AmongPokémon’s nineteen elemental types, none has had quite the same impact on the franchise as the mystical Dragon-type. With resistance to Fire, Water, Grass, and Electric-type attacks and naturally high base stats, Dragons serve asthe perfect counter to the usual lineup of starter Pokémon. Though Dragon-type moves are only super-effective against other Dragons, only the Steel and Fairy-types resist and are immune, respectively, meaning that Dragons can brute force their way through most battles with ease.
While Generation 1 only had one line of Dragon-Pokemon, subsequent games have introduced many more, though the type is still ranked among one of the rarest in the franchise. Many of themost powerful Legendary Pokémonhave Dragon-typing, and it is the most common type among the popular pseudo-legendaries. Be it because of their lore, design, excellence in games, or mighty presence in the anime, certain Dragons rise above the rest to stand as the pinnacle of what their type represents.This list will rank the best Dragon-type Pokémonbased on their qualities, power, design, and overall presence in the franchise.
Pokédex Number 330, “The Mystic Pokémon”
Within the arid desertsof the Pokémon World lives Trapinch, a Ground-type known for digging pit-traps so they can catch their prey. In time, they grow wings and become the insect-looking Vibrava, yet they obtain the Dragon-type instead of Bug. In time, Vibrava’s wings grow stronger as it continues to hunt, and eventually, it evolves into the more draconic-looking Flygon.
Flygon’s insect-themed design and the great coverage provided by its Ground-typing helped itstand out compared to other Dragons. Thanks to its Levitate ability, Flygon gains an immunity to Ground-type attacks, allowing it to switch in safely or, in double battles, avoid being hit by the universal Earthquake. In lore, it’s nicknamed “The Desert Spirit” due to the beautiful sound of its wings in flight and the sandstorms it whips up. While other Dragon-types outclass Flygon in terms of power,it has remained a fan favorite, and there may be hope of a long-awaited Mega Flygon inthe upcomingPokémon Legends: Z-A.
9Dragapult
Pokédex Number 887, “The Stealth Pokémon”
While some extinct Pokémon can be brought back to life through cloning their fossils, the adorable Dreepy instead returns as a Ghost-type. Though weak individually, Dreepy live in large groups to help one another get stronger and evolve into Drakloak, who love to let Dreepy ride on their heads. From there, it’s a short wait to evolve into Dragapult, who are never seen without two Dreepy resting in their hollow horns.
One of the highlights ofthe otherwise divisive Galar Region, Dragapult’s unique attack, Dragon Darts, involves launching the Dreepy from its horns like missiles. The Dreepy seem to love it and will flock around the fastest Dragapult in their group in the hopes that they’ll be launched. In battle,Dragapult is wicked fastand has managed to thrive in the competitive scene by making use of Dynamaxing and Terastallization. It’s alsoblessed with three great abilities: Clear Body prevents enemies from lowering Dragapult’s stats, Infiltrator allows it to ignore moves like Light Screen and Substitute while hitting its target, and Cursed Body has a chance of disabling any attack that touches Dragapult.
Pokédex Number 646, “The Boundary Pokémon”
In the ancient past, two brothers formed the Unova Region using a mighty Dragon-type but then drifted apart due to their conflicting beliefs. Thus, the dragon split itself into two: the fiery Reshiram, who represents truth, and the electric Zekrom, who represents ideals. However, it also left behind an empty shell called Kyurem, which generates freezing cold to keep its unstable body together.
Kyurem’s secondary Ice-typing makes it evenmore effective at taking down its fellow Dragons, and with its Pressure ability, Pokémon have to exert twice as much energy when they attack it. However, Kyurem’s real power shines through when it absorbs Reshiram or Zekrom and becomes White or Black Kyurem. These two forms see Kyurem’s special and physical strength skyrocket and grant it access to new moves that combine the power of Ice with Fire or Electric. Though its appearance in the anime has been limited, fans ofPokémon Black2 and White2remember Kyurem’s role in the story as the villainous Team Plasma used its powers to freeze Opelucid City.
