In the wonderful world of Pokémon, Dragon types are often viewed as being intimidating and scary, a reflection replicated by most dragons and dinosaurs no matter which media they're in. In the Pokémon franchise, the typing has very few weaknesses while simultaneously having a move-pool stacked with powerful offensive techniques.
This reputation that Dragon types have built for themselves does become its own downfall at times, especially in the anime. Certain individual Dragon-type Pokémon disappoint in anime battles, whether it's due to losing despite having a type advantage or simply losing in an embarrassing way.
10 Salamence Looks Weak At The Manalo Conference Battle Royal
When thinking about what a Dragon-type Pokémon should look like based on common perceptions of the fantastical beast, Salamence fits the bill perfectly. The final evolution of the Bagon-line is obtained by evolving a Shelgon at level 50 in the games, which already suggests how mighty it is.
In the anime, however, Salamence has not had a grand showing befitting its true potential. An unnamed Trainer even has a Salamence easily eliminated during the Manalo Conference Battle Royal by Lillie's Snowy and Kiawe's Turtonator, which does not make its species look as good as it should.
9 Dino's Druddigon Loses In The Unova League Final To An Eevee
Dino is a trainer that is rarely brought into focus during Ash's Unova campaign, but he makes it to the final of the Vertress Conference before losing to Virgil. With Virgil favoring Eeveelutions, the final bout comes down to his Eevee and Dino's Druddigon.
With Druddigon being a hulking Dragon-type and having one of the most intimidating draconic designs of the entire franchise, the thought of it losing to an Eevee can be hard to comprehend, but Virgil makes it happen to win the Vertress Conference.
8 Remo's Mega Evolving Garchoo Cannot Match The Success Of Cynthia's Normal Garchomp
The dual Dragon-Ground type Garchomp is a Pokémon synonymous with Cynthia as being a dominant force of nature in both the games and the anime, but it is often forgotten that various other named trainers use one at some point, albeit never to the same effect as Cynthia.
One such example occurs in X & Y, with Remo owning a Garchomp named Garchoo that can Mega Evolve, but he is unable to defeat Alain and his Charizard. Seeing how strong a normal Garchomp can be can only suggest that Remo's Mega Evolved Garchoo is not fulfilling its true potential.
7 Clair's Kingdra Disappoints In Her Rematch With Ash
Upon its introduction in Gold & Silver, Kingdra was a huge addition to the Dragon typing, giving a much-needed alternative to Red & Blue's Dratini-line, the sole Dragon types of Kanto. In the games, it can be a difficult hurdle to overcome Blackthorn Gym Leader Clair's ace, but in the anime, it doesn't quite live up to those standards.
Before Team Rocket interrupts Ash's Gym Battle with Clair, Kingdra is arguably only in the ascendancy due to the surprise factor of it being a Dragon-type and not too badly affected by Pikachu's typical offense. In the rematch, however, it loses to Ash's Snorlax.
6 Despite A Good Build-Up The Returning Goodra Fails To Make An Impact At The Kalos League
Goodra is a part of Ash's strong Kalos team and while it doesn't take part in too many battles, it still showcases its diverse moveset and clever use of its Hydration Ability. Despite the fact that it goes into the Lumiose Conference undefeated under Ash's guidance, however, it still leaves the Kalos League with no direct victories to its name.
It's forced into a double knockout by Sawyer's unassuming Slurpuff during their semi-final bout and is unable to react in the final against Alain, with Goodra getting brutally cut down by his formidable Bisharp. Goodra is built up in such an impressive way that its final League performances can only be seen as disappointing.
5 Drake's Dragonite Loses Its Undefeated Streak To Pikachu
Drake is introduced in "Hello, Pummelo" as the Supreme Gym Leader of the Orange League, otherwise known as the Champion. He's accordingly built up quite the reputation for himself with an impressive unbeaten streak and record, with Dragonite being his main Pokémon.
Dragonite is built up to be unbeatable, and although it does knock out some of Ash's Pokémon, it's slowly worn down enough for Pikachu to land the final blow. While its efforts are still impressive, the previous talk of its superiority doesn't quite hold up in the face of Ash's challenge, a child who just lost in embarrassing fashion to Ritchie.
4 Noivern Is Never Quite Able To Achieve Its True Potential
Initially raised as a Pokémon Egg during Ash's Kalos journeys in X & Y, a Noibat eventually hatches and later evolves into Noivern. Despite its evolution, it's still seen as the baby of the group due to its inexperience. Its place in the tightly-knit group is endearing but also means that it never truly realizes its full potential.
Noivern only really takes part in four battles: two against Alain and two against Sawyer. It only registers a victory over Sawyer's Doublade while it manages to force a double knockout from Sawyer's Salamence. This powerful Flying and Dragon-type would have been a much bigger player if it had more experience.
3 The Power Of Drake's Altaria Proves That Winona's Should Do Much Better
Altaria is known for being one of Ruby & Sapphire's most impressive new additions and it's an especially difficult opponent to face in the games. Its two main appearances in the anime, however, showcase both its true potential and its disappointing shortcomings, although the latter comes first.
In "Sky High Gym Battle," Ash's Grovyle faces off against and defeats Fortree Gym Leader Winona's Altaria, despite the obvious type disadvantage. However, when Ash faces off against Elite Four member Drake at a later stage, Grovyle once again goes up against an Altaria but loses due to the type mismatch.
2 Despite Being The Reigning Unova Champion, Iris & Her Dragon Types Lose To Ash In Pokémon Journeys
When Iris returns to the Pokémon anime in Journeys for the first time since the Black & White series, it's revealed that she has become the Unova Champion, a role that she also sports in the games. She challenges Ash to a World Coronation Series battle and uses her Dragonite and Haxorus against Ash's own Dragonite and Dracovish.
Despite being a Dragon-type specialist and the Unova Champion, Iris loses Dragonite to Dracovish and Haxorus to Ash's Dragonite, giving Ash the victory. While fans would have been furious if Ash had lost this bout, it doesn't help Iris and her Dragon types at all in defeat.
1 Sawyer's Mega Sceptile Is Unable To Capitalize On Its Type Advantage Over Ash's Greninja
Ash's Kalos rivalry with a trainer named Sawyer is a showcase of a unique competitive spirit that doesn't follow the typical pettiness and anger that lingers with the likes of Gary, Paul, or Trip. The battles never grow stale and Sawyer showcases some very powerful and impressive Pokémon of his own.
His Mega Evolving Sceptile is his ace but it's ultimately unable to get the job done against Ash and his Greninja at the Lumiose Conference semi-finals, despite having the type advantage. Mega Sceptile is part Dragon-type compared to its pure Grass original form.