After unlocking the National PokéDex in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, players will be able to get all 493 Pokémon that had been added to the franchise as of Gen IV, including Dragonite. Dragonite is the final evolution of Dratini and is known simply as the Dragon Pokémon, which is fitting considering that Dratini, Dragonair, and Dragonite were the original Dragon-Type Pokémon in the series and the only three in the original Pokémon Red & Green. However, players won’t be able to catch a Dragonite in the wild in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, even with the National Dex unlocked, which means they’ll have to train a Dragonair until it evolves.
Dragonite is a Dragon/Flying-Type Pokémon, which makes it strong against Fire, Water, Bug, Grass, and Fighting-Types, but weak to Ice, Rock, and Dragon-Types. In addition, the Fairy Type has been added to Pokémon since the original Diamond & Pearl, which means Dragonite and other Dragon-Types have a new challenge in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl since this the Fairy-Type was added to counter Dragon-Types. Dragonite has the Inner Focus ability in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, which prevents it from flinching or having its stats lowered from abilities like Intimidate, and it has the hidden ability Multiscale, which reduces the amount of damage it takes when its health is full.
In order to get a Dragonite in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, trainers must evolve one from a Dragonair since Dragonite cannot be found anywhere in the wilds of the Sinnoh region. Fortunately, once players obtain the National Dex from Professor Oak, both Dratini and Dragonair can be caught in the wild, giving players a chance to train them until they’re a high enough level to evolve. While none of the evolutions in this line require any special items or Evolution Stones, trainers can give their Dragonair a Lucky Egg or Rare Candy to speed up the leveling process.
How To Evolve Dragonite In Pokémon BDSP
Dratini and Dragonair can both be caught in Mt. Coronet in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl once players have their National Dex. However, in order to catch them, players must fish with the Super Rod. Dratini is a relatively common Pokémon, but Dragonair is extremely rare, so players will have to have plenty of patience when they go fishing. Dratini will evolve into Dragonair at level 30, and Dragonair evolves into Dragonite at level 55.
As these Pokémon evolve at relatively high levels, it’s a good idea for trainers to use special items like Lucky Eggs or Rare Candies in order to get their Dratini and Dragonair to evolve into Dragonite faster. Lucky Eggs can be found by catching Chansey in the wild, which each have a 5% chance to be holding a Lucky Egg when caught. However, trainers can also buy Lucky Eggs at the Exchange Service Counter in the Battle Park for 77 Battle Points. Rare Candy can also be purchased at this counter for 20 Battle Points, but these sweet treats can be found on the ground throughout the Sinnoh Region as well.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl are available on Nintendo Switch.