You caught a Dragonite. Congratulations! You have a fluffy orange tank that can fly, breathe fire, and leave trainers envious. The question now is: Will your Dragonite be simply *good*, or will it achieve legendary status? The secret lies in Natures. Natures are unique traits that define a Pokémon’s potential.
Dragonite’s Nature and Stats: Cracking the Code
What Nature should your Dragonite have? If you found one with a Quiet Nature, you might ask, “Is this good?”. Back during Diamond and Pearl, Quiet Nature had mixed reviews. It wasn’t terrible but not the best either. Brave Nature, which boosts Attack and lowers Speed, was seen as slightly superior back then. Pokémon strategies change quickly, though.
The Nature Spectrum: Finding Dragonite’s Perfect Match
For competitive Dragonite battles, several key Natures shine. They enhance Dragonite’s abilities and create winning strategies.
Adamant Nature: The Powerhouse Choice
Adamant Nature is often the ideal choice for Dragonite. It boosts Attack by 10%. This makes its already powerful Attack even stronger. While it lowers Speed, Dragonite isn’t fast to start with. With a base Attack of 134, Adamant Nature turns that into an attack powerhouse. Moves can hit hard, like a Snorlax falling down stairs.
Why choose Adamant? It maximizes offensive potential. Your Dragonite needs to be a threat and instill fear in opponents. With Adamant Nature, you reduce speed concerns by focusing on raw power. Many trainers on Reddit support this choice for strategies using Normal-Tera Extreme Speed. Competitor guides like Smogon favor Adamant for optimizing damage.
Jolly Nature: Speeding Things Up
If you prefer speed, Jolly Nature fits the bill. It boosts Speed while lowering Special Attack. Lowering Special Attack seems risky, but think about speed. It enables Dragonite to outspeed many opponents, useful in speed-centric formats. The tradeoff is manageable since Dragonite shines in physical moves.
Jolly allows a fully invested Dragonite to outrun many neutral Pokémon with 80 base Speed. In competitive play, it provides a solid speed tier. It transforms Dragonite into an active threat. This strategy works well against speed-focused teams.
Brave Nature: Embracing the Slow Burn
Brave Nature boosts Attack and lowers Speed. This seems like a weaker version of Adamant, but it has its niches. In Trick Room strategies or slower tactics, Brave Nature shines. In standard play, Adamant remains superior, offering better offensive output with manageable speed.
Modest and Timid Natures: Venturing into Special Territory?
Modest and Timid Natures lead us into less familiar territory for Dragonite. Modest raises Special Attack while lowering Attack. Timid boosts Speed at the cost of Attack. These options reduce a unique strength for Dragonite. Yet, they allow for mixed attacking sets.Dragonite has a base 100 Special Attack and access to moves like Thunderbolt and Ice Beam. However, specializing in special attacks isn’t ideal. Most Dragonite builds excel in physical offense.
Dragonite: Physical Powerhouse or Special Surprise?
Is Dragonite primarily a physical attacker? Absolutely. With a base 134 Attack stat over a base 100 Special Attack stat, numbers reveal its strengths. Dragonite’s movepool backs this. It can learn powerful physical moves such as Outrage, Earthquake, and Extreme Speed. Outrage deals massive damage, Earthquake covers Steel and Rock types, and Extreme Speed allows for quick strikes against weakened foes.
Can Dragonite use special attacks? Yes. Moves like Thunderbolt and Ice Beam provide type coverage. You could create a mixed set, but focusing on physical offense is ideal. The stats and moves favor physical playstyle.
EV Spread: Fine-Tuning for Battle
After selecting a Nature for your Dragonite, the next step is EV training. For Adamant or Jolly Dragonites, a common EV spread maximizes Attack and Speed. Why? Dragonite needs to hit hard and fast. Max Attack increases damage output, while max Speed helps reach decent speeds. Customize EV spreads based on threats or benchmarks, but max Attack and Speed generally work well.
Nature’s Visual Cue: The Red and Blue Arrows
Notice the red and blue arrows on your Pokémon’s stats? They show how Natures affect stats. A red arrow indicates a 10% boost in that stat from the Nature. A blue arrow means a 10% decrease. An Adamant Dragonite displays red up arrows at Attack and blue down arrows at Special Attack, making it easier to understand Natures’ effect.
