[OVERVIEW]
Dragonite is a popular choice in Doubles OU. However, despite the wisdom of the crowds, prospective Dragonite users should be advised of its one flaw: it is complete and utter shit in every way. The problem is that it's a physical Dragon-type attacker, and being a physical Dragon-type sucks. Dragon Claw is miserably weak, and Outrage is even worse with its billion undesirable side effects. Its abilities, Multiscale and Inner Focus, are nifty but not nearly enough to redeem its unfortunate other traits because Multiscale can't withstand the pressure of two foes and Inner Focus is just meh in general.
[SET]
name: Disappointing Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Dragon Claw
move 3: Extreme Speed / Earthquake / Fire Punch / Superpower
move 4: Protect
item: Weakness Policy / Lum Berry
ability: Multiscale
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
The theory behind this set is that you click Dragon Dance while your opponent activates Dragonite's Weakness Policy and then gets swept by a +3 Attack / +1 Speed Dragonite.
The reality is that anyone who's at least half an IQ point above imbecile will see this coming from a mile away and elect not to hit a full-health Dragonite with a super effective move, and instead you'll be stuck using something that hits like a wet noodle. +1 Dragon Claw is still weaker than Latios's Draco Meteor, and considering the ubiquity of Intimidate and Will-O-Wisp in Doubles OU, you'll be lucky if Dragonite even gets to hit that hard. Dragon Claw with Extreme Speed has large gaps in coverage (notably Mega Diancie and also any Steel-type), but if you run a coverage move over Extreme Speed to remedy this, Dragonite is vulnerable to threats like Talonflame. Additionally, the only coverage move that actually hits all of these Pokemon is Earthquake, and non-STAB Earthquake is like biting into a dinner roll and realizing it expired in 2013.
Set Details
========
Weakness Policy is used with Multiscale to tank a hit and boost Dragonite's Attack, as long as your opponent has never heard of Dragonite before. Unfortunately, other items such as Lum Berry really are no better because +1 Dragon Claw isn't scary at all. It needs the Weakness Policy boosts, but it will never get the Weakness Policy boosts. Such is the paradox of being a Dragonite.
Usage Tips
========
Normally, for a Dragon-type, I would say to use its good resistances to switch in on foes that it beats and threaten to hit back hard. However, in the case of Dragonite, 1) switching in on an attack will ruin Multiscale, 2) it can't hit hard, and 3) it doesn't beat anything.
Team Options
========
If you're so dead set on running this set that you've come all the way to this section, why not use it with Magikarp? It's not like your team could get worse. Dragon Dance boosting just isn't that good, but if you really want to do it, you should use Gyarados.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A special attacking set, usually run on a rain team, is sometimes seen and a tiny bit more threatening than the Dragon Dance set, but also not good. Hurricane isn't that much better than Draco Meteor (and the two are redundant together) to justify using Dragonite over Salamence, Hydreigon, or Latios, which have much better abilities, Speed stats, and power. Inner Focus Choice Band is the best Dragonite can do, as it then actually gets remotely powerful STAB and priority moves, but with the Choice lock, Dragonite's poor Speed tier, and the number of fast Pokemon that resist Extreme Speed (most of them), it is still not a good idea.
If you really want to use Dragonite, another option is playing DPP OU, where it's actually good.
Checks & Counters
=================
**Basic Competence**
**Intimidate and Burns:** Intimidate and burns destroy Dragonite's damage output, and all of the common Will-O-Wisp users (Rotom-W, Rotom-H, Gengar, Talonflame, and Darkrai) can burn it easily before it sets up.
**Utility Moves:** Jirachi, Amoonguss, and Togekiss can all redirect Dragonite's attacks with Follow Me and Rage Powder so that a partner can demolish it. Amoonguss can put Dragonite to sleep to put it out of commission, and Thundurus, Jirachi, Rotom-W, and Rotom-H can paralyze it, which makes it much less threatening.
**Typing Advantage:** Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Aegislash, and Jirachi can soak up Dragonite's hits and whittle it down, Mega Diancie will destroy any variants without Earthquake, and Kyurem-B can OHKO it with Teravolt Ice Beam before it gets going.
