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

Gen V

Dragonite (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 156 SpD / 100 Spe
Careful Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
- Dragon Claw
- Fire Punch

Set up Dragon Dance then start hitting the opponent hard. Dragon Claw provides STAB, while Fire Punch deals with Steel types. Multiscale is a great ability, giving Dragonite incredible bulk, possibly allowing it to survive an Ice attack even. You can then use Roost to get yourself back up to full health to make use of Multiscale. Leftovers provides more bulk. Your EVs give you nice bulk, and good stats for sweeping with Dragon Dance.

Comments

Does roost make Dragonite lose its flying type ?

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yes, for one turn

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In which level does Dragonite learn roost? Level 1 ? Dragonite evolution Gen 8 Pokemon shield

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In Gen 5 and Gen 8, Dragonite learns Roost from the move relearner.

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Breaking swipe or dragon claw for Dragonite ?

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why leftovers? weakness policy is much better

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Weakness Policy wasn't in Gen 5

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i know this late but this move set is easy walled by Heatran.

Answer 2

Gen 5 OU

First move I see on any Dragonite: Dragon Dance. Well, say hello to Parashuffler Dragonite.

Dragonite (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 156 SpD / 4 Spe
Impish Nature
- Substitute
- Thunder Wave
- Dragon Tail
- Roost

Parashuffler Dragonite is one of the most underrated sets of all time. This can team holes in entire teams using only 1 attacking move. The Lefties gives me constant recovery, and lowers the usage of Roost. My EVs even my Defenses out at 275 and 386 HP. Beast, huh? Substitute lets me avoid some damage, and helps on Walls that will try to set up on me. Thunder Wave cripples many Sweepers, and occasionally haxes them, giving me a free Dragon Tail to cripple another. Dragon Tail Phazes foes, many of which will be Paralyzed by Thunder Wave. Finally, Roost gives me reliable recovery and prolongs my support. You can find a different form of it here, but I don't recommend it because you are killed by Physical moves. The set I posted is even better if you have Hazards up.

Hope you like!

Comments

Fairies?

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Fairies will shred this build apart.

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look at the date when this was posted

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It's a great moveset but I would swap substitute with agility and thunder wave with iron head. That way you could spam agility at the start, roost when you need to and once speed is maxed, go with iron head/ dragon tail (dragon tail for stuff it does normal damage/ SE and iron head for the pesky fairies and also it takes care of ice and rock). There is nothing i wouldnt keep away from, but switch out if there is a fairy and your speed isnt fully maxed, then do your thing later on in the game.

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I still think Dragon Dance would be good since there are pokemon that can still outspeed Dragonite even when paralyzed.

Answer 3

Sleeping dragon of DEATH!

Dragonair @ Eviolite
Ability: Marvel Scale
EVs: 58 HP or Atk / 252 SpD / 200 Def
Careful Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Tail

Finally B/W2 brought Sleep Talk and Marvel Scale together to make one amazing combination! Rest is for healing. Sleep Talk is for attacking while asleep. Dragon Dance is boosting. Dragon Tail is the whole point, because when it is used with Sleep Talk it does not have the -6 Priority add that with the speed and attack boosts from Dragon Dance and you get one annoying and hard hitting sweeper. When Sleeping Dragonair has about 481 Defense! About 303 when awake, Special Defense is 393. So 262 (or 276), 303 (481 when asleep), 393 bulk which is rather impressive.

Comments

This set is similar to Autotomize, Rest, Sleep-talk, Dragon-tail Steelix. But with Attack boosts, Less weaknesses, more special bulk, and STAB :D

Answer 4

Dragonite (M) @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 SpA / 4 Def or SpD or Spe
Mild Nature
- Superpower
- Roost / Light Screen
- Draco Meteor
- Haze

Pretty simple set here. The idea is to have a Dragonite that can phaze out opponents. He can use Superpower to break down Tyranitar, and Draco Meteor offers STAB. The stat drops you get with all these moves are cancelled out thanks to Haze, and he can also cancel out the opponent. Roost is there to restore his health and reactivate his ability. It also lets him switch in on Pokemon that try to come in. He also resists the main priority moves, mainly Mach Punch and Aqua Jet. Watch out for Ice Shard though.

Answer 5

Role: Mixed Tank / Screener

Dragonite (M) @ Light Clay
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 100 HP / 96 Atk / 156 Def / 156 SpA
Naughty Nature
- Outrage
- Light Screen
- Fire Blast
- Roost

I had to test this, and I just wanted to share the quote that the guy I battled used.

