Is Salamence Good in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Playthrough?
600 BST Dragon/Flying with AbilityIntimidate and Attack to rival any non-legendary. If you evolve Bagon before the E4, Salamence demolishes everything that isn't Ice or Fairy. Late availability from Route 3 makes the grind long. Worth every bit of it.
Bagon trades roughly evenly with Ilima's team.
Bagon trades roughly evenly with Hala's team.
Salamence trades roughly evenly with Lana's team.
ElectricSteelReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Moon only)
BugElectricReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GrassReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GhostFairyReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou...
Bagon trades roughly evenly with Kiawe's team.
Bagon trades roughly evenly with Mallow's team.
Bagon trades roughly evenly with Olivia's team.
Sophocles's typing presses Shelgon's defenses.
Shelgon trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Shelgon trades roughly evenly with Nanu's team.
Salamence has the type edge here and should clean up Mina's team.
Salamence has the type edge here and should clean up Hapu's team.
Salamence trades roughly evenly with Molayne's team.
Salamence trades roughly evenly with Olivia's team.
Salamence has the type edge here and should clean up Acerola's team.
Salamence has the type edge here and should clean up Kahili's team.
Salamence trades roughly evenly with Kukui's team.
Catch Salamence on Route 3 (walking, Lv 9-12). Alternate S.O.S. encounters; UNCOMMON; Called by Bagon.
Catch Shelgon on Kala'e Bay (walking, Lv 15-18). Alternate S.O.S. encounters; UNCOMMON; Called by Bagon.
Your Bagon should hit Level 30 before you reach Sophocles, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Salamence in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
2 encounter spots for Salamence at moderate rates starting from early-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Where To Catch Salamence in USUM
To get Salamence, start by catching Bagon through walking encounters at Lv. 9-18. The chain covers 3 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch BagonKala'e BayLv.15-18GrassRate 10%Route 3 - SouthLv.9-12GrassRate 1%
Step 3Salamence ✓Route 3 - SouthLv.9-12GrassSOS from Bagonor evolve from Shelgon (Step 2)
Salamence Weakness
Ice, Rock, Dragon, and Fairy moves hit Salamence for super-effective damage. Ice hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. The upside? Ground-type moves can't touch it at all. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Salamence's physical bulk (base 130 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Ice |
| 2x (Weak) | Rock, Dragon, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Fighting, Bug |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
What is Salamence Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Salamence
 Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
 Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Jynx builds →Frost Breath 4x105-124%KO Draining Kiss 2x29-34% | ||
 Carbink RockFairy | C | |
 Amaura RockIce | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 8 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Amaura builds →Aurora Beam 4x76-90% Rock Tomb 2x25-31% | ||
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
 Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Jynx builds →Frost Breath 4x108-127%KO Draining Kiss 2x28-34% | ||
 Lycanroc Rock | C | |
Amaura RockIce | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 8 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Amaura builds →Aurora Beam 4x77-91% Ancient Power 2x35-42% | ||
Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
 Primarina WaterFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Primarina builds →Ice Beam 4x111-131%KO Disarming Voice 2x39-47% | ||
Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Jynx builds →Ice Beam 4x154-182%KO Draining Kiss 2x29-34% | ||
 Mamoswine IceGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Mamoswine builds →Ice Fang 4x92-108%KO Rock Tomb 2x29-34% | ||
 Clefable Fairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Clefable builds →Ice Beam 4x89-105%KO Disarming Voice 2x31-37% | ||
Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
Primarina WaterFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Primarina builds →Ice Beam 4x105-125%KO Moonblast 2x84-99% | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodPoke Pelago Gift | ||
 Aurorus RockIce | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Amaura (Route 8 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Aurorus builds →Ice Beam 4x131-155%KO Ancient Power 2x44-52% Dragon Tail 2x18-21% | ||
 Walrein IceWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Walrein builds →Ice Beam 4x125-147%KO Rock Slide 2x23-28% | ||
Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
Aurorus RockIce | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Amaura (Route 8 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Aurorus builds →Ice Beam 4x128-151%KO Stone Edge 2x43-51% Dragon Tail 2x17-21% | ||
Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Jynx builds →Ice Beam 4x145-170%KO Draining Kiss 2x28-33% | ||
 Haxorus Dragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Haxorus builds →Outrage 2x87-103%KO Rock Slide 2x37-44% | ||
Primarina WaterFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Primarina builds →Ice Beam 4x105-125%KO Moonblast 2x84-98% | ||
Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
 Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Route 8 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Rampardos builds →Head Smash 2x122-144%KO Ice Beam 4x62-73% Dragon Tail 2x33-39% | ||
Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Jynx builds →Ice Beam 4x147-173%KO Draining Kiss 2x28-33% | ||
Aurorus RockIce | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Amaura (Route 8 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Aurorus builds →Ice Beam 4x131-154%KO Stone Edge 2x44-52% Dragon Tail 2x18-21% | ||
 Rayquaza Dragon | S | |
Obtain MethodUltra Space Wilds Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Rayquaza builds →Ice Beam 4x125-147%KO Dragon Pulse 2x88-103%KO Stone Edge 2x50-60% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemBlack Sludge NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Toxapex builds →Scald6-7% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemEviolite NatureBold Moves View Chansey builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemBlack Sludge NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Amoonguss builds →Giga Drain4-5% Sludge Bomb19-22% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Pelipper builds →U Turn4-4% Hurricane25-30% Scald9-11% | ||
Salamence Evolutions
End of the line. Salamence caps a three-stage chain that started at Bagon. Breeding produces the base form, and eggs are takes forever to hatch. Sp.Atk grew the most through evolution (+80 over Bagon), and Salamence peaks at 700 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Salamence to get Bagon eggs using 57 partners from the Dragon egg group.
USUM Salamence Best Moveset
AbilityIntimidate drops Attack on entry, and Mega Salamence gains AbilityAerilate converting Normal moves to Flying with a power boost from 145 Attack at 120 Speed. MoveDragon Dance boosts further. Without the Mega, 135 Attack at 100 Speed with AbilityMoxie as a hidden ability snowballs on knockouts. The moveset holds A-tier through both Mega and base identities working at the highest offensive level.
Best Build
Salamence best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Dragon Claw
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Need something that threatens multiple types? Salamence's movepool delivers. Coverage across 11 types plus STAB from Draco Meteor and Outrage gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Base Stats
The stress of its two proud wings becoming misshapen and stuck together because of strong energy makes it go on a rampage.
It puts its forelegs inside its shell to streamline itself for flight. Salamence flies at high speeds over all kinds of topographical features.
Salamence Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Guide
For Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, we rate Salamence B-Tier: a solid option in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon for the right team. At 700 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Earthquake with Flyiniumz is the standard set.
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Salamence can Mega Evolve into Mega Salamence. That's 800 BST, up from 700. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, watch for Cloyster (Ice), Aerodactyl (Rock), and Dragonite (Dragon) when using Salamence. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Cloyster is the most dangerous since Ice moves deal 4x damage. Fairy-type attackers are also a problem. Salamence has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.
Aerilate turns the bearer's normal moves into flying moves and strengthens them to 1.3× their power. That's the one you want on Salamence. It's the only ability Salamence has.
Base 120 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Salamence is a physical attacker with base 145 Attack. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a sweeper.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Salamence has appeared in 16 titles over 8 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 6, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves