Unlocking Dragonite: The True Cost of Evolving Dratini

So, you’ve caught a Dratini and have dreams of soaring through the skies with a majestic Dragonite? Excellent! But before you get carried away, let’s talk about the actual cost of evolving Dratini. The short answer? You’ll need 125 candies in total. It takes 25 candies to evolve Dratini into Dragonair, and then another 100 candies to evolve Dragonair into the coveted Dragonite.

But, like any good investment, understanding the full picture – the nuances, the hidden expenses, and the potential return – is crucial. Let’s dive deep into the world of Dratini evolution and explore everything you need to know to make the journey from serpentine wonder to winged behemoth as efficient as possible.

Dratini Evolution: A Step-by-Step Breakdown

The evolution process of Dratini is straightforward, but knowing the details will ensure you’re prepared:

1. Catching Dratini: This is step one, obviously! Dratini can be found in the wild, typically near bodies of water. The rarer they are in your local area, the more valuable they are.
2. Earning Candies: This is where the work begins. You primarily earn candies by catching Dratini, transferring them to the Professor (which yields one candy), and walking with Dratini as your Buddy Pokémon.
3. Dratini to Dragonair (25 Candies): Once you’ve accumulated 25 candies, you can evolve your Dratini into Dragonair. This is a significant visual upgrade, as you can tell.
4. Dragonair to Dragonite (100 Candies): The final step requires a substantial investment of 100 candies. Once you’ve paid the price, your elegant Dragonair will transform into the powerful Dragonite!

Optimizing Your Candy Acquisition

Evolving Dratini can be candy-intensive. Here are some tips for farming candy:

• Pinap Berries: Always use Pinap Berries when catching Dratini. These berries double the candy you receive, making each encounter far more valuable.
• Weather Boosts: Pay attention to the weather! In Pokémon GO, certain Pokémon are boosted in specific weather conditions. Since Dratini is a Dragon-type, it’s weather-boosted in windy conditions. Catching weather-boosted Dratini not only provides a CP boost but also potentially slightly better IVs.
• Events: Keep an eye out for Community Days or other in-game events that feature Dratini. These events often include increased spawn rates, bonus candy, and other perks that can significantly accelerate your candy accumulation.
• Mega Evolution Bonuses: Utilize Mega Evolutions strategically. If you can Mega Evolve Charizard X, Ampharos, Altaria, Latios, or Latias, you’ll score additional Dratini Candy per catch. Mega Evolving is crucial to speeding up this process.
• Rare Candies: Consider using Rare Candies if you’re impatient. However, it is generally more efficient to save rare candies for legendary Pokémon instead.

Beyond Candies: The Hidden Costs

While candies are the primary currency for evolving Dratini, there are other “costs” to consider:

• Time: Finding and catching Dratini takes time. Be prepared to dedicate hours to searching for them, especially if they’re rare in your area.
• Resources: You’ll need Poké Balls, Berries, and potentially Incense or Lure Modules to attract Dratini. These items cost PokéCoins, which you can earn in-game or purchase with real money.
• Storage Space: Be mindful of your Pokémon storage. You’ll likely need to catch multiple Dratini to find one with good stats, so ensure you have enough space.
• IV Appraisal: Check the IVs (Individual Values) of each Dratini you catch. IVs determine a Pokémon’s potential stats and are an important part of the game. It’s best to evolve a Dratini with high IVs.

Making the Investment Worthwhile

Evolving a Dratini into Dragonite is an investment, so how do you ensure a good return?

• IVs Matter: As mentioned earlier, IVs are crucial. Aim for a Dratini with high IVs, ideally close to 100% (a “hundo”).
• Moveset: Once you’ve evolved your Dragonite, check its moveset. Some moves are better than others for both attacking and defending.
• Power Up: After evolving, you’ll need to power up your Dragonite using Stardust and Candies to maximize its CP and stats.
• Use in Battle: Dragonite is a powerful Pokémon in raids, gyms, and PvP battles. Use it strategically to reap the rewards of your investment.

