[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 7-9 points
**Overview**: Dragalge is a very slow but strong Pokemon thanks to Adaptability boosting its powerful STAB combination, giving it an offensive profile. It is also a specially bulky Pokemon that can take advantage of its defensive ability Poison Point to punish contact move users in spite of its meager physical bulk. Although it has a slew of useful utility moves such as Toxic Spikes and Flip Turn, its low Speed and weakness to key coverage in Ground- and Ice-type moves as well as a lack of reliable recovery hold Dragalge back quite a bit.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Defensive Pivot**: Using a slow Flip Turn to get its teammates in safely, Dragalge is great as acting as a slow, bulky pivot. It can also use Dragon Tail and Haze to stop any potential sweepers that can shrug off its attacks from taking advantage of it. Thanks to its access to Toxic Spikes, it can threaten to wear down teams without a Toxic Spikes absorber as well. Unfortunately, its Speed stat leaves it vulnerable to attacks from opposing Pokemon, so it has to be careful about clicking Flip Turn versus hard switching out.
**Wallbreaker**: Adaptability with Choice Specs makes Dragalge's STAB combination near irresistible aside from Steel-types, allowing it to catch Pokemon that are expecting a defensive set off-guard. Thanks to Flip Turn, however, it does not always have to worry about locking itself into a move while also not revealing the Choice Specs immediately.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Gunk Shot
**Setup Moves**: Acid Armor
**Utility Moves**: Dragon Tail, Flip Turn, Haze, Scald, Toxic, Toxic Spikes
**Coverage**: Hydro Pump, Surf, Focus Blast, Shadow Ball, Thunder, Thunderbolt
Niche Moves
========
**Rest / Sleep Talk**: If Dragalge's defensive profile is good enough in a game where it wants to heal up, a RestTalk set can be used, but it already struggles fitting only four moves, and just ChestoRest would typically be more than suitable.
**Acid Spray**: Against matchups where Dragalge and the opposing special wall cannot break through each other, or more likely against Calm Mind users, Acid Spray is a solid consideration.
**Whirlpool**: Trapping a Pokemon Dragalge can break through, or even chipping it down to a reasonable range for the rest of the team, makes Whirlpool a useful tool.
Common Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs alongside Adaptability Draco Meteor is incredibly difficult for foes to switch into as is, but the threat of Sludge Wave potentially knocking out the Fairy-types as well makes it even harder. Since most Steel-types are more bulky on the physical side, Choice Specs Dragalge is an incredibly potent wallbreaker.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: If entry hazard damage is a concern, Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to allow Dragalge to safely switch in multiple times.
**Black Sludge / Leftovers**: Black Sludge would be preferred in case a non-Poison-type were to steal Dragalge's item, but if it plans to Terastallize, Leftovers would be preferred as the passive recovery method regardless.
**Sitrus Berry**: Contrary to the passive recovery from Leftovers and Black Sludge, Sitrus Berry acts as a faster, more reliable health pack in games where longevity is not necessary.
Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berries**: Dragalge is able to get a lot of headway in a matchup when it does not have to worry about getting randomly caught out by certain coverage moves. Shuca and Yache Berry are the most useful for coverage moves, but Haban Berry makes the Dragon-type mirror favored towards it, especially when its low Speed usually means it loses.
**Rocky Helmet**: On Poison Point sets, Rocky Helmet can be used to double up on the punishment for contact moves.
**Eject Pack**: Although Dragalge gets Flip Turn to pivot out, Eject Pack + Draco Meteor can be used as a much stronger method of pivoting out, especially if Flip Turn takes up a moveslot it would rather use on something else.
**Air Balloon**: Making Dragalge immune to Ground via Air Balloon is a viable option, and while it does also make it immune to Spikes, it loses its ability to clear Toxic Spikes on its side of the field until the Air Balloon gets popped.
**Assault Vest**: Amplifying Dragalge's special bulk, Assault Vest can be used to better tank multiple special attacks.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Bluffing Choice Specs, Dragalge can use an item such as Dragon Fang to lull Fairy-types into a false sense of security, then catching them out with a Poison-type move.
Tera
========
Dragalge should almost never be a Tera Captain. Its single biggest strengths are its base typing and Adaptability, and Terastallization takes that away, reducing two types in favor of one type that probably would not end up being better. Its defensive typing may have some glaring weaknesses, but it is not bad enough by any means to justify losing Adaptability. Even on Poison Point sets, Dragalge is most often used as a switch in to Fighting-, Water-, and Electric-type moves, and Terastallization would ruin that. If you still decide on Dragalge as a Tera Captain, using Tera Dragon and Poison to boost the moves it already uses a little bit more is ideal, and Tera Water can be used for its defensive properties and to boost its existing Water-type coverage.
