Dragonite Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Dragonite in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Dragonite
Dragonite is a 3-Star Raids raid boss in Pokemon GO with dragon/flying typing. The best counter is Kyurem (White) with Ice Fang and Blizzard, dealing 43.619 DPS. Dragonite's shiny form is available from raid encounters.
Dragonite can be defeated by a minimum of 2 trainers using optimal counters at level 40+. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win, especially if your team isn't fully powered up.
Type strategy: Dragonite is weak to Ice (double weak!), Dragon, Fairy, Rock -type attacks. Avoid using Grass, Ground, Bug-type moves as Dragonite resists them. Focus your team on the highest DPS counters from the list below — even budget options without Shadow or Mega forms perform well in larger groups.
Top 3 counters: The strongest lineup against Dragonite is Kyurem (White) (43.619 DPS), Shadow Darmanitan (Galarian standard) (42.714 DPS), and Shadow Weavile (41.067 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Dragonite: After defeating Dragonite, the catch encounter will have a CP between 2131 and 2221 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2651-2763 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Dragonite from raids will have exactly 2221 CP — look for that number! Use Golden Razz Berries and Excellent curveball throws to maximize your catch rate.
Quick Stats
Weak To
Best Counters
Budget Counters (No Shadow / No Mega)
Catch CP
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best counters for Dragonite?
The best counter for Dragonite is Kyurem (White) with Ice Fang and Blizzard, dealing 43.619 DPS. Other top options include Shadow Darmanitan (Galarian standard) (42.714 DPS) and Shadow Weavile (41.067 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Dragonite?
Dragonite can be defeated by a minimum of 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win. In public lobbies, 5-6 is a safe number.
What is Dragonite weak to?
Dragonite is weak to Ice (double weak), Dragon, Fairy, Rock-type attacks. It resists Grass, Ground, Bug, Fighting, Fire, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Dragonite be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Yes! Dragonite's shiny form is available from raid encounters. The shiny rate for legendary raids is approximately 1 in 20 (5%). Use a Pinap Berry if you already have a shiny and want extra candy.
What CP is a 100% IV Dragonite from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Dragonite from raids will have 2221 CP at level 20, or 2763 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 2131. If you see 2221 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Dragonite worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Dragonite is a lower-tier raid boss that can be soloed or defeated easily with 1-2 trainers. It's useful for farming candy, earning XP, and potentially getting a high-IV specimen. Worth doing when convenient, but doesn't require spending Premium Passes.
What is the best moveset for Dragonite?
For the best moveset for Dragonite itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Dragonite stats page which includes optimal fast and charged move combinations for both PvE raids and PvP GO Battle League, along with DPS calculations and PvP rankings.
Can I beat Dragonite without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Dragonite can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Kyurem (White) (43.619 DPS) and Kyurem (Black) (37.438 DPS). You may need 5-6 trainers instead of the minimum 2 when using budget teams. Check the Budget Counters section above for the full F2P-friendly list.
What weather boosts Dragonite in raids?
Dragonite is weather boosted during windy weather. When boosted, Dragonite is harder to defeat (higher CP in the raid) but the catch encounter will be level 25 instead of 20, giving you a higher CP catch (2651-2763 CP) with potentially better IVs. Weather boost is a double-edged sword — harder raid, better reward.