Dragonite is a draconic, bipedal reptilianPokémon with light orange skin. It has large, grayish-green eyes and a round snout with small nostrils. A pair of long, thin antennae sprout from the top of its head with a small horn set between them. Its striated underbelly is cream-colored and extends from its neck to the tip of its long, tapering tail. It has thick arms and legs ending in three claws each. The leg joints are well defined, while its arms have a smooth, rounded appearance. Dragonite's wings are small relative to its body with teal wing membranes.
Despite its bulky build, Dragonite is capable of flying faster than the speed of sound, being able to circle the globe in sixteen hours. A kindhearted Pokémon with human-like intelligence, Dragonite shows signs of altruism: it is said to save humans from drowning and lead lost or foundering ships to safety. As demonstrated in Great Bowls of Fire!, however, it will go on an uncontrollable, destructive rampage if its environment is threatened. Dragonite will usually calm down and be satisfied after smashing down anything that has angered it to smithereens. It is known to engage in fierce battles with Kingdra whenever they meet. Dragonite has been referred to as the "sea guardian" and the "Sea Incarnate"; as such, there are many ships with figureheads decorated with Dragonite's look. Drayden stated in Thrash of the Titans! that Dragonite's power is capable of affecting the weather. In Fiore, Dragonite used by Pokémon Rangers to travel to different areas in the region, this flying service is called the Dragonite Bus.
Dragonite is very rare in the wild, typically living near the sea. Some claim that there is an island somewhere in the ocean that only Dragonite inhabit. As mentioned in Pokémon Sleep, Dragonite is known to sleep soundly while displaying its belly.[1] This rare sight is said to be an exhausted Dragonite resting after flying over the vast seas.
Pokémon Ranger: After the sixth mission, it is possible to use the Dragonite Bus. The Dragonite must be captured once but afterwards it will fly the player to any of the Ranger bases.
It is said that this Pokémon constantly flies over the immense seas and rescues drowning people. (Pokémon Red, Silver, or Crystal inserted) This marine Pokémon has an impressive build that lets it freely fly over raging seas without trouble. (Pokémon Blue, Gold, or Yellow inserted)
Dragonite is capable of circling the globe in just sixteen hours. It is a kindhearted Pokémon that leads lost and foundering ships in a storm to the safety of land.
Dragonite is capable of circling the globe in just 16 hours. It is a kindhearted Pokémon that leads lost and foundering ships in a storm to the safety of land.
Dragonite is known as the Sea Incarnate. On very rare occasions, perhaps after it exhausts itself flying over the vast seas, it has been seen sleeping soundly with its belly on full display.
In A Test in Paradise!, multiple Dragonite were living on Dragonite Island. One of them was targeted by Team Rocket, but their plan to capture it was thwarted by the Dragonair that would evolve into Ash's Dragonite.
In The Challenger, Lance's Dragonite fought Blue's Blastoise but lost off-screen, allowing Blue to become the new Champion. In The Lake of Rage, it helped Lance infiltrate the Team Rocket HQ. Dragonite defeated Petrel and destroyed Team Rocket's radio wave generator, rescuing a group of harnessed Electrode in the process.
A wild Dragonite debuted in What a Dragonite, where Red searched for an HM03, containing the move Surf, knowing that his rival Blue had obtained it already. Dragonite confronted and battled Red, during which it showed great resilience by taking Pika's electric attacks to no effect, and withstanding a Double-Edge from Snor. However, it was eventually beaten when Misty arrived with her Gyarados, Gyara. Gyara then was traded for Red's Krabby, as Dragonite destroyed the HM and it was the only Pokémon which knew the move.
Two years later, Lance, leader of the Elite Four, is shown to have an even stronger Dragonite, one whose hide is so thick that it was able to stay in a vat of molten lava for an extended period of time, and none of Yellow's weak attacks had any effect. It was very devoted to Lance's cause of exterminating the human race in order to provide good habitats for Pokémon. It first appeared in Extricated from Exeggutor.
Lance has another Dragonite, which was used to order his Dragon-type army that were used to attack the mainlands of Kanto. It first appeared in Playing Horsea.
In the Dragon's Den, three Dragonite appeared rising out of the water but did not attack Clair. Instead, they make way for her peacefully before Suicune appears and attacks in Debonaire Dragonair.
NA:Dragonite are known for their helpfulness toward people at sea, searching for drowning sailors or leading lost ships back to shore. This is probably why so many are quick to praise Dragonite for their kindness! In battle, though, Dragonite uses its strong body combined with quick moves. Don't worry - win or lose, it'll be friendly when the battle is over.
PAL:A benevolent Pokémon said to search the ocean for drowning swimmers and guide damaged ships to shore. Because of this, many people venerate Dragonite as a guardian of the sea. In battle, on the other hand, it's a fearsome foe, soaring rapidly through the air to deliver incredible attacks. Let's be thankful it's usually friendly.
Dragonite is playable through obtaining a Unite License. It is a ranged all-rounder that starts as Dratini and evolves into Dragonair at level 5, which evolves into Dragonite at level 8.
Trivia
Dragonite and its pre-evolved forms share their category with Horsea, its evolved forms, Salamence, and Kalosian Goodra. They are all known as the Dragon Pokémon.
In Yellow, Dragonite's catch rate was changed from 45 to 9, even though Dragonite couldn't be found in the wild. In all later games, its catch rate was changed back to 45.
Due to Dragonite's learnset not being in numerical order in Pokémon Sword and Shield, Dragonite cannot learn Outrage at Level 41 and must be taught via the Move Reminder instead.
Dragonite may be a combination of dragon and knight, night, or draconite (a mythical stone said to be found in the heads of dragons and are pyramidal in shape, similar to Dragonite's horn).
Kairyu may be from 海竜 kairyū (sea dragon). It may also involve 怪獣 kaijū (monster), 快 kai (cheerful), and 破壊 hakai (destruction).
In other languages
Language
Title
Meaning
Japanese
カイリュー Kairyu
From 海竜 kairyū and possibly 怪獣 kaijū, 快 kai, or 破壊 hakai
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
Bitter Berry (100%)
Antidote (100%)
Dragon Scale (5%)
For other sprites and images, please see Dragonite images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
