[OVERVIEW]
Dragonair has a small niche in the tier as it fits onto Wrap teams thanks to its unique typing and access to Thunder Wave and Wrap; it forces paralysis onto fast foes such as Starmie and Alakazam thanks to these traits—which allows it to chip down and force out slower paralysis absorbers such as Chansey—while shielding its stronger teammates such as Dragonite and Victreebel from paralysis. Dragonair's unique mono-Dragon typing gives it useful resistances to Water- and Electric-type attacks. However, Dragonair's base stats are atrocious; it barely threatens anything offensively and is 2HKOed or 3HKOed by most neutral hits. Its weakness to Ice-type attacks also exacerbates Wrap teams' weaknesses to Ice-type attacks even further. Dragonair is also extremely hard to fit on teams; even dedicated Wrap teams usually only include Dragonite and Victreebel, as these teams are more reliable than teams with three or four Wrap users, which are the teams Dragonair fits on.
[SET]
name: Wrap
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Wrap
move 3: Blizzard
move 4: Thunderbolt / Hyper Beam / Agility
[SET COMMENTS]
Dragonair's main purpose is to land Thunder Wave on fast Psychic-types such as Alakazam and Starmie to enable Wrap from its stronger, more versatile teammates. Wrap allows Dragonair to force paralysis past slower common paralysis absorbers, such as Chansey. It also allows Dragonair to pivot out of uncomfortable situations to one of its teammates safely. Blizzard is Dragonair's most versatile coverage move; it hits Flying- and Grass-types such as Zapdos and Exeggutor for super effective damage, as well as 2HKOing Rhydon. Blizzard is also Dragonair's best option to finish off weakened foes. Thunderbolt is Dragonair's strongest move against Water-types, 3HKOing Cloyster and Starmie. Hyper Beam allows Dragonair to meaningfully threaten and finish off physically frailer foes such Chansey and Alakazam, doing 37.4% minimum to the former and 48.2% minimum to the latter. Agility can be used in favor of a secondary coverage move, as it allows Dragonair to spread chip and paralysis across the opposing team and not just become a useless sacrifice after it becomes paralyzed. Dragonair can also use Agility against foes that do not carry paralysis-afflicting moves, such as Rhydon.
Dragonair wants to be used early-game to get paralysis off on faster threats as soon as possible, as the Wrap teams it fits on live and die by their ability to paralyze these foes. Dragonair can hit the field safely either by being pivoted in on Wrap from one of its teammates or by coming in after one of its teammates has been KOed. It can also switch in on a predicted Recover. After Dragonair becomes paralyzed, if it lacks Agility, the best use for it is to enable its other, more powerful Wrap teammates by being used as a sacrifice or a pivot.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/notverycake.625260/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/amaranth.265630/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Dragonair has a small niche in the tier as it fits onto Wrap teams thanks to its unique typing and access to Thunder Wave and Wrap; it forces paralysis onto fast foes such as Starmie and Alakazam thanks to these traits—which allows it to chip down and force out slower paralysis absorbers such as Chansey—while shielding its stronger teammates such as Dragonite and Victreebel from paralysis. Dragonair's unique mono-Dragon typing gives it useful resistances to Water- and Electric-type attacks. However, Dragonair's base stats are atrocious; it barely threatens anything offensively and is 2HKOed or 3HKOed by most neutral hits. Its weakness to Ice-type attacks also exacerbates Wrap teams' weaknesses to Ice-type attacks even further. Dragonair is also extremely hard to fit on teams; even dedicated Wrap teams usually only include Dragonite and Victreebel, as these teams are more reliable than teams with three or four Wrap users, which are the teams Dragonair fits on.
[SET]
name: Wrap
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Wrap
move 3: Blizzard
move 4: Thunderbolt / Hyper Beam / Agility
[SET COMMENTS]
Dragonair's main purpose is to land Thunder Wave on fast Psychic-types such as Alakazam and Starmie to enable Wrap from its stronger, more versatile teammates. Wrap allows Dragonair to force paralysis past slower common paralysis absorbers, such as Chansey. It also allows Dragonair to pivot out of uncomfortable situations to one of its teammates safely. Blizzard is Dragonair's most versatile coverage move; it hits Flying- and Grass-types such as Zapdos and Exeggutor for super effective damage, as well as 2HKOing Rhydon. Blizzard is also Dragonair's best option to finish off weakened foes. Thunderbolt is Dragonair's strongest move against Water-types, 3HKOing Cloyster and Starmie. Hyper Beam allows Dragonair to meaningfully threaten and finish off physically frailer foes such Chansey and Alakazam, doing 37.4% minimum to the former and 48.2% minimum to the latter. Agility can be used in favor of a secondary coverage move, as it allows Dragonair to spread chip and paralysis across the opposing team and not just become a useless sacrifice after it becomes paralyzed. Dragonair can also use Agility against foes that do not carry paralysis-afflicting moves, such as Rhydon.
Dragonair wants to be used early-game to get paralysis off on faster threats as soon as possible, as the Wrap teams it fits on live and die by their ability to paralyze these foes. Dragonair can hit the field safely either by being pivoted in on Wrap from one of its teammates or by coming in after one of its teammates has been KOed. It can also switch in on a predicted Recover. After Dragonair becomes paralyzed, if it lacks Agility, the best use for it is to enable its other, more powerful Wrap teammates by being used as a sacrifice or a pivot.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/notverycake.625260/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/amaranth.265630/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
