My raid timer hit single digits and I could see the Dragonite silhouette through the gym lobby—everything tightened into a moment. I tapped my best counters and felt that familiar tug in my chest; my thumb hovered over the raid invite, heart snapping like a coiled spring. If you’ve ever had a Dragonite escape you at the last ball, you know how much this encounter can sting.
I’m Arnamoy—I’ve run dozens of raids, tracked spawns with The Silph Road, and tested counters on Pokebattler. I’ll walk you through what matters for Dragonite raids: which Pokemon win, where to find it, shiny odds, and whether Mega Dragonite is worth your resources. Read fast, because raids don’t wait.
You’ll see Dragonite’s silhouette and ask if it’s worth bringing your best attackers — here are its raw numbers
Dragonite is a bulky attacker and a dangerous raid boss when its moves land. Below are the core stats and the moveset choices you’ll meet in Pokemon GO:
| Dragonite | Stats |
|---|---|
| Image |  |
| Type | Dragon and Flying |
| Attack | 263 |
| Defense | 198 |
| Stamina | 209 |
| Max CP | 4287 |
| Raid CP | 2079 – 2167 (Lvl 20) |
| Weather-Boosted Raid CP | 2599 – 2709 (Lvl 25, Windy) |
| Research CP | 1599 – 1625 (Lvl 15 research) |
| Fast Moves | Dragon Breath (Dragon) Dragon Tail (Dragon) Steel Wing (Steel) |
| Charge Moves | Dragon Claw (Dragon) Hurricane (Flying) Hyper Beam (Normal) Outrage (Dragon) Draco Meteor (Dragon)* Dragon Pulse (Dragon)* Superpower (Fighting) Thunder Punch (Lightning) |
| Base Catch Rate | 5% |
I’ve watched players throw their strongest Dragons at Dragonite and lose—here’s why type matchups matter
Dragonite’s Dragon/Flying typing gives it a specific set of weaknesses and resistances. Treat Ice as the primary lever to pull; Ice hits hard and repeatedly.
| Dragonite Type | Weaknesses | Resistances |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon | Ice (2.56x) | Bug (0.625x) |
| Flying | Dragon (1.6x) | Fighting (0.625x) |
| – | Fairy (1.6x) | Fire (0.625x) |
| – | Rock (1.6x) | Water (0.625x) |
| – | – | Grass (0.39x) |
| – | – | Ground (0.39x) |
At raids I’ve led, Ice attackers clear Dragonite fastest — here are the specific counters that win
If you want the cleanest run, bring Ice moves first and Dragon second. Shadow and Mega forms shift TDO, so choose based on availability and whether you’re training or soloing.
| Pokemon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
 White Kyurem |
Ice Fang | Ice Burn |
 Black Kyurem |
Dragon Tail | Freeze Shock |
 Mamoswine (Shadow) |
Powder Snow | Avalanche |
 Eternatus |
Dragon Tail | Dynamax Cannon |
 Mega Rayquaza |
Dragon Tail | Breaking Swipe |
 Weavile (Shadow) |
Ice Shard | Triple Axel |
 Mega Gardevoir |
Charm | Triple Axel |
 Mega Abomasnow |
Powder Snow | Weather Ball (Ice) |
 Galarian Darmanitan |
Ice Fang | Avalanche |
 Mewtwo (Shadow) |
Psycho Cut | Ice Beam |
Mamoswine |
Powder Snow | Avalanche |
You’ve likely checked a nearby lake or community chat — here are every realistic way to add Dragonite to your roster
Dragonite turns up in a few predictable places. I’ll rank them by convenience and odds so you know where to spend your Stardust and patience.
- Evolve Dratini: Catch Dratini near water or during events and evolve. Costs are 25 Dratini candy to Dragonair, then 100 to Dragonite.
- Raids: Dragonite is a Tier 3 raid boss and will reappear on April 4, 2026, during Fashion Raid Day. Raids usually require a Premium Raid Pass to join—these cost $1 (€1) each—or a free raid pass from a gym. Bring the Ice counters above and healing items for your team.
- Wild Spawns: Very rare. If it appears, use Golden Razz and Ultra Balls.
- Event Research: Special Research or Field Research during events can hand you a guaranteed encounter.
- Trading: Trade with friends if you don’t want to wait. Check The Silph Road and community Discords to connect with traders and use friend boosts.
How to get Dragonite in Pokemon GO?
Follow the raid schedule, farm Dratini near water, and keep an eye on event research. I rely on The Silph Road and local Discord channels to spot community raid plans and shiny calls.
You’ll watch a raid end and ask if the extra Premier ball is worth holding—here are the shiny odds
Yes, Dragonite has a shiny form and there are two reliable paths to one.
Can Dragonite be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Catch a Shiny Dratini and evolve it (shiny Dratini odds are about 1 in 500 normally, and 1 in 25 during Community Day). Tier 3 raids offer roughly a 1 in 20 chance at a shiny Dragonite after the battle. Use The Silph Road’s shiny trackers to follow event-boosted windows.
You’ll see Mega badges on some trainers’ profiles — here’s whether Mega Dragonite is practical
Mega forms change how often a Pokemon ends up on your raid or gym teams. Mega Dragonite adjusts accessibility and gives you a new set of benefits if you invest.
Can Dragonite evolve into Mega Dragonite in Pokemon GO?
Yes. Mega Dragonite requires 300 Mega Dragonite Energy to Mega Evolve. Niantic distributes Mega energy through Mega Raids and certain timed events; beating Super Mega Raids is the fastest route. Consider Mega energy’s opportunity cost—other Mega evolutions may need your coins or raid passes first.
You’ll see Dragonite in gym lobbies and wonder how it ranks against current meta threats
Dragonite is a classic: it still defends gyms well and feels comforting in your roster. However, raid and PvP metas have shifted as new legendaries and Megas arrived.
- Raid Attacker: Outclassed by modern legendaries such as White Kyurem and Mega Rayquaza—Dragonite ranks well below the elite raid attackers.
- Gym Defender: Still reliable. Its bulk makes it a solid defender and a deterrent for casual attackers.
- Dragon-Type Attacker: If you lack Rayquaza or Eternatus, Dragonite with Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor is usable and sits around the top 30 for Dragon moveset attackers.
- Flying-Type Attacker: Falls behind specialist flyers; it’s not a primary Flying-type pick.
- PvP (Great/Ultra/Master): Dragonite’s relevance drops in Great and Ultra Leagues, and it’s middling in Master League unless you pick specific charged moves like Thunder Punch and Superpower to surprise opponents.
Dragonite still feels like an old gym badge passed between trainers—trustworthy and familiar, but no longer the lightning rod it once was, commands the gym slots like a lighthouse in a storm.
If you want to optimize raid runs use Pokebattler simulations, watch community channels on Discord and Reddit, and track spawns with The Silph Road map. Which Dragonite are you hunting first?