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As the first pseudo-legendary Pokemon in the franchise, Dragonite deserves respect for being a powerhouse. Whichever game it appears in, whether the main series games or in numerous side games that have popped up over the years, it never lacks to outperform others. Regarding Dragonite's relevance in the Pokemon GO meta, it is an absolute destroyer in PvP and PvE settings.
Avid walkers and real-world explorers can find this mighty Dragon-type monster in the wild in Pokemon GO, where they can catch and ally with Dragonite to become a strong and dynamic duo. Appropriately, this monster can learn some excellent moves, though since only a couple can be active at a time, players must choose wisely when it comes to Dragonite's moveset. That said, this guide explores the best moveset for Dragonite in Pokemon GO.
Updated on July 17, 2023, by Diwas Budhathoki: Dragonite has been a part of Pokemon GO for several years, allowing even non-fans of Generation 1 to become familiar with this formidable dragon. Consequently, trainers can now devise effective strategies when engaging Dragonite in battles. Understanding Dragonite's stats and identifying the most potent moves to employ against it can significantly aid in this endeavor. Furthermore, considering other relevant statistics can prove advantageous, particularly for those aiming to capture a Dragonite.
Every Move Dragonite Can Learn
Currently, Dragonite has 3 Fast Attacks, 5 Charged Attacks, and 2 Legacy Charged Attacks in Pokemon GO, and the player should decide based on their opponent; however, if one does not know who they will be going up against, it can be prudent to get a sense of one's Dragonite's combat potential by looking at all the options as well as the damage, damage per second (DPS) of each move, and type.
All Possible Fast Attacks For Dragonite
- Dragon Breath - 6 damage [Dragon-type]
- Dragon Tail - 15 damage [Dragon-type]
- Steel Wing - 11 damage [Steel-type]
All Possible Charged Attacks For Dragonite
- Dragon Claw - 50 damage [Dragon-type]
- Hurricane - 110 damage [Flying-type]
- Hyper Beam - 150 damage [Normal-type]
- Outrage - 110 damage [Dragon-type]
- Draco Meteor - 150 damage [Dragon-type]
All Possible Legacy Charged Attacks For Dragonite
- Draco Meteor - 180 damage [Dragon-type]
- Dragon Pulse - 108 damage [Dragon-type]
Which Moves You Should Use On Dragonite
The Best Fast Attack For Dragonite
Out of the three potential options, Dragon Tail and Steel Wing are the top contenders, as they possess the highest Damage, with Dragon Tail performing a bit better in the single-hit damage department.
Steel Wing is great if players need to counter a Fairy-type opponent, as Steel is super effective against Fairy in Pokemon GO. This can surprise foes who think they have a type advantage and allow one to gain momentum in battle.
However, in every other situation, Dragon Tail is the better Fast Attack, as it does better base damage and gains a Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB) due to Dragonite being part Dragon-type (in addition to part Flying-type). In most situations, Dragon Tail is the best Fast Attack for a Dragonite moveset.
The Best Charged Attack For Dragonite
Again, damage, DPS, and type consideration will allow trainers to determine the best Charge Attack for their moveset. Since Draco Meteor can only be learned from events, most Pokemon GO players will have to pass on that as an option. Furthermore, Dragon Claw is weak and should be ignored, leaving Hurricane, Hyper Beam, and Outrage as the three best choices.
Upon looking closely, one will note that Outrage has a very low DPS compared to the other top choices, so unless one wants a Dragon-type Charged Attack, one should avoid this move. Things are a bit closer between Hurricane and Hyper Beam, with Hurricane having better DPS and Hyper Beam doing better damage per slightly slower hit.
The deciding factor here is that since Hurricane is a Flying-type move, it will gain a STAB thanks to Dragonite's secondary type being the same. After considering all the factors, Hurricane is the best Charged Attack for a Dragonite moveset.
The Best Legacy Charged Attack For Dragonite
Pokemon GO Legacy Charged Attacks pack an absolute punch during intense battle situations. Dragonite has access to two Legacy Charge Attacks; Draco Meteor and Dragon Pulse. Both attacks are Dragon-type, but Draco Meter works better than Dragon Pulse.
Dragonite's Pokemon GO Stats & Availability
Availability
Dragonite is not available from field research and cannot be found as a raid boss anymore, even though it used to be a 3rd tier raid boss. As it is a fully-evolved Pokemon, it cannot be hatched directly from an egg. However, Dragonite is available in the wild, as are its shiny and shadow forms.
Capture Information
This monster has a base catch rate of 5% in Pokemon GO, meaning it may be tricky to obtain, so be sure to use Ultra Balls when trying to capture a Dragonite. It also has a flee rate of 5%, so be aware of that as well. Furthermore, its dodge-type is flying, so trainers should be ready for a few aerial maneuvers from this dragon.
Dragonite's Base Stats In Pokemon GO
- Attack - 263
- Defense - 198
- Stamina - 209
Type Effectiveness
Knowing what kinds of moves Dragonite is resistant and weak to will help trainers who have them as an ally and those battling an opposing trainer's Dragonite. Type effectiveness is an important step in Pokemon GO's damage calculation, so be sure to use this information to gain the upper hand in battle.
Regarding resistance, Dragonite takes 62.5% damage from Bug, Fighting, Fire, and Water-type attacks. Being even more resistant to these following types, Dragonite only takes 39% damage from Grass and Ground-type attacks. However, Dragonite will take 160% damage due to being weak to Dragon, Fairy, and Rock-type attacks in Pokemon GO. Chillingly, Dragonite takes a huge 256% more damage from Ice-type attacks thanks to its double weakness.
Dragonite's Best Movesets In Other Games
Dragonite's Best Generation VIII Moveset (Pokemon Sword & Shield)
- Roost
- Dragon Dance
- Dual Wingbeat
- Earthquake
Competitive players are likely familiar with this best moveset if they've encountered enemy Dragonites, as it (and slight variations of it) are the most overused on this Dragon and Flying-type Pokemon. Dragon Dance is an excellent offensive buff for a physical sweep like Dragonite, as it raises Attack and Speed by 1 stage each. With the Multiscale ability, Dragonite can also afford to tank a hit while setting up, granting an almost guaranteed chance to use Dragon Dance at the beginning of a battle with few repercussions.
Dual Wingbeat hits twice; therefore, it benefits more from the Attack boost applied by Dragon Dance than single-hit moves, and it can be used for breaking an enemy's Substitute before hitting them during the same turn. Earthquake, as it has been since Generation I, exists on this set as a reliable way to damage the Rock and Steel-type Pokemon that adversaries may intend to switch in to counter Dragonite.
Dragonite's Best Generation I Moveset (Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow & Stadium)
- Agility
- Wrap
- Thunderbolt
- Blizzard
Very different from the current metagame, Dragonite's original best moveset is a lot more about abusing the Speed mechanics of the Gen I games and the unbreakable lockdown of Wrap. Wrap will trap the opponent for a few turns, preventing them from attacking or switching out while doing a bit of damage to them every turn until they are released and can have a chance to counterattack before their oppressor potentially uses Wrap again. Though, in Gen I, the turn that Wrap releases its target still does not allow them to move, meaning that if the user of Wrap is faster, they can continuously apply Wrap to both trap and whittle down a foe's HP while they remain helpless.
Thunderbolt and Blizzard are simply there as powerful coverage moves instead of the set's core focus, which demonstrates how much the mechanics of Pokemon games have changed over the years and across different series.
Pokemon GO is available on Android and iOS.