What is a good moveset for Dragonite?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Dragonite, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions 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.

Dragonite Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Bulk Offensive Set

Dragonite @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 6 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Roost
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake / Iron Head
- Dragon Claw

Usage Advice
The whole point is to keep his HP full to withstand critical hits like ice beam and so forth, so leftovers paired with roost makes for nice healing (Defoggers and Rapid Spinners are heavily suggested to take away stealth rock damage). HP makes it a bulky Pokemon, and with the huge attack power, it'll land a hard punch. One Dragon Dance and it gains a lovely speed bonus to become a tanky sweeper, along with an increase to its already high attack power. Earthquake is nice coverage, but Iron Head can cover three of it's four weaknesses. Dragon Claw for the STAB.

Answer 2

Based for battle tree (gen 7), but can be used in comp
Dragonite @ Lum berry
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe or HP / 4 Def (recommended Spe)
Adamant Nature
- Outrage
- Dragon Dance
- Extreme Speed / Earthquake
- Steel Wing

• Outrage: STAB, Coverage, Amazing power
• Dragon Dance: Boosts stats
• Extreme Speed/Earthquake: If your going with HP EVs, go ES for priority as for Dragonite's can be out speed by even non-scarfed Pokemon. If going for spe EVs, Just go EQ for coverage and high power
• Steel Wing: Literally just fairy death

So, 403 attack, plus a STAB Outrage, and Multiscale gives you a dragon dance, and your spe EVs plus +1 spe = The wild Pokemon fainted!, The opposing combusken fainted! You won the battle! welp a Mega Glaile switched in and oh um 'Dragonite fainted!'. Anyway EQ and Steelwing can be used for ice types and fairy :P, but any other type can be rekt by Outrage w +attack, 402 base attack, 120 power, STAB.

Hope this helped

Answer 3

I could go on and on with how good Dragonite is. Here is a moveset that I love using personally.

Dragonite @ Choice Band
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Outrage
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
- Iron Head

It works amazing when there are no fairy types along. This hits extremely hard with the choice band. Iron Head is there for Fairy types, Earthquake for natural coverage (mainly for Steel types), and Extreme Speed's priority is always handy. This can be super useful in the Battle Tree as well. Your choice.

Answer 4

Role: Sweeper

Dragonite @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk
Careful Nature
- Roost
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage / Dragon Claw
- Earthquake

• Roost: Heals, can make multiscale go back up
• Dragon Dance: For sweeping
• Outrage/Dragon Claw: STAB, Power or reliability
• Earthquake: Coverage, Power, All round great

I think this Pokemon does have lots of potential with his ability and excellent move pool. He is constantly over looked compared to his pseudo buddz (yeah.) like Garchomp and Salamence who both have a 4x weakness to Ice. With Multiscale as an ability it really limits the extent of ice damage compared to that of Garchomp and Salamence meaning he can literally get 1 Dragon Dance up and sweep. However I would recommend switching on Ice types. Watch out for burns as that cripples Dragonite.

Answer 5

Role: All Out Sweeper
Dragonite @ Life Orb
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 126 SpD / 126 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw / Dragon Rush
- Iron Tail
- Dragon Dance
- Fly

• Dragon Claw / Dragon Rush (Whichever you prefer, accuracy or power it also gets STAB and deals with its dragon weakness)
• Iron Tail (Hard hitting move that is super effective against the other weaknesses - Ice, Fairy, Rock)
• Dragon Dance (Duh)
• Fly (Trolls people with the Semi-Invulnerable turn thing and it gets STAB)

Plz comment on how I can do better!

Answer 6

Dragonite @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 SpA / 150 Atk / 252 Spe
Brave Nature
- Thunder Punch
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Ice Beam

Thunder Punch: Coverage for Flying types.
Dragon Dance: Raises power of Dragon STAB.
Dragon Claw: Dragon STAB.
Ice Beam: Good for Dragon and Flying types.

This moveset and everything has helped me, I'm sure it will help you.

Answer 7

This may seem like a bad set, but hear me out!

