[Overview]
<p>Dragonite has long been overshadowed by Salamence despite having superior bulk and access to exclusive moves such as Superpower and ExtremeSpeed. However, with Salamence now banished to the Uber tier, Dragonite is once again the most powerful Dragon in OU. With fantastic base 134 Attack, respectable base 100 Special Attack, and a huge movepool that includes Outrage, Draco Meteor, ExtremeSpeed, and Roost, Dragonite's sheer power and versatility is sure to keep your opponent on their toes.</p>
<p>Dragonite's biggest weakness is its mediocre Speed; even after a Dragon Dance, Dragonite is easily revenge killed by Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Jirachi. Dragonite also has an unfortunate weakness to Stealth Rock, which means it will often lose 25% of its health simply for switching in. Furthermore, being 4x weak to common Ice-type attacks makes Dragonite vulnerable to the bulky Water-types that can withstand its power. Luckily, Dragonite is equipped with all the tools it needs to overcome these flaws. Agility and ExtremeSpeed allow Dragonite to beat faster Pokemon, while Roost enables it to recover from residual damage and temporarily remove its Flying-type. It isn't a stretch to say Dragonite is the most dangerous Pokemon in the OU tier and should always be accounted for when building a team.</p>
[SET]
name: Mixnite
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Flamethrower / Fire Blast
move 3: Superpower / Earthquake
move 4: Roost / ExtremeSpeed
item: Life Orb
nature: Mild / Lonely
evs: 56 Atk / 252 SpA / 200 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Mixed Dragonite is an excellent wallbreaker thanks to its ability to break common defensive cores such as Blissey, Forretress, Skarmory, and Hippowdon. Draco Meteor will disintegrate any Pokemon except Steel-types and Blissey. Flamethrower will easily take down Steel-types, while Superpower handles Blissey. Earthquake may be run over Superpower to allow Dragonite to defeat Heatran and Tyranitar without lowering Dragonite's Attack and Defense, although it will only manage around 34% - 40% against max Defense Bold Blissey. The last slot is up to personal preference; Roost gives Dragonite a much longer life span, especially with Stealth Rock, Sandstorm, and Life Orb wearing it down, but ExtremeSpeed gives Dragonite a very useful priority attack that can potentially stop an opponent's sweep, compensates somewhat for Dragonite's lower Speed, and is useful for general revenge killing.</p>
<p>This set can also function as an effective lead. With Inner Focus, Dragonite will come out on top against leads that focus on causing flinches, such as Infernape and Jirachi. ExtremeSpeed allows Dragonite to quickly finish off Aerodactyl and other suicide leads. Slow, physically bulky leads like Hippowdon are defeated with Draco Meteor. With a Lum Berry, Dragonite can also beat sleep leads such as Roserade. Even the popular Machamp will fall to a combination of Draco Meteor and ExtremeSpeed, unless it packs Ice Punch.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With the given EVs, Dragonite will outspeed Jolly Tyranitar and defensive variants of Zapdos and Celebi while OHKOing Calm Blissey with Superpower. Max Special Attack with a Mild nature is generally the best choice for wallbreaking; however, a Lonely nature may also be used to give ExtremeSpeed an extra kick. Should you run a Lonely nature, 108 Attack EVs are required to OHKO Bold Blissey with Superpower after Stealth Rock. A Hasty nature can also be run to outspeed certain threats like Adamant Gyarados and Naive Heatran, but Mixnite is primarily meant to break stall, and the loss in power is often not worth it. Fire Blast is a good alternative to Flamethrower as it secures several important KOs, such as an OHKO on specially defensive Skarmory, defensive Celebi, and Metagross, although the accuracy can be a let-down. Thunderbolt is also a usable option as it 2HKOs the average Suicune, who is a very common switch-in to Dragonite, while still 2HKOing most Steel-types. Finally, Surf may be run to 2HKO Heatran and beat specially-defensive Hippowdon without the stat-lowering side effects of Superpower, but it has little utility otherwise.</p>
<p>Due to Dragonite's rather large weakness to priority attacks, such as Scizor's Bullet Punch and Weavile's Ice Shard, a bulky Steel-type like Heatran is a valuable partner, and Heatran also has the bonus of attracting Ground-type attacks for Dragonite to switch into. This set in particular often requires prediction and will possibly lure Skarmory or Forretress. This makes Scizor a useful partner as it can scout the opposing team with U-turn to ease prediction; it also greatly appreciates the removal of Forretress or Skarmory and can take down Flygon and Cresselia, two Pokemon that cause major problems for Dragonite. With Dragonite's abysmal Speed, paralysis support can give Dragonite a much easier time sweeping. Jirachi is a good candidate due to its perfect type synergy with Dragonite and its ability to spread paralysis effectively. Celebi is also a usable teammate to spread paralysis despite sharing a weakness to Ice, as it can defeat the bulky Water-types that trouble Dragonite. Dragonite also very much appreciates any entry hazards it can get. Stealth Rock is almost mandatory to all Dragonite, but this Dragonite loves Spike support as well, as it gives Dragonite a much better chance to OHKO pokemon such as Hippowdon, Swampert, and even Vaporeon with Draco Meteor. Frosslass is an unusual but effective Spiker for offensive teams, and its resistance to Ice-type attacks can come in handy.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Dragon Claw / Outrage
