Dragapult - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Dragapult Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

This is a strategy guide for using Dragapult in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Dragapult, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Dragapult - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Dragapult

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Dragapult
Abilities
Clear Body	Prevents other Pokemon from lowering its stats.
Infiltrator	Passes through the foe's barrier and strikes.
Cursed Body (Hidden)	May disable a move used on the Pokemon.

Dragapult Weaknesses and Resistances

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

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP	Attack	Defense	Sp. Atk	Sp. Def	Speed
88	120	75	100	75	142

Best Nature for Dragapult

Best Natures
Naive +Spd, -Sp.Def	Timid +Spd, -Atk
Jolly +Spd, -Sp.Atk	Adamant +Atk, -Sp.Atk

What are Natures?

How to Learn Dragapult's Egg Moves

Curse	Inherit from Gastly (learns at Lv.20) or Duskull (learns at Lv.36)

Singles Movesets for Dragapult

Standard Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Naive (+Spd, -Sp.Def)
EV Spread	HP 4 / Atk 252 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 164 / Atk 172 / Def 95 / Sp.Atk 120 / Sp.Def 86 / Sp. 213
Ability	Clear Body Infiltrator
Held Item	Life Orb Focus Sash
Moveset	・Dragon Darts ・Fire Blast ・U-turn ・Phantom Force

About Dragapult's Moves

Dragon Darts is Dragapult's signature move. It's a 50 Base Power move that hits twice making it effectively a 100 Base Power move that can potentially kill Focus Sash users.

Phantom Force serves as Dragapult's ghost-type STAB move. It may take two turns to execute, but has the bonus of bypassing Protect. Keep in mind that it doesn't go through Max Guard, however.

Fire Blast gives Dragapult a special attack that also rounds out its coverage. This powerful Fire-type move, partnered with Dragapult's respectable Special Attack, can deal significant damage against Steel or Fairy-types who may try to wall it.

Alternatively, U-Turn offers Dragapult some value when combined with its blistering speed to switch out into more favorable matchups.

About Dragapult's EV Spread

This moveset relies on a standard physically offensive spread with maximum investment in Attack and Speed. The remaining EVs may be placed in HP for a bit more bulk.

About Dragapult's Ability

Clear Body keeps Dragapult safe from the enemy's attempts to drop its stats, allowing it to consistently deal and take damage.

Infiltrator allows Dragapult to bypass the enemy's screens and Substitutes which can be helpful against tanky or stally enemies.

About Dragapult's Held Item

Because Dragapult can use both Physical and Special moves, it's the ideal user for a Life Orb. This build goes in favor of physical attacks, but building Dragapult around a special moveset is also a valid option.

As Dragapult is a tad unreliable defensively, using a Focus Sash is also a good choice. Not only will it bring out Dragapult's strengths as a sweeper itself, but also can help protect it from getting sweeped.

Other Viable Moves

Steel Wing	Strong hitter against Fairy-types. Max Steelspike's effect of raising Defense is also a draw.
Shadow Ball	An alternate option for the hard-to-use Phantom Force. A solid option for a Special-leaning Dragapult.
Flamethrower	An alternate option for Fire Blast. Its increased accuracy helps, but the decreased power takes away from its OHKO and 2HKO potential.
Draco Meteor	For a Special-focused Dragapult. A powerful move with a downside of a 2-stage Special Defense drop - make sure your opponent can't take advantage of it.
Dragon Dance	By further increasing your Attack and Speed, your unexpecting opponent might be left without anything that may revenge kill you.
Substitute	Offers Dragapult protection against opponents who may want to inflict status through moves such as Will-o-Wisp or Thunder Wave to cripple Dragapult's offensive prowess.

Will-o-Wisp + Substitute Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 236 / Sp.Atk 20 /Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 193 / Def 95 / Sp.Atk 123 / Sp.Def 95 / Spd 213
Ability	Infiltrator
Held Item	Leftovers
Moveset	・Hex ・Will-o-Wisp ・Substitute ・Dragon Pulse

Here's the Dragapult set for those who want to take advantage of the Will-o-Wisp + Hex combo attack. Fast Pokemon using Will-o-Wisp on their first turn is a tried and true method proved by Mega Gengar and Talonflame in previous games, and Dragapult is no slouch either.

