With Dragonite getting a Mega in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, there's no doubt this already widely popular Pokemon will be on everyone's catch list. However, as you might've already expected, acquiring Dragonite is no easy task.
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Since Dragonite is an incredibly strong Pokemon, access to even Dratini is usually hard to come by early on in a Pokemon game. However, there is somewhere you can grab a Dratini not long after starting the game, if you're willing to engage in a little parkour.
Where To Find Dratini
While a large majority of Pokemon in Legends: Z-A can be found in Wild Zones, Dratini, Dragonair, and Dragonite cannot. If you want to catch a Dratini, or possibly a Dragonair, you'll need to head to the rooftops of Lumiose.
While there is a chance you could find Dratini hanging out on several rooftops if you're simply exploring, there are a few confirmed spawn locations you can check out at the start of the game, and they can be seen in the table below:
|
Location |
How To Reach |
Image Reference |
|---|---|---|
|
Le Nah Restaurant (Vert Sector 6) |
To reach the roof of Le Nah, you'll need to climb the ladder attached to the building directly south of it on the map. Once you're at the top, walk along the ledge and then perform a dodge roll forward, which will launch you far enough to reach the roof of Le Nah, where Dratini awaits. |
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Bleu Sector 9 |
To reach the roof of Bleu Sector 9, you'll need to head to the small triangle patch of grass directly between Bleu Sector 6, Bleu Sector 9, and Bleu Sector 10. Here, you should see a construction platform you can climb attached to Bleu Sector 6. At the top, this will put you on the roof of Bleu Sector 6. This roof connects to Bleu Sector 8, so make your way over to that roof using the connected portion in the middle. Once on top of Sector 8, head to the northwest portion of the roof to find a bridge leading to Bleu Sector 9. On top of Bleu Sector 9, head to the northwestern corner to find a Dratini, or if you're lucky, a Dragonair. |
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Magenta Sector 8 |
In Magenta Sector 8, there will be a building with the Magenta Pokemon Center in it. On the south side of this building, you'll find a Holovator. Take the Holovator to the roof, where you'll then need to cross a bridge to the next building's roof. From this roof, you'll need to reach the roof north of you, but there won't be a bridge. Instead, you'll need to get as close to the edge as you can and perform a dodge to propel you across the gap and onto the other roof. Once on the other roof, take the ladder and continue until you eventually reach a roof with a lot of Bellsprouts. Among them, you'll find a singular Dratini. |
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Jaune Sector 3 |
To get this Dratini, you will need the Roto-Glide feature, which is unlocked through story progression. Once you have that, you'll need to ascend the building next to it and then use the Roto-Glide to reach the building it resides on. |
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There is a chance that any of these Dratini could spawn as a Dragonair instead, but it's rare. Additionally, any of them could appear as an Alpha Pokemon as well, during the day and at night.
How To Catch Dratini
Unfortunately, Dratini is a rather tedious Pokemon to catch. Not only does it have a low capture rate, but it also tends to run away if you don't successfully capture it on the first go. So, don't expect to visit one of these locations and catch it on the first go.
Odds are, it's going to take you several attempts to successfully catch one, especially an Alpha. The best method, while still not great, is to use a Pokemon with a move strong enough to knock it out on the first or second hit. This way, it will immediately become stunned for a moment, allowing you to toss a Poké Ball at it.
Dratini is easily startled, so be sure that whether you're attacking or throwing a ball, you sneak up on it.
If you go straight for the throw, and it doesn't catch, you need to have another ball ready to toss as soon as it reappears. If it does flee, you will need to wait a full day for it to respawn in that location. Of course, you can speed that along by resting on a bench. Regardless of your method, catching Dratini will require an immense amount of patience.
How To Evolve Dratini Into Dragonite
Dratini evolves the same way a large majority of Pokemon are, through leveling. Unfortunately, Dragon-types often have some of the highest level requirements to fully evolve, and Dragonite is no exception.
For a breakdown of the steps to evolve Dratini into Dragonite, please see the table below:
|
Pokemon |
Dratini |
|---|---|
|
Type(s) |
Dragon |
|
Can Evolve After Reaching Level 30 ↓ |
|
|
Pokemon |
Dragonair |
|
Type(s) |
Dragon |
|
Can Evolve After Reaching Level 55 ↓ |
|
|
Pokemon |
Dragonite |
|
Type(s) |
Dragon/Flying |
|
Can Mega Evolve Using A Dragoninite Mega Evolution Stone ↓ |
|
|
Pokemon |
Mega Dragonite |
|
Type(s) |
Dragon/Flying |
How To Get Dragoninite To Mega Evolve Dragonite
While a lot of the Mega Stones can be bought at Quasartico Inc., Dragoninite cannot. Instead, you'll need to continue progressing through the story until you get presented with the chance to face a Rogue Mega Dragonite.
Like all the other Rogue Megas, once it is defeated, you will be rewarded with its Mega Stone. Once you have the stone, simply give it to your Dragonite to hold, and you'll be able to utilize its Mega form in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
