Dragon-type Pokemon weren't all that common in earlier Pokemon games, but have become increasingly prominent over the years. As a result, there are now plenty of excellent Dragon-types for players to choose from, many of which are among the most powerful Pokemon in the entire series. Some of them are so powerful, in fact, that they are widely considered to be Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon.
Perhaps more than any other type, however, a Dragon-type Pokemon's secondary type can be incredibly important, as this will typically dictate what the Pokemon is and isn't weak to. With this in mind, players looking to establish which are the best Dragon-types in Pokemon GO or indeed, the mainline series, will need to think about a lot more than just raw power when deciding which one to include in their team.
Updated January 11, 2023, by Tom Bowen: As the roster of available Pokemon in the game continues to grow, so too does the number of viable Dragon-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. Those players who are looking to assemble a balanced team are going to need to choose between one of them, though whether or not they're looking for a pure Dragon-type or something a bit more versatile will have a pretty big impact on their decision. These Pokemon are the best of the best in both regards and are all more than capable of filling any dragon-shaped holes in a player's current team.
18 Haxorus
Haxorus is a pure Dragon-type that excels in the attacking department. In fact, few Dragon-type Pokemon can boast a higher Attack stat, and, were it not for its somewhat average Defense and Stamina, Haxorus really would be up there with the very very best Dragon-types in Pokemon GO.
Those looking to squeeze every drop of potential from their Haxorus will want to go with a move set of Dragon Tail and Dragon Claw. This offers up the highest possible damage per second, though trading out Dragon Tail for Counter offers a little extra versatility without sacrificing too much damage potential.
17 Hydreigon
With its exceptional Attack and Stamina stats, Hydreigon is a solid pick when it comes to Dragon-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. Even its defense, which is by far its lowest stat, sits at an impressive 188, making it one of the more well-balanced Dragon-types in the game.
Sadly, these monstrous stats don't quite translate into the kind of damage output that one might expect. To be clear, when taught Dragon Breath and Dragon Pulse, it can still pack quite the punch, but it doesn't hit quite as hard as some of its peers. Worse still, its Dark/Dragon-typing makes it even weaker to Fairy-type attacks than pure Dragon-types already are.
16 Goodra
Not only is Goodra one of just a handful of pure Dragon-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO, but it also happens to be one whose stats are all above 200 once it's at Max CP. This makes it a great choice for anyone looking to add a Dragon-type to their team, though Goodra does have its drawbacks when compared to some of its peers.
The most notable of these is the Pokemon's relatively low DPS, which, even when equipped with its two most powerful moves, Dragon Breath and Draco Meteor, is still noticeably lower than other powerful Dragon-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. If none of the others are available though, Goodra is a more than adequate stopgap.
15 Shadow Kingdra
Kingdra is one of several Pokemon that doesn't really feel as though it deserves its Dragon-type status, particularly as it evolves from the wimpy-looking Seadra. Either way though, it certainly knows how to make the most of it, with Shadow Kingdra serving as one of the strongest Dragon-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO despite its relatively small stature.
When equipped with Dragon Breath and Outrage, Shadow Kingdra can be incredibly effective and is able to comfortably out-damage much larger and more fierce-looking Dragon-types like Druddigon and Dragalge. This is all thanks to its impressive stat distribution, with Shadow Kingdra boasting a more than solid 194 for both its Attack and Defense stats.
14 Kyurem
Ice-type Pokemon are some of the least popular in the entire series and for very good reason. Their overall type-effectiveness is fairly lackluster when compared to some of the more popular types. That said, it can definitely come in handy in certain situations, such as when one comes face to face with one of the most powerful Dragon-type Pokemon in the series.
Not only does Kyurem's ability to draw on Ice-Type attacks give it the edge over a lot of the other strong Dragon-types in Pokemon GO, but it also allows it to hold its own against some of the best counters for Dragon-types. Its optimal move set uses Dragon Breath and Draco Meteor, though anyone looking to take advantage of its secondary typing will probably want to teach it Blizzard in place of the latter.
