Move set / rating DRAGALGE

[Tazarox]

Hello, i just lvlupped my dragalge 100, i know he got low spatak and hp, but can he still be good in pvp ? also i would love to know the moveset for him please :v

[Jorogumo]

If you want to be safe against Hippowdon (which would otherwise 2HKO Dragalge with Earthquake), you're going to need 131 speed, uninvested Hippowdon with perfect IVs having 130 speed. Draco Meteor will almost always OHKO fully physically defensive Hippowdon, while 2HKOing mixed variants. That's why the speed matters, mostly because you only need to invest 28 EVs in speed, considering you have perfect IVs in that department, but also because there aren't many notable Pokémon worth outspeeding at the cost of sacrificing more HP EVs. The only two other exceptions I can think of are uninvested Clefable at 156 speed and uninvested Tyranitar at 158. This would allow you to hit both of them extremely hard, OHKOing Bold Clefable (and almost OHKOing the Calm variant) with Sludge Bomb and almost nailing Tyranitar with the newly-implemented Focus Blast. It only OHKOs the latter when running no HP EVs, in which case you're not faster. Also, keep in mind that the sandstorm boosts Tyranitar's special defense, so OHKOing it will almost never occur, unless you are running Life Orb or Choice Specs. Your Dragalge doesn't have the highest special attack possible, so you should try to calculate the damage you do to certain Pokémon, as some close OHKOs will not be scored, which might result in you losing your Pokémon, instead of getting ahead.

 

Knowing Dragalge's limits is mandatory. The typing is definitely great and you should abuse it as much as possible. Dragalge can switch into many attacks, get rid of Toxic Spikes, while being able to set them himself. Dragalge also threatens enemy teams with a wide array of moves. Draco Meteor and Sudge Bomb are mandatory. I would also recommend Focus Blast, as it is nigh mandatory to nail Pokémon that resist both of Dragalge's STAB moves and try to switch into them just to be surprised by Focus Blast. The list is long: Bisharp, Ferrothorn, Magnezone and Excadrill are some of the ones you should keep in mind. Toxic Spikes is a great option for the last slot, especially when running Black Sludge for passive recovery (Dragalge can switch into a lot of attacks and bluff an attack, then proceed to set up Toxic Spikes to hurt grounded setup sweepers other than steel-type Pokémon). If the main concern is to deal as much damage as possible to anything that switches in, then you should definitely give Dragalge an item that boosts the power of Draco Meteor, as it lands a powerful, neutral hit on anything that isn't a fairy-type or a steel-type Pokémon. You deal with the latter two with the combination of Sludge Bomb and Focus Blast (which is why you can run Toxic Spikes without worrying too much about not being able to neutrally cover most of the metagame). Otherwise, Life Orb is another option. However, Dragalge is supposed to switch-in a lot and not die early on. Life Orb increases the damage significantly (and your Dragalge, with lower special attack than desired, could benefit from such a boost in power), but recoil damage on top of hits from other Pokémon will prevent Dragalge from performing the role it's supposed to as well as it should. Choice Specs has the advantage of boosting Dragalge's moves' power even further, but has the drawback of being locked into a specific move, which means that, should you predict right, you will deal more damage (e.g. Tyranitar maybe being OHKO'd). If you don't predict right, then you're in big trouble, and Dragalge or another Pokémon might die or just take significant damage. With Choice Specs, you risk losing some momentum and being set behind, which is not always an easy situation to come back from. Not to say it's impossible, though. On Life Orb sets, maybe consider running Scald over Toxic Spikes. On Choice Specs sets, it is nigh mandatory to run it (or any other move that would help your team). Do not run Choice Scarf. That would be pointless.

 

I personally wouldn't use that Dragalge in PvP. However, considering the rarity of H.A. Skrelp, you can if you really want to. Otherwise, I'd recommend using another special wallbreaker, maybe Hydreigon (easier to farm, as Levitate is the only available ability). Hydreigon does lack Toxic Spikes, but functions better than Dragalge in the current metagame, hitting fairy-type Pokémon with Flash Cannon and steel-type Pokémon with Flamethrower or Focus Blast, while having good neutral coverage with both Draco Meteor and Dark Pulse. Earth Power is also a powerful option (which reminds me that your Dragalge does have HP Ground). The main advantage Hydreigon has over Dragalge is sitting at a much higher speed tier.

 

I hope I have been of some help. Good luck!

