Drapion’s Best Attacks: A Comprehensive Guide
What are the best attacks for Drapion? The answer isn’t as straightforward as choosing one move, as it depends on the context, such as whether you’re engaging in PvE (Player vs Environment) battles like raids or gym battles, or PvP (Player vs Player) battles in the various leagues of Pokémon GO. However, some moves consistently rise to the top.
For maximizing damage output in PvE, Bite and Sludge Bomb is often cited as a powerful combination, boasting high damage per second (DPS) at around 12.47, which allows Drapion to deal significant damage before fainting. This makes Drapion a decent, albeit not top-tier, option for attacking. However, for moves with higher energy per second (EPS) to allow for frequent charge attacks, Poison Sting is a standout fast move. For a charge move, Crunch and Aqua Tail are also preferred for their damage and move speeds.
In PvP, the ideal moveset can shift depending on the league and your specific strategy. A highly recommended moveset is Bite, Aqua Tail, and Fell Stinger or Ice Fang, Crunch, and Sludge Bomb.
Let’s dive deeper into the specific moves, and the factors that make them the best:
Best Fast Moves for Drapion
Poison Sting: The Energy Generator
Poison Sting is the standout fast move choice for several reasons. First, it’s a Poison-type move, granting Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) when used by Drapion, which boosts the damage it deals. More importantly, Poison Sting boasts a high EPS (energy per second) of 9.0, making it incredibly effective at generating energy for your powerful charge attacks. This means you’ll be firing off those devastating charged moves far more frequently. If frequent charge attacks is your goal, Poison Sting is your clear winner.
Bite: The Raw Damage Dealer
Bite is a Dark-type move that focuses on dealing damage. While it doesn’t generate energy as quickly as Poison Sting, it delivers strong raw damage. This makes it a good option if you prioritize consistent damage over frequent charged attacks, which is more beneficial in PvP and sometimes PvE situations.
Best Charged Moves for Drapion
Sludge Bomb: The Reliable Poison Attack
Sludge Bomb is a Poison-type charged move and is frequently cited as the optimal choice for Drapion. It benefits from STAB and delivers strong damage. Its relatively manageable energy cost makes it a consistent threat in battles.
Crunch: The Versatile Dark Move
Crunch, a Dark-type charged move, is a highly versatile move for Drapion. It provides great neutral coverage against many Pokémon types and decent damage. Its low energy cost allows for it to be used frequently in battles.
Aqua Tail: The Coverage Option
Aqua Tail is a Water-type charged move that provides Drapion with coverage against its weakness to Ground-type Pokemon. This can be very useful in PvP where you are unsure of what Pokemon the other player will choose.
Fell Stinger and Ice Fang: Alternative Considerations
While not as common, Fell Stinger and Ice Fang have their niche uses. Fell Stinger boosts Drapion’s attack after fainting an opponent which can be useful if you can get the boost in a battle. Ice Fang offers coverage against Dragon-type Pokémon, which could give an edge in some PvP matchups, but it’s not the most optimal choice.
Drapion’s Move Recommendations: A Summary
PvE (Raids and Gym Battles)
- Fast Move: Poison Sting (for energy generation) or Bite (for raw damage)
- Charged Moves: Sludge Bomb or Crunch. The best combination is often Poison Sting and Sludge Bomb for frequent Poison-type charged attacks or Bite and Crunch for more raw damage output.
PvP (Trainer Battles)
- Moveset 1: Bite, Aqua Tail, Fell Stinger – Offers good damage output and coverage.
- Moveset 2: Ice Fang, Crunch, Sludge Bomb – A different approach that could work with certain team compositions
Why These Moves Are the Best for Drapion
The effectiveness of these moves stems from a combination of factors:
- STAB: Moves of the same type as the Pokémon (Poison and Dark for Drapion) receive a 20% damage boost.
- Damage Output: High damage per second (DPS) and total damage potential allow Drapion to be a viable attacker.
- Energy Generation: Fast moves like Poison Sting ensure that you can use your charged moves frequently.
- Coverage: Moves like Aqua Tail can hit Pokémon that Drapion would otherwise struggle with, expanding its effectiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Drapion a good Pokémon in Pokémon GO?
Drapion has its uses, but it’s not a top-tier contender. It has decent attacking power but is outclassed by other Dark and Poison-types. However, it’s sturdy and can be a good niche pick with the correct moveset.
2. What is Drapion’s best moveset for general use?
For general use, Poison Sting and Sludge Bomb offer a good balance of damage and energy generation, which often work well against most types.
3. What is Drapion’s best IV for PvP?
For leagues like the Great League, usually, an IV spread of 0/15/15 or similar is preferred, allowing you to maximize stats under the CP limit.
4. Is Bite or Poison Sting better for Drapion?
It depends. Poison Sting is better for energy generation, allowing for more frequent charge moves, while Bite is better for raw damage output.
5. Why is Sludge Bomb a good move for Drapion?
Sludge Bomb is a Poison-type move that benefits from STAB and deals good damage, making it a consistent and reliable charged attack.
6. What is STAB, and why does it matter?
STAB stands for Same-Type Attack Bonus. When a Pokémon uses a move of its own type, the move’s damage is increased by 20%. This is why moves like Poison Sting and Sludge Bomb are so important for Drapion.
7. How does Drapion’s bulk impact its move selection?
Drapion has relatively high defense and HP, which allows it to survive long enough to fire off multiple charged attacks, making moves like Poison Sting and Sludge Bomb even more effective.
8. Is Drapion a good tank?
Drapion can be a decent tank, especially if it has good IVs and is EV trained to maximize defenses, but there are other Pokemon with better tanking abilities.
9. What is Drapion’s weakness?
Drapion is weak to Ground-type attacks, which makes Aqua Tail an interesting charged move for coverage.
10. Should I use Drapion’s charged moves often or sparingly?
Ideally, you should try to use Drapion’s charged moves as often as possible in battles. Due to Drapion’s decent bulk and high energy generation when using Poison Sting, you should use charge attacks often to make use of your resources.
11. Is Drapion a Poison or Dark-type Pokémon?
Drapion is a dual Poison and Dark-type Pokémon. This dual typing gives it access to various powerful moves and weaknesses.
12. What is the best ability for Skorupi, Drapion’s evolution?
Skorupi’s best ability, and by extension, the ability that is best to maintain during Drapion’s gameplay, is Sniper. Sniper allows it to critically hit often, which is why moves like Cross Poison and Night Slash that already have higher than normal crit chance, are also good choices for this Pokemon line.
13. How rare is Drapion in Pokémon Go?
Drapion can be considered a somewhat rare Pokémon to encounter. It is not a common wild spawn, but can be found in 7 km eggs, research task encounters, and in Go Battle League.
14. What evolves into Drapion?
Drapion evolves from Skorupi at level 40.
15. Is there a Mega Drapion?
No, as of the current time, there is no Mega Drapion within the Pokémon franchise.
In conclusion, while Drapion may not be the absolute best attacker or tank in Pokémon GO, understanding the best moves and strategies can make it a valuable addition to your roster. By optimizing its moveset and leveraging its strengths, you can certainly find success with Drapion. Experiment with different movesets to see what works best for your specific needs and battle scenarios.