[OVERVIEW]
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Based on stats alone, there are much more powerful specially based available Dragon-types such as Latios and Latias; why would you use a Pokemon with a mere base 97 Special Attack, especially one whose secondary STAB type offers nothing in the way of covering Steel-types? Furthermore, Dragalge is the slowest fully evolved Dragon-type in the game. Alongside its defensive typing, and in the context of the OU metagame, this means it has to worry about being revenge killed by many top-tier threats, including Mega Charizard X, Excadrill, Landorus-T, Mega Alakazam, Mega Gallade, and Latios.
However, by virtue of that same defensive typing, Dragalge is able to find a place on many teams as a defensive or offensive tank, capable of handling many common threats, including Mega Charizard Y, Keldeo, Gengar, Clefable, Manaphy, Mega Manectric, Rotom-W, Thundurus, and Mega Venusaur. Regardless of the set, Dragalge's ability, (remove comma) Adaptability, which bolsters the power of its STAB moves by 1.33, is a great boon to it. (optional removal there) Dragalge is also able to differentiate itself from other Dragon-types thanks to its access to STAB Sludge Wave, which powers through many common Fairy-types, including Clefable, as well as its secondary Poison typing, which renders it neutral to Fairy-type moves to which Latios or and Latias would fall. Add all of this to Toxic Spikes, which allows Dragalge to cut into the longevity of its foes longevity, namely Substitute Calm Mind Keldeo, and it's clear to see why Dragalge has become close to a staple on many bulky offensive, balanced, and stall teams. However, do not assume Dragalge needs Toxic Spikes to function; it can also use a devastating Choice Specs set capable of achieving feats such as OHKOing Mew, Keldeo, and Zapdos.
[SET]
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name: Offensive Toxic Spikes
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Focus Blast / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Toxic Spikes
item: Draco Plate / Black Sludge
ability: Adaptability
nature: Modest
evs: 228 HP / 252 SpA / 28 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
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Moves
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Draco Meteor is an obscenely powerful STAB move that hits everything except Fairy- and Steel-types neutrally. If setting Toxic Spikes isn't ideal at the time, you should generally use this move, because it'll hit almost all switch-ins very hard. Sludge Wave complements Draco Meteor, as it hits Fairy-types super effectively. Additionally, Dragalge is neutral to Fairy-type moves, (remove comma) and thus can switch in on many Fairy-types and destroy them with Sludge Wave. Focus Blast covers the Steel-types that Dragalge's STAB moves cannot, such as Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Bisharp. However, Hidden Power Fire can be used if you'd prefer having better accuracy and the ability to hit hitting Mega Scizor, (remove comma) and don't mind not being able to handle Heatran. Toxic Spikes spreads the poisoned or badly poisoned status to all grounded foes, which greatly benefits your team by inhibiting opposing setup Pokemon, including Unaware Clefable and Substitute Keldeo.
Set Details
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28 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Hippowdon, which would otherwise 2HKO with Earthquake. Maximum Special Attack EVs are used so that Dragalge can hit as hard as possible, and the rest of the EVs are put in HP so that Dragalge has good mixed bulk. 140 Speed EVs, at the expense of HP, can be used if you need Dragalge to outspeed Clefable and hit it with a powerful Sludge Wave before it can use Calm Mind or Tyranitar, (remove comma) so that Dragalge can hit it with Focus Blast. If Dragalge is using Hidden Power Fire, Tyranitar isn't necessary to outspeed, so only 136 Speed EVs would be needed. Draco Plate is typically the item of choice, as it boosts the power of Dragalge's most-used move, Draco Meteor, by 1.2 without causing recoil. However, if this extra damage is not needed, Black Sludge also is a great choice, as it gives it Dragalge the passive recovery needed to switch into Pokemon less riskily.
