Physical
Sweeper
100Speed · Fast

Stats & Training

The stat budget goes to damage. Attack and Sp. Atk carry the offense, Defense doesn't even come close. A Dragon Pokemon on a slow 1.25M XP grind, worth 3 Attack EVs per KO.

Base Stats
Legend
HP95
B
Attack135
A
Defense80
C
Sp. Atk110
B
Sp. Def80
C
Speed100
B
Total600
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.5 m
Weight102.6 kg
Base XP300
Abilities
IntimidatePopular
Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.
MoxieHAPopular
Raises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon.
EV Yield
HPAtk+3DefSpASpDSpe
Strong Attack training target
Pokedex Entries

Salamence came about as a result of a strong, long-held dream of growing wings. It is said that this powerful desire triggered a sudden mutation in this Pokémon’s cells, causing it to sprout its magnificent wings.

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 Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Ice
2x (Weak)Rock, Dragon, Fairy
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Fighting, Bug
0.25x (Resist)Grass
0x (Immune)Ground
Type ChartGood
4Weak
5Resist
1Immune
Score-1
4xCritical
¼xResist
0xImmune
How to Beat Salamence in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire (Best Counters)

In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Clefable deals 72-84% with Moonblast.

Excadrill
ExcadrillResists Dragon, threatens with Rock Slide
GroundSteel
S
Recommended Build
AbilityMold Breaker
ItemLeftovers
NatureJolly
Moves
  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • Rapid Spin
  • Iron Head
  • Stealth Rock
Damage vs Salamence
Rapid Spin
21-24%
View Excadrill builds →

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Evolution

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 (+70 over Bagon), and Salamence peaks at 600 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Bagon
Dragon
Shelgon
Dragon
Salamence
DragonFlying
HP
45
65+20
95+30
ATK
75
95+20
135+40
DEF
60
100+40
80-20
SP.ATK
40
60+20
110+50
SP.DEF
30
50+20
80+30
SPE
50
50
100+50
BST
300C-Tier
420D-Tier+120
600B-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Sweeper
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Physical

Breeding

Moderate

Breed with Salamence to get Bagon eggs using 50 partners from the Dragon egg group. Notable egg moves include Defense Curl, Dragon Dance, Dragon Pulse and 7 more.

Egg Groups
Dragon
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
40 cycles·10,280 steps
Slow~10 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
10moves
Breed With (best first)
gyaradoscharizardkingdrasceptileflygonmiloticnoivernaltariascraftydragalgehelioliskarbok

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Salamence Best Moveset

The game plan is straightforward: click Dragon Dance, then sweep. Lum Berry and Moxie support the setup turn. EVs go into max Attack and Speed so Salamence hits hard once it's boosted.

Best Build

Solid pick
Ability
Moxie
Item
Lum BerryRECOVERY
Best Nature for Salamence

Salamence best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset

  • Dragon DanceSTAB
  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • Dragon ClawSTAB
  • OutrageSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Moves

Need something that threatens multiple types? Salamence's movepool delivers. Coverage across 12 types plus STAB from Draco Meteor and Outrage gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bite
C6010025Dark
Lv 1
Dragon Tail-6
B609010Dragon
Lv 1
Ember
4010025Fire
Lv 1
Fire Fang
C659515Fire
Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Rage
2010020Normal
Lv 1
Thunder Fang
659515Electric
Lv 4
Ember
4010025Fire
Lv 7
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 10
Bite
C6010025Dark
Lv 13
Dragon Breath
6010020Dragon
Lv 17
Headbutt
C7010015Normal
Lv 21
Focus Energy
D30Normal
Lv 25
Crunch
C8010015Dark
Lv 29
Dragon Claw
A8010015Dragon
Lv 30
Protect+4
B10Normal
Lv 35
Zen Headbutt
C809015Psychic
Lv 42
Scary Face
10010Normal
Lv 49
Flamethrower
C9010015Fire
Lv 50
Fly
B909515Flying
Lv 63
Double-Edge
B12010015Normal