Dragonite is a popular choice in Doubles OU. However, despite the wisdom of the crowds, prospective Dragonite users should be advised of its one flaw: it is complete and utter shit in every way. The problem is that it's a physical Dragon-type attacker, and being a physical Dragon-type sucks. Dragon Claw is miserably weak, and Outrage is even worse with its billion undesirable side effects. Its abilities, Multiscale and Inner Focus, are nifty but not nearly enough to redeem its unfortunate other traits because Multiscale can't withstand the pressure of two foes and Inner Focus is just meh in general.
[SET]
name: Disappointing Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Dragon Claw
move 3: Extreme Speed / Earthquake / Fire Punch / Superpower
move 4: Protect
item: Weakness Policy / Lum Berry
ability: Multiscale
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
The theory behind this set is that you click Dragon Dance while your opponent activates Dragonite's Weakness Policy and then gets swept by a +3 Attack / +1 Speed Dragonite.
The reality is that anyone who's at least half an IQ point above imbecile will see this coming from a mile away and elect not to hit a full-health Dragonite with a super effective move, and instead you'll be stuck using something that hits like a wet noodle. +1 Dragon Claw is still weaker than Latios's Draco Meteor, and considering the ubiquity of Intimidate and Will-O-Wisp in Doubles OU, you'll be lucky if Dragonite even gets to hit that hard. Dragon Claw with Extreme Speed has large gaps in coverage (notably Mega Diancie and also any Steel-type), but if you run a coverage move over Extreme Speed to remedy this, Dragonite is vulnerable to threats like Talonflame. Additionally, the only coverage move that actually hits all of these Pokemon is Earthquake, and non-STAB Earthquake is like biting into a dinner roll and realizing it expired in 2013.
Set Details
========
Weakness Policy is used with Multiscale to tank a hit and boost Dragonite's Attack, as long as your opponent has never heard of Dragonite before. Unfortunately, other items such as Lum Berry really are no better because +1 Dragon Claw isn't scary at all. It needs the Weakness Policy boosts, but it will never get the Weakness Policy boosts. Such is the paradox of being a Dragonite.
Usage Tips
========
Normally, for a Dragon-type, I would say to use its good resistances to switch in on foes that it beats and threaten to hit back hard. However, in the case of Dragonite, 1) switching in on an attack will ruin Multiscale, 2) it can't hit hard, and 3) it doesn't beat anything.
Team Options
========
If you're so dead set on running this set that you've come all the way to this section, why not use it with Magikarp? It's not like your team could get worse. Dragon Dance boosting just isn't that good, but if you really want to do it, you should use Gyarados.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A special attacking set, usually run on a rain team, is sometimes seen and a tiny bit more threatening than the Dragon Dance set, but also not good. Hurricane isn't that much better than Draco Meteor (and the two are redundant together) to justify using Dragonite over Salamence, Hydreigon, or Latios, which have much better abilities, Speed stats, and power. Inner Focus Choice Band is the best Dragonite can do, as it then actually gets remotely powerful STAB and priority moves, but with the Choice lock, Dragonite's poor Speed tier, and the number of fast Pokemon that resist Extreme Speed (most of them), it is still not a good idea.
If you really want to use Dragonite, another option is playing DPP OU, where it's actually good.
Checks & Counters
=================
**Basic Competence**
**Intimidate and Burns:** Intimidate and burns destroy Dragonite's damage output, and all of the common Will-O-Wisp users (Rotom-W, Rotom-H, Gengar, Talonflame, and Darkrai) can burn it easily before it sets up.
**Utility Moves:** Jirachi, Amoonguss, and Togekiss can all redirect Dragonite's attacks with Follow Me and Rage Powder so that a partner can demolish it. Amoonguss can put Dragonite to sleep to put it out of commission, and Thundurus, Jirachi, Rotom-W, and Rotom-H can paralyze it, which makes it much less threatening.
**Typing Advantage:** Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Aegislash, and Jirachi can soak up Dragonite's hits and whittle it down, Mega Diancie will destroy any variants without Earthquake, and Kyurem-B can OHKO it with Teravolt Ice Beam before it gets going.
Last edited:
