Dragonite is an elite offensive Pokemon that can disrupt common balance structures when holding a Z-crystal; common switch-ins to Dragonite like offensive Great Tusk, Landorus-T, and Gliscor fall to +1 Devastating Drake. Dragonite also has great defensive utility, using Multiscale to effectively set up Dragon Dance in front of foes such as Ogerpon-W and Urshifu-R. Earthquake grants Dragonite the opportunity to hit Pokemon such as Heatran and Toxapex, which can discourage any Stealth Rock-setting or Haze attempts, respectively. It also threatens other Steel-type Pokemon like Kingambit and Melmetal. Fire Punch discourages bulky Steel-types that don't mind Earthquake such as Ferrothorn, Air Balloon Gholdengo, and Corviknight from coming in freely. A Jolly nature is usually preferred, as it allows Dragonite to outspeed foes like Zamazenta and Tapu Koko at +1.

This variant of Dragonite is found on more offensive structures, where it is paired with Pokemon such as Mega Diancie; it can deny any attempts of entry hazard setting from the opposition, as this Dragonite set lacks Heavy-Duty Boots. Dragonite, in return, provides a valuable Water- and Grass-resistant teammate for Mega Diancie to aid against foes such as Rillaboom and Choice Scarf Urshifu-R. These teams appreciate Dragonite providing a valuable Water-resistant ally, as it is an effective answer to foes like Ogerpon-W and Urshifu-R. Kingambit values Dragonite weakening its checks, such as Great Tusk and Zamazenta, to give it a more favorable end-game. In return, Kingambit can remove key items from checks like Corviknight and Great Tusk to enable Dragonite to use its moves more freely. Heatran is also an effective partner, since it is able to answer Pokemon Dragonite doesn't immediately threaten such as Clefable while also being a good answer to Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, which still threatens Dragonite after a Dragon Dance. Even at +1 Speed, Dragonite is still outsped by Choice Scarf users like Landorus-T and Tapu Lele, so it appreciates partners like Air Balloon Gholdengo as a partner to potentially use those foes as setup fodder. Spinners such as Great Tusk and Terapagos are also effective teammates, as they can provide hazard removal through Rapid Spin to ensure Dragonite does not take Stealth Rock damage to keep Multiscale intact. Great Tusk and Dragonite often form a core to overwhelm their shared checks, such as Alomomola, Slowbro, and Skarmory. Volcarona also appreciates Dragonite being able to provide a crucial Water resistance, helping it against Pokemon such as Ogerpon-W. At the same time, Volcarona can find setup opportunities versus Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, which usually comes in to revenge kill Dragonite with Moonblast. Dragonite values hazard-setting leads such as Mega Diancie and Landorus-T, as the latter is able to provide Taunt to keep opposing hazards off whereas the former denies hazards through Magic Bounce while breaking down the opposition with its strong STAB moves.

Dragonite is a very unique sweeper, as it is able to set up reliably in the face of offensive Pokemon like Urshifu-R, Ogerpon-W, and Mega Charizard Y. Earthquake allows it to target foes such as Gholdengo, Heatran, and Toxapex, preventing them from staying in to spread status through moves such as Thunder Wave from the former and Toxic from the latter two. Ice Spinner grants Dragonite the ability to threaten foes like Gliscor and Landorus-T, which are usually key defensive pillars of their teams, and stops them from coming in for free to land Toxic on Dragonite. Ice- and Ground-type coverage additionally hits a vast amount of Pokemon in the metagame. Roost gives Dragonite the longevity to answer Pokemon like Ogerpon-W and Urshifu-R and also provides more setup opportunities, which allows Dragonite to break through foes like Toxapex and Ferrothorn. Extreme Speed can be used over Roost, as it helps Dragonite pick off weakened faster Pokemon like Iron Valiant and Tapu Koko that would normally outspeed and threaten it. Dual Wingbeat hits Pokemon such as Great Tusk and Zamazenta significantly harder.

Dragonite is used on a plethora of different bulky offense and balance teams, as they appreciate Dragonite's defensive utility, with it being able to switch into offensive Water-types like Urshifu-R and Ogerpon-W and find many different opportunities to set up Dragon Dance. Pokemon like Mega Diancie appreciate Dragonite's ability to respond to foes like Choice Scarf Urshifu-R and Landorus-T. In return, Mega Diancie can pressure Dragonite's checks like Ferrothorn with Mystical Fire and Zapdos with Diamond Storm. Dragonite can have a difficult time in the face of Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Tapu Lele that still outspeed it after a Dragon Dance, so it values the presence of Steel-types like Gholdengo and Heatran to switch into it. Scale Shot Garchomp and Icicle Spear Kyurem also outspeed and break through Dragonite's Multiscale. Therefore, allies such as Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and Speed Booster Energy Speed Iron Valiant are appreciated to outspeed and threaten these foes. Kingambit also helps versus Air Balloon Gholdengo, which Dragonite does not immediately threaten. Volcarona is also an effective partner, as it can respond to Pokemon that directly threaten Dragonite like Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and Speed Booster Energy Iron Valiant, the former of which blocks Dragonite's Extreme Speed with Psychic Terrain. Great Tusk is an effective partner, since it is able to wear down checks such as Landorus-T with both Stealth Rock and Ice Spinner, letting Dragonite break through opposing teams more easily mid-game. Great Tusk can also help break through Toxapex with Headlong Rush and hit Ferrothorn with Close Combat. In return, Dragonite responds to Water-types like Urshifu-R and Ogerpon-W that force out Great Tusk.