You finally did it. You sat at that Game Corner slot machine for hours, or maybe you spent your hard-earned savings on coins to buy that Dratini. Or, if you’re the patient type, you spent an afternoon casting the Super Rod in the Safari Zone. Now you’ve got a Dragonite. It took forever. Level 55 is a massive grind in Pokémon Leaf Green, and honestly, the payoff needs to be worth it. But here is the thing: Dragonite in Generation III is a bit of a weird beast. It’s got these massive base stats, but it’s trapped in a world where the physical/special split hasn't happened yet.
Your moveset determines if this dragon is a world-beater or just a giant orange liability.
Back in 2004, we didn't have it as easy as players do now. In Leaf Green, the type of the move dictates whether it uses the Attack or Special Attack stat. Dragon moves? They're all special. Flying moves? All physical. This is the single most important factor when building a dragonite moveset leaf green players can actually use to sweep the Elite Four. If you give it Outrage, you’re hitting off its lower 100 Special Attack rather than its monstrous 134 Attack. It’s a bit of a tragedy, really. But with the right TMs and a bit of planning, you can turn this thing into a wrecking ball that makes Lance look like an amateur.
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The Standard Physical Powerhouse
Most people want Dragonite to just hit things until they faint. It makes sense. With a base 134 Attack, Dragonite is one of the strongest physical hitters in the Kanto Pokédex. For a reliable physical build, you absolutely need Aerial Ace. Why? Because it’s the only decent STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) move Dragonite gets that actually uses its Attack stat. Fly is fine for getting around the map, but in a serious battle, giving your opponent a free turn to switch or protect is just asking for trouble.
Then there is Earthquake. You have to use the TM26 from Giovanni on someone, and Dragonite is a top-tier candidate. It covers its weakness to Rock and handles those pesky Electric types that might try to paralyze you. If you’re feeling spicy, you can add Double-Edge. Since Dragonite has the bulk to take some recoil damage, the raw power is often worth the trade-off.
But wait. We have to talk about Dragon Dance. This is the move that defines Dragonite. It boosts both Attack and Speed. After just one turn of setting up, Dragonite becomes faster than almost everything in the game and hits like a freight train. A Dragonite with Dragon Dance, Earthquake, Aerial Ace, and maybe a filler move like Rock Slide (taught by the Move Tutor in Rock Tunnel) is basically the "Easy Mode" button for the post-game.
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The Mixed Attacker: Breaking the Rules
Sometimes, you don't want to just spam physical moves. Dragonite has a surprisingly deep move pool on the special side. In Leaf Green, moves like Fire Blast, Ice Beam, and Thunderbolt are all accessible to it. This is what we call a "BoltBeam" coverage set, and on a Dragonite, it’s terrifying because it hits almost every Pokémon for at least neutral damage.
If you go this route, you’re leaning into its base 100 Special Attack. It’s lower than its physical stat, sure, but it’s still higher than many other fully evolved Pokémon. This is the dragonite moveset leaf green veterans use when they want to surprise their friends in a link cable battle. Imagine your opponent switches in a physical wall like Skarmory or Weezing, thinking they can tank an Earthquake. You hit them with a Fire Blast or Thunderbolt instead. Game over.
- Flamethrower/Fire Blast: For those annoying Steel types and Lorelei’s Jynx.
- Ice Beam: Essential for mirror matches against other Dragons or knocking out Erika's grass types in one shot.
- Thunderbolt: Great for the various Water types that populate the late game.
- Dragon Claw: This is your best Special STAB move. It's found in Victory Road (TM02). It’s consistent and doesn't lock you into a move like Outrage does.
Why Outrage is Actually a Trap
Let’s talk about Outrage for a second. In later games, Outrage is a physical nuke. In Leaf Green? It’s a special move. And it’s a bad one. It locks you in for 2-3 turns and then confuses you. Because Dragonite’s Special Attack is just "okay," you aren't getting the one-hit KOs you need to justify being confused afterward. If you’re playing through the story, stick to Dragon Claw if you want a Dragon-type move. Or, better yet, ignore Dragon moves entirely and focus on the physical coverage that utilizes that 134 Attack stat. It sounds weird to have a Dragon that doesn't use Dragon moves, but that's Gen III for you.
