NationalDex
salamence
#373

Salamence

Dragon Pokémon

DragonFlying

It becomes uncontrollable if it is enraged. It destroys everything with shredding claws and fire.

Base Stats

HP 95
Attack 135
Defense 80
Sp. Atk 110
Sp. Def 80
Speed 100
Total 600

Type Effectiveness

Abilities

Intimidate Moxie (Hidden)

Held Items

Forms

Evolution Chain

shelgon Shelgon Lv. 30
salamence Salamence Lv. 50

Moves

Locations

Details

Category Dragon Pokémon
Height 1.5 m
Weight 102.6 kg
Base Exp 270
Growth Rate Slow
Capture Rate 45
Base Happiness 35
Gender 50% ♂ / 50% ♀
Habitat Rough Terrain
Egg Groups Dragon

Sprites

salamence Front Front
salamence Back Back
salamence Front Shiny Front Shiny
salamence Back Shiny Back Shiny
salamence Official Art Official Art
salamence Official Art (Shiny) Official Art (Shiny)

Competitive

Choice Scarf
Moves
Rock Slide / Stone Edge / Hydro Pump
Item
Choice Scarf
Nature
Timid / Modest
EVs
Atk 4
SpA 252
Spe 252
Special Attacker
Item
Haban Berry / Life Orb
Nature
Timid / Modest
EVs
HP 4
SpA 252
Spe 252
Choice Specs
Item
Choice Specs
Nature
Modest / Timid
EVs
HP 4
SpA 252
Spe 252

Strategy Overview

Salamence has quite a lot going for it in VGC. For one, its ability, Intimidate, weakens physical attackers on the switch-in. On top of that, Salamence also has decent bulk and combined with its Dragon typing giving it resistances to many common types, it will survive for a relatively long time for an attacker. Salamence has a respectable Special Attack and the movepool to back it up. Salamence's base Speed is 100, which lets it Speed tie or outspeed many Pokemon in the format.

Salamence has a 4x weakness to Ice-type moves, though, which makes it easily OHKOed. Many of the Pokemon which outspeed Salamence, be this through Choice Scarf or higher base Speed, can OHKO it with their STAB moves. Although Salamence's movepool gives it all it needs, Salamence is quite predictable due to it not being too expansive; this is only worsened by Salamence's reliance of low accuracy moves.

Competitive data from Smogon University via data.pkmn.cc