[1] In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon.

Some Pokémon can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution via various means, such as exposure to specific items.

[4] Afterwards, the design was finalized by Ken Sugimori who, towards the end of development, drew the promotional art of all the species to give them a unified look and make any last-minute changes.

[17][14] In Red, Blue, and Green, Dratini's belly was originally striped like Dragonite's, which was changed in Pokémon Yellow.

It is known for its kindhearted nature and tendency to spend time in marine settings,[6] helping people who are in peril at sea[6] and being capable of manipulating the weather.

[7] These games have a series of opponents called the Elite Four, whose leader is Lance, a Dragon-focused trainer who features a Dragonite as his signature Pokémon.

[22] The line appears in Pokémon Gold and Silver, where Lance assists the player-character infiltrate Team Rocket, using his Dragonite in the process.

[45] It also appeared in the Orange Islands arc of the anime in the episode "Enter the Dragonite", being the ace of the character Drake in the region's Pokémon League tournament.

[50] It appears in Pokémon Generations, an anime series that retells the events of the various mainline game in the episode "The Lake of Rage," which depicts Lance and his Dragonite invading Team Rocket in Gold and Silver.

It is later revealed that Lance's motives were due to human-caused pollution, with Dratini being a Pokémon he rescued and eventually evolving into Dragonite.

Crunchyroll writer Daniel Dockery expressed excitement over Ash catching a Dragonite, his favorite Pokémon, something he had been waiting to see since early in the series more than two decades ago.

[55] Pocket Tactics writer Nathan Ellingsworth felt that Dragonite stood out in the first generation due to it (and its predecessors) being the only Dragon-type Pokémon.

Aside from its mechanical usefulness, Ellingsworth praised its "round" design, attributing part of its popularity to its appearance in the first Pokémon movie.

[56] CBR writer Ryan McCarthy believed that Dragonite was one of the most iconic Pokémon, attributing its popularity to being rare and strong.

He pointed out that Dragonites owned by Ash, Lance, and Iris appear to beaten easily in their respective fights.

Dot Esports writer Emily Morrow explained that this speculation came from what she described as "completely different" designs.

[59] TheGamer writer Jon Eakin felt that the switch didn't make sense, believing that Dragonite was more similar to Charizard than Dragonair or Dratini.

Parade Oliver Brandt writer considered Dragonite one of the best Pokémon, attributing it to both its cuteness and power.

[60] In Red and Green, Dragonite was considered a threatening Pokémon due to its use of Wrap which, in these games, rendered the opponent unable to attack during this.

[4] Emily Morrow stated that it was as close to a Legendary as a non-Legendary could, noting that Lance's Dragonites in FireRed and LeafGreen were among the more powerful opponents.