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. 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.
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 kind-hearted 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 Mega Dragonite, it gains features that are distinctive of Dragonair.[2] Dragonite's antennae grows into large feathery wings on its head, which are light tan in color with white tips. These head wings function as feelers, while also allowing Mega Dragonite to fly.[2] Conversely, the wings on its back have shrunk and become purely teal. Feathery wing-like structures also sprout from Mega Dragonite's shoulders and legs. Mega Dragonite's tail is longer and has a multi-colored pearl near the tip; this pearl glows when Mega Dragonite performs certain attacks. Mega Dragonite's horn is white and now located on its forehead, and it has teal-green eyes. Its cream-colored underbelly no longer extends to its tail, and the numerous straight lines segmenting it are replaced with only five V-shaped ones.
Mega Dragonite's speed and strength have increased significantly from its regular form, but it has retained its kindness and helpful nature. Its kindness makes it prefer to end matches quickly, smiling as it attacks its opponents with powerful attacks. Likewise, it will rush to help someone it senses to be in trouble, even while it is battling.[2] As seen in the Pokémon Horizons: The Series episode HZ107, Mega Dragonite can fire moves like Hyper Beam from the tip of its tail.
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 HZ106, Uruto was revealed to own a Dragonite that belonged to his father. It is kept inside a Dusk Ball and is capable of Mega Evolving.
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.
Dragonite debuted in What a Dragonite. While Red was searching for the HM03 (Surf), a wild Dragonite appeared and prevented him from reaching the item. The Dragon Pokémon easily withstood the attacks from Red's Pokémon and even destroyed the HM before being defeated by Misty and her Gyarados.
Lance of the Elite Four owns a Dragonite that first appeared in Extricated from Exeggutor. He used it in his battle against Yellow on Cerise Island, easily shrugging off the attacks Yellow's Pokémon threw at it and even surviving being submerged in lava. Dragonite was very dedicated to Lance's plan of eradicating most of humanity to create a utopia for Pokémon. It has made several appearances since then, during which it, like its Trainer, has become more benevolent.
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 in Debonaire Dragonair, rising out of the water but did not attack Clair. Instead, they made way for her peacefully before Suicune appeared and attacked her.
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's base stat total is exactly double that of its first stage, Dratini.
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.
Mega Dragonite was the first Mega Evolved Pokémon to be introduced after Generation VI.
Cultural impact
The design of Dragonite has been compared by Chinese Pokémon fans to the Moomins, a Finnish story series. The phrase 快龍就是嚕嚕米 Kuailong jiùshì Lǔlǔmǐ (lit. "Dragonite is Moomins") is a meme among Chinese fans, and was even shown on the side of the Taipei 101 during the 2023-24 New Year's Countdown in Taiwan.[3]
Mega Dragonite's design incorporates features from its pre-Evolution Dragonair, namely the head wings and the pearl on its tail.[2] Its design may also invoke angels — the six wings Mega Dragonite gains upon Mega Evolving may reference the seraphim, a type of angel described in the Christian Bible to have six wings, with two wings covering its face and two wings covering its feet.
Name origin
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 derived 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.
