<p>Dratini is one of the most dangerous Pokemon in Little Cup for many reasons. First of all, Dratini has an excellent Attack stat and great Speed to abuse Dragon Dance. After a Dragon Dance, Dratini reaches a whopping 25 Attack and 21 Speed, making it faster than every Pokemon in the metagame not carrying a Choice Scarf. With 25 Attack, STAB Outrage is terrifying for anything without an excellent Defense stat or a resistance to Dragon-type attacks. Basically, the only Pokemon who can take an Outrage are Bronzor, Shieldon, and Aron. Waterfall is used to OHKO Aron and Shieldon after a Dragon Dance, and it also hits Bronzor for a solid 3HKO with Oran Berry factored in; however Waterfall can 2HKO if it has a low damage roll followed by a high one. Without Life Orb, Dratini won't be able to OHKO Aron with Waterfall. This means that if you opt for Oran Berry, then using Aqua Tail is the preferred option since it is able to OHKO Aron most of the time, and it's a guaranteed OHKO if Aron has switched into Stealth Rock once before.</p>
<p>Dratini's true strength lies in its final move slot. ExtremeSpeed on a Pokemon with Dragon Dance is almost impossible to stop due to the normal methods of priority revenge killing no longer being effective. With the main revenge killers in Little Cup all using Choice Scarf, Dratini is nearly impossible to revenge kill because Dratini will OHKO the Pokemon with ExtremeSpeed before the revenge killer gets a chance to attack. Priority is not an option to revenge kill Dratini any more since it's faster than any other priority user, will hit first with ExtremeSpeed, and easily OHKOes some of the main priority users such as Croagunk, Stunky, and Houndour.</p>
<p>Dratini's biggest problem is finding the time to set up, even with its decent defenses and great defensive typing. What really helps Dratini set up are Pokemon like Will-O-Wisp Misdreavus, Wynaut, and even Pokemon who set up Reflect and Light Screen such as Abra or Bronzor. Misdreavus does a great job luring out Pokemon who either have priority, or use strong physical Dark- or Ghost-typed attacks to try to OHKO it. After a Will-O-Wisp, these Pokemon are essentially set-up bait whom Dratini will happily come in on. Wynaut is great at getting Pokemon free turns with Encore, making Dratini appreciate Wynaut more than most, since with just one free turn of set up, Dratini can completely plow through a team.</p>
<p>Dratini has problems with Choice Scarf Pokemon who resist ExtremeSpeed and are faster than 21 Speed. Magnemite and Gastly are perfect Pokemon to stop a Dratini sweep, though Magnemite can only stop it with Explosion while Gastly can more reliably OHKO Dratini with Sludge Bomb. Misdreavus helps Dratini against both of those Pokemon, being immune to Explosion and resisting Sludge Bomb, while its Life Orb boosted Shadow Sneak OHKOes Gastly.</p>
<p>Dratini's true strength lies in its final move slot. ExtremeSpeed on a Pokemon with Dragon Dance is almost impossible to stop due to the normal methods of priority revenge killing no longer being effective. With the main revenge killers in Little Cup all using Choice Scarf, Dratini is nearly impossible to revenge kill because Dratini will OHKO the Pokemon with ExtremeSpeed before the revenge killer gets a chance to attack. Priority is not an option to revenge kill Dratini any more since it's faster than any other priority user, will hit first with ExtremeSpeed, and easily OHKOes some of the main priority users such as Croagunk, Stunky, and Houndour.</p>
<p>Dratini's biggest problem is finding the time to set up, even with its decent defenses and great defensive typing. What really helps Dratini set up are Pokemon like Will-O-Wisp Misdreavus, Wynaut, and even Pokemon who set up Reflect and Light Screen such as Abra or Bronzor. Misdreavus does a great job luring out Pokemon who either have priority, or use strong physical Dark- or Ghost-typed attacks to try to OHKO it. After a Will-O-Wisp, these Pokemon are essentially set-up bait whom Dratini will happily come in on. Wynaut is great at getting Pokemon free turns with Encore, making Dratini appreciate Wynaut more than most, since with just one free turn of set up, Dratini can completely plow through a team.</p>
