One of the most iconic aspects Pokemon anime franchise is a wide variety of creatures that inhabit the fantasy world of the series. With each new generation, more and more amazing monsters join the list, enchanting fans with their perfect designs, impressive abilities and endearing personalities. But among these groups, there is one that has always stood out for being one of the best and most popular among fans: Dragon-Type.
As an anime protagonist for over 25 years, Ash Ketchum has several members of this powerful underclass on his team, each with something unique to bring to the table. Some were the driving force that gave Ash the strength he needed to overcome his greatest obstacles, and others were beloved by fans for their charismatic portrayals. However, while all of Ash's Dragon-Types were vital pieces in his journey to becoming one of the best trainers in the 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 often the case with the most powerful Legendaries, the introduction of Ultra Beasts on Pokemon franchise has been a massive event for fans of the games and anime alike thanks to their massive power and incredible designs. Ash seems to agree as he was able to raise and train one of these beasts, a Dragon-type Naganadel. This formidable creature was a great help to the protagonist during the Sun and Moon anime, mostly as his pre-evolution, Poiple. After one of the saddest farewells in the series, Pokemon returned to its home dimension.
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It was only when the hero was preparing for his final battle against Professor Kukui that he returned because he had evolved in his home. His speed and powerful Dragon-Type and Poison-Type attacks were crucial to Ash's victory, but his limited screen time greatly hurt his popularity among fans. Despite his power, Naganadel had a fleeting impact on the overall story, and not just because of the animation changes during the run Sun and Moon anime, but also because most fans never got to a deeper level with it.
5
Noivern
When thinking about Ash's most iconic Pokémon partners, fans often think of bold and energetic members like Pikachu or Charizard, who left a mark on the series with their bravery and charisma. Nevertheless, from time to time the hero, in search of friends, came across a humble monster, which became an invaluable part of his team. Such was the case with Noivern, who began his adventure as a newborn and shy Noibat. Because of his young age, he often tried to avoid conflicts, he was afraid of new experiences and pain.
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It took a long time and rigorous training for Noibat to grow stronger before he could evolve into Noivern and reach the peak of his power. Not only was Ash's friend able to battle some of the most formidable Pokémon in the series, such as the extremely smart Metang and the ferocious Salamence, but he was also able to 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 him to really shine in battle, as he was quickly overwhelmed by other, more experienced Pokémon.
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4
Gible
Since its introduction in the 4th generation, Gible has become a staple Pokemon franchise, thanks in large part to its final evolution, one of the most recognized in the franchise, Garchomp. Ash encountered this adorable yet powerful Pokémon during his journey across the Sinnoh region, in one of the best series in the series, Diamond and pearl. When they met, Gible was training to master the Draco Meteor move, which would become his most powerful attack for the rest of the series. After the heroes helped him train and saved him from Team Rocket, the little dragon decided to join Ash's team.
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Despite not evolving, Gible became a real driving force for Ash's team and was able to defeat several strong opponents due to his mastery of Dragon Meteor, one of the strongest attacks in the series. Its power was such that it was able to deal several devastating blows to Tobias's Darkrai, a legendary Pokemon, securing victory for Ash and his team later in the battle. However, many fans feel that Gible was robbed of the evolution he deserved, which is unfortunately true. By being able to evolve further, Gible would undoubtedly become one of Ash's strongest Pokemon ever.
3
Goodra
A handful of monsters, aptly named Pseudo-Legendary for their power, are creatures with stats that far exceed those of regular monsters without ever reaching the realm of legend. They are extremely strong and durable fighters and tend to be popular with those who want to become elite trainers. So it's no surprise that Ash has had several of these Pokémon on his team over the years, with Goodra being one of the most popular. Although his journey began as a scared Goomy who was afraid of Bug and Fairy-Types, Ash's efforts helped him become a powerful warrior.
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Goodra's bulky and strong body made him a major asset to the team, as he was one of the most defensive Pokemon Ash had ever commanded. It defeated several powerful opponents such as Clemont's Luxray or Sawyer's Slurpuff, proving its dominance by tanking several powerful attacks and dealing devastating blows to its opponents. Goodra also forced Ash to change his usually aggressive strategy, as his speed and bulk didn't fit that style as effectively as his other Pokémon. Still, some fans feel that Goodra hasn't been used to her full potential, as her contributions to the story can be a bit overwhelming.
2
Dracovish
Despite his long time as the protagonist Pokemon In the anime, Ash only managed to get his hands on two of the long list of available fossils. Dracovish, who became an important part of the protagonist's team during Journey's era, is perhaps the most iconic of the two, as his personality and abilities have left quite a mark among fans. Although his large eyes and friendly smile may lead fans to believe that he is harmless, Dracovish had a power that could surpass even some small Legendary.
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Its speed and physical strength were far superior to most other Pokemon in the series, able to compete with the likes of Iris' Dragonite and Leon's Rillaboom, Pokemon trained by some of the strongest champions in the series. The Dracovish's most iconic feature was its powerful jaw, as it was able to deal a large amount of damage with a single bite attack. He was also known to bite Ash whenever he was taken out of the orb, an unusual sign of affection that led to fans loving the strong but eccentric dragon.
1
Dragonite
Pokemon fans can agree that while not always perfect, each new generation has brought great things to the franchise. Still, more than two decades after its initial release, the original 151 creatures released to the public are the most beloved and iconic of them all. This is not only for the nostalgia of those who grew up with the series, but also because this generation has some of the best Pokemon of all time, such as the adorable yet powerful Dragonite.
Ash managed to get hold of one of these incredible dragons and his turned out to be something special. It started as a small Dragonair unable to fly on his own until the hero and his friends helped him train. The deep bond that formed between Ash and Dragonair, who quickly evolved into Dragonite, made him fight against his own peaceful nature and become a fierce and brave warrior. It was thanks to his strength that Ash and his team won several important battles, among them the final fight against Leon, which brought the hero the title of world champion.
Dragonite not only charmed fans with his impressive strength and abilities, but his personality was also unforgettable. Outside of battle, Ash's hulking friend was a loving and caring creature who would rather hug and befriend than choose to fight. His lovable nature helped him become a fan favorite faster than most other Pokemon, which is why many fans agree that Dragonite was Ash's best Dragon-Type ever.
Pokemon
- 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 Na Egami, Makoto Keni, Heoki Ken Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano
- Writers
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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)
