Move-of-the-Week Discussion #48: Dragon Tail

winstein

winstein

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In Pokémon, there are lots of different moves used by different Pokémon. Every week, we shall focus the discussion on a different move, and there will be some base questions that would help you start this off. This week, Dragon Tail is chosen.

Forcing the opponent to switch might not sound like it would be useful since they could come back later (in regards to Roar and Whirlwind), but it is still an effective strategy because it repels a certain threat. In Generation 5, this move is introduced as a damaging alternative, so the opponent will receive some damage before they are repelled, so it serves two functions. It may seem like this move is better than Roar or Whirlwind, but there are a couple of disadvantages with this move to consider one or the other.

Here's the in-game description of this move:

In-game Description (B2W2) said:
Type: Dragon (Physical)
Base Power: 60
Accuracy: 90%
PP: 10

The target is knocked away and switched. In the wild, a battle against a single Pokémon ends.
Click to expand...

Here are the usual possible questions about this move:
  • How does certain Pokémon (who knows it) use this move? What kind of purpose would this move have for them (in the Pokémon World)?
  • How could this move be used to aid a profession in the Pokémon World?
  • Could this move realistically be used by any Pokémon who doesn't learn it normally? If yes, please explain your choices.
  • How would this move be used in battling, realistically or video game-wise?

Other questions (You could ask other critical questions beyond the listed):
  • This move has a priority of -6, meaning it will move after almost any other move. Why is this attack performed very late?
  • Of all moves that involve tails as an attack, this one actually forces out the opponent's Pokémon. How is this move special in this regard, especially since it's not the most powerful?
  • Many users have long tails to hit opponents with. How do those with short tails accomplish this feat? (Ex: Blastoise and Meganium)
  • Typically, the strongest Pokémon in the evolutionary line learns this move, whereas Roar and Whirlwind are more of moves that aids a Pokémon's survival. Going by this logic, is this move still used as a survival tactic in their environment, or is it used an offensive one?

Here are the current users of this move (put in Spoiler tag due to the large list):
(Level-up)​
  • Dratini, Dragonair & Dragonite
  • Flygon
  • Salamence
  • Druddigon

    (Technical Machine)
  • Charizard
  • Blastoise
  • Arbok
  • Nidoqueen & Nidoking
  • Onix & Steelix
  • Lickitung & Lickilicky
  • Rhydon & Rhyperior
  • Gyarados
  • Mew
  • Meganium
  • Feraligatr
  • Slowking
  • Tyranitar
  • Lugia
  • Aggron
  • Seviper
  • Milotic
  • Groudon & Rayquaza
  • Rampardos
  • Garchomp
  • Dialga, Palkia & Giratina
  • Serperior
  • Samurott
  • Krookodile
  • Scraggy & Scrafty
  • Archeops
  • Eelektross
  • Fraxure & Haxorus
  • Deino, Zweilous & Hydreigon
  • Reshiram, Zekrom & Kyurem

Thanks for reading, and happy discussing!

~ The Pokémon World Forum Staff


Previous Move-of-the-Weeks:

Next Move-of-the-Week: A gaseous move that makes the target ill.​
 
It's a good move to use. Too bad it isn't super effective against anything else except fellow dragons. But anyways, you force the opponent to switch while dealing damage. Comes in handy if you're certain the opponent might use a seriously powerful attack on you.

Why Haxorus learns it by TM is confusing. Maybe it's because Axew has a tail too short that it can't be learned naturally?
 
Forced switches are incredibly important, with a large part of the metagame currently being all about switches and match-ups.

This move therefore seems like an incredibly good move, specialy for strategies such as phazing... But it isn't for a simple reason: Decreased priority.

Decreased priority really cuts off the usefulness on this move, far below that of the other forced switch moves for this purpose, and even below that of other attacking moves.
The most obvious reason is the contradiction on how an switch move is mainly to take away something that poses a threat before it attacks... yet a decreased priority move lets the opponent attack.

I think that is way much of a drawback, and neither the little power nor the effect make up for it. It isn't useless, though, it does work very well when predicting an switch... but hardly gives it much of a reason since it's outclassed entirely by roar (as the switch most likely will be a counter to your pokémon and not exactly take too much damage)

Of course, it'd be completely broken if it didn't have any decreased priority at all, so yeah. But -1 and a power boost would make it more usable.



As for its in-universe workings... I figure it's more of a pushing, fluid force than slamming the opponent. The idea is to push them out of the way.
 
Please note: The thread is from 13 years ago.
Please take the age of this thread into consideration in writing your reply. Depending on what exactly you wanted to say, you may want to consider if it would be better to post a new thread instead.
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