Dragonite is one of the easiest set up sweepers to use in the metagame thanks to its natural bulk and its Multiscale Ability. Read on to find out the best build, the best moveset, basic information, stats and recommended partners for Dragonite in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP).
List of Contents
- Dragonite Best Build and Moveset
- Dragonite Basic Information
- Dragonite Strengths and Weaknesses
- Best Natures for Dragonite
- Best Partners for Dragonite
- Pokemon BDSP Related Guides
| Dragonite - Related Guides | |
|---|---|
| Evolution and Learnset | Build for Ranked Battle |
Dragonite Best Build and Moveset
Dragon Dance Sweeper
| Pokemon | Ability | Item | Moves | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragonite | Multiscale | Lum Berry | ・Outrage ・Fire Punch ・Extreme Speed ・Dragon Dance | ||
| Nature / EVs | Jolly 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd | ||||
| Final Stats | 167 HP / 186 Atk / 115 Def / 120 Sp.Def / 145 Spd | ||||
Using Dragonite
Dragonite's natural bulk and Multiscale Ability means it can get two or more Dragon Dance boosts even with no defensive EV investment.
Outrage is Dragonite's strongest move while Fire Punch allows it to beat Steel-types like Skarmory who can easily wall it. Its last move is Extreme Speed and allows Dragonite to hit faster opponents as even with +2 Speed, there are still Pokemon that easily outspeed it.
Other Viable Moves
| Earthquake | Earthquake is an alternative move to Fire Punch and actually has great coverage than Fire Punch, and allows Dragonite to beat Heatran and Empoleon. However, this leaves Dragonite easily walled by Skarmory. |
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Choice Band Attacker
| Pokemon | Ability | Item | Moves | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragonite | Multiscale | Choice Band | ・Outrage ・Fire Punch ・Extreme Speed ・Sleep Talk | ||
| Nature / EVs | Jolly 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd | ||||
| Final Stats | 167 HP / 186 Atk / 115 Def / 120 Sp.Def / 145 Spd | ||||
Using Dragonite
Dragonite can forgo its usual setup build for a more straightforward attacking build with Choice Band. This Dragonite has more immediate power but requires it to switch out to change moves.
Outrage and Fire Punch are Dragonite's main attacking moves, while Extreme Speed lets it hit faster opponents. Sleep Talk is its last move and allows Dragonite to switch into Breloom's Spore and hit back even when afflicted with sleep.
Other Viable Moves
| Earthquake | Earthquake is an alternative move to Fire Punch and actually has great coverage than Fire Punch, and allows Dragonite to beat Heatran and Empoleon. However, this leaves Dragonite easily walled by Skarmory. |
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Dragonite Basic Information
Dragonite - Type
| DragoniteDragon Pokemon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type 1 | Type 2 |
Dragonite Weaknesses and Resistances
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Takes 4x damage | |
| Takes 2x damage | |
| Takes 0.5x damage | |
| Takes 1/4x damage | |
| Takes 0x damage |
Dragonite Abilities
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Inner Focus | The Pokemon is protected from flinching. |
Dragonite Hidden Ability
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Multiscale | Reduces damage when HP is full. |
Dragonite Base Stats
| HP | 91 | |
| Atk | 134 | |
| Def | 95 | |
| Sp. Atk | 100 | |
| Sp. Def | 100 | |
| Speed | 80 | |
| Total Base Stats | 600 | |
Dragonite Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| ✔︎ Ease of setting up thanks to Multiscale ✔︎ Well-rounded stats with great offensive and defensive statsfoure | ✖︎ Suffers from "Four Moveslot Syndrome" - often having to choose between two good coverage moves ✖︎ Susceptible to passive damage, which prevents it from taking advantage of Multiscale |
Increased Bulk with Multiscale
Dragonite's Multiscale Ability halves the damage it receives from attacks as long as it has full HP. This Ability gives Dragonite increased bulk, letting it survive a move that would instantly KO it and set up with Dragon Dance safely.
The increased bulk this Ability provides Dragonite also allows it to stay in matches for longer periods, making it one of the best setup sweepers for more balanced teams.
A Powerful Physical Attacker
Dragonite's naturally high Attack stat makes it a difficult Pokemon to switch into, especially if it's accumulated enough Dragon Dance boosts or is holding a Choice Band.
Unique to Dragonite is its ability to beat its usual checks. Despite its mediocre Speed stat, it has access to Extreme Speed which has +2 priority. This allows it to threaten or even potentially KO fast but frailer attackers such as Weavile.
