What is the best non-legendary dragon Pokemon for competitive usage?

Question

things like: moves it can learn, abilitys, stats (to some extent) and typing.

movesets would be apreciated.

Comments

I will answer this soon, with a few Dragons I love to use in Competitive play :)

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Now with all the movesets and good pokemon, i don't know who to choose!

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This is that type of question where it really depends...

Answer 1

By a wide margin, Salamence.
On its own its a pretty terrifying Pokemon, sporting above average stats with none being lower than 80, a diverse and functional movepool with access to such great moves as Dragon Dance, Outrage, Roost, Hydro Pump, Draco Meteor, Flamethrower, Earthquake and Stone Edge, a good typing in Dragon/Flying that resists 5 other types and a gives access to powerful STAB Dragon moves, as well as two highly useful abilities in Moxie and Intimidate.

What set Salamence apart however its Mega Evolution. It still have access to its great movepool, allowing it to stall, attack physically/specially/mixed and keeping its typing. By getting a incredible stat boost, most notably 120 Spe and 145 Attack and a new and absolutely lethal ability that turns it's already good Returns/Double Edges/Facades into monstrous STAB flying moves of doom Salamence becomes a force of nature, being able to plow through most normal teams with ease.

Salamence's great offensive stats and wide movepool allow it to run almost any set imaginable, but I will showcase a few here:

Standard DD Mega (Salamence) @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Return
- Substitute
- Roost

Special Mega (Salamence) @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Roost
- Draco Meteor
- Flamethrower

LO Moxie Sweeper (Salamence) @ Life Orb
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Roost

Choice Band Wallbreaker (Salamence) @ Choice Band
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Fire Fang
- Iron Tail

Special Sweeper (Salamence) @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Flamethrower
- Hydro Pump
- Roost

Staller/Support (Salamence) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Roost
- Toxic
- Substitute
- Defog

Source: http://pokemondb.net/pokedex/salamence

Comments

I agree on Salamence, he is really terrifying. I however for one detest it and find Garchomp much better but this is still a very broad question to discuss.

Answer 2

Garchomp

![][1]
Garchomp is a very versatile Pokemon in many meanings. First of all, this one true beast is unpredictable. When you're facing it, you ought to adopt a first reflex, to discover what does run under the hood of this heartless shark. Garchomp can opt for a Choice Scarf moveset that outspeeds the whole unboosted OU tier and a good chunk of the Uber tier as well, in addition to having natural staggering attack stat and amazing uninvested bulk, better than Swampert's!
Garchomp can for that latter reason run a somewhat more defensive approach with a tank moveset that normally consists of Stealth Rock, Dragon Tail, Toxic and Earthquake. It can also utilize an offensive Life Orb moveset if it needs freedom of switching, and in this moveset it commonly uses Stealth Rock. It can equally use a Choice Band with not much problems, and this hurts for very hefty damage whatever doesn't resist/is immune.
It can also use Swords Dance to skyrocket its attack to unparalleled heights, or even go for a mega-evolution that turns it into a deadly mixed wallbreaker.

Good movesets:

Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpA
Naive / Naughty nature

• Outrage
• Dragon Claw / Fire Blast
• Rock Slide / Stone Edge
• Earthquake

Garchomp @ Choice Band
Trait: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpA
Jolly nature

• Dragon Claw / Outrage
• Fire Fang
• Rock Slide / Stone Edge
• Earthquake

Garchomp @ Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
Trait: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature

• Earthquake
• Stealth Rock
• Dragon Tail
• Toxic / Fire Blast

Garchomp @ Lum Berry
Trait: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Jolly Nature

• Swords Dance
• Dragon Claw / Outrage
• Earthquake
• Stone Edge / Fire Fang

Garchomp @ Garchompite
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature

• Earthquake
• Draco Meteor
• Fire Blast
• Stone Edge

Garchomp @ Life Orb
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature

• Earthquake
• Dragon Claw
• Rock Slide
• Protect

In other terms, Garchomp defines the dragon-type par excellence: unpredictability, sheer strength, incredible reliability, deadly STABs and impedance towards foes.

Post Scriptum: There is no best non-Legendary Dragon-type Pokemon for competitive gameplay. I chose Garchomp because in my view, he defines what a dragon should be. Your team is the one true factor that will help you to chose the best Dragon-type you ought to use.
[1]: http://www.pokestadium.com/assets/img/sprites/pokesho/445.gif

Answer 3

If you're looking to save a space for a different mega Evolution, then here's Dragalge.

I find Dragalge to be capable of many things. Since its hidden ability is now available, which is Adaptability, it is a bigger threat to teams than ever before.

However, it is slow. I believe that Dragalge is the slowest Dragon next to Goodra (I could be wrong) and it's Defense isn't the greatest, meaning an Earthquake from say, a Mega Metagross could take it down.

But, here's some good things about it:

• It has lots of available coverage
• It's Adaptability ability increases STAB moves power, which is amazing with Dragon/Poison
• It has a base 123 Special Defense stat and a base 97 Special attack--very good for a special wall
• it's an awesome poison Dragon that steals ships in the darkness of a foggy night. How's that for scary?

Anyway, I'll try to give a good moveset for this awesome Pokémon.

FOR TRICK ROOM:

Dragalge@Black Sludge/Assault Vest
Nature: Quiet
EVs: 252 HP, 200 Special Attack, 56 Special Defense
IVs: 0 Speed
Ability: Adaptability
Moveset:
- Scald (for burn chance, good for wearing down those physical attackers that are a big threat to Dragalge)
- Sludge Bomb/Sludge Wave (STAB, can hit multiple targets if Sludge Wave is your option)
- Dragon Pulse (Also STAB, better than Draco Meteor because it doesn't have a harsh special attack drop)
- Shadow Ball/Focus Blast (Coverage, both can hit Steel types)

You could also go for Dragon Tail if you want Dragalge to scout the opponents team. There's also a wide variety of moves it can learn such as Thunderbolt or even Play Rough (though it's attack isn't very good)

I hope you, or anyone else who happens to read this, gives Dragalge a chance to shine!

Comments

Dragalge is a neat-looking Pokemon but he lacks the enough bulk to make up for its poor speed. It means you start relying on Trick Room. In doubles, it is kinda outclassed, so I guess Dragalge isn't the "best" but isn't bad at all.

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Wait how can we get HA Dragalge?