Ash's Dragonite (Pokémon)

Ash's Dragonite (Japanese: サトシのカイリュー, Satoshi's Kairyu) is a Dragon/Flying-type Pokémon owned by Ash Ketchum. It was the first Pokémon Ash caught during Pokémon Journeys: The Series and his fifty-fifth overall.¹

Origin as Dragonair

Ash first encountered Dragonite as a Dragonair on Dragonite Island in Episode 10 of Pokémon Journeys ("A Test in Paradise!", Japanese air date: February 9, 2020).³ Dragonite Island is a remote location inhabited by wild Dragonite and Dragonair, kept secret from the public to protect the Pokémon living there.⁴

Unlike the other Dragonair on the island, this particular Dragonair could not fly.¹ Ash noticed its struggles and offered to help it learn Dragon Dance to master the use of its wings. Pikachu created an Electroweb trampoline so Dragonair could practice aerial movement.¹²

Evolution and Capture

During training, Dragonair sensed that Team Rocket had captured one of the island's Dragonite. The group intervened, but Team Rocket's Wailord sent Ash flying into the air with a splash attack.¹ Dragonair attempted to catch him mid-fall, but its skin was too slippery for Ash to hold on — a trait it shares with Ash's Goodra from the Kalos series.²

In that moment, Dragonair evolved into Dragonite and caught Ash safely.¹ The evolution and capture occurred within the same episode, making it one of the fastest acquisition arcs for any of Ash's Pokémon. After Team Rocket was defeated, Dragonite chose to go with Ash and was caught in a standard Poké Ball.³

Personality

Dragonite is female in the game event distributions and has a notably affectionate personality.¹ After evolving, she developed a habit of hugging people and Pokémon she meets — similar to Ash's Muk.² She hugged Professor Cerise upon meeting him and later soothed Goh's Sobble when it was upset.² She enjoys flying and once raced Goh's Beedrill, winning but getting so caught up that she accidentally sent Ash and Pikachu flying off her back.²

In battle, Dragonite contrasts with Iris's Dragonite, who is aggressive and hostile. Ash's Dragonite was visibly intimidated when she first faced Iris's Dragonite in Episode 65 ("Thrash of the Titans!").⁵

Battle Record

Dragonite's known moves include Dragon Claw, Hurricane, Draco Meteor, and Dragon Dance.¹ Dragon Dance — the move Ash helped her learn as a Dragonair — remained part of her battle strategy throughout the series.¹

Key battles in the World Coronation Series:

• vs. Korrina (Episode 25): Defeated both Mienshao and Mega Lucario, advancing Ash to the Great Class.¹
• vs. Iris (Episode 65): Lost to Iris's Dragonite but was sent back out against Haxorus. After Iris encouraged Dragonite to enjoy battling, she learned Draco Meteor mid-fight and won, advancing Ash to the Ultra Class.⁵
• vs. Raihan (Episode 109): Her first recorded loss under Ash's ownership. Raihan's Flygon used Sandstorm to mask its movements and overwhelmed her.¹
• vs. Cynthia (Masters Eight Tournament, Episode 123): Hit by Spiritomb's Sucker Punch immediately, then put to sleep by Hypnosis and knocked out by repeated Dream Eater attacks.¹
• vs. Leon (Masters Eight Tournament, Episodes 130–132): Defeated Leon's Dragapult but then lost to his Rillaboom despite a type advantage.⁶

Devolution Incident

In Episode 90 ("Showdown at the Gates of Warp!"), a clash between the legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia distorted time across the region. Dragonite devolved backward through her evolutionary stages — from Dragonite to Dragonair to Dratini and finally to an Egg.¹ After Arceus intervened and stopped the fight, Dialga and Palkia repaired the temporal distortions, restoring all affected Pokémon to their proper forms.¹

After the Series

After Ash won the World Coronation Series and became World Champion, Dragonite appeared alongside the rest of his team at the awards ceremony.⁶ Ash later left Dragonite and the rest of his Journeys team at Professor Oak's Laboratory before beginning a new solo journey.¹