15 Best Dragon-Type Pokémon, Ranked

1 week ago 12

The dragon pokemon Dragonite floating in the sky while in a high-tech arena in the Pokémon anime.

Updated Jan 27, 2026, 12:10 PM EST

Born with Autism (formerly classified as Asperger syndrome), Tyler B. Searle has been obsessed with storytelling since he was old enough to speak. He gravitated towards fairy tales, mythology, the fantasy genre, and animated movies and shows aimed at family audiences. When not writing, Tyler enjoys watching more cartoons and reading fantasy books in his home in Ontario, Canada.

Among Pokémon's nineteen elemental types, none has had quite the same impact on the franchise as the mystical Dragon-type. With resistance to Fire, Water, Grass, and Electric-type attacks and naturally high base stats, Dragons serve as the perfect counter to the usual lineup of starter Pokémon. Though Dragon-type moves are only super-effective against other Dragons, only the Steel and Fairy-types resist and are immune, respectively, meaning that Dragons can brute force their way through most battles with ease.

While Generation 1 only had one line of Dragon-Pokemon, subsequent games have introduced many more, though the type is still ranked among the rarest in the franchise. Many of the most powerful Legendary Pokémon have Dragon-typing, and it is the most common type among the popular pseudo-legendaries. Be it because of their lore, design, excellence in games, or mighty presence in the anime, certain Dragons rise above the rest to stand as the pinnacle of what their type represents. This list will rank the best Dragon-type Pokémon based on their qualities, power, design, and overall presence in the franchise.

15 Flygon

Pokédex Number 330, "The Mystic Pokémon"

Within the arid deserts of the Pokémon World lives Trapinch, a Ground-type known for digging pit-traps so they can catch their prey. In time, they grow wings and become the insect-looking Vibrava, yet they obtain the Dragon-type instead of Bug. In time, Vibrava's wings grow stronger as it continues to hunt, and eventually, it evolves into the more draconic-looking Flygon.

Flygon's insect-themed design and the great coverage provided by its Ground-typing helped it stand out compared to other Dragons. Thanks to its Levitate ability, Flygon gains immunity to Ground-type attacks, allowing it to switch in safely or, in double battles, avoid being hit by the universal Earthquake. In lore, it's nicknamed "The Desert Spirit" due to the beautiful sound of its wings in flight and the sandstorms it whips up. While other Dragon-types outclass Flygon in terms of power, it has remained a fan favorite, and there has been plenty of outcry for Flygon not gaining a Mega Evolution in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

14 Baxcalibur

Pokédex Number 998, "The Ice Dragon Pokémon"

If you feel cold air while walking through the forest, it probably means there is a Frgibax nesting near. This little Dragon and Ice-type absorbs heat to make cool air, and when it evolves into Arctibax, it grows ice spines on its dorsal fin for use in battle. Eventually, Arctibax can evolve into the imposing pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Baxcalibur, who can freeze lava with its breath.

Baxcalibur's signature ability, Thermal Exchange, allows it to turn heat into power, so it can increase its already monstrously high attack stat when hit by Fire-type attacks and protect itself from the devastating Burn status. It finishes its foes either by smacking them with its powerful tail or by sliding sail-first into the enemy with its Glaive Rush attack, which pays homage to Godzilla's famous flying kick from Godzilla vs. Megalon. Legends: Z-A also granted Baxcalibur a Mega Evolution, sharpening its fin into a massive sword and raising its attack and defenses even higher.

13 Dragapult

Pokédex Number 887, "The Stealth Pokémon"

While some extinct Pokémon can be brought back to life through cloning their fossils, the adorable Dreepy instead returns as a Ghost-type. Though weak individually, Dreepy live in large groups to help one another get stronger and evolve into Drakloak, who love to let Dreepy ride on their heads. From there, it's a short wait to evolve into Dragapult, who are never seen without two Dreepy resting in their hollow horns.