<p>Dratini has problems with Choice Scarf Pokemon who resist ExtremeSpeed and are faster than 21 Speed. Magnemite and Gastly are perfect Pokemon to stop a Dratini sweep, though Magnemite can only stop it with Explosion while Gastly can more reliably OHKO Dratini with Sludge Bomb. Misdreavus helps Dratini against both of those Pokemon, being immune to Explosion and resisting Sludge Bomb, while its Life Orb boosted Shadow Sneak OHKOes Gastly.</p>
<p>With an awesome physical movepool, a great Attack stat, and decent Speed to back it up, Dratini can be a threatening Choiced attacker. The main attraction to the Choice Band set is the powerful ExtremeSpeed that can be used for late game sweeping after Dratini's walls are destroyed by one of Dratini's other attacks. Defensive Steel-types are addressed in this set like they are in every other Dratini set; Waterfall and Aqua Tail hit Aron and Shieldon, and Fire Blast hits Bronzor. As Dratini isn’t walled by Steel-types it has a distinct advantage as other Choice Band sweepers such as Eevee, who have nothing to get past them. Outrage will pretty much OHKO anything and everything that doesn't resist it, and still do major damage to Pokemon that do resist it.</p>
<p>This Dratini can only really function well with Ghosts out of the way because ExtremeSpeed is a key part of this set. Pursuit users such as Munchlax and Stunky are good examples, as they are essentially the "Ghost Busters" of Little Cup. Dratini will often find itself locked into a move that helps your opponent set up their own pokemon while taking no damage. For example, using Waterfall to OHKO a Geodude only to have a Paras come in and put one of your pokemon to sleep with Spore, or using ExtremeSpeed against an Aron who will then use Rock Polish and threaten to sweep your team. To counter pokemon like this a Choice Scarf Mankey can come in and OHKO a +2 Aron with Close Combat, while being immune to Paras' Spore thanks to its ability.</p>
<p>This Dratini can only really function well with Ghosts out of the way because ExtremeSpeed is a key part of this set. Pursuit users such as Munchlax and Stunky are good examples, as they are essentially the "Ghost Busters" of Little Cup. Dratini will often find itself locked into a move that helps your opponent set up their own pokemon while taking no damage. For example, using Waterfall to OHKO a Geodude only to have a Paras come in and put one of your pokemon to sleep with Spore, or using ExtremeSpeed against an Aron who will then use Rock Polish and threaten to sweep your team. To counter pokemon like this a Choice Scarf Mankey can come in and OHKO a +2 Aron with Close Combat, while being immune to Paras' Spore thanks to its ability.</p>
<p>Dratini packs an excellent special movepool, but unfortunately only has a base 50 Special Attack stat to work with. Dratini makes up for this with amazing type coverage at its disposal. With enough power to KO many Pokemon with either a super effective attack or STAB Draco Meteor, Dratini is an effective revenge killer. Draco Meteor still hurts anything that doesn't resist Dragon-type attacks, even if it’s only from a 15 Special Attack, while Fire Blast will hit Bronzor and Magnemite for super effective damage. Ice Beam takes care of Swords Dance Gligar in case it manages to get a Swords Dance set up, while Outrage is a nice fit in the last slot so that Dratini can attempt a late game sweep.</p>
<p>Dratini has such a diverse movepool that it has some decent options that aren't listed above. First off, Dratini runs a pretty threatening Agility set. With Agility, Outrage, Aqua Tail, and Fire Blast, Dratini can pose a major threat to Pokemon like Gastly who switch in, expecting a slower Dragon Dance Dratini, only to be met with a OHKO. While Agility is viable, however, it is purely outclassed by physical Dragon Dance because of ExtremeSpeed, which is pretty much the reason to use Dratini in the first place.</p>
<p>Dratini could probably pull off a decent Choice Specs set, if only to lure and KO Bronzor, however Dratini's Special Attack is far too low to make an effective use of Choice Specs though. A physical Choice Scarf set could be also be used, but Bagon pulls that set off much more effectively.</p>
