Credit to safariblade for the amazing artwork.
Welcome to POtW #3. This week will be discussing Dragonite.
Dragonite is probably one of the pokemon with the most varying opinions today. Many battlers are in an uproar, trying to get it banned, with their main argument being "it has no real counters." We will discuss that in this thread. We will also be discussing the potential ban, and common movesets for Dragonite.
Dragonite is a beast, no one can argue with that. With its new DW ability Multiscale, any damage taken is halved when Dragonite is at full HP. It has beautiful defensive stats to back it up, while its offensive stats are above par too. Because Dragonite can survive many super effective attacks and KO back, making it have no real counters, many experienced competitive battlers are calling for a ban.
One of Dragonite's most amazing assets is a movepool to take full advantage of the rain.
Dragonite@Life Orb
Multiscale
Rash / Quiet
EVs 252 Att/252 Sp Att/4 Spe
~ Hurricane
~ Aqua Tail
~ ExtremeSpeed
~ Roost / Brick Break
The basis of this set is to hit like a truck under the rain. Hurricane is an insanely powerful move, hitting anything that doesn't resist for incredible damage. Hurricane achieves 100% accuracy in the Rain, and makes the STAB 130 base power move even more lethal. Aqua Tail hits any Steel types (bar Ferrothorn) expecting to switch into a Dragon attack. Extremespeed hits weakened pokemon or frail sweepers for the KO. Brick Break is there for Chansey, Blissey, and Ferrothorn, while Roost increases Dragonite's longevity. As you can see, Dragonite is incredibly versatile, and this is just one set of many.
However, Dragonite isn't elite. While it may have no real counters, it certaintly does have checks. Both Stealth Rock and Sandstorm damage Dragonite on the switch, nullifying MultiScale and setting up the opponent for an OHKO. Physically Defensive Quagsire ignores any DD boosts, is immune to Thunder Wave, and can hit Dragonite hard with Ice Beam. However, Quagsire will get rocked by Hurricane on RainNite. Haxorus ignores Multiscale with Mold Breaker and scores an easy OHKO with Outrage. However, Haxorus can't switch in, so he can only revenge kill. Tyranitar can deal with any Dragonites that lack Superpower or Aqua Tail, setting up Sandstorm and OHKOing after MultiScale with Stone Edge. Cloyster can easily deal with Dragonite as long as it can set up a Shell Smash, OHKOing with Icicle Spear. As you can see, all of the checks have an "if," which is what most ban-crying players use against Dragonite.
What would a ban for Dragonite mean? Rain would take another hit in usage, with first Thundurus and then Dragonite being banned. Usage of Lati@s and Salamence would rise sharply, and we may even see the return of Flygon.
In this thread discuss Dragonite. Post any new and creative sets, or simply an analysis on a common set. Discuss Dragonite's possibile ban. Is Dragonite broken? What impact would a ban have on the metagame? Finally, simply discuss Dragonite's niche and usefulness in OU.
As a side announcement, I will be accepting art for PoTW from now on. As you can see, safariblade has already stepped up to the plate (more like I asked him to ) However, if you want to have your artwork featured in PoTW, shoot me a PM. Also, if you want to write an analysis for a future PoTW, first you must PM me stating your interest. Then, if I give you the go ahead, PM me a draft and I'll let you know if it'll work out. Thanks everyone, and happy discussing