The Pokémon series features 18 different types of Pokémon. However, one that tends to stand out particularly due to their rarity is the Dragon-type. Dragon-type Pokémon are known for their presence and their strength. They often appear near the end of a region's Pokédex due to their legendary or pseudo-legendary status.
Dragon-types became the favorite for late-game Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, or even Pokémon champions. Their reputation belies their performance in battle. In this article, we want to discuss 10 unanswered questions about the Dragon-type Pokémon. We would love to learn more about these powerful beings and what makes their power and attributes unique in the series.
10 Do Dragon-Type Pokémon Have Scales?
The way Pokémon are drawn makes them look smooth. Mammalian, bug, and even some aquatic Pokémon, barring Magikarp, tend to not look scaly. In terms of Dragon-types, many of them are also drawn with what appears to be smooth flesh. There are exceptions, such as Goodra, who's covered in slime.
Back when Beckett Pokémon Collector was in publication, they posted a back cover image of Charizard with scales. Charizard was once again featured with more detailed scales in the film Detective Pikachu. While Charizard is not technically a Dragon-type except for in its Mega Charizard X form, these frighteningly realistic takes on Charizard begged the question if dragons in Pokémon are scaly.
9 How Big Can Dragon-Type Pokémon Grow?
In the Pokémon anime, we saw a Dragonite the size of Bill's Lighthouse in Season 1. Dragon types, such as Dragonite, can grow over 7 feet tall in the games. More importantly, the largest dragon-type in Pokémon, Eternatus, is also the largest Pokémon in the Pokédex. Even among other legendary Galarian Pokémon towers over Wailord at 65'07".
However, what's more pressing is the variant heights of Dragon-types, such as the aforementioned Dragonite in the anime. Consider Charizard, who stands at 5'7, seems to be bigger in the Smash Bros. series. He's listed as a superheavyweight. However, a screenshot will tell you that he dwarfs Lucina, who stands at an average human's height. We don't know what causes these genetic mutations in Pokémon. But, for argument's sake, Mega Charizard X, a Dragon-type, stays the same height as his normal self, only gaining weight instead.
8 Why Are Dragon-Types Weak To Each Other?
Many Pokémon gain resistance to their own type. Most of the special elementals, like Fire-, Water-, and Rock-types deal less effective damage to their own type. Yet Dragon-type moves are super-effective to Dragon-types.
Perhaps players could surmise that moves, such as Dragonbreath and Outrage, pierce through the scales or defense of a dragon. Moreover, note that Dragon-type moves are only super effective against their own kind and not any other Pokémon type.
7 Why Are Dragon-Types Weak To Fairy-Types?
Despite being known as the mighty, mythical creatures, these large, powerful beasts are critically weak to the cutest types of Pokémon out there. Often small, pink, and with adorable round eyes, what seems to be the complete opposite of the Dragon-type is in fact their biggest detriment.
Not only do Fairy types deal critical damage to Dragon-types, but they're immune to Dragon-type abilities as well. While Fire beats Grass, Water beats Fire, and Electric beats Water, no one knows just why Fairy-types counter the mythical dragon element.
6 Why Are Aerodactyl & Gyarados Not Considered Dragon-Types?
Aerodactyl is a Rock-/Flying-type based on the pterodactyl, and Gyarados is a Water-/Flying-type based on a sea-serpent. Despite this, and despite the latter natively learning Dragon-type attacks, neither of them classify as a Dragon-type. Charizard, which is a Fire-/Flying-type, mega evolves into Mega Charizard X which is a Fire-/Dragon-type, so it doesn't make sense that Gyarados doesn't even get a Dragon-type change with its Mega Evolution.
Moreover, both Aerodactyl and Gyarados are both Flying-types even though Mega Charizard X, who can fly, loses his Flying-type. Also, you might note Aerodactyl's facial shape looks a little different in its mega form. It comes from just one of the many changes of the anime.
5 What Is Dragon Rage?
Dealing a fixed 40 damage, this Gen I move was the only Dragon-type move in the original Red and Blue. While Gen II onwards added organic Dragon-type abilities to the moveset, Dragon Rage still dealt 40 damage.
But we don't know if it's a variation of Flamethrower or Dragonbreath, or why they chose 40 damage for the move. Even more baffling, note that it always changes its appearance in the anime.
4 What Would An Eeveelution Dragon-Type Look Like?
We have not seen an Eeveelution since Gen VI's Sylveon, which debuted in 2013. After missing Gen VII and VIII, Game Freak did not add a new chain to the Eevee cycle.
If they added a Dragon-type Eevee, what would it look like? Would Dragon Eevee have wings, a long tail, and spikes? Or would it appear more like a sea-serpent, perhaps with a fishlike tail akin to Vaporeon?
3 How Long Have Dragon-Type Pokémon Existed?
In European folklore, Dragons are considered ancient creatures. However, Mew was said to be the progenitor of Pokémon, particularly in the Pokédex entry for Black 2 and White 2. After Pokémon roamed the world, would Dragons have carried the folklore of being the ancient creatures? Or were they accompanied by all of the other types?
Furthermore, consider that you have ancient Pokémon, such as the Fossilized Kabuto, Omanyte, and Aerodactyl, which are not Dragon-types. But note that Tyrunt, which is a Dragon-type, also came from fossils.
2 How Did Dragonite Get Tamed?
Dragonites were known among being the most powerful Pokémon in Gen I. Lance, the Dragon-type Elite Four member, noted as much before you fought him.
Yet, not all dragons are vicious monsters. Dragonites are known for their peaceful, docile nature. They even work as carriers or rescuing people from the sea. Notably, Dragonite seems to be the only Dragon-type Pokémon capable of doing human labor.
1 Why Is Alolan Exeggutor A Dragon-type?
The Grass-/Psychic-Pokémon, Exeggutor, became a Dragon-type in the Gen VII titles, Pokémon Sun & Moon. In the region of Alola, this extraordinarily tall Pokémon loses its Psychic-type, gaining Dragon powers.
According to the Pokédex entry, the exposure to the sun awakened its latent powers. Yet without scales or anything appearing to be akin to a traditional Dragon, Game Freak chose among the least likely choices for this evolution.