About Dragapult's Moves

Hex gains increased power when used against an opponent inflicted with a major status condition. With this in mind, we can see the value of having Will-o-Wisp on this set. Not only can you cripple physical attackers, it allows you to maximize your damage output as well.

Substitute offers Dragapult protection against opponents who may want to inflict statuses to it in return. Moves such as Thunder Wave would otherwise cripple Dragapult's momentum.

Dragon Pulse serves as a reliable secondary STAB-move for Dragapult which can be used against enemies who aren't statused.

About Dragapult's EV Spread

Its Speed is also pushed to the max, with the remaining EVs in Special Attack to make Dragapult a powerful defensive hitter.

About Dragapult's Ability

Infiltrator allows Dragapult to bypass the enemy's screens and Substitutes which can be helpful against tanky or stally enemies.

About Dragapult's Held Item

Giving Dragapult Leftovers is a solid choice for constant HP restoration as well, allowing it to take advantage of Substitute.

Other Viable Moves

U-Turn	U-Turn offers Dragapult some value when combined with its blistering speed to switch out into more favorable matchups.
Curse	Other than dealing residual damage through burn, Curse damage will drain 25% of the opponent's life each turn until it switches out. Although be wary of using this move as it comes at the cost of half of Dragapult's HP.

Life Orb Special Attacker Set & Best Build

Nature	Modest (+Sp.Atk, -Atk)
EV Spread	Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 163 / Atk 126 / Def 95 / Sp.Atk 167 / Sp.Def 96 / Spd 194
Ability	Clear Body
Held Item	Life Orb
Moveset	・Draco Meteor ・Thunder ・Fire Blast ・Solar Beam

This moveset focuses on maximizing damage by taking advantage of Dragapult's high Special Attack Stat and diverse movepool.

About Dragapult's Moves

A quick view of this moveset can demonstrate how versatile Dragapult can be. Each and every move here is at least 100 Base Power which guarantees significant amounts of damage that can be dealt when partnered with Dragapult's high Special Attack stat.

About Dragapult's EV Spread

This moveset utilizes a standard Special Attacking spread with maximum investment in Special Attack and Speed. The remaining EVs may be placed in Special Defense to take special hits a bit better.

About Dragapult's Ability

Clear Body keeps Dragapult safe from the enemy's attempts to drop its stats, allowing it to consistently deal and take damage.

About Dragapult's Held Item

The moveset allows for a wide range of coverage, while also each having more than 100 Base Power for each move. With the boost from a Life Orb, the damage should be able to take out even defensive walls such as Ferrothorn.

Physical Dive Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, - Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	HP 188 / Atk 252 / Def 4 / Sp.Def 97 / Spd 52
Final Stat Values	HP 187 / Atk 189 / Def 96 / Sp.Def 97 / Spd 169
Ability	Clear Body
Held Item	Leftovers
Moveset	・Dragon Darts ・Dive ・Steel Wing ・Dragon Dance

This physical attacking Dragapult was used by Japanese competitive player Saku, who reached first place in Ranked Battle Season 8 and is built to check its usual counters.

About Dragapult's Moves

Dragon Darts is a powerful physical Dragon-type STAB that has the extra utility of breaking through Substitute and Focus Sash. Dive is this build's most important move, letting Dragapult hit Hippowdon and Landorus for super effective damage. It can even potentially KO them if used during Dynamax as Max Geyser.

Steel Wing is a great coverage move and is the only way Dragapult can damage and deter Fairy-type Pokemon like Togekiss who otherwise take very little damage or are immune to its moves.

Dragon Dance is its last move and allows Dragapult to boost its Attack and Speed stat. It's best used when you predict a switch, such as when the opponent is expecting a special attacking Dragapult and is about to switch in a special wall.

About Dragapult's EV Spread

Saku used a bulkier EV spread with 188 HP EVs, 4 Def EVs and 97 Sp.Def EVs so that it's as bulky as possible.

With full investment in Attack and 52 Speed Evs it hits as hard as possible and can still outspeed slower walls reliably.

About Dragapult's Ability

Clear Body keeps Dragapult safe from the enemy's attempts to drop its stats, allowing it to consistently deal and take damage.

About Dragapult's Held Item

Since this Dragapult relies on Dragon Dance to boost its Attack and Speed, the best held item is Leftovers so that it gets passive recovery and synergizes well with the two-turn move Dive.

