What is a good moveset for Dragalge?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Dragalge, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Dragalge Pokedex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Dragalge (F) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
Evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 6 SpD
Bold Nature
- Venoshock
- Scald
- Toxic
- Protect

You can swap the Def and SpD EVs for a total Special Defensive wall. Toxic badly poisons the foe and Protect stalls for healing and poison. Venoshock is STAB and gets a boost from Adaptability and when used on a poisoned Pokémon. Use Scald on anything you can't use poison, which can burn it and let you continue stalling.

Comments

Just be careful with an opponent uses Soak. Then you'll take damage from Black Sludge

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lmao No one uses soak. Black Sludge is for potential trick users.

Answer 2

Dragalge (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 128 Def / 252 SpA / 128 SpD
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Haze
- Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
- Scald / Surf

The idea here is for you to Draco Meteor the foe a couple times, then use Haze to eliminate the SpA decrease. Haze can also be used to ruin any stat boosts the opponent makes. Sludge Bomb is STAB, same with Sludge Wave. Scald and Surf provide some coverage over popular ground types.

Answer 3

Dragalage @ Choice Specs / Expert Belt
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature / Quiet Nature
- Sludge Wave
- Surf / Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Draco Meteor

A bit strange that it can't learn Ice Beam when it can learn Hail? In any case, another slow Dragon type from Gen VI. Dragalge, unlike Goodra, would work really well with Trick Room in both singles / doubles; base 44 speed is only faster than things like Reuniclus, Escavalier and Ferrothorn. Having said that, I don't think Dragalge will be OU; even though it has Poison typing and nice SpD, it's the slowest of all Dragons, meaning it faces a lot of threats - Flygon, Hydreigon, Noivern et al.

Hydro Pump is an option for doubles when Surf will hit your adjacent Pokemon as well. Thunderbolt is for some good coverage, Sludge Bomb for STAB; even with base 97 SpA, Adaptability will be devastating. Finally Draco Meteor for Dragon coverage. Quiet Nature is if you want to abuse Trick Room, otherwise go for Modest. Expert Belt can be used to give the appearance of being Choiced, since it has a great ability that'll boost its Sludge Wave & Draco Meteor.

Comments

Maybe Focus Blast as an alternative for the second slot?

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Focus Blast is inconsistent

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Even if it does have that atrocious 70% accuracy, Focus Blast is still relied on with most Specs sets.

Answer 4

Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability / Poison Point
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD (optionally bulk up the defenses more and sacrifice some HP)
Impish Nature / Careful Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Protect
- Venoshock / Waterfall
- Dragon Tail

This was a set I LOVED on Nidoqueen, never saw it anywhere else, but it really worked well with basically any team I put it in. When I saw Dragalge's typing and wonderful defensive stats, I checked instantly for its moveset.

This Pokemon is the reason I bought Y. Toxic Spikes + Dragon Tail is crippling for anyone who is trying to boost and Dragalge can surely take a hit. Protect can stall after the team is poisoned or so it can take another hit to get another Toxic Spikes or a Dragon Tail out. Venoshock doubles on poisoned foes and counters any straggling Fairy types that resist Dragon Tail.

Dragalge has some checks for sure but if in doubt switch out. Dragalge gained a stats boost and better typing than the old Nidoqueen, but at the sacrifice of Stealth Rocks. However, Dragalge has more longevity, so I think the sacrifice is well worth it. This is an extremely uncommon set for both Nidoking/queen and Dragalge, but basically it forces people to pack Taunt / Rapid Spin. Rapid Spinners are especially punished though, for it's a weak move and gives a free Dragon Tail to set up Spikes again.

tl;dr- Toxic Spikes then Dragon Tail for a phenomenal lead/support

Comments

nice set, but I suggest adaptability to boost your STABs. One thing this set will struggle against is the steel-fairy types mawile and klefki. The former can set up on you and become a serious problem for the rest of your team. The latter can paralyze you and set up spikes. If you see either of these pokemon, do not hesitate to put a fast pokemon with a fire or ground type move on your team

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I love this set, although I ran Quiet nature as I did a Trick Room Dragalge. It did amazing against my friends team and definitely did its share of work.

I'd recommend this set, given you have the correct checks for steel types and levitating/flying Pokemon that avoid toxic spikes.