Usage Tips
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Use Dragalge's amazing defensive typing to be able to switch in on numerous Pokemon, including Mega Charizard Y, Keldeo, Clefable, Manaphy, Mega Manectric, Rotom-W, Magnezone, Thundurus, and Mega Venusaur. Once in, Dragalge can either use its offensive or defensive advantage to set up Toxic Spikes, which greatly hurts your opponent's grounded setup sweepers' chances of setting up, or fire off powerful moves. Draco Meteor, especially when boosted by Draco Plate, is immensely powerful, and it lets Dragalge do as much damage as possible to threats such as Raikou, Keldeo, Mew, and Rotom-W. However, Sludge Wave is more consistent, (remove comma) and should be used both when the Draco Meteor's Special Attack cut is unappealing and in order to stop a Clefable sweep. Basically(comma) your mentality when using Dragalge should be to decide when it's right to attack and when it's right to set up Toxic Spikes. Be wary of using Toxic Spikes when you know Dragalge won't be able to get up a second layer, as that could result in having many foes being poisoned instead of badly poisoned, which isn't ideal because the goal is to wear them down rather than apply more short-term chip damage.
Team Options
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(this is kinda huge haha, if you can split it into two paragraphs that might help? up to you)
Magnezone and Dugtrio trap Steel-types such as Jirachi, which are very troublesome for Dragalge to face, even considering its access to Focus Blast. Grounded Poison-types, such as Amoonguss and Tentacruel, remove Dragalge's Toxic Spikes, so Gothitelle, which can trap and KO them, Reuniclus, which can set up on them, and others such as Landorus-T and Mega Alakazam, which can revenge kill them, make for good teammates. Gothitelle with Trick and a Choice item also doubles as a nice way for the team to cripple Chansey, a Pokemon Dragalge detests going up against. Physical wallbreakers such as Victini and Heracross can also prove to be spectacular teammates for their ability to demolish Chansey. Psychic-types such as Mega Gardevoir and Latios can easily revenge kill Dragalge. A Pursuit trapper such as Tyranitar can therefore make for a great teammate. Mega Metagross can also be a great teammate because it can check many of these bulky Psychic-types, including Gardevoir and Latios. Ferrothorn can prove to be a spectacular teammate, as it resists or can usually switch in comfortably on the Dragon-, Ice-, and Ground-types moves Dragalge is weak to, while Dragalge can switch into the Fire- and Fighting- type moves Ferrothorn is weak to. Add this to Ferrothorn's access to Spikes and Stealth Rock, and the two can make a great entry hazard-setting setting defensive pair for balanced and bulky offensive teams. Dragalge is prone to being revenge killed by Ground-types, such as Excadrill, Landorus-T, and Landorus, so to remedy this weakness, Rotom-W, Mandibuzz, and Manaphy can serve as great teammates. Teams this Dragalge variant is a part of often rely, to a varying degree, on Toxic Spikes to function. If these entry hazards get Defogged or spun away, the team loses a substantial part of its win condition. Bisharp can add offensive pressure in an effort to prevent Defog, and it also boasts a fair matchup against two premier Defoggers, Latios and Latias, while Ghost-types such as Mega Sableye can act as Rapid Spin blockers.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Scald
move 4: Toxic Spikes
item: Black Sludge
ability: Adaptability
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 232 SpD / 28 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
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Moves
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Despite not running Special Attack EVs, Dragalge still can hit very hard with Draco Meteor, which has great neutral coverage and OHKOes Gengar after considering Stealth Rock or Life Orb damage. Dragon Pulse is another viable option, which is substantially weaker but doesn't force Dragalge out after its use. It relegates Sludge Wave as Dragalge's most powerful move, if chosen over Draco Meteor, and therefore Dragon Pulse should only be used against Dragon- and Ground-types on the switch, as well as on Gengar. Be wary that unlike Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse can never OHKO Gengar. However, Dragon Pulse performs better against Substitute variants of Gengar, (remove comma) and is overall more consistent than Draco Meteor. Sludge Wave is a complementary STAB move to Dragalge's Dragon-type STAB move of choice, as it hits Fairy-types such as Clefable. The move is also useful for stinging Grass-types such as Celebi and Serperior much more than Draco Meteor. Scald hits Steel-types, which resist or are immune to Dragalge's STAB moves, neutrally and has a very useful burn chance, which can allow Dragalge to stay in relatively comfortably on physical attackers that would otherwise force it out. It's also a good move to use on a predicted switch, as almost nothing can completely switch in on Scald without risking a burn. Toxic Spikes spreads the poisoned or badly poisoned status to all grounded foes, (remove comma) and is especially useful for stopping setup sweepers such as Quiver Dance Volcarona, Calm Mind Keldeo, and Calm Mind Unaware Clefable.