13 Giratina
There aren't too many Ghost/Dragon-types in Pokemon GO, nor the larger Pokemon series as a whole. In certain situations, however, it's an incredibly useful combination to have, as evidenced by Giratina's Origin form. Of course, there's much more to the Pokemon than just its somewhat unusual combination.
Giratina's Stamina stat is ridiculously high and its Attack and Defense stats aren't too far behind. It also boasts a solid move set and is able to serve as a more than competent Ghost-type or Dragon-type attacker. Those looking for the best of both worlds can instead opt to teach their Giratina Dragon Tail and Shadow Ball, which will provide the Pokemon's best total damage output.
12 Dialga
Though Dialga is not quite as effective as a Dragon-type attacker as it is as a Steel-type, it's still an excellent choice for the latter. Its only weaknesses are Fighting and Ground-type Pokemon, meaning that anybody packing a Fairy, Dragon, or Ice-type Pokemon to counter it is going to find themselves in quite a bit of trouble.
Thanks to its status as a Legendary Pokemon, Dialga boasts some incredibly impressive stats, and these help it to dish out a ridiculous amount of damage. Players can choose to teach it Metal Claw and Draco Meteor for a hybrid build or replace the former with Dragon Breath if they'd rather keep it purely as a Dragon-type attacker.
11 Zekrom
Zekrom is a solid all-rounder, with all three of its key stats rising above 200 once it starts to approach its maximum CP. The most impressive of these is undoubtedly its Attack stat, however, which, at 275, allows Zekrom to hand out some serious damage when attacking against weakness. Even against neutral opposition, it's still able to pack quite the punch.
When it comes to moves, Zekrom should generally be taught Dragon Breath and Outrage. Those looking to build the Pokemon as a hybrid attacker may want to consider using Wild Charge as its charge move though, as doing so will yield a notable improvement to Zekrom's DPS while also increasing its chances when up against Ground-type counters like Garchomp or Groudon.
10 Mega Altaria
Altaria may be one of the least intimidating Dragon-type Pokemon when going strictly by appearances, but it packs one hell of a punch when it comes to power. In its Mega form, Altaria is able to dish out some incredible DPS thanks to its 222 Attack stat. It's pretty bulky too, with its Defense stat not too far behind at 218.
Being a Dragon/Fairy-type gives Mega Altaria an advantage over some of the other best Dragon-types in Pokemon GO and this is reflected in its optimal move set. Dragon Breath is the Pokemon's best Fast Move, while those looking to maximize damage should opt for Dazzling Gleam for their Charge Attack. A pure Dragon-type build can work too though, with Dragon Pulse not too much worse than Dazzling Gleam when it comes to total damage output.
9 Palkia
Palkia being a Water and Dragon-type Pokemon gives it the edge over a lot of its peers, as it is able to hold its own against Ice-type Pokemon. Unfortunately, however, it's still weak to Dragon and Fairy-types and so can easily be countered by stronger Dragon-type Pokemon. The good news is that due to its Attack and Defense stats being 280 and 215 respectively while at max CP, there really aren't too many of those around.
Palkia's DPS is at its highest when taught Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor, although some may opt to swap out the latter for either Hydro Pump or Fire Blast to make the Pokemon a little more versatile. Whatever players end up choosing though, Palkia is a solid Dragon-type Pokemon and an excellent addition to any team.
8 Rayquaza
Although still one of the best Dragon-types in Pokemon Go, to say that Rayquaza is a little underwhelming would be a bit of an understatement. In the mainline games, few Pokemon boast better stats than Rayquaza, yet in Pokemon GO, it finds itself behind not only other Legendaries but also a couple of regular non-Legendary Pokemon.
Granted, there is very little between Rayquaza and a regular Salamence when both are taught Dragon Tail and Outrage, but that it trails even by a little is a bit of a travesty considering the status of the former in the series. This will no doubt be rectified once Rayquaza's Mega Evolution is added to the game, but until that happens, players may want to look elsewhere.
