How to Beat Elite Four: Drake (Dragon-type)

Elite Four: Drake (Dragon-type)

Prepare for a climactic battle against Drake, the final member of the Hoenn Elite Four, a master of the formidable Dragon-type Pokémon. Dragon-types are renowned for their raw power, impressive stats, and often diverse secondary typings, making them challenging opponents. However, they share common weaknesses that, when exploited, can turn the tide in your favor: Ice, Dragon, and Fairy-type moves.

This comprehensive guide will provide a detailed strategy to dismantle Drake's team, ensuring your path to the Champion is clear. We'll cover his specific Pokémon, their abilities, key moves to watch out for, and the most effective counters to secure your victory.

Drake's Team Composition (Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire)

Drake's team in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire consists of five powerful Dragon-type Pokémon. Understanding each member's unique typing and move set is crucial for developing an effective battle plan. Note the diverse secondary typings which influence their weaknesses and resistances.

General Battle Strategy for Drake

Drake's team is formidable, but with careful planning and execution, you can emerge victorious. The key is to exploit the common weaknesses of Dragon/Flying types and be prepared for Kingdra's unique typing and Altaria's defensive capabilities.

1. Team Preparation & Leveling

• Recommended Level: Your Pokémon should ideally be around Level 65-70 to comfortably handle Drake's team. Grinding a few extra levels in Victory Road or by re-battling trainers can make a significant difference.
• Item Stockpile: Stock up on essential recovery items.
  • Revives / Max Revives: Crucial for bringing fainted Pokémon back into the fight.
  • Full Restores / Max Potions: Heal HP and status conditions.
  • Full Heals / Paralyze Heals: To counter status effects like Yawn's sleep or Hurricane's confusion.
  • X Attacks / X Sp. Atks: Can be used to boost your sweepers if you get a free turn.
• Held Items: Equip your Pokémon with beneficial items like Choice Scarf/Band/Specs, Life Orb, Expert Belt, or type-boosting plates/gems if you have them. Focus Sash can be a lifesaver for fragile sweepers.

2. Lead Pokémon & Switching Tactics

• Lead with a Strong Ice-type or Fairy-type: Your ideal lead is a Pokémon that can immediately threaten Salamence.
  • A fast Ice-type like Weavile (with Ice Shard for priority) or a strong special attacker like Glalie/Walrein with Ice Beam.
  • A powerful Fairy-type like Mega Gardevoir (if you have it) or Azumarill (with Huge Power) can also be excellent leads, as they are immune to Dragon Claw and can hit hard.
• Handling Intimidate: Salamence's Intimidate will lower your physical attacker's Attack stat.
  • If you lead with a physical attacker, consider switching to a special attacker immediately.
  • Alternatively, use a stat-boosting move (e.g., Swords Dance, Dragon Dance) to negate the Intimidate drop and then attack.
  • Special attackers are unaffected by Intimidate, making them safer leads against Salamence.
• Strategic Switching: Don't be afraid to switch out a Pokémon that is at a disadvantage or low on HP. Use switches to bring in a Pokémon with a type advantage or to absorb a hit.

3. Primary Offensive Types: Your Best Bets

• Ice-type: Your Absolute MVP!
  • Why: Ice-type moves deal 4x super effective damage to Salamence, Flygon, Altaria, and Dragonite due to their Dragon/Flying or Dragon/Ground typings. Kingdra takes neutral damage, but a strong Ice Beam can still hurt.
  • Recommended Pokémon:
    • Walrein (Ice/Water): Excellent bulk, access to Ice Beam and Surf. Can take a hit and retaliate. Obtainable: Evolve Sealeo (Route 124, 126) at Lv. 44.
    • Weavile (Dark/Ice): Extremely fast, hits hard with Ice Punch or Ice Shard (priority move, useful for finishing off weakened foes). Fragile, but can sweep if protected. Obtainable: Evolve Sneasel (Mirage Spots) holding Razor Claw at night.
    • Mamoswine (Ice/Ground): Great Attack and HP, access to Ice Shard (priority) and Avalanche (powerful if hit first). Obtainable: Evolve Piloswine (Mirage Spots) after learning Ancient Power.
    • Glalie (Ice): Decent stats, learns Ice Beam. Can Mega Evolve for a significant power boost. Obtainable: Evolve Snorunt (Shoal Cave) at Lv. 42.
    • Lapras (Water/Ice): Good bulk and special attack, learns Ice Beam. Obtainable: Given in Mauville City.
  • Key Moves: Ice Beam (powerful special), Ice Punch (powerful physical), Ice Shard (priority physical), Avalanche (powerful physical, but goes last), Blizzard (high power, lower accuracy).
• Fairy-type: The Dragon Slayer!
  • Why: Fairy-types are completely immune to Dragon-type attacks, making them excellent switch-ins and offensive threats against all of Drake's Pokémon. They hit all of Drake's team for super effective damage.
  • Recommended Pokémon:
    • Gardevoir (Psychic/Fairy): High Special Attack, learns Moonblast and Dazzling Gleam. Can Mega Evolve into Mega Gardevoir for immense power. Obtainable: Evolve Kirlia (Route 102, 117) at Lv. 30.
    • Azumarill (Water/Fairy): With the Huge Power ability, its Attack stat is doubled, making its Play Rough devastating. Also has good bulk. Obtainable: Evolve Marill (Route 102, 111, 114, 117, 120) at Lv. 18.
    • Togekiss (Fairy/Flying): Good Special Attack, learns Dazzling Gleam. Obtainable: Evolve Togetic (Mirage Spots) with a Shiny Stone.
  • Key Moves: Moonblast (powerful special), Dazzling Gleam (special, hits multiple targets in doubles, but Drake is singles), Play Rough (powerful physical).

