic CombinationsNinjask is your friend. Two Swords Dances and some Speed Boosts can be enough to start a sweep with this Dragonite. A Spinner can be useful. If you don’t have a Ninjask, Weavile with Life Orb and Ice Shard can be used to counter Garchomp and Salamence, who otherwise destroy Dragonite (sacrifice only). Set CountersBulky Waters and Cresselia laugh at this set. Vaporeon might need one or two Acid Armors. A Phazer, like Suicune, can Roar it away without a problem. Skarmory can be used as well, setting up Spikes and recovering the damage with Roost, then Whirlwinding Dragonite. Donphan is also a top counter, setting up SR and literally Ice Sharding Dragonite to death, if Waterfall doesn’t kill it first. Set - Special BulkyNite
[ Information | Other Options | Offensive Combos | Strategic Combos | Set Counters ] Dragonite, as its Defenses aren't too bad, needs a defensive set. This set, based on Dragonite’s Special Defense, demonstrates how dangerous a defensive Dragonite can be. The most common switch-ins are generally Sash Weavile (if there are no Spikes / Toxic Spikes / Stealth Rock) and bulky Starmie / Gyarados and they all can fight back with an Ice attack (Infernape can go in for a revenge kill). In the switch-in, you have two options: either use Thunder Wave and cripple the foe for good, or set up Light Screen so no Special Sweeper can get through you (look out for Weavile and Gyarados). And the best of it: they’ll be surprised when your Yache Berry activates on their Ice Beam / HP Ice and then you either paralyze them or shrug off the damage with Roost. You can also switch out into a more reliable counter, like Heatran (if you know they’re locked into a Choice move) or Magnezone. Other OptionsThis set has some cards up its sleeve. You can use Dragon Rush instead of Dragon Claw, if you don’t mind the big accuracy loss. Blissey is now 3HKO’d, Salamence OHKO’d without Attack loss, Starmie has a guaranteed 2HKO, and non-bulky Gyarados is now 2HKO’d without Attack loss. Toxic helps stalling the hell out of your opponent instead of T-Wave. Note that some threats aren’t eliminated by this, like that pesky Weavile. Roar is a nice option if you have Stealth Rock into play, or any kind of Spikes. Be careful of counters with Ice or Dragon attacks, though Offensive CombinationsAs a tank, this Dragonite isn’t meant to attack hard. Still, a Pokémon that hits hard in the special side and absorbs SE hits from Dragonite might help. Heatran, especially ScarfTran, helps hitting those pesky Steel-types. Dugtrio is also a good option (only for revenge killing), but its lack of defenses is very regrettable. Strategic CombinationsReflect, Light Screen, any kind of Spikes and more status afflictions all helps Dragonite deal damage. If you are using Roar, Spikes will help you stalling the hell out of our opponent. Reflect and Light Screen, though temporary, raises your Defenses and make Dragonite more tankish. Set CountersCBTar puts an end to Dragonite with Stone Edge, or at least deals some nice damage with Pursuit, if you predict a switch out. Boah is another option, countering Dragonite itself with Ice Beam and switch ins with Focus Punch. SpecsGar says bye with HP Ice. TrickZam laughs as soon as Dragonite gets a Choice Item. Steelix resists Dragon Claw, Dragonite’s affliction moves and can deal hefty damage if it’s using Stone Edge, even without STAB. Set - A-Nite
[ Information | Other Options | Offensive Combos | Strategic Combos | Set Counters ] Other OptionsOffensive CombinationsStrategic CombinationsSet Counters |
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