Dragapult Domination: A Pokemon Unite Guide

Hey guys! Ready to unleash some serious dragon-type devastation in Pokemon Unite? Then you've come to the right place! Today, we're diving deep into the world of Dragapult, the Swift Scythe Pokemon. This guide will equip you with all the knowledge you need to master Dragapult, from understanding its unique abilities to dominating the battlefield with strategic builds and gameplay. Whether you're a seasoned Unite player or just starting your journey, get ready to become a Dragapult pro!

Understanding Dragapult's Strengths and Weaknesses

Before we jump into builds and strategies, let's break down what makes Dragapult tick. Knowing its strengths and weaknesses is crucial for making the most of this incredible Pokemon.

• Strengths: Dragapult is a master of ranged combat, boasting exceptional mobility and burst damage. Its basic attacks have a long reach, allowing you to poke enemies from a safe distance. Dragapult excels at quickly eliminating weakened opponents and disrupting enemy formations. Its Unite Move, Dragon Dance, provides a significant boost to its attack and movement speed, transforming it into a hyper-carry capable of melting through enemy lines.

• Weaknesses: Dragapult is a fragile Pokemon, making it vulnerable to burst damage and crowd control effects. It relies on its mobility to stay alive, so any ability that can stun, slow, or displace it can be devastating. Dragapult also struggles in prolonged engagements, as its damage output is heavily reliant on cooldowns and burst potential. Therefore, positioning and timing are key to playing Dragapult effectively. You always need to be mindful of your surroundings and avoid getting caught out of position.

• In-Depth Breakdown: Dragapult's effectiveness lies in its ability to strike quickly and retreat before taking too much damage. Think of it as a hit-and-run specialist. Its high attack stat, combined with moves that deal bonus damage based on distance, makes it a formidable opponent in the early to mid-game. However, as the game progresses, opponents will become more durable, meaning you'll need to be even more strategic to secure kills. You also have to be mindful of your positioning. Dragapult can't take a beating like some of the tankier characters, so you need to stay on the edge of a fight, dealing damage and then retreating to safety when things get hairy. The key is to stay mobile, keep your distance, and unload your burst damage when the opportunity arises. Mastering these fundamentals will drastically improve your performance with Dragapult.

Dragapult's Moveset: A Deep Dive

Dragapult's moveset offers a versatile range of options for both offense and mobility. Understanding each move and its potential is essential for creating effective builds and adapting to different game situations.

• Basic Attack: Dragapult's basic attack is a ranged attack that deals increased damage to enemies further away. This encourages you to maintain your distance and maximize your damage output. It also applies a small amount of move speed reduction to the target, which helps you to keep them within your attack range.

• Dreepy (Passive): Dragapult starts each match as Dreepy, a weaker form with limited abilities. At level 5, Dreepy evolves into Drakloak, gaining access to new moves. At level 7, Drakloak evolves into Dragapult, unlocking its full potential. As Dreepy, your focus should be on farming experience and avoiding direct confrontations. Positioning is crucial during this stage, as you're extremely vulnerable to ganks and early-game aggression.

• Evolutions: The evolution from Dreepy to Drakloak and then to Dragapult is a huge power spike. Each evolution grants you access to stronger moves and increased stats. The jump from Drakloak to Dragapult at level 7 is particularly significant, as it unlocks Dragapult's full potential. This is when you can start to make a real impact on the game. Before level 7, your main focus should be on safe farming and avoiding risky engagements. After level 7, you can start to play more aggressively and look for opportunities to secure kills.

• Move 1: Choose your flavor of damage and disruption

  • Gust: Gust is a short-range AoE move that damages and shoves enemies away. Its range is very short, so it can be difficult to land. It can be situationally useful for peeling for teammates or disrupting enemy engages, but it is generally considered to be the weaker of the two options.
  • Ember: Ember is a ranged move that deals damage to a single target. It is a simple and straightforward move that is easy to use. It has a longer range than Gust, making it a safer option for farming and poking enemies. If the same target gets hit multiple times in a row, that target gets burned for a short time dealing damage over time.

• Move 2: Choose your initial movement option

  • Agility: Agility grants Dragapult a short burst of movement speed. It can be used to dodge enemy attacks, reposition in team fights, or escape dangerous situations. It is a versatile move that is useful in a variety of situations.
  • Dragon Breath: Dragon Breath deals damage in a cone-shaped area in front of Dragapult. It also leaves a delayed explosion in the same area that explodes a short time after it hits the ground. Dragon Breath is useful for wave clear, dealing damage to groups of enemies, and disrupting enemy formations. Its delayed explosion can be used to zone enemies or set up combos with allies.