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: ExtremeSpeed / Fire Punch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With the second highest Attack in the OU tier, usable Speed, and a great STAB, it's no surprise that Dragonite can run a successful Dragon Dance set. Five resistances and an immunity give Dragonite plenty of opportunities to up a Dragon Dance. Dragon Claw and Outrage are both excellent STAB attacks; Dragon Claw is the more reliable option thanks to its lack of drawbacks, but Outrage has 50% more power and secures several crucial OHKOs, such as offensive Suicune after a Dragon Dance. Earthquake gives Dragonite a way to hurt grounded Steel-types that resist its STAB. ExtremeSpeed allows Dragonite to deal with faster Pokemon that would normally be a problem, dealing 76.4% - 90% to Choice Scarf Flygon after a boost.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With the given EVs and an Adamant nature, Dragonite reaches 604 Attack and 388 Speed after a Dragon Dance, meaning it will hit hard while outspeeding all unboosted base 125s and below. Since Skarmory and Bronzong will wall Dragonite even after multiple Dragon Dances, Fire Punch may be run over ExtremeSpeed to break through these Pokemon. In this case, Jolly becomes the better nature in order to get the jump on base 130s. This has consequences, however, as without ExtremeSpeed Dragonite is easily revenge killed by Choice Scarf Flygon and other Scarfed pokemon</p>
<p>Due to the fact that Skarmory and Bronzong completely wall Dragonite without Fire Punch, Magnezone is arguably Dragonite's best partner. Not only does having it as a teammate allow Dragonite to freely use Outrage by removing opposing Steel-types, but it also sponges Rock-, Ice-, and Dragon-type moves for Dragonite and lures Fire- and Ground-type attacks for Dragonite to switch into. Heatran can also keep its fellow Steel-types in check and fares better against Mamoswine and Weavile, who can revenge kill Dragonite with Ice Shard. Rapid Spin support is heavily recommended for this Dragonite especially since it lacks Roost. Starmie and Tentacruel are possible candidates for Rapid Spinning due to their respectable bulk and resistance to Ice. Tentacruel can also set up Toxic Spikes which will severely cripple defensive variants of Suicune, who can survive a boosted Outrage and OHKO back with Ice Beam. If Dragonite lacks ExtremeSpeed, a way to deal with Choice Scarf Flygon is mandatory, while Cresselia poses a threat regardless. Scizor can severely damage Cresselia with U-turn and 2HKO Flygon with Bullet Punch.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulky Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Dragon Claw / Outrage
move 3: Roost
move 4: Earthquake / Fire Punch
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 44 Atk / 212 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set makes use of Dragonite's great bulk to set up as many Dragon Dances as possible and attempt a sweep. Roost allows Dragonite to heal when needed, meaning Dragonite can set up against Pokemon like Heatran, Zapdos, Scizor, and Suicune that lack Ice Beam. Dragon Claw is generally the safer option for STAB, as locking yourself into Outrage can mean imminent death, making all of your boosts worth for naught, but the more powerful Outrage is still viable. The choice between Earthquake and Fire Punch is a difficult one; Fire Punch and Dragon Claw together have perfect neutral coverage against every Pokemon in OU bar Heatran, while Earthquake has a higher base power and leaves you walled by only Skarmory and Bronzong. Leftovers is the recommended item, but a Life Orb can be used instead as it offers much more power, although it somewhat contradicts the bulky nature of the set.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With the given EVs, Dragonite will be bulky enough to set up multiple Dragon Dances while just barely outspeeding base 120s after a Dragon Dance. The rest are dumped into Attack to make Dragonite hit a little harder. If one opts for a Life Orb, then an EV spread of 216 HP / 80 Attack / 212 Speed is more beneficial as it allows Dragonite to OHKO Metagross with Earthquake after Stealth Rock and a Dragon Dance. If you're not concerned about base 120s like Dugtrio or Alakazam, then feel free to drop down to 204 Speed EVs and 224 HP EVs as this achieves a good Life Orb number while staying ahead of base 115s. Brick Break gives Dragonite a way to hit both Heatran and the levitating Steel-types, but most Steel-types have a secondary typing that makes them neutral to Fighting, making it a rather weak attack to complement Dragonite's STAB. ThunderPunch is another option that provides near-perfect coverage alongside Dragon Claw while allowing Dragonite to deal with its biggest nemesis, Suicune.</p>
<p>While this set is bulky enough to set up on many things, it is easily revenge killed and walled. Without Fire Punch, Skarmory and Bronzong will have an easy time walling Dragonite, while if you lack Earthquake Heatran can easily defeat this set. For this reason, having a Magnezone on your team is crucial. Magnezone also has the benefit of being able to switch in on Flygon as it uses Outrage and can then take it down it with Hidden Power Ice. In a similar manner, Magnezone can switch in on Heatran as it tries to revenge kill Dragonite with Hidden Power Ice or Dragon Pulse. Beware of good prediction however, as both of these Pokemon can easily take down Magnezone with the appropriate move. Ironically, a Heatran of your own is also a useful partner as it can keep Bronzong and Skarmory in check with its STAB Fire Blast. Having a spinner such as Starmie or Tentacruel is recommended, especially if you opt for a Life Orb, as Stealth Rock can make it difficult for Dragonite to set up. Finally, having a Pokemon that can Baton Pass Dragonite Leech Seed or a Substitute allows it to set up against pokemon like Heatran much easier. Celebi can pass both of these to Dragonite while also luring out Heatran for Dragonite to set up on, although they both share a weakness to Ice.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: ExtremeSpeed
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Earthquake / Fire Punch
move 4: Dragon Claw / Superpower