Dragonite @ Binding Band / Grip Claw
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Brave Nature
- Wrap
- Haze
- Superpower
- Draco Meteor

Basically, negate your stat drops from Superpower and Draco Meteor with Haze while the opponent is being hurt and trapped in with Wrap.

Answer 8

Look at this dragonite, really powerfull (NO RAIN DANCE!):

Dragonite @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 136 SpA / 120 Spe
Lonely Nature
- Iron Tail
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Pulse
- Hurricane

• Iron Tail (100 base power, coverage for rock, fairy, and the ice types. makes up for the accuracy)
• Dragon Dance (Raise Draggy's attack and speed, making it a terryfing fast sweeper. Plus STAB kkkkk)
• Dragon Pulse (85 base power stab move, no problem for effects, it is completely AWESOME)
• Hurricane (the only reliable flying type move for this guy, accuracy is not that trash for be needed to waste a slot with rain dance, THIS is not worth it.)

Answer 9

I'm going for Physical Attacker Dragonite
Dragonite @ Yache Berry / Focus Sash (Mostly useful for Single Battles)
Ability: Inner Focus (Multiscale is a good option tho)
Jolly Nature
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD or 252 Atk / 100 SpD / 100 Def / 56 Spe
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw/Dragon Tail
- Iron Head
- Earthquake / Hurricane / Waterfall / (Thunder/Fire/Ice) Punch / Substitute
How useful the moveset:

Dragon Dance for Attack and Speed Boost for around 1-3 turn

Dragon Claw or Dragon Tail for physical STAB moves, but I recommend Dragon Claw rather than Dragon Tail and Dragon Rush because bad accuracy, Outrage because Confusion which is bad or Dragon Pulse Because Dragonite is mostly a physical Attacker.

Iron head covers of all Dragonite's weakness being Fairy type, Ice Type and Rock Type so you don't waste the last slot for another coverage move, plus Iron head has 80 Base Power and 100 accuracy, so its pretty good.

For the last one...Its whatever you want, since all the other move already cover Dragonite so, you can add
Earthquake for Strong Physical Move plus add some coverage, Hurricane, Waterfall, the elemental punches or
Substitute so you can have time to use Dragon dance.

You Can Obtain Move In :
- Dragon Dance (Level 61)
- Dragon Claw (TM 02) or Dragon Tail (TM 82 or Move Reminder but you don't want to waste Heart Scale if you can get from TM)
- Iron Head (Move Tutor)
- Earthquake (TM 26) / Hurricane (Level 81) / Waterfall (TM 98) / Fire, Thunder and Ice Punch (Move Tutor) / Substitute (TM 90)

Sorry if this is too long! Hope this set will be useful!

Answer 10

This is a great troll moveset, but is easily countered against Fairy type Pokemon. It is recommended to only use it in PVP matches and not against NPCs.

Dragonite @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Dragon Tail
- Substitute
- Roost

• Thunder Wave: Paralyzes the opponent to sometimes let Dragonite use Dragon Tail without taking damage
• Dragon Tail: After paralyzing basically every Pokemon in the opponent's team, you'll literally never let him do damage to you
• Substitute: to literally heal back with leftovers and and roost
• Roost: to heal in case health drops more than half

Answer 11

Here's my physical build for Dragonite:
Dragonite @ Muscle Band
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk / 6 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Hone Claws
- Dragon Rush
- Iron Tail
- Fly

• Hone Claws (+Accuracy)
• Dragon Rush (STAB+Good use with accuracy boost from Home Claws and it practically never misses after one use of hone claws)
• Iron Tail (Same as above)
• Fly (STAB, avoid and hit, can be replaced by wing attack though)

Comments

you can replace wing attack dual wingbeat

Answer 12

Special Sweeper

Gen 6 moveset
Thor (Dragonite) @ Wise Glasses
Ability: Multscale / Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Rash Nature
- Rain Dance
- Thunder / Hurricane
- Iron Head / Iron Tail
- Outrage / Dragon Pulse/ Focus Blast