Answer 5

All out Special attacker

Dragalge @ Choice Specs
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 HP / 4 Spe
Modest Nature / Quiet Nature
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
- Sludge Wave / Sludge Bomb
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Fire] / Scald / Hydro Pump

Draco Meteor backed up by Adaptability and Choice Specs hurts anything that doesn't resist it. Dragon Pulse can be used if you don't like the side effects of Draco Meteor lowering Special Attack by two stages.
Sludge Wave obliterates Fairy types that think they can switch in on a suspected Draco Meteor. Sludge Bomb is the slightly weaker option that has a higher chance of poisoning the opponent.
Focus Blast is for Steel types that resist and are immune to both of Dragalge's STABs. Also hurts Rock, Ice, Normal and Dark types.
Hidden Power Fire is for a stronger hit on Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Scizor. Also hits Doublade. Hydro Pump or Scald can be used over HP Fire to hit Fire, Ground and certain Rock types hard.

Modest is used to out speed certain walls whereas Quiet is better suited for Trick Room teams.

Answer 6

"In the Weeds" the Dragalge

Dragalge @ Quick Claw
Ability: Adaptability
Sassy Nature
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Atk
- Toxic Spikes
- Acid Armor
- Dragon Tail
- Venoshock

This is a twist on the commonly-used Toxic Spikes/Venoshock/Forced-switch-out-move set. This Dragalge is built for battles of attrition, and by my experience, it has usually been my last Pokemon standing.

Acid Armor is to raise your Defense after getting hit by something like Earthquake, or to set up on a weaker foe in preparation for a stronger threat.

With Adaptability, no EVs really need to be put into its Attack stats. Venoshock is boosted by Toxic Spikes, and Dragon Tail, a negative priority move, is there for forcing switches after laying down Toxic Spikes.

Quick Claw allows for Venoshock to be a potentially speedy and surprising finisher, while also allowing for a speedy Acid Armor in preparation for Earthquake or one last layer of Toxic Spikes before being fainted. Note that Dragon Tail will still go last, even if Quick Claw activates.

Answer 7

This is kind of a special Pokemon. Hmm.... It is quite hard for this one. Let's see:
Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
Calm Nature
EVs: 252 HP / 164 SpA / 92 SpD
- Toxic
- Venoshock
- Dragon Pulse
- Haze

You may think my recipe will make this guy a bit weak against physical moves, but I can tell you that it is fine. This is not the only Pokemon in your team, right? If you want to solve this, just make another Pokemon on your team physically defensive, or use Will-O-Wisp!

Answer 8

Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
Calm Nature
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
- Toxic
- Venoshock
- Venom Drench
- Dragon PUlse

Toxic: Great move, makes the rest of the set work
Venoshock: STAB, when they are poisoned it is incredibly powerful, Adaptability gives it a good boost
Venom Drench: Ruins their offensive stats when they are poisoned
Dragon Pulse: Strong Adaptability boosted STAB

Comments

Klefki, Zacian, and Magearna all completely shut down this set.

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Ya just switch out

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What if you can’t? What if this is your last Pokémon?

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Then ya lose

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But maybe I don’t wanna lose!!! XD

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What are the chances of it being your last Pokémon against one of those 3 Pokémon

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Then don’t use the set, lol

Answer 9

Gen 8 RU

Dragalge @ Choice Specs
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Draco Meteor
- Sludge Wave
- Focus Blast
- Flip Turn

This set is for use in Trick Room. Draco Meteor and Sludge Wave are STAB moves. Focus Blast is for Steel Types. Flip Turn is for pivoting.

Answer 10

National Dex Monotype (Dragon)

Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Toxic Spikes
- Gunk Shot
- Protect
- Flip Turn

This set is really similar to SS Monotype Set on Smogon, but with Gunk Shot replacing Sludge Wave and a different EV spread. Toxic Spikes is for a hazard that poisons grounded Pokemon switching in. Gunk Shot is for poison STAB that has a chance to poison Pokemon. Sludge Bomb can be used over Gunk Shot for more PP and accuracy, but generally Gunk Shot is preferred so your attacking move won't be weakened by setup sweepers like Calm Mind Tapu Fini and Quiver Dance Volcarona, both using a setup move that raises their special defense. Protect allows you to scout for choice locked Pokemon and get a free turn of Black Sludge recovery. Flip Turn, with Dragalge's low speed coupled with 0 speed IVs on this set, allows Dragalge to be a good slow pivot to bring in a teammate safely. This set should be utilized on Balance and Bulky Offense dragon teams, where it can check fairy types, which is what Dragalge exists for on Mono Dragon teams.