[Tazarox]

If you want to be safe against Hippowdon (which would otherwise 2HKO Dragalge with Earthquake), you're going to need 131 speed, uninvested Hippowdon with perfect IVs having 130 speed. Draco Meteor will almost always OHKO fully physically defensive Hippowdon, while 2HKOing mixed variants. That's why the speed matters, mostly because you only need to invest 28 EVs in speed, considering you have perfect IVs in that department, but also because there aren't many notable Pokémon worth outspeeding at the cost of sacrificing more HP EVs. The only two other exceptions I can think of are uninvested Clefable at 156 speed and uninvested Tyranitar at 158. This would allow you to hit both of them extremely hard, OHKOing Bold Clefable (and almost OHKOing the Calm variant) with Sludge Bomb and almost nailing Tyranitar with the newly-implemented Focus Blast. It only OHKOs the latter when running no HP EVs, in which case you're not faster. Also, keep in mind that the sandstorm boosts Tyranitar's special defense, so OHKOing it will almost never occur, unless you are running Life Orb or Choice Specs. Your Dragalge doesn't have the highest special attack possible, so you should try to calculate the damage you do to certain Pokémon, as some close OHKOs will not be scored, which might result in you losing your Pokémon, instead of getting ahead.

 

Knowing Dragalge's limits is mandatory. The typing is definitely great and you should abuse it as much as possible. Dragalge can switch into many attacks, get rid of Toxic Spikes, while being able to set them himself. Dragalge also threatens enemy teams with a wide array of moves. Draco Meteor and Sudge Bomb are mandatory. I would also recommend Focus Blast, as it is nigh mandatory to nail Pokémon that resist both of Dragalge's STAB moves and try to switch into them just to be surprised by Focus Blast. The list is long: Bisharp, Ferrothorn, Magnezone and Excadrill are some of the ones you should keep in mind. Toxic Spikes is a great option for the last slot, especially when running Black Sludge for passive recovery (Dragalge can switch into a lot of attacks and bluff an attack, then proceed to set up Toxic Spikes to hurt grounded setup sweepers other than steel-type Pokémon). If the main concern is to deal as much damage as possible to anything that switches in, then you should definitely give Dragalge an item that boosts the power of Draco Meteor, as it lands a powerful, neutral hit on anything that isn't a fairy-type or a steel-type Pokémon. You deal with the latter two with the combination of Sludge Bomb and Focus Blast (which is why you can run Toxic Spikes without worrying too much about not being able to neutrally cover most of the metagame). Otherwise, Life Orb is another option. However, Dragalge is supposed to switch-in a lot and not die early on. Life Orb increases the damage significantly (and your Dragalge, with lower special attack than desired, could benefit from such a boost in power), but recoil damage on top of hits from other Pokémon will prevent Dragalge from performing the role it's supposed to as well as it should. Choice Specs has the advantage of boosting Dragalge's moves' power even further, but has the drawback of being locked into a specific move, which means that, should you predict right, you will deal more damage (e.g. Tyranitar maybe being OHKO'd). If you don't predict right, then you're in big trouble, and Dragalge or another Pokémon might die or just take significant damage. With Choice Specs, you risk losing some momentum and being set behind, which is not always an easy situation to come back from. Not to say it's impossible, though. On Life Orb sets, maybe consider running Scald over Toxic Spikes. On Choice Specs sets, it is nigh mandatory to run it (or any other move that would help your team). Do not run Choice Scarf. That would be pointless.

 

I personally wouldn't use that Dragalge in PvP. However, considering the rarity of H.A. Skrelp, you can if you really want to. Otherwise, I'd recommend using another special wallbreaker, maybe Hydreigon (easier to farm, as Levitate is the only available ability). Hydreigon does lack Toxic Spikes, but functions better than Dragalge in the current metagame, hitting fairy-type Pokémon with Flash Cannon and steel-type Pokémon with Flamethrower or Focus Blast, while having good neutral coverage with both Draco Meteor and Dark Pulse. Earth Power is also a powerful option (which reminds me that your Dragalge does have HP Ground). The main advantage Hydreigon has over Dragalge is sitting at a much higher speed tier.

 

I hope I have been of some help. Good luck!

 

You've been more than a good help :') :thanks: :Heart:

[Arlington]

i feel bad for you , almost a perfect dragalge . I would say it depends on your team to use it . I can be either bulky toxic spikes setter or a bulky special attacker .

 

For bulky special attacker (28 speed ev (to outspeed base 50) / 252 hp (to be as bulky as possible ) / the rest on spatk (to hit as hard as possible with AA)) :

Item : Choice Specs

Moveset:

Draco Meteor (Very Strong STAB , but reduce your spatk everytime you use it)

Dragon Pulse (Decent STAB , to kill things and still be able to stay in the next turn no worry about the spatk drop)

Sludge Wave (why sludge wave over sludge bomb ? To hit bullet proof )

Scald / Focus Blast (Your choice)

 

For toxic spikes setter : (252 hp / 252 spatk and 6 def)

Item : Black Sludge

Moveset:

Draco Meteor (STAB)

Toxic Spikes (Hazard)

Scald (To maybe burn something , hit something that resist both dragon/poison stab (Steel for instance) )

Sludge Bomb (STAB , to poison something )