Stop its Stat Boosts with Unaware
Like all setup sweepers, Dragon Dance Dragonite struggles against Pokemon with the Ability Unaware. Pokemon with this Ability will ignore Dragonite's Attack and Speed boosts, allowing them to comfortably wall Dragonite and hit back with status moves.
| Pokemon | Description |
|---|---|
| Clefable | Ranking：★★★★★・Immune to Dragonite's Dragon-type STAB and has Moonlight ・Can wear Dragonite down with Moonblast or cripple it with Thunder Wave |
| Quagsire | Ranking：★★★★・Takes little damage from Dragonite's unboosted attacks and has Recover ・Can wear Dragonite down with a combination of Scald and Rock Slide, or cripple it with Toxic or Yawn |
Check it with a Faster Attacker
Dragonite relies on Speed boosts from Dragon Dance to outspeed its usual checks, but its mediocre Speed stat means its easily outspeed by naturally faster attackers. As a result, it struggles against faster Pokemon that can wear it down before it can set up.
| Pokemon | Description |
|---|---|
| Garchomp | Ranking：★★★★★・Naturally outspeeds Dragonite with no Speed boosts and can threaten with STAB Outrage ・Natural bulk lets it shrug off unboosted Extreme Speed ・Garchomp's Rough Skin Ability deters Dragonite from attacking it or have its Multiscale break |
| Salamence | Ranking：★★★★★・Naturally outspeeds Dragonite with no Speed boosts and can threaten with STAB Outrage ・Can use Dragonite as setup fodder thanks to its Intimidate Ability |
Nullify Multiscale with Passive Damage
Dragonite relies on its Multiscale Ability as a safeguard to properly set up, but this is easily nullified by passive damage from both entry hazards and weather.
| Pokemon | Description |
|---|---|
| Hippowdon | Ranking：★★★★★・Sets up Sandstorm with its Sand Stream Ability ・Great physical bulk and Slack Off lets it shrug off attacks from Dragonite ・Can set up Stealth Rock to deter Choice Band variants from repeatedly switching in and out |
| Abomasnow | Ranking：★★★★・Sets up Hail with its Snow Warning Ability ・Can deter Dragonite from switching in with a combination of Blizzard and Leech Seed |
Best Natures for Dragonite
| Best Natures | |
|---|---|
| Jolly (Spd ↑ Sp.Atk ↓) | Adamant (Atk ↑ Sp.Atk ↓) |
What are Natures?
Best Partners for Dragonite
Heatran
| Pokemon | Ability | Item | Moves | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heatran | Flash Fire | Leftovers | ・Magma Storm or Lava Plume ・Earth Power ・Substitute ・Protect | ||
| Nature / EVs | Timid 212 HP / 92 Sp.Def / Spd 204 | ||||
| Final Stats | 193 HP / 126 Def / Sp.Atk 150 / 138 Sp.Def / 135 Spd | ||||
Heatran is one of the best defensive partners for Dragonite and Dragon-types in general thanks to its dual-typing giving it 4x resistance to both Ice and Fairy-type moves. Conversely, Dragonite can check Ground-types that threaten Heatran thanks to its secondary Flying typing.
Even with minimal investment, Heatran can shrug off special attacks targeting Dragonite. It can also trap walls with Magma Storm or spread burns with Lava Plume, with the latter helping to deter physical attackers that can use Dragonite as setup fodder.
Scizor
| Pokemon | Ability | Item | Moves | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scizor | Technician | Metal Coat | ・Bullet Punch ・Thief ・Roost ・Swords Dance | ||
| Nature / EVs | Adamant 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd | ||||
| Final Stats | 177 HP / 200 Atk / 120 Def / 100 Sp.Def / 86 Spd | ||||
Scizor is another great partner, specifically bulkier variants, as its Steel typing complements and covers Dragonite's weakneses. Similarly, Dragonite's resistance to Fire-types allows it to deter Scizor's common checks and counters.
More importantly, Scizor helps deter the rare Fairy types from switching in. Many Fairy types have low Defense and Scizor's ability to boost its own offenses mean that it can use Dragonite's counters as setup fodder.
Empoleon
| Pokemon | Ability | Item | Moves | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empoleon | Torrent | Leftovers | ・Scald ・Stealth Rock ・Yawn ・Icy Wind | ||
| Nature / EVs | Calm 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Sp.Def | ||||
| Final Stats | 191 HP / 109 Def / 131 Sp.Atk / 168 Sp.Def / 80 Spd | ||||
Dragonite appreciates Empoleon's resistance to Rock, Fairy, and Ice-type moves. Conversely, Dragonite's immunity to Ground-types make it a great switch-in to Empoleon's usual counters.
Additionally, Empoleon's great selection of support moves can help Dragonite and the rest of its team. Not only can it set up Stealth Rock and spread burns with Scald, it can also deter opposing walls with Yawn and prevent faster Pokemon from staying in battle with Icy Wind.
Pokemon BDSP Related Guides
Tier List and Movesets for Competitive Battle
Strategies for Individual Pokemon
| Competitive Pokemon Builds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gyarados | Breloom | Gliscor |
| Scizor | Suicune | Latios |
| Garchomp | Gengar | Azumarill |
| Hippowdon | Mamoswine | Latias |
| Heatran | Blaziken | Wash Rotom |
| Metagross | Tyranitar |  Dragonite |
| Togekiss | Cloyster | Salamence |
| Cresselia | ||