Doubles Movesets for Dragapult

Coalossal Support (Doubles) Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spd, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	HP 248 / Sp.Def 8 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 194 / Atk 140 / Def 95 / Sp.Atk 108 / Sp.Def 96 / Spd 213
Ability	Cursed Body
Held Item	Sitrus Berry
Moveset	・Surf ・Ally Switch ・Dragon Darts ・Thunder Wave

This Dragapult set eschews offense in favor of a more supportive role for Doubles with its partner Coalossal. The goal is to use Surf on the first turn, hitting Coalossal, and ensuring it gets the boost from Weakness Policy on its turn.

Thunder Wave rounds off the set, giving your team fast speed control thanks to Dragapult's blistering speed. Due to the fast-paced nature of Doubles, a Sitrus Berry is the superior held item as it heals more than Leftovers.

About Dragapult's Moves

Dragon Darts is the preferred STAB move to break Focus Sashes and Sturdy.

Dragapult's other moves are for supporting its ally on the suceeding turns. Coalossal will most likely be the target of strong super-effective moves on the second turn. Ally Switch allows Dragapult to switch places with its partner, saving it from a potential KO.

About Dragapult's EV Spread

A Jolly Nature and 0 Sp.Atk IVs ensures its partner takes as little damage from Surf as possible.

About Dragapult's Ability

When hit by contact moves, Dragapult has a chance to disable them thanks to Cursed Body.

About Dragapult's Held Item

Since Dragapult doesn't really have any reliable move for recovery, Sitrus Berry can be a decent item for Dragapult to get some HP back.

Other Viable Moves

Will-o-Wisp	An alternative to Thunder Wave, allowing Dragapult to cut an opposing Pokemon's attack with a burn.
Confuse Ray	Better accuracy than Thunder Wave and can stack with other status conditions such as Burn, Freeze, and Paralyze.
Breaking Swipe	An alternate physical STAB move that hits all opposing Pokemon in doubles and lowers their Attack by one stage.
Light Screen	Allows Dragapult to boost the team's special defence for 5 turns.

How to Use Dragapult Effectively

An Unpredictable Attacker

As players can run a Dragapult with either Physical or Special attacks, it's truly a Pokemon which cannot be read easily. With a wide movepool and several fearsome moves to keep opponents on their toes, it's proved itself as a top-class attacker.

Lead with Dragapult and U-turn Out

Leading with Dragapult, you can bait the opponent into switching out, only to follow with your own U-turn and switch in a Pokemon to counter the newly switched-in foe. With a blistering speed of 142, Dragapult is a great scout to find out what cards are stacked against you.

A Support Player That Takes Advantage Of Its High Speed

Dragapult can round out its moveset with Thunder Wave, Will-o-Wisp, Light Screen, and other support moves to make it a stellar setup player. And with its high speed, even Taunt, the ultimate foe of support Pokemon, can't stop Dragapult completely.

How to Build a Team with Dragapult

Dragapult's immediate offensive presence and capability to go physical and special lets it fit comfortably in a variety of teams in both Singles and Doubles teams.

Hyper Offense Dragapult

Dragapult is a popular choice for main or back-up sweeper in Hyper Offense teams thanks to its blistering speed and access to great coverage moves.

Example Offensive Team

Lead	Offensive Pivot	Physical Attacker
Dragapult	Celesteela	Cinderace

Special attacking Dragapult makes a great lead for hyper offensive teams thanks to its great coverage. Sending it out first is a great strategy as it tricks the opponent into thinking you're using a Dragon Dance setup lead.

Celesteela makes a great offensive pivot as it's good at threatening and forcing out Fairy-types with Leech Seed, as well as defensive Pokemon that hope to stall Dragapult .

Cinderace serves as this team's physical attacker and also deters Ice-types that are looking to check Dragapult. Thanks to its Libero Ability, it essentially has STAB on all of its moves.

Build the Best Offensive Teams

Doubles Support Dragapult

Dragapult makes a great lead support Pokemon for Pokemon that rely on Weakness Policy to sweep, such as Coalossal and Rhyperior. It's great speed lets it often move first, ensuring that it can activate its ally's item before the opposing team can move.

