Is Dragonite viable in Gen 8 OU?

Dragonite is ranked #19 in Gen 8 OU with 11.40% usage according to Smogon Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 data.

What beats Dragonite in Gen 8 OU?

The best counter for Dragonite in Gen 8 OU is Clefable with a 75.6% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Dragonite include Clefable, Weavile, Slowbro, Melmetal, Dragapult.

What is the best counter for Dragonite in Gen 8 OU?

Clefable is the best counter for Dragonite in Gen 8 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 75.6% of their encounters.

Dragonite counters

Gen 8 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

#0149 Dragonite

DragonFlying

USAGE 11.4% #19

ABILITYMultiscale

BASE STATS

HP 91

ATK 134

DEF 95

SPA 100

SPD 100

SPE 80

BST600

TYPE MATCHUPS

4×

Ice

2×

RockDragonFairy

½×

FireWaterFightingBug

¼×

Grass

0×

Ground

Moves

Earthquake 89.8% Dragon Dance 80.0% Roost 68.1% Ice Punch 56.4% Dual Wingbeat 36.4% Extreme Speed 23.3% Heal Bell 15.7% Defog 7.6%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 84.3% Normal Gem 7.5% Life Orb 4.5% Yache Berry 1.8% Weakness Policy 0.7% Leftovers 0.5% Choice Specs 0.3% Choice Band 0.2%

Abilities

Multiscale98.4%Inner Focus1.6%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian39.6%

Checks & Counters

Ranked by reliability — blends KO rate with how often each Pokémon is matched up.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Clefable

Fairy DEFENSIVE COUNTER

27.006

75.6% dies 8.27%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Dragonite Dual Wingbeat (2 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Clefable: 132-156 (33.5 - 39.5%) -- 5% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Clefable counters → Teams with Clefable →

Weavile

DarkIce OFFENSIVE CHECK

26.854

70.8% dies 8.77%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Weavile Triple Axel (120 BP) (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Multiscale Dragonite: 784-930 (203.1 - 240.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Weavile counters → Teams with Weavile →

Slowbro

WaterPsychic DEFENSIVE COUNTER

21.942

60.5% dies 10.44%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Dragonite Dual Wingbeat (2 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro: 102-120 (25.8 - 30.4%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Slowbro counters → Teams with Slowbro →

Melmetal

Steel DEFENSIVE COUNTER

23.736

55.9% dies 10.19%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Dragonite Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Melmetal: 138-164 (29.1 - 34.5%) -- 99.9% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Melmetal counters → Teams with Melmetal →

Dragapult

DragonGhost SOFT CHECK

25.984

42.7% dies 9.70%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Choice Specs Dragapult Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 210-247 (54.4 - 63.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Dragapult counters → Teams with Dragapult →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK

21.402

34.5% dies 10.28%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 69-81 (17.8 - 20.9%) -- possible 5HKO

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

52.659

19.7% dies 5.48%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Multiscale Dragonite: 136-160 (35.2 - 41.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Landorus-Therian counters → Teams with Landorus-Therian →

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike

FightingWater SOFT CHECK

30.015

19.1% dies 7.17%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Multiscale Dragonite: 282-332 (73 - 86%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Urshifu-Rapid-Strike counters → Teams with Urshifu-Rapid-Strike →

Slowking-Galar

PoisonPsychic SOFT CHECK

22.228

3.8% dies 4.06%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Slowking-Galar Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 138-164 (35.7 - 42.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Slowking-Galar counters → Teams with Slowking-Galar →

Heatran

FireSteel SOFT CHECK

69.777

3.4% dies 3.01%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 32-38 (8.2 - 9.8%) -- guaranteed 5HKO after trapping damage

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Ranked #19 with 11.40% usage. Sorted by reliability score.