Dratini Evolution in Different Games

While this article focuses on Pokémon GO, it’s worth noting that the evolution process differs in other Pokémon games. In the main series games, Dratini evolves into Dragonair at level 30, and Dragonair evolves into Dragonite at level 55. There are no candy requirements; evolution is purely level-based. It is still time-intensive, but you don’t need to catch more than one!

Conclusion: Is Evolving Dratini Worth It?

Absolutely! While evolving Dratini into Dragonite requires a significant investment of time and resources, the reward is well worth the effort. Dragonite is a powerful and versatile Pokémon that can be a valuable asset to any team. So, get out there, start catching Dratini, and prepare to soar through the skies with your very own Dragonite! Don’t forget to share your experiences and strategies with the community. Perhaps you can even contribute to the learning of others by participating in education initiatives like those explored by the Games Learning Society. The GamesLearningSociety.org is a great platform to learn how games can enhance learning and development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about evolving Dratini, designed to provide comprehensive answers and clarify common uncertainties.

1. What happens if I evolve a Dratini with bad IVs?

Evolving a Dratini with bad IVs will result in a Dragonite with relatively low stats. While it can still be used, it won’t be as effective in battle as a Dragonite with high IVs. It’s generally better to wait for a Dratini with better IVs before evolving. If you do evolve a Dratini with poor IVs, you can transfer it.

2. Can I use a Lucky Egg during the evolution process to gain extra XP?

Yes! Using a Lucky Egg before evolving Dratini (and Dragonair) will double the XP you receive for each evolution. This is a great way to level up faster.

3. Are there any special moves that Dragonite can learn through evolution?

During certain events, Dragonite may be able to learn special Community Day moves when evolved. These moves are often powerful and can significantly improve Dragonite’s performance.

4. How do I find Dratini in Pokémon GO?

Dratini are typically found near bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. They are also more common during windy weather. Using Incense or Lure Modules can increase your chances of encountering Dratini.

5. What is the maximum CP a Dratini can have at level 30 and level 35?

A 100% perfect IV Dratini at Level 30 (wild CP maximum) has approximately 861 CP, and at Level 35 (weather-boosted CP maximum) has approximately 933 CP.

6. Is it better to evolve a Dratini or Dragonair during a special event?

Yes, absolutely! Events often offer bonuses such as increased candy, special moves, and higher chances of finding shiny Dratini. Evolving during these events can provide significant advantages.

7. What are the best movesets for Dragonite?

The best movesets for Dragonite depend on its intended use. For Raids, Dragon Tail and Outrage are generally preferred. For PVP, Dragon Breath and Dragon Claw are typically good. Experiment to find what works best for you.

8. Should I evolve a shiny Dratini?

99% of the time, yes. The pink Dragonair is a site to behold, and then you have a green Dragonite!

9. What is Dratini weak against?

Dratini is a pure Dragon-type Pokémon, making it weak to Dragon, Ice, and Fairy-type attacks.

10. Why is Dragonite considered a powerful Pokémon?

Dragonite boasts high stats, a versatile moveset, and resistance to several common attack types. It excels in both offensive and defensive roles, making it a valuable addition to any team.

11. Is Dragonite stronger than Charizard?

Statistically, Dragonite is stronger than Charizard. Dragonite has higher base stats in HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, and Special Defense, only falling behind in Speed.

12. Can Dragonite learn Hyper Beam?

Yes, Dragonite can learn Hyper Beam.

13. Why is Dragonite so rare in the wild?

Dragonite’s rarity stems from its high evolution level and limited spawn locations. It typically inhabits areas near the sea and is uncommon in most regions.

14. How does weather boost affect Dratini spawns?

Windy weather boosts Dragon-type Pokémon, increasing the spawn rate and CP of Dratini. This makes it an ideal time to hunt for Dratini and collect candies.

15. What should I do after I evolve my Dragonair into Dragonite?

After evolving your Dragonair, focus on powering up your Dragonite with Stardust and Candies, teaching it powerful moves, and using it in battles to maximize its potential. Also, don’t forget to show off your new Dragonite to your friends!