4. Secondary Offensive Types: For Coverage

• Dragon-type: Risky but Potent
  • Why: While risky due to mutual weakness, a strong Dragon-type of your own can be effective, especially if it outspeeds Drake's Pokémon or has a type advantage against a specific member (e.g., Latios/Latias against Kingdra due to Psychic STAB).
  • Recommended Pokémon:
    • Latios/Latias (Dragon/Psychic): High Special Attack and Speed, learns Dragon Pulse and Psychic. Obtainable: Story event.
    • Salamence (Dragon/Flying): If you have one, its raw power can be useful. Obtainable: Evolve Shelgon (Meteor Falls) at Lv. 50.
  • Key Moves: Dragon Pulse (reliable special), Draco Meteor (very powerful special, lowers Sp. Atk), Outrage (powerful physical, locks user in for 2-3 turns).
• Rock-type: Targeting Flying Sub-types
  • Why: Useful against Salamence, Altaria, and Dragonite due to their Flying secondary typing.
  • Recommended Pokémon: Tyranitar (Rock/Dark), Aggron (Steel/Rock), Golem (Rock/Ground).
  • Key Moves: Rock Slide (reliable, chance to flinch), Stone Edge (high power, lower accuracy).
• Electric-type: For Kingdra
  • Why: Effective against Kingdra's Water typing, hitting it for super effective damage.
  • Recommended Pokémon: Manectric (Electric), Raichu (Electric), Magnezone (Electric/Steel).
  • Key Moves: Thunderbolt (reliable special), Discharge (special, chance to paralyze).
• Grass-type: Another Option for Kingdra
  • Why: Also effective against Kingdra's Water typing.
  • Recommended Pokémon: Sceptile (Grass), Roserade (Grass/Poison), Breloom (Grass/Fighting).
  • Key Moves: Giga Drain (recovers HP), Leaf Storm (very powerful special, lowers Sp. Atk).

Battle Walkthrough - Pokémon by Pokémon

Here's a detailed breakdown of how to approach each of Drake's Pokémon:

1. Salamence (Dragon/Flying, Level 54)
   • Threat Assessment: Drake's lead. High Attack and Speed, Intimidate ability. Can hit hard with Dragon Claw or Fly.
   • Strategy:
     • If you led with a physical attacker, switch immediately to a special attacker or a Fairy-type.
     • Unleash a 4x super effective Ice-type move (e.g., Ice Beam from Walrein/Glalie, Ice Punch from Weavile). This should be a one-hit KO (OHKO) or bring it very close to fainting.
     • Alternatively, a powerful Fairy-type move like Moonblast from Gardevoir will also be highly effective and Salamence cannot hit Gardevoir with Dragon Claw.
     • If you have a fast Rock-type, Rock Slide or Stone Edge can also deal significant damage.
   • Pitfalls: Don't let Intimidate cripple your physical sweepers. Avoid using Dragon-type moves.
2. Kingdra (Water/Dragon, Level 52)
   • Threat Assessment: Balanced stats, can be tricky with Yawn. Ice-type moves are only neutral. Hydro Pump and Dragon Pulse are powerful.
   • Strategy:
     • Switch in a Fairy-type (Gardevoir, Azumarill). They are immune to Dragon Pulse and hit Kingdra for super effective damage with Moonblast or Play Rough. This is your safest and most effective counter.
     • An Electric-type (Manectric, Raichu) with Thunderbolt or Discharge will also deal super effective damage.
     • A strong Grass-type (Sceptile, Roserade) with Giga Drain or Leaf Storm is another excellent option.
     • If Kingdra uses Yawn, switch out the affected Pokémon immediately to prevent it from falling asleep, or use a Full Heal/Chesto Berry.
   • Pitfalls: Don't rely on Ice-types here; they won't be as effective. Be mindful of Yawn and its potential to disrupt your strategy.
3. Flygon (Ground/Dragon, Level 52)
   • Threat Assessment: Levitate ability (immune to Ground), strong Earthquake, U-turn for momentum.
   • Strategy:
     • Bring back your Ice-type attacker. Flygon is 4x weak to Ice. A single Ice Beam or Ice Punch should easily take it down.
     • Fairy-type moves are also super effective and safe.
     • If Flygon uses U-turn, it will switch out, giving you a free turn to set up or switch to a more advantageous Pokémon for whatever Drake sends out next.
   • Pitfalls: Don't try to hit it with Ground-type moves due to Levitate. Its Earthquake can be devastating to anything not resistant or immune.
4. Altaria (Dragon/Flying, Level 52)
   • Threat Assessment: Natural Cure, can become incredibly bulky with Cotton Guard. Moonblast provides unexpected coverage against Dragon-types.
   • Strategy:
     • This is another prime target for your Ice-type attacker. Altaria is 4x weak to Ice. Aim for a OHKO with Ice Beam or Ice Punch before it can use Cotton Guard.
     • If Altaria manages to use Cotton Guard, its physical Defense will skyrocket. In this scenario, rely on special Ice-type attacks (Ice Beam) or powerful Fairy-type special attacks (Moonblast, Dazzling Gleam) to bypass its boosted physical defense.
     • A Rock-type move can also be effective.
   • Pitfalls: Allowing Altaria to set up with Cotton Guard can make it very difficult to take down with physical attackers. Its Moonblast can surprise Dragon-types.
5. Dragonite (Dragon/Flying, Level 54)
   • Threat Assessment: Drake's ace. Inner Focus prevents flinching. Wide move coverage (Dragon Rush, Hurricane, Aqua Tail, Fire Punch) means it can hit many types for neutral or super effective damage.
   • Strategy:
     • Like Salamence and Altaria, Dragonite is 4x weak to Ice-type moves. This is your primary strategy. Unleash your strongest Ice-type attack (Ice Beam, Ice Punch, Avalanche). Aim for a OHKO.
     • A powerful Fairy-type attacker (Mega Gardevoir, Azumarill with Huge Power) is also an excellent option, as they are immune to Dragon Rush and hit super effectively.
     • Be aware of its coverage moves: Fire Punch can hit Ice-types, Aqua Tail can hit Rock/Ground types, and Hurricane can hit Grass/Fighting types. Try to take it out in one hit to avoid retaliation.
   • Pitfalls: Its diverse move pool makes it dangerous. Don't underestimate its ability to hit back. Inner Focus means flinching strategies won't work.

Common Pitfalls and Tips for Success

• Under-leveled Pokémon: Drake's team is strong. Don't go in with Pokémon significantly below Level 60. Grinding a few extra levels can make a huge difference in survivability and damage output.
• Lack of Type Coverage: Relying solely on one type can be dangerous. Ensure you have a mix of Ice, Fairy, and potentially Electric/Rock/Grass attackers to cover all of Drake's Pokémon effectively.
• Status Conditions: Kingdra's Yawn can put your Pokémon to sleep. Have Full Heals or Chesto Berries ready. Hurricane's confusion from Dragonite can also be problematic.
• Intimidate Management: Always be mindful of Salamence's Intimidate. Lead with a special attacker or have a plan to negate the Attack drop.
• Critical Hits: Kingdra's Sniper ability makes its critical hits more potent. While unpredictable, be aware that a critical hit could turn the tide.
• Set-up Sweepers: If you have a Pokémon that can boost its stats (e.g., Swords Dance, Nasty Plot), look for opportunities to set up against a Pokémon that poses less immediate threat or after a successful switch.
• Don't Be Afraid to Reset: The Elite Four is a gauntlet. If your strategy isn't working, don't hesitate to reset your game (if you saved before the Elite Four challenge) and re-evaluate your team or strategy.

Concluding Remarks

Drake represents a significant challenge, but by understanding his team's strengths and weaknesses, and by bringing a well-prepared team with strong Ice and Fairy-type attackers, you can overcome his Dragon-type might. Focus on exploiting those 4x weaknesses where possible, manage Intimidate effectively, and be ready to adapt to Kingdra's unique typing and Altaria's defensive boosts. With careful planning and execution, the path to the Champion will be clear!