Dragonite

Competitive Strategy

Dragonite is most threatening when Multiscale is intact. At full HP, Multiscale reduces damage from an incoming hit, which can create a Dragon Dance opportunity against a passive target or a resisted attack. That protection ends as soon as Dragonite is chipped, so entry hazards, status, weather, and weak priority all change the matchup. Keep hazards off the field when Multiscale is central to the plan, and do not assume an apparent setup turn is safe if the opponent can break the ability before attacking again. Dragon Dance turns Dragonite's 134 Attack and middling base 80 Speed into a potential late-game win condition. Dragon STAB supplies strong neutral pressure, Earthquake punishes Steel-, Rock-, and Electric-type targets, and Extreme Speed can finish a faster weakened opponent before it moves. However, Dragon attacks do nothing to Fairy types and Ground attacks fail against Flying types or Levitate. Reveal coverage only when it solves the opponent's remaining answer; using Outrage too early can lock Dragonite into a move that gives a Fairy a free switch. The type chart's central warning is Ice: Dragon/Flying takes 4× damage from it. A strong Ice move, Ice Shard, or an unexpected Ice coverage attack should normally force Dragonite out unless Multiscale, a Tera type, or another game-specific effect changes the calculation. Rock, Dragon, and Fairy moves are also super effective. Steel-, Water-, or Fire-type teammates can help manage Ice pressure, while hazard removal protects Multiscale. Conversely, counter Dragonite by keeping its Ice answer healthy, denying Dragon Dance turns with phazing, Taunt, status, or immediate pressure, and checking the revealed item before committing a revenge killer. Use the team calculator to make sure a Dragonite slot does not concentrate Ice and Rock weaknesses elsewhere on the roster.