Powerful, majestic, and every so slightly aloof, Dragon-type Pokemon are among the most intricately designed in the franchise. Inspired by the fantasy creatures that fascinate many, Dragons in Pokemon are often large, colorful and great to look at.
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They're quite a mixed bag when it comes to lore. Some are benevolent protectors; others are unstoppable forces of destruction. Meanwhile, some just protect children from bullies…by burning the bully's house down. The Pokedex is really messed up sometimes. Either way, Dragon-types are some of the most beloved & strongest Pokemon in each generation, and their designs have evolved significantly over the years.
This is a win by default. Despite the Dragon-type being introduced in Generation I, there is only one Pokemon line that bears it, the Dragonite line. It was seen as a very powerful type in Generation I, so the developers didn't want it to be easy to come by (which is why Charizard is not a Dragon-type).
Dragonite is still a great Pokemon, though. The designers stayed away from making it look overtly threatening, going for a softer, cuter design. It packs one heck of a punch, that's for sure, but its rounded body & face make it feel like a nice Pokemon to cuddle up with too.
Astoundingly, this is another win by default. Even when taking Mega-Evolutions & regional forms into account, Mega-Ampharos is the only other Dragon-type Pokemon in the entirety of Generation II. The developers were clearly still concerned about keeping this type as rare as possible.
Kingdra was an extra evolution introduced in a Generation I evolutionary line, previously containing only Horsea and Seadra. Despite being designed two years down the line, Kingdra still fits in with its pre-evolutions. It keeps the sharp, threatening edges of Seadra, but smooths out the design a bit. It adds further strength, and a sense of reality that Dragon-types need.
Generation II finally breaks the deadlock on Dragon-types. This time, there are five Dragon-type evolution lines (six if Mega-Sceptile is included), and all of them are fan favorites. Altaria has a reputation as an unbreakable wall, Salamence and Flygon are both fan-favorites, and Latios & Latias are a great duo.
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Rayquaza stands above them all, though. It stands as the first Legendary to draw its strength from its Dragon-typing (a trend that continued into the next few Generations). Its body is a simple shape, but so much is done with the detailing on the body to make it look incredible and mighty.
Generation IV goes back to having fewer Dragon-types, but all of them are utterly brilliant. The Garchomp evolution line is the only non-Legendary Dragons in this generation; however, it's so powerful that it has become a mainstay of the competitive scene. Then there are the box-art legendaries, Palkia & Giratina, both of whom are coming back into popularity with the upcoming Sinnoh remakes.
The champion of them all, though, is Dialga. It is the perfect balance of armor-to-body, and the shade of blue that covers the body blends seamlessly with the silver of its armor. The diamond at its core is front-and-center of the design. Not to mention, it all plays into the Dragon/Steel typing, a powerful combination.
Generation V added the most new Pokemon of any Generation to date, and many Dragon-types came with it. This Generation is often criticized for too many Pokemon, which led to bad designs, but the Dragons mostly avoid this. Hydreigon is a fantastic Pseudo-Legendary, and the primary Legendary trio of this Generation are great as well. Druddigon is a bit of a letdown, but they can't all be winners.
Haxorus is the most impressive, as it looks like a straight-up murder machine. It risked stepping on Garchomp's toes, but it manages to look deadly in a different way. Where Garchomp is all about sharp claws, Haxorus has blades coming out of its mouth that no one would want to mess with.
Despite adding the fewest Pokemon of any new Generation, Generation VI has a nice selection of great Dragon-types. Zygarde is a Pokemon with many layers to it, and Goodra showed the softer side of Dragon-types. Tyrantrum is great too, but it's a Dinosaur, not a Dragon.
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Noivern is the standout among this generation's Dragon-types. Noibat is an adorable Pokemon, and Noivern turns that cuteness into threat in the best way possible. It keeps the bat-like body, but grows it in a way no other Pokemon has before. Combine that with an unconventional but brilliant color scheme, and it becomes a memorable Pokemon.
Generation VII has the strongest sense of theming across the games so far. More than ever before, the Pokemon native to Alola truly feel like they belong in Alola. They all have a tropical feel, and the Dragon-types are no exception. Drampa & Turtanator both fit in their environment in different ways, while the weirdness of Naganendel and Ultra Necrozma have the out-of-this-world feel they needed.
Kommo-o takes that concept to new heights. The scaly design is interesting to look at, and the bright yellow contrasts well with the grey. The Dragon/Fighting-type combination is a unique one, and the way its scales look like castanets or symbols work perfectly for its sound-based signature move.
Surprisingly, Generation VIII added the most new Dragon-types of any Generation to date. Applin & its alternate evolutions are already fan favorites thanks to the the sheer absurdity of an apple being a Dragon. The fossil Pokemon are as unique as they are weird, and finally, Duraludon is an absolute skyscraper.
Dragapult is by far the most menacing of this group. It makes great use of the Dragon/Ghost typing, previously only used by Giratina. It balances the menace of a dragon with the mischief of a Ghost, aided by the fact that it fires its own pre-evolutions at opponents like torpedos.
NEXT: Pokemon: Every Generation's Starter Trio, Ranked
