Special
Balanced
50Speed · Slow

Is Dratini Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?

Dragon-type with a long evolution chain: Dragonair at 30, Dragonite at 55. AbilityShed Skin has a chance to heal status each turn. Catching Dratini means committing to a 40+ level grind. The payoff is one of the best Pokemon in the game. Whether you have the patience is the only question.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadGEEEEEGGEGGGGBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3DratiniGiftErikaGym 4DratiniCatchDragonairEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4DragoniteEvolveAgathaE4LanceE4TerryChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Good

Dratini has the type edge here and should clean up Brock's team.

You Win
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense Curl
You Win
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleBindRock Tomb
Misty
Gym 2
Even

Dratini trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleHardenRecoverWater Pulse
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
SwiftRecoverRapid SpinWater Pulse
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Dratini trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
Sonic BoomTackleScreechShock Wave
Even
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder WaveDouble TeamShock Wave
Risky
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder WaveDouble TeamShock Wave
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Dratini trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

Even
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Stun SporeAcidPoison PowderGiga Drain
You Win
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
Poison PowderConstrictIngrainGiga Drain
Even
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Sleep PowderAcidStun SporeGiga Drain
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Dragonair trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
Self DestructSludgeSmokescreenToxic
Even
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
MinimizeSludgeAcid ArmorToxic
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
Self DestructSludgeSmokescreenToxic
Even
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
TackleSludgeSmokescreenToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Dragonair trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamReflectFuture SightCalm Mind
Even
Mr Mime
Lv 37
PsychicFairy
Soundproof
BarrierPsybeamBaton PassCalm Mind
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
PsybeamGustLeech LifeSupersonic
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsychicRecoverFuture SightCalm Mind
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Dragonair has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

You Win
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
BiteRoarTake DownFire Blast
You Win
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
StompBounceFire SpinFire Blast
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
StompBounceFire SpinFire Blast
Even
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
BiteRoarTake DownFire Blast
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

Dragonair has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.

Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Take DownRock BlastScary FaceEarthquake
You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashSand TombMud SlapEarthquake
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
Body SlamDouble KickPoison StingEarthquake
Even
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ThrashDouble KickPoison StingEarthquake
Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Take DownRock BlastScary FaceEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Dragonair trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 52
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Ice BeamSurfHailSafeguard
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 51
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SpikesProtectHailDive
Even
Slowbro
Lv 52
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
Ice BeamSurfAmnesiaYawn
Even
Jynx
Lv 54
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Ice PunchDouble SlapLovely KissAttract
Even
Lapras
Lv 54
WaterIce
Water AbsorbImmune to Water attacks
Confuse RayIce BeamSurfBody Slam
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Dragonair has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 51
RockGround
Rock Head
EarthquakeRock TombIron TailRoar
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 53
Fighting
Keen Eye
Sky UppercutMach PunchRock TombCounter
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 53
Fighting
Limber
Mega KickForesightBrick BreakFacade
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 54
RockGround
Rock Head
Double EdgeEarthquakeIron TailSand Tomb
Even
Machamp
Lv 56
Fighting
Guts
Cross ChopBulk UpScary FaceRock Tomb
Agatha
Elite Four
Good

Dragonite has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.

You Win
Gengar
Lv 54
GhostPoison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Shadow PunchConfuse RayToxicDouble Team
You Win
Golbat
Lv 54
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
Confuse RayPoison FangAir CutterBite
You Win
Haunter
Lv 53
GhostPoison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
HypnosisDream EaterCurseMean Look
You Win
Arbok
Lv 56
Poison
Intimidate
Sludge BombScreechIron TailBite
Even
Gengar
Lv 58
GhostPoison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Shadow BallSludge BombHypnosisNightmare
Lance
Elite Four
Good

Dragonite has the type edge here and should clean up Lance's team.

Easy KO
Gyarados
Lv 56
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Hyper BeamDragon RageTwisterBite
Easy KO
Dragonair
Lv 54
Dragon
Shed Skin
Hyper BeamSafeguardDragon RageOutrage
Easy KO
Dragonair
Lv 54
Dragon
Shed Skin
Hyper BeamSafeguardThunder WaveOutrage
Even
Aerodactyl
Lv 58
RockFlying
Rock Head
Hyper BeamAncient PowerWing AttackScary Face
You Win
Dragonite
Lv 60
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Hyper BeamSafeguardOutrageWing Attack
Terry
Champion
Good

Dragonite has the type edge here and should clean up Terry's team.