Pokédex Number 718, “The Order Pokémon”
With so many Pokémon who can distort the landscape with their powers, and the advanced technology humans have, there is a legitimate concern for the stability of the Pokémon World’s ecosystem. Fortunately, it has a protector in the form of Zygarde, a Dragon/Ground-type usuallyfound in the Kalos Region, whose body consists of observant cells and intelligent cores that control them. When a threat is detected, Zygarde’s cores can collect nearby cells to take on different forms: a fast-moving dog at 10%, a large serpent at 50%, and a gargantuan titan when all cells and cores combine.
When introduced inPokémon X and Y,Zygarde was simply an optional boss fight that existed as the arbitrary middle ground between the life-giving Xerneas and the death-dealing Yveltal. However, the expansion of its powers in later games and its phenomenal depiction in the anime helped Zygarde reach its full potential.The concept of Zygarde is great: the idea of the cells coming together is an effective representation of the ecosystem rising up to defend itself, and the different forms show that Zygarde is intelligent enough to know when to go all out or when to show restraint. Zygarde gets several powerful unique attacks, but the stand-out is Core Enforcer, which can suppress its opponent’s abilities if Zygarde moves after them.
6Hydreigon
Pokédex Number 635, “The Brutal Pokémon”
No Pokémontakes as long to reach its final formas Deino, a blind Dark/Dragon-type found in caves that bites everything in its way. By the time most other Dragon-types are in their final form, Deino evolves into the two-headed Zweilous, whose heads compete with one another for food. Eventually, one head will dominate the other, triggering an evolution into the three-headed and six-eyed Hydreigon.
The long slog to level 64 is worth it,thanks to Hydreigon’s impressive power. While the Dark-typing means that Hydreigon gets absolutely wrecked by Fairy-types, immunity to Psychic and Ground thanks to Levitate gives it a few free switch-ins, allowing Hydreigon to overwhelm its foe with brute strength and diverse attacks. It’s alsoone of the fiercest-looking dragons, thanks to its strong contrasting colors, and unique among multi-headed Pokémon in that Hydreigon only has one brain. Thus, its heads don’t act independent of one another but rather work together to achieve the singular goal of biting and overpowering anything in its way.
5Salamence
Pokédex Number 373, “The Dragon Pokémon”
One of themost inspiring stories in the Pokémon worldcomes from Bagon, a thick-headed Dragon who lives high in the mountains. Bagon dreams of one day being able to fly, and so it repeatedly tosses itself off cliffsides until it evolves into the armored Shelgon. Within its shell, the Pokémon’s cells undergo a massive transformation until its wings break through as it evolves into the mighty Salamence.
Salamence’ssimple yet elegant designperfectly captures how fierce this Pokémon is. It’s not quite as defensive as other Dragons, but it makes up for this through two amazing abilities: Intimidate frightens opponents so they won’t hit as hard, while Moxie means that every time Salamence defeats an opponent, its power surges. If that wasn’t enough,it can also Mega Evolve, taking its attack and speed to greater heights and changing its ability to Aerilate, which makes all Normal-type attacks Flying-type.
4Dragonite
Pokédex Number 149, “The Dragon Pokémon”
Among the original 151 Pokémon, there was only one Dragon-type family, which began life as the serpentine Dratini. Keeping hidden from most humans and Pokémon, Dratini repeatedly sheds its skin as it grows until it evolves into the graceful Dragonair, who can change the weather with its power. The strongest Dragonair then grow limbs as they evolve into Dragonite, who spend their days out at sea protecting people from storms and shipwrecks.
