Pokémon Unite Dodrio build, best items and moveset

Dodrio build: Our recommendations for the best Dodrio moveset in Pokémon Unite

Dodrio lands into the Speedster Role in Pokémon Unite, which allows this Pokémon’s playstyle to focus on knocking out enemy Pokémon, scoring goals, and disengaging from fights. If you have yet to play as a Speedster Pokémon, Dodrio is an excellent place to start learning the role.

Looking at Dodrio’s stats, it is justified to mainly be used as a Speedster, but does heavily lean into scoring. Its offensive capabilities are not as high as other Speedsters like Absol or Zeraora, but what Dodrio lacks in damage – it makes up in scoring goals. When using Dodrio, you will mainly be running in to aid teammates, bursting down enemies, and making your quick retreat afterwards. Staying alive is of your greatest prerogative as to not fall short of experience or neglect aiding allies throughout the entire map.

As Dodrio, you will need to start at the central area. No need to worry about getting last hits in lane or preventing an ally from stealing wild Pokémon in top or bottom paths. By defeating the five Pokémon in the central area - Xatu, two Baltoys, Escavalier and Accelgor - Doduo will reach Level 5. Speedsters are efficient at jungling, and you will be able to evolve at a steadfast pace without much disruption.

Dodrio’s Ability - Run Away– will increase its movement speed with opposing enemies nearby.

Dodrio itself has a Sprint Gauge, which fills up while the user moves, and concurrently decreases after it stops moving or slows down. When the Sprint Gauge is full, it will increase the user’s movement speed drastically, and some moves will have different properties such as dealing increased damage, shoving enemies, or even making moves that when stationary can be dealt as projectiles.

When Doduo and Dodrio score goals, it will evenly distribute its scoring in smaller chunks. For example, Doduo will score 10 Aeos Energy by scoring two goals of five. This Passive Ability is what makes Dodrio an excellent scorer, since you don’t have to completely score a goal of 50. Dodrio will divide its number as close as possible, and score through smaller numbers. This makes it one of the best goal scorers in the game by dividing large goals into smaller ones. Items that require stacking such as Attack Weight will not count as a stack unless its third head scores a goal.

You will want to reach Level 7 early on, so you can have its complete moveset at your disposal.

At the start of the match, you will need to choose either Quick Attack or Peck.

We recommend choosing Peck due to how powerful it is, and, when using it with a full Sprint Gauge, it will be stronger and move Doduo forward. Since you will be making your way to the wild Xatu, this ensures you have a full Sprint Gauge with the added damage from Peck. Doduo will learn Quick Attack at Level 2, so you will be able to increase your Sprint Gauge plus movement speed. Quick Attack’s cooldown is reduced, if hitting an opposing Pokémon.

At Level 5, you will have the choice between Tri Attack or Drill Peck.

We recommend choosing Drill Peck because, when the upgraded version hits Pokémon, it restores a portion of HP depending on how much damage it inflicted. This HP restoration will have Dodrio very rarely teleporting back to base to heal, since it can heal almost completely after using this move on the Swablu/Altaria on the map. Being able to heal without teleporting will have you weave in and out of battles, charging through enemies, and gaining experience from defeating or stealing wild Pokémon. Drill Peck at full Sprint Gauge will also make Dodrio shove Pokémon caught in its move. This move can be used to ward off enemies, sneak up behind them to push them into your allies, displace Regieleki, or interrupt some of other team’s Unite moves.

Reaching Level 7, you will then have the option between Agility and Jump Kick.

We recommend choosing Agility because, when used, it will make the user immune to hindrances, increase movement speed for a short time, and charge the Sprint Gauge faster. It is kind of like having a Full Heal and X Speed in one move. Agility working in combination with Drill Peck will have you disrupting Pokémon more often, and you can zoom past Unite moves to safety, or even roam around the map faster to score goals.

When upgraded, Agility will increase the Sprint Gauge completely. It’s an incredible move for diving into skirmishes or escaping, when the circumstances become too dire for this fragile bird.

Lastly, Dodrio will learn its Unite Move at Level 9 – Triple Trample.

