Pokemon GO Salamence: Ultimate Guide for 2024

Salamence is a popular Dragon/Flying-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. With a maximum CP of 3,749, Salamence is a solid choice for Ultra League battles and various raid encounters.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Salamence in Pokemon GO, including its stats, best moveset, counters, and tips for using it effectively in both PvE raids and PvP battles.

📊 Salamence Base Stats & Overview

Salamence (#373) is a Dragon/Flying-type Pokemon from Generation 3.

Base Stats
Attack	277
Defense	168
Stamina	216
Total Stats	661
Max CP	3,749
Buddy Distance	3 km

With 277 Attack, 168 Defense, and 216 Stamina, Salamence has a total stat product of 661. Its exceptionally high Attack stat makes it a premier choice for dealing massive damage in raids and gym battles.

⚔️ Best Moveset for Salamence

Choosing the right moveset is crucial for maximizing Salamence’s potential in Pokemon GO. The optimal moveset varies depending on whether you’re using Salamence for raids, gym battles, or PvP.

Best Raid & Gym Moveset

For PvE content like raids and gym battles, you want moves that maximize DPS (Damage Per Second). The best Dragon/Flying-type moves will benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), increasing damage by 20%.

Best PvP Moveset

In PvP battles, energy generation and coverage moves become more important. You’ll want a fast move that charges energy quickly and charged moves that provide good type coverage.

🎯 Salamence Type Effectiveness

Understanding type effectiveness is crucial for both using Salamence effectively and knowing how to counter it. As a Dragon/Flying-type Pokemon, Salamence has specific strengths and weaknesses.

⚠️ Weaknesses (Takes Super Effective Damage From)

Salamence is weak to: Ice, Dragon, Fairy, Electric, Rock-type moves. When battling against Salamence, use Pokemon with these types to deal 1.6x (or 2.56x for double weaknesses) damage.

• Ice – Deals increased damage
• Dragon – Deals increased damage
• Fairy – Deals increased damage
• Electric – Deals increased damage
• Rock – Deals increased damage

🛡️ Resistances (Takes Reduced Damage From)

Salamence resists: Fire, Water, Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, Ground-type moves. This means Salamence takes reduced damage (0.625x or less) from these attack types.

• Fire – Reduced damage
• Water – Reduced damage
• Electric – Reduced damage
• Grass – Reduced damage
• Fighting – Reduced damage
• Bug – Reduced damage
• Ground – Reduced damage

🏆 Salamence PvP Analysis

Salamence can be used in Pokemon GO’s GO Battle League PvP battles. Here’s how it performs in each league:

Great League (1500 CP Limit)

With a max CP of 3,749, Salamence would need to be under-leveled for Great League. Check if the stats at 1500 CP are competitive before investing resources.

Ultra League (2500 CP Limit)

Salamence can be used in Ultra League but won’t reach its full stat potential due to the 2500 CP cap.

Master League (No CP Limit)

Salamence can hold its own in Master League with proper support, though it may struggle against the top-tier threats like Dialga, Giratina, and Mewtwo.

⚔️ Salamence Raid Guide

Salamence is primarily used as a raid attacker rather than a raid boss. Here’s how to use it effectively in raids:

Using Salamence in Raids

When using Salamence as a raid attacker:

• Best against raid bosses weak to Dragon-type moves
• Power up to at least level 30-35 for decent performance
• Ensure you have the optimal moveset for maximum DPS

🎯 Best Counters for Salamence

Whether you’re battling Salamence in raids, gyms, or PvP, knowing the best counters is essential for victory. Here are the top Pokemon to use against Salamence:

Top Counter Pokemon

The best counters exploit Salamence’s weaknesses to Ice, Dragon, Fairy, Electric, Rock-type moves:

Pokemon	Type	Why It Works
Mamoswine	Ice/Ground	Best Ice attacker with Powder Snow + Avalanche
Glaceon	Ice	Accessible Ice attacker with high damage
Weavile	Dark/Ice	Fast Ice damage dealer
Rayquaza	Dragon/Flying	Dragon Tail + Outrage
Salamence	Dragon/Flying	Dragon Tail + Draco Meteor
Dragonite	Dragon/Flying	Accessible Dragon attacker