Dragonite might not have seen as much use in competitive battles compared to its fellow pseudo-legendaries, but it remainsone of the most beloved Dragon-typesthanks to its lovable design, friendly disposition, and reliability. Thanks to diverse moves, reliable bulk, and high physical power,Dragonite can fit any role required of it, and thanks to its Multiscale ability, it can survive a super-effective attack if it enters the battle at full stamina. Its other ability, Inner Focus, originally prevented Dragonite from losing a turn to flinching, but recent games have improved the ability so that it won’t fall victim to Intimidate, thus allowing it to keep hitting at full power. Finally,Dragonite had many impressive appearances in the anime, including a giant one that visited Bill’s lighthouse, one that was the ace to Supreme Gym Leader Drake in the Orange Islands, and two owned by Iris and Ash in Unova and Galar, respectively.
Pokédex Number 487, “The Renegade Pokémon”
When the Alpha Pokémon, Arceus, created the world, it brought into being three dragons to control time, space, and antimatter. Unfortunately, the antimatter dragon, Giratina, rebelled against Arceus through acts of violence and was banished to an alternate dimension called the Distortion World. Over time, Giratina learned to control its temper and nowwatches the Pokémon World, ready to step in if things become too dire.
Giratina ranks among themost badass Pokémon in the franchisethanks to its fearsome design, memorable role in games likePokémon PlatinumandPokémon Legends: Arceus,and theparallels between it and Lucifer. It is one of the few Pokémon able to take on different forms, and each one has a different battle strategy. When it manifests in the Pokémon World, Giratina appears like a massive six-legged dragon more focused on using its immense bulk to weather attacks while its Pressure ability wears down opponents. Should Giratina hold an item called the Griseous Core, it can assume its true, serpentine form outside the Distortion World, where it swaps Pressure for Levitate and becomes more focused on offense.
Pokédex Number 384, “The Sky High Pokémon”
For hundreds of millions of years, Rayquaza has lived in the ozone layer, feeding off of water particles and meteorites as it endlessly circles the world.A heroic Pokémon by nature, it descends when the world is at risk of being destroyed, such as when the ancient Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre awaken to fight over whether the world will burn in the scorching sun or drown in an endless rainstorm. It is also known to clash with the extraterrestrial Pokémon Deoxys, whom it views as an invader.
Rayquaza’s serpentine design and role as a protector evokesthe Eastern idea of dragons, who are more benevolent and celestial than the fire-breathing monsters in the West. When it descends from the sky, its ability Air Lock can negate the effects of weather conditions, which normally empower or weaken Pokémon based on type and ability, meaning that a battle against Rayquaza relies on natural power only. Due to its diet of meteors, Rayquaza isthe only Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution without a Mega Stone, giving it more power and versatility in battle. Its Mega Form also gains a new ability, Delta Stream, which summons strong winds that cannot be overruled by weather-altering moves or abilities and removes the weaknesses of all Flying-type Pokémon.
Pokédex Number 445, “The Mach Pokémon”
While traveling through arid landscapes and cave systems, trainers may stumble upon Gible, a little Dragon/Ground-type who loves to bite anything and everything. Upon evolving into Gabite, the species takes on more draconic stereotypes, such as a love for shiny things. One evolution later, it becomes Garchomp, aferocious hybrid of dragon and sharkwho can both tunnel through the earth and fly through the air at Mach speeds. No other Dragon-type has solidified itself in the minds of fans like thisiconic Sinnoh Pokémon. In both the games and the anime, it serves as the ace Pokémon to Cynthia, widely regarded as the best Champion in the franchise, making it the final boss of a Sinnoh game andthe pinnacle of draconic power in the anime.
Speaking of power, Garchomp defined competitive battling thanks to its ability to outspeed other dragons like Dragonite and Salamence, and for its two abilities: Sand Veil, which makes it harder to hit Garchomp in a sandstorm, and Rough Skin, which damages any Pokémon that makes physical contact with it. While Garchomp got a Mega Evolution in Generation 6, it’s one of the few cases where the Mega is inferior to the original. It’sthe perfect example of the versatility and raw power of the Dragon-type, and even as stronger and faster dragons have emerged in recent generations, Garchomp always finds a way to adapt.
NEXT:New ‘Dragonite and the Mailman’ Sneak Peek Reveals a Massive Water Pokémon
