Evolving Drakloak to Dragapult: A Comprehensive Guide for Pokémon Trainers

Drakloak, the evolved form of Dreepy, is a powerful and enigmatic Ghost/Dragon-type Pokémon that holds a special place in many trainers’ teams. However, its ultimate form, the fearsome Dragapult, is what most trainers strive for. Dragapult is not just a stat boost; it’s a complete transformation into one of the most sought-after Pokémon in the competitive scene, boasting incredible speed and offensive capabilities. This guide will provide you with all the information you need to evolve your Drakloak into Dragapult, covering the necessary steps, locations, and some helpful tips for the journey.

Understanding Drakloak and Dragapult

Before diving into the evolution process, let’s briefly understand what makes Drakloak and Dragapult special:

Drakloak: The Carrier Pokémon

• Typing: Ghost/Dragon
• Appearance: Drakloak is a reptilian Pokémon with a sleek, aerodynamic design. It carries a Dreepy on its head, often using it as a projectile in battles.
• Stats: Drakloak is a decent Pokémon in its own right, with respectable speed and attack stats. However, it truly shines as a stepping stone towards Dragapult.
• Battle Role: Drakloak is primarily used as an offensive Pokémon that takes advantage of its STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) Ghost and Dragon-type moves. It’s not particularly bulky, so it’s best used in a fast-paced offensive role, preparing the way for Dragapult’s arrival.

Dragapult: The Stealth Pokémon

• Typing: Ghost/Dragon
• Appearance: Dragapult is a phantom-like dragon, still carrying two Dreepy on its head, though now they function as projectiles fired from its head. It’s a menacing Pokémon with a clear purpose.
• Stats: Dragapult has incredible speed and attack stats, with decent special attack, making it a powerful offensive threat. It is a glass cannon, however, so it will be best paired with proper planning and support.
• Battle Role: Dragapult is a versatile offensive powerhouse that can excel as a physical attacker, a special attacker, or even a mixed attacker depending on its moveset. It is used in a wide variety of team compositions and is frequently seen in competitive play.

The Evolution Method: Leveling Up

The evolution method for Drakloak to Dragapult is straightforward: level up Drakloak to level 60. Unlike some Pokémon that require special items, stones, or specific locations to evolve, Drakloak’s evolution is directly tied to experience gained through battling. This means that the more you use Drakloak in battles, the faster it will reach the required level and evolve into Dragapult. This relatively simple evolution requirement is a breath of fresh air compared to some of the more convoluted evolution methods in the Pokémon series.

Detailed Steps to Evolve Drakloak

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

1. Catch a Dreepy or Drakloak:
   • If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to find a Dreepy or Drakloak.
   • Dreepy Locations: Dreepy can be found in various locations depending on the Pokémon game you are playing. In games like Pokémon Sword and Shield, Dreepy is found in the Wild Area, particularly in the Lake of Outrage during thunderstorms. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Dreepy appears in several areas, usually near rivers, lakes and caves such as West Province Area Three and North Province Area Two.
   • Drakloak Locations: Drakloak tends to be less common in the wild than Dreepy. Usually found in similar areas to Dreepy, but in more elevated areas such as in caves, ravines, and waterfalls. In Pokémon Sword and Shield, it can be found in the Lake of Outrage area, and in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, it is found in the same general areas but sometimes near more dangerous locations such as caves and waterfalls.
   • Once found, engage the Pokemon in battle and catch it. Make sure you have suitable Pokeballs ready.
2. Evolve Dreepy into Drakloak (If Necessary):
   • If you caught a Dreepy, the first step is to evolve it into Drakloak.
   • Dreepy evolves into Drakloak when it reaches level 50.
   • Engage Dreepy in battles against other Pokemon, either wild encounters or against trainers to gain experience and level up quickly. Using the exp share and other items that increase the amount of experience gained is recommended.
   • When Dreepy reaches level 50 it will evolve into Drakloak.
3. Train your Drakloak:
   • Once you have your Drakloak, it’s time to start training it.
   • Focus on Battling: The most effective way to level up your Drakloak is by engaging in battles against wild Pokémon and trainers. Choose battles that offer good experience points and utilize your Drakloak to maximize its experience gain.
   • Utilize Exp. Share: Make sure that the Exp. Share is turned on. This distributes experience to all of your party Pokémon even those that do not participate in battles. The experience will be slightly less but it will allow you to level up other Pokémon without leaving them in the dust.
   • Use Experience-Boosting Items: Items such as Lucky Eggs and Exp. Candies can be used to significantly accelerate the leveling process.
   • Lucky Eggs increase the amount of experience gained by 50% and can be found throughout the game.
   • Experience candies come in various sizes and can be used on any Pokemon. They will gain a set amount of experience points. The higher level candies will be harder to come by.
   • Choose Appropriate Opponents: Look for trainers or wild Pokemon whose types Drakloak has an advantage over. This will speed up your experience gain.
   • For example, fighting against Dragon or Ghost type Pokémon will provide you with a STAB (same-type attack bonus) advantage, and a bonus on your experience gained.
4. Level Up to Level 60:
   • Continue battling with your Drakloak until it reaches level 60.
   • There is no need to perform any other specific actions. Drakloak will automatically evolve into Dragapult once it reaches the necessary level.
5. Enjoy Your Dragapult:
   • Once Drakloak reaches level 60, it will evolve into Dragapult!
   • Be sure to save your progress to ensure that you have a permanent record of your new Dragapult.