Counter Strategy Tips

1. Prioritize Type Advantage: Use Pokemon with moves that are super effective against Salamence
2. Consider Bulk: Tankier counters can survive longer and deal more total damage
3. Watch for Coverage Moves: Salamence may have moves that counter its own counters
4. Weather Boost: Take advantage of weather conditions that boost your counter’s attacks

📍 How to Get Salamence in Pokemon GO

There are several ways to obtain Salamence in Pokemon GO:

• Wild Encounters: Salamence can spawn in the wild, especially in areas matching its type
• Eggs: May hatch from 3km eggs
• Evolution: Evolve from its pre-evolution using Candy
• Raids: Occasionally appears in raid battles
• Research Tasks: Complete field research for a chance to encounter
• Trading: Trade with friends

Shiny Salamence

Yes, Shiny Salamence is available in Pokemon GO! The shiny variant has a different coloration and is highly sought after by collectors. The shiny rate for wild encounters is approximately 1 in 500, though this can be boosted during special events like Community Days or Spotlight Hours.

Salamence Evolution

Check the Pokédex for complete evolution information including candy costs and special evolution requirements.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

💡 Pro Tips for Using Salamence

Here are some advanced strategies and tips to maximize Salamence’s potential in Pokemon GO:

1. IV Optimization

For raids and gym battles, prioritize Salamence with high Attack IVs (15 Attack is ideal). The Attack stat contributes most to damage output in PvE content.

For PvP battles, the ideal IVs depend on the league:

• Great League: Look for low Attack, high Defense and HP (0/15/15 is often ideal)
• Ultra League: Similar to Great League, optimize for stat product under 2500 CP
• Master League: Perfect 15/15/15 IVs are best since there’s no CP cap

2. Power Up Priority

Before investing Stardust and Candy into Salamence, consider:

• Do you have enough resources? (Powering to level 50 costs 296,000 Stardust and 296 Candy)
• Will this Pokemon fill a gap in your battle team?
• Are there better alternatives for the same role?
• Do you have the optimal moveset or need Elite TMs?

3. Team Composition

Salamence works best when paired with Pokemon that cover its weaknesses. As a Dragon/Flying type weak to Ice, Dragon, consider adding team members that resist these types.

4. Weather Considerations

Take advantage of weather boosts:

• When catching: Weather-boosted Salamence spawns at higher levels (up to 35)
• When battling: Weather that boosts Dragon moves increases your damage output
• When raiding: Spawn weather-boosted counters by raiding in appropriate weather

📚 Salamence in the Pokemon Franchise

Salamence first appeared in Generation 3 of the main Pokemon series. For more detailed lore and information about Salamence’s origins, check out Bulbapedia.

In Pokemon GO, Salamence was introduced as part of the Generation 3 Pokemon rollout. It became available to catch after Niantic released the Generation 3 Pokemon update.

📊 How Salamence Compares

Let’s see how Salamence stacks up against other Dragon-type Pokemon:

Stat	Salamence	Type Average	Rating
Attack	277	~180	⭐⭐⭐
Defense	168	~160	⭐⭐
Stamina	216	~170	⭐⭐⭐
Max CP	3,749	~2,500	⭐⭐⭐

🎯 Conclusion

Salamence is a powerful Dragon/Flying-type Pokemon that can be a valuable addition to your Pokemon GO roster. With a max CP of 3,749 and solid base stats (277/168/216), it stands as one of the premier options for high-level content including Master League PvP and Legendary raids.

Remember to:

• Optimize IVs based on your intended use (PvP vs PvE)
• Use the recommended moveset for maximum effectiveness
• Build a team that covers Salamence’s weaknesses
• Take advantage of weather boosts when possible

For more Pokemon guides and the complete Pokedex, visit our Pokemon GO Database. Check out our PvP Rankings for the current meta and Raid Guides for battle strategies.

Last updated: January 2026. Information based on the latest Pokemon GO game data.

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