Dragonite

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Dragonite
Image:Dragonite.png
National
Dragonair - Dragonite (#149) - Mewtwo
Johto
Dragonair - Dragonite (#243) - Larvitar
Hoenn
Dragonair - Dragonite (#304) - Mewtwo
Japanese name Kairyu
Stage Stage 2
Evolves from Dragonair
Evolves to None
Generation First
Species Dragon Pokémon
Type Dragon / Flying
Height 7 ft 3 in (2.2 m)
Weight 463.0 lb (210.0 kg)
Ability Inner Focus

Dragonite (カイリュー Kairyū?, Kairyu) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. The purpose of Dragonite in the games, anime and manga, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both wild Pokémon, untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and tamed Pokémon owned by Pokémon trainers.[2] Dragonite are considered Kanto's version of Salamence.

The name "Dragonite" is an extension of the word dragon. The last part of its name "nite" could also refer to knights, or medieval warriors that battled dragons of the European build as Dragonite replicates. Its Japanese name, Kairyu, literally means "Sea Dragon" (kai=sea, ryu=dragon).

Contents

[edit] Biological characteristics

Dragonite behavior is inspired by both the mythical dragon (in that they can fly, breathe fire, and lay eggs), and by real-world dolphins (in that they use echolocation, have a strong connection to the sea, and possess near-human intelligence). Also, like the dolphin, they have been noted to save drowning swimmers and threatened sailors. They even have the ability to release electric charges from their antennae. How they do so is unknown, but it may be because the fur on their antennae allow a powerful static charge to build[citation needed]. Dragonite are very loyal to any trainer they find worthy of acceptance. They are calm, gentle, and intelligent creatures, but when threatened can put their pudgy bulk to good use. Dragonite seem to have more advanced vocal abilities compared to other Pokémon in that they make several different types of calls, rather than just saying their name. They also have incredible flight capabilities and are considered some of the fastest flying Pokémon in existence. It makes a loyal servant to humans and make great powerful ally/teammate of strongest Pokémon such as Lugia, Ho-oh, Mewtwo and Rayquaza.

[edit] In the Pokémon video games

Dragonite cannot be caught in the wild in any game. The common way to get one is to evolve it from Dragonair, the evolved form of Dratini. Dratini evolve into Dragonair at Level 30 and into Dragonite at Level 55. Dratini can be caught at the Dragon's Den, north of Blackthorn City.

In Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, Dragonite had the highest attack rating of any Pokémon in the games, even higher than Mewtwo and Mew. Even after those games, they were still a fearsome species, with the attack rating in the 98th percentile, both special attack and special defense in the top 20% of all Pokémon, and no ability below the 69th percentile. As a result, Dragonite are popular in online battles. Also, Dragonite have the Inner Focus ability, which prevents them from flinching from any attack (except for the Focus Punch attack, which is an exception to normal flinching rules).

Dragonite are dual-type Pokémon, being both dragon- and flying-type. This combination makes them very weak against ice-based moves, as well as rock- and dragon-type moves. However, Dragonite's type combination is quite powerful, causing them to possess a resistance to fire, water, fighting, and bug attacks, as well as a double resistance to grass attacks, and an immunity to ground attacks. Dragonite are capable of learning fire, electric, water, steel, ice, dragon, normal, fighting, and flying moves.

Dragonite learn few level-up moves. In fact, they learn only one in Pokémon Red and Blue and Pokémon Yellow (Hyper Beam, a Normal-type energy attack), and only two were added in Pokémon Gold and Silver and Pokémon Crystal (Wing Attack, a Flying-type physical attack, and Outrage, a Dragon-type special attack). It is assumed that most of Dragonite's moves will be learned while they are a Dratini or Dragonair, or via TM, HM, or a Move Tutor.

Since the release of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, Dragonite have had to compete with Salamence for popularity of dragon Pokémon. On one hand, Salamence have the ability to Intimidate, which cuts down the opponent's attack, while all that Dragonite have is Inner Focus, a protection against flinching. To help make up for it, Dragonite have access to Thunderbolt and Ice Beam, thus becoming able to attack all but five Pokémon (Magnemite, Magneton, Chinchou, Lanturn and Shedinja) without the attack being somewhat ineffective. A good move set for Dragonite could be: Surf, Thunder or Thunderbolt, Outrage, and Hyper Beam. Surf will get rid of rock types (as well as letting you have a surfing Pokémon). Thunder (or Thunderbolt) is a good choice because most Ice Pokémon (which Dragonite is weak against) are part-water.

Also, Dragonite has the advantage over Salamence in Defensive stats, with 100 base Special Defense compared to Salamence's 80. This allows Dragonite to usually survive Ice Beam from Pokémon such as Starmie, Milotic, and Suicune, all of which are commonly used. However, it can only OHKO Starmie with 2 Dragon Dances, and not Suicune and most Bold-Natured Milotic. Salamence loses to all three of these, unless it outruns Starmie and has a Choice Band equipped.

In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Dragonite is be somewhat more powerful, as Outrage is 33% more powerful in the D/P generation than the Advance generation. Furthermore, Thunder- and Firepunch are physical attacks now, which is more useful with a DDnite moveset, and gives Dragonite a decent ability to hit Pokémon in their weak spots; however, Outrage is now so powerful that other physical moves on dragonite may in fact be obsolete, with the exception of Fire moves (because Steel types are strong against Dragon-type attacks, and are weak against Fire-type attacks). Also, Dragonite will be able to learn Feather Rest, a move identical to Recover.

A Dragonite is also found in the Nintendo 64 game Pokémon Snap in the Valley Course. It will appear when several pester balls in a row are thrown into the whirlpool close to the end of the course.

In Pokémon XD, Dragonite is a Shadow Pokémon. After players shut down the Shadow Pokémon factory, a worker tells the player that someone (Miror B.) stole the last Shadow Pokémon made in the factory (which happens to be a Dragonite, according to another worker). If the player can find Miror B., they can attempt to snag the Dragonite, but only if the player has caught the rest of the game's Shadow Pokémon.

Despite being a flying-type Pokémon, Dragonite can't learn "Fly" from HM 02 in the Red, Blue and Yellow versions of the RPG, but, since the Crystal version, Dragonite can learn this technical skill in order to fly over the world.

[edit] In the animé

The giant Dragonite
Enlarge
The giant Dragonite

A Dragonite was first seen in shadow in the episode "Mystery At The Lighthouse". In this episode, Bill explains how he seeks rare Pokémon, and is currently searching for one that he heard across the sea. Although it appears, Team Rocket scares it away before it is more than shadow. Dragonite's cries sounded like the cries of a whale in this episode. It was much larger then normally portrayed, at least as big as Bill's lighthouse. This has made some fans speculate that it might be some kind of new Pokémon that was shown here[citation needed], although those familiar with the Pokémon series recognize it as a Dragonite.

In the Pokémon movie "Mewtwo Strikes Back" starring Mewtwo and Mew, a Dragonite serves Mewtwo as a messenger who delivers Mewtwo's invitation to Ash and friends.

It was next seen in the Orange Island episodes of the animé (episodes "Hello Pummelo" and "Enter the Dragonite"). Ash had to beat its owner Drake to win the Orange League. This Dragonite was very tough and took down most of Ash's team. However, Pikachu manages to defeat it by using a full power Thunder attack.

Lance of the Elite Four owns a Dragonite, as seen when he appeared at the Lake of Rage and during the battle between Groudon and Kyogre. There is also an image of him with Dragonite in "The Legend of Thunder".

There is also a Dragonite (seen in four concurrent episodes) guarding the Dragon Fang in Blackthorn City, which is under the control of Team Rocket for a while.

In the special episode, "The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon", Professor Oak used one to help Ash and the others defeat the mirage Mewtwo.

Besides these appearances, they have also played roles in episodes 93 (Bye, Bye, Psyduck!), 123 (Illusion Confusion), 176 (Imitation Confrontation), 237 (Talkin' About An Evolution), and 238 (Rage of Innocence).

[edit] In the trading card game

Dragonite in the Pokémon Trading Card Game
Enlarge
Dragonite in the Pokémon Trading Card Game

Dragonite have made appearances on all the following card decks. In each case it is a stage-2, colorless-type Pokémon unless otherwise noted:

  • Fossil
  • Team Rocket (as Dark Dragonite)
  • Neo Destiny (as Light Dragonite)
  • Expedition
  • EX Dragon (as Dragonite EX)
  • EX Team Rocket Returns (Dark-type, as Dark Dragonite)
  • EX Delta Species (Steel/Lightning dual-type)
  • EX Dragon Frontiers (as a Grass type Dragonite EX)

Dragonite's attacks, starting with Expedition, require water and lightning energy.

A promotional Dragonite card was handed out at theatrical showings of Pokémon: The First Movie. It can be remembered by its Special Delivery Pokémon Power.

Its Dark card is referred to as "The God of Destruction" in the Pokémon trading card game on Game Boy.

Dragonite was one of the Legendary Pokémon cards in Pokémon Trading Card Game, and featured the same (albeit weaker) Slam attack as the Fossil version, as well as the Pokémon Power Healing Wind.

Dragonite appears as a Pokémon-ex in the third-generation set EX Dragon Frontiers.

[edit] References

Notes
  1. ^ Pokemon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold. PR Newswire. Retrieved on 2006-02-28.
  2. ^ Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire Review (page 1) Ign.com. URL Accessed June 1, 2006.
Publications
  • Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
  • Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
  • Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5

[edit] External links

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