Dragon-type Pokemon weren’t all that common in earlierPokemongames, but have become increasingly prominent over the years. As a result, there are now plenty of excellentDragon-typesfor players to choose from, many of which are among the most powerful Pokemon in the entire series. Some of them are so powerful, in fact, that they are widely considered to bePseudo-Legendary Pokemon.
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Perhaps more than any other type, however, a Dragon-type Pokemon’s secondary type can be incredibly important, as this will typically dictate what the Pokemon is and isn’t weak to. With this in mind, players looking to establish which arethe best Dragon-types inPokemon GOor indeed, the mainline series, will need to think about a lot more than just raw power when deciding which one to include in their team.
Updated June 07, 2025, by Tom Bowen:As the roster of available Pokemon in the game continues to grow, so too does the number of viable Dragon-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. Those players who are looking to assemble a balanced team are going to need to choose between one of them, though whether or not they’re looking for a pure Dragon-type or something a bit more versatile will have a pretty big impact on their decision. These Pokemon are the best of the best in both regards and are all more than capable of filling any dragon-shaped holes in a player’s current team.
18Haxorus
Haxorus is a pure Dragon-type that excels in the attacking department. In fact, few Dragon-type Pokemon can boast a higher Attack stat, and, were it not for its somewhat average Defense and Stamina, Haxorus really would be up there with the very very best Dragon-types inPokemon GO.
Those looking to squeeze every drop of potential from their Haxorus will want to go with a move set of Dragon Tail and Dragon Claw. This offers up the highest possible damage per second, though trading out Dragon Tail for Counter offers a little extra versatility without sacrificing too much damage potential.
17Hydreigon
With its exceptional Attack and Stamina stats, Hydreigon is a solid pick when it comes to Dragon-type Pokemon inPokemon GO. Even its defense, which is by far its lowest stat, sits at an impressive 188, making it one of the more well-balanced Dragon-types in the game.
Sadly, these monstrous stats don’t quite translate into the kind of damage output that one might expect. To be clear, when taught Dragon Breath and Dragon Pulse, it can still pack quite the punch, but it doesn’t hit quite as hard as some of its peers. Worse still, its Dark/Dragon-typing makes it even weaker to Fairy-type attacks than pure Dragon-types already are.
16Goodra
Not only is Goodra one of just a handful of pure Dragon-type Pokemon inPokemon GO, but it also happens to be one whose stats are all above 200 once it’s at Max CP. This makes it a great choice for anyone looking to add a Dragon-type to their team, though Goodra does have its drawbacks when compared to some of its peers.
The most notable of these is the Pokemon’s relatively low DPS, which, even when equipped with its two most powerful moves, Dragon Breath and Draco Meteor, is still noticeably lower than other powerful Dragon-type Pokemon inPokemon GO. If none of the others are available though, Goodra is a more than adequate stopgap.
15Shadow Kingdra
Kingdra is one of several Pokemon that doesn’t really feel as though it deserves its Dragon-type status, particularly as it evolves from the wimpy-looking Seadra. Either way though, it certainly knows how to make the most of it, with Shadow Kingdra serving as one of the strongest Dragon-type Pokemon inPokemon GOdespite its relatively small stature.
When equipped with Dragon Breath and Outrage, Shadow Kingdra can be incredibly effective and is able to comfortably out-damage much larger and more fierce-looking Dragon-types like Druddigon and Dragalge. This is all thanks to its impressive stat distribution, with Shadow Kingdra boasting a more than solid 194 for both its Attack and Defense stats.
14Kyurem
Ice-type Pokemon are some of the least popular in the entire series and for very good reason. Their overalltype-effectivenessis fairly lackluster when compared to some of the more popular types. That said, it can definitely come in handy in certain situations, such as when one comes face to face with one of the most powerful Dragon-type Pokemon in the series.
Not only does Kyurem’s ability to draw on Ice-Type attacks give it the edge over a lot of the other strong Dragon-types inPokemon GO, but it also allows it to hold its own against some of the best counters for Dragon-types. Its optimal move set uses Dragon Breath and Draco Meteor, though anyone looking to take advantage of its secondary typing will probably want to teach it Blizzard in place of the latter.
13Giratina
There aren’t too many Ghost/Dragon-types inPokemon GO, nor the largerPokemonseries as a whole. In certain situations, however, it’s an incredibly useful combination to have, as evidenced by Giratina’s Origin form. Of course, there’s much more to the Pokemon than just its somewhat unusual combination.
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Giratina’s Stamina stat is ridiculously high and its Attack and Defense stats aren’t too far behind. It also boasts a solid move set and is able to serve as a more than competent Ghost-type or Dragon-type attacker. Those looking for the best of both worlds can instead opt to teach their Giratina Dragon Tail and Shadow Ball, which will provide the Pokemon’s best total damage output.
12Dialga
Though Dialga is not quite as effective as a Dragon-type attackeras it is as a Steel-type, it’s still an excellent choice for the latter. Its only weaknesses are Fighting and Ground-type Pokemon, meaning that anybody packing a Fairy, Dragon, or Ice-type Pokemon to counter it is going to find themselves in quite a bit of trouble.
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Thanks to its status as a Legendary Pokemon, Dialga boasts some incredibly impressive stats, and these help it to dish out a ridiculous amount of damage. Players can choose to teach it Metal Claw and Draco Meteor for a hybrid build or replace the former with Dragon Breath if they’d rather keep it purely as a Dragon-type attacker.
11Zekrom
Zekrom is a solid all-rounder, with all three of its key stats rising above 200 once it starts to approach its maximum CP. The most impressive of these is undoubtedly its Attack stat, however, which, at 275, allows Zekrom to hand out some serious damage when attacking against weakness. Even against neutral opposition, it’s still able to pack quite the punch.
When it comes to moves, Zekrom should generally be taught Dragon Breath and Outrage. Those looking to build the Pokemon as a hybrid attacker may want to consider using Wild Charge as its charge move though, as doing so will yield a notable improvement to Zekrom’s DPS while also increasing its chances when up againstGround-type counters like Garchomp or Groudon.
10Mega Altaria
Altaria may be one of the least intimidating Dragon-type Pokemon when going strictly by appearances, but it packs one hell of a punch when it comes to power. In its Mega form, Altaria is able to dish out some incredible DPS thanks to its 222 Attack stat. It’s pretty bulky too, with its Defense stat not too far behind at 218.
Being a Dragon/Fairy-type gives Mega Altaria an advantage over some of the other best Dragon-types inPokemon GOand this is reflected in its optimal move set. Dragon Breath is the Pokemon’s best Fast Move, while those looking to maximize damage should opt for Dazzling Gleam for their Charge Attack. A pure Dragon-type build can work too though, with Dragon Pulse not too much worse than Dazzling Gleam when it comes to total damage output.
9Palkia
Palkia being a Water and Dragon-type Pokemon gives it the edge over a lot of its peers, as it is able to hold its own against Ice-type Pokemon. Unfortunately, however, it’s still weak to Dragon andFairy-typesand so can easily be countered by stronger Dragon-type Pokemon. The good news is that due to its Attack and Defense stats being 280 and 215 respectively while at max CP, there really aren’t too many of those around.
Palkia’s DPS is at its highest when taught Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor, although some may opt to swap out the latter for either Hydro Pump or Fire Blast to make the Pokemon a little more versatile. Whatever players end up choosing though, Palkia is a solid Dragon-type Pokemon and an excellent addition to any team.
