<p>Dragonite has had a long history in the past generations of not being quite as fearsome as Lance would have us believe. As the third generation introduced more Dragon-types, the good old original got shafted in favor of the newer, arguably more
"badass
"-looking Salamence and, to an extent, Flygon. In
the fourth generationDPP, Salamence's banishment to Ubers gave Dragonite a newer lease on life, though it could never achieve what its younger cousin did. However,
the fifth generationBW has finally bestowed upon this old RBY stalwart an almost perfect supplement to its already formidable bulk—Multiscale—as well as a metagame focused on bulk (as opposed to Speed) that it can easily use to its advantage.</p>
<p>Dragonite is a very versatile anti-metagame threat
thatwho has a trick for just about every occasion. Offensively, its great Attack and good Special Attack are complemented by a huge movepool, including its obligatory Dragon-type STAB moves, Draco Meteor and Outrage; the powerful Flying-type STAB, Hurricane; and Dragon Dance to outrun just about every threat in a metagame filled with slow, bulky Pokemon. Defensively, its bulk combines with Multiscale nicely to make a stalling phazer viable. However, residual damage from the likes of Stealth Rock and sandstorm negates Multiscale, making it more difficult for Dragonite to use its bulk effectively. Despite this setback, unwary opponents may well find that Lance's bold boast that his Pokemon are "virtually indestructible" may not have been an exaggeration after all.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Outrage / Dragon Claw
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: ExtremeSpeed / Earthquake / Roost
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
ability: Multiscale
nature: Adamant / Jolly
EVevs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>In the past, Offensive Dragon Dance Dragonite was frequently shoved aside in favor of the faster Salamence, but Multiscale has changed this paradigm somewhat. The Speed difference is also less of an issue, as there are
so few fast threats in the OU metagame, and Dragonite can outrun most of them. Although this set is
generally less bulkyless defensive than the bulky Dragon Dance set, it is still fairly easy to set up, thanks to Multiscale boosting Dragonite's bulk. The given EV spread outruns Modest Choice Scarf Politoed after one Dragon Dance and Choice Scarf
Pokemon up to base 107 Speed
Pokemon after two. Outrage is the main STAB move, and can 2HKO Heatran after a boost, essentially giving Fire Punch perfect coverage with it. Dragon Claw is a good alternative to Outrage that prevents Dragonite from being locked in. This set also
haboasts a very powerful ExtremeSpeed that can pick off faster Pokemon
, such as Choice Scarf Landorus and Venusaur in the sun. If Outrage is
being usedchosen, Earthquake may be a better alternative to ExtremeSpeed to OHKO Heatran and Jirachi rather than locking Dragonite into an Outrage. Roost is a good option as well to increase Dragonite's longevity.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Waterfall is a better option than Fire Punch on rain teams, while Brick Break is consistent in all weather conditions, but is not as powerful as Fire Punch or Waterfall in their respective weather conditions. The Speed EVs are maximized to attempt to tie with Chandelure and opposing Dragonite. Even with
an Adamant
Nnature, Fire Blast 2HKO
es Skarmory, potentially preventing Skarmory from foiling Dragonite's initial Dragon Dance set up if Dragonite catches Skarmory on the switch. With Stealth Rock and sun support, Dragonite has a high chance of taking out Skarmory in one shot. Otherwise, Fire Punch is more useful as a coverage move, as it is boosted by Dragon Dance and deals more damage to other Steel- and Grass-types, namely Jirachi and Virizion. Although Dragonite will lose Multi
Sscale upon attacking, Life Orb makes Dragonite much harder to wall,
scoringas it grants Dragonite a 2HKO on Quagsire
, for instance; the item also enhances the revenge killing potential of ExtremeSpeed.</p>
