Forever the strongest offensive pokemon type, sadly there's not that many in NU and they face stiff competition from a multitude of mons that can reliably check them even after a boost. Here's an in-depth look at the inner workings of the second rarest type in the NU tier.
Altaria
STATS:
HP -- 75
ATK -- 70
DEF -- 90
SPATK -- 70
SPDEF -- 105
SPEED -- 80
Don't let the stats fool you, Altaria has plenty of bulk to brunt hits and keep on with its business. Altaria is the most diverse Dragon in the tier being able to hit both physically and defensively, Set up via DDance, Cotton Guard, or both, support the team via Heal Bell and Toxic. Altaria can easily accrue a boost by switching in on a mon that poses little harm to it, like Probopass for example, and proceed to either sweep the team immediately or slowly boost up to a dangerous bulky tank that will be hard to stop at +1/+3/+1 from Dragon Dance and Cotton Guard. Roost helps Altaria stay in the battle by easily being able to recover off most neutral hits and continuing its rampage. Heal Bell can help a stall or balanced team recover off status and Toxic can widdle away at annoying walls that Altaria can otherwise not break through easily (aka Regirock and other physically defensive mons). Altaria loves spin support from the likes of Tentacool, Armaldo and Cryogonal to keep rocks off the field so Altaria can have the best chance at entering the battle multiple times. Mons that can soften up or clean out the opponents that otherwise wall Altaria (or outright kill it) are also greatly appreciated.
Dragonair
STATS:
HP -- 64
ATK -- 84
DEF -- 65
SPATK -- 70
SPDEF -- 70
SPEED -- 70
With an Eviolite those Defensive stats are lying at how bulky Dragonair is, essentially sporting 64 / 105 / 116 defenses without any defensive stat investment. Dragonair also has Marvel Scale, allowing it to pseudo-bulk defenses when statused; allowing Dragonair to run an effective DDrest set. Dragonair also has access to Thunder Wave and Dragon Tail, and with proper hazard support and its Goliath bulk behind a sub it will be able to paralyze and shuffle opponents with ease. Dragonair doesn't really have the Special Attack to be a threat but it has the movepool to atleast run a mix coverage move for that stray threat that comes along. Dragonair also enjoys not having to deal with hazards and is greatly booned by spinners and a wisher, just to keep its health up in order to safely set up atleast once.
Fraxure
STATS:
HP -- 66
ATK -- 117
DEF -- 70
SPATK -- 40
SPDEF -- 50
SPEED -- 67
For a NFE pokemon Fraxure has a very good Attack stat, in fact top 15 for NU. That Attack stat is also boosted by either Dragon Dance or Swords Dance and is also booned greatly by Mold Breaker, which disables key abilities like Sturdy and Levitate. Sadly, there's quite a few things holding Fraxure back from being a top usage mon in NU, one being its below average defenses, not allowing it to take many hits from priority attackers like Absol and Golem. The second is the severely lacking coverage movepool that Fraxure has; beyond DDance, Swords Dance, Substitute, Taunt Outrage and Dragon Claw, Fraxure can only run Night Slash, Shadow Claw, X-Scissor (these three all providing similar coverage), Aerial Ace and Dig. With all these moves Fraxure is still hard walled by Rock and Steel types, while Dig allows the opponent to switch to a Flyer to avoid taking damage and play on a free switch (Scarf Braviary and Swellow still outspeed Frax at +1). For Teammates, Fraxure really enjoys mons that can assist it in an eventual sweep (Or a damn close one if LO damage kills Fraxure first), so wall breakers like Jynx, Magmortar and Torterra all pair beautifully with Fraxure and are each just as deadly by themselves.