Draft Strategy
========
Dragalge really can fit on any team it wants to. It is a late-draft pick that checks off a large variety of roles that are likely missing, boasting high damage as well as being a grounded Poison-type that has the ability to pivot. In addition, special walls are hard to come by, and Dragalge is cheap enough that by the time you would want to draft it, the draft ideally already has enough tools to support it.
**Physical Walls**: Due to Dragalge’s low physical bulk, it needs more dedicated physical walls such as Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Ting-Lu to switch into the physical attacks it wants to avoid.
**Wallbreakers**: Dragalge wants to be able to use Flip Turn to pivot to Pokemon like Enamorus, Chi-Yu, and Urshifu-S that can pressure the opposing team and deal with its worst matchups.
**Pivots**: Pivots that can form a defensive core with Dragalge such as Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Scizor are necessary, especially if they beat Steel-types in their own unique ways. Additionally, faster Pokemon like Greninja, Meowscarada, and Roaring Moon all form a pivot core with it to keep control of the board.
**Ground-type Checks**: Dragalge never wants to take Ground-type attacks, so Pokemon like Ogerpon-W, Rotom-W, and Corviknight that can switch into said Ground-types are very useful. It also wants Pokemon that can clear out Ground-types, such as Urshifu-R, Azumarill, and Primarina.
**Steel-type Checks**: Neither of Dragalge's STAB types can hit Steel-types for more than resisted damage, so Steel-type checks like Annihilape, Great Tusk, and Garchomp are needed.
Checks and Counters
========
**Ground-type Pokemon**: Resisting Dragalge's Poison-type moves, Ground-types like Great Tusk, Excadrill, and Iron Treads additionally force it out with their Ground-type STAB moves, especially as they are naturally faster.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-types like Gholdengo, Jirachi, and Iron Crown resist both of Dragalge’s STAB types, which allows them to switch in and force it out.
**Special Walls**: Special walls like Ting-Lu, Diancie, and Hoopa-U all soak up Dragalge's special attacks and can strike back with super effective moves.
**Psychic-type Pokemon**: As Psychic-type Pokemon such as Deoxys-D, Uxie, and Slowking have good natural special bulk, they can survive Dragalge's attacks and hit back with Psyshock, ignoring its own special bulk.
**Physical Attackers**: Strong physical attackers with neutral coverage such as Urshifu-S, Iron Valiant, and Annihilape can break through Dragalge after some chip damage.
**Entry Hazards**: On sets without Heavy-Duty Boots, entry hazards wear Dragalge down especially well due to it lacking reliable recovery.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sablolol.466715/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 7-9 points
**Overview**: Dragalge is a very slow but strong Pokemon thanks to Adaptability boosting its powerful STAB combination, giving it an offensive profile. It is also a specially bulky Pokemon that can take advantage of its defensive ability Poison Point to punish contact move users in spite of its meager physical bulk. Although it has a slew of useful utility moves such as Toxic Spikes and Flip Turn, its low Speed and weakness to key coverage in Ground- and Ice-type moves as well as a lack of reliable recovery hold Dragalge back quite a bit.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Defensive Pivot**: Using a slow Flip Turn to get its teammates in safely, Dragalge is great as acting as a slow, bulky pivot. It can also use Dragon Tail and Haze to stop any potential sweepers that can shrug off its attacks from taking advantage of it. Thanks to its access to Toxic Spikes, it can threaten to wear down teams without a Toxic Spikes absorber as well. Unfortunately, its Speed stat leaves it vulnerable to attacks from opposing Pokemon, so it has to be careful about clicking Flip Turn versus hard switching out.
**Wallbreaker**: Adaptability with Choice Specs makes Dragalge's STAB combination near irresistible aside from Steel-types, allowing it to catch Pokemon that are expecting a defensive set off-guard. Thanks to Flip Turn, however, it does not always have to worry about locking itself into a move while also not revealing the Choice Specs immediately.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Gunk Shot
**Setup Moves**: Acid Armor
**Utility Moves**: Dragon Tail, Flip Turn, Haze, Scald, Toxic, Toxic Spikes
**Coverage**: Hydro Pump, Surf, Focus Blast, Shadow Ball, Thunder, Thunderbolt
Niche Moves
========
**Rest / Sleep Talk**: If Dragalge's defensive profile is good enough in a game where it wants to heal up, a RestTalk set can be used, but it already struggles fitting only four moves, and just ChestoRest would typically be more than suitable.
**Acid Spray**: Against matchups where Dragalge and the opposing special wall cannot break through each other, or more likely against Calm Mind users, Acid Spray is a solid consideration.
**Whirlpool**: Trapping a Pokemon Dragalge can break through, or even chipping it down to a reasonable range for the rest of the team, makes Whirlpool a useful tool.
Common Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs alongside Adaptability Draco Meteor is incredibly difficult for foes to switch into as is, but the threat of Sludge Wave potentially knocking out the Fairy-types as well makes it even harder. Since most Steel-types are more bulky on the physical side, Choice Specs Dragalge is an incredibly potent wallbreaker.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: If entry hazard damage is a concern, Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to allow Dragalge to safely switch in multiple times.