Tips for Faster Leveling

Here are some additional tips to make the leveling process faster and more efficient:

• Battle Elite Four/Gym Leaders Rematches: After completing the main storyline, re-battling the Elite Four or Gym Leaders is a great way to gain significant experience points. They will have high leveled Pokemon.
• Join High-Level Max Raid Battles: Max Raid Battles offer a decent amount of experience, especially when challenging high-level raids. This is also a great way to gain access to other useful items.
• Use High-Power Moves: As Drakloak learns new moves, make sure you are utilizing the strongest available moves for fast victories.
• Utilize Type Advantages: Always use type advantages to your advantage. Choose matchups that give you the biggest experience benefit and speed up battles.
• Utilize Pokémon Abilities: Pokémon with abilities that boost experience gains, such as the ability “Run Away” or “Pickup” can also be useful. Some Pokemon can also hold items that increase experience gains.
• Meal Buffs: Many games have the option to cook or order food. Select a meal option that will boost your experience gain.

Optimal Movesets for Drakloak and Dragapult

Understanding the movesets that work well for Drakloak and Dragapult can greatly enhance their effectiveness during training and battles. Here are some suggested movesets to consider:

Drakloak Moveset Suggestions

• Dragon Darts: A signature move for the Dreepy line. A two-hit physical move, ideal for applying consistent pressure.
• Phantom Force: A strong Ghost-type physical move that allows you to disappear and attack on the next turn. This will buy you time if you need to recover your Pokémon.
• Dragon Tail: A physical Dragon-type move that can force the opponent to switch out. This can be helpful for disrupting your opponents plans.
• U-Turn: A Bug-type move that allows you to switch out immediately after attacking. This is ideal for swapping into a Pokémon with a type advantage or getting out of a bad matchup.
• Shadow Ball: A Ghost-type special attack. This attack has a high power and good accuracy which is ideal for getting solid hits in.
• Protect: A non damaging move that can protect your Pokemon for a single turn. This can be helpful to stall or to plan your next move.

Dragapult Moveset Suggestions

Dragapult’s moveset can be tailored to a specific role as it can perform as either a physical attacker, special attacker, or mixed attacker. Here are several options to choose from:

Physical Attacker

• Dragon Darts: Still an excellent physical move with two hits. Great for applying consistent pressure.
• Phantom Force: High-powered Ghost-type physical attack. It can also dodge attacks, allowing you to get out of trouble.
• Sucker Punch: Dark-type priority move that always attacks first, ideal for hitting faster opponents. This will also allow you to attack first in the turn if you are outsped.
• U-Turn: Allows you to switch out while dealing damage. Helpful for switching to a Pokémon with a type advantage.
• Dragon Dance: A stat boosting move that increases attack and speed. Use this with caution as the opponent can take advantage of this if you are not careful.

Special Attacker

• Shadow Ball: A strong and reliable Ghost-type special attack. High power and good accuracy is ideal for consistent hits.
• Draco Meteor: A powerful Dragon-type special attack that is ideal for dishing out large amounts of damage. However, the Pokemon will lower its special attack by two stages after use.
• Flamethrower: A Fire-type special attack that can provide type coverage against steel, ice, bug, and grass type Pokémon. This helps provide coverage against many Pokémon.
• Thunderbolt: An Electric-type special attack that can provide type coverage against water and flying types. This move can also paralyze the opponent providing you with an edge.
• Hydro Pump: A strong water type move that can provide even more type coverage.

Mixed Attacker

• Dragon Darts: A strong physical move for consistent damage.
• Shadow Ball: A reliable special attack that can be used against several types.
• U-Turn: A Bug type move that allows for a fast switch out.
• Flamethrower/Thunderbolt: Can cover a wide variety of Pokemon. Can be switched out depending on team composition.
• Protect: Useful for stalling and predicting your opponent’s next move.

Remember to select moves that complement your team strategy and personal preference. Experiment with different movesets to find what works best for you.

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting

Sometimes, trainers may encounter issues when trying to evolve their Drakloak. Here are some common mistakes and how to troubleshoot them:

• Forgetting to Train: The most common issue is forgetting to battle and consistently train your Drakloak. You need to actively use your Drakloak in battles to gain experience. Make sure your Drakloak gains experience every so often to level up.
• Leveling Too Fast: Try not to level up so fast that you skip past the necessary move level up levels. Pokemon learn move sets through leveling up, not through TMs and TRs alone. Make sure you allow Drakloak to learn some moves through leveling up to give it a better set of moves to use.
• Not Using Exp. Share/Items: Neglecting to use Exp. Share or experience-boosting items can significantly slow down the leveling process.
• Weak Moves: Choosing weak moves can lead to slower battles and less efficient leveling, ultimately slowing down your evolution process.
• Type Disadvantages: Battling against Pokémon with a type advantage over Drakloak will slow down your progress and increase the risk of fainted Pokemon. You may need to switch out your Pokemon or change up your team composition.
• Forgetting to Save: Make sure you save frequently in order not to lose your progress. If you are planning to trade or battle competitively, saving regularly is a very important step.

Conclusion

Evolving Drakloak into Dragapult is a worthwhile endeavor for any Pokémon trainer. The simple method of leveling up to level 60 makes it easy for anyone to achieve this powerful Pokémon. With a well-planned training routine, optimized movesets, and a bit of patience, you can add the formidable Dragapult to your team. Whether you are an avid competitive battler or just enjoy collecting and training Pokémon, Dragapult is a valuable addition. Follow this guide, and you will be well on your way to obtaining this elusive and powerful Dragon/Ghost type Pokémon. Good luck, and happy training!

Remember that consistent effort, smart battling and taking advantage of available resources such as items and type advantages is the key to evolving Drakloak quickly and efficiently. So go out there, train your Drakloak and watch it evolve into the formidable Dragapult!