Dragonite Best Moveset and Build

Dragonite is one of the easiest set up sweepers to use in the metagame thanks to its natural bulk and its Multiscale Ability. Read on to find out the best build, the best moveset, basic information, stats and recommended partners for Dragonite in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP).

Dragonite - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Dragonite Best Build and Moveset

Dragon Dance Sweeper

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Moves
Dragonite	Multiscale	Lum Berry	・Outrage ・Fire Punch ・Extreme Speed ・Dragon Dance
Nature / EVs	Jolly 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Final Stats	167 HP / 186 Atk / 115 Def / 120 Sp.Def / 145 Spd

Using Dragonite

Dragonite's natural bulk and Multiscale Ability means it can get two or more Dragon Dance boosts even with no defensive EV investment.

Outrage is Dragonite's strongest move while Fire Punch allows it to beat Steel-types like Skarmory who can easily wall it. Its last move is Extreme Speed and allows Dragonite to hit faster opponents as even with +2 Speed, there are still Pokemon that easily outspeed it.

Other Viable Moves

Earthquake	Earthquake is an alternative move to Fire Punch and actually has great coverage than Fire Punch, and allows Dragonite to beat Heatran and Empoleon. However, this leaves Dragonite easily walled by Skarmory.

Choice Band Attacker

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Moves
Dragonite	Multiscale	Choice Band	・Outrage ・Fire Punch ・Extreme Speed ・Sleep Talk
Nature / EVs	Jolly 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Final Stats	167 HP / 186 Atk / 115 Def / 120 Sp.Def / 145 Spd

Using Dragonite

Dragonite can forgo its usual setup build for a more straightforward attacking build with Choice Band. This Dragonite has more immediate power but requires it to switch out to change moves.

Outrage and Fire Punch are Dragonite's main attacking moves, while Extreme Speed lets it hit faster opponents. Sleep Talk is its last move and allows Dragonite to switch into Breloom's Spore and hit back even when afflicted with sleep.

Other Viable Moves

Earthquake	Earthquake is an alternative move to Fire Punch and actually has great coverage than Fire Punch, and allows Dragonite to beat Heatran and Empoleon. However, this leaves Dragonite easily walled by Skarmory.

Dragonite Basic Information

Dragonite - Type

Dragonite Dragon Pokemon
Type 1	Type 2

Dragonite Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage
Takes 0x damage

Dragonite Abilities

Name	Description
Inner Focus	The Pokemon is protected from flinching.

Dragonite Hidden Ability

Name	Description
Multiscale	Reduces damage when HP is full.

Dragonite Base Stats

HP	91
Atk	134
Def	95
Sp. Atk	100
Sp. Def	100
Speed	80
Total Base Stats	600

Dragonite Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
✔︎ Ease of setting up thanks to Multiscale ✔︎ Well-rounded stats with great offensive and defensive statsfoure	✖︎ Suffers from "Four Moveslot Syndrome" - often having to choose between two good coverage moves ✖︎ Susceptible to passive damage, which prevents it from taking advantage of Multiscale

Increased Bulk with Multiscale

Dragonite's Multiscale Ability halves the damage it receives from attacks as long as it has full HP. This Ability gives Dragonite increased bulk, letting it survive a move that would instantly KO it and set up with Dragon Dance safely.

The increased bulk this Ability provides Dragonite also allows it to stay in matches for longer periods, making it one of the best setup sweepers for more balanced teams.

A Powerful Physical Attacker

Dragonite's naturally high Attack stat makes it a difficult Pokemon to switch into, especially if it's accumulated enough Dragon Dance boosts or is holding a Choice Band.

Unique to Dragonite is its ability to beat its usual checks. Despite its mediocre Speed stat, it has access to Extreme Speed which has +2 priority. This allows it to threaten or even potentially KO fast but frailer attackers such as Weavile.

Stop its Stat Boosts with Unaware

Like all setup sweepers, Dragon Dance Dragonite struggles against Pokemon with the Ability Unaware. Pokemon with this Ability will ignore Dragonite's Attack and Speed boosts, allowing them to comfortably wall Dragonite and hit back with status moves.