Set Details
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28 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Hippowdon, which would otherwise outspeed and 2HKO with Earthquake. 248 EVs are put in HP for maximum mixed walling potential, and the rest are put in Special Defense, as Dragalge should opt to specialize in walling specially based Pokemon on the special side. Black Sludge is used for constant recovery, which ameliorates Dragalge's chances of countering Pokemon such as Gengar when factoring in Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
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Despite its low HP, Dragalge is remarkably specially bulky, and you should exploit this by switching in on Pokemon Dragalge's typing can handle. Mega Charizard Y, Keldeo, Clefable, Manaphy, Mega Manectric, Rotom-W, Magnezone, Thundurus, and Mega Venusaur are all examples of Pokemon that Dragalge easily can switch in on. Additionally, with the added bulk, Dragalge becomes a safe (but not foolproof) counter to Life Orb Gengar, which is remarkably hard to check. The name of the game with defensive Dragalge is getting in on something that it can handle. If it hard walls the foe (in the case of Mega Venusaur, for example), Dragalge should set up Toxic Spikes in order to cripple the opponent's team, and if it can't completely counter the foe, (remove comma) but can do immense damage (such as with Gengar and Draco Meteor), Dragalge should go for the KO. However, in most scenarios, your primary goal with Dragalge shouldn't be to attack, as Toxic Spikes will often prove to be more essential as your team's win condition.
Team Options
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Opposing Poison-types remove Toxic Spikes, so useful teammates include Gothitelle to trap them, Reuniclus to set up on them, and Landorus-T as well as Life Orb Alakazam to revenge kill them. Gothitelle with Trick also acts as a nice way to cripple Chansey, which also can be broken by strong physical wallbreakers such as Mega Heracross and Victini as well as utility Mega Sableye with Taunt and Knock Off. Mega Sableye doubles as a way to protect Dragalge's Toxic Spikes from being spun away, and the same can be said for Bisharp and the entry hazards being Defogged away. Because of their defensive synergy and entry hazard coverage, Dragalge and Ferrothorn make for great teammates on defensive teams. Dragalge is prone to being revenge killed by Ground-types such as Excadrill, Landorus-T, and Landorus, so to aid this problem, Rotom-W, Mandibuzz, and Manaphy can serve as great teammates. Psychic-types such as Mega Gardevoir and Latios can easily revenge kill Dragalge. A Pursuit trapper such as Choice Scarf Tyranitar can thus make for a great teammate. Mega Metagross can also check many bulky Psychic-types, including Gardevoir and Latios.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Focus Blast / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Scald
item: Choice Specs
ability: Adaptability
nature: Modest
evs: 228 HP / 252 SpA / 28 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
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Moves
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Draco Meteor is the move Dragalge will be using the vast majority of the time. Thanks to the move's massive 130 Base Power, Adaptability boost, and Choice Specs boost, it is able to do a massive amount of damage to anything but Fairy-types, Chansey, or and Blissey. It's able to OHKO frailer Steel-types such as Bisharp as well as 252 / 0 Mew after Stealth Rock damage. Fairy-types, the absolute best switch-ins to Draco Meteor, are, barring Klefki, annihilated by Dragalge's secondary STAB move, Sludge Wave. Sludge Wave also gives Dragalge a much more reliable STAB move with which it can hit both Grass-types and neutral targets hard without having to suffer from Draco Meteor's Special Attack drop. Focus Blast allows Dragalge to hit common Steel-type switch-ins, such as Ferrothorn, Bisharp, and Heatran, as well as Tyranitar. However, if you don't mind being worse off against Heatran, (remove comma) and would much rather have better accuracy and the ability to demolish Mega Scizor, Hidden Power Fire can be used in lieu of Focus Blast. Scald lets Dragalge check Heatran, mostly if Dragalge isn't running Focus Blast. Scald doubles as a move with almost no drawbacks, and it can be used early-game to fish for a burn on some of Dragalge's most common switch-ins, such as Klefki, Jirachi, and Mega Metagross.
