[OVERVIEW]
Flying
========
Dragonite's high Attack and good movepool make it a good physical wallbreaker for Flying teams able to use its STAB Outrage to punch holes in defensive and offensive types alike, such as Water and Electric. Multiscale along with good bulk gives it ample opportunities to switch into passive threats provided Stealth Rock is off the field and fire off a strong attack or set up a sweep with Dragon Dance. Extreme Speed makes Dragonite an effective revenge killer, being able to pick off weakened threats such as Volcarona and Alolan Raichu. Dragonite's Dragon typing also gives several useful resistances, letting it check threats such as Calm Mind Keldeo and Zeraora. However, Dragonite is susceptible to chip damage such as status and Stealth Rock, breaking its Multiscale, making it unable to tank hits as effectively. Dragonite also is reliant on Extreme Speed to deal with many faster threats due to its mediocre Speed and 4x weakness to Ice-type moves, which lets Pokemon that carry them such as Mamoswine or Porygon2 threaten it even with Multiscale.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Outrage
move 2: Extreme Speed
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: Superpower / Earthquake
item: Choice Band
ability: Multiscale
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Outrage is Dragonite's strongest STAB move and is able to 2HKO many physical walls like Toxapex and Mega Venusaur. However, Dragonite can potentially be revenge killed if it's locked into it and left unable to switch out of a threat such as Kyurem-B or Nihilego. Extreme Speed is a powerful priority move that can 2HKO fast threats like Zeraora and Volcarona. Fire Punch hits common Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Klefki, and Mega Scizor that resist Outrage, as well as catching Tapu Bulu. Superpower is able to OHKO Air Balloon Heatran as well as always 2HKO Porygon2 on the switch, both of which can otherwise serve as roadblocks for Dragonite. Earthquake is an alternate option that can OHKO certain Fairy-types like Tapu Koko and Mega Diancie, avoid poison from Baneful Bunker Toxapex, and still hit non-Air Balloon Heatran.
Set Details
========
252 Attack EVs with an Adamant nature let Dragonite hit as hard as possible. 252 Speed EVs put Dragonite above key threats such as Adamant Diggersby and Adamant Bisharp. Choice Band boosts the power of Dragonite's attacks to monstrous levels, letting it effectively break past defensive teams, at the cost of locking it into one move. Multiscale lets Dragonite take half damage from an attack when at full HP, letting it survive strong hits it otherwise wouldn't, such as Mega Diancie's Diamond Storm or Moonblast.
Usage Tips
========
Dragonite is best used to break past defensive walls such as Zapdos with Choice Band-boosted Outrage. Dragonite's Multiscale can be preserved by bringing it in with a U-turn user such as Tornadus-T or Landorus-T or on a predicted double switch. If your opponent has a Steel-type like Celesteela or Heatran that resists Outrage, try to predict them switching it into Dragonite and hit it with a super effective coverage move like Fire Punch or Superpower. Preserving Dragonite late-game can be worth it so it can use Extreme Speed to revenge kill fast but frail threats like Greninja and Alolan Raichu that otherwise could sweep the team. Extreme Speed can also be utilized late-game to clean up weakened teams. Multiscale can be used to let Dragonite act as an emergency check to setup sweepers like Double Dance Mew if Stealth Rock is not on the field and its teammates are unable to handle it otherwise. It is important to keep Stealth Rock off the field with a teammate's Defog or Taunt so Dragonite's Multiscale won't be broken upon switching in. Dragonite should avoid status whenever possible, as poison and burn breaks its Multiscale, with the latter also completely crippling it by halving its Attack, while paralysis makes it unable to outspeed and 2HKO walls like Mega Venusaur. It is important to preserve Dragonite in the Electric matchup, as it can break past the Rotom-W + Zapdos defensive core while also OHKOing Alolan Raichu with Choice Band- boosted Extreme Speed.