Strategy: Use Rain Dance then start sweeping with Thunder/ Hurricane. Wise Glasses power up special moves for increased damage

• Rain Dance sets up rain and gives 100 accuracy to thunder and hurricane
• Thunder can paralyze the opponent and is powerful, meanwhile Hurricane gets STAB and can confuse the opponent
• Iron Head gives some much-needed coverage to ice types and rock types plus it can flinch the target, Iron Tail does the same but is more powerful and can lower defense but has low accuracy
• Outrage is a powerful physical move with STAB and lasts multiple turns but confuses you or you choose Dragon Pulse which is not as powerful but still is powerful with STAB and is special or you could choose Focus Blast that gives powerful coverage to ice and rock types in addition to being special and can lower Sp.def but has 70 accuracy

Tips: watch out for ice types even though you will likely outspeed them but they could survive a hit or outspeed you because there are some fast ice types out there.

I hope you like this moveset! :)

Comments

I don't exactly see how the ability "doesn't matter". Multiscale seems much better than Inner Focus.

Answer 13

Dragonite (M) @leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Dance
- Iron head
- Roost/ Earthquake

Well the reason I put Iron head there because it give you cover from fairy and also from Ice type. I wonder why no one use it. Earthquake there for destroying rock type and steel type haha.

Answer 14

Dragonite (M) @ Persim Berry / Choice Band
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 189 SpD / 69 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 0 SpA
- Outrage / Dragon Claw
- Fire Punch / Ice Punch / Superpower / Stone Edge
- Dragon Dance
- Roost

Analysis
Persim Berry cures you of Outrage's confusion. Choice Band makes your attacks even stronger.
Multiscale allows you to set up your Dragon Dances with your Special bulk.
Jolly is just so you're able to outspeed with Dragonite's OK Speed.
EVs are defensive so you can set up without fearing an Ice Beam.
31 IVs in every stat except Special Attack because no Special moves.

Outrage is STAB. Dragon Claw is arguably better with Choice Band but you can choose.
Fire Punch owns the Ice types. Ice Punch is coverage for Grass and Ground. Superpower covers Steel types. Stone Edge destroys the Fire and Ice types.
Dragon Dance is your set up move and with your great Special bulk and Multiscale, you'll live an Ice move.
Roost allows Multiscale to activate again so you can take more hits.

Answer 15

Dragonite @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Jolly nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Roost
- Iron head

Dragon Dance: for boosting Dragonite’s low Spe but high Atk
Dragon Claw: for STAB
Roost: for healing
Iron Head: for coverage

Dragonite’s speed is boosted cuz of Dragon Dance and nature. It has enough bulk to survive a Icicle Crash cuz of high HP, Leftovers and Roost.

Hope I helped :)

Answer 16

Dragonite, mixed sweeper

Dragonite @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 192 HP / 184 Atk / 132 SpA or 184 Atk / 132 SpA / 192 Spe
Naive Nature
- Hone Claws
- Dragon Rush
- Fire Blast
- Roost / Extreme Speed

This moveset works every time I use it. Steels are not a problem for Dragonite. You can surprise a Ferrothorn who was setting Spikes thinking he would resist, and then boom Fire Blast that would not miss thanks to hone Claws. Always use Hone Claws first cause Dragon Rush and Fire Blast have low accuracy. EVs and nature can be changed according to what you like.

Answer 17

forgot to put item and nature so here it is and also repost the entire answer because it's hidden

Dragonite @ Leftovers
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk / 6 SpA / 252 Spe
Lonely Nature
- Dual Wingbeat / Air Slash
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch

Dual Wingbeat / Air Slash: STAB may miss which ain't good
Dragon Dance: Great setup move and makes Dragonite speedy
Earthquake: ITS EARTHQUAKE DUH
Fire Punch: fire type coverage

Used this set before it counters the wish protect combo just get dragonite danced up and earthquake everyone into obivilion(unless they flying or have Levitate or Air Balloon)

Comments

Air Slash is not the best on Physical Dragonite. I recommend you stick on Dual Wingbeat as it breaks sturdy/sash and can keep away sashed gimmick Shedinjas that MAY be around. I don't think Earthquake is much needed, I recommend Dragon Claw or Dual Chop on its spot more. If you insist on using it however, slash Dragon Claw or Dual Chop with it. Replace Fire Punch with Iron Head since it covers Fairy, Ice and Rock, all of which are Dragonite's weaknesses. Oh and Adamant (+Atk -SpA) or Jolly (+Spe -SpA) is way better than Lonely on a physical Dragonite. Lonely is decent, however lowers defense.