<p>Rapid Spin support is essential to make the best use of Multiscale while Dragonite is setting up. Stealth Rock is useful for wearing down physical walls that switches in to obstruct Dragonite's sweep. Rotom-W is a great offensive complement, easily switching into Skarmory, Heatran, or Jirachi and Volt Switching back to Dragonite when a Grass-type switches in. Bronzong and Skarmory can deal with Choice Scarf Terrakion and Landorus, while Magnezone can trap and terminate Ferrothorn, Skarmory and Scizor.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulky Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Dragon Claw / Outrage
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
ability: Multiscale
nature: Adamant / Jolly
EVevs: 252 HP / 44 Atk / 212 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>In a metagame running rampant with frail attackers and their bulky counters, the ability to boost one's Speed and offensive capability simultaneously is a valuable asset. This
setDragonite outruns Modest Choice Scarf Politoed after one Dragon Dance, and Choice Scarf Landorus after two. Dragonite's bulk allows for relatively easy setup, making it a very potent threat that can run right through the unprepared. Roost and Multiscale make a powerful combination that preserves Dragonite's HP while it is setting up or plowing through a particularly tough opponent, making the process safer and easier to pull off. Fire Punch is a great auxiliary attack to hit bulky Grass- and Steel-types harder.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Dragon Claw is usually preferred because this set appreciates every opportunity that it can get to use Roost or Dragon Dance again, but Outrage is not a bad alternative for a more aggressive take on this set. Lum Berry is an excellent alternative to Leftovers as well, because the opponent will inevitably consider trying to check Dragonite's rampage with paralysis, Toxic, or a burn, which will thus be foiled. Waterfall and Brick Break mainly hit Terrakion, Tyranitar, and Heatran, but Fire Punch tends to have better overall coverage unless Dragonite is on a rain team. ExtremeSpeed is tempting for picking off weakened threats, but it is fairly weak with this EV spread. 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe Jolly is a faster spread that, after two Dragon Dances, outpaces Venusaur carrying Hidden Power Fire in the sun.</p>
<p>Removal or prevention of Stealth Rock is highly recommended, as it will allow Dragonite to make use of Multiscale from the start and
be able to set up much more easily. This can be accomplished through Rapid Spin users, such as Starmie and Forretress,
andor Magic Bounce users, such as Espeon. A teammate to set up Stealth Rock on the opponent's side is also important because this set does not have as much immediate power as some of the other, more offensive Dragonite sets, and every bit of damage helps. Revenge killers such as Scizor, Choice Scarf Terrakion, and Choice Scarf Landorus, as well as threats not covered by the chosen coverage move
(e.g., namely Ferrothorn or Gliscor
), can stop Dragonite's sweep cold. This makes Rotom-W a very viable partner, as it can burn Ferrothorn and scare off Terrakion
, and Gliscor. Skarmory and Bronzong can deal with Landorus. Magnezone is yet another good partner that can trap and KO Ferrothorn and Scizor. Wish support from Blissey or Jirachi can be used to give Dragonite a "second wind" if it sustains too much damage and is forced out.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Outrage
move 2: ExtremeSpeed
move 3: Fire Punch / Waterfall
move 4: Earthquake / Brick Break / Dragon Claw
item: Choice Band
ability: Multiscale
nature: Adamant
EVevs: 60 HP / 252 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Dragonite's gigantic attacking movepool and high Attack stat make a Choice Band set very effective and somewhat unpredictable. There are many options to place into the four moveslots, but Outrage and Fire Punch are highly recommended for the perfect type coverage
(—even some Heatran are 2HKOed by Outrage, and Ferrothorn is OHKOed outside of rain by Fire Punch
). ExtremeSpeed is extremely important; it finishes off many sweepers
with ease that have taken prior damage
with ease, and makes up for Dragonite's less than stellar Speed stat. Earthquake
combopairs well with Outrage and Fire Punch, OHKOing Heatran as well as
providing greater damage tohitting bulkier versions of Tyranitar
