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.
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
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Ice |
| 2x (Weak) | Rock, Dragon, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Fighting, Bug |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
 Primarina WaterFairy | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Primarina builds →Moonblast 2x94-111%KO Disarming Voice 2x40-48% | ||
 Ribombee BugFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Ribombee builds →Dazzling Gleam 2x63-74% Draining Kiss 2x40-48% Fairy Wind 2x33-39% | ||
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Sudowoodo builds →Head Smash 2x121-143%KO Stone Edge 2x81-95% Rock Slide 2x61-72% Rock Tomb 2x49-58% | ||
 Cottonee GrassFairy | D | |
 Shelgon Dragon | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Shelgon builds →Dragon Claw 2x63-74% Rock Slide 2x39-46% Dragon Breath 2x34-41% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemBlack Sludge NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Toxapex builds →Scald9-11% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemBlack Sludge NatureSassy Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Amoonguss builds →Giga Drain6-8% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Salamence View Pelipper builds →Hurricane58-68% Scald21-25% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemEviolite NatureBold Moves View Chansey builds →
| ||
Sun & Moon 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
Breeding
Breed with Salamence to get Bagon eggs using 57 partners from the Dragon egg group. Notable egg moves include Defense Curl, Dragon Dance, Dragon Pulse and 7 more.
Sun & Moon Salamence Best Moveset
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
Salamence best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Dragon Claw
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Moves
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
How to Get Salamence in Sun & Moon
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 BagonKala'e BayMoonGrass Lv.15-18 Water10%EarlyKala'e BaySunGrass Lv.15-18 Water10%EarlyRoute 3 - SouthMoonGrass Lv.9-12 Route1%EarlyRoute 3 - SouthSunGrass Lv.9-12 Route1%Early
Step 2Catch or Evolve ShelgonKala'e BaySunGrass Lv.15-18 WaterEarlySOS from BagonKala'e BayMoonGrass Lv.15-18 WaterEarlySOS from Bagonor evolve from Bagon (Step 1)
Step 3Salamence ✓Route 3 - SouthSunGrass Lv.9-12 RouteEarlySOS from BagonRoute 3 - SouthMoonGrass Lv.9-12 RouteEarlySOS from Bagonor evolve from Shelgon (Step 2)
Salamence Guide
In Sun & Moon, Intimidate changes the entire equation for Salamence. The 600 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as a sweeper. Earthquake with Flyiniumz is the standard set.
In Sun & Moon, 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 Sun & Moon, 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
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves