The Dragon Pokemon. Gen 1's pseudo-legendary, Dragonite lives and dies by TM coverage at A-Tier since Dragon moves are useless in Red & Blue.
600HP91Attack134Defense95Speed80Sp.Def100Sp.Atk100
Dratini
Dragonair
Dragonite
Weak to
Mixed
Wallbreaker
80Speed · Above Avg

Is Dragonite Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

600 BST makes Dragonite the strongest non-legendary Pokemon in Red and Blue. The problem is getting there: level 55 evolution means you won't have it until the very end. If you commit to the grind, Dragonite dominates everything it faces. Most players reach the E4 before the evolution happens.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTEEETGSEGEGGBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3DratiniPurchaseErikaGym 4DragonairEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4DragoniteEvolveBrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Dratini's defenses.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

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

Even
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
Even
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Risky
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Dratini trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

Even
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
You Win
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
Even
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Dragonair trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Risky
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Tough

Sabrina's typing presses Dragonair's defenses.

Risky
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
Even
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
Even
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

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

You Win
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
You Win
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Even
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Strong

Dragonair resists most of Giovanni's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
You Win
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Dragonair trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
You Win
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

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

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Dragonite trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Risky
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
Risky
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Good

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

Easy KO
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Good

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

You Win
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 61
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberLeerTake Down
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 63
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStomp
Even
Blastoise
Lv 65
Water
Torrent
BiteWithdrawBlizzardHydro Pump

Buy Dratini

Available after Badge 3
Type
Dragon
Tier
E

Dratini can be purchased in Celadon City at Lv 18. 2,800 Coins. Purchase from the Celadon Game Corner prize counter. Coins can be bought at the counter or won at the slot machines.

View Dratini locations

Evolve Dratini to Dragonair

Level 30
Type
Dragon
Tier
E

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

Recommended Moves

Evolve Dragonair to Dragonite

Level 55
Type
DragonFlying
Tier
A

Dragonair evolves into Dragonite at Level 55. Your Dragonair should hit Level 55 before you reach Bruno, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

How to Get Dragonite in Red & Blue

Dragonair becomes Dragonite at level 55, the latest evolution in all of Kanto. Reaching it from a Safari Zone Dratini is one of the longest grinds the game asks of you, but the result is a pseudo-legendary.

Catch Dratini at any of these 2 spots to eventually evolve into Dragonite.

Encountered via fishing with a Rod

  1. 1
    Catch Dratini
  2. 2
    Evolve Dragonairat Lv.30
  3. 3
    Evolve Dragoniteat Lv.55
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6

How to Obtain Dragonite in RB

The path to Dragonite starts with Dratini at Lv. 15-24 via fishing and gift encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Dragonair
    Step 2Evolve into Dragonair
  2. Dragonite
    Step 3Dragonite ✓

Dragonite Weakness

Ice, Rock, and Dragon moves hit Dragonite for super-effective damage. Ice hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. The upside? Ground-type moves can't touch it at all. The Dragon/Flying typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. Dragonite's overall bulk (91/95/100) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.

Dragonite Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Ice
2x (Weak)Rock, Dragon
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Fighting, Bug
0.25x (Resist)Grass
0x (Immune)Ground
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Dragonite Weak Against

Good
3Weak
5Resist
1Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
¼xResist
0xImmune

What is Dragonite Strong Against

4Strong
0Resisted
0Immune
Score+4
½xResisted
None
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Dragonite

Articuno
Articuno
IceFlying
B
Lapras
Lapras
WaterIce
B
Dewgong
Dewgong
WaterIce
C
Omastar
Omastar
RockWater
C
Cloyster
Cloyster
WaterIce
A

Dragonite Evolutions

You get Dragonite from Dratini at level 55. This Dragon/Flying-type hits 600 total stats and can't produce eggs. The evolution from Dratini pushed Dragonite to 600 total stats. Attack saw the largest single gain at +70. 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
300E-Tier
420E-Tier+120
600A-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Dragonite Best Moveset

Highest base stat total of any non-legendary available, but Dragon moves barely existed and 80 Speed left Dragonite slower than most top threats. MoveHyper Beam skips recharge on KO and MoveBlizzard covers nearly everything. Raw power compensates for the Speed gap.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Dragonite
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • WrapCoverage
  • Hyper Beam
  • BlizzardCoverage
  • AgilitySetup

Moves List

The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Dragonite's Normal and Ice coverage and more all comes from technical machines, built on top of Dragon Rage for same-type damage. Hyper Beam and Blizzard are the payoff moves.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Agility
B——30Psychic
Lv 1
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 1
Thunder Wave
B—10020Electric
Lv 1
Wrap
B158520Normal
Lv 10
Thunder Wave
B—10020Electric
Lv 20
Agility
B——30Psychic
Lv 35
Slam
—807520Normal
Lv 45
Dragon Rage
D—10010Dragon
Lv 60
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal

TM Moves

All 27 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM14
BlizzardPokémon Mansionbadge 6
B110905Ice
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
C8510015Normal
TM11C6510020Water
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
B12010015Normal
TM23
Dragon RageRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
D—10010Dragon
TM38C120855Fire
TM07
Horn DrillCeladon Department Storebadge 3
——305Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
B150905Normal
TM13C9510010Ice
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM02
Razor WindCeladon Department Storebadge 3
—8010010Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
B10010010Normal
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
HM03
SurfSafari Zonebadge 4
C9510015Water
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
C60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM25
ThunderKanto Power Plantbadge 5
C1107010Electric
TM45
Thunder WaveRoute 24badge 1
B—10020Electric
TM24A9510015Electric
TM06C—9010Poison
TM12
Water GunMt. Moonbadge 1
D4010025Water

Tutor Moves

Dragonite can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Legend
HP91
B
Attack134
A
Defense95
B
Sp. Atk100
B
Sp. Def100
B
Speed80
C
Total600
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height2.2 m
Weight210.0 kg
Base XP300
EV Yield
HPAtk+3DefSpASpDSpe
Strong Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

An extremely rarely seen marine POKéMON. Its intelligence is said to match that of humans.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Dragonite Red & Blue Guide

  • In Red & Blue, use Dragonite as a wallbreaker. Splits damage between physical and special. Speed is middling, Set up with Agility when you get a free turn.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Dragonite appears in 21 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Dragonite have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Explore

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