Slugma doesn't have much going for it on its own — the stats just aren't there. The payoff is Magcargo, and getting there is worth the grind. Only weak to Water, Ground, and Rock. Known as the Lava Pokemon.
Nothing fancy in Slugma's spread. It leans special with Sp. Atk out front. And you'll get 1 Sp. Atk EV per KO for it. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It never sleeps. It has to keep moving because if it stopped, its magma body would cool and harden.
A common sight in volcanic areas, it slowly slithers around in a constant search for warm places.
Slugma Weakness
AvgType-wise, Slugma takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. The Fire typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. Not too many gaps in the chart, 3 weaknesses to account for.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
- Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
Slugma is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Magcargo. Check the evolution method below. A small partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 180 stat points total.
How to Evolve
Breed Slugma easily with 11 breeding partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Pass egg moves like Acid Armor to offspring.
Best Build
Gen 2 build content has limited support (no abilities).
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Most of Slugma's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Fire Blast and Flamethrower, but Poison and Rock and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Slugma starts showing up in mid-game routes at high spawn rates across 8 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Best Locations
You can catch Slugma through 8 walking encounters from Lv. 25-29, but availability differs between Gold and Silver. Some spots are exclusive to one version.
At 250 BST, Slugma is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Magcargo before bringing it to any serious fight.
Slugma's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Rhydon (Ground), and Aerodactyl (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. At base 20 Speed, Slugma won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Slugma evolves into Magcargo at level 38. Slugma is the base form of this evolutionary line.
Slugma is a special attacker with base 70 Sp. Atk. Fragile — can't afford to take many hits, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 20 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go.
Slugma appears in 16 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.
Debuting in Gold & Silver, Slugma appears in 16 games across 8 generations. A reliable presence in most mainline games, typically found through catching or hatching as a base form.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB

Red & Blue - Gen IIGSDebut

Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS

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 VIORAS

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