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>By equipping a Choice Band, Dragonite trades its ability to sweep for the power to hit extremely hard right off the bat. Choice Band-boosted STAB Outrage is ridiculously powerful and can easily 2HKO any Pokemon that doesn't resist it, allowing Dragonite to bypass its usual counters such as Suicune and Cresselia. Earthquake will easily take down every Steel-type except Skarmory and Bronzong, while Fire Punch ensures at least a 2HKO on all Steels except Heatran. ExtremeSpeed is key to this set's success, as it makes up for Dragonite's low Speed and has similar power to Scizor's Bullet Punch that can 2HKO Gyarados, Infernape, Jolteon, and many other faster threats.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs are simple and straightforward and ensure Dragonite hits like a truck while staying ahead of Scizor and Tyranitar. A Jolly nature may also be used to outspeed Adamant Gyrados, Adamant Lucario, and Heatran lacking a Choice Scarf, although the loss in power is substantial and stops Dragonite from beating some of its common switch-ins like Suicune. In the last slot there are a few viable moves; Dragon Claw is generally the best choice for a reliable STAB option, but Superpower may be used over it, especially as a way of hitting Heatran if you are running Fire Punch. Earthquake and Fire Punch may be used together to achieve perfect coverage, although the loss of a reliable STAB just to hit one or two Pokemon that can be easily handled by teammates is often not worth it. Finally, Waterfall may also be used in the last slot as it offers great neutral coverage, eases prediction, and can 2HKO Hippowdon and Gliscor without locking Dragonite into Outrage.</p>
<p>Since Dragonite can 2HKO every Pokemon in the OU tier, its only true concern is being revenge killed. Scizor, Jirachi, and Flygon can all come in and revenge kill Dragonite with impunity, especially if it locks itself into Outrage. For this reason, Magnezone once again makes a good partner, as it can trap the former two and possibly catch Flygon with Hidden Power Ice. A Hippowdon or Skarmory can also be used to deal with these Pokemon on a more balanced team. Starmie is another useful partner to have around, as it can provide Rapid Spin support while simultaneously handling some of the Pokemon that threaten Dragonite. Finally, Heatran can keep Scizor and Jirachi in check and greatly appreciates the removal of bulky Water-types that Dragonite may lure and 2HKO with Outrage.</p>
[SET]
name: Agility
move 1: Agility
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Fire Blast / Thunderbolt
item: Life Orb
nature: Naughty / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 52 SpA / 204 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>A common problem with the Dragon Dance sets is that even after a boost, common Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Flygon and Jirachi will outspeed Dragonite and prematurely end its sweep. This set remedies that problem by outspeeding all Choice Scarf base 100s after an Agility. This set can often take opponents expecting a Dragon Dance set by surprise and end up sweeping entire teams, especially late game when your opponent's bulkier Pokemon are usually weakened. Life Orb is the ideal item for this set, as its consistent power boost ensures many additional OHKOs and 2HKOs. Since this Dragonite will not be boosting its Attack, Outrage is the STAB move of choice for the pure power it brings. Earthquake and Fire Blast will make short work of any Steel-types that attempt to wall Dragonite's STAB, but Thunderbolt is also a viable option if you're worried about bulky Water-types.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With the given EV spread, Dragonite will outspeed base 100s with a Choice Scarf after an Agility. 252 Attack EVs and a positive nature guarantee Dragonite will have enough power to sweep, while 52 Special Attack EVs allow Dragonite to 2HKO offensive Rotom-A with Fire Blast after Stealth Rock. Some EVs can be moved from Attack to Special Attack if you feel it's necessary to boost the power of Fire Blast or Thunderbolt. If you are worried about the reliability of Outrage and Fire Blast, Dragon Claw and Flamethrower are usable in their place, but the loss of power will make a sweep difficult since Dragonite isn't boosting its Attack stat. Dragonite can also use Focus Blast for power and good neutral coverage; however, the accuracy is so terrible that it's best to stick with the moves listed. Naughty is the recommended nature for increasing Dragonite's Attack without lowering its Special Attack, but Adamant can also be used if you want more bulk, although reducing Dragonite's Special Attack means Fire Blast will no longer reliably 2HKO offensive Rotom-A.</p>
<p>Since Dragonite can often lure revenge killers like Choice Scarf Flygon and Choice Scarf Jirachi, Pokemon that appreciate their removal, such as Heatran, Gyarados, and Tyranitar, are the most effective partners for this set. Magnezone support is heavily recommended, especially if you opt for Outrage over Dragon Claw, as Steel-types would have a field day switching in on Outrage and simply beating Dragonite down. A teammate that can deal with bulky Water-types and Hippowdon is also recommended. Grass-types like Shaymin and Celebi can easily dispose of both with their STAB attacks, although they share an unfortunate weakness to Ice-type attacks with Dragonite. Therefore, Toxic Spikes are an alternative method of dealing with them. Tentacruel can set up Toxic Spikes, provide Rapid Spin support, and offers a crucial resistance to Ice. Finally, Starmie can also provide Rapid Spin support and can beat bulky Water-types that lack Hidden Power Electric by alternating between Thunderbolt and Recover.</p>
[SET]
name: Cleric Dancer
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Heal Bell
move 3: Roost
move 4: Dragon Claw
item: Leftovers
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 216 SpD / 40 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Dragonite is often crippled by status as it attempts a sweep, this set uses Heal Bell to negate status and set up freely against defensive variants of Blissey, Cresselia, Heatran, Rotom-A, and Dusknoir while also curing its teammate's status afflictions. With both Roost and Heal Bell, Dragonite can often set up multiple Dragon Dances against stall, balanced, and offensive teams alike and sweep once any opposing Steel-types are gone.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set's heavy investment in Special Defense allows Dragonite to set up on defensive Pokemon such as Blissey and Cresselia, even if they carry Ice Beam. Alternatively, those EVs can be placed into Defense to give Dragonite a good chance to survive the standard Choice Scarf Flygon's Outrage even after Stealth Rock damage, although this will leave Dragonite vulnerable to many defensive Pokemon it could otherwise beat. 40 Speed EVs allow Dragonite to outspeed Jolly Lucario and neutral base 100s after a Dragon Dance. Due to the lack of investment in Attack, Outrage may be used over Dragon Claw, as it is much more powerful, and the confusion can be removed with Heal Bell. However, Dragon Claw is the more reliable option, and if Dragonite is locked into Outrage it will be unable to Roost or switch out, making it an easy target for revenge killers.</p>
<p>Since Dragonite is completely walled by Steel-types, Magnezone support is required if you want Dragonite to be able to sweep. Paralysis support is also beneficial, as Dragonite is outsped by numerous Pokemon even after a Dragon Dance. Jirachi is a worthy candidate to spread paralysis and can beat Steel-types down with Thunderbolt or Fire Punch. Using Discharge on your Magnezone is also an interesting option to spread paralysis. Dragonite can set up on defensive Water-types, but offensive variants can beat Dragonite, so having a way to deal with them is recommended. Magnezone's STAB Electric-type attacks will help in this area, but it is outsped and can be worn down by neutral Water-type attacks, so an additional check such as Roserade, Celebi, or Shaymin is recommended. Tentacruel can also cripple bulky Water-types with Toxic Spikes while providing Rapid Spin support. Flygon also poses a serious threat as it can outspeed Dragonite after a Dragon Dance even without a Choice Scarf and has an immunity to Thunder Wave, so having a bulky Water-type or a Steel-type of your own that can switch in on Flygon's Outrage and take it down is recommended.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Due to Dragonite often falling to powerful priority users such as Mamoswine, Weavile, and Scizor, Heatran is arguably Dragonite's best partner thanks to its 4x resistance to Ice Shard and Bullet Punch; it also has excellent defensive synergy with Dragonite in general, and can beat most of Dragonite's counters other than bulky Water-types. Magnezone is also a great teammate, as it can trap and KO Pokemon such as Bronzong, Forretress, Skarmory, and Scizor, allowing Dragonite to use Outrage freely. Entry hazards, particularly Toxic Spikes, help Dragonite get past the bulky Water-types that it sometimes has trouble KOing. Tentacruel can reliably set up Toxic Spikes, and also packs an Ice resistance and Rapid Spin to remove Stealth Rock. If Toxic Spikes or Tentacruel don't work for your team, Toxicroak is a great check to most bulky Water-types. Since Dragonite is rather slow, paralysis support is very much appreciated and can open up a Mixnite sweep. Zapdos is a usable partner despite sharing several weaknesses with Dragonite, as it can spread paralysis or Baton Pass Dragonite an Agility boost; it is also a good check to most Water-types. Jirachi and Dragonite resist all of each others' weaknesses, and a specially-defensive Jirachi can spread paralysis while checking certain Water-types. A SubSeed Celebi is a good partner for being able to Baton Pass Leech Seed and Substitute, which gives Dragonite an easier time setting up. Finally, Scizor and Tyranitar are very handy partners to have around as they can counter Cresselia, although Dragonite doesn't enjoy the permanent Sandstorm caused by the latter.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Dragonite has a humongous movepool and very versatile stats, so naturally there are many other usable options. On Dragonite's offensive sets, Ice Beam, Stone Edge, ThunderPunch, Surf, and Waterfall deserve a mention for taking care of certain Pokemon, but they are only useful against specific threats, while the listed moves offer much better coverage in general. With Dragonite's good defenses, typing, and reliable recovery in Roost, it can play a defensive role by stalling with Toxic or disrupting opposing sweepers with Thunder Wave, Roar, or Haze. Similarly, it can support the team with Light Screen and set up Sunny Day or Rain Dance. Dragonite also gets Rest and Sleep Talk, but with access to Roost and Heal Bell, putting Dragonite to sleep is usually an unnecessary risk. Dragonite can run a decent Choice Scarf or Specs set, but with its sub-par Speed, average Special Attack, and weakness to Stealth Rock, such sets are usually done better by other Pokemon.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Due to Dragonite's excellent versatility, a universal counter to Dragonite does not exist; the trick is finding out what set it's running and acting accordingly. Bulky Water-types such as Suicune give Dragonite a great amount of trouble when attempting a sweep, as they can take a hit and reply with Ice Beam, although a boosted Outrage can 2HKO most Water-types including Suicune. Cresselia is a decent counter and can cripple Dragonite with Toxic or Thunder Wave or just hit it hard with Ice Beam, although it is set up bait for Dragonite's Cleric Dancer set. Skarmory and Hippowdon do a good job countering Dragonite's Dragon Dance sets, but the former must avoid a boosted Fire Punch while the latter is 2HKOed by Outrage. Scizor not only resists Dragonite's STAB attacks, but it also takes away over half of Dragonite's HP with Choice Band Bullet Punch, although Dragonite can fry it with Fire-type attacks. Common Choice Scarf Pokemon like Jirachi and Flygon can revenge kill the Dragon Dance sets, but Flygon is nearly OHKOed by a boosted ExtremeSpeed, while both are outsped and OHKOed by the Agility set. Finally, Weavile and Mamoswine can revenge kill Dragonite with Ice Shard, although they won't have many opportunities to switch in.</p>
