Dratini (Update)

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[Overview]

<p>Here we have Dratini, a scarred veteran of LC. At first glance, Dratini seems outclassed by other Dragon-types such as Axew and Bagon; it has a lower Attack stat than both of them and its Speed stat is less-than-stellar. Which might make you wonder: Wwhy isn't Dratini largely neglected?. The answer to that lies in its ability and the size of its movepool, both of which far surpass Axew's and Bagon's. In addition, Dratini is far and away the cutest Dragon Dance user in the history of Pokemon, which alone should warrant it some usage.</p>

[SET]
name: Bulky Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Rest
move 4: Fire Blast / Sleep Talk
item: Eviolite
ability: Shed Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 28 HP / 4 Atk / 236 Def / 196 SpD / 36 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set is focused on takes advantage of Dratini's respectable bulk to set up multiple Dragon Dances. Obviously, Dragon Dance is the crux of the set, and is the "creème de la creème" of any physical sweeper's movepool. Outrage is Dratini's strongest physical move, as even with very little Attack investment —after just a couple of boosts— is able to flatten almost everything that comes in contact with it and after a couple of boosts it OHKOes anything that doesn't resist it. Rest is Dratini's only form of recovery, but when paired with Shed Skin, it forces the opponent to bring down Dratini to KO range for a revenge killer a second time all while dratini slowly continues stacking its boosts gives Dratini the chance to accumulate even more boosts, as well as getting rid of troublesome status and restoring Dratini's HP. Fire Blast gives Dratini perfect coverage alongside Outrage, as it destroys the Steel-types that would otherwise stand in Dratini's way. Sleep Talk is also an option if you want Dratini to boost or attack, even when asleep as it sleeps.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>This set has an advantage over other Dratini's sets as it is far less reliant doesn't rely heavily on team support to function, as with its bulk, Dratini can take hits when it needs to. A Jolly nature lets Dratini reach the coveted 19 Speed tier after a boost, tying with Misdreavus, Taillow, and more (put another 19 Speed Pokemon here). It also lets Dratini outspeed popular Choice Scarf users such as Chinchou and Mienfoo after two boosts. Dratini enjoys teammates that resist Ice-type attacks and can retain offensive pressure or lure in Dratini's common Pokemon Dratini can set<space>up baits: on, such as Chinchou and Ponyta. Larvesta is an excellent choice as it does both and can get Dratini in safely with U-turn. Pokemon that can deal with this set counters —Koffing and Hippopotas— are also useful, as they otherwise wall this set. Frillish is another good choice as it resists Dratini's Ice-type weakness (so does almost every Water-, Fire-, Ice-, and Steel-type, say how else Frillish is useful...).</p>

[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: ExtremeSpeed
item: Life Orb
ability: Shed Skin
nature: Lonely / Hasty
evs: 244 Atk / 36 SpA / 196 Spe
ivs: 0 HP

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Once dDratini's flagship set, Offensive Dragon Dance Dratini has fallen from favor. However, this set it can still be very dangerous, especially to offensive teams. As this set focuses on attempting a sweep after a boost, Dragon Dance is obviously the first option Dragon Dance is the crux of the set, boosting Dratini's Attack and Speed to very high levels. Outrage is the standard STAB attack of choice, as it moves mountains with its power and deals huge amounts of damage after a boost. Fire Blast is also standard fare, as it does heavy amounts of damage to Steel-types after Life Orb's boost. However, ExtremeSpeed is, however, what makes this set so fearsome as it makes Dratini extremely difficult to revenge kill. Although Eviolite gives Dratini usable bulk and sometimes the opportunity to grab a boost or two, the lack of right of the bat power right off the bat provided by Life Orb is very noticeable when using Eviolite, making Life Orb the best option, most of the time (outline times when Eviolite is a better option imo).</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>A<space>Lonely nature lets Dratini hit 21 Speed after a boost, outspeeding all non-scarfers non-Choice Scarf Pokemon in LC. However, if you feel pPokemon that hit 14 sSpeed and commonly carry a Choice Scarf, such as Shellder, are an issue, Hasty is a viable alternative as it allows enables dDratini to outspeed Shellder and beat it with Outrage when ExtremeSpeed would not always KO Shellder. Note, It should be noticed that cChoice sScarf Snover is not a problem to for this set as dDratini is guareanteed to OHKO it with a +1 eExtreme<remove space>sSpeed after sStealth rRock damage. Be wary that, when using This set, it will requires a lot of team support to pull off a sweep. A safe switch is virtually essential, so any slow pPokemon with uU-turn or vVolt sSwitch, such as Nosepass, are useful to get Dratini in safely. Dratini will also appreciate the support of sSub-passers like Mienfoo. Be sure that all members of the opponent's team that can take a hit from Dratini and strike back and KO it in return are weakened to KO range as this Dratini set really can't afford to take a hit due to its frailty.</p>