harder. Brick Break is a viable option to hit Ferrothorn and Tyranitar, while also breaking through Reflect and Light Screen. Dragon Claw can be useful for avoiding the lock
ed in
g effect of Outrage while still providing STAB, although in many cases, Dragonite will find itself just rather using Outrage in the first place.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The Speed EVs are given to outspeed max Speed Tyranitar, as well as many other standard threats that only aim to outspeed Tyranitar
, such as Jirachi and Gliscor. Dragonite can use more Speed in order to get an extra jump on these Pokemon if it wishes to do so. A Jolly nature is possible to get the jump on 252 Speed Adamant Gyarados, and maximizing Speed on top of this allows Dragonite to outrun Adamant Lucario and Timid Heatran
, but. However, the loss in power relative to Adamant is significant. Superpower is a great move to OHKO Blissey, Tyranitar, and Ferrothorn in the rain, but since it is incompatible with Multiscale, it may be more trouble than it is worth. Aqua Tail is also tempting, but Waterfall lands the same KOs while maintaining perfect accuracy.</p>
<p>Removing or preventing sources of residual damage, especially Stealth Rock, is very helpful for the set's hit-and-run nature. Starmie, for example, is very good at this role due to its access to Thunderbolt, which maims Jellicent. Hitmontop is an interesting
Rapid Spin-using partspinner, due to its ability to KO Terrakion with Fake Out followed by Mach Punch. Stealth Rock on the opponent's side of the field is also very helpful for the switches that this Dragonite will cause. This set greatly appreciates paralysis support from the likes of Jirachi, Ferrothorn,
orand Celebi; the former two can also switch into priority attacks, such as Scizor's Bullet Punch. Wish support from Blissey or Jirachi is also appreciated if it can be afforded. The destruction of Ground- and Steel-types with prediction can open the opponent up to assaults from
other attackers such as Scizor, Landorus, and Latios. Revenge killers, such as Landorus and Latios, can be handled using the appropriate counters, such as Rotom-W for the former and Jirachi for the latter.</p>
[SET]
name: Substitute + Dragon Dance
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Dragon Dance
move 3: Dragon Claw
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
ability: Multiscale
nature: Jolly
EVevs: 252 HP / 80 SpD / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Depending on the item or coverage moves being run on Dragonite, its standard Dragon Dance sets are often thwarted by the appropriate counters, many of which are unfortunately common in the metagame. For example, if Dragonite holds Leftovers without some form of protection (such as Safeguard or Substitute), it's prone to status, while without it, Multiscale is negated by sandstorm and hail. This set, however, aims to overcome the dragon's usual issues by using Substitute in place of a secondary coverage move, enabling Dragonite to block status, scout for checks, and set up more easily than ever. Using Substitute also abolishes the pressure of choosing the appropriate item. Dragonite is therefore permitted to use Leftovers, Roost, and Dragon Claw freely, making it an extremely self-sufficient stallbreaker and attacker when its very few counters are crippled or eliminated.</p>
<p>The primary objective of this set is to set up and outstall the opposing team by using Dragon Dance, Roost, and Substitute, attacking once Dragonite accumulates enough boosts or whenever necessary. Dragon Dance's Speed boost, in conjunction with Substitute, allows Dragonite to outrun and set up on potential status users. This is made even better when Roost comes into play, activating Multiscale and minimizing the damage dealt by common status users; this gives Dragonite even more opportunities to set up and sweep. Although it may seem ineffective to use a single attack, Dragon Claw grants great mono-attacking coverage, and is only resisted by Steel-types. Even then, most Steel-types can be overcome by proper setup, eliminating the need to use Earthquake or Fire Punch.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Dragonite thrives on defensive investment due to its ability to set up with Substitute and Roost. The given EV spread allows Dragonite to outrun Jolteon after one Dragon Dance and Choice Scarf Terrakion after two. The 80
