Pokemon Go players are well aware of how tough an opponent Dragonite can be. Fortunately, there are a number of effective Pokemon counter to this magnificent beast.
Ice Pokemon Counters for Dragonite
The best counters for Dragonite are Ice Pokemon such as Lapras, others like Cloyster and Dewgong could also be used. Lapras could defeat a Dragonite using an Ice Shard / Ice Beam combo or and Ice Shard / Blizzard move. Dragonite is a powerful Pokemon but noticeably weak against Ice attacks. The Lapras also has STAB bonus for every Ice attacks or moves.
The Lapras is one of the toughest gym defenders with ability to defeat even Dragonites with CP level a thousand higher than its own. Even Dragonite's Steel Wing could not inflict massive damage to the Lapras.
On the other hand, both the Cloyster and the Dewgong can used the Frost Breath / Blizzard combo move against the Dragonite. Pokemon Go players are well aware that both Pokemon have low stat and CP. These two will need to dodge the Dragonite's attack perfectly and a little bit of luck to win. They simply can't win against a high CP level Dragonite. But they make excellent cannon fodder before releasing the Lapras for the kill.
Other Pokemon Counter for Dragonite
Pokemon Go players can still have an effective counter against the Dragonite even without the Ice Pokemon. One such counter is a fellow Dragonite using the Dragon Breath Dragon Claw combo move.
The Dragonite is also weak against Fairy Pokemon such as Wigglytuff. A pound / Play Rough combo move is quite effective against a Dragonite especially with STAB. However, Steel Wings could inflict 1.25 times damage to Wigglytuff.
Gyarados can also prove a match to Dragonite as long as it has a Dragon Breath move. A combo attack of Dragon Breath / Hydro Pump is quite effective.
