So... here are my thoughts about Goodra in form of the long-awaited Goodra vs. Dragalge analysis.
Let's begin from their advantages over each other:
Goodra's advantages over Dragalge:
- Every stat is higher except Defense (Goodra's overall physical bulk falls short of Dragalge's), being one of the most bulkiest special tanks in the entire metagame.
- While it has no Fairy neutrality, the lack of part-Poison typing only helps Goodra in most non-Fairy matches, as the weaknesses to Earthquake and Psyshock are too exploitable.
- Much better and stronger offensive coverage and ability to surprise its checks with it.
- Decent disruptive utility abilites. With Sap Sipper, Goodra almost counters the notorius SubSeed Whimsicott and acts as a great answer to nearly every Spore/Sleep Powder/Leech Seed abuser. With Gooey, it can help a lot in Dragon matches by slowing down speedy Outrage users, as well as also halting opposing speedy sweeps if played right. (In expense of itself, sadly)
Dragalge's advantages over Goodra:
- Raw power. Adaptability provides Dragalge a very strong Sludge Bomb/Wave and Draco Meteor even with no damage-boosting items, being better at offense.
- Being able to run more sets, although effectiveness of some is questionable.
- The only allowed Dragon-type with Fairy neutrality, which gives it edge in Fairy matches.
This is the Goodra set I use most of the time:
Assault Vest:
Goodra @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 HP / 160 SpA / 52 SpD / 44 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse
- Sludge Bomb
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
SpD investment is meant to hit 349 SpD stat, which is one of Goodra's jump points. Feel free to move SpD or Spe EVs into Special Attack. Dragon Pulse can be replaced with Draco Meteor, and a lot of different options can be run in the 4th slot.
This set is a great special backbone and works impressive alongside Defensive Garchomp and Defog + Healing Wish Latias. The only instances where this set is underwhelming are matches against Ground and Normal, due to huge amount of physical attackers in former and large amount specially bulky Pokemon in latter. If you wonder, Dragalge struggles even more in Ground matches, though in Normal it can be sometimes a thorn on opponent's side if it is Choice Specs or SpD Toxic Spikes setter.
While Dragalge has at least three sets, I will show that these do not make Dragalge just better than Goodra. For any set-specific details look in older "Monotype EV and Sets Compendium". Note: in some battles with these Dragalge sets I really wished I had Goodra instead.
Assault Vest:
Dragalge @ Assault Vest
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Draco Meteor
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Dragon Tail
It exerts more offensive pressure, but it's usually inferior as a tank to Goodra due to lower Special Defense and Speed. It takes 20% more special damage in average, and some hits that 2HKO Dragalge only 3HKO Goodra, meaning the latter one can relatilate once at worst. In addition, it proved to be better than Goodra only in Fairy matches and against some specially bulky Pokemon, while in most of others it either becomes a victim of its own part-Poison typing or just gets straight off walled by Steel-types.
Choice Specs:
Dragalge @ Choice Specs
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Sludge Bomb
- Draco Meteor
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Dragon Pulse
This set strikes terror into bulky (non-Steel, of course) teams... but against offensive ones, it will do something only if you give it a free switch-in against something non-physically offensive.
SpD Toxic Spikes setter:
Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Dragon Tail
- Toxic Spikes
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Good on paper - unconvenient in practice. It's still not as specially bulky as Goodra. While it can set Toxic Spikes to wear down opposing walls, you have to eliminate opponent's Stealth Rock setter first because Dragon's only way to clear hazards is Defog, which also wipes off ones that YOU set. Or you can just accept Dragonite, Black Kyurem and others losing Multiscale and/or considerable amount of health upon entry.
I could note an offensive set with Toxic Spikes, but it's not as bulky as AV or SpD set and not as powerful as Choice Specs set. It also suffers from inconvenience of Toxic Spikes use on Dragon.
Tl;dr Dragalge might be more diverse, but that doesn't make it overall more effective.
In conclusion, I will just sum up what both of these Pokemon are actually are. This is also a short guide for these who are in doubt which one to pick for their teams.
Goodra is a special tank, who functions well enough in the most of matches. It is best against offense.
Dragalge is a Fairy slaying wallbreaker, whose effectiveness largely depends on the matchup. It is best against bulkier teams.
They can do their counterpart's jobs as well, but do not expect Dragalge eating Ice Beams all day and Goodra bringing down any Fairy-type.
These are the reasons why do I see Dragalge and Goodra equal to each other and feel like they both deserve to be in the same rank - B.
scp edit: removed the post script portion.
Let's begin from their advantages over each other:
Goodra's advantages over Dragalge:
- Every stat is higher except Defense (Goodra's overall physical bulk falls short of Dragalge's), being one of the most bulkiest special tanks in the entire metagame.
- While it has no Fairy neutrality, the lack of part-Poison typing only helps Goodra in most non-Fairy matches, as the weaknesses to Earthquake and Psyshock are too exploitable.
- Much better and stronger offensive coverage and ability to surprise its checks with it.
- Decent disruptive utility abilites. With Sap Sipper, Goodra almost counters the notorius SubSeed Whimsicott and acts as a great answer to nearly every Spore/Sleep Powder/Leech Seed abuser. With Gooey, it can help a lot in Dragon matches by slowing down speedy Outrage users, as well as also halting opposing speedy sweeps if played right. (In expense of itself, sadly)
Dragalge's advantages over Goodra:
- Raw power. Adaptability provides Dragalge a very strong Sludge Bomb/Wave and Draco Meteor even with no damage-boosting items, being better at offense.
- Being able to run more sets, although effectiveness of some is questionable.
- The only allowed Dragon-type with Fairy neutrality, which gives it edge in Fairy matches.
This is the Goodra set I use most of the time:
Assault Vest:
Goodra @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 HP / 160 SpA / 52 SpD / 44 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse
- Sludge Bomb
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
SpD investment is meant to hit 349 SpD stat, which is one of Goodra's jump points. Feel free to move SpD or Spe EVs into Special Attack. Dragon Pulse can be replaced with Draco Meteor, and a lot of different options can be run in the 4th slot.
This set is a great special backbone and works impressive alongside Defensive Garchomp and Defog + Healing Wish Latias. The only instances where this set is underwhelming are matches against Ground and Normal, due to huge amount of physical attackers in former and large amount specially bulky Pokemon in latter. If you wonder, Dragalge struggles even more in Ground matches, though in Normal it can be sometimes a thorn on opponent's side if it is Choice Specs or SpD Toxic Spikes setter.
+2 252 SpA Mega Houndoom Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 126-148 (32.8 - 38.5%) -- 99.3% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Teravolt Kyurem-B Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 166-198 (43.2 - 51.5%) -- 6.3% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latias Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 221-265 (57.5 - 69%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(Latias needs to be lucky to take Goodra down with two consecutive Draco Meteors)
252 SpA Latios Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 192-228 (50 - 59.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Omastar Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 164-194 (42.7 - 50.5%) -- 2.3% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Dragon Pulse vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 75-91 (19.5 - 23.6%) -- possible 5HKO
252 SpA Togekiss Dazzling Gleam vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 114-134 (29.6 - 34.8%) -- 11% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Teravolt Kyurem-B Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 166-198 (43.2 - 51.5%) -- 6.3% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latias Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 221-265 (57.5 - 69%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(Latias needs to be lucky to take Goodra down with two consecutive Draco Meteors)
252 SpA Latios Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 192-228 (50 - 59.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Omastar Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 164-194 (42.7 - 50.5%) -- 2.3% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Dragon Pulse vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 75-91 (19.5 - 23.6%) -- possible 5HKO
252 SpA Togekiss Dazzling Gleam vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 114-134 (29.6 - 34.8%) -- 11% chance to 3HKO
While Dragalge has at least three sets, I will show that these do not make Dragalge just better than Goodra. For any set-specific details look in older "Monotype EV and Sets Compendium". Note: in some battles with these Dragalge sets I really wished I had Goodra instead.
Assault Vest:
Dragalge @ Assault Vest
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Draco Meteor
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Dragon Tail
It exerts more offensive pressure, but it's usually inferior as a tank to Goodra due to lower Special Defense and Speed. It takes 20% more special damage in average, and some hits that 2HKO Dragalge only 3HKO Goodra, meaning the latter one can relatilate once at worst. In addition, it proved to be better than Goodra only in Fairy matches and against some specially bulky Pokemon, while in most of others it either becomes a victim of its own part-Poison typing or just gets straight off walled by Steel-types.
Choice Specs:
Dragalge @ Choice Specs
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Sludge Bomb
- Draco Meteor
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Dragon Pulse
This set strikes terror into bulky (non-Steel, of course) teams... but against offensive ones, it will do something only if you give it a free switch-in against something non-physically offensive.
SpD Toxic Spikes setter:
Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Dragon Tail
- Toxic Spikes
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Good on paper - unconvenient in practice. It's still not as specially bulky as Goodra. While it can set Toxic Spikes to wear down opposing walls, you have to eliminate opponent's Stealth Rock setter first because Dragon's only way to clear hazards is Defog, which also wipes off ones that YOU set. Or you can just accept Dragonite, Black Kyurem and others losing Multiscale and/or considerable amount of health upon entry.
I could note an offensive set with Toxic Spikes, but it's not as bulky as AV or SpD set and not as powerful as Choice Specs set. It also suffers from inconvenience of Toxic Spikes use on Dragon.
Tl;dr Dragalge might be more diverse, but that doesn't make it overall more effective.
In conclusion, I will just sum up what both of these Pokemon are actually are. This is also a short guide for these who are in doubt which one to pick for their teams.
Goodra is a special tank, who functions well enough in the most of matches. It is best against offense.
Dragalge is a Fairy slaying wallbreaker, whose effectiveness largely depends on the matchup. It is best against bulkier teams.
They can do their counterpart's jobs as well, but do not expect Dragalge eating Ice Beams all day and Goodra bringing down any Fairy-type.
These are the reasons why do I see Dragalge and Goodra equal to each other and feel like they both deserve to be in the same rank - B.
scp edit: removed the post script portion.
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