sSpecial
dDefense EVs allow Dragonite to stall
Choice Specs Politoed out of Ice Beam using Substitute and Roost, while shifting the EVs would allow Dragonite's
sSubstitutes to survive an Iron Head from specially defensive Jirachi. Attack investment is not necessary since Dragonite can set up multiple boosts, giving it the power to take out most threats anyway. While a spread could be used to maximize Attack or give more Speed, it would be more worthwhile to instead just use the offensive Dragon Dance sets.</p>
<p>Although this set is more self-sufficient than other similar sets, it still needs the correct support to bypass counters and function more easily. As far as dedicated counters are concerned, Skarmory is a huge issue due to its high Defense, resistance to Dragon Claw, and access to Whirlwind to phaze Dragonite out. Other Steel-types and physical walls can be bypassed with the correct setup sequence, though there are some Pokemon that can overcome Dragonite through other means, such as Perish Song users, Ice Punch Metagross, or Unaware Quagsire. Hippowdon and Heatran with can take a boosted hit easily and phaze it out, while Shell Smash Cloyster
has nothing stopping it from setting up as it can take out a Substitute and Multiscale with Icicle Spear. Generally speaking, before sending Dragonite out to sweep, ensure that
defensive threats such as the aforementioned onethe aforementioned defensive threats are eliminated. Magnezone is notable for its ability to trap and eliminate Steel-types, though Skarmory with Shed Shell may prove to be problematic. Rather than going with the conventional trap-and-kill route, you may simply employ Pokemon that can lure in or punch through these counters
,; prime examples including Choice Band Terrakion and Magic Bounce Espeon with Hidden Power Fire.</p>
<p>Rapid Spin support is not as necessary because of Substitute and Roost, but it's still appreciated to ensure Multiscale is activated from the start. An offensive Starmie is notable above all others due to its ability to use Rapid Spin, absorb status with Natural Cure, and break down physical walls that Dragonite may encounter. Dragonite, in turn, can set up on threats that wall Starmie, including but not limited to Gastrodon, Jellicent, Blissey, and Rotom-W. Forretress and Tentacruel are also good choices because of their stellar defenses, great typing, and access to entry hazards. Speaking of which, residual damage is instrumental in Dragonite's role; it will find often itself in situations where it will have to stall out certain foes before doing anything else, which applies mostly to walls such as Quagsire and Hippowdon. These foes are easily stalled out with Toxic Spikes support, which Forretress and Tentacruel can easily set up.</p>
[SET]
name: Parashuffler
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Thunder Wave
move 3: Roost
move 4: Dragon Tail
ability: Multiscale
item: Leftovers
nature: Careful
EVevs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set aims to maximize Multiscale's utility by paralyzing opponents to make Dragonite's Roost go first. This makes Dragonite very difficult to KO
;: to put things into perspective, a Dragonite at full HP with the listed EV spread has about 16% more special bulk than 252 HP / 0 SpD Blissey does. Combined with the temporary loss of its Flying type during a Roost, even Ice-type attacks can fail to deal a significant amount of damage.</p>
<p>The main idea is to paralyze the opponent and stall with Roost until the opponent skips its turn, at which point Dragonite can use Substitute or Dragon Tail while taking minimal damage at worst. The paralysis that Dragonite spreads also serves as a lingering mark on the opponent that the rest of the team can exploit. Though Ground-types are immune to Thunder Wave, the vast majority of them are slower than Dragonite, anyway (notable exceptions include Landorus, and Gliscor).</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set works best on teams with defensive leanings that appreciate the phazing and paralysis support that Dragonite brings. To help Dragonite in its role, Rapid Spin can be very helpful, as can removal of sandstorm through rain and sun inducers, such as Ninetales, Politoed, and
