Dragonite
Encyclopedia
Dragonite, known as in Japan, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo
and Game Freak
's Pokémon
franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori
, Dragonite first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue
and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. Dragonite is voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi
in Japanese and English.
for the first generation of Pocket Monsters games Red and Green, which were localized outside of Japan as Pokémon Red and Blue
. Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga author Toshihiro Ono
stating that of all the characters in the original series, Dragonite was one of the most difficult to draw, noting it was difficult to make its cute face look powerful.
Dragonite, known as the Dragon
Pokémon, is the final form of the Dratini evolutionary line. Dragonite's appearance is notably different from that of its previous forms: as Dragonite, it is now a golden
bipedal dragon with a beige
underbelly that extends from the top of its neck to the tip of its tail. Along with already being a Dragon-type, it has now gained the secondary Flying-type, growing wings. Dragonite are extremely fast, able to circle around the globe in sixteen hours. It has a small horn on the top of its head, along with slightly "S" shaped antennae. Much like its previous forms, Dragonite still has a gentle and somewhat innocent appearance and a kindhearted disposition. They have been said to save people from drowning and lead ships that have been trapped in storms to safety. People have claimed that there is an island somewhere that only Dragonite inhabit. Its diet consists mainly of berries, soft plants, and fruit, while it will occasionally eat crustaceans. Dragonite are said to have an intelligence matching humans.
, the evolution of Dratini. It later appeared in several sequels, including Pokémon Gold and Silver
, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
, the Red and Blue remakes Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
, and Pokémon Black and White
. Outside of the main series, Dragonite has appeared in Pokémon Pinball
, Pokémon Snap
, and the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
games. In Pokémon Ranger
, after the sixth mission, it is possible to use the Dragonite Bus which will fly the player to any of the Ranger bases. It also appears as a Pokemon in Lance's party, the champion of the HeartGold/SoulSilver game.
, when it was sent by Mewtwo to give Ash and his friends an invitation. A larger than normal Dragonite also appeared in the beginning of Ash's journey when he encountered Bill; in this episode, Dragonite was described as an unknown legendary Pokémon by the Pokédex.
In Pokémon Adventures
, a wild Dragonite first appears in Volume 2, where Red searches for the move Surf. After a tough fight during which it showed great resilience taking Pika's electric attacks to no effect, and withstanding a Double-Edge from Lax
, it was eventually beaten when Misty
arrived with her Gyarados
, Gyara. 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.
A promotional Dragonite TCG card
was handed out at theatrical showings of Pokémon: The First Movie
.
, Dragonite has received mostly positive reception. It has been featured in multiple forms of merchandise, including figurines, plushes, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game
.
In the book Dragonlore: From the Archives of the Grey School of Wizardry, author Ash Dekirk describes Dratini and Dragonair
as "sleek sea serpent
s", but when evolved into Dragonite, they become "peaceful, sleepy-looking classic dragons". Similarly, Loredana Lipperini, author of the book Generazione Pókemon: i bambini e l'invasione planetaria dei nuovi, commented that Dragonite resembled "dragons of legend." St. Louis Today editor Margaret Gillerman described Dragonite as a "smiling yellow dinosaurlike creature with angel wings." Official Nintendo Magazine named Dragonite one of the ten best Pokémon in the game as of 2010, calling it "one of the strongest non-legendary Pokémon". IGN
listed Dragonite as the best Dragon type, discussing how both it and its preceding form, Dragonair
, had their own advantages. However, they picked Dragonite due to its superior statistics. They also noted that Dragonair would have been a more fitting name, because Dragonite can fly. IGN editor "Pokémon of the Day Chick" commented that while Dragonite "may pack a mighty punch," his "cheapness and overratedness" makes her not as enthused about it. She adds, however, that there "must be a reason this thing is so popular," commenting that players can include Dragonite in their team without worrying. IGN's Jack DeVries called it "very cute", comparing it to Puff the Magic Dragon. GamesRadar
described it as a "cuter take on Charizard
."
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
and Game Freak
Game Freak
is a Japanese video game developer that currently creates games exclusively for Nintendo. It has developed the Pokémon series of role-playing games and several other games.-History:...
's Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori
Ken Sugimori
is a Japanese video game designer, illustrator, manga artist, and director. He is most famous as the character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise. Sugimori is also credited with the art direction for other titles, including Pulseman. Sugimori drew all of the original 151 Pokémon...
, Dragonite first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version, originally released in Japan as , are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. They are the first installments to the Pokémon series. They were first released in Japan in 1996 as Red and Green, with Blue being...
and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. Dragonite is voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi
Katsuyuki Konishi
is a Japanese voice actor from Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture. He is currently affiliated with Ken Production. His debut role was Volfogg/Big Volfogg in GaoGaiGar....
in Japanese and English.
