Bagon is a Dragon-type Pokémon that evolves into the formidable Salamence, making it a valuable addition to any team in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. However, players of Pokémon Scarlet will find that Bagon and its evolutions are exclusive to Pokémon Violet. To complete your Paldea Pokédex, you'll need to catch Bagon, Shelgon, and Salamence.
Updated on January 13, 2025, by Renri Seong: Dragon-type Bagon evolves into the powerful Salamence, which you can add to your team in Pokémon Violet. There are several methods to catch Bagon and even its evolved form, Shelgon. If you're playing Pokémon Scarlet and aiming to complete the Pokédex, you'll need to transfer a Bagon from Pokémon Violet. As a Dragon/Flying-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Salamence boasts a base stat total of 600. This guide has been updated to provide detailed information on Salamence's stats, type effectiveness, and recommended moves.
Where to Find Bagon
Bagon Location in Pokémon Violet
In Pokémon Violet, Bagon can be found in multiple locations, with East Province (Area Three) being a prime spot due to its expansive caves. If you're starting out, you can catch a fixed spawn Bagon on a mountain in South Province (Area Five). Look for the mountain southwest of the bridge that connects the grassy and rocky regions of South Province (Area Five).
Another recommended location is Dalizapa Passage, north of The Great Crater of Paldea and south of Glaseado Mountain. Here, you'll find a deep hole with a Pokémon Center. You can ride Koraidon or Miraidon to jump down the hole or enter through one of the cavern entrances. This location offers a chance to encounter rare Pokémon like Bagon and Frigibax.
If you enjoy participating in raids, you can catch Bagon from 3-star Tera Raids, which become available after obtaining three gym badges. Note that Bagon's Tera Type may differ from its regular type in raids, and these raids can also provide Pokémon with Hidden Abilities.
How to Get Bagon in Pokémon Scarlet
How to Trade and Transfer Pokémon
Since Bagon and its evolutions are not available in Pokémon Scarlet, you'll need to trade with a Pokémon Violet player or use Pokémon HOME to transfer Bagon. To trade, you can create or join a Group via the Union Circle, but you'll need a Nintendo Switch Online Membership for online features. Transferring from other games like Pokémon Sword/Shield (Expansion Pass), Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, or Pokémon HOME is often more convenient.
To transfer using Pokémon HOME:
- Open HOME and select the game you're transferring Bagon from.
- Move Bagon to the Basic Box on the left side of the screen, then save and exit.
- Open your Pokémon Scarlet file and move Bagon from the Basic Box to one of your Scarlet PC Boxes.
- Save and exit.
Once you restart Pokémon Scarlet, Bagon will be in the selected PC Box, and its Dex Entry will be completed.
How to Evolve Bagon into Shelgon and Salamence
What Level Does Bagon Evolve
To evolve Bagon into Shelgon, you need to raise its level to 30. From there, Shelgon will evolve into Salamence at level 50. The fastest way to level up is through auto-battling Pokémon of similar levels. If you're not focused on EV training, use Bagon/Shelgon to auto-battle Pokémon like Chansey, found in East Province (Area Two), North Province (Areas One-Three), Casseroya Lake, and West Province (Areas Two-Three), as they provide more experience.
Alternatively, you can use Exp. Candy. A single Exp. Candy L or Exp. Candy XL will boost their level significantly, while Exp. Candy M may require more pieces to evolve Shelgon into Salamence. You can also encounter Shelgon and Salamence in 4-star and 5/6-star Tera Raids, respectively.
Is Salamence Good?
Salamence Strengths & Weaknesses
Salamence, alongside Metagross, is a pseudo-legendary Pokémon from Gen 3, with a base stat total of 600, making it a highly sought-after Pokémon for competitive play when properly trained.
| HP: | 95 |
|---|---|
| Attack: | 135 |
| Special Attack: | 110 |
| Defense: | 80 |
| Special Defense: | 80 |
| Speed: | 100 |
| Total: | 600 |
A recommended Nature for Salamence is Adamant (+Attk, -Sp.Attk) or Lonely (+Attk, -Def).
As a Dragon/Flying-type Pokémon, Salamence can learn both Dragon and Flying-type moves, which are super effective against a wide range of Pokémon. However, its dual-typing leaves it vulnerable to one significant weakness:
| Super-effective against: | Dragon |
|---|---|
| Weaknesses: | Ice (x4), Fairy, Dragon, Rock |
| Resistances: | Grass (x1/4), Water, Fire, Fighting, Bug |
| Immunities: | Ground |
Recommended Moves
Salamence's move set is primarily physical, aligning with its higher Attack stat. Opt for physical moves like Dragon Claw over special moves like Dragon Breath. To counter its Fairy and Rock weaknesses, you can teach it Iron Head using TM099.
Despite its higher Attack, Salamence's Special Attack is not to be overlooked. If you choose to train it as a special attacker, consider a Timid Nature (+Spd, -Attk) over Adamant or Lonely. A special attacker Salamence can effectively use moves like Draco Meteor and Flamethrower.