TM Moves

TM
TM40
Aerial Ace
B6020Flying
TM45
Attract
D10015Normal
TM31
Brick Break
C7510015Fighting
TM78
Bulldoze
C6010020Ground
TM100
Confide
20Normal
HM01
Cut
C509530Normal
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM02
Dragon Claw
A8010015Dragon
TM82
Dragon Tail-6
B609010Dragon
TM26
Earthquake
A10010010Ground
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
C110855Fire
TM35
Flamethrower
C9010015Fire
HM02
Fly
B909515Flying
TM21
Frustration
D10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM01
Hone Claws
C15Dark
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM59
Incinerate
6010015Fire
TM17
Protect+4
B10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
C5Water
TM44
Rest
C10Psychic
TM27
Return
D10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
C20Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
B759010Rock
HM06
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
C609515Rock
TM19
Roost
C10Flying
TM48
Round
C6010015Normal
TM94
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM65
Shadow Claw
C7010015Ghost
TM88
Sleep Talk
C10Normal
TM51
Steel Wing
B709025Steel
TM71
Stone Edge
C100805Rock
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C5Fire
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM06
Toxic
C9010Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Defense Curl
40Normal
Egg
Dragon Dance
S20Dragon
Egg
Dragon Pulse
B8510010Dragon
Egg
Dragon Rage
10010Dragon
Egg
Dragon Rush
B1007510Dragon
Egg
Endure+4
D10Normal
Egg
Fire Fang
C659515Fire
Egg
Hydro Pump
C110805Water
Egg
Thrash
12010010Normal
Egg
Twister
4010020Dragon

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Aqua Tail
C909010Water
Tutor
Draco Meteor
A130905Dragon
Tutor
Dragon Pulse
B8510010Dragon
Tutor
Heat Wave
A959010Fire
Tutor
Hyper Voice
C9010010Normal
Tutor
Iron Tail
C1007515Steel
Tutor
Outrage
A12010010Dragon
Tutor
Snore
5010015Normal
Tutor
Tailwind
C15Flying
Tutor
Zen Headbutt
C809015Psychic

Reminder Moves

Rem
Rem
Iron Defense
D15Steel

Transfer Moves

Gen
Gen 4
Air Cutter
C609525Flying
Gen 3
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Gen 4
Captivate
10020Normal
Gen 4
Defog
C15Flying
Gen 4
Fury Cutter
D409520Bug
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Gen 4
Natural Gift
D10015Normal
Gen 4
Ominous Wind
601005Ghost
Gen 4
Rollout
D309020Rock
Gen 4
Swift
6020Normal

How to Get Salamence in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

Salamence doesn't appear wild. Catch Bagon instead, it shows up at decent rates. Evolve it at level 50 to get Salamence. The 3-stage chain is mapped in the step cards below.

How to Obtain Salamence in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

Bagon is your first catch on the way to Salamence. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 20-40 across 4 total spots in the chain.

  1. Bagon
    Step 1Catch Bagon
    Meteor Falls - Area 4
    Alpha SapphireGrass Lv.20 Water
    5%Mid
    Horde battle
    Meteor Falls - Area 4
    Omega RubyGrass Lv.20 Water
    5%Mid
    Horde battle
    Meteor Falls - Area 4
    Alpha SapphireGrass Lv.37-40 Water
    23%Late
    Meteor Falls - Area 4
    Omega RubyGrass Lv.37-40 Water
    23%Late
  2. Shelgon
    Step 2Evolve into Shelgon
  3. Salamence
    Step 3Salamence

Salamence Guide

  • In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Intimidate changes the entire equation for Salamence. The 600 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as a sweeper. Dragon Dance with Lum Berry is the standard set.

  • In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Salamence can Mega Evolve into Mega Salamence. That's 700 BST, up from 600. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.

  • In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, 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.

  • Intimidate is what you want on Salamence. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Moxie) work on paper but Intimidate is what makes Salamence worth using. With base 100 Speed, Intimidate gives Salamence an edge before opponents can react.

  • Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Salamence is a physical attacker with base 135 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. 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 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.

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