**Black Sludge / Leftovers**: Black Sludge would be preferred in case a non-Poison-type were to steal Dragalge's item, but if it plans to Terastallize, Leftovers would be preferred as the passive recovery method regardless.
**Sitrus Berry**: Contrary to the passive recovery from Leftovers and Black Sludge, Sitrus Berry acts as a faster, more reliable health pack in games where longevity is not necessary.
Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berries**: Dragalge is able to get a lot of headway in a matchup when it does not have to worry about getting randomly caught out by certain coverage moves. Shuca and Yache Berry are the most useful for coverage moves, but Haban Berry makes the Dragon-type mirror favored towards it, especially when its low Speed usually means it loses.
**Rocky Helmet**: On Poison Point sets, Rocky Helmet can be used to double up on the punishment for contact moves.
**Eject Pack**: Although Dragalge gets Flip Turn to pivot out, Eject Pack + Draco Meteor can be used as a much stronger method of pivoting out, especially if Flip Turn takes up a moveslot it would rather use on something else.
**Air Balloon**: Making Dragalge immune to Ground via Air Balloon is a viable option, and while it does also make it immune to Spikes, it loses its ability to clear Toxic Spikes on its side of the field until the Air Balloon gets popped.
**Assault Vest**: Amplifying Dragalge's special bulk, Assault Vest can be used to better tank multiple special attacks.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Bluffing Choice Specs, Dragalge can use an item such as Dragon Fang to lull Fairy-types into a false sense of security, then catching them out with a Poison-type move.
Tera
========
Dragalge should almost never be a Tera Captain. Its single biggest strengths are its base typing and Adaptability, and Terastallization takes that away, reducing two types in favor of one type that probably would not end up being better. Its defensive typing may have some glaring weaknesses, but it is not bad enough by any means to justify losing Adaptability. Even on Poison Point sets, Dragalge is most often used as a switch in to Fighting-, Water-, and Electric-type moves, and Terastallization would ruin that. If you still decide on Dragalge as a Tera Captain, using Tera Dragon and Poison to boost the moves it already uses a little bit more is ideal, and Tera Water can be used for its defensive properties and to boost its existing Water-type coverage.
Draft Strategy
========
Dragalge really can fit on any team it wants to. It is a late-draft pick that checks off a large variety of roles that are likely missing, boasting high damage as well as being a grounded Poison-type that has the ability to pivot. In addition, special walls are hard to come by, and Dragalge is cheap enough that by the time you would want to draft it, the draft ideally already has enough tools to support it.
**Physical Walls**: Due to Dragalge’s low physical bulk, it needs more dedicated physical walls such as Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Ting-Lu to switch into the physical attacks it wants to avoid.
**Wallbreakers**: Dragalge wants to be able to use Flip Turn to pivot to Pokemon like Enamorus, Chi-Yu, and Urshifu-S that can pressure the opposing team and deal with its worst matchups.
**Pivots**: Pivots that can form a defensive core with Dragalge such as Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Scizor are necessary, especially if they beat Steel-types in their own unique ways. Additionally, faster Pokemon like Greninja, Meowscarada, and Roaring Moon all form a pivot core with it to keep control of the board.
**Ground-type Checks**: Dragalge never wants to take Ground-type attacks, so Pokemon like Ogerpon-W, Rotom-W, and Corviknight that can switch into said Ground-types are very useful. It also wants Pokemon that can clear out Ground-types, such as Urshifu-R, Azumarill, and Primarina.
**Steel-type Checks**: Neither of Dragalge's STAB types can hit Steel-types for more than resisted damage, so Steel-type checks like Annihilape, Great Tusk, and Garchomp are needed.
Checks and Counters
========
**Ground-type Pokemon**: Resisting Dragalge's Poison-type moves, Ground-types like Great Tusk, Excadrill, and Iron Treads additionally force it out with their Ground-type STAB moves, especially as they are naturally faster.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-types like Gholdengo, Jirachi, and Iron Crown resist both of Dragalge’s STAB types, which allows them to switch in and force it out.
**Special Walls**: Special walls like Ting-Lu, Diancie, and Hoopa-U all soak up Dragalge's special attacks and can strike back with super effective moves.
**Psychic-type Pokemon**: As Psychic-type Pokemon such as Deoxys-D, Uxie, and Slowking have good natural special bulk, they can survive Dragalge's attacks and hit back with Psyshock, ignoring its own special bulk.
**Physical Attackers**: Strong physical attackers with neutral coverage such as Urshifu-S, Iron Valiant, and Annihilape can break through Dragalge after some chip damage.
**Entry Hazards**: On sets without Heavy-Duty Boots, entry hazards wear Dragalge down especially well due to it lacking reliable recovery.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sablolol.466715/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
