Is it worth training Dragonite, Tyranitar, etc for in-game teams?

Question

I always like Pokemon like dragonite, salamence, tyranitar etc. but you got this Pokemon very late on the games and then just got the final form on a very high level. it worth train then?

Comments

pseudos are VERY good late game once you actually have it
but I think getting them before the post-game is much of a hassle (i have experience with using hydreigon and dragapult in sword) and you should only really get them if you REALLY super like it or you really super need the stats for like the champion or something. for me i only used dragapult because ghost types are mega cool and this one was a dragon ghost type

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It depends on the game. Which game(s) are you asking about?

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i playn pokemon firered,emerald and heartgold

Answer 1

In general, no, pseudo-legendaries are not worth using for playthrough teams. They could be a worthwhile project after you complete the game, but they're impractical beforehand:

1. All of them have Slow growth rate, which means it is noticeably more painful to level them up. At level 50, it takes about 33% more experience to level up a pseudo-legend compared to your starter (and the % is even higher the lower in level you go).
2. With the exception of Garchomp, all of them evolve very late (level 50+). In some games, you will struggle to get the Pokemon fully-evolved before you reach the Pokemon League.
3. Pseudo-legends generally only become available very late in your playthrough. Therefore, you are factually getting less mileage from them than a Pokemon that is available early and stays good for the whole adventure.

Cases in point based on the games you're playing:

Dragonite in FireRed/LeafGreen

• You have to buy Dratini at the Game Corner or fish for it at the Safari Zone, which is slow and annoying.
• It's highly dependent on TMs to do acceptable damage, as the best STAB move it gets from level up is Dragon Rage. Its STAB is only super effective on Dragon-types (very rare) until you get Fly after it evolves.
• It evolves at level 55. That means you're babying Dragonair forever until the Pokemon League, with a lot of grinding involved to keep its level up. The first trainer you fight with a Pokemon level 55 or higher is Bruno.

Salamence in Emerald

• You can only get Bagon from Meteor Falls after unlocking Waterfall, which happens after the 8th gym.
• It comes at a max of level 35 in the wild, which means lots of painful grinding to evolve it to Salamence at level 50. The first trainer you fight with a Pokemon level 50 or higher is Phoebe.

Dragonite in HeartGold/SoulSilver

• Again, you have to buy it at the Game Corner.
• It evolves at level 55, where Lance's strongest Pokemon is level 50. Taking Dragonair through the Pokemon League is gonna feel uncool, and also suck. Remember you are also dealing with the slow growth rate on top of that.

Tyranitar in HeartGold/SoulSilver

• Forget it, only available post-game.

Metagross in Emerald

• Only available post-game.

I think it's a little better in newer games, where features like party-wide experience decrease grinding and the Pokemon are available less late. I also think the Gible line in Platinum is OK because Gabite with Earthquake isn't painful to grind and it evolves faster than the others. Otherwise, put a pin in it until you complete the game.

Answer 2

Pseudo legends are always good in the later gyms and elite four, but yeah, they’re a pain to evolve.

However, as someone who uses hydreigon in every play through I have it available, I’d say yes, most of the time, but it depends.

If you’re missing the types they have on your team already, and you like them, go for it. If you catch them late game, it isn’t the worst thing, because that also means they’ll be higher level when caught.

I’m not sure which games you play, but at least for sword and shield + scarlet and violet, you can catch one as soon as your level for Pokémon you can get is high enough.