Salamence is a Dragon/Flying-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO, originally from the Hoenn region (#373, Generation 3). With a max CP of 4,239 and base stats of 277/168/216 (Atk/Def/Sta), Salamence has a total stat product of 661. Salamence's best moveset is Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor, making it a competitive Dragon-type attacker for raids.
Salamence is weak to Ice, Dragon, Fairy, Rock-type moves (double weak to Ice). It resists Grass, Ground, Bug, Fighting, Fire, Water-type attacks. Salamence is a 5.0 km buddy Pokemon.
Stats
Type Chart
Rankings
Dragon Tail
Draco Meteor
Dragon Tail
Hydro Pump
Fire Fang
Fly
Moves
Fast Moves
Charged Moves
Best Moveset Analysis
For raids and gym battles, Salamence's best offensive moveset is Dragon Tail combined with Draco Meteor, achieving 17.0 DPS and 385 TDO as a Dragon-type attacker (ranked #18, Tier C). Alternatively, Salamence can serve as a Water-type attacker with Dragon Tail and Hydro Pump (#20, Tier C).
Among fast moves, the highest DPS option is Dragon Tail (14 DPS), while Fire Fang generates energy the fastest (9 EPS). Note that Outrage is an Elite TM move and cannot be obtained through regular TMs.
Raid Guide
Salamence as Raid Boss
Not Currently in RaidsSalamence is not currently available as a raid boss. When Salamence returns to raids, here are the best counters to defeat it. A 100% IV Salamence from raids would have 2142 CP at level 20, or 2678 CP at level 25 with weather boost.
Best Counters to Beat Salamence
Salamence is weak to Ice, Dragon, Fairy, Rock-type moves, so counters with these move types will deal the most damage.
Salamence as Raid Counter
Salamence is an effective raid counter against the following Pokemon.
How to Get Salamence
Salamence evolves from Shelgon using 100 Candy.
A Shadow version of Salamence is available from Team GO Rocket. Shadow Salamence knows Frustration as its charged move, which can be removed with a Charged TM. Purifying costs 5,000 Stardust and 5 Candy, and the purified form learns Return. Walking Salamence as your buddy earns 1 candy every 5.0 km. It also earns 25 Mega Energy per km when you have Mega Evolved it before.
Salamence Catch CP
These are the possible CP values when encountering Salamence in different scenarios. The range shows minimum (lowest IV floor) to maximum (100% perfect IV).
A 100% IV Salamence from raids or eggs will show 2,142 CP at level 20. If you see this number, don't hesitate — it's a perfect catch!
Trainer Tips
Salamence is a Dragon/Flying-type Pokemon with a stat total of 661. With its high Attack stat (277), Salamence is best suited for offensive roles in both raids and PvP.
Be careful of Salamence's double weakness to Ice-type moves, which deal 156% increased damage. Opponents with these move types can take down Salamence very quickly.
Salamence's moves get a damage boost in Windy weather. Take advantage of weather conditions to maximize your DPS in raids and gym battles.
Unlocking a second charged move costs 75,000 Stardust and 75 Candy. With 7 charged moves available, a second move gives Salamence much better coverage in PvP battles.
Should I Invest in Salamence?
Power-Up Costs
Verdict
Low Priority
Salamence ranks #18 as a Dragon-type attacker with a Tier C rating, meaning stronger options are readily available. With a max CP of 4,239 and base stats of 277/168/216, its overall performance in raids falls behind top-tier competitors. Unless Salamence is a personal favorite or you have surplus Stardust and Candy, your resources are better spent on higher-ranked Dragon-type attackers. Keep one for your collection but skip the power-up investment for now.
Shadow vs Regular: Shadow Salamence deals 20% more damage but takes ~20% more. For raids, Shadow is generally the better investment. For PvP, evaluate matchups carefully — the bulk loss can be significant.