Set Details
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In order to outspeed Hippowdon, which would otherwise cripple Dragalge with Earthquake, it's recommended for Dragalge to run 28 Speed EVs. Because Dragalge is a specially based wallbreaker, maximum Special Attack EVs are used. Likewise, Choice Specs is the recommended item for the set, as it is capable of boosting all of Dragalge's moves to their highest possible power. The remaining EVs are thrown into HP because Dragalge enjoys having mixed bulk. 140 Speed EVs, at expense of HP, can be used if you desire Dragalge to outspeed Calm Mind Clefable and Tyranitar, (remove comma) so that Dragalge can hit them with Sludge Wave or Focus Blast, respectively. If Dragalge is using Hidden Power Fire, only 136 Speed EVs would be needed, as outspeeding Tyranitar wouldn't be a priority.
Usage Tips
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Dragalge has excellent special bulk, respectable physical bulk, and a unique defensive typing; exploit all of these characteristics! Dragalge can easily pivot into many threatening Pokemon in OU, including Keldeo, Mega Charizard Y, Rotom-W, Mega Manectric, Raikou, Clefable, and Thundurus; tank a hit; and proceed to fire off a ridiculously powerful move on whatever decides to switch in. The majority of the time, the only button you'll be clicking is Draco Meteor, but if the opponent has bulky Steel- or Fairy-types, more prediction will be necessary. Don't be too shy about using Sludge Wave; despite its lower power compared to the power decrease between it and Draco Meteor, it still can accomplish absurd feats such as OHKOing Keldeo after factoring in Stealth Rock damage.
Team Options
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Despite Dragalge's access to Focus Blast, Hidden Power Fire, and Scald, it is still going to have immense troubles with Steel-types. Dugtrio and Magnezone make are excellent partners for their trapping abilities. Dragalge's low Speed and four common weaknesses also leave it prone to being revenge killed. For instance, Psychic-types, such as Mega Gardevoir and Latios, can easily KO Dragalge after Draco Meteor's Special Attack drop. A Pursuit trapper, such as Tyranitar, is thus a useful teammate. Mega Metagross also makes for a great teammate because of its ability to check both Mega Gardevoir and Latios. Finally, Dragalge is prone to being revenge killed by Excadrill; to remedy this weakness, Rotom-W and Celebi can serve as great teammates.
