One of the most iconic aspects of Pokémon the anime series is the wide variety of creatures that inhabit the fantastic world of the series. With each new generation, more and more amazing monsters have joined the roster, enchanting fans with their flawless designs, impressive abilities, and lovable personalities. But among these groups, there is one that has always stood out as one of the best and most popular among fans: Dragon-Type.
As the protagonist of the anime for more than 25 years, Ash Ketchum has had several members of this powerful underclass on his team, each with something unique to bring to the table. Some were powerhouses that gave Ash the push he needed to overcome the biggest obstacles, and others were beloved by fans for their charismatic portrayal. Although all of Ash's Dragon-Types were important parts of his journey to becoming one of the best trainers in anime, not all of them had the same impact on the story and the battles they were a part of.
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6
Naganadel
As is usually the case with the most powerful legendaries, Ultra Beasts introduced to Pokémon franchise was a massive event for fans of the games and anime alike, due to their immense power and incredible designs. Ash seems to agree, as he was able to raise and train one of these beasts, the Dragon-Type Naganadel. This imposing creature was of great help to the protagonist during the Sun and Moon anime, mostly as its pre-evolution, Poiple. After one of the saddest farewells in the series, Pokémon returned to their home dimension.
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It wasn't until the hero was preparing for his final battle against Professor Kukui that it returned, having evolved in its home. Its speed and powerful Dragon and Poison-Type attacks were crucial to Ash's victory, but its limited screen time greatly hurt its popularity among fans. Despite its power, Naganadel had a fleeting impact on the overall story, not least because of the changes in animation during Sun and moon anime, but also because most fans never connected with it on a deeper level.
5
Nouvelle
When fans think of Ash's most iconic Pokémon partners, fans often remember bold and energetic members like Pikachu or Charizard, who left a mark on the series for their bravery and charisma. Nevertheless, from time to time, the hero came across a humble monster in search of friends who would become an invaluable part of his team. Such was the case with Noivern, who began his adventure as a newborn and shy Noibat. Due to its young age, it often tried to avoid conflicts, afraid of new experiences and pain.
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It took a long time and rigorous training for Noibat to grow stronger until it could evolve into Noivern and reach the peak of its power. Not only could Ash's friend battle some of the most impressive Pokémon in the series, such as the extremely smart Metang and the fierce Salamence, but it could also stand toe-to-toe against Zapdos, one of the three legendary birds. Sadly, Noivern's inexperience and innate fear of new experiences made it difficult for it to truly shine in battle, quickly being overpowered by other, more experienced Pokemon.
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4
Gible
Ever since its introduction back in Generation 4, Gible has become a staple in Pokémon franchise, thanks in large part to its final evolution, one of the most famous in the franchise, Garchomp. Ash encountered this adorable yet strong Pokémon during his journey across the Sinnoh region, in one of the best series of the series, Diamond and pearl. When they met, Gible was training to master the Draco Meteor move, which would go on to become his most powerful attack for the rest of the series. After the heroes helped it train and saved it from Team Rocket, the little dragon decided to join Ash's team.
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Despite not evolving, Gible would become a real powerhouse for Ash's team, managing to defeat several strong opponents with his mastery of Draco Meteor, one of the strongest attacks in the series. Its power was such that it was able to deal several devastating blows against Tobias Darkrai, a legendary Pokémon, and ensure victory for Ash and his team later in the battle. Still, many fans feel that Gible was robbed of a well-deserved evolution, which is sadly true. By allowing Gible to evolve further, it would have arguably become one of Ash's strongest Pokémon ever.
3
Goodness
A handful of monsters, aptly named Pseudo-Legendaries for their strength, are creatures with stats that far exceed those of a regular monster, without breaking into the realm of legend. They are extremely powerful and resilient fighters, and they tend to be popular with those who want to become elite trainers. As such, it's no surprise that Ash has had a few of these Pokémon on his team over the years, with Goodra being one of the most beloved. Although its journey began as a scared Goomy who feared Bug and Fairy-Types, Ash's efforts helped it become a powerful warrior.
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Goodra's bulky and strong body made it a great asset to the team, as he was one of the most defensive Pokémon Ash ever had. It defeated several powerful opponents, such as Clemont's Luxray or Sawyer's Slurpuff, proving its dominance by taking several strong attacks and dealing devastating blows to its opponents. Goodra also forced Ash to change his usually aggressive strategy, as its speed and bulk didn't suit that style as effectively as his other Pokémon. Still, some fans believe that Goodra wasn't used to her full potential, as her contribution to the story can feel a bit underwhelming.
2
Dracovish
Despite his long time as the main character in Pokémon anime, Ash was only able to get his hands on two of the long list of available fossils. Dracovish, who became an important part of the main character's team during the Journey's era, is perhaps the more iconic of the two, as its personality and abilities left a huge mark on fans. Although its large eyes and friendly smile may lead fans to believe that it is harmless, Dracovish possessed power that could dwarf even some small legendaries.
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Its speed and physical strength were far superior to most other Pokémon in the series, rivaling the likes of Iris Dragonite and Leon's Rillaboom, Pokémon trained by some of the strongest champions in the series. Dracovish's most iconic feature was its powerful jaw, as it could deal large amounts of damage with a single bite attack. It was also known to bite Ash when taken out of the ball, an unusual sign of affection that led fans to love the strong but eccentric dragon.
1
Dragonite
Pokémon fans can agree that, while not always perfect, each new generation has brought great things to the franchise. Still, even after more than two decades since it was first released, the original 151 creatures released to the public are the most beloved and iconic of them all. This is not only due to the nostalgia of those who grew up with the series, but also because this generation has some of the best Pokémon ever, like the adorable yet powerful Dragonite.
Ash was able to acquire one of these incredible dragons, and his turned out to be something special. It started as a small Dragonair that couldn't fly on its own until the hero and his friends helped it train. The deep bond formed between Ash and Dragonair, which quickly evolved into Dragonite, caused it to fight against its own peaceful nature and become a fierce and brave warrior. It was thanks to its power that Ash and his team won several important battles, among them the final battle against Leon that gave the hero the title of World Champion.
Not only did Dragonite enchant fans with its impressive power and abilities, but its personality was also memorable. Outside of battle, Ash's bulky friend was a loving and caring being, preferring to hug and make friends before choosing to fight. Its lovable nature helped it become a fan-favorite character faster than most other Pokémon, which is why many fans agree that Dragonite was Ash's best Dragon-Type ever.
Pokémon
- Release date
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1997 – 2023
- Network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- Directors
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Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Ooga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Egami, Makoto Sokuzaa,, Ken Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano
- Author
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Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ôhashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shouji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku
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Rica Matsumoto
Satoshi (voice)
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Ikue Otani
Pikachu (voice)
