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What's the best non-Articuno Dragonite killer and why?

I've been using Cloyster. I like it because it has enough teeth to off the Dragonite before it can get off a Hurricane or HyperBeam, and can be healed up cheap. I found Lapras will sometimes get clocked by Hurricane.

However, there are a lot of new ice-types, and there is also Gardevoir new on the scene. Given this, who is the best choice for attacking Dragonite defenders?

Asked by alevinemi7 years 7 months ago

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I personally use Piloswine as a dragonite slayer, but I might be an exception.

You need to dodge a bit but PS/A is a fantastic moveset. Maybe you can give him a try and let me know what you think ;-)

what about dragonite??

I usually use my max out Dragonite against D9. I heard it's the best.

Would make sense - most defending Dragonites don't seem to have dragon moves.

I've used a double-dragon Gyarados before, and that was pretty effective.

I'm pretty sure most of them have outrage.

Even then, a Dragon moveset Dragonite will still do the most damage against any Dragonite defender, as long as you aren't too worried about healing investment.

Edit: Downvotes without even an attempt at a counterpoint, can't expect any better.
And since (in Go) super effective = 1.4X damage and 2x super effective = 1.96x damage, Dragonite (263 base attack) still does more damage than Cloyster (186 base attack), with the only favorable variable for the clam being move cooldown. Don't waste your dust on the Gastly in the Shell.

DPS isn't that simple when talking gym defenders. Pokebattler shows L40 Dragonite being 4th highest DPS against an average L40 Dragonite moveset. L40 Cloyster is 3rd.
And that's Dragon Claw Dragonite, DT/O is slower.

I personally use DB/DC Dragonite all the time. It's so easy to dodge and energy efficient. Saving the time to switch to other attackers because itself is a great gym sweeper.

Next month we will most likely get Kyogre and try using Dragon Tail/Blizzard Kyogre against Dragonite, I'm sure you'll love it. :)

Gardevoir, Lapras or Walrein.

I used Cloyster, but found it too fragile and once I caught Lapras during the Ice event, found it more bulky and switched to it.

Just caught a L30 wonder Spheal which I immediately evolved to Walrein. Will try it and...still farming Ralts.

If it gets a fairy quick move in a future rebalance, Gardevoir will likely be the premier dragon slayer.

I know people love to talk about the fairy quick move but it likely wouldn't make such a big impact on Gardevoir's usefulness. It already deals very good DPS to gym dragons with neutral Confusion but no matter how good of a fairy quick move it gets, ice will have superior DPS.

Maybe wouldn't decidedly be the fastest, but Gardevoir's overall stats (Gardevoir outclasses the highest DPS Ice type Jynx in every category) and typing (Ice types take neutral damage from dragon type moves, fairies have immunity level resistance) would make it's utility better than any Ice type if it were to get the fairy quick move.
Bear in mind as well, I said dragon slayer, as in all dragons, not just the one's with dual typing both weak to ice. And remember, this isn't the base games, a double weakness (1.96X) doesn't mean it does twice as much damage as a regular weakness (1.4x).

My entire point was that it does not need that fairy quick move unless it's a very very good quick move, because neutral Confusion hits so hard. I calculated cycle DPS for L40 Gardevoir against L40 Dragonite:
Confusion/DG 16,64
[fairy move with same stats as Counter]/DG 18,9
[fairy move with same stats as Water Gun]/DG 16,55

Water Gun is about as close to average quick move as there is. If Gardevoir got something like that, there would be no change in useability.

As it is right now Gardevoir is overall #9 DPS counter to gym Dragonite, behind Jynx by a few seconds. In overall ranking it's the best or second best against double dragon movesets and indeed already has better utility than any Ice type other than Articuno.

The point about other dragons is relevant since Lati twins in particular resist both quick moves Gardevoir has currently. Resisting psychic there's also Dialga which resists fairy as well, Hydreigon which is double weak to fairy and two dragons in gen 7. So it would be nice to get that fairy quick move eventually.

Kyogre

Long term, it's going to be Kyogre with DT/B. But that's not available yet. Don't understand the down votes.

Weird prediction - since DT/B Kyogre (even without STAB) is a monster against dragons, we might see Rayquaza as a tier 5 raid boss before we see Kyogre. Would Groudon be a challenge if everyone had 3 powered up WF/HP Kyogres? They put these out in the order they do for a reason.

I'd say a high CP/IV DT/O Dragonite, it'll take a lot of damage from the Dnite defender, but it will hit it's opponent just as hard, and be an excellent generalist against any other common defender, without the need for switching.

Before Articuno, I used a Clefairy with Pound/Moonblast.

Jynx with Frost Breath / Avalanche. Jynx has the highest ice attack stat in the game.

Using Pokebattler, I can tell that my best double-Dragon (Outrage) Dragonite does significantly better DPS against a Dragonite defender than any of my best double-ice Cloysters, Jynxes, Walreins, and Articunos. Of course YMMV based on exact levels and IVs and movesets of both attacker and defender.

I did confirm that I get the same result whether the defending Dragonite is using either Hurricane or Outrage.

And this is assuming no dodging. With a couple dodges, Dragonite would be even more dominant.