Example Doubles Support Team

Role	Role
Coalossal	Dragapult
Role	Role
Porygon2	Rillaboom

Coalossal is one of the best users of Weakness Policy thanks to its Steam Engine Ability also giving it a +6 Speed Boost. It's important that Dragapult uses Surf as soon as possible so that the move hits Coalossal and activates its Weakness Policy.

It can then use Ally Switch to switch places with Coalossal during the next turn if you predict that it will get targeted by the opposing team.

Porygon2 and Rillaboom serve as backup for this team. Rillaboom, in particular, provides great passive healing for Coalossal with its Grassy Surge Ability.

How to Build a Doubles Team

Counters for Dragapult

Exploit Dragapult's Weaknesses

Just like any other Dragon type, Fairy-types are a weak spot for Dragapult. Pokemon with the Fairy typing that can also take Ghost-type moves with 1/2x or less damage will be able to handle Dragapult without a problem.

Dragapult has four other weaknesses too, and since its durability is not so high, strong, fast attacks can catch Dragapult off guard.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Tapu Fini	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Highly durable Fairy-type Pokemon ・Can prevent Dragapult from spreading status conditions thanks to Misty Terrain ・Can easily be fit into many teams thanks to its high versatility Moveset & Best Build for Tapu Fini
Mimikyu	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can deal super effective STAB Ghost damage ・Is immune to Dragapult's Dragon-type moves ・Has to be wary of Max Steelspike Moveset & Best Build for Mimikyu
Pheromosa	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Outspeeds Dragapult ・Can deal significant damage with Triple Axel Moveset & Best Build for Pheromosa
Galarian Moltres	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists Dragapult's Ghost-type moves ・Has access to super effective STAB Dark-type moves Moveset & Best Build for Galarian Moltres
Tyranitar	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists Dragapult's Ghost-type moves ・Has increased Special Defense in the sandstorm Moveset & Best Build for Tyranitar
Sylveon	Ranking：★★★ ・High Special Defense allow it to hold off a Special-leaning Dragapult ・Watch out for Steel Wing, which can deal heavy damage Sylveon Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Hit Hard and Fast With Priority Moves

The Ice-type Priority Move Ice Shard and the Dark-type Priority Move Sucker Punch can hit Dragapult's weak points. Pokemon who can match these moves while also withstanding Dragapult's attacks make for effective counters.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Cinderace	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Has access to the super effective STAB move Sucker Punch ・Can easily be fit into many teams thanks to its high versatility Moveset & Best Build for Cinderace
Bisharp	Ranking：★★★★ ・Type matchup allows it to take most of Dragapult's moves with 1/2x or 1/4x damage ・Can use Sucker Punch to hit Dragapult's weak point Moveset & Best Build for Bisharp
Grimmsnarl	Ranking：★★★ ・Can take almost all of Dragapult's attacks with 1/2x or less damage ・Can hit with the Priority Move Sucker Punch for immediate super effective damage Grimmsnarl Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Mamoswine	Ranking：★★★ ・Ice Shard hits Dragapult where it hurts ・Can use Icicle Spear to break through a Focus Sash Mamoswine Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Weavile	Ranking：★★★ ・Ice Shard hits Dragapult where it hurts

Best Teams Featuring Dragapult

All our Best Teams are available for free rental, and usable in Ranked Battle with no EV Training necessary.

All Best Teams for Ranked Battle

Best Team for Ranked Battle from a World Top 3 Player

Best Team for Ranked Battle from a World Top 3 Player
Dragapult	Excadrill	Grimmsnarl
Togekiss	Snorlax	Cloyster

This is the primary set used by a former World Top 3 from a previous game in the series. Despite that daunting promise, it's an easy set to use for beginners, as the order to use Pokemon and which moves should be used are readily apparent. Not only that, but the set is carefully sculpted to be highly effective and dangerous even in the upper echelons of the Master Ball tier.

World Top 3 Player's Recommended Team

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for New Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for New Pokemon
Dragapult	Galarian Corsola	Toxtricity
Galarian Darmanitan	Corviknight	Dracovish
Grimmsnarl	Rillaboom	Duraludon
Cinderace	Alcremie	Dracozolt
Hatterene	Eiscue	Inteleon
Pincurchin	Frosmoth	Zacian
Sirfetch'd	Flapple	Coalossal
Centiskorch	Arctozolt	Zarude
Galarian Weezing	Eternatus	Indeedee (Female)
Sandaconda	Zamazenta