Design and characteristics
Dragonite was one of 151 different designs conceived by Game Freak's character development team and finalized by Ken SugimoriKen Sugimori
is a Japanese video game designer, illustrator, manga artist, and director. He is most famous as the character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise. Sugimori is also credited with the art direction for other titles, including Pulseman. Sugimori drew all of the original 151 Pokémon...
for the first generation of Pocket Monsters games Red and Green, which were localized outside of Japan as Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version, originally released in Japan as , are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. They are the first installments to the Pokémon series. They were first released in Japan in 1996 as Red and Green, with Blue being...
. Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga author Toshihiro Ono
Toshihiro Ono
is a Japanese manga artist and graphic novelist. He was born in Aichi, Japan.He is best known for the Pokémon manga based on the animation series: "The Electric Tale of Pikachu" published by Viz Media...
stating that of all the characters in the original series, Dragonite was one of the most difficult to draw, noting it was difficult to make its cute face look powerful.
Dragonite, known as the Dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
Pokémon, is the final form of the Dratini evolutionary line. Dragonite's appearance is notably different from that of its previous forms: as Dragonite, it is now a golden
Gold (color)
Gold, also called golden, is one of a variety of orange-yellow color blends used to give the impression of the color of the element gold....
bipedal dragon with a beige
Beige
Beige may be described as an off tan color or an extremely pale brown color.The term originates from beige cloth, a cotton fabric left undyed in its natural color...
underbelly that extends from the top of its neck to the tip of its tail. Along with already being a Dragon-type, it has now gained the secondary Flying-type, growing wings. Dragonite are extremely fast, able to circle around the globe in sixteen hours. It has a small horn on the top of its head, along with slightly "S" shaped antennae. Much like its previous forms, Dragonite still has a gentle and somewhat innocent appearance and a kindhearted disposition. They have been said to save people from drowning and lead ships that have been trapped in storms to safety. People have claimed that there is an island somewhere that only Dragonite inhabit. Its diet consists mainly of berries, soft plants, and fruit, while it will occasionally eat crustaceans. Dragonite are said to have an intelligence matching humans.
In the video games
The first video game appearance of Dragonite was in Pokémon Red and Blue versions, where it would evolve from DragonairDragonair
Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited , operating as Dragonair, is an international airline and flag carrier headquartered in Hong Kong; with its corporate headquarters, Dragonair House Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited (T: 港龍航空有限公司, S: 港龙航空有限公司, Cantonese: gong2 lung4 hong4 hung1 jau5 haan6 gung1 si1,...
, the evolution of Dratini. It later appeared in several sequels, including Pokémon Gold and Silver
Pokémon Gold and Silver
are the second installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. The games have dual-mode capabilities allowing them to also be played on earlier Game Boy models. They were first released in Japan in 1999 and to...
, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
are the third installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing games, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. The games were first released in Japan in late 2002 and later released to the rest of the world in 2003 . Pokémon Emerald, a special edition version,...
, the Red and Blue remakes Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
are enhanced remakes of the original Pokémon Red and Blue video games, which were released in 1996. The new titles were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance and have compatibility with the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter, which originally came bundled with...
, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. With the enhanced remake Pokémon Platinum, the games comprise the fifth installment and fourth generation of the Pokémon series of RPGs...
, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
are enhanced remakes of the 1999 video games Pokémon Gold and Silver. The games are part of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games, and were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS...
, and Pokémon Black and White
Pokémon Black and White
are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. They are the first installments in the fifth generation of the Pokémon series of role-playing games...
. Outside of the main series, Dragonite has appeared in Pokémon Pinball
Pokémon Pinball
is a pinball-based Pokémon spin-off video game for the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on April 14, 1999, and in North America on June 28, 1999. In it, the ball is a Poké Ball, and most of the objects on the table are Pokémon-related....
, Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Snap
is a first-person rail shooter and simulation video game developed by HAL Laboratory with Pax Softnica and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 video game console. It is part of the Pokémon series, and one of the first console games based on the Pokémon series...
, and the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
- Manga :*Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team, manga adaption of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team*Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blazing Exploration Team, manga adaption of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky.-...
games. In Pokémon Ranger
Pokémon Ranger
is an action/role-playing video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS video game console. The game was released at various dates, varying between continents. The game was first released in Japan on March 22, 2006 and was later released in North America and...
, after the sixth mission, it is possible to use the Dragonite Bus which will fly the player to any of the Ranger bases. It also appears as a Pokemon in Lance's party, the champion of the HeartGold/SoulSilver game.