Answer 11

Trick Room Doubles

Dragalge @ Black Sludge / Assault Vest
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Dragon Pulse / Draco Meteor
- Scald
- Shadow Ball

Bulky Trick Room Sweeper

I personally really like this Pokemon and think that Trick Room is the best way to use it. Black Sludge will heal it, and any Pokemon that tricks the item will be in for a nasty surprise, or you could use Assault Vest to make them even more specially defensive. Sludge Bomb is for STAB and Adaptability which makes its base power 180! Dragon Pulse for STAB and Adaptability for a good 170 base power blast to the face, or Draco Meteor for some serious STAB + Adaptability for 260 damage! (but make sure you watch out for the special attack drop or have a teammate that can learn Haze.) Scald for coverage on Fire, Ground, and Rock types as well as making us even bulkier because we can burn the opponent's Pokemon, which halves their attack stat, and Shadow Ball for coverage on Ghost and Psychic types.

If you have suggestions on the movest please comment

Comments

very unique set, tho I would put all the EVs into HP because putting them in defense and SpD only adds by a fraction so HP adds more to its bulk and HP technically adds to both SpD and Def.

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Thanks for the Suggestion Droughted!

Answer 12

Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Point
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Scald
- Sludge Wave
- Substitute

Well, since Adaptability Dragalge isn't actually out yet, I feel that this moveset utilizes one of its other abilities pretty well. This set makes Dragalge a total special defensive wall, but Scald helps with the possibility of burning a physical attacker. After setting up a Substitute, this thing can be very hard to kill while still hitting decently hard, slowly wearing down your opponents entire team.

Answer 13

Dragalge @ Leftovers
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 Atk or 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Quiet Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Dragon Pulse / Draco Meteor
- Camouflage
- Secret Power

My first post here and haven't tried the above yet but it should work. First, Leftovers is to replace Black Sludge so it can work with Camouflage. It isn't going to be moving fast enough to be considered useful in Speed EVs so no need to waste time with it (plus by lowering Speed with its Quiet Nature, Dragalge can work well with Trick Room teams), and the lost EVs can go to upping its better Special Attack.

Sludge Bomb and Dragon Pulse are STAB with Adaptability, and are still good moves to use without the STAB. If you feel like gambling with the lost Special Attack and slightly less accuracy however, Draco Meteor is much more powerful and a great replacement (especially if Nasty Plotted/Baton Passed).

Adaptability works great with Camouflage and Secret Power because Camouflage changes Dragalge's type to match the terrain/field which also gives it a wider defense range, then Secret Power changes its power type to match the terrain/field it can work with, and finally Adaptability powers it up to give it a powerful STAB and more of a variety of a battle style.

Split EVs for Attack and Defense are for a powered up Secret Power (if it gets boosted physically, if not focus only on Defense and maybe 4 to Special Attack) and added bulk respectively. Just something else to work with considering it is the 'mock kelp' Pokemon and I wanted to present a 'fun' move-set haha.

Again, this is my first post so any problems I apologize as I am still learning. :]

Answer 14

This moveset might now be very good, but it's the moveset I use on my Dragalge and I think it's pretty good.

Dragalge (F) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA
Bold Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Toxic
- Venoshock
- Protect

What you do is set up the Toxic Spikes, use Toxic on them, and then alternate between Venoshock and Protect.

Comments

I’d say replace toxic spikes with scald just in case there’s steel types

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Better to invest SpA EVs in HP because you need that more, since only one special attacking move means it's generally wasted.

Answer 15

Manual Hail Setter
Gen 8 NU

Dragalge @ Icy Rock
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 SpA
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Hail
- Draco Meteor
- Sludge Bomb
- Flip Turn

This is a manual Hail setter. Before you go and say "setting up Hail is bad", hear me out. Recently, Snow Warning has been banned from NU. (More information can be found here.) Because of that Arctozolt was freed from NUBL and is now NU at the time of posting this. Dragalge can set up Hail and can use a pivot move to bring in a Hail abuser safely. Hail is to setup Hail, obviously. Draco Meteor and Sludge Bomb are STAB moves. Flip Turn is for pivoting and allows you to bring in a Hail abuser saftley. The reason I have a speed lowering nature and 0 speed IVs so Dragalge can bring in a Hail abuser safely without making the Pokemon your bringing in take unecessary damage.