Gabite
STATS:
HP -- 68
ATK -- 90
DEF -- 65
SPATK -- 50
SPDEF -- 55
SPEED -- 82
Garchomp's Prevolution has quite an odd standing in terms of stats and movepool. Gabite has good Offenses in Base 90 Attack and Base 82 Speed, and a nice attacking movepool with Earthquake, Stone Edge, Outrage and Dragon Claw. Gabite is primarily encountered with a Choice Band in order to capitalize on its 90 Base Attack, but gets walled very easily by Steel-types when locked in Outrage, so caution must be used before Outrage locking. Gabite also has access to Hone Claws to boost attack and accuracy, making less accurate moves like Stone Edge and Dragon Rush more accurate. Sadly, Gabite's speed is bad enough to where its primary checks (Jynx, Sawk, etc.) can easily outspeed and KO, especially with Gabite's lackluster defenses. Those defenses can be slightly remedied by an Eviolite, but with how strong most of its checks are maximum bulk investment would be needed, severely hindering Gabite's Offenses in the process. Gabite is subject to all hazards so spin support is very beneficial. Gabite also enjoys allies that can eliminate Steel-types who would wall Gabite when locked in Outrage. A check for Tangela is also good since Tangela's nearly God-like Physical Defense walls Gabite's Outrages cold.
Shelgon
STATS:
HP -- 65
ATK -- 95
DEF -- 100
SPATK -- 60
SPDEF -- 50
SPEED -- 50
Thank god this fucker doesn't get Shell Smash... Beyond the theorymoning about it somehow getting a move that would obviously break this mon into high hell, it's really not that bad anyways. With the intro of Eviolite, Shelgon's defenses are actually pretty good, making it quite the tank. Couple this with DDance and you have a pretty potent threat on your hands, being able to brunt nearly every unboosted hit atleast once and DDance into a sweeping tank. Shelgon also has the bulk to play as a wall and provide wish support to its teammates.
Zweilous
STATS:
HP -- 72
ATK -- 85
DEF -- 70
SPATK -- 65
SPDEF -- 70
SPEED -- 58
If there's anything this thing needs to be known for it is definitely the fact that it is a monster with it's ability Hustle, essentially giving Zweilous access to a double STAB Outrage at the cost of some accuracy; this huge boost makes Zwe the holder of the most powerful Outrage in the game of Pokemon. Zweilous has two viable options to abuse with its average defenses, Great attack with Hustle and mediocre speed. Zweilous has pretty decent defenses when equipped with an Eviolite, making a tank set really potent. Double STABs Crunch and Outrage hit anything hard that doesn't resist the combo, which is really just Steel-types. Zweilous can also forgo its horribad speed with a scarf, and still hit like a truck while surprising most of its checks with the aforementioned Double STAB attacks in Outrage and Crunch. Just be careful of Outrage locking when there's still opponents that check Zwe around.
STATS:
HP -- 75
ATK -- 70
DEF -- 90
SPATK -- 70
SPDEF -- 105
SPEED -- 80
Don't let the stats fool you, Altaria has plenty of bulk to brunt hits and keep on with its business. Altaria is the most diverse Dragon in the tier being able to hit both physically and defensively, Set up via DDance, Cotton Guard, or both, support the team via Heal Bell and Toxic. Altaria can easily accrue a boost by switching in on a mon that poses little harm to it, like Probopass for example, and proceed to either sweep the team immediately or slowly boost up to a dangerous bulky tank that will be hard to stop at +1/+3/+1 from Dragon Dance and Cotton Guard. Roost helps Altaria stay in the battle by easily being able to recover off most neutral hits and continuing its rampage. Heal Bell can help a stall or balanced team recover off status and Toxic can widdle away at annoying walls that Altaria can otherwise not break through easily (aka Regirock and other physically defensive mons). Altaria loves spin support from the likes of Tentacool, Armaldo and Cryogonal to keep rocks off the field so Altaria can have the best chance at entering the battle multiple times. Mons that can soften up or clean out the opponents that otherwise wall Altaria (or outright kill it) are also greatly appreciated.
STATS:
HP -- 64
ATK -- 84
DEF -- 65
SPATK -- 70
SPDEF -- 70
SPEED -- 70
With an Eviolite those Defensive stats are lying at how bulky Dragonair is, essentially sporting 64 / 105 / 116 defenses without any defensive stat investment. Dragonair also has Marvel Scale, allowing it to pseudo-bulk defenses when statused; allowing Dragonair to run an effective DDrest set. Dragonair also has access to Thunder Wave and Dragon Tail, and with proper hazard support and its Goliath bulk behind a sub it will be able to paralyze and shuffle opponents with ease. Dragonair doesn't really have the Special Attack to be a threat but it has the movepool to atleast run a mix coverage move for that stray threat that comes along. Dragonair also enjoys not having to deal with hazards and is greatly booned by spinners and a wisher, just to keep its health up in order to safely set up atleast once.