"You have got BALLS to use Light Screen on a Dragonite".
Now, onto the description.

Light Screen provides great team support for other tanks running around, and lets you use a Naughty Nature for Mixed Attacking. Yay!

Outrage just lets you bulk jank off while you tear through a small portion of your opponent's team, not forgetting Multiscale lets you take the attack setting up Light Screen much better, and Fire Blast covers Steel Types (very defensive physically) and Ice types (major weakness) Fairly well, Light Clay makes your Light Screen worth while lasting for 8 turns.

Comments

If you didn’t invest anything in speed, why not choose Brave or something? (+Atk, -Spe)

Answer 6

Sweeper Dragonite

Dragonite @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale / Inner Focus
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Fire Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Dragon Claw

Okay! So here you have another Sweeper set for Dragonite. You have Dragon Dance for when a foe decides to switch out, or whenever you get a chance to get some stat boosting in. Next is Fire Punch to help destroy Ice types and random coverage, and same goes with Thunder Punch. Use when needed!
Dragon Claw is the STAB attack for every other type of Pokemon that won't take a super effective move in their face. With two Dragon Dances, Dragonite might be able to sweep an entire team, but good luck with setting up two Dances first! Leftovers is for healing your HP back while sweeping, if nothing hits you. Heck, if you have Multi Scale, and Leftovers heals your HP full, you'll be protected again!

Comments

Sam...why do you need Fire and Electric moves? If I'm fighting a Dragonite, let's say your Dragonite and I threw out...oh, Idk...say a Fairy type, how would you defend against that? Think about adding a Steel type move instead, so that if you do survive a hit, you at least would have made me pay for it.

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If you bring in dragonite against something it's super effective agaisnst you have a very likely chance he will switch out and interpreting it , use d dance then if he brings out an ice type there is pretty high chance that multiscale will save the day allowing one more d dance , making it two d dances for le sweep

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Look at the date this was posted..

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Steel wing might be good for this moveset.

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Also Iron Tail

Answer 7

Dragonair @ Evolite
Ability: Shed Skin
EVs: 252 Def / 6 SpA / 252 SpD
Bold Nature
- Rest
- Flamethrower
- Toxic
- Dragon Pulse

Rest is 1 turn thanks to Shed Skin so it is reliable healing. Flamethrower covers Steels. Toxic is for stalling. Dragon Pulse is for covering the one weakness and STAB.

Comments

Shed Skin is only a percent chance at healing SLP status, so it may not always be one turn; just a heads up.

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I like your idea as a mixed pokemon, can be used in lots of ways, but why eviolite? It won't work on dragonite; he is already fully evolved. Also i personally would do dragon claw and fire punch - Dragonite's base attack is quite a bit higher but this one really is all your choice.

Answer 8

A weird set here. Yet surprisingly effective....

Dragonite @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 248 HP / 84 Atk / 176 SpD
Careful Nature
- Hone Claws
- Substitute
- Dragon Rush
- Roost

A set that works off his higher attack stat but at the same time uses his bulk effectively. Hone Claws allows him to have a moderately high attack and makes Dragon Rush quite usable. Substitute helps make him more bulky and can help to keep Multisclae in play. Dragon Rush will almost always hit after one Hone Claws and is a good medium between Dragon Claw and Outrage. Last, Roost increases him longevity.

Comments

What about Fairies?

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This set is from Gen 5. You can also switch out.

Answer 9

Excuse another answer to this list but with gen 6 coming up, a new and powerful set has been introduced

Dragonite @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Agility
- Dragon Claw / Outrage
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch

Make sure you face a Pokemon that would use a super effective move on you (NOT MAMOSWINE). Multiscale should let you take that hit, and on the same turn, you use Agility. Now you basically Shell Smashed yourself without defense drops and baton passes :)

Answer 10

I have a very efficient set:
Dragonite @ Lum Berry
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Fire Punch

• Dragon Claw: for a good STAB move. It does not confuse. Besides, there is a different use for the Lum Berry.
• Dragon Dance: for setting up a sweep with Multiscale and Lum Berry.
• Extreme Speed: for good priority.
• Fire Punch: for coverage.

Strategy:
Simply get up a few DDs and that should be efficient because of Lum Berry and Multiscale. Use Dragon Claw for STAB, Fire Punch on some types, and Extreme Speed for enemies on low health. Then, enjoy a short sweep.

