How to Get Dratini in Pokémon SoulSilver

Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Ishrak

Last Updated: July 22, 2024 Fact Checked

So you want to add Dratini to your party because you think it is cool and will evolve to the powerful Dragonite? This wikiHow will show you how to get Dratini in Pokémon SoulSilver using a few different methods.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Getting a Dratini from the Master's Quiz

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1
Go into the Dragon's Den behind Blackthorn City. Go into the cave entrance, go down the ladder and head to the water's edge. ^{[1]
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Research source}
- Make sure you have a space in your Pokémon team for Dratini.
- You must have already defeated the last Gym Leader in the area, Clair. She will give you a TM. You need the TM before you can head into the Dragon's Den for Dratini. ^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
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You'll find the Whirlpool if you head south and west from where you got in the water. It's between a rock and a cliff along the western side of the pool of water. ^{[3]
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^{[4]
X
Research source} You'll find this if you follow the water south and east from the Whirlpool.
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4
Go into the house. It's the Dragon Shrine.
- Save the game before continuing so if you get a Dratini you don't like, you can try again.
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5
Talk to this Elder. Answer his questions saying you'll respect and be friends with Pokémon. If you answer all his questions that you respect and are friends with Pokémon, you will get a Dratini with "Extreme Speed," and if you do not, you'll get a Dratini with "Leer." ^{[5]
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- Dratinis' highest Stat is Attack and its lowest is HP (Hit Points)
- Dratini is the Dragon-type Pokémon and its weaknesses are Dragon, Ice, and Fairy.
- Dratinis' ability is Shed Skin. Shed Skin heals any Status Effects given to Dratini.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Catching a Dratini in Dragon's Den

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Inside the cave entrance, go down the ladder and to the water's edge. ^{[6]
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Dratini here are at a very low level, (between levels 5 and 15) and you only have a 10% chance of encountering one. You can also try fishing with a Good Rod or Super Rod, with your chances of encountering a Dratini between 10-30%. ^{[7]
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3
Use Ultra Balls or Love Balls to catch Dratini. Ultra Balls are the best catching rate ball (besides Master Ball) in the game. Dratinis are annoyingly hard to catch and Ultra Balls can probably speed up the process. Love Balls are used for the opposite genders.
- For example, your Pokémon is a boy and the Dratini is a girl, the Love Ball has an advantage.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Buying a Dratini with Tickets

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^{[8]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Catching a Dratini in the Safari Zone

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To access the Safari Zone, you first have to unlock the storyline that begins in Olivine City.
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You have the ability to change the areas around so the swamp area is the first you encounter. The first time you access the Safari Zone, you will get a quest to find a Geodude. The second task is to use the Area Customizer and find a Sandshrew.
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When you fish for Dratini in the swamp area of the Safari Zone, you have a 20% chance of encountering one. ^{[9]
X
Research source}
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4
Use Ultra Balls or Love Balls to catch Dratini. Ultra Balls are the best catching rate ball (besides Master Ball) in the game. Dratinis are annoyingly hard to catch, but Ultra Balls can probably speed up the process. Love Balls are used for the opposite genders.
- For example, your Pokémon is a boy and the Dratini is a girl, the Love Ball has an advantage.

Community Q&A

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Question

Where do I get a coin case?

Community Answer

Talk to the man in the game corner on the other side of the table. He will offer you a coin case in order for you to play his game.

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Question

I have all eight badges and Lugia, but the elder did not give me a Dratini. What went wrong?

Community Answer

Make sure after you met and answered the elder, you find the eighth gym leader (Clair) to collect the TM. After collecting the TM, go back to meet the elder and the elder should give you Dratini.

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Question

How can I get a shiny one?

Community Answer

You need to save before talking to the elder or the man that gives you a dratini for 2100 coins so you can soft reset.

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Answer the elder's questions with compassion toward your Pokémon to get a Dratini with high Speed.

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Use high-quality Poké Balls if you are finding Dratini in the water.

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Have an extra slot in your party to obtain the Dratini when you are chatting with the old man in the Dragon Shrine.

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How to Get Dratini in Pokémon SoulSilver

Steps

Getting a Dratini from the Master's Quiz

Catching a Dratini in Dragon's Den

Buying a Dratini with Tickets

Catching a Dratini in the Safari Zone

Community Q&A

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