Trick Room staples such as Bronzong, Cresselia, Porygon2, and Crawdaunt can make for good teammates as well, as Dragalge's terrible Speed stat, while normally a huge flaw, can allow it to sweep under Trick Room. Defensive cores are also plausible, as Dragalge, even without any Special Defense Defensive investment, has solid bulk and a great typing. Skarmory resists all of Dragalge's weaknesses except Ice, while Dragalge resists both of Skarmory's weaknesses. Needless to say, these two work really well together, with Dragalge able to deal out serious damage and act as a generic check to special attackers and Skarmory acting as a mixed wall capable of setting and removing entry hazards. Unaware Clefable also can make for a good teammate, as it can heal off any damage Dragalge might take with Wish. It also can serve as a lure for Poison-type moves, which gives Dragalge opportunities to switch in, and heal off any burns Dragalge might have taken with Heal Bell. Other Fairy-types, including Azumarill, Gardevoir, and Sylveon, can similarly lure in Poison-types for Dragalge to switch into. Mega Gyarados also can make for a good teammate; Dragalge can KO Keldeo, Dragon-types, Azumarill, Chesnaught, and Ferrothorn for Mega Gyarados, while Mega Gyarados can set up on Ground-types and Heatran, both of which give Dragalge trouble. Mega Diancie also makes for a good teammate, as it and Dragalge have a lot of checks in common, (remove comma) and therefore can break down the other Pokemon's answers. Dragalge baits in and wears down Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn, which opens up the opportunity to sweep for Diancie. In turn, Diancie can take on Jirachi and Heatran better than Dragalge can thanks to its access to Earth Power.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
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Other Options
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Haze is a really great move for any set lacking Choice Specs, as it eases the checking or countering of many setup sweepers, including Clefable, Mega Sableye, Volcarona, and Keldeo, by reducing their stat gains as well as bringing Dragalge's Special Attack back to normal after using Draco Meteor. RestTalk can be useful on defensive sets whose teams don't desire Toxic Spikes. The RestTalk combination allows Dragalge to constantly heal off status as well as damage taken, (remove comma) and therefore lets Dragalge be a much more reliable counter to Mega Charizard Y, Rotom-W, and Gengar. Toxic poisons potential switch-ins to defensive sets(comma) such as Talonflame(comma) that are immune to Toxic Spikes. Dragon Tail hits nowhere near as hard as Dragalge's other Dragon-type STAB moves, but it can be useful for its ability to phaze out foes. It can work well in tandem with Toxic Spikes, spreading the poisoned or badly poisoned statuses to grounded foes. Hydro Pump is an alternative for the fourth slot on the Choice Specs set. Basically, it does more damage to specially defensive Heatran than Scald does while having better accuracy than Focus Blast. Sludge Bomb is a possibility over Sludge Wave; it trades 5 Base Power and the ability to hit Chesnaught for a 20% increase in the chance to poison. Venoshock hits very hard against poisoned foes, which makes it pair well with sets involving Toxic Spikes, but against targets that aren't poisoned it's very weak. Substitute can be useful, as if used on the switch it allows Dragalge to do massive damage on to the foe that is forced to break the Substitute. It(comma) however(comma) must be used in lieu of Scald, a STAB move, or Toxic Spikes, which are all extremely important to any set's success.
Checks and Counters
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**Bulky Steel-types**: Steel-types resist Dragon-type moves and are immune to Poison-type moves, so naturally they make for the best checks and counters to Dragalge. Klefki is immune to both of Dragalge's STAB types, takes loses half of its health at most from a Choice Specs-boosted Hidden Power Fire, and can use Dragalge for Spikes setup. Jirachi takes little from any of Dragalge's attacks, can use Wish to heal off any damage taken, and can threaten with its STAB super effective Zen Headbutt. Mega Metagross can tank any hit and can threaten Dragalge out with a STAB Tough Claws-boosted Zen Headbutt. Mega Metagross must, however, be wary of Scald burns. Doublade takes loses up to half health from a Choice Specs-boosted Draco Meteor, so it needs Rest in order to be a consistent counter. Specially defensive Heatran can easily switch in on Dragalge's STAB moves. Mega Scizor can switch in on any move except for Hidden Power Fire and Roost off the damage. It must, however, be wary of Scald burns.
**Chansey and Blissey**: Blissey and Chansey avoid the 2HKO from a Choice Specs-boosted Draco Meteor, so both can switch in and subsequently force Dragalge out.
**Revenge Killers**: Dragalge is very slow and has four common weaknesses, so it is very prone to being revenge killed. Latios and Latias can easily revenge kill Dragalge with Draco Meteor or Psyshock. Mega Charizard X can also revenge kill with its Dragon Claw or Outrage, as can Garchomp with either Earthquake, Outrage, or Dragon Claw. Excadrill can easily revenge kill with Earthquake, and Mega Metagross and Mega Gallade can easily revenge kill with Zen Headbutt. Do note that none of these Pokemon should attempt switching in on Dragalge unless they feel like being OHKOed.