In other media
Dragonite's first appearance was in "Mystery at the Lighthouse", as the mystery pokemon, although it is never named. However, it's main anime appearance was at the end of the Orange Island League season in "Enter The Dragonite". It was spotted twice in the previous episode "Hello Pummelo" as Ash, Tracy and Misty saw it flying over the sea around Pummelo Island and they learned that it was owned by the Orange Crew leader, Drake. In Ash's six-on-six battle with Drake, it defeated Ash's Charizard, Squirtle, and Tauros before Ash's Pikachu finally took it out. Drake keeps Dragonite's Poké Ball on a necklace. Professor Oak also owns a Dragonite which was used prior to the episode "The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon". Dragonite also appeared in Pokémon: The First MoviePokémon: The First Movie
Pokémon: The First Movie, originally released as , is a 1998 Japanese animated film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, the chief director of the Pokémon television series. It is the first theatrical release in the Pokémon franchise...
, when it was sent by Mewtwo to give Ash and his friends an invitation. A larger than normal Dragonite also appeared in the beginning of Ash's journey when he encountered Bill; in this episode, Dragonite was described as an unknown legendary Pokémon by the Pokédex.
In Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures, released in Japan as , is a Pokémon-related manga based on the video games. Satoshi Tajiri once stated that the Pocket Monsters Special series is closest to what he imagined the Pokémon world to be:...
, a wild Dragonite first appears in Volume 2, where Red searches for the move Surf. After a tough fight during which it showed great resilience taking Pika's electric attacks to no effect, and withstanding a Double-Edge from Lax
Snorlax
Snorlax, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Snorlax first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed...
, it was eventually beaten when Misty
Misty (Pokémon)
Misty, known as in Japanese versions, is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise. She has appeared as a Gym Leader in the Pokémon video games, several seasons of the Pokémon anime, The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga, the Ash & Pikachu manga, toys, books, and other media.-Design:Misty's...
arrived with her Gyarados
Gyarados
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Gyarados first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise....
, Gyara. 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.
A promotional Dragonite TCG card
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game based on the Pokémon video game series, first introduced in Japan in October 1996, then North America in December 1998...
was handed out at theatrical showings of Pokémon: The First Movie
Pokémon: The First Movie
Pokémon: The First Movie, originally released as , is a 1998 Japanese animated film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, the chief director of the Pokémon television series. It is the first theatrical release in the Pokémon franchise...
.
Reception
Since first appearing in Pokémon Red and BluePokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version, originally released in Japan as , are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. They are the first installments to the Pokémon series. They were first released in Japan in 1996 as Red and Green, with Blue being...
, Dragonite has received mostly positive reception. It has been featured in multiple forms of merchandise, including figurines, plushes, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game based on the Pokémon video game series, first introduced in Japan in October 1996, then North America in December 1998...
.
In the book Dragonlore: From the Archives of the Grey School of Wizardry, author Ash Dekirk describes Dratini and Dragonair
Dragonair
Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited , operating as Dragonair, is an international airline and flag carrier headquartered in Hong Kong; with its corporate headquarters, Dragonair House Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited (T: 港龍航空有限公司, S: 港龙航空有限公司, Cantonese: gong2 lung4 hong4 hung1 jau5 haan6 gung1 si1,...
as "sleek sea serpent
Sea serpent
A sea serpent or sea dragon is a type of sea monster either wholly or partly serpentine.Sightings of sea serpents have been reported for hundreds of years, and continue to be claimed today. Cryptozoologist Bruce Champagne identified more than 1,200 purported sea serpent sightings...
s", but when evolved into Dragonite, they become "peaceful, sleepy-looking classic dragons". Similarly, Loredana Lipperini, author of the book Generazione Pókemon: i bambini e l'invasione planetaria dei nuovi, commented that Dragonite resembled "dragons of legend." St. Louis Today editor Margaret Gillerman described Dragonite as a "smiling yellow dinosaurlike creature with angel wings." Official Nintendo Magazine named Dragonite one of the ten best Pokémon in the game as of 2010, calling it "one of the strongest non-legendary Pokémon". IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
listed Dragonite as the best Dragon type, discussing how both it and its preceding form, Dragonair
Dragonair
Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited , operating as Dragonair, is an international airline and flag carrier headquartered in Hong Kong; with its corporate headquarters, Dragonair House Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited (T: 港龍航空有限公司, S: 港龙航空有限公司, Cantonese: gong2 lung4 hong4 hung1 jau5 haan6 gung1 si1,...
, had their own advantages. However, they picked Dragonite due to its superior statistics. They also noted that Dragonair would have been a more fitting name, because Dragonite can fly. IGN editor "Pokémon of the Day Chick" commented that while Dragonite "may pack a mighty punch," his "cheapness and overratedness" makes her not as enthused about it. She adds, however, that there "must be a reason this thing is so popular," commenting that players can include Dragonite in their team without worrying. IGN's Jack DeVries called it "very cute", comparing it to Puff the Magic Dragon. GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
described it as a "cuter take on Charizard
Charizard
Charizard, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Charizard first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and...
."