Thanks to its ability and Fishious Rend, Choice Band Dracovish has jaw-dropping power capable of rending many common defensive pokemon to pieces, including Ho-Oh, Necrozma-DM, specially defensive Yveltal, Groudon, and Tyranitar. This power also makes it difficult for almost anything to switch into it, giving Dracovish a niche over faster wallbreakers such as Zacian-C and Marshadow. Notably, rain-boosted Fishious Rend is capable of OHKOing a slightly chipped defensive Eternatus or Lunala on the switch while also OHKOing defensive Zygarde-C and Ferrothorn. While Fishious Rend is generally the safe option to spam, Dragon Rush targets Dragon-types that resist Fishious Rend, OHKOing Eternatus, Kyurem-W, and Palkia after little to no chip damage. Crunch severely damages Lunala and hits Shedinja, and it can be used in an emergency to Dynamax and KO Calyrex-S. Psychic Fangs heavily damages Eternatus and has perfect accuracy, unlike Dragon Rush. Any of the aforementioned coverage moves 2HKO Gastrodon, preventing it from safely switching in.
Dracovish performs best in rain, as this boosts Fishious Rend to the strongest possible levels. As such, it should almost always be paired with Kyogre. Calm Mind bulky Kyogre particularly complements Dracovish, as it easily switches into Eternatus and Lunala, while Thunder Wave variants can cripple Dracovish switch-ins and let it outspeed many faster foes. In return, Dracovish can punch holes in the opposing team, OHKOing Blissey, Ferrothorn, and Eternatus with a well-timed Fishious Rend, enabling Kyogre to then break through the opposing team much more easily. However, Dracovish cannot handle faster threats such as Calyrex-S, Xerneas, Zacian-C, and Zekrom. As such, teammates such as Yveltal, Necrozma-DM, Ho-Oh, and Lunala are appreciated. Dracovish is a powerful but slow wallbreaker, so fast pokemon such as Calyrex-S, Zacian-C, and Ditto are appreciated teammates too.