<p>Dragonite has long been overshadowed by Salamence despite having superior bulk and access to exclusive moves such as Superpower and ExtremeSpeed. However, with Salamence now banished to the Uber tier, Dragonite is once again the most powerful Dragon in OU. With fantastic base 134 Attack, respectable base 100 Special Attack, and a huge movepool that includes Outrage, Draco Meteor, ExtremeSpeed, and Roost, Dragonite's sheer power and versatility is sure to keep your opponent on their toes.</p>
<p>Dragonite's biggest weakness is its mediocre Speed; even after a Dragon Dance, Dragonite is easily revenge killed by Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Jirachi. Dragonite also has an unfortunate weakness to Stealth Rock, which means it will often lose 25% of its health simply for switching in. Furthermore, being 4x weak to common Ice-type attacks makes Dragonite vulnerable to the bulky Water-types that can withstand its power. Luckily, Dragonite is equipped with all the tools it needs to overcome these flaws. Agility and ExtremeSpeed allow Dragonite to beat faster Pokemon, while Roost enables it to recover from residual damage and temporarily remove its Flying-type. It isn't a stretch to say Dragonite is the most dangerous Pokemon in the OU tier and should always be accounted for when building a team.</p>
[SET]
name: Mixnite
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Flamethrower / Fire Blast
move 3: Superpower / Earthquake
move 4: Roost / ExtremeSpeed
item: Life Orb
nature: Mild / Lonely
evs: 56 Atk / 252 SpA / 200 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Mixed Dragonite is an excellent wallbreaker thanks to its ability to break common defensive cores such as Blissey, Forretress, Skarmory, and Hippowdon. Draco Meteor will disintegrate any Pokemon except Steel-types and Blissey. Flamethrower will easily take down Steel-types, while Superpower handles Blissey. Earthquake may be run over Superpower to allow Dragonite to defeat Heatran and Tyranitar without lowering Dragonite's Attack and Defense, although it will only manage around 34% - 40% against max Defense Bold Blissey. The last slot is up to personal preference; Roost gives Dragonite a much longer life span, especially with Stealth Rock, Sandstorm, and Life Orb wearing it down, but ExtremeSpeed gives Dragonite a very useful priority attack that can potentially stop an opponent's sweep, compensates somewhat for Dragonite's lower Speed, and is useful for general revenge killing.</p>
<p>This set can also function as an effective lead. With Inner Focus, Dragonite will come out on top against leads that focus on causing flinches, such as Infernape and Jirachi. ExtremeSpeed allows Dragonite to quickly finish off Aerodactyl and other suicide leads. Slow, physically bulky leads like Hippowdon are defeated with Draco Meteor. With a Lum Berry, Dragonite can also beat sleep leads such as Roserade. Even the popular Machamp will fall to a combination of Draco Meteor and ExtremeSpeed, unless it packs Ice Punch.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With the given EVs, Dragonite will outspeed Jolly Tyranitar and defensive variants of Zapdos and Celebi while OHKOing Calm Blissey with Superpower. Max Special Attack with a Mild nature is generally the best choice for wallbreaking; however, a Lonely nature may also be used to give ExtremeSpeed an extra kick. Should you run a Lonely nature, 108 Attack EVs are required to OHKO Bold Blissey with Superpower after Stealth Rock. A Hasty nature can also be run to outspeed certain threats like Adamant Gyarados and Naive Heatran, but Mixnite is primarily meant to break stall, and the loss in power is often not worth it. Fire Blast is a good alternative to Flamethrower as it secures several important KOs, such as an OHKO on specially defensive Skarmory, defensive Celebi, and Metagross, although the accuracy can be a let-down. Thunderbolt is also a usable option as it 2HKOs the average Suicune, who is a very common switch-in to Dragonite, while still 2HKOing most Steel-types. Finally, Surf may be run to 2HKO Heatran and beat specially-defensive Hippowdon without the stat-lowering side effects of Superpower, but it has little utility otherwise.</p>
<p>Due to Dragonite's rather large weakness to priority attacks, such as Scizor's Bullet Punch and Weavile's Ice Shard, a bulky Steel-type like Heatran is a valuable partner, and Heatran also has the bonus of attracting Ground-type attacks for Dragonite to switch into. This set in particular often requires prediction and will possibly lure Skarmory or Forretress. This makes Scizor a useful partner as it can scout the opposing team with U-turn to ease prediction; it also greatly appreciates the removal of Forretress or Skarmory and can take down Flygon and Cresselia, two Pokemon that cause major problems for Dragonite. With Dragonite's abysmal Speed, paralysis support can give Dragonite a much easier time sweeping. Jirachi is a good candidate due to its perfect type synergy with Dragonite and its ability to spread paralysis effectively. Celebi is also a usable teammate to spread paralysis despite sharing a weakness to Ice, as it can defeat the bulky Water-types that trouble Dragonite. Dragonite also very much appreciates any entry hazards it can get. Stealth Rock is almost mandatory to all Dragonite, but this Dragonite loves Spike support as well, as it gives Dragonite a much better chance to OHKO pokemon such as Hippowdon, Swampert, and even Vaporeon with Draco Meteor. Frosslass is an unusual but effective Spiker for offensive teams, and its resistance to Ice-type attacks can come in handy.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Dragon Claw / Outrage