Dodrio will sprint to a specific location of your choosing, damaging and throwing enemies it passes through. Dodrio is immune to all hindrances while Triple Trample activates. After reaching its location, Dodrio’s attack increases, it receives a shield, and its Sprint Gauge will charge faster for a little while.

It is best to use Triple Trample to escape fights or to plunge into the fray to assist teammates as soon as possible.

Try to use Triple Trample to get to a destination in a flash to throw enemies, deal damage, or even to get to Rayquaza to steal it from the enemy team. Dodrio will pass around any obstacles in the way, so, when choosing a location, make sure you hit as many enemy Pokémon as possible! Sometimes, it is great to use in the immediate vicinity, not just to reach far off areas of the map.

Dodrio's evolution line in Pokémon Unite explained

Dodrio is placed at the end of a two staged evolution line – meaning in Pokémon Unite, it starts the match as Doduo.

Doduo will evolve into Dodrio at Level 5. Outside of its huge increase in stats upon evolution, Dodrio will also gain a 5% critical-hit rate upon reaching Level 5.

Best held items for Dodrio in Pokémon Unite explained

When deciding on Held Items in Pokémon Unite, you need to consider the items that will increase the Pokémon’s strengths to then mask its weaknesses.

Dodrio will be proficient in defeating/stealing wild Pokémon due to its movement speed, and scoring goals through its Run Away and Sprint Gauge. For these reasons, Dodrio will need Float Stone and Razor Claw for its first two slots.

Float Stone increases Dodrio's movement speed considerably to aid in building up its Sprint Gauge to shove enemies with Drill Peck or dive in to land its Boosted Attack.

Razor Claw gives Dodrio increased damage after its uses a move, and extra critical-hit rate. For example, diving in with a full Sprint Gauge to use Drill Peck to cause disarray, and then following up with a more powerful basic attack due to Razor Claw’s effect. At the bottom right in a match, after using a move, you will see a small timer of Razor Claw letting you know how much time you have to inflict this stronger basic attack.

Focus Band should be the last slot choice for Dodrio. Focus Band will provide healing, increased defence and increased special defence to survive longer in tough fights. Dodrio, like other Speedsters is very brittle, and needs this item to lengthen its stay in fights. Drill Peck’s upgraded version will allow healing, but Focus Band will help cover its weakness.

The added defence with increased special defence will allow Dodrio to get away, if cornered by other Speedsters with better damage output such as Zeraora or Absol. Getting away with even a tiny morsel of HP or coming back into the mayhem after Focus Band’s healing will allow you to be a prominent Pokémon on the battlefield by rushing past enemies to score goals.

Need help deciding which Pokémon to choose? Check out our Pokémon Unite tier list and build guides for - Pikachu, Snorlax, Gardevoir, Cinderace, Greninja, Gengar, Blissey, Lucario, Espeon, Delphox, Glaceon, Buzzwole and Absol. You can also learn more about the Ranked system, Fair-Play Points and how to surrender a match.

Best battle items for Dodrio in Pokémon Unite explained

It is best to choose X Speed for Dodrio’s Battle Item in Pokémon Unite. Dodrio has many mobility options, but X Speed will give this Pokémon additional means of escaping or engaging enemy Pokémon.

By using X Speed, Dodrio will not lose its Sprint Gauge for a short time, and will empower it to utilise powerful Drill Pecks. X Speed will be outstanding in building up your Sprint Gauge before you reach your upgraded Agility at Level 13. Using X Speed with Agility can get you out Unite moves from Pokémon such as Espeon or Delphox.

How to unlock Dodrio in Pokémon Unite

Dodrio can be purchased with 575 Aeos Gems, and will be available to purchase with Aeos Coins one week after its release in Pokémon Unite.

Dodrio’s playstyle is different from other Pokémon, since its heads have to be pointing in the direction to land Drill Peck or its Boosted Attack. It does not aim its attacks with the right stick like other Pokémon, but with the left stick. This takes quite a bit of time to manoeuvre , and sometimes you may miss moves entirely due to the direction its heads are pointing, but Dodrio is an excellent Speedster able to score methodically rapid goals with ease.

Best of luck out there with Dodrio!