One of the highlights of the otherwise divisive Galar Region, Dragapult's unique attack, Dragon Darts, involves launching the Dreepy from its horns like missiles. The Dreepy seem to love it and will flock around the fastest Dragapult in their group in the hopes that they'll be launched. In battle, Dragapult is wicked fast and has managed to thrive in the competitive scene by making use of Dynamaxing and Terastallization. It's also blessed with three great abilities: Clear Body prevents enemies from lowering Dragapult's stats, Infiltrator allows it to ignore moves like Light Screen and Substitute while hitting its target, and Cursed Body has a chance of disabling any attack that touches Dragapult.

12 Reshiram

Pokédex Number 643, "The Vast White Pokémon"

In the ancient past, two brothers founded the Unova Region with the help of their powerful Dragon-type Pokémon. Unfortunately, the brothers found themselves at odds when they began pursuing truth and ideals, and the dragon split itself into two beings. The brother who sought the truth gained the white dragon, Reshiram, whose fiery breath was so hot it could scorch the land and heat the atmosphere.

As one of the signature legendaries of Pokémon Black and White, it's no surprise that Reshiram is a fierce dragon. Its Turboblaze ability allows its attacks to ignore other Pokémon's abilities, while its high special attack ensures its signature Fusion Flare and Blue Flare attacks will hit hard, even if the opponent resists Fire. Reshiram's Fire-typing also helps keep it alive by ensuring it takes neutral damage from Ice and Fairy-type attacks, which, combined with its respectable bulk, means Reshiram can take a few good hits before bathing its opponents in blue fire.

11 Zekrom

Pokédex Number 644, "The Deep Black Pokémon"

The brother who pursued ideals was given Zekrom, a mighty black dragon who concealed itself in storms before unleashing devastating thunderbolts. The two dragons were evenly matched, so the brothers ceased their conflict, but their children continued the fight until Reshiram and Zekrom transformed into light and dark stones. Now they wait for a new hero who represents the concepts they embody.

Zekrom's strength comes from its physical power, so rather than rely on ranged combat like Reshriam, it prefers to get up close. This allows Zekrom to make use of the powerful stat-boosting move Dragon Dance, which allows it to hit harder and faster, and its Teravolt ability means that, like Reshiram, its opponents cannot fall back on abilities to save themselves. Moves like Outrage and Bolt Strike ensure that anything Zekrom hits won't be standing for very long, but should it combine its Fusion Bolt attack with Reshiram's Fusion Flare, the power of both moves is doubled.

10 Kyurem

Pokédex Number 646, "The Boundary Pokémon"

Kyurem's eyes glow as it is silhouetted in the darkness.

Unova's third legendary dragon, Kyurem, is thought to have come to the region from a meteorite that created the giant chasm where this ice dragon makes its frozen lair. However, it's actually a byproduct of the original dragon when it split into Reshiram and Zekrom, but lacks a commitment to either truth or ideals. Thus, Kyurem uses ice to keep its unstable body together and lashes out at anyone who comes close to it.

Kyurem's secondary Ice-typing makes it even more effective at taking down its fellow Dragons, and with its Pressure ability, Pokémon have to exert twice as much energy when they attack it. However, Kyurem's real power shines through when it absorbs Reshiram or Zekrom and becomes White or Black Kyurem. These two forms see Kyurem's special and physical strength skyrocket and grant it access to new moves that combine the power of Ice with Fire or Electric. Though its appearance in the anime has been limited, fans of Pokémon Black2 and White2 remember Kyurem's role in the story as the villainous Team Plasma used its powers to freeze Opelucid City.

9 Zygarde

Pokédex Number 718, "The Order Pokémon"

Zygarde 50% stands in the middle of a glowing cave

With so many iconic Pokémon who can distort the landscape with their powers, and the advanced technology humans have, there is a legitimate concern for the stability of the Pokémon World's ecosystem. Fortunately, it has a protector in the form of Zygarde, a Dragon/Ground-type usually found in the Kalos Region, whose body consists of observant cells and intelligent cores that control them. When a threat is detected, Zygarde's cores can collect nearby cells to take on different forms: a fast-moving dog at 10%, a large serpent at 50%, and a gargantuan titan when all cells and cores combine.