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The Defensive Tank Build
Dragonite isn't just about offense. It has 91/95/100 defensive stats. That is remarkably bulky. You can actually run a "Support" or "Stall" Dragonite if you really want to be annoying. Using Thunder Wave to cripple faster opponents is a classic move. Follow that up with Substitute and Roost—wait, Roost doesn't exist yet. My bad. In Leaf Green, you’re stuck with items like Leftovers or using the move Soft-Boiled, but only if you’re playing the weirdly specific version from the Pokémon Center New York event, which, let's be real, nobody has anymore.
So, for us mortals, defensive Dragonite usually relies on Reflect (TM33) to help the whole team or Safeguard to prevent status conditions. It's not the most common way to play, but it works if you need a pivot.
Hidden Power: The Pro's Secret
If you are a real perfectionist, you look at Hidden Power. This is where things get complicated. Hidden Power's type and power are determined by your Pokémon’s IVs (Individual Values). If you manage to hatch a Dratini with the right stats to get Hidden Power Flying, you’ve hit the jackpot. It’s a special-category move in this generation, but it provides that STAB coverage without the drawbacks of Fly. However, the odds of getting a 70-power Hidden Power of the right type are incredibly low. It’s mostly for people using emulators or those with way too much free time.
Navigating the Move Tutor Dilemma
Leaf Green is famous for its one-time use Move Tutors. You have to be careful here. Substitute (found in Fuchsia City) is amazing on Dragonite, especially when paired with Focus Punch. This "SubPunch" combo is legendary. You hide behind a doll, then charge up a massive 150-power Fighting move that can’t be interrupted because the Substitute takes the hit. It destroys Blissey, Snorlax, and Tyranitar. But remember, you only get one shot at teaching this. If you waste the Substitute tutor on a Pidgeot, you're going to regret it when you're trying to optimize your Dragonite later.
Finalizing Your Strategy
When you’re looking at your team, ask yourself what role Dragonite fills. If it’s your primary sweeper, go for the Dragon Dance set. If you need a versatile attacker that can hit weaknesses, go for the mixed "BoltBeam" set.
One thing people often forget: Dragonite’s ability in this game is Inner Focus. It prevents flinching. This is actually huge when you’re facing Lorelei’s Cloyster or any Pokémon using Rock Slide. You can stay in and click your move without worrying about losing your turn. It’s a small detail, but it’s saved more than a few Nuzlocke runs.
To truly master the dragonite moveset leaf green experience, you need to be willing to spend the money at the Celadon Department Store for the best TMs. Don't hoard them. A Dragonite with Leer and Twister is a waste of a party slot. A Dragonite with Earthquake and Dragon Dance is a god.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Dragonite
- Check your Nature: If you have a Lonely, Naughty, Adamant, or Jolly nature, go for a physical Dragon Dance build. If you have Mild, Rash, or Modest, lean into special attacks like Ice Beam and Thunderbolt.
- Head to the Move Relearner: You’ll need Two Tiny Mushrooms or one Big Mushroom (found on wild Paras/Parasect) to teach Dragonite moves it might have missed, like Wing Attack if you evolved it late.
- Visit the Move Tutor in Rock Tunnel: Teach it Rock Slide immediately to deal with other Flying types and Charizard.
- Save your Earthquake TM: Do not use TM26 until you are absolutely sure Dragonite is staying on your final team; it is the most valuable TM in the game.
- Equip a Persim Berry: If you insist on using Outrage or Thrash during the mid-game grind, the Persim Berry will snap it out of confusion once, which can be the difference between winning a gym battle and blacking out.
By focusing on physical moves and using Dragon Dance to overcome its middling speed, you turn Dragonite from a slow-moving tank into the most dangerous Pokémon in Kanto. Forget the "Dragon" typing—treat it like a flying gladiator and you won't lose.