Since its your moveset however, its entirely up to you - Here's my speck of pepper any way.

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@~azureshiram~ Dual Chop is outclassed by Outrage/Dragon Claw, the latter of which you mentioned. Iron Head is also usually a niche option. Lonely isn't even decent, you need the Def. too.

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That's why I slashed it with DClaw. Oh and I forgot that Outrage exists sometimes (don't ask). Iron Head..,,It's still an option aside of Fire Punch, I guess.

And to think...Lonely isn't good...yeah :(

Answer 18

Dragonite (M) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 156 SpD / 4 Spe
Impish Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
- Iron Head / Steel Wing
- Dragon Claw
This Dragonite can utilize all its bulky strength. Dragon Dance is a perfect couple with Multiscale as it boosts up its strength while the ability reduces the damage. Roost makes sure Multiscale can be used again over and over - Opponent's worst nightmare. For Steel Wing and Dragon Claw, they are 2 physical attacks that will sweep out Dragonite's weaknesses (Ice, Rock, Dragon and Fairy). With the boosted power from dragon dance, they are more dangerous than ever!
Also, the held item - Weakness Policy is extremely helpful for Dragonite to boost its power, as it would raise both attack and special attack, combining with Dragon Dance, your opponent has no way home.

Comments

Not bad, but I reccomend replacing Steel Wing with Dual Wing Beat (Stab), Earthquake (better Coverage) or Iron Head (better steel move, but only in SwSh). Outrage could be considered over Dragon Claw, but I personally prefer the latter. It is also better to invest more EVs into its Speed and Attack over bulk. Finally use a Adamant or Jolly nature instead of Impish and replace leftovers with Heavy Duty Boots (if it is a SwSh set).

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Thanks, I will take note of your suggestion and update my answer.

Answer 19

Defensive Clerk Dragonite

Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Ice Beam
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Defog / Heal Bell

Defensive Dragonite can serve as an effective counter to many powerful Pokemon, and fits best on balance and bulky offense teams. Dragonite can check or counter Urshifu, Heatran, Kartana, Rillaboom, and others with it's great defensive typing, ability, and moves. Earthquake is for Heatran and is useful as an all-around damaging moves, while Ice Beam puts chip on Flying types like Landorus-T and Zapdos. Roost and Heavy-Duty boots are a necessity for Dragonite to function, as they keep it at full health for Multiscale to activate. Utilizing Defog, Dragonite can be a team's hazard control, but if a team doesn't need one Heal Bell is great for supporting teammates that hate status.

Answer 20

National Dex UU Defensive Dragon Dance

Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 72 Atk / 184 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dual Wingbeat
- Heal Bell
- Roost

A Defensive Dragon Dance set. This set utilizes Dragonite's moves, 91/95/100 bulk, and Ability Multiscale to use Dragon Dance multiple times. Dragon Dance boosts your attack and speed, which allows you to clean late game. Dual Wingbeat is used as the STAB move and is able to hit twice. Heal Bell cures Dragonite of status conditions such as burns, poisoning, and paralysis, as well as curing your teammates of status conditions. Roost provides Dragonite with HP recovery, and if you reach 100% HP, Multiscale will be able to lessen the amount of damage taken.
184 Speed EVs allow Dragonite to outspeed Azelf and Zygarde-10%. 252 HP EVs helps with bulk. The leftover 72 EVs are dumped into the attack stat. This set gets walled by Steel- and Rock-types, so Pokemon who can break past them such as Zygarde-10% and Nidoking pair well with this set.