Physical or special Dragapult for gen 8 OU singles?

Question

I’m going to use a Dragapult on my competitive gen 8 OU single battles in Showdown and Sword. I do not know if I should use a physical or special attacking moveset for it, however. Dragapult has a higher physical attack stat, but a better special moveset. Here are the other two Pokémon that I will for sure use on my team (I do not know the other 3 Pokémon I will use)

Name: Shuckle Ability: Sturdy Nature: Bold Held Item: Mental Herb Ev spread: 252 HP, 200 Def, 12 SpA, 44 SpD • Sticky web • Stealth rock • Toxic • Infestation

Name: Togekiss Nature: Timid Ability: Serene Grace Held Item: Choice Scarf Ev Spread: 252 Spe, 252 SpA, 4 SpD • Dazzling Gleam • Air Slash • Fire Blast • Aura Sphere

Please let me know whether I should use Dragapult as a physical or special sweeper as well as what nature and item it should have. (Also if you have any suggestions for Pokémon to use on my team please share them with me) Thank you :)

Answer 1

In the team you mention, I will suggest a Special one.
Why? Here’s the reason:

-Firstly, as you say, it’s Special moveset was better.
-It’s Special Atk. stat was very good although it’s Atk was higher
-There’s more Psychical wall in the OU, and less Special ones
Here’s the moveset:
-The common staller in OU was Slowbro, toxapex, and Tangrowth, which both three of them has a lower special defence
Moveset:

Dragapult @ Choice Specs
Ability: Clear Body / Inflitrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast / Flamethower (Hi pow coverage ice)
- Draco Meteor (High pow stab)
- Thunderbolt (Good power, good acc)
- Shadow Ball (Ghost type stab and coverage ghost type)
Simple set i’ve use, wish you like it!

I’m not good at Teamate, but hope this answer helps!

Comments

I would use Infiltrator.

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Clear body prevents other lowering its stat, but infiltator works well as it too

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I really like this set for Dragapult. But are you sure that a timid nature is better than a modest one on a choice specs Dragapult with this moveset?

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Modest was super good also, but i often use timid more than modest

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Yeah, I also run Timid. The extra speed can be useful, and the Specs increase its Special Attack enough.

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I asked if I should run Timid or Modest on my Dragapult a few days ago and most answers I received  were in favor of Modest since Dragapult’s speed is already so high and modest + choice specs helps it OHKO more mons than timid + choice specs. Do you have any calcs or data that show that timid is better?

Answer 2

Dragapult is great on both sides but I recommend special because it gets good special ghost moves but physical can work too, heck I sometimes use mixed.

Dragapult @ Life Orb(It'll die soon anyway)
Infiltrator(Its better than clear body)
252 speed/252 sp.atk/4 hp ig
Timid/Modest(Their both good natures, I prefer modest cuz its already insanely fast)
Drago Pulse/Draco Meteor(Dragon Pulse is more spammable while Draco Meteor is insanely powerful but not as spammable)
Shadow Ball(STAB with Sp.Def drops)
Flamethrower/Fire Blast(Flamethrower has accuracy while Fire Blast has Power, you decide)
Thunderbolt/Scald(Tbolt and Scald have high base power and can stop quite a few threats plus Para/Burn are nice)
I'm no competitive expert but did this help.