Bagon is a Dragon-type Pokémon that evolves into the formidable Salamence, and you can catch one in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. However, if you're playing Pokémon Scarlet, you won't find Bagon or its evolutions in the wild because they are exclusive to Pokémon Violet. To complete your Paldea Pokédex, you'll need to obtain Bagon, Shelgon, and Salamence.
Updated on January 13, 2025 by Renri Seong: Bagon, a Dragon-type Pokémon, evolves into the powerful Salamence, and you can add it to your team in Pokémon Violet. There are various methods to catch Bagon and its evolved form, Shelgon. For Pokémon Scarlet players looking to complete their Pokédex, transferring a Bagon from Violet is necessary. Like Dragonite, Salamence is a Dragon/Flying-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon with a base stat total of 600. This guide has been updated to provide detailed insights into 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 several locations, with East Province (Area Three) being a prime spot due to its size and numerous caves. If you're still in the starting area, you can catch a fixed spawn Bagon on a mountain in South Province (Area Five). This mountain is southwest of the bridge connecting the grassy and rocky regions.
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 near a Pokémon Center, accessible by riding Koraidon or Miraidon or entering through one of the cavern entrances. This cave hosts several rare Pokémon, including Bagon and Frigibax.
For those interested in Tera Raids, Bagon can be caught from 3-star Tera Raids, which become available after earning three gym badges. Note that Bagon's Tera Type may differ from its regular type in raids, and it might have its Hidden Ability, which could be a valuable asset.
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 transfer Bagon using Pokémon HOME. To trade, you can either create or join a Group via the Union Circle, but you'll need a Nintendo Switch Online Membership for online features. Alternatively, transferring Bagon from another game via Pokémon HOME might be more convenient.
To transfer Bagon using Pokémon HOME:
- Open Pokémon HOME, then select the game from which you're transferring Bagon.
- Move Bagon to your Basic Box on the left side of the screen, then save and exit.
- Open your Pokémon Scarlet file and transfer Bagon from the Basic Box to one of your Scarlet PC Boxes.
- Save and exit.
Upon reopening Pokémon Scarlet, Bagon should be in the designated PC Box, and you'll have its Pokédex entry completed.
How to Evolve Bagon into Shelgon and Salamence
What Level Does Bagon Evolve
To evolve Bagon into Shelgon, you need to reach level 30. From Shelgon, evolving into Salamence requires reaching level 50. The quickest way to level up is through auto-battles with Pokémon of similar levels. If you're not focused on EV training, battling high-experience Pokémon like Chansey, found in East Province (Area Two), North Province (Areas One-Three), Casseroya Lake, and West Province (Areas Two-Three), can be beneficial.
Alternatively, you can use Exp. Candy. A single piece of Exp. Candy L or Exp. Candy XL can boost levels significantly, while Exp. Candy M might require multiple uses, especially for evolving Shelgon into Salamence.
Shelgon and Salamence can also be obtained from 4-star and 5/6-star Tera Raids, respectively.
Is Salamence Good?
Salamence Strengths & Weaknesses
Salamence, along with Metagross, is a pseudo-legendary Pokémon from Generation 3, characterized by a base stat total of 600. This makes 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 is super effective against Dragon-type Pokémon. However, its dual-typing results in a significant weakness to Ice-type moves, which are four times as effective. It is also weak to Fairy, Dragon, and Rock types, but it resists Grass, Water, Fire, Fighting, and Bug types, and is immune to Ground moves.
| 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 leans towards physical attacks, aligning with its higher Attack stat. Moves like Dragon Claw are preferable over Dragon Breath. To counter its Fairy and Rock weaknesses, you can teach it Iron Head via TM099.
While Salamence's Special Attack is respectable, using it as a special attacker can be viable. In this case, opt for a Timid (+Spd, -Attk) Nature. A special-attacking Salamence would benefit from moves like Draco Meteor and Flamethrower.