When introduced in Pokémon X and Y, Zygarde was simply an optional boss fight that existed as the arbitrary middle ground between the life-giving Xerneas and the death-dealing Yveltal. However, the expansion of its powers in later games and its phenomenal depiction in the anime helped Zygarde reach its full potential. The concept of Zygarde is great: the idea of the cells coming together is an effective representation of the ecosystem rising up to defend itself, and the different forms show that Zygarde is intelligent enough to know when to go all out or when to show restraint. Zygarde gets several powerful, unique attacks, but the standout is Core Enforcer, which can suppress its opponent's abilities if Zygarde moves after them.

8 Hydreigon

Pokédex Number 635, "The Brutal Pokémon"

No Pokémon takes as long to reach its final form as Deino, a blind Dark/Dragon-type found in caves that bites everything in its way. By the time most other Dragon-types are in their final form, Deino evolves into the two-headed Zweilous, whose heads compete with one another for food. Eventually, one head will dominate the other, triggering an evolution into the three-headed and six-eyed Hydreigon.

The long slog to level 64 is worth it, thanks to Hydreigon's impressive power. While the Dark-typing means that Hydreigon gets absolutely wrecked by Fairy-types, immunity to Psychic and Ground thanks to Levitate gives it a few free switch-ins, allowing Hydreigon to overwhelm its foe with brute strength and diverse attacks. It's also one of the fiercest-looking dragons, thanks to its strong contrasting colors, and unique among multi-headed Pokémon in that Hydreigon only has one brain. Thus, its heads don't act independently of one another but rather work together to achieve the singular goal of biting and overpowering anything in its way.

7 Salamence

Pokédex Number 373, "The Dragon Pokémon"

Pokémon Hunter J riding her Salamence as she leads her team in a hunt.

One of the most inspiring stories in the Pokémon world comes from Bagon, a thick-headed Dragon who lives high in the mountains. Bagon dreams of one day being able to fly, and so it repeatedly tosses itself off cliffsides until it evolves into the armored Shelgon. Within its shell, the Pokémon's cells undergo a massive transformation until its wings break through as it evolves into the mighty Salamence.

Salamence's simple yet elegant design perfectly captures how fierce this Pokémon is. It's not quite as defensive as other Dragons, but it makes up for this through two amazing abilities: Intimidate frightens opponents so they won't hit as hard, while Moxie means that every time Salamence defeats an opponent, its power surges. If that wasn't enough, it can also Mega Evolve, taking its attack and speed to greater heights and changing its ability to Aerilate, which makes all Normal-type attacks Flying-type.

6 Dragonite

Pokédex Number 149, "The Dragon Pokémon"

Dragonite flying after being released from its Pokéball

Among the original 151 Pokémon, there was only one Dragon-type family, which began life as the serpentine Dratini. Keeping hidden from most humans and Pokémon, Dratini repeatedly sheds its skin as it grows until it evolves into the graceful Dragonair, who can change the weather with its power. The strongest Dragonair then grow limbs as they evolve into Dragonite, who spend their days out at sea protecting people from storms and shipwrecks.

Dragonite might not have seen as much use in competitive battles compared to its fellow pseudo-legendaries, but it remains one of the most beloved Dragon-types thanks to its lovable design, friendly disposition, and reliability. Thanks to diverse moves, reliable bulk, and high physical power, Dragonite can fit any role required of it, and thanks to its Multiscale ability, it can survive a super-effective attack if it enters the battle at full stamina. Its other ability, Inner Focus, originally prevented Dragonite from losing a turn to flinching, but recent games have improved the ability so that it won't fall victim to Intimidate, thus allowing it to keep hitting at full power. Finally, Dragonite had many impressive appearances in the anime, including a giant one that visited Bill's lighthouse, one that was the ace to Supreme Gym Leader Drake in the Orange Islands, and two owned by Iris and Ash in Unova and Galar, respectively.

Read Entire Article