Pokemon	Description
Clefable	Ranking：★★★★★ ・Immune to Dragonite's Dragon-type STAB and has Moonlight ・Can wear Dragonite down with Moonblast or cripple it with Thunder Wave
Quagsire	Ranking：★★★★ ・Takes little damage from Dragonite's unboosted attacks and has Recover ・Can wear Dragonite down with a combination of Scald and Rock Slide, or cripple it with Toxic or Yawn

Check it with a Faster Attacker

Dragonite relies on Speed boosts from Dragon Dance to outspeed its usual checks, but its mediocre Speed stat means its easily outspeed by naturally faster attackers. As a result, it struggles against faster Pokemon that can wear it down before it can set up.

Pokemon	Description
Garchomp	Ranking：★★★★★ ・Naturally outspeeds Dragonite with no Speed boosts and can threaten with STAB Outrage ・Natural bulk lets it shrug off unboosted Extreme Speed ・Garchomp's Rough Skin Ability deters Dragonite from attacking it or have its Multiscale break
Salamence	Ranking：★★★★★ ・Naturally outspeeds Dragonite with no Speed boosts and can threaten with STAB Outrage ・Can use Dragonite as setup fodder thanks to its Intimidate Ability

Nullify Multiscale with Passive Damage

Dragonite relies on its Multiscale Ability as a safeguard to properly set up, but this is easily nullified by passive damage from both entry hazards and weather.

Pokemon	Description
Hippowdon	Ranking：★★★★★ ・Sets up Sandstorm with its Sand Stream Ability ・Great physical bulk and Slack Off lets it shrug off attacks from Dragonite ・Can set up Stealth Rock to deter Choice Band variants from repeatedly switching in and out
Abomasnow	Ranking：★★★★ ・Sets up Hail with its Snow Warning Ability ・Can deter Dragonite from switching in with a combination of Blizzard and Leech Seed

Best Natures for Dragonite

Best Natures
Jolly (Spd ↑ Sp.Atk ↓)	Adamant (Atk ↑ Sp.Atk ↓)

What are Natures?

Best Partners for Dragonite

Heatran

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Moves
Heatran	Flash Fire	Leftovers	・Magma Storm or Lava Plume ・Earth Power ・Substitute ・Protect
Nature / EVs	Timid 212 HP / 92 Sp.Def / Spd 204
Final Stats	193 HP / 126 Def / Sp.Atk 150 / 138 Sp.Def / 135 Spd

Heatran is one of the best defensive partners for Dragonite and Dragon-types in general thanks to its dual-typing giving it 4x resistance to both Ice and Fairy-type moves. Conversely, Dragonite can check Ground-types that threaten Heatran thanks to its secondary Flying typing.

Even with minimal investment, Heatran can shrug off special attacks targeting Dragonite. It can also trap walls with Magma Storm or spread burns with Lava Plume, with the latter helping to deter physical attackers that can use Dragonite as setup fodder.

Scizor

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Moves
Scizor	Technician	Metal Coat	・Bullet Punch ・Thief ・Roost ・Swords Dance
Nature / EVs	Adamant 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Final Stats	177 HP / 200 Atk / 120 Def / 100 Sp.Def / 86 Spd

Scizor is another great partner, specifically bulkier variants, as its Steel typing complements and covers Dragonite's weakneses. Similarly, Dragonite's resistance to Fire-types allows it to deter Scizor's common checks and counters.

More importantly, Scizor helps deter the rare Fairy types from switching in. Many Fairy types have low Defense and Scizor's ability to boost its own offenses mean that it can use Dragonite's counters as setup fodder.

Empoleon

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Moves
Empoleon	Torrent	Leftovers	・Scald ・Stealth Rock ・Yawn ・Icy Wind
Nature / EVs	Calm 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Sp.Def
Final Stats	191 HP / 109 Def / 131 Sp.Atk / 168 Sp.Def / 80 Spd

Dragonite appreciates Empoleon's resistance to Rock, Fairy, and Ice-type moves. Conversely, Dragonite's immunity to Ground-types make it a great switch-in to Empoleon's usual counters.

Additionally, Empoleon's great selection of support moves can help Dragonite and the rest of its team. Not only can it set up Stealth Rock and spread burns with Scald, it can also deter opposing walls with Yawn and prevent faster Pokemon from staying in battle with Icy Wind.

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

Tier List and Movesets for Competitive Battle

Strategies for Individual Pokemon

Competitive Pokemon Builds
Gyarados	Breloom	Gliscor
Scizor	Suicune	Latios
Garchomp	Gengar	Azumarill
Hippowdon	Mamoswine	Latias
Heatran	Blaziken	Wash Rotom
Metagross	Tyranitar	Dragonite
Togekiss	Cloyster	Salamence
Cresselia