STATS:
HP -- 66
ATK -- 117
DEF -- 70
SPATK -- 40
SPDEF -- 50
SPEED -- 67
For a NFE pokemon Fraxure has a very good Attack stat, in fact top 15 for NU. That Attack stat is also boosted by either Dragon Dance or Swords Dance and is also booned greatly by Mold Breaker, which disables key abilities like Sturdy and Levitate. Sadly, there's quite a few things holding Fraxure back from being a top usage mon in NU, one being its below average defenses, not allowing it to take many hits from priority attackers like Absol and Golem. The second is the severely lacking coverage movepool that Fraxure has; beyond DDance, Swords Dance, Substitute, Taunt Outrage and Dragon Claw, Fraxure can only run Night Slash, Shadow Claw, X-Scissor (these three all providing similar coverage), Aerial Ace and Dig. With all these moves Fraxure is still hard walled by Rock and Steel types, while Dig allows the opponent to switch to a Flyer to avoid taking damage and play on a free switch (Scarf Braviary and Swellow still outspeed Frax at +1). For Teammates, Fraxure really enjoys mons that can assist it in an eventual sweep (Or a damn close one if LO damage kills Fraxure first), so wall breakers like Jynx, Magmortar and Torterra all pair beautifully with Fraxure and are each just as deadly by themselves.
STATS:
HP -- 68
ATK -- 90
DEF -- 65
SPATK -- 50
SPDEF -- 55
SPEED -- 82
Garchomp's Prevolution has quite an odd standing in terms of stats and movepool. Gabite has good Offenses in Base 90 Attack and Base 82 Speed, and a nice attacking movepool with Earthquake, Stone Edge, Outrage and Dragon Claw. Gabite is primarily encountered with a Choice Band in order to capitalize on its 90 Base Attack, but gets walled very easily by Steel-types when locked in Outrage, so caution must be used before Outrage locking. Gabite also has access to Hone Claws to boost attack and accuracy, making less accurate moves like Stone Edge and Dragon Rush more accurate. Sadly, Gabite's speed is bad enough to where its primary checks (Jynx, Sawk, etc.) can easily outspeed and KO, especially with Gabite's lackluster defenses. Those defenses can be slightly remedied by an Eviolite, but with how strong most of its checks are maximum bulk investment would be needed, severely hindering Gabite's Offenses in the process. Gabite is subject to all hazards so spin support is very beneficial. Gabite also enjoys allies that can eliminate Steel-types who would wall Gabite when locked in Outrage. A check for Tangela is also good since Tangela's nearly God-like Physical Defense walls Gabite's Outrages cold.
STATS:
HP -- 65
ATK -- 95
DEF -- 100
SPATK -- 60
SPDEF -- 50
SPEED -- 50
Thank god this fucker doesn't get Shell Smash... Beyond the theorymoning about it somehow getting a move that would obviously break this mon into high hell, it's really not that bad anyways. With the intro of Eviolite, Shelgon's defenses are actually pretty good, making it quite the tank. Couple this with DDance and you have a pretty potent threat on your hands, being able to brunt nearly every unboosted hit atleast once and DDance into a sweeping tank. Shelgon also has the bulk to play as a wall and provide wish support to its teammates.
STATS:
HP -- 72
ATK -- 85
DEF -- 70
SPATK -- 65
SPDEF -- 70
SPEED -- 58
If there's anything this thing needs to be known for it is definitely the fact that it is a monster with it's ability Hustle, essentially giving Zweilous access to a double STAB Outrage at the cost of some accuracy; this huge boost makes Zwe the holder of the most powerful Outrage in the game of Pokemon. Zweilous has two viable options to abuse with its average defenses, Great attack with Hustle and mediocre speed. Zweilous has pretty decent defenses when equipped with an Eviolite, making a tank set really potent. Double STABs Crunch and Outrage hit anything hard that doesn't resist the combo, which is really just Steel-types. Zweilous can also forgo its horribad speed with a scarf, and still hit like a truck while surprising most of its checks with the aforementioned Double STAB attacks in Outrage and Crunch. Just be careful of Outrage locking when there's still opponents that check Zwe around.
