Utility
Balanced
420Average
70Moderate
CTier

Dragonair is technically a pre-evolution of Dragonite, but it holds its own in formats where Eviolite is allowed. Only weak to Ice, Dragon, and Fairy. Known as the Dragon Pokemon. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets.

An unusually even spread gives Dragonair flexibility. Attack barely edges ahead. But HP isn't far off. Tough to catch and follows a slow 1.25M XP grind. Yields 2 Attack EVs.

Base Stats
420Above
HP61
C
Attack84
C
Defense65
C
Sp. Atk70
C
Sp. Def70
C
Speed70
C
Total420
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Dragonair yields +2 Atk
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch45ChallengingSlow1.25M XP4m / 13'01"16.5kg / 36.4 lbs147Base XP
Pokedex Entries

They say that if it emits an aura from its whole body, the weather will begin to change instantly.

Scarlet

It is called the divine Pokémon. When its entire body brightens slightly, the weather changes.

Violet

Dragonair Weakness

Avg

Dragonair is weak to Ice, Dragon, and Fairy-type moves. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Standard number of weaknesses for the Dragon typing.

4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (1)i
3Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Scorei-2
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Shed SkinHas a 33% chance of curing any major status ailment after each turn.
Marvel ScaleHAIncreases Defense to 1.5× with a major status ailment.

Partway through Dratini's chain. Dragonair still has another evolution ahead before reaching Dragonite. For breeding, takes forever to hatch with plenty of partners via two egg groups. HP has grown the most so far (+20), but there's still another 180 stats to gain in the final evolution.

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
420C-Tier+120
600S-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Physical
Breeding
Easy

Breed with Dragonair to get Dratini eggs easily using 65 partners from the Dragon and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Aqua Jet, Dragon Breath, Extreme Speed and 3 more.

Egg Groups
DragonWater1
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)
gyaradosazumarillcharizardkingdrasceptileflygonmiloticnoivernblastoisegolduckferaligatrswampert

One boost from Dragon Dance and Dragonair gets dangerous fast. The Adamant nature targets max Attack and Speed, and Shedskin backs the whole approach. Outrage and the remaining moves handle most of what's left standing.

Best Build

Physical Setup Sweeper
Ability
Shedskin
Item
EvioliteBULK
Nature
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Best Dragonair Moveset

  • Extreme Speed
  • Dragon DanceSTAB
  • OutrageSTAB
  • Iron Head

Recommended Teammates

Egg moves make a real difference. Dragonair gets Aqua Jet and Dragon Breath exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Normal and Water coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Draco Meteor and Outrage.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Thunder Wave
9020Electric
Lv 1
Twister
4010020Dragon
Lv 1
Wrap
159020Normal
Lv 15
Dragon Tail-6
609010Dragon
Lv 20
Agility
30Psychic
Lv 25
Slam
807520Normal
Lv 33
Aqua Tail
909010Water
Lv 39
Dragon Rush
1007510Dragon
Lv 46
Safeguard
25Normal
Lv 53
Rain Dance
5Water
Lv 60
Dragon Dance
20Dragon
Lv 67
Outrage
12010010Dragon
Lv 74
Hyper Beam
150905Normal

TM Moves

Src
TM04
Agility
30Psychic
TM143
Blizzard
110705Ice
TM66
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM222
Breaking Swipe
6010015Dragon
TM22
Chilling Water
5010020Water
TM169
Draco Meteor
130905Dragon
TM226
Dragon Cheer
15Dragon
TM100
Dragon Dance
20Dragon
TM115
Dragon Pulse
8510010Dragon
TM44
Dragon Tail-6
609010Dragon
TM47
Endure+4
10Normal
TM25
Facade
7010020Normal
TM141
Fire Blast
110855Fire
TM24
Fire Spin
358515Fire
TM125
Flamethrower
9010015Fire
TM152
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM174
Haze
30Ice
TM130
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
TM142
Hydro Pump
110805Water
TM163
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM135
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM34
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TM99
Iron Head
8010015Steel
TM75
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM156
Outrage
12010010Dragon
TM07
Protect+4
10Normal
TM50
Rain Dance
5Water
TM85
Rest
5Psychic
TM200
Scale Shot
259020Dragon
TM70
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM103
Substitute
10Normal
TM49
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM123
Surf
9010015Water
TM32
Swift
6020Normal
TM01
Take Down
908520Normal
TM171
Tera Blast
8010010Normal
TM166
Thunder
1107010Electric
TM82
Thunder Wave
9020Electric
TM126
Thunderbolt
9010015Electric
TM11
Water Pulse
6010020Water
TM77
Waterfall
8010015Water
TM193
Weather Ball
5010010Normal

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Aqua Jet+1
4010020Water
Egg
Dragon Breath
6010020Dragon
Egg
Extreme Speed+2
801005Normal
Egg
Mist
30Ice
Egg
Supersonic
5520Normal
Egg
Water Pulse
6010020Water

Tutor Moves

Dragonair can't learn any Tutor moves

low spawn rates across 2 encounter spots for Dragonair. That's the kind of hunt where you pick one location and settle in. Sort by Best below to see where the odds are highest.

Where To Catch Dragonair in Scarlet & Violet

The path to Dragonair starts with Dratini at Lv. 20-54 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Dratini
    Step 1Catch Dratini
    Casseroya Lake - Lake
    ScarletOverworldLv.20-5220%MidWater
    EASY
    Casseroya Lake - Lake
    VioletOverworldLv.20-5220%MidWater
    EASY
    South Province (Area Six) - River
    VioletOverworldLv.20-5210%MidRoute
    MODERATE
    South Province (Area Six) - River
    ScarletOverworldLv.20-5210%MidRoute
    MODERATE
    North Province (Area One) - Lake
    ScarletOverworldLv.20-528%MidRoute
    MODERATE
    North Province (Area One) - Lake
    VioletOverworldLv.20-528%MidRoute
    MODERATE
    North Province (Area Two) - Lake
    VioletOverworldLv.20-528%MidRoute
    MODERATE
    North Province (Area Two) - Lake
    ScarletOverworldLv.20-528%MidRoute
    MODERATE
  2. Dragonair
    Step 2Dragonair
    Casseroya Lake - Lake
    VioletOverworldLv.50-543%PostWater
    CHALLENGING
    Casseroya Lake - Lake
    ScarletOverworldLv.50-543%PostWater
    CHALLENGING
    or evolve from Dratini (Step 1)
  • Dragonair is meant to evolve into Dragonite. At 420 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.

  • Dragonair's biggest threats include Lapras (Ice), Kingdra (Dragon), and Clefable (Fairy), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

  • Dratini evolves into Dragonair at level 30. Dragonair evolves into Dragonite at level 55. Dragonair is a middle-stage evolution in the Dratini line.

  • Shed Skin is the go-to ability for Dragonair. It has a 33% chance of curing any major status ailment after each turn. Its hidden ability Marvel Scale can work in specific setups.

  • Base 70 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Dragonair is leaning toward the physical side (base 84 Attack).

  • Dragonair appears in 21 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

One of the original 151, Dragonair has appeared in 21 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.