Tornadus (the latter through Rain Dance)Rain Dance Tornadus. Hitmontop in particular can double as a check to Terrakion. Conversely, residual damage on the opponent is highly recommended to get the most out of Dragon Tail and Roost stalling. This can be achieved through entry hazards or Leech Seed; Ferrothorn in particular has Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Leech Seed (though only two may be run at a time), as well a great complementary typing. Whimsicott can also run Leech Seed, as well as use Stun Spore to paralyze faster Ground-types, though it is helpless against a Landorus behind a Substitute. Jellicent is a particularly appealing partner due to its abilities to spinblock, burn opponents, and switch into Ice-type moves and Scald.</p>
<p>Steel-types can be particularly bothersome to this set. Flamethrower or Fire Blast can be used to hurt some of the best counters to this set, such as Forretress and Skarmory. An EV spread of 252 HP / 80
sSpA / 176
sSpD guarantees
youthe 2HKO
on even the most specially defensive Skarmory with Fire Blast while retaining special bulk. Faster Ground-types can also pose problems; in particular, Gliscor can Taunt Dragonite and set up a Swords Dance. Some good teammates to check these threats include Gliscor, Bronzong, and Rotom-W. Rotom-W in particular has a great complementary type combination
forwith Dragonite, having only Grass as a weakness and resisting Ice.</p>
<p>A very defensive team will find Wish and Heal Bell support very rewarding. If Dragonite eventually sustains heavy damage and is forced out, Wish could put it back on its feet. Both paralysis and poison are terrible for this set, making Heal Bell or Aromatherapy very much appreciated.</p>
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker (Rain)
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Aqua Tail
move 3: ExtremeSpeed
move 4: Roost / Superpower
item: Life Orb
nature: Rash / Quiet
EVevs: 252 Atk / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>A different take on the classic "MixNite", this set r
unelies on Hurricane and rain-boosted Aqua Tail to make its mark. The main
advantagedraws of this set
isare that
firstly, it does not rely on a STAB that is weakened after every use
, and
secondly, with a small amount of prior damage,
it can 2HKO specially defensive Ferrothorn with Hurricane. This set boasts a large amount of staying power that the other common wallbreaker for rain teams, Tornadus, lacks. Aqua Tail 2HKOes Jirachi and Blissey in the rain, as well as any Tyranitar attempting to cut off Dragonite's power source. The set also uses both ExtremeSpeed and Roost, the former being a very powerful priority move that hits the likes of Latios very hard, and the latter helping to boost Dragonite's longevity greatly with Multiscale. However, Superpower is a good alternative to hit Tyranitar, Blissey, and Ferrothorn harder, especially in case the former decides to try to beat Dragonite with Ice Beam. Although it forces you to run Inner Focus, you do benefit in being able to safely attack specially defensive Jirachi without fear of a flinch.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Thunder is a good option to hit Skarmory and water types hard, Rotom-W in particular is troublesome normally with its resistances. The choice of nature for this set can vary greatly, though a Special Attack boosting nature (e.g. Rash, Mild, or Quiet) is preferred to give Hurricane the power that it needs to put the hurt on Ferrothorn and similar opponents. One can invest some EVs into Speed to outrun threats like Magnezone and Politoed if needed. If using a Speed-reducing nature, such as Quiet, one should run 28 Speed EVs to outpace Timid Wobbuffet.</p>
<p>Rain teams that find Tornadus too frail for their purposes would do well to use Dragonite as their wallbreaker. Aqua Tail in the rain has 90% of the power of a super effective Fire Punch
outside of the rain and the sunin neutral weather, so it will deal brutal damage to Steel-type switch-ins such as Bronzong and Jirachi. Skarmory is the exception