Understanding Natures: The Personality Behind the Stats
What is a Quiet Nature? Natures are personality traits assigned to Pokémon that shape their growth. They add depth to each Pokémon you catch or hatch since they are randomly determined. Out of 25 Natures, 20 boost one stat by 10% while lowering another by 10%. The remaining five are neutral and do not affect any stats.
Nature Deep Dive: Beyond Dragonite
Now let’s look at some of the Natures mentioned to widen our understanding.
Timid Nature: Speed Demon Special
Timid Nature appeals to speedy special attackers. It boosts Speed by 10% while lowering Attack by 10%.
Think of Pokémon like Bug and Psychic types. They rely on special moves and need to outspeed foes. Timid Nature is beneficial.
Modest Nature: Special Attack Amplifier
Modest Nature boosts Special Attack by 10%. It lowers Attack by 10%. Fairy, Ghost, and Psychic types thrive with Modest Nature, enhancing their special attacks into forces of nature.
Jolly Nature: Speedy Physical Offense
Jolly Nature suits physical attackers. It provides an extra Speed boost. This option helps fast Pokémon outspeed threats. That slight boost can determine if they act first or are knocked out.
Adamant and Brave Natures: Physical Powerhouses Revisited
Both Adamant and Brave Natures enhance Attack. Adamant reduces Special Attack. Brave lowers Speed. Adamant is versatile, while Brave works in slower strategies.
Naive and Hasty Natures: Mixed Attacker Territory
Naive and Hasty Natures are for mixed attackers. Naive boosts Speed, lowers Special Defense. Hasty boosts Speed, lowers Defense. These Natures carry risks, reducing defenses, but work for Pokémon like Lucario or mixed Charizard.
Impish Nature: Physical Tankiness
Impish Nature increases Defense and lowers Special Attack. It’s for physical tanks, Pokémon that withstand hits and deal physical damage. Consider sturdy walls like Skarmory or tough Hippowdon.
Neutral Natures: The Unaffected Few
Neutral Natures include Hardy, Docile, Bashful, Quirky, and Serious. They do not impact stats. They’re basic Natures, not aiding or hindering growth. While not ideal for competition, they exist, and you might end up with one.
Mints: Nature’s Second Chance
If you catch a Dragonite with a poor Nature, don’t worry. Mints offer a solution. Mints effectively change a Pokémon’s Nature for stat boosts. A Modest Mint makes a Pokémon function like it has Modest Nature. It boosts Special Attack, lowers Attack, regardless of the original Nature.
However, Mints don’t change a Pokémon’s displayed Nature. They only affect the stat-boosting effect. Think of it as a recalibration rather than a change in personality. IVs and Natures are set at capture or receipt. Mints offer customization for Nature’s effects.
Dragonite’s Strengths, Weaknesses, and Matchups
To use Dragonite effectively, know its strengths and weaknesses.
Type Matchups: Dragonite’s Achilles’ Heels
Dragonite has key weaknesses to consider. It has a notable double weakness to Ice. Ice-type moves hit Dragonite for 4x damage. It’s also weak to Fairy, Rock, Dragon, Electric moves, taking 2x damage from each. Dragon and Fairy types are effective against Dragon types, adding vulnerabilities.
Best Moves for Dragonite: Unleashing the Dragon
Dragonite has a great movepool. Its physical moves are where it excels. For damage output, Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor are top tiers. Dragon Tail is physical. Draco Meteor is special but reduces Special Attack after use. For consistent physical damage, Outrage and Dragon Claw are great choices.
Outrage is powerful and multi-turn. Dragon Claw is reliable for one turn. Extreme Speed provides valuable priority. Earthquake offers coverage against Steel and Rock types resisting Dragon moves. Thunderbolt, Hurricane, and Ice Beam serve as special options for mixed sets, but physical moves suit Dragonite best.
Dragonite in Competitive Battles: A Force to Be Reckoned With
Dragonite’s high Attack gives it an advantage. Its movepool and decent bulk thanks to Multiscale make it competitive. It’s a strong offensive threat, pressuring opponents with physical moves and Extreme Speed priority. Still, its Ice weakness requires careful positioning to avoid being OHKO’d.