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: ExtremeSpeed / Fire Punch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With the second highest Attack in the OU tier, usable Speed, and a great STAB, it's no surprise that Dragonite can run a successful Dragon Dance set. Five resistances and an immunity give Dragonite plenty of opportunities to up a Dragon Dance. Dragon Claw and Outrage are both excellent STAB attacks; Dragon Claw is the more reliable option thanks to its lack of drawbacks, but Outrage has 50% more power and secures several crucial OHKOs, such as offensive Suicune after a Dragon Dance. Earthquake gives Dragonite a way to hurt grounded Steel-types that resist its STAB. ExtremeSpeed allows Dragonite to deal with faster Pokemon that would normally be a problem, dealing 76.4% - 90% to Choice Scarf Flygon after a boost.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With the given EVs and an Adamant nature, Dragonite reaches 604 Attack and 388 Speed after a Dragon Dance, meaning it will hit hard while outspeeding all unboosted base 125s and below. Since Skarmory and Bronzong will wall Dragonite even after multiple Dragon Dances, Fire Punch may be run over ExtremeSpeed to break through these Pokemon. In this case, Jolly becomes the better nature in order to get the jump on base 130s. This has consequences, however, as without ExtremeSpeed Dragonite is easily revenge killed by Choice Scarf Flygon and other Scarfed pokemon</p>
<p>Due to the fact that Skarmory and Bronzong completely wall Dragonite without Fire Punch, Magnezone is arguably Dragonite's best partner. Not only does having it as a teammate allow Dragonite to freely use Outrage by removing opposing Steel-types, but it also sponges Rock-, Ice-, and Dragon-type moves for Dragonite and lures Fire- and Ground-type attacks for Dragonite to switch into. Heatran can also keep its fellow Steel-types in check and fares better against Mamoswine and Weavile, who can revenge kill Dragonite with Ice Shard. Rapid Spin support is heavily recommended for this Dragonite especially since it lacks Roost. Starmie and Tentacruel are possible candidates for Rapid Spinning due to their respectable bulk and resistance to Ice. Tentacruel can also set up Toxic Spikes which will severely cripple defensive variants of Suicune, who can survive a boosted Outrage and OHKO back with Ice Beam. If Dragonite lacks ExtremeSpeed, a way to deal with Choice Scarf Flygon is mandatory, while Cresselia poses a threat regardless. Scizor can severely damage Cresselia with U-turn and 2HKO Flygon with Bullet Punch.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulky Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Dragon Claw / Outrage
move 3: Roost
move 4: Earthquake / Fire Punch
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 44 Atk / 212 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set makes use of Dragonite's great bulk to set up as many Dragon Dances as possible and attempt a sweep. Roost allows Dragonite to heal when needed, meaning Dragonite can set up against Pokemon like Heatran, Zapdos, Scizor, and Suicune that lack Ice Beam. Dragon Claw is generally the safer option for STAB, as locking yourself into Outrage can mean imminent death, making all of your boosts worth for naught, but the more powerful Outrage is still viable. The choice between Earthquake and Fire Punch is a difficult one; Fire Punch and Dragon Claw together have perfect neutral coverage against every Pokemon in OU bar Heatran, while Earthquake has a higher base power and leaves you walled by only Skarmory and Bronzong. Leftovers is the recommended item, but a Life Orb can be used instead as it offers much more power, although it somewhat contradicts the bulky nature of the set.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With the given EVs, Dragonite will be bulky enough to set up multiple Dragon Dances while just barely outspeeding base 120s after a Dragon Dance. The rest are dumped into Attack to make Dragonite hit a little harder. If one opts for a Life Orb, then an EV spread of 216 HP / 80 Attack / 212 Speed is more beneficial as it allows Dragonite to OHKO Metagross with Earthquake after Stealth Rock and a Dragon Dance. If you're not concerned about base 120s like Dugtrio or Alakazam, then feel free to drop down to 204 Speed EVs and 224 HP EVs as this achieves a good Life Orb number while staying ahead of base 115s. Brick Break gives Dragonite a way to hit both Heatran and the levitating Steel-types, but most Steel-types have a secondary typing that makes them neutral to Fighting, making it a rather weak attack to complement Dragonite's STAB. ThunderPunch is another option that provides near-perfect coverage alongside Dragon Claw while allowing Dragonite to deal with its biggest nemesis, Suicune.</p>
<p>While this set is bulky enough to set up on many things, it is easily revenge killed and walled. Without Fire Punch, Skarmory and Bronzong will have an easy time walling Dragonite, while if you lack Earthquake Heatran can easily defeat this set. For this reason, having a Magnezone on your team is crucial. Magnezone also has the benefit of being able to switch in on Flygon as it uses Outrage and can then take it down it with Hidden Power Ice. In a similar manner, Magnezone can switch in on Heatran as it tries to revenge kill Dragonite with Hidden Power Ice or Dragon Pulse. Beware of good prediction however, as both of these Pokemon can easily take down Magnezone with the appropriate move. Ironically, a Heatran of your own is also a useful partner as it can keep Bronzong and Skarmory in check with its STAB Fire Blast. Having a spinner such as Starmie or Tentacruel is recommended, especially if you opt for a Life Orb, as Stealth Rock can make it difficult for Dragonite to set up. Finally, having a Pokemon that can Baton Pass Dragonite Leech Seed or a Substitute allows it to set up against pokemon like Heatran much easier. Celebi can pass both of these to Dragonite while also luring out Heatran for Dragonite to set up on, although they both share a weakness to Ice.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: ExtremeSpeed
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Earthquake / Fire Punch
move 4: Dragon Claw / Superpower
