Dragonite is a very versatile anti-metagame threat that has a trick for just about every occasion. Offensively, its great Attack and good Special Attack are complemented by a huge movepool, including its obligatory Dragon-type STAB moves, Draco Meteor and Outrage; the powerful Flying-type STAB, Hurricane; and Dragon Dance to outrun just about every threat in a metagame filled with slow, bulky Pokemon. Defensively, its bulk combines with Multiscale nicely to make a stalling phazer viable. However, residual damage from the likes of Stealth Rock and sandstorm negates Multiscale, making it more difficult for Dragonite to use its bulk effectively. Dragonite was the most powerful Dragon-type in D/P when Salamence was sent to the UBER tier. Dragonite is OU in B/W. Dragonite is simply so versatile that many different variants of the existing sets are possible. It also has an extremely large non-attacking movepool, containing moves such as Agility, Heal Bell, and Haze. However, many of these are incompatible with Multiscale, including Heal Bell. Agility is mostly overkill for boosting Speed in this metagame, and is hardly worth the lack of an Attack boost. Fire Punch may be tempting on the mixed attacker sets to hit specially defensive Ferrothorn harder and to retain a powerful Fire-type move after Draco Meteor is used, but its advantage is low, and Fire Punch is a contact move, which means that Dragonite will suffer damage from Iron Barbs.Dragonite is so versatile that one can forget about finding a surefire counter at the outset. However, fast Ground-types and bulky Steel-types, such as Jirachi, Excadrill, Landorus, and Scizor, are fairly good checks and revenge killers, particularly to the Parashuffler set. The Parashuffler set is also vulnerable to Taunt, which locks Dragonite into Dragon Tail. In general, Dragonite abhors status ailments and residual damage of all sorts. This makes Tyranitar and Hippowdon great assets for combating it, as both have Sand Stream and Stealth Rock to make Multiscale more difficult to use.A few defensive Pokemon deal with Dragonite fairly well. Cresselia is a good check for most Dragonite sets, but it has a hard time with the Parashuffler set unless it can catch it outside of a Substitute, or if Cresselia is the last Pokemon. Hippowdon and Skarmory are good checks to Dragon Dance variants, but they do not deal with other sets so well due to phazing, special attacks, or sheer power.Cloyster and Haxorus deserve special mentions. While it is not advisable for either Pokemon to switch directly into Dragonite, Cloyster can take a physical attack from Dragonite, use Shell Smash, and start a sweep with Icicle Spear, which hits through Multiscale. Haxorus has Mold Breaker and an extremely high 147 base Attack, which means that it will deal very heavy damage to Dragonite with Outrage, ignoring Multiscale.Dragonite's Passive Abilities are Inner Focus and Multiscale.
Moveset
Choice Band Dragonite
| ~ Outrage ~ Fire Punch ~ Dragon Claw/Waterfall ~ Extremespeed | 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe |
Comments: I personally would prefer Waterfall over Dragon Claw in this set since Ferrothorn is SO common in competitive battling. At least this way you have a partially advantage in the rain and you still have Outrage. Fire Punch is also recommended to have since you'll have an advantage against Ferrothorn and have type coverage.The Speed EVs are maximized to tie at worst with Chandelure and opposing Dragonite. They can be lowered to 148 and still outrun Magnezone lacking a Choice Scarf, though any lower and Magnezone can just nail Dragonite with Hidden Power Ice. A Jolly nature is possible to get the jump on 252 Speed Adamant Gyarados, and maximizing Speed on top of this allows Dragonite to outrun Adamant Lucario and Timid Heatran, but the loss in power relative to Adamant is significant. Superpower is a great move to OHKO Blissey, Tyranitar, and Ferrothorn in the rain, but since it is incompatible with Multiscale, it may be more trouble than it is worth. Aqua Tail is also tempting, but Waterfall lands the same KOs while maintaining perfect accuracy.Removing or preventing sources of residual damage, especially Stealth Rock, is very helpful for the set's hit-and-run nature. Hitmontop is an interesting Rapid Spin-using partner, due to its ability to KO Excadrill and Terrakion with Fake Out followed by Mach Punch. Stealth Rock on the opponent's side of the field is also very helpful for the switches that this Dragonite will cause. This set greatly appreciates paralysis support from the likes of Jirachi, Ferrothorn, Thundurus, or Whimsicott; the former two can also switch into priority attacks, such as Scizor's Bullet Punch. Wish support from Blissey or Jirachi is also appreciated if it can be afforded. The destruction of Ground- and Steel-types with prediction can open the opponent up to assaults from other attackers such as Scizor, Landorus, Latios, and Thundurus. Revenge killers, such as Excadrill and Latios, can be handled using the appropriate counters, such as Rotom-W for the former and Jirachi for the latter.
Moveset:
Bulky Dragon Dance Item:Leftovers/Lum Berry Ability: Multiscale Nature: Adamant/Jolly
| ~ Dragon Dance ~ Dragon Claw/Outrage ~ Fire Punch ~ Roost | 252 HP / 44 Atk / 212 Spe |
Comments: Dragon Claw is usually preferred because this set appreciates every opportunity that it can get to use Roost or Dragon Dance again, but Outrage is not a bad alternative for a more aggressive take on this set. Lum Berry is an excellent alternative to Leftovers as well, because the opponent will inevitably consider trying to check Dragonite's rampage with paralysis, Toxic, or a burn, which will thus be foiled. Waterfall and Brick Break mainly hit Terrakion, Tyranitar, and Heatran, but Fire Punch tends to have better overall coverage unless Dragonite is on a rain team. ExtremeSpeed is tempting for picking off weakened threats, but it is fairly weak with this EV spread. 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe Jolly is a faster spread that, after two Dragon Dances, outpaces Adamant Excadrill in the sand and Venusaur carrying Hidden Power Fire in the sun. A much slower EV spread of 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe Careful is also possible, though at that point, Choice Scarf variants of Politoed, Terrakion, and Landorus may cause problems. Yet another possibility is Substitute, though it is difficult to fit into this moveset. Removal or prevention of Stealth Rock is highly recommended, as it will allow Dragonite to make use of Multiscale from the start and be able to set up much more easily. This can be accomplished through Rapid Spin users, such as Starmie and Hitmontop, and Magic Bounce users, such as Espeon. A teammate to set up Stealth Rock on the opponent's side is also important because this set does not have as much immediate power as some of the other, more offensive Dragonite sets, and every bit of damage helps. Revenge killers such as Excadrill, Scizor, Choice Scarf Terrakion, and Choice Scarf Landorus, as well as threats not covered by the chosen coverage move (e.g. Ferrothorn or Gliscor), can stop Dragonite's sweep cold. This makes Rotom-W a very viable partner, as it can burn Ferrothorn and scare off Terrakion, Gliscor, and Excadrill. Skarmory and Bronzong can deal with Landorus. Magnezone is yet another good partner that can trap and KO Ferrothorn and Scizor. Wish support from Blissey or Jirachi can be used to give Dragonite a "second wind" if it sustains too much damage and is forced out.
Moveset
Mixed Attacker Dragonite Item: Life Orb Ability:Inner Focus Nature: Rash/Mild
| ~ Draco Meteor ~ Fire Blast ~ Superpower ~ Extremespeed/Roost | 252 Atk / 252 SpA / 4 Spe |
Comments: This set can run one of several natures. Generally, a Special Attack boosting nature (e.g. Rash, Mild, or Quiet) is recommended to power up Draco Meteor, but an Attack boosting nature (e.g. Lonely, Naughty, or Brave) is a decent option as well to power up ExtremeSpeed a bit more. Some EVs can be invested into Speed to outrun threats like Magnezone and Politoed, in which case it should be noted that 108 Attack EVs and an Attack boosting nature are needed to OHKO 252 HP / 252 Def Bold Blissey with Superpower. If using a Speed-reducing nature, having 28 Speed EVs is a good idea to outrun Timid Wobbuffet. Teams that require a diverse offensive wallbreaker will greatly appreciate this set. This set will tend to lure in and destroy opposing Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Bronzong, and Skarmory, which the likes of Scizor, Landorus, Latios, and Thundurus can exploit. In return, Dragonite greatly appreciates Rapid Spin support and removal of sandstorm through Ninetales, Politoed, or Tornadus or Thundurus running Rain Dance. Hitmontop can serve the role of Rapid Spin user while keeping Excadrill and Terrakion in check. Bulky Steel-types such as Jirachi, Ferrothorn, and Heatran can be very helpful for switching into priority moves such as Scizor's Bullet Punch. Wish support from Blissey or Jirachi can be of great help as well, especially if Dragonite elects not to use Roost.
Moveset:
Offensive Dragon Dance Items: Life Orb/Leftovers Ability: Multiscale Nature:Adamant/Jolly
| ~ Dragon Dance ~ Dragon Claw/Outrage ~ Fire Punch ~ Extremespeed/Earthquake/Roost | 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe |
Comments: Waterfall is a better option than Fire Punch on rain teams, while Brick Break is consistent in all weather conditions, but is not as powerful as Fire Punch or Waterfall in their respective weather conditions. The Speed EVs are maximized to attempt to tie with Chandelure and opposing Dragonite; a Jolly nature also outruns Adamant Excadrill in the sand after two Dragon Dances. Rapid Spin support is essential to make the best use of Multiscale while Dragonite is setting up, especially because it will also be suffering Life Orb recoil. This set will also cause some switches, making Stealth Rock very helpful. Rotom-W is a great defensive complement, easily countering the likes of Choice Scarf Terrakion, Excadrill, and Scizor. Bronzong and Skarmory can deal with Choice Scarf Terrakion, Excadrill, and Landorus, while Magnezone can trap and terminate Ferrothorn and Scizor.
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