Dragapult is a draconic Pokémon. Dragapult's appearance is reminiscent of both ancient lepospondyls such as Diplocaulus and modern stealth bombers. It has a triangular, wing-shaped head; a relatively short body; and a long, laterally flattened tail similar to a newt's. The dorsal side of Dragapult's flattened head and the anterior half of its body are a dark navy color, which fades to a teal on its posterior end and tail. The lateral, wing-like crests of its head are pink. The ventral portion of its head and body are a light yellow-tan color, and its belly is marked with three pink chevrons angled toward its head. It has four hollow, triangular horns and narrow yellow eyes with pink eyelids. Its limbs are short, thin, and clawed, with the fore's being pink. Dragapult's tail becomes transparent and ethereal toward its tip.
Dragapult carries a pair of Dreepy inside its horns, which it can fire out at its opponents like supersonic missiles by puffing up its cheeks with air. Apparently these Dreepy eagerly look forward to being launched out at Mach speeds. This is evident by the fact that Dreepy always gather around the fastest Dragapult in their group to to fly at sonic speed. By clearing its mind and focusing, Dragapult can turn itself, as well as the Dreepy in its horns, invisible. As shown in the Pokémon Journeys: The Series episode Toying with your Motions!, its tail is capable of stretching out to great length when it uses moves like Dragon Tail.
Dragapult is playable through obtaining a Unite License. It is a ranged attacker.
Trivia
Dragapult and its evolutionary line are the only Pokémon that are in the Dragon and AmorphousEgg Groups, and the only Dragon-type Pokémon in the Amorphous Egg Group.
When Dragapult Dynamaxes, it has a unique animation quirk in which it temporarily disappears before reaching its largest size.
In the Pokémon of the Year poll held by the Pokémon Company in 2020, Dragapult was voted the most popular Generation VIII Pokémon, receiving 57,973 votes. It was also the eleventh-most popular Pokémon overall.
According to Bandai's Pokémon Scale World series of figures, Dragapult's height is actually its length measured from the muzzle to the tip of the tail.[1]
Dragapult may be based on the Diplocaulus, Gerrothorax, or other extinct amphibians with a similarly-shaped skull. A complete tail has never been found in a Diplocaulus fossil, which may explain Dragapult's ghostly, translucent tail. Its head also resembles a B-2 Spirit, a stealth bomber aircraft. Its category being the Stealth Pokémon further supports this. Its propensity for holding and firing Dreepy may be a reference to crossbows, while its stomach pattern and aircraft origins are likely nods to aircraft catapults, which is seemingly reflected in its name.
It may also be a reference to the paternal care behavior present in many amphibian species. The Dragon typing may be a reference to the Olm, a type of salamander native to central and southeastern Europe that was believed to be a dragon offspring by locals. However, its posture and body stature are closer to crocodilians supporting themselves with their hind legs and tails while underwater and are also known to hold their young on their heads.
Name origin
Dragapult and Dorapult may be combinations of dragon and catapult. It may also come from poltergeist or sepultura (Spanish and Portuguese for grave).
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.
For other sprites and images, please see Dragapult images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
