Dragon Pokemon are incredibly popular. They were the strongest Pokemon around until Fairy-Type arrived and reared its beautiful head. The Dragon-type trainers from the games are some of the strongest such as Lance, Iris, Zinnia, Drayden, Clair, Drake, and Raihan. The type also enjoys popularity in the legendary scene.
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PostsWhile there are lots of dragons to choose from, some of them are naturally stronger than others, whether this is thanks to a great stat spread, strong movepools, or simply a design that makes it too hard not to use them.
Updated April 8, 2025 by Jon Eakin: The time between each generation of Pokemon games can often feel all too long, but the upside is that it leaves plenty of time for theories and discussion. We're making good use of that time to revisit this list and update it with new features and entries, including some previously overlooked Dragon Pokemon in the conversation.
This list will solely focus on non-legendary Dragon-type Pokemon. If you're curious about which legendary Dragons rule the land and skies, check out our best Dragon-type legendaries list.
21 Dragalge
The Mock Kelp Pokemon
Name
Dragalge
No.
#0691
Type
Poison/Dragon
Ability
Poison Point
Poison Touch
Adaptability
Dragalge covers you not only for the Dragon type, but for Poison as well, offering some options when you inevitably have to deal with a troublesome Fairy Pokemon. What it lacks in Speed it makes up in Special Defense, making it a little hardier than it looks.
As well as the expected Dragon and Poison moves, Dragalge also has some excellent Water attacks in its movepool. If you throw TM's into the mix it can learn Thunder or Thunderbolt as well, offering great coverage.
20 Hydrapple
The Apple Hydra Pokemon
Name
Hydrapple
No.
#1019
Type
Grass/Dragon
Ability
Supersweet Syrup
Regenerator
Sticky Hold
One of three final forms for Applin, Hydrapple really holds its own when stacked against the other two. Although it has low Speed, the other stats are solid and it can have a diverse set of moves if you make use of your TM's.
Critically, Hydrapple is the only Pokemon so far who can have the Supersweet Syrup ability which lowers the evasion of other Pokemon. That may not seem overly powerful, but can make all the difference if Hydrapple tags in after your foe has been stacking moves like Double Team.
19 Turtonator
The Blast Turtle Pokemon
Name
Turtonator
No.
#0776
Type
Fire/Dragon
Ability
Shell Armor
Turtonator features a simultaneously goofy, yet ferocious design, with this turtle-like Dragon-type boasting a more defensive playstyle highlighted by 135 Defense. While it seems to boast very little in terms of offensive capabilities, it does tout a powerful fire-type move – Shell Trap – as its signature attack.
Shell Trap boasts 150 base power and 100 percent accuracy if Turtonator is hit with a Physical move after preparing its trap. Shell Trap counterattacks with devastating power but is a bit situational, as it requires a perfect prediction to justify usage.
18 Altaria
The Humming Pokemon
Name
Altaria
No.
#0334
Type
Dragon/Flying
Ability
Natural Cure
Cloud Nine
Tragically left out of Generation Eight's Pokedex, Altaria's power should not be taken as lightly as its wings are. Introduced alongside famed Dragons such as Flygon and Salamence, Altaria was gifted a Mega Evolution in Generation Six that made it that much stronger (and fluffier).
With access to the powerful Dragon Dance and Roost to gain health, this bird becomes quite difficult to take down, especially with Electric-type Kryptonite move, Earthquake. If that wasn't enough, Mega Altaria's Pixelate ability allows it to use Normal-type moves like Return to deal heavy Fairy-type damage.
17 Appletun
The Apple Nectar Pokemon
Name
Appletun
No.
#0842
Type
Grass/Dragon
Ability
Ripen
Gluttony
Thick Fat
With a moveset as sweet as apple pie and a Gigantamax form to shake things up, Appletun sure has plenty of combat benefits going for it. The evolutionary line's signature move, Apple Acid, does 80 base damage and is guaranteed to lower the opponent's Special Defense by one stage.