Easy KO
Heracross
Lv 72
BugFighting
Swarm
MegahornEarthquakeCounterRock Tomb
Even
Alakazam
Lv 73
Psychic
Synchronize
PsychicShadow BallCalm MindReflect
Easy KO
Tyranitar
Lv 72
RockDark
Sand Stream
CrunchEarthquakeThunderboltAerial Ace
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 73
Fire
Intimidate
Extreme SpeedOverheatAerial AceIron Tail
Easy KO
Exeggutor
Lv 73
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
Giga DrainPsychicSleep PowderLight Screen
Even
Blastoise
Lv 75
Water
Torrent
Hydro PumpIce BeamEarthquakeRain Dance
Gift
Available after Badge 3
Type
Dragon
Tier
E

Dratini is given to you as a gift on Celadon City at Lv 18. 2,800 Coins. Exchange coins at the Celadon Game Corner prize counter

View Dratini locations

Recommended Moves
  • After Erika
    • TM35FireFlamethrower90100%15
    • TM13IceIce Beam90100%10
    • TM24ElectricThunderbolt90100%15
  • After Koga
    • HM03WaterSurf90100%15
  • After Blaine
    • TM38FireFire Blast11085%5
    • LV 50DragonOutrage180100%10
  • After Giovanni
    • TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
    • LV 57NormalHyper Beam15090%5
  • Post-Game
    • TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
    • HM07WaterWaterfall80100%15
    • TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Catch Dratini
Available after Badge 4
Type
Dragon
Tier
E

Catch Dratini on Safari Zone (Super Rod fishing, Lv 15-25, uncommon).

View Dratini locations

Recommended Moves
  • After Erika
    • TM35FireFlamethrower90100%15
    • TM13IceIce Beam90100%10
    • TM24ElectricThunderbolt90100%15
  • After Koga
    • HM03WaterSurf90100%15
  • After Blaine
    • TM38FireFire Blast11085%5
    • LV 50DragonOutrage180100%10
  • After Giovanni
    • TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
    • LV 57NormalHyper Beam15090%5
  • Post-Game
    • TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
    • HM07WaterWaterfall80100%15
    • TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Evolve Dratini to Dragonair
Level 30
Type
Dragon
Tier
E

Your Dratini should hit Level 30 before you reach Koga, at typical leveling pace.

View Dragonair locations

Recommended Moves
  • STARTING (Lv 30)
    • LV 30ElectricThunder Wave90%20
  • After Erika
    • TM35FireFlamethrower90100%15
    • TM13IceIce Beam90100%10
    • TM06PoisonToxic90%10
  • After Blaine
    • TM38FireFire Blast11085%5
  • After Giovanni
    • TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
    • LV 56DragonOutrage180100%10
    • LV 65NormalHyper Beam15090%5
  • Post-Game
    • TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
    • HM07WaterWaterfall80100%15
    • TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Evolve Dragonair to Dragonite
Level 55
Type
DragonFlying
Tier
A

Your Dragonair should hit Level 55 before you reach Agatha, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves
  • After Lt. Surge
    • HM02FlyingFly13595%15
  • After Koga
    • TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
  • After Blaine
    • TM38FireFire Blast11085%5
  • After Giovanni
    • TM02DragonDragon Claw120100%15
    • TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
    • TM26GroundEarthquake100100%10
    • LV 61DragonOutrage180100%10
    • LV 75NormalHyper Beam15090%5
  • Post-Game
    • TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
    • HM07WaterWaterfall80100%15
    • TM42NormalFacade70100%20

How to Get Dratini in FireRed & LeafGreen

Game Corner prize (2,800 coins FR, 4,600 LG) or uncommon Super Rod fishing in the Safari Zone. Dratini has 10 total encounters in both versions, but the wild ones are hard to hook.

2 locations to catch Dratini

Encountered via fishing with a Rod

Badge 4
Badge 5

Where To Catch Dratini in FRLG

The path to Dratini starts with Dratini at Lv. 15-35 via fishing and gift encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Dragonite
    Step 3Evolve into Dragonite
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave a compatible parent at the Four Island Pokemon Day Care to receive a Dragonite egg. Requires the Rainbow Pass to access Four Island.

Dratini Weakness

Dratini's Dragon typing leaves it vulnerable to Ice and Dragon. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.

