Catching Salamence in Pokémon Sun and Moon offers a thrilling challenge for any trainer aiming to complete their team with a powerful Dragon/Flying-type. Known for its immense offensive prowess and imposing presence, Salamence is a sought-after Pokémon that requires a strategic approach to acquire. Whether you’re looking to add this formidable beast to your in-game team or to breed for competitive perfection, understanding its habitat, encounter methods, and the best tactics is crucial. This guide will walk you through the most effective ways to catch Salamence in Pokémon Sun and Moon.
The Elusive Dragon: Where to Find Salamence
Unlike many Pokémon that appear randomly in tall grass or caves, Salamence in Pokémon Sun and Moon doesn’t have a direct wild encounter in the traditional sense. It’s not a Pokémon you’ll stumble upon while exploring the Alola region. Instead, acquiring a Salamence primarily involves evolving its pre-evolved form, Shelgon. Therefore, the real quest to catch Salamence begins with finding and catching its earlier stages: Bagon and Shelgon.
Searching for Bagon: The First Step to Salamence
Bagon, the Rock Head Pokémon, is the base form of the Salamence evolutionary line. Fortunately, finding Bagon is considerably more straightforward than finding its final evolution. Bagon can be found on Route 12 and within the Poni Meadow area.
Route 12: This route is accessible later in the game and offers a decent chance of encountering Bagon. Be prepared for a bit of a search, as it’s not always guaranteed.
Poni Meadow: This lush area on Poni Island is another reliable location for Bagon. You’ll likely encounter other Pokémon here as well, so take your time and be patient.
When hunting for Bagon, it’s advisable to bring Pokémon with abilities that increase encounter rates, such as the Compound Eyes ability on Pokémon like Butterfree or Noivern (if you have access to one). Alternatively, using items like the Sweet Scent move can draw out wild Pokémon, making your search more efficient.
Evolving Your Way to Salamence
Once you’ve successfully caught a Bagon, the journey to Salamence involves leveling it up. Bagon evolves into Shelgon at Level 30. Shelgon, the Dragon Pokémon, is a pure Dragon-type with a stout defense. It boasts a shell-like body, signifying its transition and preparation for its final, powerful form.
Shelgon then evolves into the magnificent Salamence at Level 50. This is a significant level requirement, meaning you’ll need to invest considerable time in training your Bagon and Shelgon. Efficiently battling trainers, using Exp. Share wisely, and perhaps even participating in Super Training scenarios (if available in the Sun/Moon mechanics) will be key to reaching this level threshold.
The Alternative: Trading and Special Encounters
While evolving is the primary method, there are a couple of other niche ways you might acquire a Salamence or its pre-evolutions.
Trading: If you have friends or access to online trading communities, you might be able to trade for a Bagon, Shelgon, or even a Salamence directly. This bypasses the in-game catching and evolution process entirely.
Ultra Wormholes (Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon): In the enhanced versions, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the Ultra Wormhole mechanics offer a chance to encounter a wider variety of Pokémon, including some that might be difficult to find in the main game. While not guaranteed, it’s worth exploring different wormholes for potential rare spawns. However, for the base Sun and Moon games, this option is not available.
Strategies for Catching Bagon and Shelgon
When you finally encounter a Bagon or Shelgon in the wild, your goal is to weaken it without knocking it out and then capture it. Here are some effective strategies:
1. Bring the Right Pokémon:
Status Infliction: Pokémon that can inflict status conditions like Sleep or Paralysis are invaluable. This makes them easier to catch and prevents them from struggling too much. Moves like Hypnosis, Spore, Thunder Wave, or Stun Spore are excellent choices.
Attack Reduction: Moves that lower the wild Pokémon’s Attack stat (e.g., Leer, Growl) or Defense stat (e.g., Screech) can be helpful, though less critical than status conditions.
False Swipe: This signature move by many Pokémon guarantees the target will be left with at least 1 HP, preventing accidental knockouts.
2. Battle Smart:
Weak Attacks: Use low-damage attacks or Pokémon at a lower level to carefully whittle down the opponent’s HP. Be mindful of their typing; Bagon and Shelgon are Dragon-type, making them weak to Ice, Dragon, and Fairy moves. However, be cautious with Dragon-type moves, as you don’t want to accidentally defeat them.
Switching Pokémon: If your primary attacker is getting low on HP or risks knocking out the target, switch to a supporting Pokémon that can inflict status or has False Swipe.
3. Capture Methods:
Poké Balls: Have a good stock of various Poké Balls. Ultra Balls are generally the most effective for higher-level Pokémon, but Great Balls and even standard Poké Balls can work if the Pokémon is sufficiently weakened and under a status condition.
* Timing: Once the Pokémon is at low HP and ideally afflicted with a status, start throwing Poké Balls. Continue until you get a successful capture.
The Reward: A Powerful Salamence
Evolving your Bagon all the way to Salamence is a rewarding endeavor. Salamence boasts an impressive base stat total, with its highest stats being Attack and Speed. Its signature ability, Intimidate, lowers the opponent’s Attack stat upon entry, giving it an immediate advantage. Alternatively, its hidden ability, Moxie, boosts its Attack stat each time it knocks out an opponent, making it a potent sweeper. With access to a wide range of powerful Dragon, Flying, and even coverage moves, Salamence becomes a cornerstone of any team capable of taking on the toughest challenges Alola has to offer.
In conclusion, while you can’t directly catch Salamence in Pokémon Sun and Moon in the wild, the journey to obtain it through evolution is a fulfilling part of the game. By focusing your efforts on catching Bagon, training it diligently through its evolutions, and employing smart battle and capture strategies, you’ll soon have this magnificent Dragon-type Pokémon soaring through your party.