• Upgraded Moves: The bread and butter of Dragapult

  • Phantom Force (Ember Upgrade): Phantom Force causes Dragapult to become untargetable before striking back at the target location. If it hits an enemy Pokemon, it deals damage to it, then reduces the cooldown of all moves. This is the preferred upgrade to Ember as it allows Dragapult to dive in, dish out damage, and refresh all its cooldowns at once, then allows it to reposition.
  • Dragon Dance (Agility Upgrade): The Dragon Dance upgrade allows Dragapult to buff itself and increase movement speed, attack, and decrease the cooldowns of moves for a short time. This move is the preferred Agility upgrade for the pure damage it provides. This will turn Dragapult into a hyper carry for a short amount of time.
  • Burning Phantom Build: This build focuses on using Ember and Phantom Force to deal massive amounts of damage in a short amount of time. Ember is used to apply a burn effect to enemies, dealing damage over time. Phantom Force is used to dive in, deal damage, and refresh the cooldowns of Ember and Dragon Dance. Dragon Dance is used to buff Dragapult's attack and movement speed, allowing it to quickly eliminate enemies. This build is best suited for players who want to play aggressively and secure early kills.
  • Breathless Barrage Build: This build focuses on using Dragon Breath and Dragon Dance to deal sustained damage over time. Dragon Breath is used to deal damage to groups of enemies and disrupt enemy formations. Dragon Dance is used to buff Dragapult's attack and movement speed, allowing it to kite enemies and deal damage from a safe distance. This build is best suited for players who want to play a more supportive role and provide sustained damage to their team.

• Unite Move: Dragon Dance: Dragapult's Unite Move, Dragon Dance, buffs its movement and attack speed while decreasing move cooldowns for a short time. When the move ends, Dragapult fires off multiple Dreepy in random directions. This move is very useful for turning the tide of a battle or securing a victory. It can be used to quickly eliminate weakened opponents or to disrupt enemy formations. The burst of speed and damage can be enough to overwhelm the enemy team and secure a crucial objective.

Item Builds and Strategies

Choosing the right items can significantly enhance Dragapult's performance. Here's a look at some recommended item builds and strategies:

• Held Items:

  • Muscle Band: Increases basic attack damage and attack speed, synergizing well with Dragapult's ranged attack style.
  • Scope Lens: Increases critical hit rate and critical hit damage, boosting Dragapult's burst potential.
  • Wise Glasses: Increases special attack, further enhancing the damage output of Dragapult's moves.
  • Alternative Items: Other viable options include the Energy Amplifier (for increased Unite Move frequency), the Buddy Barrier (for added survivability), and the Focus Band (for passive healing).

• Battle Items:

  • Eject Button: Provides an instant escape or repositioning tool, crucial for a fragile Pokemon like Dragapult.
  • X Speed: Increases movement speed, further enhancing Dragapult's mobility.
  • Full Heal: Removes status conditions, protecting Dragapult from crowd control effects.

• Early Game: Focus on farming experience and leveling up as quickly as possible. Prioritize securing last hits on wild Pokemon to gain an early advantage. Avoid unnecessary risks and focus on safe positioning. Don't be afraid to retreat if you're getting pressured by the enemy team.

• Mid Game: Once you evolve into Dragapult, start looking for opportunities to make plays. Use your mobility and burst damage to secure kills on weakened opponents. Coordinate with your teammates to gank lanes and secure objectives. Be mindful of your positioning and avoid getting caught out of position.

• Late Game: In the late game, Dragapult becomes a hyper-carry capable of melting through enemy lines. Use your Unite Move to initiate fights and secure objectives. Focus on eliminating high-priority targets, such as enemy carries and damage dealers. Continue to maintain your distance and avoid getting caught out of position.

Tips and Tricks for Mastering Dragapult

• Practice your positioning: Dragapult is a fragile Pokemon, so it's important to stay safe and maintain your distance from the enemy team.
• Manage your cooldowns: Dragapult's damage output is heavily reliant on cooldowns, so make sure to use your moves wisely.
• Coordinate with your teammates: Dragapult excels at securing kills on weakened opponents, so work with your teammates to set up opportunities.
• Use your Unite Move wisely: Dragapult's Unite Move can turn the tide of a battle, so use it strategically.
• Adapt to the situation: Be prepared to adjust your build and playstyle based on the enemy team composition and the flow of the game.

By mastering these tips and tricks, you'll be well on your way to dominating the battlefield with Dragapult. Good luck, and have fun! Now go out there and show them what Dragapult is all about! With practice and dedication, you'll become a formidable force to be reckoned with in Pokemon Unite.