When Pokemon first began its ascent to greatness back in 1998, the Dragon types had a legendary mystique about them. Of all 151 Pokemon introduced, only a single evolution line was Dragon type, with a single trainer representing them. But this mystery has definitely gone away over the years.
While they're still pretty rare with only 69 different Pokemon, Dragon-types are way more common than they used to be. However, the good news is that there are now more incredibly powerful Dragon-type trainers. So, it's time to see which of these trainers is truly the strongest and deserves the rank of Dragon master.
Updated December 5, 2022 by Jeremy Hanna: Much to the chagrin of gen wunners everywhere, the world of Pokemon is constantly changing with new Pokemon, moves, and abilities introduced every generation. Now that Pokemon Scarlet & Violet have been released, there is a bevy of new content, including plenty of new type specialists meant to challenge you. Particularly for this article, that means we'll be adding the Elite Four member Hassel to duke it out with the other Dragon masters. So with the intent of keeping everything up to date, let's take a look at how things have changed with the debut of Gen 9.
10 Drasna
Pokemon X and Y probably have the most forgettable Elite Four. While there are some interesting tidbits about them, none of them really make an impact — and the least impactful is probably Drasna. Raised by her grandparents from Celestic Town in the Sinnoh region, Drasna is a member of the Elite Four. And that's really all that's said about her.
On a plus side, she does have a cool design that gives her a kind of warrior priestess vibe. She also has a calmer disposition, unlike most of the other Dragon-type trainers. It's almost as if she's a parental figure who will tell you a story. But, while there's an interesting mystique around her, that's about it. There's nothing else to go off of and her team is relatively weak compared to other Elite Four members. While there's a lot of potential, there's just not much to Drasna in the games.
9 Zinnia
Zinnia is a character added to Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire to guide you towards Mega Rayquaza and Deoxys in the Delta Episode. You see her throughout the story infiltrating Team Magma/Aqua until she steals Brendan or May's Key Stone. And while you do learn about her backstory, such as the fact she's a Lorekeeper for the Draconid people, she still never really makes an impact.
On top of that, her team isn't that strong. By the time you battle her strongest team, you'll be way past her in terms of level and, frankly, skill. Zinnia always just feels like a tacked in character to games that were already loved.
8 Ryuki
Ryuki is another trainer that you might not remember, since you first see him randomly when you defend your title in Sun and Moon. And in that short time, he definitely stands out with his aggressive attitude and ridiculous outfit. However, it oddly works.
Ryuki comes much more into his own in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, where he occasionally occupies the Kantonian Gym. Here, you can battle him before and after you become champion, and his team is pretty strong, with the likes of Garchomp, Dragonite, and Kommo-o. Ryuki's wild energy is a reminder that dragons aren't all about legend and lore. Sometimes, they can be dangerous, untamed beasts that tear you limb from limb.
7 Clair
When it comes to trainers, Clair is the ultimate underdog. Although she represents Black Thorn City as the Johto Region's eighth Gym Leader, Clair will always be in the shadow of Lance, her cousin. He's basically Clair, but stronger. Even when they team up against you and Silver, her strongest Pokemon is a lower level than Lance's weakest.
Clair is a great character, constantly growing and learning how to be better and more mature. Her gym battle is actually incredibly tough, especially since her signature Pokemon, Kingdra, doesn't have the usual Ice-type weakness. Clair is absolutely fascinating and here's hoping, one day, we'll see a game where Clair comes into her own.
6 Drake
The Hoenn Elite Four is known for being weak compared to others, mostly due to their lower levels and repetitive Pokemon choices. However, they do have one thing working for them: Drake. Drake is a tough old sailor who battles using the Pokemon that saved him in a storm.
His team is also very tough. Originally, this was just because of Salamence, his signature Pokemon. But in the future, he'd go on to add the likes of Kingdra, Haxorus, and Dragalge to add more variety to his team (and to prevent himself from being swept by Ice Beam). While Drake represents the fiercer side of dragons, he also represents their good nature, saying that what a trainer needs to succeed is a good and virtuous heart.
5 Drayden
Drayden has one of the most intimidating character designs in all of Pokemon, mostly because of that ridiculous beard. But Drayden is more than his facial hair. He's a man who represents the history of the entire Unova region.
Referred to as "The Spartan Mayor of Opelucid City", Drayden grew up during a time when there were no Pokeballs in Unova. His training is much more intense and personal than anyone else, wrestling his own Pokemon and doing 10,000 push-ups, sit-ups, and squats each every day. The only thing that can really be held against him is his in-game strategy. Why would you have a Dragon-type Pokemon use Dragon Dance, a move that increases Attack and Speed, when their only STAB move has negative priority? Despite that, Drayden still makes his mark as one of the toughest Gym Leaders in all of Pokemon.
4 Hassel
Hassel may have a stern appearance with his long hair and sweater and suit combo, but he has the heart of an artist. After leaving his home to pursue music, he eventually found himself in the Paldea region where he became an art teacher at the Academy, as well as the strongest member of its Elite Four.
Hassel's team has decent variety meant to handle any Fairy type that seeks to sweep through them. The highlight is easily Baxcalibur, a Dragon and Ice type with the Thermal Exchange ability. This not only halves the damage of any Fire-type attacks it may receive, but prevents burn as well. His biggest downfall is a weakness to Ice types overall, especially with his Flapple. Why a tough as nails Dragon master would ever use a Flapple, we'll never know.
3 Lance
Lance is the first Dragon trainer ever in a Pokemon game. He may also have the best pedigree of any trainers on this list, having been both the final member of the Indigo League's Elite Four and its Champion. While there has been some controversy regarding his teams, both in regard to the amount of Dragon types on them and some illegal Pokemon, Lance is still the first trainer most Pokemon fans think about when they talk about Dragons.
Lance seems based on a more European approach to the Dragon typing, especially in regard to his name and appearance. His cape and armor-like suit reflects a hero knight, almost as if he's some kind of Pokemon paladin. This genuinely gives Lance a sense of nobility around him — the only thing holding him back is that he's probably the weakest Champion in all of Pokemon. But when you appear in more games than any other Dragon-type trainer, you deserve a spot in the top three.
2 Raihan
You may be surprised to see Raihan so far up this list, especially ahead of Lance. Raihan holds more in common with Clair, in that he's always playing second fiddle to his region's Champion, Leon. But the big difference between Raihan and those other two trainers is that Raihan is unbelievably good at Pokemon battles.
Raihan's gym is easily the most strategic one out there, focusing on Double Battles and building teams around weather conditions instead of a single typing. He also has a fierce tenacity to him, constantly trying to beat people who are stronger than him, and holding a position where he leans forward with an intense expression and his hands open like talons. If Leon wasn't in the picture, there is no doubt that Raihan would thrive even more, and be the greatest Dragon trainer of all time. But that's not the case, so he'll have to settle for second yet again.
1 Iris
Easily the youngest trainer on this list, Iris is also the strongest. When you first encounter her in Pokemon White, she stands alongside Drayden as the final Gym Leader. However, it's a completely different story in the sequel. She's now the Champion with her powerful Haxorus, and an under-leveled Hydreigon, in tow. This genuinely makes her one of the toughest Champions in the entire series.
Although she is only 14 years old when she becomes Champion, she clearly has a deep knowledge of the lore of Unova as represented by her guiding you to Reshiram/Zekrom. She's also fiercely independent and loyal, often running to help people she barely knows or dive underwater without telling anyone. While every Dragon-type trainer represents either the history of Pokemon, or the fierce energy of a wild Dragon, Iris is the only trainer who does both.