7 Reshiram
There's a strong argument to be made for Reshiram being the best Dragon-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO, not just because of its impressive stats, but also because of its typing. As a dragon and Fire-type Pokemon, Reshiram isn't weak to Ice-type attacks, making it a lot more difficult to counter than many of its peers.
Interestingly, it's at its best when built as a pure Fire-type attacker but also makes for an excellent hybrid or pure Dragon-type attacker when taught Dragon Breath and Draco Meteor. All three of its key stats are above 200 when the Pokemon is at max CP, with only a small handful of Dragon-types able to better its total damage output as a result.
6 Shadow Dragonite
Although a regular Salamence is considerably better than a regular Dragonite, while in its Shadow form, the latter just about comes out on top. Its DPS is a little lower, but its higher total damage output is more than enough to make up the difference. When all's said and done, however, there really is very little between the two Shadow Pokemon.
Both are at their strongest when taught Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor and they each have exactly the same dual typings. Shadow Dragonite does boast a slightly higher Defense stat and this is just about enough to tip the scales in the Pokemon's favor, particularly in longer battles against tankier opponents.
5 Mega Latios
While Mega Latios does possess excellent stats and is capable of dishing out a fair amount of damage, its dual typing places it at a slight disadvantage. Granted, it being part Psychic-type does make the Pokemon a little more versatile, but it also opens it up to some additional weaknesses, making it far easier to counter than some of its peers.
Were it not for the strength and scale of the competition, Mega Latios would actually make a fairly decent Psychic-type attacker, although most tend to use it as a hybrid instead. It can be taught any combination of Grass, Psychic, and Dragon-type moves, but there are definitely better options when it comes to pure Dragon-type builds.
4 Shadow Garchomp
There are a small number of stronger Dragon-types in Pokemon GO, but Shadow Garchomp's secondary Ground typing eliminates its weakness to Rock-type attacks, giving it the edge in certain situations. Of course, most will be looking to counter a Dragon-type with Ice-type Pokemon or another Dragon-type, so how useful this really is remains to be seen.
Thankfully, Garchomp has a lot more going for it than just its resistance to Rock-type attacks, with the Pokemon also boasting an incredibly impressive Attack stat. It's still some way off a couple of the game's Mega Evolutions when it comes to raw damage potential, but when taught Dragon Tail and Outrage, no regular Dragon-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO is better.
3 Mega Latias
Much like her brother, Latios, Latias is a solid choice for a Dragon-type attacker. In fact, Latias actually boasts a slightly higher total damage output than her male counterpart, though is, unfortunately, let down by an ever-so-slightly lower damage per second figure.
One area where Mega Latias doesn't disappoint though is in the versatility department. The Pokemon has access to powerful Psychic, Dragon, and Fairy-type moves, all of which can be useful in certain situations. For a pure Dragon-type build, however, players will want to teach their Latias Dragon Breath and Outrage.
2 Mega Charizard X
Mega Charizard X falls just a little short in the defensive department, but more than makes up for this with its ability to withstand Ice-type attacks. Given that Ice-type Pokemon tend to be most people's first port of call for countering Dragon-types, Mega Charizard's ability to not only survive against them but also punish them can be invaluable in certain situations.
The Pokemon is actually able to dish out more damage when built solely for Fire-type attacks, but can also be taught either Dragon Breath or Dragon Claw if needed. Most other strong Dragon-types will likely have the beating of it regardless of its move set, but Bug, Grass, Ice, and Steel-types really shouldn't pose too much of a problem for it.
1 Mega Salamence
With an Attack stat of 310 when at maximum CP, there aren't too many Dragon-types that can hit quite as hard as Mega Salamence. It also boasts a fairly impressive Stamina stat of 216, giving it one of the highest DPS figures in the game while equipped with the Dragon Tail and Outrage moves.
Those looking to give Mega Salamence a fighting chance when up against ice counters may want to consider equipping it with Fire Fang, although this is only really a viable strategy when up against certain Ice-types. Such is the extent of its weakness to Ice-type attacks, however, that Salamence - regardless of its form - will be defeated long before it has a chance to whittle its opponent's health bar down.