<p>Dratini could probably pull off a decent Choice Specs set, if only to lure and KO Bronzor, however Dratini's Special Attack is far too low to make an effective use of Choice Specs though. A physical Choice Scarf set could be also be used, but Bagon pulls that set off much more effectively.</p>
<p>The Choice Scarf and Lead sets both use the same specially orientated EV spread, as they both use Draco Meteor as their main attack. After Special Attack and Speed are maximized with 196 EVs each, 84 EVs are put into Attack as each set carries a physical attack. While this one attack isn't as important as the special attacks on the set, the extra damage is needed. The remaining EVs are put into HP to give Dratini a better chance at switching in.</p>
<p>Because of Dratini's offensive nature, it always appreciates Stealth Rock support. Dratini is usually about OHKOing Pokemon, and if the opponent carries a Pokemon with a Focus Sash, that could mean the end for Dratini, unless of course Stealth Rock breaks the Focus Sash first. Reflect and Light Screen also help Dratini because of its defensive typing and decent bulk. With dual screens in play, Dratini can likely get a couple of Dragon Dances in, or just flat out sweep the opponent with the other sets.</p>
<p>Offensively, Dratini will almost always need some support. Bronzor and Ghosts with Choice Scarf trouble the Dragon Dance and Choice Band sets, while the special Choice Scarf set is troubled by Munchlax. These reasons make Magnemite a great teammate for Dratini. Magnemite can trap and KO Bronzor, switch into Shadow Balls from Choice Scarf Ghost-types, and also Explode on Munchlax. While Munchlax causes some Dratini sets endless problems, Dratini usually enjoys having Munchlax support its sweep. Munchlax can not only trap and KO Ghost-types, it can also beat Bronzor as long as it has Fire Punch. Houndour is also a decent option with a STAB Dark-type attack for Ghosts and a STAB Fire-type attack for dealing with Bronzor.</p>
<p>Dratini can also clear the path for other sweepers, as with a mixed move set, Dratini can remove its most common switch-ins. Bronzor is probably the most common switch-in for Dratini, meaning Dratini can OHKO it with Fire Blast. If Dratini comes in on a revenge kill against something like Mankey, and it has ExtremeSpeed, it can easily take the monkey out by surprise, leaving your opponent open to Spore from Paras or a sweep from Swords Dance Gligar.</p>
<p>Offensively, Dratini will almost always need some support. Bronzor and Ghosts with Choice Scarf trouble the Dragon Dance and Choice Band sets, while the special Choice Scarf set is troubled by Munchlax. These reasons make Magnemite a great teammate for Dratini. Magnemite can trap and KO Bronzor, switch into Shadow Balls from Choice Scarf Ghost-types, and also Explode on Munchlax. While Munchlax causes some Dratini sets endless problems, Dratini usually enjoys having Munchlax support its sweep. Munchlax can not only trap and KO Ghost-types, it can also beat Bronzor as long as it has Fire Punch. Houndour is also a decent option with a STAB Dark-type attack for Ghosts and a STAB Fire-type attack for dealing with Bronzor.</p>
<p>Dratini can also clear the path for other sweepers, as with a mixed move set, Dratini can remove its most common switch-ins. Bronzor is probably the most common switch-in for Dratini, meaning Dratini can OHKO it with Fire Blast. If Dratini comes in on a revenge kill against something like Mankey, and it has ExtremeSpeed, it can easily take the monkey out by surprise, leaving your opponent open to Spore from Paras or a sweep from Swords Dance Gligar.</p>
<p>After Dratini has a Dragon Dance under its belt, it is one of the hardest Pokemon to stop in Little Cup. ExtremeSpeed eliminates most of the options that rely on priority or use a Choice Scarf. The only possible revenge killers are really Choice Scarf Ghosts, Choice Scarf Magnemite, Choice Scarf Gligar, and certain Choice Scarf Rock-types. Every other Pokemon will probably be OHKOed by ExtremeSpeed or outpaced and destroyed by Outrage or Waterfall.</p>
fin.