Dragonite vs. the Competition: Sibling Rivalries and Type Matchups
Let’s compare Dragonite to other Pokémon.
Dragonite vs. Charizard: A Tale of Two Dragons (Sort Of)
Dragonite and Charizard often compare despite Charizard not being a Dragon type. Dragonite typically has higher stats overall. It’s more versatile with a wider movepool like Thunderbolt, Hydro Pump, and Surf for better coverage compared to Charizard. However, Charizard shines with Mega Evolutions and unique abilities.
The idea of a common ancestry between Charizard and Dragonite remains a fan theory. Official lore offers no biological connection between them.
Dragonite vs. Dragonair: Evolution’s Glow-Up
Comparing Dragonite to Dragonair is like comparing a caterpillar to a butterfly. Dragonite is stronger and more versatile. It has higher base stats in Attack, Special Attack, Defense, and Special Defense. Dragonite’s movepool is vastly better with powerful moves unattainable by Dragonair.
Dragonair is slightly bulkier with higher HP, making it resilient. It only weakens to Ice, while Dragonite is weak to Ice and Dragon types. In Pokémon GO, Dragonair has unexpected effectiveness in the Great League while Dragonite dominates in raids and gyms.
Dragonite vs. Gengar: Ghostly Encounter
A level 30 Gengar can defeat a level 30 Dragonite in battle simulations. This highlights type matchups’ importance. Gengar is immune to Normal-type moves like Extreme Speed since it’s Ghost/Poison type. It can hit Dragonite effectively with Ghost or Poison moves.
Dragonite vs. Strong Counters: Kyurem and Beyond
Despite its power, Dragonite faces counters, especially Ice-types because of its 4x weakness. Pokémon like White Kyurem, Black Kyurem, Shadow Mamoswine, Mega Rayquaza, Mega Gardevoir, and Shadow Weavile can counter Dragonite effectively. They exploit weaknesses or out-damage it with powerful attacks.
Dratini and Dragonair: The Pre-Evolution Saga
Don’t overlook Dragonite’s origins as Dratini and Dragonair.
Best Nature for Dratini: Early Game Decisions
For Dratini, Adamant Nature is recommended. The Attack boost from Adamant is usually better than the Speed increase from Jolly at this stage. Dratini isn’t fast anyway, so maximizing offensive potential early is more effective.
Dratini’s Weaknesses: Baby Dragon Blues
As a pure Dragon type, Dratini is weak to Dragon, Ice, Fairy attacks. It resists Fire, Grass, Water, Electric types. Dragon-type moves do less against Steel types and have no effect on Fairy types. These matchups matter for training Dratini.
Dratini’s Gender
Ratio: Evenly Distributed Dragons
Dratini has a 1:1 gender ratio. You can encounter a male or female Dratini with equal chances.
When to Evolve Dratini: Patience is a Virtue
A common tip is to delay Dratini’s evolution. Why? Dragonite learns powerful moves later than Dratini and Dragonair. Delaying evolution helps you learn those moves sooner, saving TMs and Move Reminder trips.
Charizard Revisited: Nature and Abilities
Since we compared Dragonite to Charizard, let’s look deeper into Charizard.
Best Nature for Charizard: A Multifaceted Dragon (Again, Sort Of)
Like Dragonite, Charizard’s best Nature varies by playstyle. For special attackers, Timid and Modest are preferred. Timid boosts Speed, allowing it to strike first. Modest raises Special Attack for maximum damage with Fire Blast and Flamethrower. For physical Charizard, Adamant and Jolly can work. Adamant boosts Attack for moves like Flare Blitz and Earthquake, while Jolly raises Speed. Hasty or Naive Natures fit mixed attacker sets, using both physical and special moves.
Charizard’s Abilities: Blaze and Solar Power
Charizard has two main abilities: Blaze and Solar Power. Blaze raises Fire move power when HP is low. Solar Power boosts Special Attack in sunny weather but drains HP each turn. Blaze offers consistency, while Solar Power can shine on sun teams, despite HP loss.