Answer 16

Gen 8 SS NU

Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Draco Meteor
- Sludge Bomb
- Focus Blast

Substitute Dragalge sets are getting used to ease Dragalge from making a lot of predictions. Substitute is useful if you're facing something you can come in freely such as Vaporeon and Vileplume, as they would have to switch out, which helps to get a free Sub up. Having Substitute allows Dragalge to not have to predict as much. Draco Meteor is a powerful Dragon STAB move with a 130 BP and being Adaptability boosted. Sludge Bomb is for Poison STAB that's also boosted by Adaptability. Sludge Bomb's 30% poison chance is useful to cripple opposing Pokemon. Focus Blast is used as a coverage move to hit Steel-types like Stakataka and Copperajah super effectively. 252 Speed EVs is used on this set to outspeed slow Pokemon such as Copperajah, Sylveon, Vileplume, and Vaporeon. An alternate EV spread of 84 HP / 252 SpA / 172 Spe with a Modest Nature works, as that spread has just enough Speed EVs to outspeed Vaporeon so you can use Substitute before Vaporeon makes a move.

Answer 17

Gen 9 Monotype Specially Defensive (Dragon)

Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Protect
- Gunk Shot
- Dragon Pulse / Focus Blast

This is a specially defensive set for Dragon teams in Gen 9 Monotype. Dragalge's special bulk and Poison/Dragon typing is useful to check special wallbreakers such as non Psyshock Flutter Mane and Volcarona as well as Fairy-types.

Toxic Spikes is used to setup up a hazard that can poison opposing Pokemon upon them switching in. Protect works well with opposing Pokemon being poisoned from Toxic Spikes and allows Dragalge to have a free turn of Black Sludge recovery. Gunk Shot is used as the poison STAB that targets Pokemon who have a lower defense stat or boost their special defense such as Flutter Mane, Hatterene, Volcarona, and Gardevoir. Dragon Pulse is used for Dragon STAB. Dragalge gets walled by Steel-types and doesn't have Flip Turn in Gen 9, so Focus Blast can be used instead of Dragon Pulse to target Steel-types not named Gholdengo.

Answer 18

To appease RisingManectric and to be original. I bring from my magnificent mind….

Banded Dragagle!

Gen 9 RU
Dragagle @ Choice Band
Ability: Adaptability / Poison Touch
Tera Type: Poison / Dragon / Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Outrage / Dragon Tail
- Play Rough
- Flip Turn
- Gunk Shot

Now, while this may seem extremely stupid, let me show you it’s actually not that bad with the surprise factor. Dragagle has a decent 75 Atk to work with, some bulk to be a heavy-hitter, and a half-decent physical movepool, plus the surprise factor. Seriously, Dragagle’s physical movepool is about the same as the Special movepool, and the Attack stat is only 22 BP lower than the Special Attack stat. See:

252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Dragalge Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Diancie: 210-248 (69 - 81.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Outrage is powerful STAB, as is Gunk Shot. Flip Turn to pivot, and Play Rough is coverage. Imagine a Special Milotic thinking she is going to take a Sludge Bomb and shrug it off with Recover:

252+ SpA Choice Specs Adaptability Dragalge Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 140+ SpD Milotic: 178-210 (45.1 - 53.2%) -- 31.3% chance to 2HKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Dragalge Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Milotic: 362-428 (91.8 - 108.6%) -- 50% chance to OHKO

Yeah. Tera is based on your team need. Poison Touch can allow Dragagle to be a poison shuffler with Dragon Tail over Outrage. Hope this opened your mind to the possibilities of Physical Dragagle.

Answer 19

Rain Support

Dragalge @ Black Sludge / Damp Rock
Ability: Poison Point
Calm Nature
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 56 SpA / 160 SpD
- Rain Dance
- Scald
- Sludge Wave / Dragon Tail
- Toxic / Thunder / Dragon Pulse

This works well in tandem with physically defensive Drizzle Politoed, as they are decent at covering the others weaknesses, while unlike Goodra it has a very useful secondary STAB that also gives handy Fighting, Bug, and Poison resistances, and gets Scald to hinder physical attackers.

Comments

If it's used with a Drizzle Politoed which already sets up automatic Rain, then the point of manual weather is futile.

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For Tensa Zangetsu
What happens if another weather setter Pokémon, Like Torkoal, sets up another weather AFTER Politoad?

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Torkoal’s weather would overwrite Politiad’s and become the current weather.