Answer 11

Double/Triple battle

Dragonite (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Fly

I like teaming it up with an Audino. Rock Slide and Earthquake hit multiple foes. Dragon Claw is STAB. Fly is STAB that is less predictable in Triples and can hit any foe.

Answer 12

Here's my moveset for Dragonite if it were to be placed on a rain team:

Dragonite @ Choice Specs
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Hurricane
- Thunder
- Surf

Draco Meteor: Powerful STAB
Hurricane: Another Powerful STAB that gets 100 % accuracy in Rain and a chance to confuse
Thunder: Great move that compliments Hurricane since it also gains 100 % accuracy in Rain and a chance to Paralyze
Surf: Awesome move to use in the rain

Okay here's the catch with this Dragonite: In order to achieve its best usage potential, you'll need a Pokémon that can set up Rain Dance as a move, or better yet. have a Pokemon that can set a permanent Rain, notably Politoed (via Dream World) or Kyogre would be a use especially for Double Battles respectively. That would make Dragonite your best rain sweeper in the entire meta-game!

Comments

Hydro Pump > Surf in doubles where rain is more used though. I upvoted.

Answer 13

Bulky Dragon Dance

Zeyphr (Dragonite) @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Fire Punch / Earthquake / Heal Bell
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
- Dragon Claw / Outrage

This Set & EVs ensure that dragon will maintain its bulk and ALWAYS get 2HKOed by ice beam. Also giving these EVs allows Dragonite to take hits from Special Attackers like a charm.
Now Fire Punch is used for those pesky steels, while Earthquake punishes Heatran & Jirachi. Now Heal bell is uncommon but it supports your team helpfully by removing status problems on your teams. Dragon Dance is for the boost of more power and thus the speed. Dragon Claw is the main choice of attack because Dragonite's main role is to support and to tank hits. While Outrage is for more power + bringing in the confusion .

Comments

It's still a possibility to get OHKO'd with ice beam just sayin

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not with the SPDEF evs + multiscale

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Multiscale, no. When broken, from any powerful attacker, yes.

Answer 14

I'm kind of new here, and wanted to suggest my first moveset on Dragonite. I'm seriously shocked that no one has done this.

Role: The Guarded Sweeper

Dragonite @ Muscle Band
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Waterfall
- Dragon Dance
- Safeguard
- Outrage

This one may need some explaining. Waterfall is a very good water type move with a decent chance of flinch, Dragon Dance is to raise attack and speed, and Safeguard is to set up for an Outrage sweep. Once you set up this Dragonite paired with the Muscle Band, you're pretty much unstoppable.

Comments

This is actually a decent use of safeguard!

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Might be worth changing the item to life orb, or maybe weakness policy for better damage output. Also for gen 6 and onwards it’s probably a good idea to replace waterfall with iron head for coverage against fairies (yes I know this is an old post)

Answer 15

Gen 5 Dragonair

Dragonair @ Eviolite
Ability: Marvel Scale
EVs: 228 HP / 188 SpD / 92 Spe
Careful Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage

First note that the intended format for this set is a Gen 5 one, meaning that there is no fairies. It can be used in Gen 5 NU, if you want a suggested tier. Anyway, onto the explanation of the set. Eviolite makes it surprisingly bulky, which is a nice touch. The EVs make it pretty bulky as well, and they also give it a bit more speed. I’ll explain why there are no Defense EVs in a second. Careful lowers it’s Special Attack, which is pretty useless for this set, and raises its Special Defense. Rest cures it of status and restores its HP. I didn’t feel the need to use Defense EVs on it because of Marvel Scale. When it has a status, Marvel Scale multiplies Defense by 1.5x. So, when it uses Rest, it’s Defense gets the 1.5x multiplier from Eviolite and the 1.5x multiplier from Marvel Scale, which makes it have really solid Defense. Sleep Talk allows it to use moves while it’s asleep, completing the RestTalk combo. Dragon Dace boosts it’s Attack, which has no EV investment, and it’s Speed, which isn’t that amazing, even with the 92 Speed EVs. Outrage, in Gen 5, can do damage to every Pokémon except Shedinja, since Fairy types don’t exist. It’s pretty strong STAB, with 120 BP.

