RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

A constant fan-favorite, the target of this week’s Strategy Session has largely clung to its position in the tier system through sheer popularity. It isn’t as overpowering as some other Dragons, and it tends more towards the jack-of-all-trades master-of-none role. And yet, people have consistently voted with their Pokeballs; Dragonite is OU. This week, we’ll see if we can’t pick a focus for this fluffy orange-yellow lizard.

Dragonite
Dragon / Flying
HP: 91 Atk: 134 Def: 95 Sp Atk: 100 Sp Def: 100 Spd: 80
Ability: Inner Focus: Moves used by the opponent will never cause this Pokemon to Flinch.

Dragonite’s biggest advantage is really the fact that it’s a Dragon. That gave it exceptionally good stats, solid resistances, and even a broad movepool. That last one is really where Dragonite shines, though. Big Orange doesn’t have quite the speed or even attack as some other Dragons, but its movepool is so huge that it can pull off movepools that offensive monsters like Garchomp or Salamence just aren’t as good at.

Interestingly, some of Dragonite’s biggest weaknesses also come from the fact that it’s a Dragon. First and foremost is that nasty 4x weakness to Ice that all Dragons seem to have. Secondly, it just doesn’t have the raw power that other members of its species possess, nor the speed. Dragonite does make up for this in some other ways, most obviously by its more defensive alignment, but this means that the big guy’s a lot tougher to just slip into a team. The general increase in the size of all Pokemon’s movepools has also been something of a detriment to Dragonite. Once upon a time, Dragonite was one of the only critters in the game that could use Outrage, giving it a distinct offensive edge. But with the advent of move tutors, that edge is now gone.

Dragonite has seen some odd changes to its movepool over the course of the last generation or so. For a start, thanks to a special in-game event in Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver, Dragonite learns ExtremeSpeed, a powerful priority move that it can put to good use. However, even though the critter got Heal Bell through Pokemon XD last generation, HG/SS saw fit to give the big guy short shrift in this area; it can’t learn Heal Bell through the in-game tutor.

Dragon Disco
Dragonite @Life Orb / Leftovers
Adamant (+Atk, -Sp Atk) or Jolly (+Spd, -Sp Atk) nature
Inner Focus ability
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP
-Dragon Dance
-Dragon Claw / Outrage
-Earthquake
-Roost / Fire Punch
This set is a favorite of Salamence as well, and to be honest, the spiky dragon kind of does this set better, since he starts off a good 20 points faster. Still, Dragonite’s extra bulk means he may have a somewhat easier time staying around long enough to Dragon Dance past his lower offensive stats, so there is an advantage to using Big Orange.

Dragonite’s huge movepool means the attacks in this set can be tailored to what your team needs. Having trouble with Ground or Fire-types? Dragonite learns Aqua Tail. Fliers giving you issues? Dragonite gets Stone Edge. For the most part, these extra moves are best in the last slot, as Roost and Fire Punch are the most expendable parts of the set. All the same, never underestimate the power of a fast, strong critter that can use Roost to cover its biggest weakness and recover HP.

Dragon Safety
Dragonite @Leftovers
Careful (+Sp Def, -Sp Atk) nature
Inner Focus ability
252 HP, 252 Sp Def, 6 Def
-Dragon Claw
-Roost
-Heal Bell
-Toxic / Thunder Wave
This set, on the other hand, works to play up Dragonite’s defensive abilities. With a bucketload of useful resistances — including Water, Fire, and an immunity to Ground — Dragonite has little or no trouble getting in and out of play, which makes it an ideal user of Heal Bell.

Unfortunately, getting a good Dragonite with Heal Bell is a bit of a challenge. Since Heal Bell is a move exclusive to Pokemon XD, it’s pretty rare to come across one unless you’re really looking for it. There are a number of moves that can replace Heal Bell, again thanks to Dragonite’s massive movepool, such as Light Screen and Reflect, Roar, and Haze. All of these moves can also go in the last slot over Toxic or Thunder Wave, if you don’t feel you need a status move.

Dragon Twist
Dragonite @Life Orb
Rash (+Sp Atk, -Sp Def) or Mild (+Sp Atk, -Def) nature
Inner Focus ability
112 Atk, 196 Sp Atk, 200 Spd
-Draco Meteor
-Superpower
-Flamethrower
-Roost
One thing Dragonite gets that none of its main competitors do is Superpower. The ability to fire off a strong, physical-type Fighting attack gives Dragonite a slight edge in wall breaking, especially when combined with Draco Meteor. As its offensive stats aren’t quite as good, however, ‘Nite will sometimes get stuck holding the short end of the stick, with a foe holding on by its last couple HP. For this reason, it’s a great idea to back it up with some entry hazards. And because Superpower and Draco Meteor both encourage Dragonite to bounce in and out of play frequently, having a Wish Pokemon and/or a Rapid Spinner to clear the field are both exceptionally good ideas.