, your shot at 2HKOing is with Hurrican; Hurricane does more damage. This can then expose holes for other offensive Pokemon such as Scizor, Landorus, and Latios. Rapid Spin aids Dragonite's use of Multiscale greatly, making Forretress, Starmie, and Tentacruel good choices for the team. This set will need backup against faster Pokemon and priority moves such as Scizor's Bullet Punch. Bulky Steel-types such as Jirachi, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory are highly recommended due to their great defensive synergy with Dragonite. Jirachi can provide paralysis support and pass Wish, while Ferrothorn and Skarmory can lay Spikes, which will help Dragonite defeat opposing Ferrothorn.</p>
[SET]
name: Tank (Rain)
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Dragon Tail
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
ability: Multiscale
nature: Calm
EVevs: 252 HP / 108 SpA / 148 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set
is another showcase
ofs Dragonite's ability to abuse Multiscale defensively. Dragonite can bring invaluable defensive balance to teams with Drizzle Politoed, easily taking hits from
pPokemon that either wall or sweep through the abundance of bulky
wWater
s- and
bulky grassGrass-types that benefit from rain so much. Celebi, Virizion,
and Volcarona are a few examples of
pPokemon
fittingthat fit this criteria
and; they fail to do significant damage to Dragonite without an appropriate coverage move
. For instance, even if they pack Hidden Power Ice
, a boosted hit won't KO Dragonite through Multiscale. Pokemon that tend to threaten rain teams defensively, such as Jellicent and
Sstallbreaker Mew with Psychic
, can also be dealt with by this set
. I—in Mew's case
you, however, Dragonite will need some luck from Hurricane and Thunder to win one on one. This set is also generally very hard to switch into and KO. When Dragonite walls something, it usually walls it
hardthoroughly, forcing it to switch and risking a Dragon Tail hitting the switch-in. Additionally,
with a paralysis fromafter the foe is paralyzed with Thunder, Dragonite's weaknesses to Rock and Ice become resistances when Roosting back up to full health. Mix that with
apossible confusion from Hurricane and your opponent is in for a long battle trying to take Dragonite down.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs listed provide enough
to special bulk to Roost stall a +6 Leftovers last
pPokemon Reuniclus using Psychic. It may seem unrealistic for Dragonite to be able to avoid special defense drops and crits long enough for Psychic to run out of PP, but the chance of
achieving "Parafusion" before this happens, giving parafusion gives Dragonit
e more chances to land a critical hit on Reuniclus itself and mak
inges it easier to pivot out to another teammate in case of a
sSpecial
dDefense drop. The remaining EVs are dumped into
sSpecial
aAttack to
amplifypower up Dragonite's excellent rain-boosted moves.</p>
<p>Substitute is a useful move over Thunder, letting Dragonite set up freely on
Pokemonthe like
s of Ferrothorn and Jellicent
that, who for the most part pos
te no threat besides status or Leech Seed. From there
, Dragonite can safely break the other team down with Hurricane or Dragon Tail. With Substitute, bumping up the number of
sSpecial
dDefense EVs to 216 allows Dragonite's shield to survive a Volt Switch from Modest Rotom-W.</p>
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker (Classic)
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Superpower / Brick Break
move 4: ExtremeSpeed / Roost
item: Life Orb
nature: Rash / Mild
EVevs: 252 Atk / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Gone are the days in which Dragonite had to
make use ofrely on its mixed attacking prowess to separate itself from Salamence, but the old
"MixNite
" wallbreaker can still rip holes in the opposing team with its excellent offensive stats and coverage. Draco Meteor is a nasty surprise to foes expecting a Dragon Dance sweep, and is backed up by Fire Blast. Superpower is for Heatran, Blissey, and Tyranitar, though it should be noted that Superpower is unobtainable with Multiscale. Brick Break
lets you keep the, though weaker, lets Dragonite keep its better ability and is helpful against Reflect and Light Screen users
at the cost of power. ExtremeSpeed can be used to finish off weakened foes and sweepers, but Roost greatly extends Dragonite's staying power.