Dratini Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Ice, Dragon
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Electric, Grass
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

What is Dratini Weak Against

Avg
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Dratini Strong Against

1Strong
1Resisted
0Immune
Score0
2xStrong
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Dratini

Dratini Evolutions

Dratini is the start of a three-stage chain. It evolves into Dragonair first, then eventually reaches Dragonite. For breeding, takes forever to hatch with a decent partner pool via two egg groups. The evolved forms gain up to 300 total stats over Dratini. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Dratini
Dragon
Dragonair
Dragon
Dragonite
DragonFlying
HP
41
61+20
91+30
ATK
64
84+20
134+50
DEF
45
65+20
95+30
SP.ATK
50
70+20
100+30
SP.DEF
50
70+20
100+30
SPE
50
70+20
80+10
BST
300D-Tier
420D-Tier+120
600A-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Physical

Breeding

Easy

Breed Dratini easily with 27 breeding partners from the Dragon and Water1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Haze and 3 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
40 cycles·10,280 steps
Slow~10 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
6moves
Breed With (best first)
gyaradosazumarillcharizardkingdrasceptileflygonmiloticblastoisegolduckferaligatrswampertaltaria

FRLG Dratini Best Moveset

Dragon typing with AbilityShed Skin curing status occasionally. Two evolutions from Dragonite's devastating moveset. Stats too low for the typing to offer anything here.

Best Build

Experimental
Physical Attacker
Ability
Shed Skin
Item
Sitrus BerryRECOVERY
Best Nature for Dratini
Brave+ATK

Dratini best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Physical Attacker Moveset

  • Dragon DanceSTAB
  • Body Slam
  • OutrageSTAB
  • Hidden Power Flying

Moves List

You'll want to breed for Dragon Breath and Dragon Dance on Dratini. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Outrage and Dragon Breath, they expand what Dratini can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leer
D10030Normal
Lv 1
Wrap
D158520Normal
Lv 8
Thunder Wave
C10020Electric
Lv 15
Twister
6010020Dragon
Lv 22
Dragon Rage
10010Dragon
Lv 29
Slam
807520Normal
Lv 36
Agility
C30Psychic
Lv 43
Safeguard
D25Normal
Lv 50
Outrage
B18010010Dragon
Lv 57
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
D120705Ice
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM42
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
D120855Fire
TM35
Flamethrower
D9510015Fire
TM21
Frustration
D10020Normal
TM07
Hail
10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
D9510010Ice
TM23
Iron Tail
D1007515Steel
TM17
Protect+4
C10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
C5Water
TM44
Rest
C10Psychic
TM27
Return
D10020Normal
TM20
Safeguard
D25Normal
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM34
Shock Wave
D6020Electric
TM11
Sunny Day
C5Fire
HM03
Surf
D9510015Water
TM25
Thunder
D1207010Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
D9510015Electric
TM06
Toxic
A8510Poison
TM03
Water Pulse
D6010020Water
HM07
Waterfall
D8010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Dragon Breath
D9010020Dragon
Egg
Dragon Dance
B20Dragon
Egg
Haze
C30Ice
Egg
Light Screen
C30Psychic
Egg
Mist
30Ice
Egg
Supersonic
5520Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Body Slam
B8510015Normal
Tutor
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Tutor
Mimic
D10Normal
Tutor
Substitute
C10Normal
Tutor
Thunder Wave
C10020Electric

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP41
D
Attack64
C
Defense45
D
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def50
D
Speed50
D
Total300
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.8 m
Weight3.3 kg
Base XP60
Abilities
Shed Skin
Has a 33% chance of curing any major status ailment after each turn.
EV Yield
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training source
Pokedex Entry

Even the young can exceed 6.5 feet in length. It grows larger by repeatedly shedding skin.

Long considered a mythical POKéMON until recently, when a small colony was found living underwater.

Dratini FireRed & LeafGreen Guide

  • Where in the FireRed & LeafGreen Safari Zone can I find Dratini?

    See the Locations section above for where to find Dratini in FireRed & LeafGreen.

    Safari rules: You can only use Safari Balls. No battling. Two tactical items shift the catch/flee trade-off:

    ActionCatch chance per ballFlee rate per turn
    Default7%35%
    Bait7% (floor)5%
    Rock15%70%

    Effects last 2-6 random turns; throwing one cancels the other. Catch chance assumes full HP and a Safari Ball (the only ball allowed). (floor) = halving was clamped at the catch-factor floor of 3, so catch chance does not change.

  • Dratini costs 2,800 Coins in FireRed. Dratini costs 4,600 Coins in LeafGreen. Earn coins by playing the slot machines on the Game Corner floor or buying them at the counter (1,000 coins for ₽10,000).

Game Availability

Dratini has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 21 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.

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