#0373 · Hoenn · Generation 3 · pseudo-legendary

Salamence

Dragon Pokémon · Dragon/Flying-type

Salamence is a Dragon/Flying-type Pokémon, the Dragon Pokémon, number 373 (#0373) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 3 and comes from the Hoenn region. It is 1.5 m tall and weighs 102.6 kg.

Salamence is the Dragon Pokémon that wished itself a pair of wings. The Pokédex says Bagon's long-held dream of flight triggered a mutation in its cells, and the result is a fire-breathing flier that becomes uncontrollable when enraged.

How to pronounce Salamence

Salamence is pronounced SAL-uh-mens. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Salamence said out loud:

In Japanese it is ボーマンダ (Bohmander).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Salamence is a blue, four-legged dragon with a grey lower jaw, red markings, raised red ridges above its eyes and three flat fins on each side of its head. Each short leg has three claws, and the large red wings are what finally grew in. It is 1.5 m tall and weighs 102.6 kg. The Pokédex calls it unusual because its wings came from a mutation brought on by wishing to fly.

Behaviour

Overjoyed to be flying, Salamence wheels around the sky breathing flame and usually lands only when it is exhausted. When it is angered it forgets itself and wrecks everything nearby until it tires out. Bulbapedia says it vies with Garchomp for food in the air and flutters its wings even in its sleep.

Habitat

The Pokédex lists rough terrain. In Scarlet and Violet it can be raised from Shelgon in Violet (Scarlet players trade for it) and appears in 5-star and 6-star Tera Raid Battles. In Legends: Z-A it roams Wild Zone 18, which Bulbapedia marks as an Alpha, and the Mega Dimension DLC lets you evolve Shelgon into one.

Powers

Intimidate lowers foes' Attack as it enters battle, and Moxie, hidden, raises its Attack after each knockout. It breathes fire with Flamethrower and fights with Dragon Claw, Crunch, Dual Wingbeat and Dragon Breath. Mega Salamence, introduced in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, merges its wings into one huge crescent, gains the Ability Aerilate and raises its base stat total to 700. With base Attack 135 and Speed 100 it is a fast, hard-hitting Dragon and Flying type.

Name origin

Salamence may combine 'salamander' with 'menace', 'vengeance', 'vehemence', 'violence' or 'immense'. The Japanese name is Bohmander (ボーマンダ), perhaps from bō ('violent') and 'salamander'.

Design inspiration

Salamence looks modelled on the classic European dragon, and perhaps a salamander: the three finlets on each side of its head could be read as external gills. Mega Salamence's wings and head resemble a fighter jet, and its tucked-in forelegs may recall hang gliding. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Salamence evolves from Shelgon at level 50, the last stage of the Bagon line.

In the games

Salamence arrived in Ruby and Sapphire as the winged end of the Bagon line. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, a Salamence belongs to Munna's gang, which works for Kyurem.

In the anime

Salamence debuted in the film 'Jirachi: Wish Maker' as Butler's Pokémon, and it joins Ash's side along with Butler after Butler creates Meta Groudon. At the Lumiose Conference in 'A Riveting Rivalry!', Sawyer's Salamence tied its battle with Ash's Noivern.

Fun facts

• In Scarlet and Violet, Salamence knows Fly from the moment it evolves from Shelgon.
• Bulbapedia notes that the Paradox Pokémon Roaring Moon resembles Mega Salamence, though any connection between them is unclear.
• Salamence shares its Dragon Pokémon category with the Dratini and Horsea lines and Kalosian Goodra, according to Bulbapedia.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Salamence (Pokémon) · Serebii: Salamence (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 95
• Attack: 135
• Defense: 80
• Sp. Atk: 110
• Sp. Def: 80
• Speed: 100

Salamence’s base stat total is 600. Its highest stat is Attack.

Type matchups

What is Salamence weak to?

Salamence takes extra damage from Ice (4×), Rock (2×), Dragon (2×), Fairy (2×) moves.

It resists Grass (¼×), Fire (½×), Water (½×), Fighting (½×), Bug (½×).

It is immune to Ground moves.

Evolution

What does Salamence evolve from?

Salamence evolves from Shelgon at level 50.

Salamence is the final stage of its evolution family.

The whole family: Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence.

• Bagon evolves into Shelgon at level 30.

Forms

• Mega Salamence (Mega): Dragon/Flying-type, base stat total 700 (HP 95, Attack 145, Defense 130, Sp. Atk 120, Sp. Def 90, Speed 120). Ability: Aerilate.

Abilities

• Intimidate: Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.
• Moxie (hidden ability): Raises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon.

Moves

Moves Salamence learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

“Evo” means Salamence learns the move the moment it evolves: Fly.

TM moves (54)

Salamence can learn 54 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Mud-Slap, Scary Face, Protect, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Fire Spin, Facade, Aerial Ace, Bulldoze, Swift, Rock Tomb, Dragon Tail, Endure, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Brick Break, Zen Headbutt, Shadow Claw, Psychic Fangs, Air Slash, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Dragon Claw, Rest, Rock Slide, Fly, Iron Head, Dragon Dance, Substitute, Iron Defense, Crunch, Tailwind, Dragon Pulse, Hyper Voice, Heat Wave, Flamethrower, Helping Hand, Fire Blast, Hydro Pump, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Giga Impact, Outrage, Hurricane, Hyper Beam, Draco Meteor, Tera Blast, Roar, Dual Wingbeat, Double-Edge, Temper Flare, Breaking Swipe, Dragon Cheer.

Egg moves (4), which Bagon can hatch knowing:Defense Curl, Dragon Rush, Thrash, Twister.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Dragon.
• Egg cycles: 40 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 5,120).
• Catch rate: 45 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 35.
• Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 3 Attack effort values.
• Base experience yield: 270.

Pokédex entries

While basking in the joy of flight generally keeps this Pokémon in high spirits, Salamence turns into an uncontrollable menace if something angers it. (Shield)

Salamence is an unusual Pokémon in that it was able to evolve a body with wings just by constantly wishing to be able to fly. (Sword)

Thanks to its fervent wishes, the cells in its body finally mutated, and at last it has its heart's desire—wings. (Ultra Moon)

Overjoyed at finally being able to fly, it flies all over the place and usually doesn't land until it's completely exhausted and needs to sleep. (Ultra Sun)

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

When angered, it loses all sense of itself and destroys everything around it. The destruction will continue until Salamence has tired itself out. (Sun)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Taller than 72% of all Pokémon (1.5 m).
• Heavier than 83% of all Pokémon (102.6 kg).
• Base stat total 600, ranked #25 of 1,025.
• Its best stat is Attack, ranked #23 of 1,025.
• One of 6 Pokémon that are both Dragon and Flying.
• One of 170 blue Pokémon.
• Number 122 of 135 Pokémon introduced in Generation 3 (Hoenn).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 65 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Has 1 alternate form.
• Appears in 12 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Salamence (Pokémon), Serebii: Salamence (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (SAL-uh-mens): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Dragon-type Pokémon · Flying-type Pokémon · Dragon/Flying weaknesses and matchups · Salamence vs Dragonite · Salamence vs Tyranitar · Salamence vs Metagross · Salamence vs Garchomp · Salamence vs Dragapult · Salamence vs Baxcalibur · Hoenn region guide · Intimidate ability · Moxie ability · Compare Salamence · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 3 Dragon-type Pokémon · Gen 3 Flying-type Pokémon · Gen 3 Pokémon list · Blue Pokémon list · Dragon egg group · Pokémon that start with S · Dragon-like Pokémon

← Shelgon | Beldum →