Despite being bulky, Dragonite are incredibly agile and fast. Unlike its pre-evolutions, they are orange and possess arms and legs, all of which are equipped with three claws. It retains the horn on its forehead that it possessed as a Dragonair, however it is now colored orange like most of Dragonite's body. They resemble bipedal European dragons, and each one has a pair of little green-colored wings that can increase in size while flying. They have a taller stature than most humans. Dragonite also possess S-shaped yellow antennae and a cream-colored, striated underbelly.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Dragonite are very strong. They can cause a great deal of damage to most Pokémon. When they become particularly angry, they may go on a rampage, and will be unable to control their aggression for some time. They are also able to use many elemental attacks such as Thunder, Ice Beam, Flamethrower, Water Pulse, and the elemental punches. The speed of their flight is so immense they are able to circle the globe in sixteen hours. Given that the size of the Pokémon world is approximately the same as Earth, and Dragonite can make a complete cycle of the Earth in sixteen hours, with Dragonite's top flying speed being roughly 1,556 mph, approximately three times the speed of an average airplane, but ironically, its Speed stat is its lowest stat! However, it's move Extreme Speed may explain how it can travel this fast.
Behavior
Dragonite have a kindhearted disposition and are said to have human-like intelligence. They have been said to save people from drowning and lead ships that have been trapped in storms to safety. If angered, however, they are capable of going on uncontrollable rampages with devastating results.
A Dragonite that belonged to the original Gym Leader of the Blackthorn Gym appeared in Fangs For Nothing. This Dragonite went on a rampage when Team Rocket tried to steal a sacred bowl of fire in the following episode. It calmed down later on in that episode.
Minor appearances
The first time that Dragonite actually made an appearance was during Mewtwo Strikes Back. It delivered an invitation to Ash and friends to come to New Island.
Dragonite, the Dragon Pokémon. This extremely rare and highly intelligent type is able to fly faster than any known Pokémon.
In the manga
In Pokémon Adventures, a wild Dragonite first appears in Volume 2, where Red searches for an HM03, containing the move Surf, knowing that his rival Blue had obtained it already. After a tough fight during which it showed great resilience taking Pika's electric attacks to no effect, and withstanding a Double-Edge from Lax, 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.
Presumably, this same Dragonite rampaged at the Pokéathlon stadium in the HeartGold & SoulSilver arc, only to be eventually defeated by Gold's Togepi.
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.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
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.
However, when you consider that Dragonite's size measurement refers to its standing height while Dragonair's seems to refer to its length, the two are approximately the same size from nose to tail tip. Dragonite has simply bulked up and sprouted limbs through evolution.
Dragonite has the highest Attack of all Generation I Pokémon at 134.
Dragonite has a white ridge down its back in both its Generation I back sprite and Pokémon Red and Green. This ridge was removed in later generations.
Dragonite also gained a horn after the Generation I games.
Dragonite and its evolution family are the only Dragon-type Pokémon in Generation I.
Dragonite is one of only two non-legendary non-Template:Type2 Pokémon able to learn Dive. The other is Tsunbear.
Dragonite resembles Japanese Sea-dragons, or European dragons, or fairy dragons; its description as the "guardian of the sea" may also suggest it has elements similar to the Chinese dragon. Similar-looking Japanese dragons exists in art done by Utagawa Kuniyoshi[1].
Name origin
Dragonite's name appears to be a combination of dragon and knight, "ignite" since it learns several Fire-type moves, or night. It could also refer to draconite, a mythical stone of dragons. Its Japanese name is a combination of 海 kai, ocean, or 破壊 hakai, destruction, and 竜 ryū, dragon.
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.
Yache Berry (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Dragonite images on Bulbagarden Archives.
