Utility
Balanced
420Average
70Moderate
DTier

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
Catch45Challenging•Slow1.25M XP•4m / 13'01"•16.5kg / 36.4 lbs•147Base XP
Pokedex Entries

This Pokémon lives in pristine oceans and lakes. It can control the weather, and it uses this power to fly into the sky, riding on the wind.

Sword

This Pokémon gathers power in the orbs on its tail and controls the weather. When enshrouded by an aura, Dragonair has a mystical appearance.

Shield

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
2xWeaki
IceDragonFairy
½xResisti
FireWaterElectricGrass
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (1)i
Dragon
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
Dratini
#147Dratini
30
Level 30
Dragonair
#148Dragonair
55
Level 55
Dragonite
#149Dragonite
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 60 partners from the Dragon and Water1 egg groups.

Egg Groups
DragonWater1
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
40 cycles·10,280 steps
Slow~10 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
gyaradosazumarillcharizardkingdraflygonmiloticnoivernblastoisegolduckwalreinaltariascrafty
12 of 60·

For an attacker, Dragonair wants a spread EV build EVs and Expert Belt. The Hardy nature tilts toward balanced duty, and Shedskin contributes without taking a move slot.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Shedskin
Item
Expert Belt
Nature
Hardy
EVs

Best Dragonair Moveset

  • Draco MeteorSTAB
  • Dragon PulseSTAB
  • Dragon TailSTAB
  • ProtectFAST +4

Recommended Teammates

Inteleon
InteleonExcellent
Toxtricity
ToxtricityExcellent

TMs carry this one. Dragonair learns Outrage and Dragon Rush naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Water and beyond give it real matchup play.

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
TR12
Agility
——30Psychic
TM31
Attract
—10015Normal
TR06
Blizzard
110705Ice
TR01
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM99
Breaking Swipe
6010015Dragon
TM97
Brutal Swing
6010020Dark
TR51
Dragon Dance
——20Dragon
TR62
Dragon Pulse
8510010Dragon
TR26
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM39
Facade
7010020Normal
TR15
Fire Blast
110855Fire
TM13
Fire Spin
358515Fire
TR02
Flamethrower
9010015Fire
TM09
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM35
Hail
——10Ice
TR03
Hydro Pump
110805Water
TM08
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TR05
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM27
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TR31
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM17
Light Screen
——30Psychic
TR24
Outrage
12010010Dragon
TM25
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM33
Rain Dance
——5Water
TM21
Rest
——10Psychic
TM76
Round
6010015Normal
TM19
Safeguard
——25Normal
TR27
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TM24
Snore
5010015Normal
TR20
Substitute
——10Normal
TM34
Sunny Day
——5Fire
TR04
Surf
9010015Water
TM40
Swift
60—20Normal
TR09
Thunder
1107010Electric
TM14
Thunder Wave
—9020Electric
TR08
Thunderbolt
9010015Electric
TR16
Waterfall
8010015Water
TM36
Whirlpool
358515Water

Egg Moves

Dragonair doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Scale Shot
259020Dragon

Can't catch Dragonair directly. Start with Dratini at moderate rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 30. The 2-stage line from Dratini to Dragonair is where the leveling time goes.

How to Obtain Dragonair in Sword & Shield

The path to Dragonair starts with Dratini at Lv. 60-65 via surfing encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Dratini
    Step 1Catch Dratini
    Ballimere Lake
    ShieldSurfing on waterLv.60-655%PostWaterOvercast
    HARD
    Ballimere Lake
    SwordSurfing on waterLv.60-655%PostWaterThunderstorm
    HARD
    Ballimere Lake
    ShieldSurfing on waterLv.60-655%PostWaterNormal Weather
    HARD
    Ballimere Lake
    SwordSurfing on waterLv.60-655%PostWaterIntense Sun
    HARD
    Ballimere Lake
    SwordSurfing on waterLv.60-655%PostWaterSnowing
    HARD
    Ballimere Lake
    SwordSurfing on waterLv.60-655%PostWaterRaining
    HARD
    Ballimere Lake
    SwordSurfing on waterLv.60-655%PostWaterOvercast
    HARD
    Ballimere Lake
    SwordSurfing on waterLv.60-655%PostWaterNormal Weather
    HARD
    Ballimere Lake
    ShieldSurfing on waterLv.60-655%PostWaterThunderstorm
    HARD
    Ballimere Lake
    ShieldSurfing on waterLv.60-655%PostWaterIntense Sun
    HARD
    Ballimere Lake
    ShieldSurfing on waterLv.60-655%PostWaterSnowing
    HARD
    Ballimere Lake
    ShieldSurfing on waterLv.60-655%PostWaterRaining
    HARD
  2. Dragonair
    Step 2Dragonair ✓

  • 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.