Dragonite and Charizard Similarities: Dragon Design DNA
Dragonite and Charizard share numerous similarities. Despite Charizard not being a Dragon type, Game Freak aimed to create strong, iconic dragon-like Pokémon appealing globally. Both feature Western dragon designs, large wings, long tails, and impressive statures. They embody classic dragon imagery, despite their different types.
Other Pokémon and Their Ideal Natures: A Quick Tour
Now, let’s quickly review other Pokémon and their recommended Natures.
Gyarados: Adamant or Jolly for the Sea Serpent
Gyarados favors Adamant Nature for maximum Attack. This turns it into a physical powerhouse. Jolly is also decent if you prioritize Speed, but Adamant is more common to maximize Waterfall, Earthquake, and Dragon Dance damage.
Garchomp: Jolly for the Land Shark
Garchomp often prefers Jolly. This maximizes Speed, helping it outspeed opponents and effectively utilize its Attack with Swords Dance. Garchomp’s Speed is not exceptionally high, so Jolly provides critical speed benefits.
Salamence: Naive for the Offensive Dragon
Salamence benefits from Naive. It boosts Speed and lowers Special Defense, allowing it to outspeed threats while keeping strong Special Attack for mixed sets. Naive supports the use of both physical and special attacks.
Lucario: Hasty or Naive for the Aura Pokémon
Lucario, known for its offense, often uses Hasty or Naive Nature. These Natures boost Speed while decreasing a Defense stat. Sacrificing Defense or Special Defense for a Speed increase compensates for Lucario’s frailty. Jolly or Timid would lower essential Attack or Special Attack.
Heracross: Jolly for the Beetle Hercules
Heracross favors Jolly Nature. While Adamant provides power, Jolly grants Speed to counter threats like Adamant Choice Scarf Darmanitan. The Speed boost from Jolly may prove more valuable than the increase from Adamant power.
Milotic: Gender Doesn’t Dictate Nature
Milotic, the elegant Water-type, can be male or female. Gender does not influence optimal Nature or battle performance. Modest or Calm are popular choices for Milotic, depending on whether Special Attack or Special Defense is prioritized.
Anime Insights: Ash’s Dragonite and Beyond
Now, let’s explore elements from the Pokémon anime.
Ash’s Dragonite: Hugs and Hidden Genders
Ash Ketchum’s Dragonite is friendly and affectionate. It hugs those it meets, contrasting the typical competitive image of Dragonite. Early materials suggested Ash’s Dragonite was male with Multiscale, later revealed as female with Inner Focus during a game event. Anime details may differ from game mechanics.
Ash’s Pikachu: Level-less Legend
Wondering about Ash’s Pikachu level? The anime has no levels. Levels are a game mechanic. Anime Pikachu is simply Pikachu, driven by anime logic and determination.
Ash’s Greninja: Officially Male
Ash’s Greninja is canonically male in the anime, especially in its unique Ash-Greninja form. This is clear within the series.
General Pokémon Mechanics: Natures, EVs, and Pseudo-Legendaries
Let’s wrap up with fundamental Pokémon mechanics.
Natures: The Spice of Pokémon Life
Natures form a key part of Pokémon individuality. They are randomly assigned when you encounter or receive a Pokémon. Natures influence stat growth. Each Pokémon becomes slightly unique, enhancing strategic planning.
EVs: Effort Values for Stat Customization
EVs are another critical mechanic for optimizing stats. You can affect which stats grow by battling specific Pokémon. EV training plus Nature selection allows you to adjust Pokémon stats to match your strategy.
Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon: Dragonite’s Elite Status
Dragonite is pseudo-legendary, not legendary. Pseudo-legendaries have three-stage evolution lines and a base stat total of 600, just below legendaries in power. Examples include Garchomp, Salamence, Tyranitar, and Metagross. They are strong and sought-after but are obtainable in-game and can breed, unlike true legends.
This is your guide to Dragonite’s best Nature, packed with Pokémon lore and strategy. Choose your Nature wisely and train your Dragonite into a powerhouse. While Adamant is often the top pick, the best nature truly depends on your strategy and how you wish to unleash the dragon within.