[Other Options]

<p>Dratini, as was mentioned earlier, has a vast movepool, but due to its slightly mediocre stats, it struggles to use a lot of its moves effectively. A mixed attacking set using Draco Meteor, Extreme<remove space>Speed, Fire Blast, and Ice Beam with some hefty investment in sSpecial Attack investment is probably Dratini's most viable option that isn't listed as it defeats many of Dratini's common counters, such as Hippopotas and Koffing. However, it is reliant on surprise and, so if it became common, it would be uneffective once your opponent knows that Dratini is a special attacker, it becomes much easier to counter than the listed sets. As for moves, Dratini gets Dragon Rush as its another other physical STAB option, but the poor accuracy in exchange for the loss of power and not being locked into a move will generally not pay off its good secondary effect and the fact that it doesn't lock you into a move don't make up for its poor accuracy. A Rest-talk set abusing marvel scale looks viable, but unfortunately marvel scale is illegal with sleep talk (why mention something Dratini can't do?). Dragon Tail is an interesting option, and a just-about-viable support set could be run with moves like Thunder Wave, toxic, light screen or other selections from dratini's hoard of a movepool A support set consisting of Dragon Tail, Thunder Wave or Toxic, Light Screen, and Rest is reasonably effective, but is often let down by Dratini's mediocre defenses. Aqua tTail and Surf are options on either of the sets if you feel paranoid about Aron, while also dealing good damage to Hippopotas without the lock-in effect of Outrage, but Dratini often finds its move-slots full before it can utilize such specialized options usually won't have space for such a niche move.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p> Dratini is usually not too difficult to counter. Physically defensive behemoths that can tank a Fire Blast, such as Koffing and Hippopotas, make for great counters, only fearing the odd mixed set. Pokemon such as physically bulky Mienfoo, Lickitung, and Timburr also make quite good counters. Bulky Mienfoo in particular deserves a special mention as it is very easy to keep healthy and so can discourage Dratini to set up for almost as long as you like (you need to say how in particular they counter Dratini, not just that they can). Beating Dratini offensively, though, is a much taller order as Dratini is infamous for carrying the deadly ExtremeSpeed. If you want to beat Dratini offensively, you'll need a fast scarfer that doesn't care about Extreme Speed, like Misdreavus or Gastly but neither of them like to switch in on an Outrage Due to ExtremeSpeed, Dratini is much harder to revenge kill with offensive Pokemon. Fast Choice Scarf users that are immune to ExtremeSpeed, such as Misdreavus and Gastly, can take Dratini out with relative ease, but will have to be wary of Outrage as they switch in. Strong priority zans sucker punch can mark a full stop to dratini, again, so long as the user can take a boosted extreme speed (seen as ExtremeSpeed moves before all other priority moves why would you use a priority move in the first place?). Croagunk can check Dratini quite nicely with Fake Out and Vacuum Wave. As for more specialized counters, the best you can get would be Aron and Heat Proof Bronzor,. both of which take a pitance from all of Dratini's attacks (bar surf and aqua tail in aron's case) and Aron can strike back very hard. Bronzor will need to carry some way to boost its stats, however, if it wants to beat the bulky Dragon Dance set: like Calm Mind. Aron takes a pittance from any of Dratini's attacks, bar Aqual Tail or Surf, and can hit back hard with Head Smash. Bronzor resists Outrage, has the Special Defense to take a Fire Blast, and can set up on Dratini with Calm Mind. If you have no good dedicated counter to Dratini, the best way would probably be to take it out is simply to force it to use Outrage, which is when it is most vulnerable to revenge killers and revenge kill it with a faster Pokemon.</p>

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