Dragonair
[Overview]
<p>NFE-Status pokemon are generally not viewed as intimidating or impressive, especially in the RU tier. This pokemon, for the longest time, has been standing in the shadow of it's evolution, Dragonite. However, Dragonair works as an exceptionally well defensive sweeper in the RU metagame. It doesn't have incredibly high base stats, nor an astounding movepool. But with it's abilities, as well as it's typing, it can make for a great defensive sweeper.Also, it's new DW ability comes in handy very well.</p>
[SET]
Name:Defensive
move 1:Dragon Tail
move 2:Toxic
move 3:Rest
move 4:Sleep Talk/Protect/Thunder Wave
item:Eviolite
ability:Marvel Scale/Shed Skin
nature:Impish
evs:252HP/128Def/128Spd
[SET COMMENTS]
<P>So, the main idea behind this set is for Dragonair to be a phasing/status dealing pokemon. So I gave it the the impish nature, lowering SpA and raising Def.That, along with the EVs was to give as much mixed bulk as possible. Now, unlike whirlwind and roar, which just switches the opponent out, dragon tail actually does some damage in the process, plus a STAB boost. Toxic allows it to potentially stall the battle out, which it's bulk should make possible. (the ever increasing damage helps too.) Rest is essential to this set, because not only do you need recovery,adding the fact that this runs an eviolite, NOT leftovers. If you're using shed skin, there's the 30% chance of you waking up right after you heal, which is a great thing to have in your arsenal. This works with marvel scale as well, because when the sleep status is on you, you can get the additional 50% boost in defenses(let's not forget the eviolite). This leaves you with sleep talk if you're using marvel scale, and thunder wave or protect if you're using shed skin. Stalling is an option with shed skin, but with marvel scale you pretty much HAVE to use sleep talk, because it's the only way to inflict damage in the sleep status, obviously.</P>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set's worst enemies would be choice band aggron. It's typing gives immunity to toxic as well as thunder wave, and it resists dragon tail. On a dragon dance set, cryogonal's haze can really screw dragonair up. However, the eviolite boost along with marvel scale (if being used) gives dragonair an overall 100% SpD and Def boost while it's hit with any tpe of status! This pokemon serves as a great alternative to the typical RU defense, eviolite munchlax. Munchlax beats dragonair in offensive, but let's remeber who's the one with the 100% boost. Also, as i mentioned previously, dragonair with shed skin is basically a lm berry as an ability, which even further proves it's ability as a stall/wall pokemon. Common offensife pokes in general, like lanturn, magmortar, sceptile, magneton, quagsire, moltres, and many more, are also walled by dragonair due to it's unique single dragon type. The wide variety of pokemon that dragonair can hold it's own against in it's tier makes it a great alternative to munchlax, as well as some other common walls/ defensive pokemon. The downside, of course, is it's lack in offense, but that's not what it's being used for, now is it?</p>
