Salamence has the stats to dominate any format it's allowed in. 135 base Attack stands out, and the rest of the spread doesn't have obvious weak points either. Intimidate adds even more value. Known as the Dragon Pokemon.
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.
Anyone standing in its path gets sliced right in two, while this Pokémon continues its flight without interruption.
Mega Evolution fuels its brutality, and it may even turn on the Trainer who raised it. It’s been dubbed “the blood-soaked crescent.”
Salamence Weakness
GoodIce, Rock, Dragon, and Fairy-type 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.
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.
How to Evolve
Breed with Salamence to get Bagon eggs from the Dragon egg group. Notable egg moves include Defense Curl, Dragon Dance, Dragon Pulse and 7 more.
The game plan is straightforward: click Dragon Dance, then sweep. Flyiniumz and Moxie support the setup turn. EVs go into max Attack and Speed so Salamence hits hard once it's boosted.
Best Build
Best Salamence Moveset
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Dragon Claw
Recommended Teammates
Need something that threatens multiple types? Salamence's movepool delivers. Coverage across 12 types plus STAB from Draco Meteor and Dragon Rush gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
Salamence appears at moderate rates across 2 spots in early-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Where To Catch Salamence in Sun & Moon
Bagon is your first catch on the way to Salamence. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 9-18 across 8 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch BagonMODERATEKala'e BayMoonGrassLv.15-1810%EarlyWaterMODERATEKala'e BaySunGrassLv.15-1810%EarlyWaterHARDRoute 3 - SouthMoonGrassLv.9-121%EarlyRouteHARDRoute 3 - SouthSunGrassLv.9-121%EarlyRoute
Step 2Catch or Evolve ShelgonKala'e BaySunGrassLv.15-18EarlyWaterSOS from BagonKala'e BayMoonGrassLv.15-18EarlyWaterSOS from Bagonor evolve from Bagon (Step 1)
Step 3Salamence ✓Route 3 - SouthSunGrassLv.9-12EarlyRouteSOS from BagonRoute 3 - SouthMoonGrassLv.9-12EarlyRouteSOS from Bagonor evolve from Shelgon (Step 2)
Intimidate changes the entire equation for Salamence. The 600 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as a sweeper.
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.
Salamence appears in 16 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Since debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Salamence has appeared in 16 titles over 7 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A