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>By equipping a Choice Band, Dragonite trades its ability to sweep for the power to hit extremely hard right off the bat. Choice Band-boosted STAB Outrage is ridiculously powerful and can easily 2HKO any Pokemon that doesn't resist it, allowing Dragonite to bypass its usual counters such as Suicune and Cresselia. Earthquake will easily take down every Steel-type except Skarmory and Bronzong, while Fire Punch ensures at least a 2HKO on all Steels except Heatran. ExtremeSpeed is key to this set's success, as it makes up for Dragonite's low Speed and has similar power to Scizor's Bullet Punch that can 2HKO Gyarados, Infernape, Jolteon, and many other faster threats.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs are simple and straightforward and ensure Dragonite hits like a truck while staying ahead of Scizor and Tyranitar. A Jolly nature may also be used to outspeed Adamant Gyrados, Adamant Lucario, and Heatran lacking a Choice Scarf, although the loss in power is substantial and stops Dragonite from beating some of its common switch-ins like Suicune. In the last slot there are a few viable moves; Dragon Claw is generally the best choice for a reliable STAB option, but Superpower may be used over it, especially as a way of hitting Heatran if you are running Fire Punch. Earthquake and Fire Punch may be used together to achieve perfect coverage, although the loss of a reliable STAB just to hit one or two Pokemon that can be easily handled by teammates is often not worth it. Finally, Waterfall may also be used in the last slot as it offers great neutral coverage, eases prediction, and can 2HKO Hippowdon and Gliscor without locking Dragonite into Outrage.</p>
<p>Since Dragonite can 2HKO every Pokemon in the OU tier, its only true concern is being revenge killed. Scizor, Jirachi, and Flygon can all come in and revenge kill Dragonite with impunity, especially if it locks itself into Outrage. For this reason, Magnezone once again makes a good partner, as it can trap the former two and possibly catch Flygon with Hidden Power Ice. A Hippowdon or Skarmory can also be used to deal with these Pokemon on a more balanced team. Starmie is another useful partner to have around, as it can provide Rapid Spin support while simultaneously handling some of the Pokemon that threaten Dragonite. Finally, Heatran can keep Scizor and Jirachi in check and greatly appreciates the removal of bulky Water-types that Dragonite may lure and 2HKO with Outrage.</p>
[SET]
name: Agility
move 1: Agility
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Fire Blast / Thunderbolt
item: Life Orb
nature: Naughty / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 52 SpA / 204 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>A common problem with the Dragon Dance sets is that even after a boost, common Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Flygon and Jirachi will outspeed Dragonite and prematurely end its sweep. This set remedies that problem by outspeeding all Choice Scarf base 100s after an Agility. This set can often take opponents expecting a Dragon Dance set by surprise and end up sweeping entire teams, especially late game when your opponent's bulkier Pokemon are usually weakened. Life Orb is the ideal item for this set, as its consistent power boost ensures many additional OHKOs and 2HKOs. Since this Dragonite will not be boosting its Attack, Outrage is the STAB move of choice for the pure power it brings. Earthquake and Fire Blast will make short work of any Steel-types that attempt to wall Dragonite's STAB, but Thunderbolt is also a viable option if you're worried about bulky Water-types.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With the given EV spread, Dragonite will outspeed base 100s with a Choice Scarf after an Agility. 252 Attack EVs and a positive nature guarantee Dragonite will have enough power to sweep, while 52 Special Attack EVs allow Dragonite to 2HKO offensive Rotom-A with Fire Blast after Stealth Rock. Some EVs can be moved from Attack to Special Attack if you feel it's necessary to boost the power of Fire Blast or Thunderbolt. If you are worried about the reliability of Outrage and Fire Blast, Dragon Claw and Flamethrower are usable in their place, but the loss of power will make a sweep difficult since Dragonite isn't boosting its Attack stat. Dragonite can also use Focus Blast for power and good neutral coverage; however, the accuracy is so terrible that it's best to stick with the moves listed. Naughty is the recommended nature for increasing Dragonite's Attack without lowering its Special Attack, but Adamant can also be used if you want more bulk, although reducing Dragonite's Special Attack means Fire Blast will no longer reliably 2HKO offensive Rotom-A.</p>
<p>Since Dragonite can often lure revenge killers like Choice Scarf Flygon and Choice Scarf Jirachi, Pokemon that appreciate their removal, such as Heatran, Gyarados, and Tyranitar, are the most effective partners for this set. Magnezone support is heavily recommended, especially if you opt for Outrage over Dragon Claw, as Steel-types would have a field day switching in on Outrage and simply beating Dragonite down. A teammate that can deal with bulky Water-types and Hippowdon is also recommended. Grass-types like Shaymin and Celebi can easily dispose of both with their STAB attacks, although they share an unfortunate weakness to Ice-type attacks with Dragonite. Therefore, Toxic Spikes are an alternative method of dealing with them. Tentacruel can set up Toxic Spikes, provide Rapid Spin support, and offers a crucial resistance to Ice. Finally, Starmie can also provide Rapid Spin support and can beat bulky Water-types that lack Hidden Power Electric by alternating between Thunderbolt and Recover.</p>
[SET]
name: Cleric Dancer
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Heal Bell
move 3: Roost
move 4: Dragon Claw
item: Leftovers
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 216 SpD / 40 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Dragonite is often crippled by status as it attempts a sweep, this set uses Heal Bell to negate status and set up freely against defensive variants of Blissey, Cresselia, Heatran, Rotom-A, and Dusknoir while also curing its teammate's status afflictions. With both Roost and Heal Bell, Dragonite can often set up multiple Dragon Dances against stall, balanced, and offensive teams alike and sweep once any opposing Steel-types are gone.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set's heavy investment in Special Defense allows Dragonite to set up on defensive Pokemon such as Blissey and Cresselia, even if they carry Ice Beam. Alternatively, those EVs can be placed into Defense to give Dragonite a good chance to survive the standard Choice Scarf Flygon's Outrage even after Stealth Rock damage, although this will leave Dragonite vulnerable to many defensive Pokemon it could otherwise beat. 40 Speed EVs allow Dragonite to outspeed Jolly Lucario and neutral base 100s after a Dragon Dance. Due to the lack of investment in Attack, Outrage may be used over Dragon Claw, as it is much more powerful, and the confusion can be removed with Heal Bell. However, Dragon Claw is the more reliable option, and if Dragonite is locked into Outrage it will be unable to Roost or switch out, making it an easy target for revenge killers.</p>
<p>Since Dragonite is completely walled by Steel-types, Magnezone support is required if you want Dragonite to be able to sweep. Paralysis support is also beneficial, as Dragonite is outsped by numerous Pokemon even after a Dragon Dance. Jirachi is a worthy candidate to spread paralysis and can beat Steel-types down with Thunderbolt or Fire Punch. Using Discharge on your Magnezone is also an interesting option to spread paralysis. Dragonite can set up on defensive Water-types, but offensive variants can beat Dragonite, so having a way to deal with them is recommended. Magnezone's STAB Electric-type attacks will help in this area, but it is outsped and can be worn down by neutral Water-type attacks, so an additional check such as Roserade, Celebi, or Shaymin is recommended. Tentacruel can also cripple bulky Water-types with Toxic Spikes while providing Rapid Spin support. Flygon also poses a serious threat as it can outspeed Dragonite after a Dragon Dance even without a Choice Scarf and has an immunity to Thunder Wave, so having a bulky Water-type or a Steel-type of your own that can switch in on Flygon's Outrage and take it down is recommended.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Due to Dragonite often falling to powerful priority users such as Mamoswine, Weavile, and Scizor, Heatran is arguably Dragonite's best partner thanks to its 4x resistance to Ice Shard and Bullet Punch; it also has excellent defensive synergy with Dragonite in general, and can beat most of Dragonite's counters other than bulky Water-types. Magnezone is also a great teammate, as it can trap and KO Pokemon such as Bronzong, Forretress, Skarmory, and Scizor, allowing Dragonite to use Outrage freely. Entry hazards, particularly Toxic Spikes, help Dragonite get past the bulky Water-types that it sometimes has trouble KOing. Tentacruel can reliably set up Toxic Spikes, and also packs an Ice resistance and Rapid Spin to remove Stealth Rock. If Toxic Spikes or Tentacruel don't work for your team, Toxicroak is a great check to most bulky Water-types. Since Dragonite is rather slow, paralysis support is very much appreciated and can open up a Mixnite sweep. Zapdos is a usable partner despite sharing several weaknesses with Dragonite, as it can spread paralysis or Baton Pass Dragonite an Agility boost; it is also a good check to most Water-types. Jirachi and Dragonite resist all of each others' weaknesses, and a specially-defensive Jirachi can spread paralysis while checking certain Water-types. A SubSeed Celebi is a good partner for being able to Baton Pass Leech Seed and Substitute, which gives Dragonite an easier time setting up. Finally, Scizor and Tyranitar are very handy partners to have around as they can counter Cresselia, although Dragonite doesn't enjoy the permanent Sandstorm caused by the latter.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Dragonite has a humongous movepool and very versatile stats, so naturally there are many other usable options. On Dragonite's offensive sets, Ice Beam, Stone Edge, ThunderPunch, Surf, and Waterfall deserve a mention for taking care of certain Pokemon, but they are only useful against specific threats, while the listed moves offer much better coverage in general. With Dragonite's good defenses, typing, and reliable recovery in Roost, it can play a defensive role by stalling with Toxic or disrupting opposing sweepers with Thunder Wave, Roar, or Haze. Similarly, it can support the team with Light Screen and set up Sunny Day or Rain Dance. Dragonite also gets Rest and Sleep Talk, but with access to Roost and Heal Bell, putting Dragonite to sleep is usually an unnecessary risk. Dragonite can run a decent Choice Scarf or Specs set, but with its sub-par Speed, average Special Attack, and weakness to Stealth Rock, such sets are usually done better by other Pokemon.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Due to Dragonite's excellent versatility, a universal counter to Dragonite does not exist; the trick is finding out what set it's running and acting accordingly. Bulky Water-types such as Suicune give Dragonite a great amount of trouble when attempting a sweep, as they can take a hit and reply with Ice Beam, although a boosted Outrage can 2HKO most Water-types including Suicune. Cresselia is a decent counter and can cripple Dragonite with Toxic or Thunder Wave or just hit it hard with Ice Beam, although it is set up bait for Dragonite's Cleric Dancer set. Skarmory and Hippowdon do a good job countering Dragonite's Dragon Dance sets, but the former must avoid a boosted Fire Punch while the latter is 2HKOed by Outrage. Scizor not only resists Dragonite's STAB attacks, but it also takes away over half of Dragonite's HP with Choice Band Bullet Punch, although Dragonite can fry it with Fire-type attacks. Common Choice Scarf Pokemon like Jirachi and Flygon can revenge kill the Dragon Dance sets, but Flygon is nearly OHKOed by a boosted ExtremeSpeed, while both are outsped and OHKOed by the Agility set. Finally, Weavile and Mamoswine can revenge kill Dragonite with Ice Shard, although they won't have many opportunities to switch in.</p>
