Dragonite is a draconic, bipedal Pokémon 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.
Despite its bulky build, Dragonite is capable of flying faster than the speed of sound. It can circle the globe in sixteen hours, traveling roughly 1,556mph (2,505km/h), or about three times the speed of an average airplane. A kindhearted 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 the anime, however, it will go on an uncontrollable, destructive rampage if its environment is threatened. 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. In the past, Outrage was its signature move.
Dragonite debuted as an unknown Pokémon in Mystery at the Lighthouse. In the episode, Bill was seen looking at the Pokémon and calling it unknown. That Dragonite was a giant Pokémon.
Lance owns a Dragonite in The Challenger, where it fought Blue's Blastoise but lost off-screen, allowing Blue to become the new Champion. It later reappeared in The Lake of Rage, helping Lance infiltrate the Team Rocket HQ. It defeated Petrel and destroyed Team Rocket's radio wave generator, rescuing a group of harnessed Electrode in the process.
A wild Dragonite debuted in What a Dragonite, where Red searched for an HM03, containing the move Surf, knowing that his rival Blue had obtained it already. Dragonite confronted and battled Red, during which it showed great resilience by taking Pika's electric attacks to no effect, and withstanding a Double-Edge from Snor. However, it was eventually beaten when Misty arrived with her Gyarados, Gyara. Gyara then was traded for Red's Krabby, as Dragonite destroyed the HM and it was the only Pokémon which knew the move.
Two years later, Lance, leader of the Elite Four, is shown to have an even stronger Dragonite, one whose hide is so thick that it was able to stay in a vat of molten lava for an extended period of time, and none of Yellow's weak attacks had any effect. It was very devoted to Lance's cause of exterminating the human race in order to provide good habitats for Pokémon. It first appeared in Extricated from Exeggutor.
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 rising out of the water but did not attack Clair. Instead, they make way for her peacefully before Suicune appears and attacks in Debonaire Dragonair.
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 appears as a Spirit. It also had an unused model for a Poké Ball summon.
Game data
NPC appearances
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.
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 and its pre-evolutions share their category name with Horsea, its evolutions, Salamence, and Goodra. They are all known as the Dragon Pokémon.
In Yellow, Dragonite's catch rate was changed from 45 to 9, even though this would never legitimately take effect within the game, since Dragonite couldn't be found in the wild. In all later games, its catch rate was changed back to 45.
Dragonite may be a combination of dragon and knight, or night. It could also refer to 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 a combination of 海 kai (ocean), 快 kai (cheerful), 怪獣 kaijū (monster), or 破壊 hakai (destruction) and 竜 ryū (dragon).