Statistics
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
91
|
- |
323 |
386 |
- |
| Atk |
134
|
273 |
304 |
367 |
403 |
| Def |
95
|
203 |
226 |
289 |
317 |
| SpA |
100
|
212 |
236 |
299 |
328 |
| SpD |
100
|
212 |
236 |
299 |
328 |
| Spe |
80
|
176 |
196 |
259 |
284 |
The Dragon Dancer. It optimizes his stats to make one hell of a sweeper. 134 base Attack is nothing to shrug at, and with him able to take most non-STAB Ice attacks, he can set up like a mother. He works best when used on a team that can force switches, especially if you have Spikes. He's also a lot cooler when he can take some Thunder Waves and Heal Bell the status away, but if not, you better play him carefully and keep him healthy at the end. With the right EVs, he does around 80% to Skarmory with Thunder, around 40 or 50% to Milotic, and a ton to Suicune. Thunderbolt and Ice Beam are options, but they don't have the punch that Thunder does. Switch him in on Rests, Skarmory, and things that won't really harm you, because as mentioned, you want this bad boy healthy.
This was the standard for a long time for a reason. Nothing resists Ice Beam and Thunderbolt by typing except Shedinja and Lanturn. Both are uncommon, Shedinja dies to Spikes and Sandstorm and Lanturn is taken care of by Focus Punch. Special walls like Regice, Blissey and Snorlax take a super effective Focus Punch to the stomach. With its stellar attack stats, it can hurt on both ends. It doesn't pack the punch that the Dragon Dancer has, and can't clean up as easily, but it sure is something to watch out for if you don't carry the right counters.
A variation to the set above, but with a more specific idea behind it. With the EVs listed, you should be able to dent Regice, Snorlax and Blissey severely with Focus Punch, to the point where Sand Stream will finish them off. Therefore, pairing it with Tyranitar is a good idea. Even if they survive, you should be able to finish them off. This is more easy if you run Hidden Power Flying, because the Special moves obviously do less damage. However, Hidden Power Grass lets you 2HKO Swampert and doesn't do much worse than Thunderbolt to the other Waters like Milotic and Suicune, which you usually won't be facing as they outspeed you and often pack Ice Beam. The moves in the last moveslot are interchangeable to an extent, it all depends on your team.
The main reason to use Choice Band Dragonite over Salamence is the movepool difference. Dragonite has Focus Punch, which can put huge damage into Suicune and other Waters (in fact, it does the same as a Choice Band Tyranitar Focus Punch). It can also hit them quite hard with an Electric move, and Thunder's random paralysis may help you as well. Ice Beam is an option here for more damage to Donphan, Claydol and other Grounds not named Swampert, but you will have to kill Skarmory with Focus Punch or in another way then.
This Dragonite is nearly guaranteed to take out Suicune, Milotic or Swampert if they switch in on you and Dragonite is on full health. It works as following: Dragon Dance on the switch-in, and then Hidden Power Flying to weaken them. With these specific EVs you should survive the Ice Beams being thrown at you, but you will get on low health nonetheless. When you get under 25% health, Liechi Berry will trigger. Hidden Power Flying will usually KO your opponent now unless you got unlucky with the random damage roll, but this is where the massive base power Double-Edge comes in. You should usually survive the recoil, and even if you don't, you can now bring in one of these many Pokémon that have a great chance at sweeping against opponents without a capable Water sponge.
Other Options
Heal Bell is available now with the release of XD moves, and it's a workable option for healing status. Some other moves that can work for support are Thunder Wave and Haze, but beyond that not much else is recommended to use on him that's not already mentioned.
EVs
The Dragon Dancer's EVs mentioned with the moveset is probably as good as you're going to get. With that amount of HP, it will be able to take Swampert Ice Beams (unless they have a ton of Special Attack) which is nice. 390 Attack is close to max, but some had to be taken out to give it 241 Speed. That Speed stat allows you to outspeed 239ers (Modest Magneton and Breloom for example) and outspeed 361ers after one Dragon Dance. The rest is stuck in Special Attack just to give it that extra punch. Don't forget to make it Lonely.
The SubPuncher is the toughest to make EVs for. You want to stack up on HP, and the attack stats pretty much. An idea is to choose one of the Attack stat raising and Speed lowering natures and sort of balance both Attack stats out.
For the mixed set, you should always go with the EVs listed unless you're running Hidden Power Flying. You will need less Attack EVs then since you will always be finishing off the targeted Special walls, and you can put these leftover EVs into HP or Special Defense.
In the case of the Choice Bander, you might want to go close to, or max Attack, 244 Speed is still your best bet, and the rest in HP and maybe in Special Attack, but that's not recommended. The Suicide Bomber works best with the EVs listed, if you want to variate just make sure you survive unSTABed Ice Beams from around 263 Special Attack.
Opinion
Dragonite is often regarded as overshadowed by Salamence and, to a lesser extent, Flygon. He isn't as easy to switch in as either of them because he has Inner Focus instead of Intimidate or Levitate, and he will have a harder time forcing people to switch as well. However, he does pack a great punch and has great surprise value. If you manage to bring him in on something like a Choice Banded Earthquake or a Snorlax Rest, your opponent has to be very cautious.
Counters
Metagross to an extent, Zapdos mostly on the Dragon Dancer, Slowbro to an extent, Armaldo, Claydol, and Weezing are some that can counter the Dragon Dancer most reliably. Milotic and Suicune will often switch into your Dragonite though, and unless you have that Choice Banded Focus Punch you won't be hurting them much. Dragonite doesn't have many great counters due to him having such an awesome movepool, but beware of defensive Swamperts.
