How to Catch and Evolve Bagon in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Quick Links

• Where to Find Bagon

  • Bagon Location in Pokemon Violet

• How to Get Bagon in Pokemon Scarlet

  • How to Trade and Transfer Pokemon

• How to Evolve Bagon into Shelgon and Salamence

  • What Level Does Bagon Evolve

• Is Salamence Good?

  • Salamence Strengths & Weaknesses
  • Recommended Moves

Bagon, the Dragon-type Pokemon, is a key part of your journey to complete the Paldea Pokedex in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. If you're playing Pokemon Scarlet, you'll notice that Bagon and its evolutions are exclusive to Pokemon Violet. To catch them all, you'll need to find ways to obtain Bagon, evolve it into Shelgon, and finally into the powerful Salamence.

Updated on January 13, 2025 by Renri Seong: Bagon evolves into the formidable Salamence, a must-have for any Pokemon Violet player. This guide now includes detailed insights into Salamence's stats, type effectiveness, and the best moves to use.

Where to Find Bagon

Bagon Location in Pokemon Violet

In Pokemon Violet, Bagon can be found in several locations. A prime spot is East Province (Area Three), known for its expansive terrain and numerous caves. If you're still exploring the starting area, head to South Province (Area Five), where you can find a fixed spawn Bagon on a mountain southwest of the bridge connecting the grassy and rocky regions.

Another excellent location is Dalizapa Passage, situated north of The Great Crater of Paldea and south of Glaseado Mountain. Here, you'll find a deep hole with a Pokemon Center nearby. You can either ride Koraidon or Miraidon to jump down the hole or enter through one of the cave entrances. This spot is less open than East Province but offers a chance to encounter rare Pokemon like Bagon and Frigibax.

For those interested in Tera Raids, Bagon can be caught from 3-star Tera Raids, which become available after obtaining three gym badges. Keep in mind that Bagon from these raids might have a different Tera Type, and they could possess a Hidden Ability, which is worth considering.

How to Get Bagon in Pokemon Scarlet

How to Trade and Transfer Pokemon

Since Bagon and its evolutions are not available in Pokemon Scarlet, you'll need to trade with a Pokemon Violet player or use Pokemon HOME to transfer Bagon from another game. To trade, join or create a Group via the Union Circle, but remember you'll need a Nintendo Switch Online Membership for online features. Transferring Bagon via Pokemon HOME might be more straightforward:

1. Open HOME and select the game from which you're transferring Bagon.
2. Move Bagon to the Basic Box on the left side of the screen, then save and exit.
3. Open your Pokemon Scarlet file and transfer Bagon from the Basic Box to one of your Scarlet PC Boxes.
4. Save and exit.

Once you open Pokemon Scarlet again, Bagon will be in the designated 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, level it up to 30, at which point it will transform into Shelgon. Then, level Shelgon up to 50 to evolve it into Salamence. The fastest way to level up is through auto-battling Pokemon around the same level as Bagon or Shelgon. If you're not focused on EV training, target Pokemon like Chansey, found in East Province (Area Two), North Province (Areas One-Three), Casseroya Lake, and West Province (Areas Two-Three), as they provide substantial experience.

Alternatively, use Exp. Candy to expedite the process. A single Exp. Candy L or XL can boost their level significantly, while Exp. Candy M may require more pieces, especially for evolving 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, a Gen 3 pseudo-legendary Pokemon alongside Metagross, boasts a base stat total of 600, making it highly sought after for competitive play. Here's a breakdown of its stats:

• HP: 95
• Attack: 135
• Special Attack: 110
• Defense: 80
• Special Defense: 80
• Speed: 100
• Total: 600

For optimal performance, consider an Adamant (+Attack, -Special Attack) or Lonely (+Attack, -Defense) Nature for Salamence.

As a Dragon/Flying-type, Salamence has a dual-typing that allows it to use both Dragon and Flying-type moves effectively. However, this combination results in a significant weakness to Ice-type moves. Here's how Salamence fares against different types:

• 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 heavily towards physical attacks, aligning with its higher Attack stat. Opt for moves like Dragon Claw over Dragon Breath to capitalize on its physical prowess. To counter its Fairy and Rock weaknesses, consider teaching it Iron Head via TM099.

While Salamence's Special Attack is respectable, you can train it as a special attacker with a Timid (+Speed, -Attack) Nature. This setup would make better use of moves like Draco Meteor and Flamethrower.