Goodra

Goodra, The Dragon Pokémon. Sometimes it misunderstands instructions and appears dazed or bewildered. Many Trainers don't mind, finding this behavior to be adorable. Its form of offense is forcefully stretching out its horns. The strikes land 100 times harder than any blow from a heavyweight boxer.

Overview

The pseudo legendary of XY, Goodra is an interesting Pokemon. Having stats more aimed for defensive roles, Goodra on paper looks similar to Tyranitar with good bulk, average offensive stats, and middling Speed. However, Goodra comes up short in almost all categories in this comparison. This is partly due to its mono Dragon typing which is great, but with how strong Fairy type is, the lack of utility it brings is a hindrance. The other issue is it's just a slower Latias with more Special Defense. However as neither Latios nor Latias are available currently, Goodra has a nice niche as a big sponge with some unique niche tools.
Positives
150 base Special Defense is insane, and even without investment Goodra can be a great pivot against special attackers.
Being Dragon type means Goodra has a massive movepool to pull from, including moves such as Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, and even Sludge Bomb.

Negatives
Lacking access to Dragon Dance is a big issue and thus limits what it can do for a team, often relegating it to specially inclined roles.
70 base Defense can hurt Goodra as it will have issues with mixed wall breakers, such as Lucario, and struggle against threats such as Urshifu.

Abilities

Gooey - Contact moves lower the attacker's Speed by 1 stage - Gooey is a nice option as it can really hurt some faster threats and force them to switch out, but it is a bit inferior to Sap Sipper.
Sap Sipper - Grants immunity to Grass moves and raises Attack by 1 stage - Any ability that grants an immunity is always great and makes this Goodra's best ability, even though it tends to be used more for Special Attacks. This notably makes Goodra immune to Spore, which is very nice.
Hydration - Removes status conditions while it is raining - This is great again, and if permanent Rain was a thing Goodra would have a great role as a wall with Rest. However, this is overall less consistent than the other abilities.

Movesets

Choice Specs

-Draco Meteor
-Hydro Pump
-Fire Blast
-Thunderbolt
Item Attached: Choice Specs
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs and Nature:
252 SpAtk / 4 SpDef / 252 Speed
Timid Nature

With 110 Special Attack Goodra can be a potent wallbreaker with Choice Specs. Draco Meteor is the primary move of the set as it's a 130 base power STAB and thus just chunks everything except Fairies and Steels. Fire Blast helps with the Steel-types while Hydro Pump will help with bulky threats such as Incineroar and Rhyperior. Thunderbolt rounds the set out with a way to handle bulky Waters such as Milotic. Goodra still has other options that can be considered, such as Sludge Bomb for Fairy-types, though that will come down to what you need for the team.

This set wants to be as offensive as possible so Choice Specs Goodra wants all the Special Attack and Speed investment possible to make the most of its middling offense. Sap Sipper's Attack boost may be worthless on this set and it may already be resistant to Grass-types anyway, but the Grass immunity alone is worth it since it also grants immunity to Sleep Powder and Spore.

Partners

-Toxtricity is a nice option as it can pivot into Fairy types such as Clefable that threaten Goodra, while Goodra can destroy Rhyperior and other Toxtricity checks.
- Galarian Slowbro is nice here as it can pivot into any Fairy that you would run into with Goodra and threaten with its strong STAB Poison options. Galarian Slowbro can also absorb Toxic Spikes to help Goodra stay around longer as well.

Countering Goodra

-Sylveon is an excellent answer as it can pivot into any of Goodra's moves, as it has solid Special Defense and can threaten with Hyper Voice boosted through Pixilate. -Galarian Weezing is in a similar area to Sylveon but can't take as many hits as Sylveon. However, it does bring status options to the table with Toxic or Toxic Spikes.

Locations in Games

Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game

Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game

Colosseum/XD:
Not in game

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game

Black/White:
Not in game

Black 2/White 2:
Not in game

X/Y:
Evolve Sliggoo

Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Trade from X & Y

Sun/Moon:
Evolve Sliggoo

Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Evolve Sliggoo

Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game

Sword/Shield:
Evolve Sliggoo (Shield)
Max Raid Battles: Axew's Eye, Rolling Fields, Loop Lagoon, Workout Sea, Honeycalm Sea (Shield)
Trade from Shield (Sword)

Anime Appearences

Goodra has made a couple of appearances in the anime. Most notably, it was used by Ash during his Kalos League Campaign

# -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics
868 Good Friends, Great Training! Enter Wartortle and Raichu! Sliggoo Does its Best!! Pics
869 Confronting the Darkness! Criminal Investigation in Lumiose City! Clembot VS Black Clembot!! Pics
870 Moment of Lumiose Truth! Lumiose Gym Match! Ash VS Clemont!! Pics
872 Defending the Homeland! A Fight in the Wetlands! Goodra VS Florges!! Pics
873 Beyond the Rainbow! Conclusion! Goodra, Somewhere Over the Rainbow!! Pics
915 Master Class is in Session! The Master Class Begins! A Maidens' Fight Where Sparks Fly!! Pics
916 Performing a Pathway to the Future! Aria VS Serena! Open the Door to the Future!! Pics
926 A Diamond in the Rough! Find Carbink! Goodra and Dedenne!! Pics
929 Valuable Experience for All! Mega Sceptile VS Raichu! I Received Some EXP!! Pics
930 Analysis Versus Passion! Semifinal Full Battle! Ash VS Sawyer!! Pics
931 A Riveting Rivalry! Fierce Rival Battle! Ash-Greninja VS Mega Sceptile Pics
932 Kalos League Passion With a Certain Flare! Fierce Fighting at the Kalos League! Gather, All of My Passion!! Pics
933 Finals Not for the Faint-Hearted! The Finals! Ash VS Alain!! Pics
934 Down to the Fiery Finish Kalos League Victory! Ash's Ultimate Match!! Pics
935 A Towering Takeover! Team Flare Attacks! The Zygarde at the Prism Tower!! Pics
936 Coming Apart at the Dreams! The Shocking Zygarde VS Zygarde! The Breaking World!! Pics
937 The Right Hero for the Right Job! Attack on Lumiose Gym! The Clembot Forever!! Pics
940 Battling With a Clean Slate! We Start at Zero! Clemont's Decision!! Pics
942 Facing the Needs of the Many Farewell, Ash-Greninja! Xerosic Strikes Back!! Pics
943 Till We Compete Again A Zero With No End! Till the Day We Meet Again!! Pics
XYZS1 To be confirmed The Legend of XYZ Pics
1198 Aim for the Eight! VS Raihan! A Fight with Masters Eight on the Line!! Pics
1211 It's Champion Time! The Semifinals I: Sweep Pics
1221 Partners in Time! The Finals IV: Partner Pics
1224 Heroes Unite! Pokémon! I Am Glad I Got To Meet You Pics