This set can also lead fairly well, especially with ExtremeSpeed,Especially if packing ExtremeSpeed, this set can also lead fairly well, picking off opposing leads and forcing the opponent into a guessing game right from the start
and picking off opposing leads.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set can run one of several natures. Generally, a Special Attack boosting nature (e.g. Rash, Mild, or Quiet) is recommended to power up Draco Meteor, but an Attack boosting nature (e.g. Lonely, Naughty, or Brave) is a decent option as well to
power upstrengthen ExtremeSpeed a bit more. Some EVs can be invested into Speed to outrun threats like Magnezone and Politoed, in which case it should be noted that 108 Attack EVs and an Attack boosting nature are needed to OHKO 252 HP / 252 Def Bold Blissey with Superpower. If using a Speed-reducing nature, having 28 Speed EVs is a good idea to outrun Timid Wobbuffet.</p>
<p>Teams that require a diverse offensive wallbreaker will greatly appreciate this set. This set will tend to lure in and destroy opposing Steel-types
, such as Ferrothorn, Bronzong, and Skarmory, which the likes of Scizor, Landorus, and Latios can exploit. In return, Dragonite greatly appreciates Rapid Spin support and removal of sandstorm through Ninetales, Politoed, or
Tornadus running Rain Dance
Tornadus. Hitmontop can serve the role of Rapid Spin user while keeping Terrakion in check. Bulky Steel-types such as Jirachi, Ferrothorn, and Heatran can be very helpful for switching into priority moves
such as, particularly Scizor's Bullet Punch. Wish support from Blissey or Jirachi can be of great
helpuse as well, especially if Dragonite elects not to use Roost.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragonite is simply so versatile that many different variants of the existing sets are possible. It also has an extremely large non-attacking movepool, containing moves such as Agility, Tailwind, Heal Bell, and Haze. However, many of these
, including Heal Bell, are incompatible with Multiscale
, including Heal Bell. Agility is mostly overkill for
Speed boosting
Speed in this metagame, and is hardly worth the lack of an Attack boost. Aqua Jet could be used a priority move in the rain, preventing Choice Scarf
ed Landorus and Terra
kion from revenge killing
Dragonite after a Dragon Dance
, and
takingeven before boosts, it takes out minimum defense Volcarona
without a boost. Dragon Rush may be appealing over Dragon Claw
with extra bfor the higher Base
pPower and
a chance to flinchflinch chance, but the drop in accuracy will likely not be worth it.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Dragonite is so versatile that one can forget about finding a surefire counter at the outset. However, there are a surplus of reliable revenge killers, especially
withoutif Multiscale
. is broken. Choice Scarf
ed Terrakion, Landorus, Latios,
Salamence can all outrun even after a Dragon Dance to finish Dragonite off, and Salamence—listed in order of how likely they are to survive a boosted Extreme
sSpeed
. Choice Scarf Haxorus can OHKO with Outrage even if Dragonite is at full health thanks to Mold Breaker—can outrun Dragonite even after a Dragon Dance to finish it off. Thanks to Mold Breaker, Choice Scarf Haxorus's Outrage can OHKO even a full health Dragonite. Mamoswine and Abomasnow can also revenge kill effectively with a STAB boosted Ice Shard, Scizor can
also use priority Bullet Punch to revenge
, but will need Dragonite to be heavily weakened.</p>
<p>Bulky Steel-types can take advantage of Dragonite once it's locked into Outrage. Skarmory and Heatran can both survive a boosted Outrage comfortably and phaze it out
, or in Heatran's case hurt it with Hidden Power Ice or Will-
oO-Wisp. Ferrothorn can stack damage
betweenwith Leech Seed, Iron Barbs, and Gyro Ball
, while keeping itself healthy. Bulky Ground-types also fare well
,: Quagsire can easily take Outrages lacking punch from a boosting item thanks to
the ability Unawareits Unaware ability, and Gliscor can survive two Outrages at +1 thanks to Poison Heal and Protect. Hippowdon in particular does a lot against Dragonite; it summons a sandstorm, whittling away Dragonite's health and possibly
breaking Multiscale. In addition to this
, a specially bulky Hippowdon is capable of taking literally anything Dragonite can throw at it while either phazing in return or hitting it with Ice Fang.</p>
<p>Defensive Cloyster and Porygon2 are rarely seen
, but both do a very good job of dealing with Dragonite. Cloyster can only take on physical Dragonite, but does so very well, easily surviving a +1 Outrage after Stealth Rock damage and OHKOing back with Icicle Spear even
if Dragonite has athrough Substitute and Multiscale
protecting it. Porygon2 is a nightmare for Dragonite if it can Trace Multiscale at full health, as Dragonite will struggle to leave a scratch on it without a Choice Band and has to take decently powerful Ice Beams in return.</p>
<p>Lastly, residual damage from weather is a good weapon to use against Dragonite. Sand and
Hhail remove Multiscale from all sets without Leftovers, making it significantly easier to KO. Interestingly, sand damage allows Choice Band Scizor to win one on one against Substitute + Dragon Dance Dragonite without relying on critical hits. Overall, the extra damage is incredibly helpful.</p>