Answer 16

Gen 8 OU

Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Hone Claws
- Agility
- Dragon Rush
- Iron Tail

While I'm aware that Dragonite has access to Dragon Dance, I wanted to do something different. Agility doubles your speed. Hone Class boosts your attack and accuracy. Dragon Rush is STAB and has its accuracy boosted thanks to Hone Claws. Iron Tail deals with fairy, ice, and rock types and also has its accuracy boosted due to Hone Claws.

Comments

Decent set but it will be a pain trying to use 2 set-up moves whilst trying to take minimal damage. Even with multiscale, a 2x Atk Salamence can OHKO with outrage before or whilst setting up.

+2 252 Atk Salamence Outrage vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Multiscale Dragonite: 421-496 (130.3 - 153.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Answer 17

Dragonite @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw

• Earthquake (Covers Rock-types and for power)
• Iron Head (Covers Fairy- and Ice-)
• Dragon Dance (Boosts Atk and Spe)
• Dragon Claw (Good STAB)

Comments

I feel like Dragon Claw would be better than Outrage due to the prevalence of Fairy types like Clefable and Magearna.

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Giga-Blade X, good point, thank you!

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You're welcome!

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I used this in ranked singles Pokémon Shield and made it all the way to great ball tier wow. Except i put fire punch instead of earthquake

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I feel like this is the best use for Dragonite! I agree that changing Earthquake to Fire Punch would offer better coverage. Would Adamant nature work better than Jolly? Using Dragon Dance, would an Adamant Dragonite still outspeed all?

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You can also use Dual Wingbeat > Dragon Claw to break sub and deal damage on the 2nd hit.

Answer 18

National Dex UU

Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Dual Wingbeat
- Defog / Toxic
- Roost
- Heal Bell

Specially defensive utility set. Dual Wingbeat is STAB that hits twice, meaning it can break sashes and Sturdy. Defog is for clearing entry hazards. Toxic is an option if you want to poison Pokémon switching in if you already have a Defog Pokémon on your team. Roost is for healing. Heal Bell provides support to your teammates as if heals their status conditions such as poisoning. This set is best used on stall teams.

Comments

Dragon dance is more for a leftovers set and I would replace it with extreme speed if I was running choice band.

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Choice Band? Dragon Dance? Am I blind? I don't see those on here.

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...this set doesn't even have Dragon Dance in it

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Fun fact, I've already said this before for Xerneas but I'll say it again. Just because a Pokemon has a good move doesn't mean absolutely every viable option said pokemon has needs to use it.

Answer 19

Gen 8 OU

Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 84 Def / 144 SpD / 28 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dual Wingbeat
- Substitute
- Dragon Dance
- Roost

With Dragonite gaining new tools in Gen 8, like a better STAB in Dual Wingbeat as well as Heavy-Duty Boots to beat Dragonite's best counter in Stealth Rock, I decided to make a SubDdance set. This one is similar to a set from Gen 5 OU, which used Dragon Claw as its only attacking move. The set unfortunately fell out of favor with the new Dragon Claw immune Fairy types in Gen 6 and Clefable's domination of Gen 6 OU, and with the metagame defining, part Fairy type Alolan Guardians being introduced in Gen 7. However, Dual Wingbeat is a STAB move with no immunities, making it a nice replacement for Dragon Claw. Substitute allows you to set up more easily and dodge moves and abilities like Heatran's Toxic and Landorus-Therian's Intimidate. Dragon Dance boosts Dragonite's subpar Speed as well as the power of Dual Wingbeat, allowing Dragonite to blend defensive utility with offensive strength. Roost is obligatory recovery, letting Dragonite regain Multiscale, set up easily, and be a massive pain in the ass.

28 Speed and Jolly let unboosted Dragonite outspeed 120 Speed neutral nature Heatran by 1 point.
252 HP and 84 Defense let Dragonite never die to Garchomp's Swords Dance boosted Life Orb Scale Shot (3 hits).
252 HP and 144 Special Defense make Kyurem's Modest Choice Specs Freeze-Dry only a 6.3% chance to OHKO (!!!)

*all of these calcs use Multiscale

Answer 20

GEN 8 OU SWEEPER/STALL
Barney (Dragonite) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Roost
- Dual Wingbeat
- Dragon Dance
This looks kinda funky but it worked really well for me. First you have your sp.def and multiscale for any ice beams. First you have to sub then dragon dance if something is a threat use roost to get your hp to full and I believe that multiscale will then affect Substitute giving you more time to set up dragon dance. Afterwrds procced to sweep with dual wingbeat. Flying moves are more effective because fairy types will block you completely rendering all the setting up useless.