Physical
Sweeper
BTier
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
4'11"Average
Weight102.6 kg
226.2 lbsHeavy
Base XP300
Elite Yield
Abilities
IntimidateTop Pick
Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.
MoxieHANiche
Raises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon.
EV Yield
HPAtk+3DefSpASpDSpe
Strong Attack training target
Pokedex Entries
No Legends Z A entries available

It flies around on its wings, which have grown in at last. In its happiness, it gushes hot flames, burning up everything it passes over.

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
Ice
2xWeak
RockDragonFairy
½xResist
FireWaterFightingBug
¼xResist
Grass
0xImmune
Ground
STAB (4)
DragonGrassFightingBug
How to Beat Salamence in Legends: Z-A (Best Counters)
Flutter Mane
Flutter Mane
GhostFairy
S
Fairy is super effective against SalamenceView Flutter Mane →

Legends: Z-A 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
Bagon
#371Bagon
30
Level 30
Shelgon
#372Shelgon
50
Level 50
Salamence
#373Salamence
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 is not available in this game

Legends: Z-A Salamence Best Moveset

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

Best Build

Recommended
Ability
Moxie
Item
Heavy Duty Boots
Best Nature for Salamence
Adamant+ATK

Salamence best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset

  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • Dragon DanceSTAB
  • Dual WingbeatSTAB
  • OutrageSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Excadrill
ExcadrillDecent

Moves

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.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bite
C6010025Dark
Lv 1
Ember
—4010025Fire
Lv 1
Leer
D—10030Normal
Lv 1
Protect+4
A——10Normal
Lv 10
Dragon Breath
C6010020Dragon
Lv 15
Headbutt
C7010015Normal
Lv 25
Crunch
C8010015Dark
Lv 30
Dragon Claw
A8010015Dragon
Lv 35
Zen Headbutt
C809015Psychic
Lv 40
Focus Energy
C——30Normal
Lv 45
Flamethrower
B9010015Fire
Lv 50
Outrage
A12010010Dragon
Lv 55
Double-Edge
B12010015Normal
Lv 60
Air Slash
A759515Flying

TM Moves

TM
TM22
Aerial Ace
B60—20Flying
TM33
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
TM10
Brick Break
C7510015Fighting
TM25
Crunch
C8010015Dark
TM56
Double-Edge
B12010015Normal
TM54
Draco Meteor
A130905Dragon
TM02
Dragon Claw
A8010015Dragon
TM75
Dragon Pulse
B8510010Dragon
TM134
Dual Wingbeat
A409010Flying
TM69
Earthquake
S10010010Ground
TM35
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM109
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
C110855Fire
TM14
Fire Fang
C659515Fire
TM72
Fire Spin
D358515Fire
TM114
Flame Charge
C5010020Fire
TM62
Flamethrower
B9010015Fire
TM43
Fly
B909515Flying
TM55
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM01
Headbutt
C7010015Normal
TM79
Hurricane
B1107010Flying
TM96
Hydro Pump
C110805Water
TM44
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM71
Hyper Voice
C9010010Normal
TM80
Iron Defense
C——15Steel
TM58
Iron Head
B8010015Steel
TM93
Outrage
A12010010Dragon
TM17
Protect+4
A——10Normal
TM124
Psychic Fangs
C8510010Psychic
TM05
Roar-6
C——20Normal
TM12
Rock Slide
C759010Rock
TM36
Rock Tomb
C609515Rock
TM143
Scale Shot
D259020Dragon
TM61
Shadow Claw
C7010015Ghost
TM146
Skull Bash
B13010010Normal
TM65
Stone Edge
C100805Rock
TM85
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM27
Swift
C60—20Normal
TM21
Thunder Fang
C659515Electric
TM59
Zen Headbutt
C809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Salamence doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Salamence can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Salamence in Legends: Z-A

Salamence can't be caught in Legends: Z-A. Transfer Bagon from Ruby, Emerald, or Violet and evolve through the 3-stage chain to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.

How to Obtain Salamence in Legends: Z-A

  1. Bagon
    Step 1Obtain Bagon

    Catch in the wild in:

    VioletOverworld · South Province (Area Five)

    Then trade to Legends: Z-A to continue the evolution chain.

    Also found in:

    RubyEmeraldPearlPlatinumWhiteX
  2. Shelgon
    Step 2Evolve into Shelgon

    Catch in the wild in:

    VioletOverworld · South Province (Area Five)

    Also found in:

    RubyEmeraldPearlPlatinumWhiteX
  3. Salamence
    Step 3Salamence ✓

Salamence Guide

  • In Legends: Z-A, Intimidate changes the entire equation for Salamence. The 600 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as a sweeper. Roost with Heavy-Duty Boots is the standard set.

  • Mega Evolution isn't available in Legends: Z-A, but Salamence does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Salamence hits 700 BST.

  • In Legends: Z-A, 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.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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