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Posts 1Having Recover in its arsenal makes it able to act as a wall against many other Pokemon in its league. If that wasn't enough to impress, its Thick Fat ability halves the damage from both Fire and Ice-type moves, a great asset to a Grass/Dragon-type Pokemon.
16 Noivern
The Sound Wave Pokemon
Name
Noivern
No.
#0715
Type
Flying/Dragon
Ability
Frisk
Infiltrator
Telepathy
Noivern is the second bat evolutionary line in Pokemon history, with the first being the ever-memorable Zubat family. This meant Noivern had a lot to live up to, but few can say it didn't deliver. Noivern wins points for its amazing design and color combination, but its 535 base stat total and 123 Speed are undeniably the main events.
Able to Roost for health and strike hard with Flamethrower and Draco Meteor, Noivern can fit several roles on a team, its versatility making it that much more appealing as a Dragon Pokemon. The ability Infiltrator allows it to not only ignore Substitute, damaging the opponent regardless of any Substitute Doll, but also bypass moves such as Reflect, Safeguard, and Light Screen. This bat is all that.
15 Dracozolt
The Fossil Pokemon
Name
Dracozolt
No.
#0880
Type
Electric/Dragon
Ability
Volt Absorb
Hustle
Sand Rush
What do you get when you cross a Drake Fossil with a Bird? Dracozolt, that's what. Dracozolt is a fighter by nature, with access to moves such as Fire Fang and Dragon and a respectable base Attack of 100.
Dracozolt has the signature move Bolt Beak that Arctozolt can also utilize, which doubles the Electric-type move's power if the Pokemon attacks first. This would mean a base power of 170, which can wipe out many Pokemon on the battlefield. Coupled with the Attack power boost that Dracozolt's Hustle ability provides, this ancient fusion of a Pokemon is a force to be reckoned with.
14 Kommo-o
The Scaly Pokemon
Name
Kommo-o
No.
#0784
Type
Dragon/Fighting
Ability
Bulletproof
Soundproof
Overcoat
Kommo-o is both Dragon-type and Fighting-type. It is one of the weaker of our list thanks to that rough double weakness to Fairy-type moves, but that doesn't stop it being very useful. Just stay away from the fey.
There are good strategies for using this Pokemon competitively. It could be a nightmare to deal with if you teach it Toxic, Stealth Rock, Draining Punch, and Protect. Give it Leftovers to hold as well, and your rival might be ripping their hair out with frustration.
13 Tatsugiri
The Mimicry Pokemon
Name
Tatsugiri
No.
#0978
Type
Dragon/Water
Ability
Commander
Storm Drain
Tatsugiri is an interesting case, as it doesn't reach its full potential alone, as it forms an eye-catching dynamic duo with Dondozo. Tatsugiri's BST is one of the lowest among the best Dragon-types in Pokemon, but it's no slouch, as quite useful in competitive play, even without its best buddy.
However, the sheer power of Dondozo and Tatsugiri together can't be ignored, and Tatsugiri is the one pulling Dondozo's strings, after all – so it deserves respect. With the ability to boost Dondozo's Attack, Defense, or Speed – depending on its form – Tatsugiri is one of the most unusual and powerful Dragon-types Pokemon has ever dreamed up.
12 Goodra
The Dragon Pokemon
Name
Goodra
No.
#0706
Type
Dragon
Ability
Sap Sipper
Hydration
Gooey
Goodra is a pure Dragon-type with a very high Special Defense stat. It can learn the fantastic ability Sap Sipper, which makes it immune to Grass-Type moves.
Great moves to teach Goodra include Thunderbolt, Draco Meteor, Earthquake, Fire Blast, and Sludge Wave.
The best competitive items to use with Goodra are Choice Scarf and Choice Specs.
While strong, Goodra does need to be wary of Steel, Fairy, and other Dragon-Types. While its Special Defense is high, its Defense can be its weakness so it would also need to watch out for physical attackers. It is also not the best when it comes to healing itself.
