Dragon
========
Dragalge has a niche on Dragon teams because of its access to Toxic Spikes, which benefits Dragon teams in bad matchups such as Fairy and Normal. Its Poison typing, amazing Special Attack, and ability Adaptability further enable it to pressure Fairy-types with Sludge Wave and OHKO Mega Diancie after Stealth Rock damage. Furthermore, Dragalge can take care of special Bug- and Fighting-type attacks from Volcarona and Gengar for Latios and Hydreigon that would otherwise OHKO them. Dragalge also has decent Special Defense that allows it to take on attacks from the likes of Keldeo and Nihilego and attack back with its STAB moves. However, while Dragalge is able to tank a few Fairy-type attacks, it struggles with taking repeated physical attacks from the likes of Victini, Mega Sharpedo, and Mega Scizor because of its low Defense. Dragalge's below average Speed also causes it to often move last before attacking, thus taking damage before it gets a chance to do so most of the time. Furthermore, its additional weaknesses to Psychic and Ground mean that it will be useless in these matchups, as it gets outpaced and OHKOed by most Pokemon that are common on these types. It also has trouble finding a slot on Dragon teams due to competition from better special attackers that have more Speed and are more useful in other matchups like Kommo-o and Hydreigon, for example.
[SET]
name: Offensive Toxic Spikes
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Toxic Spikes
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Poison Barb
ability: Adaptability
nature: Modest
evs: 224 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 28 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Draco Meteor can put holes into Pokemon like Hippowdon, Mega Sableye, and Slowbro. Sludge Wave allows Dragalge to pressure most Fairy-types like Tapu Koko and Mega Diancie also and gives it a spammable attack in most matchups. Toxic Spikes is needed to help pressure bulkier teams like Normal and Water, as it stops walls like Chansey and Porygon2 from staying in too long. Hidden Power Fire is used for hitting Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, as both Pokemon either are immune to or resist both of Dragalge's STAB moves.
Set Details
========
224 HP and 4 Special Defense EVs are used to make Dragalge as bulky as possible to be able to tank Fairy-type moves like Choice Specs Tapu Koko's Dazzling Gleam and Mega Diancie's Moonblast. 252 Special Attack EVs with the ability Adaptability make Dragalge's STAB moves hit Pokemon like Hippowdon and Mega Diancie as hard as possible. 28 Speed EVs allow Dragalge to outpace Hippowdon and do a good amount of damage to it. Poison Barb is important to make Sludge Wave hit Fairy-types like Clefable and Mega Diancie as hard as possible in order to OHKO them.
Usage Tips
========
Use Dragalge in the Normal and Water matchups, as Toxic Spikes can wear down walls like Porygon2 and Swampert. This forces Toxapex or Mantine to come out and remove the hazards from the field because their teammates hate being inflicted by poison and Toxic. Dragalge forcing switches from the likes of Mega Diancie and Araquanid in the Fairy and Bug matchups makes a perfect time to set up Toxic Spikes to help wear them down; however, be careful around physical attackers like Victini, Terrakion, and Tapu Bulu as Dragalge cannot take their attacks well and has to switch to a teammate like Garchomp to take the attack. Switch in Dragalge when common Toxic users like Zapdos and Toxapex are on the field, as Dragalge is immune to it. Thanks to its Poison typing, Dragalge can also get rid of Toxic Spikes for its teammates, which they appreciate. Be careful about setting up Toxic Spikes around Magic Bounce users like Mega Diancie and Mega Sableye, as they will bounce Toxic Spikes onto your side of the field. Dragalge is also a good wallbreaker thanks to its ability Adaptability and Poison Barb, which allows it to take care of walls like Porygon2 and Zapdos. It is also able to pressure Fairy-types because of its strong Sludge Wave, and be a good neutral option in a neutral matchup due to its raw power. Use Draco Meteor against walls like Hippowdon and Mega Sableye once they are damaged or when Dragalge's health is too low for it to come back in. Use Dragalge as a lead in the Fairy matchup, as its Poison typing threatens most Fairy-types and can force switches. Dragalge can take advantage of this and set up Toxic Spikes rather than attacking; however, when trying to set Toxic Spikes, be careful if Mega Diancie has Mega Evolved, as entry hazards will be bounced to your side of the field because of its ability Magic Bounce. It is also wise to try to conserve Dragalge as much as possible, as it has an easier time setting up Toxic Spikes and using Sludge Wave once Mega Diancie is gone. In the Normal matchup, having Toxic Spikes on the field helps to wear down Mega Lopunny and walls like Chansey and Porygon2. Dragalge can set Toxic Spikes on passive Pokemon like Chansey and Porygon2 thanks to its Special Defense. However, be careful about using Toxic Spikes against Mega Lopunny and Diggersby because Dragalge cannot take attacks from them well.