Team Options
========
Offensive pivots like Choice Scarf Landorus-T and Tornadus-T make for excellent partners, as they can remove Stealth Rock with Defog and bring Dragonite in safely with U-turn. Dragonite can then break past bulky walls like Mantine and Mega Sableye that tend to switch into its teammates. Landorus-T and Tornadus-T also can utilize Knock Off so Dragonite has an easier time dealing with potential checks like Swampert and Porygon2. Mantine can remove Stealth Rock with Defog for Dragonite and switch into Ice-type attacks from the likes of Greninja. In exchange, Dragonite can pressure stallbreakers like Calm Mind Keldeo and Zapdos, which Mantine struggles to do anything against. Celesteela can take on Ice- and Rock-types like Mamoswine and Terrakion for Dragonite while also being able to keep Dragonite's Multiscale from being broken by weak attacks such as Scald with Leech Seed. Gliscor can absorb status that otherwise cripples Dragonite, reliably remove Stealth Rock with Defog, and use Taunt to relieve pressure from Dragonite to deal with bulky walls, helping in particular against Steel-type teams, which Dragonite can struggle with due to Protect scouting from Celesteela and Ferrothorn. Zapdos can relieve pressure from Dragonite in dealing with Electric-types such as Zap Plate Tapu Koko. It also can run a Substitute + Toxic set to take advantage of Dragonite checks such as Baneful Bunker Toxapex and Azumarill or alternatively support it with Volt Switch or Defog. Mega Charizard Y makes for a good offensive partner due to it immensely threatening Steel-types that can impede Dragonite, such as Skarmory. In exchange, Dragonite can easily break past specially defensive walls like Chansey, Mantine, and Toxapex that Mega Charizard Y struggles with. Mega Aerodactyl can set Stealth Rock and Pursuit trap threats such as Latios for Dragonite, while Dragonite can break past physically defensive walls like Mega Venusaur. Landorus is a powerful special wallbreaker that appreciates Dragonite's ability to break special walls like Chansey and Gliscor, while it can pressure Steel-types like Jirachi in exchange.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Extreme Speed
move 4: Earthquake
item: Dragonium Z
ability: Multiscale
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance boosts Dragonite's Attack and Speed, letting it break past walls while also outspeeding offensive threats like Mega Gallade. Outrage is Dragonite's strongest STAB move that allows it to break past walls after a Dragon Dance boost and can be turned into a powerful Devastating Drake to break past walls such as Slowbro. Extreme Speed provides strong priority for threats that can still outspeed +2 Dragonite such as Choice Scarf Greninja. Earthquake hits Steel-types like Excadrill and Heatran, which resist Devastating Drake and would otherwise wall Dragonite. It also hits many key Fairy-types such as Tapu Koko, Mega Diancie, and Klefki for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
252 Attack EVs and an Adamant Nature let Dragonite hit as hard as possible with Devastating Drake. 252 Speed EVs let it outrun threats such as Adamant Metagross and Adamant Mega Swampert, as well as Greninja after a Dragon Dance. Dragonium Z powers up Outrage into Devastating Drake, blowing past walls such as Toxapex after a Dragon Dance boost. Multiscale lets Dragonite take strong hits from full health such as Mega Aerodactyl's Stone Edge.
Usage Tips
========
Dragon Dance is best utilized on offensive Flying teams to compress the roles of a sweeper, wallbreaker, and emergency check to setup sweepers with Multiscale. Dragon Dance is ideally set up on a Pokemon that is unable to OHKO Dragonite with Multiscale intact, either early-game to wallbreak or late-game to sweep a weakened team. Dragonite can also bluff a Choice Band set and take advantage of the forced switch to set up a free Dragon Dance. It is very important to keep Stealth Rock off the field to preserve Multiscale, as without it Dragonite finds far fewer setup opportunities. Dragonite's Z-Move can be used without a Dragon Dance boost to OHKO a threat such as SubToxic Zapdos or Double Dance Mew in a pinch. Keep in mind that Dragonite's low Speed tier means very fast Pokemon such as Tapu Koko along with most Choice Scarf users manage to outspeed Dragonite at +1 Dragonite. Some Choice Scarf users such as Nihilego, Greninja, and Terrakion even outspeed it after two speed boosts. Dragonite should avoid any status conditions, as being afflicted with them will hamper or completely shut down its ability to sweep.
Team Options
========
Aerodactyl and Imprison Landorus-T make for good suicide leads to both sets and prevent Stealth Rock early-game while being able to bring Dragonite in safely via Double-Edge recoil or Explosion. Autotomize + Metronome Celesteela is a fantastic offensive teammate, with Dragonite being able to beat Toxapex and Chansey, while Celesteela can deal with Pokemon such as Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Azumaril that Dragonite struggles with. They also have great defensive synergy, with them resisting or taking neutral damage from all of each other's type weaknesses. Choice Scarf users such as Landorus-T or Thundurus-T can support Dragonite with Defog and bring it in safely with U-turn or Volt Switch, while also providing a high Speed tier so Dragonite's Extreme Speed isn't the team's only answer to fast threats like Mega Lopunny. Mega Charizard Y is able to immensely pressure Steel-types such as Celesteela, while Dragonite can break past special walls such as Alolan Muk.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Lum Berry can be utilized on the Dragon Dance set if another teammate is using a Z-Crystal, allowing Dragonite to avoid crippling status once and let it set up without risk on Scald users like Mantine. However, the lack of Devastating Drake means it fails to OHKO bulky walls such as Toxapex without multiple boosts. Fire Punch can be used over Earthquake on the Dragon Dance set to hit many Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Celesteela, and Mega Scizor for super effective damage. However, its lower Base Power compared to Earthquake makes it fairly weak and reliant on Dragon Dance boosts to break past its intended targets.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ice-types**: Pokemon such as Mamoswine and Weavile can easily KO Dragonite even through Multiscale with their 4x super effective STAB attacks.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Azumarill and Tapu Koko are immune to Dragonite's strongest attack in Outrage and can safely switch into it to disrupt its wallbreaking attempts.
**Kyurem-B**: Kyurem-B can easily OHKO Dragonite with no Dragon Dance boosts using Ice Beam due to Teravolt bypassing Multiscale, and it can also KO any potential switch-in on Flying teams with its BoltBeam coverage.
**Stealth Rock**: Stealth Rock deals a large chunk of damage to Dragonite upon it switching in and also removes its Multiscale, making it unable to take hits as easily.
**Status**: Poison and burn can remove Dragonite's Multiscale, with the latter in particular crippling Dragonite completely by halving its Attack. Paralysis also inhibits it by making it unable to outspeed and break through certain walls like Mega Venusaur.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Guwahavel, 446329]]
- Flying analysis by: [[Guwahavel, 446329]]
- Quality checked by: [[maroon, 305839], [Havens, 391540], [Eien, 100418]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [deetah, 297659]]
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