Monotype Dragalge + Duraludon Balanced Dragon

RMT Staff

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Introduction
With MPL passing, a trend that popped up during the tour was less hyper-offensive Dragon teams. This version of the team was made halfway into the tour by Floss. Dragalge and Duraludon form the defensive core of the team and act as a counter against Fairy-types such as Tapu Fini and Mimikyu. Kyurem and Hydreigon make up the main offensive breaking core: Kyurem can take on Water-types such as Azumarill and Toxapex for the team, while Hydreigon provides a crucial Psychic immunity, allowing it and Dragalge to play mind games with Choice item Tapu Lele, which otherwise poses a huge threat to Dragon teams. Finally, the team is completed with offensive support in Latias and Dragapult, which provide different but important offensive utility. Latias can help against Flying teams, as all Flying foes are hit super effectively by its coverage while also providing the offensive core with Healing Wish support. Dragapult, on the other hand, deals with faster foes with its Choice Scarf as well as its ability to spread paralysis with Thunder Wave. Overall, Dragon teams have taken a turn from their more hyper-offensive roots with this team.

In-Depth

:ss/dragalge:
Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
IVs: 24 Spe
- Toxic Spikes
- Gunk Shot
- Flip Turn
- Protect

Dragalge acts as a great glue that holds the team together. Dragalge is used as a pivot most frequently so you can bring in new threats, like Kyurem and Hydreigon. Toxic Spikes help to break down types that don't have reliable entry hazard control, most notably Fairy, to get crucial chip damage. Protect is great for this by stalling one turn for poison damage and for passive recovery from Black Sludge. Gunk Shot is used as the main STAB attack so Dragalge doesn't get stalled out by Calm Mind Fairy-types. Flip Turn is how Dragalge pivots out; 24 IVs in Speed allow it to be slower than opposing Dragalge while maintaining enough Speed to outpace base 50 and below.

:ss/kyurem:
Kyurem @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Freeze-Dry
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power

Kyurem's newfound access to Freeze-Dry makes it a necessity on Dragon teams. Ice coverage is always great, but Freeze-Dry adds the ability to take on some of its old switch-ins like Mantine, Swampert, and more. Choice Specs, combined with Kyurem's naturally high Special Attack, allows it to deal large amounts of damage, even when a foe resists its attacks. Ice Beam is used with Freeze-Dry as a secondary option for more power if there is not a specific target for Freeze-Dry to hit. Earth Power helps to take down Steel-types that may be hard for Dragon to break such as Melmetal, while Flash Cannon is to cover Fairy-types like Tapu Lele and Clefable.

:ss/dragapult:
Dragapult @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Darts
- Phantom Force
- U-turn
- Thunder Wave

Dragapult's blistering Speed allows it to act as an amazing revenge killer for Dragon teams. Dragapult's signature move, Dragon Darts, is preferred over moves like Outrage because its multi-hit nature breaks Focus Sash and it doesn't have the consequence of leaving Dragapult confused. Phantom Force allows Dragapult to take on threats such as Tapu Lele. Dragapult is mostly used as a means of getting fast foes under control while generating momentum with U-turn. Thunder Wave is used to paralyze threats such as Weavile and Tornadus-T, leaving them outsped by Dragapult's teammates like Kyurem. Infiltrator is the preferred ability to circumvent Substitute and dual screens. Max Speed is used with Choice Scarf mainly to outspeed a major threat to Dragon teams, Weavile. Weavile commonly runs Choice Scarf as well. An Adamant nature makes Dragapult's Speed identical to a max Speed Weavile, opening yourself up to losing to a Speed tie.

:ss/latias:
Latias (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Healing Wish
- Ice Beam
- Mystical Fire
- Defog

Latias serves this team in three main ways: providing Healing Wish support to Hydreigon or Kyurem, clearing the field of entry hazards with Defog, and keeping Flying teams at bay with Mystical Fire and Ice Beam. Ice Beam can handle Thundurus-T, Landorus-T, and Garchomp, while Mystical Fire can break Skarmory and Ferrothorn. Latias is a fantastic support Pokemon that adds a lot of value to the team in the mid- to late-game.
:ss/hydreigon:
Hydreigon @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power

Hydreigon is a fantastic setup Pokemon, as it provides two useful immunities while also outspeeding threats such as Tapu Lele. While it's not able to take these two on without a boost, after a Nasty Plot, it becomes a devastating breaker that can help in the Poison, Electric, and Psychic matchups. Dark Pulse is its main attack and allows it to take on Aegislash and Tapu Lele. Earth Power allows it to pressure Poison teams and gives it a guaranteed OHKO on Toxapex at +2 after Stealth Rock damage.

:ss/duraludon:
Duraludon @ Leftovers
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Flash Cannon
- Body Press
- Thunder Wave

Duraludon forms the second part of the team's defensive and anti-fairy core. Its EV spread allows it to outspeed Adamant Bisharp while still having as much bulk as possible. Flash Cannon allows it to take on threats such as Mimikyu and Galarian Darmanitan. Body Press allows it to take on Dark-types such as Tyranitar and Bisharp. Thunder Wave allows Duraludon to cut threats such as Galarian Moltres and opposing Dragapult's Speed in half, allowing Kyurem and Hydreigon to take them out.

Threatlist
:tapu-lele::hatterene::tapu-fini::mimikyu::tapu-koko:
Fairy-types will always be frustrating for Dragon to deal with; however, between Dragalge's ability to set Toxic Spikes and tank attacks from Tapu Koko and Tapu Fini, and Duraludon's ability to check Mimikyu, the team has some counterplay to common Fairy-types. However, Heavy-Duty Boots Tapu Lele can prove to be problematic to deal with and is often a loss for this team.

:weavile::mamoswine::darmanitan-galar::ninetales-alola:
Ice-types are another natural weakness of Dragon teams, specifically the above Pokemon. Between its available Speed tiers, powerful attacks, and utility, most Dragon teams fail to break past Ice. However, between entry hazard spamming and Duraludon, this team can beat Ice if well played.

:kyurem::dragapult::latios:
Fast Dragon-types give this team trouble, as it is slower than most other Dragon teams and relies on Dragapult to revenge kill opposing Dragon-types. This means that each time one of these Pokemon enter the field, they will likely claim a KO. However, Choice Scarf Dragapult can OHKO these Pokemon with Dragon Darts and is the only hope vs faster Dragon-types.

:kingdra::zapdos::nihilego::spectrier::tornadus-therian:
Fast wallbreakers can be troublesome for this team due to the team's slower nature, meaning Dragapult is usually forced to check these Pokemon. Using Dragapult effectively is the key to not losing these matchups.

Replays
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8monotype-634568 - EviGaro vs Crying
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8monotype-641641 - Jojo8868 vs Omicorio
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8monotype-1619903324 - Floss vs Style.CSS

Importable
Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
IVs: 24 Spe
- Toxic Spikes
- Gunk Shot
- Flip Turn
- Protect

Kyurem @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Freeze-Dry
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power

Dragapult @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Darts
- Phantom Force
- U-turn
- Thunder Wave

Latias (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Healing Wish
- Ice Beam
- Mystical Fire
- Defog

Hydreigon @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power

Duraludon @ Leftovers
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Flash Cannon
- Body Press
- Thunder Wave


Credits
Created by: Floss
Written by: maroon & style.css
Quality checked by: Floss
Grammar checked by: dex
Art by: sasha
 

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