Team Options
========
Mega Latias appreciates Dragalge's Toxic Spikes, as walls like Chansey and Porygon2 will be forced out before too long, while Mega Lopunny cannot keep using Encore, which gives Mega Latias an easier time with setting up. In return, Dragalge can also OHKO Mega Diancie with Sludge Wave, which helps with setting up Mega Latias in the Fairy matchup. Similarly, Mega Altaria appreciates Dragalge's Toxic Spikes support, putting pressure on bulky Pokemon like Chansey and Porygon2 and giving it an easier time to set up and sweep in both the Normal and Fairy matchups, as well as Dragalge taking care of Mega Diancie for it. Mega Altaria also helps greatly in the Dark matchup by taking care of Mega Sableye to make it easier to keep Toxic Spikes up. Garchomp is the only viable Stealth Rock user that Dragon teams have access to; fortunately, Stealth Rock pairs well with Dragalge's Toxic Spikes, as it helps with taking out Swampert and Greninja on Water teams and Staraptor on Normal teams so Toxic Spikes can stay up. Garchomp can also take on Steel-types that Dragalge struggles with like Heatran and Excadrill. Kommo-o helps greatly in the Steel and Poison matchups, as Taunt stops Celesteela and Ferrothorn from using Leech Seed, as well as helping with Pokemon that Dragalge struggles with like Excadrill, Nidoking, Toxapex, and Ice-types like Mamoswine because of its Fighting typing. Kommo-o can boost all its stats with Clangorous Soulblaze to take care of most Steel-types like Excadrill and Skarmory with Drain Punch and Flamethrower, but it struggles against Celesteela and Calm Mind Jirachi. Kyurem-B helps greatly in the Flying matchup, as Dragalge cannot do much because of everything outpacing it as well as Mantine soaking up its attacks. With Fusion Bolt and Ice Beam, Kyurem-B can take care of Mantine and Celesteela as well as troubling Ground-types like Landorus-T and Hippowdon. Kyurem-B can also switch into Greninja, as it can take an Ice Beam and either Roost the damage off or KO it with Fusion Bolt. Choice Scarf Latios is a great revenge killer for Dragon teams, as it gives a way to deal with fast Fighting-types like Keldeo and deals with threatening setup sweepers like Mega Charizard X and Cloyster after they set up once. It is also useful as a Defogger, as it remove hazards that could stop Dragalge from tanking an attack and putting out one layer of Toxic Spikes. Dragonite is very useful for Dragon teams, as its Extreme Speed helps deal with Greninja, one of the biggest threats to Dragon teams, as well as being a powerful wallbreaker to break walls like Celesteela, Chansey, and Toxapex with Fire Punch, Superpower, and Outrage, respectively.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dragon
--------
Dragon Fang can be used over Poison Barb to get the OHKO on Hippowdon; however, Dragalge loses the KO on Mega Diancie with Sludge Wave after some chip damage. Black Sludge can be used to give passive recovery to Dragalge; however, this also means it loses important KOs on Pokemon like Mega Diancie after Stealth Rock.
Checks and Counters
===================
Dragon
--------
**Steel-types**: Even if Dragalge runs Hidden Power Fire, Steel-types like Heatran, Excadrill, and Celesteela can easily wall it and either use their Ground-type attacks or slowly wear Dragalge down to take care of it.
**Faster Attackers**: Pokemon that outpace Dragalge like Landorus, Mega Gallade, and Alolan Ninetales can easily OHKO it with their super effective STAB attacks.
**Special Walls**: Walls like Chansey, Celesteela, and Mantine soak up Dragalge's STAB attacks, are able to use their recovery moves against it, and can slowly wear it down with their attacks. However, Chansey has to be wary of Toxic Spikes.
**Magic Bounce**: Pokemon with the ability Magic Bounce like Mega Diancie and Mega Sableye can cause mind games, as Dragalge cannot safely set up Toxic Spikes without a chance of it bouncing onto your side of the field; however, Dragalge can heavily damage these two thanks to its STAB attacks.
**Physical Attackers**: Physical attackers like Diggersby, Mega Sharpedo, and Mamoswine can OHKO Dragalge from full before it has a chance to attack back.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Yami, 393488]]
- Dragon analysis by: [[Yeami, 393488]]
- Quality checked by: [[maroon, 305839], [Havens, 391540], [Eien, 100418]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Estronic, 240732]]
Last edited:
