The Lava Pokemon. Slugma crawls through Crystal. Magcargo at D-Tier and a 4x Water weakness make this Fire/Rock line one of the hardest to use.
250HP40Attack40Defense40Speed20Sp.Def40Sp.Atk70
Slugma
Magcargo
Weak to
Special
Balanced
20Speed · Very Slow

Is Slugma Good in Crystal Playthrough?

Kanto Route 16 and 17, postgame only. Fire/Rock typing creates a brutal 4x Water weakness. Magcargo's stats don't compensate. Crystal needed Fire coverage during Johto, and Slugma shows up two regions too late.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadGSEETEEBETGETTGEGSTGEFalknerGym 1BugsyGym 2WhitneyGym 3MortyGym 4ChuckGym 5JasmineGym 6PryceGym 7ClairGym 8SurgeGym 9SabrinaGym 10ErikaGym 11JanineGym 12MistyGym 13BrockGym 14BlaineGym 15BlueGym 16SlugmaCatchableMagcargoEvolveWillE4KogaE4BrunoE4KarenE4LanceChamp*
Falkner
Gym 1
Good

Slugma has the type edge here and should clean up Falkner's team.

You Win
Pidgey
Lv 7
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
TackleMud Slap
You Win
Pidgeotto
Lv 9
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
TackleMud SlapGust
Bugsy
Gym 2
Strong

Slugma resists most of Bugsy's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Metapod
Lv 14
Bug
Shed Skin
TackleString ShotHarden
Easy KO
Kakuna
Lv 14
BugPoison
Shed Skin
Poison StingString ShotHarden
You Win
Scyther
Lv 16
BugFlying
Swarm
Quick AttackLeerFury Cutter
Whitney
Gym 3
Even

Slugma trades roughly evenly with Whitney's team.

You Win
Clefairy
Lv 18
Normal
Cute Charm
Double SlapMimicEncoreMetronome
Even
Miltank
Lv 20
Normal
Thick Fat
RolloutAttractStompMilk Drink
Morty
Gym 4
Even

Slugma trades roughly evenly with Morty's team.

You Win
Gastly
Lv 21
GhostPoison
Levitate
LickSpiteMean LookCurse
Even
Haunter
Lv 21
GhostPoison
Levitate
HypnosisMimicCurseNight Shade
Risky
Gengar
Lv 25
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
HypnosisShadow BallMean LookDream Eater
You Win
Haunter
Lv 23
GhostPoison
Levitate
SpiteMean LookMimicNight Shade
Chuck
Gym 5
Tough

Chuck's team hits Slugma's weaknesses hard.

Even
Primeape
Lv 27
Fighting
Vital Spirit
LeerRageKarate ChopFury Swipes
Avoid
Poliwrath
Lv 30
WaterFighting
Water Absorb
HypnosisMind ReaderSurfDynamic Punch
Jasmine
Gym 6
Even

Slugma trades roughly evenly with Jasmine's team.

Even
Magnemite
Lv 30
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltSupersonicSonic BoomThunder Wave
Even
Magnemite
Lv 30
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltSupersonicSonic BoomThunder Wave
You Win
Steelix
Lv 35
SteelGround
Rock Head
ScreechSunny DayRock ThrowIron Tail
Pryce
Gym 7
Even

Slugma trades roughly evenly with Pryce's team.

Risky
Seel
Lv 27
Water
Thick Fat
HeadbuttIcy WindAurora BeamRest
Even
Dewgong
Lv 29
WaterIce
Thick Fat
HeadbuttIcy WindAurora BeamRest
You Win
Piloswine
Lv 31
IceGround
Oblivious
Icy WindFury AttackMistBlizzard
Clair
Gym 8
Bad

Clair's Pokemon outpace and outclass Slugma here.

Avoid
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSurfSlamDragon Breath
Avoid
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveThunderboltSlamDragon Breath
Avoid
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveIce BeamSlamDragon Breath
Avoid
Kingdra
Lv 40
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
SmokescreenSurfHyper BeamDragon Breath
Lt. Surge
Gym 9
Even

Slugma trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 44
Electric
Static
Thunder WaveQuick AttackThunderboltThunder
Risky
Electrode
Lv 40
Electric
Soundproof
ScreechDouble TeamSwiftExplosion
You Win
Magneton
Lv 40
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
Lock OnDouble TeamSwiftZap Cannon
Risky
Electrode
Lv 40
Electric
Soundproof
ScreechDouble TeamSwiftExplosion
Risky
Electabuzz
Lv 46
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder PunchLight ScreenThunder
Sabrina
Gym 10
Tough

Sabrina's typing presses Slugma's defenses.

Risky
Espeon
Lv 46
Psychic
Synchronize
Sand AttackQuick AttackSwiftPsychic
Risky
Mr Mime
Lv 46
Psychic
Soundproof
BarrierReflectBaton PassPsychic
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 48
Psychic
Synchronize
RecoverFuture SightPsychicReflect
Erika
Gym 11
Good

Slugma has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.

Easy KO
Tangela
Lv 42
Grass
Chlorophyll
Vine WhipBindGiga DrainSleep Powder
You Win
Jumpluff
Lv 41
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
Mega DrainLeech SeedCotton SporeGiga Drain
You Win
Victreebel
Lv 46
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Sunny DaySynthesisAcidRazor Leaf
You Win
Bellossom
Lv 46
Grass
Chlorophyll
Sunny DaySynthesisPetal DanceSolar Beam
Janine
Gym 12
Even

Slugma trades roughly evenly with Janine's team.

Even
Crobat
Lv 36
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
ScreechSupersonicConfuse RayWing Attack
Risky
Weezing
Lv 36
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludge BombToxicExplosion
Risky
Weezing
Lv 36
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludge BombToxicExplosion
Easy KO
Ariados
Lv 33
BugPoison
Swarm
Scary FaceGiga DrainString ShotNight Shade
Even
Venomoth
Lv 39
BugPoison
Shield Dust
ForesightDouble TeamGustPsychic
Misty
Gym 13
Tough

Misty's team hits Magcargo's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Golduck
Lv 42
Water
Damp
SurfDisablePsych UpPsychic
Avoid
Quagsire
Lv 42
WaterGround
Damp
SurfAmnesiaEarthquakeRain Dance
Even
Lapras
Lv 44
WaterIce
Water Absorb
SurfPerish SongBlizzardRain Dance
Avoid
Starmie
Lv 47
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
SurfConfuse RayRecoverIce Beam
Brock
Gym 14
Tough

Brock's team hits Magcargo's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Graveler
Lv 41
RockGround
Rock Head
Defense CurlRock SlideRolloutEarthquake
Risky
Rhyhorn
Lv 41
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Fury AttackScary FaceEarthquakeHorn Drill
Risky
Omastar
Lv 42
RockWater
Swift Swim
BiteSurfProtectSpike Cannon
Risky
Onix
Lv 44
RockGround
Rock Head
BindRock SlideBideSandstorm
Risky
Kabutops
Lv 42
RockWater
Swift Swim
SlashSurfEndureGiga Drain
Blaine
Gym 15
Good

Magcargo has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

You Win
Magcargo
Lv 45
FireRock
Magma Armor
CurseSmogFlamethrowerRock Slide
Even
Magmar
Lv 45
Fire
Flame Body
Thunder PunchFire PunchSunny DayConfuse Ray
Even
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
Quick AttackFire SpinFury AttackFire Blast
Blue
Gym 16
Even

Magcargo trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

You Win
Pidgeot
Lv 56
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
Quick AttackWhirlwindWing AttackMirror Move
Even
Alakazam
Lv 54
Psychic
Synchronize
DisableRecoverPsychicReflect
Avoid
Rhydon
Lv 56
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Fury AttackSandstormRock SlideEarthquake
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
TwisterHydro PumpRain DanceHyper Beam
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 58
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
Sunny DayLeech SeedEgg BombSolar Beam
Even
Arcanine
Lv 58
Fire
Intimidate
RoarSwiftFlamethrowerExtreme Speed
Will
Elite Four
Good

Magcargo has the type edge here and should clean up Will's team.

You Win
Xatu
Lv 40
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
Quick AttackFuture SightConfuse RayPsychic
You Win
Jynx
Lv 41
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapLovely KissIce PunchPsychic
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 41
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
ReflectLeech SeedEgg BombPsychic
Even
Slowbro
Lv 41
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
CurseAmnesiaBody SlamPsychic
You Win
Xatu
Lv 42
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
Quick AttackFuture SightConfuse RayPsychic
Koga
Elite Four
Strong

Magcargo resists most of Koga's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Ariados
Lv 40
BugPoison
Swarm
Double TeamSpider WebBaton PassGiga Drain
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 41
BugPoison
Shield Dust
SupersonicGustPsychicToxic
Easy KO
Forretress
Lv 43
BugSteel
Sturdy
ProtectSwiftExplosionSpikes
You Win
Muk
Lv 42
Poison
Stench
MinimizeAcid ArmorSludge BombToxic
You Win
Crobat
Lv 44
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
Double TeamQuick AttackWing AttackToxic
Bruno
Elite Four
Tough

Bruno's team hits Magcargo's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Hitmontop
Lv 42
Fighting
Intimidate
PursuitQuick AttackDigDetect
Risky
Hitmonlee
Lv 42
Fighting
Limber
SwaggerDouble KickHigh Jump KickForesight
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 42
Fighting
Keen Eye
Thunder PunchIce PunchFire PunchMach Punch
Risky
Onix
Lv 43
RockGround
Rock Head
BindEarthquakeSandstormRock Slide
Even
Machamp
Lv 46
Fighting
Guts
Rock SlideForesightVital ThrowCross Chop
Karen
Elite Four
Good

Magcargo has the type edge here and should clean up Karen's team.

Even
Umbreon
Lv 42
Dark
Synchronize
Sand AttackConfuse RayFeint AttackMean Look
You Win
Vileplume
Lv 42
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Stun SporeAcidMoonlightPetal Dance
You Win
Gengar
Lv 45
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
LickSpiteCurseDestiny Bond
You Win
Murkrow
Lv 44
DarkFlying
Insomnia
Quick AttackWhirlwindPursuitFeint Attack
You Win
Houndoom
Lv 47
DarkFire
Early Bird
RoarPursuitFlamethrowerCrunch
Lance
Champion
Even

Magcargo trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 44
WaterFlying
Intimidate
FlailRain DanceSurfHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 47
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Thunder WaveTwisterThunderHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 47
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Thunder WaveTwisterBlizzardHyper Beam
Even
Aerodactyl
Lv 46
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackAncient PowerRock SlideHyper Beam
You Win
Charizard
Lv 46
FireFlying
Blaze
FlamethrowerWing AttackSlashHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 50
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Fire BlastSafeguardOutrageHyper Beam

Catchable

Post-game only
Type
Fire
Tier
F

Catch Slugma on Route 16 (walking, Lv 29, rare).

View Slugma locations

Evolve Slugma to Magcargo

Level 38
Type
FireRock
Tier
E

Slugma evolves into Magcargo at Level 38. Your Slugma should hit Level 38 before you reach Misty, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

  • STARTING (Lv 38)
    • LV 38FireFlamethrowerPower 143Accuracy 100%PP 15
    • LV 38RockRock ThrowPower 75Accuracy 90%PP 15
  • After Bugsy
  • After Morty
  • After Clair
  • After Lt. Surge
    • LV 48RockRock SlidePower 113Accuracy 90%PP 10
    • LV 60NormalBody SlamPower 85Accuracy 100%PP 15

How to Get Slugma in Crystal

Slugma sticks to the Kanto Cycling Road routes, common on Route 17 by day and rare on the two beside it. Daylight is the only time it crawls out.

3 locations to catch Slugma

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 8
Post-Game

Where To Catch Slugma in C

Slugma is the chain's first catch. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 29-32 across 3 total spots in the chain.

  1. Magcargo
    Step 2Evolve into Magcargo
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Slugma egg.

Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in Crystal for Slugma.

How to Get Shiny Slugma in Crystal

Slugma oozes along Kanto's Route 17 by day as a common find at levels 29 to 32, while Route 16 and Route 18 hold it only as a rare crawl. Compare Shiny Slugma odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Slugma in CrystalNormal
Shiny Slugma in Crystal Shiny
Color ShiftRedtoGray
Shiny TierB Tier Shiny

Shiny Slugma Evolution

2 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Crystal Shiny Slugma Calculator

2 Methods
Fastest Path

The best route is Breed w/ Shiny Parent, about 1 in 64 on each try.

Step 1 · Encounter Method2 in Crystal

Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.

Breed w/ Shiny Parent: Eggs inherit stats from a shiny parent, so about 1 in 64 hatch shiny. A shiny Ditto helps every egg, and any other shiny parent (the red Gyarados works) helps only eggs of the opposite gender.

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 64Breed w/ Shiny Parent
Chance By Now50.8%at 45 eggs hatchedAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few7----
25%one in four19----
50%coin flip45----
90%very likely147----
How is this calculated?

Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.

chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N,  where  p = 1 / odds per try

Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.

The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.

These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.

Where these shiny odds come from: Read our full methodology

Curious how fast a hunt could go? Work out your Crystal shiny odds for Slugma.

Slugma Weakness

Type-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.

Slugma Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Ground, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel
Gen II Type Chart
  • 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

What is Slugma Weak Against

Avg
3Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Score-1
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Slugma Strong Against

4Strong
4Resisted
0Immune
Score0
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Slugma

Marowak
Marowak
Ground
B
B
Rhydon
Rhydon
GroundRock
B
Suicune
Suicune
Water
B
Tyranitar
Tyranitar
RockDark
S

Slugma Evolutions

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 take an average time to hatch. Evolving adds up to 180 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Slugma
Fire
Magcargo
FireRock
HP
40
60+20
ATK
40
50+10
DEF
40
120+80
SP.ATK
70
90+20
SP.DEF
40
80+40
SPE
20
30+10
BST
250F-Tier
430E-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Trick Room
TYPE
Special
Special

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Slugma easily with 11 breeding partners from the Amorphous egg group. Pass egg moves like Acid Armor to offspring.

Egg Groups
Amorphous
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
1moves
Breed With (best first)
mukgengarweezingmagcargohaunterwobbuffetkoffinggrimergastlymisdreavus

C Slugma Best Moveset

Fire pre-evolution. Stats too low for any format. Magcargo adds Rock typing and modest improvement, though the 4x Water and Ground weaknesses make both stages hostile to compete.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
Fire Stone
Best Nature for Slugma
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Fire BlastUtility
  • Fire BlastSTAB
  • CurseSetup
  • FrustrationCoverage

Moves List

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

Lv 1
Smog
—207020Poison
Lv 8
Ember
—6010025Fire
Lv 15
Rock Throw
—509015Rock
Lv 22
Harden
D——30Normal
Lv 29
Amnesia
D——20Psychic
Lv 36
Flamethrower
C14210015Fire
Lv 43
Rock Slide
D759010Rock
Lv 50
Body Slam
D8510015Normal

TM Moves

15 of 19 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45D—10015Normal
TM40
Defense CurlMt. Mortarnot until badge 8
D——40Normal
TM32———15Normal
TM20
Endure+4Burned Towerbadge 4
D——10Normal
TM38S180855Fire
TM10D6010015Normal
TM31D2010010Ground
TM17C——10Normal
TM44
RestIce Pathnot until badge 7
C——10Psychic
TM08
Rock SmashRoute 36badge 3
D2010015Fighting
TM04
RolloutRoute 35badge 2
D309020Rock
TM13
SnoreMoomoo Farmbadge 3
—4010015Normal
TM11C——5Fire
TM34
SwaggerOlivine Lighthousebadge 4
C—8515Normal
TM06C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Acid Armor
D——40Poison

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Flamethrower
C14210015Fire

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP40
D
Attack40
D
Defense40
D
Sp. Atk70
C
Sp. Def40
D
Speed20
F
Total250
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.7 m
Weight35.0 kg
Base XP50
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+1SpDSpe
Special Attack training source
Pokedex Entry

These group together in areas that are hotter than normal. If it cools off, its skin hardens.

Pokemon Crystal

Slugma Crystal Guide

  • In Crystal, Slugma has 250 BST and evolves into Magcargo. Compare the two forms before you give either one a team slot.

  • Yes. Slugma is not available during the main story. It can only be obtained after entering the Hall of Fame. Slugma becomes available after the main story is complete in Crystal.

Game Availability

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.

Explore

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