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Bagon, a Dragon-type Pokemon, evolves into the formidable Salamence, and you can encounter one in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. However, if you're playing Pokemon Scarlet, you'll find that Bagon and its evolutions are exclusive to Pokemon Violet. To complete your Paldea Pokedex, you'll need to catch Bagon, Shelgon, and Salamence.
Updated on January 13, 2025 by Renri Seong: Bagon, a Dragon-type Pokemon, evolves into the powerful Salamence, and you can add it to your team in Pokemon Violet. There are various methods to catch Bagon and its evolved form, Shelgon. However, to complete the Pokedex in Pokemon Scarlet, you'll need to transfer one from Violet. Similar to Dragonite, Salamence is a Dragon/Flying-type pseudo-legendary with a base stat total of 600. But how does Salamence stack up against the first pseudo-legendary of the Pokemon world? Is it worth capturing? This guide has been updated to provide detailed insights on Salamence's stats, type effectiveness, and recommended moves.
Where to Find Bagon
Bagon Location in Pokemon Violet
You can find Bagon in several locations within Pokemon Violet, with East Province (Area Three) being a prime spot due to its vast size and numerous caves to explore.
If you're still in the starting area, you can catch a fixed spawn Bagon on a mountain in South Province (Area Five). Head southwest of the bridge that connects the grassy and rocky regions of South Province (Area Five) and climb the mountain.
Another recommended location is Dalizapa Passage, situated north of The Great Crater of Paldea and south of Glaseado Mountain. Upon arrival, you'll find a deep hole with a Pokemon Center nearby. You can ride Koraidon or Miraidon to jump down the hole or enter through one of the many cavern entrances leading to it. Although not as open as East Province, Dalizapa Passage is a cave known for hosting rare Pokemon like Bagon and Frigibax.
For those interested in raids, Bagon can be caught from 3-star Tera Raids, which become available once you've earned three gym badges. Note that Bagon's Tera Type may differ from its regular type when caught from a raid. However, Pokemon from 3-star Raids may possess their Hidden Ability, making them a valuable catch.
How to Get Bagon in Pokemon Scarlet
How to Trade and Transfer Pokemon
Since you can't catch Bagon or its evolutions in Pokemon Scarlet, you'll need to trade with a Pokemon Violet player or transfer Bagon using Pokemon HOME. To trade, you can either create or join a Group via the Union Circle. Remember, using online features requires a Nintendo Switch Online Membership. Transferring Bagon from another game might be a more straightforward option.
If Pokemon HOME is available on your Switch, you can transfer Bagon from games like Pokemon Sword/Shield (Expansion Pass), Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, or Pokemon HOME itself.
- Open HOME and select the game from which you're transferring Bagon.
- Move Bagon to your Basic Box (left side of the screen), then save and exit.
- Open your Pokemon Scarlet file and transfer Bagon from the Basic Box to one of your Scarlet PC Boxes.
- Save and exit.
When you reopen Pokemon Scarlet, Bagon should be in the PC Box you selected, and its Dex Entry will be complete.
How to Evolve Bagon into Shelgon and Salamence
What Level Does Bagon Evolve
To evolve Bagon, you need to raise its level to 30, at which point it will evolve into Shelgon. Then, level Shelgon up to 50 to evolve it into Salamence. The fastest way to achieve this is by using auto-battle against Pokemon around its level.
If you're not focused on EV training, have Bagon auto-battle high-experience Pokemon like Chansey, found in East Province (Area Two), North Province (Areas One-Three), Casseroya Lake, and West Province (Areas Two-Three).
Alternatively, you can use Exp. Candy to expedite the process. A single piece of Exp. Candy L or Exp. Candy XL will boost their level significantly. Exp. Candy M works as well, though you might need more pieces to evolve Shelgon into Salamence.
You can also obtain Shelgon and Salamence from 4-star and 5/6-star Tera Raids, respectively.
Is Salamence Good?
Salamence Strengths & Weaknesses
Salamence, alongside Metagross, was introduced as a pseudo-legendary Pokemon in Gen 3. Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon are non-legendary with a base stat total of 600, making them highly sought after for competitive play.
95
135
110
80
80
100
600
For optimal performance, consider using an Adamant (+Attk, -Sp.Attk) or Lonely (+Attk, -Def) Nature for Salamence.
As a Dragon/Flying-type Pokemon, Salamence can utilize both Dragon and Flying-type moves, which are super effective against a wide range of opponents. However, its dual-typing does leave it vulnerable to one significant weakness.
Dragon,
Ice (x4), Fairy, Dragon, Rock,
Grass (x1/4), Water, Fire, Fighting, Bug
Ground
Recommended Moves
Salamence's move set leans heavily toward physical attacks, aligning with its higher Attack stat compared to its Special Attack. Opt for physical moves like Dragon Claw over special moves like Dragon Breath. To counter its Fairy and Rock weaknesses, you can teach Salamence Iron Head via TM099.
Although its Attack stat is higher, Salamence's Special Attack is still respectable. If you prefer to use it as a special attacker, consider a Timid (+Spd, -Attk) Nature. A specially trained Salamence will excel with moves like Draco Meteor and Flamethrower.
