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Salamence (Japanese: ボーマンダ Bohmander) is a dual-type Dragon/Flying pseudo-legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation III.

It evolves from Shelgon starting at level 50. It is the final form of Bagon.

Salamence can Mega Evolve into Mega Salamence using the Salamencite.

Biology

Salamence is a quadruped, draconic Pokémon with a long, tapering tail. It is primarily blue with a gray lower jaw and thickly scaled underside. There are red markings on its throat, the underside of its tail, and stripes on the inner surface of its legs. Additionally, there are raised red ridges above its eyes. Three flat fins protrude from either side of its head, possibly acting in the same manner that a Canard would on an aircraft. It has two pairs of pointed teeth, one in the upper jaw and one in the lower. Each of its short legs has three claws. This Pokémon's powerful desire to fly triggered a mutation that allowed it to grow large, red wings. As an expression of joy, it flies around and releases blasts of fire. If enraged, it loses all sense of self and flies into an uncontrollable rampage, destroying everything around it until it tires itself out. This Pokémon is found living in rough terrain.

As Mega Salamence, its wings meld together into a single huge, crescent-shaped wing. According to the anime, the hard, yet very flexible properties of its wings allow them to be used as blades in mid-air battles. Its face, neck, body and tail are narrower, and its tail is noticeably shorter in length. The ridges above its eyes are now far less prominent, and it no longer possesses the thick, gray scaling over its lower jaw. Instead, the smooth red flesh underneath has been left exposed, increasing its streamline appearance. The upper pair of fins resting on the sides of its head are now elongated and tapered. The lower pair has not changed much. However, the middle set now take the form of quarter-arches, spanning towards the bridge of the nose. The remnants of its shelled underbelly have been drastically transformed into a segmented, more aerodynamic, vest-like armored frame. This frame encases its chest and shoulders with the pieces interlocking whenever Mega Salamence tucks in its front forelegs.

The stress of Salamence's vaunted wings becoming misshapen in its Mega Evolution aggravates it to the point of rampaging. This fuels its already brutal nature and makes it likely to turn against the Trainer who raised it. Because of this, Mega Salamence is feared as "the blood-soaked crescent". Anything and anyone in Salamence's path gets sliced in two by its bladelike wings, posing no interruption to its flight.

In the anime

In the main series

Sugimori reference sheet for the anime

Major appearances

A Salamence belonging to J first appeared in Mutiny in the Bounty. It made further appearances in Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl.

Other

Salamence debuted in Jirachi: Wish Maker, under the ownership of Butler. He used it to battle a wild Flygon that was helping Ash and Max in their effort to free Jirachi from his control. However, it and its Trainer joined Ash and Max's side after Butler wound up creating a fake Groudon that threatened the safety of Forina, Jirachi's home. It reappeared in a flashback during the opening sequence of Destiny Deoxys.

Salamence made its physical TV debut in The Search for the Legend, under the ownership of Silver. He used it to battle Moltres, but the battle was interrupted when a nearby volcano erupted.

Salamence made its physical main series debut in Vanity Affair, under the ownership of Drake of the Elite Four. It was used against Team Rocket after they tried to steal Ash's Pikachu.

In The Clumsy Crier Quiets the Chaos!, Team Rocket's attempts to capture a Salamence resulted in it going on a rampage before it was calmed down by Nurse Joy's Wigglytuff.

In A Riveting Rivalry!, Sawyer's Shelgon was revealed to have evolved into a Salamence sometime before the episode. It was used in Sawyer's battle against Ash, where it went up against Noivern; the match eventually ended in a tie.

In Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel, a Salamence that can Mega Evolve was under the control of Levi and Cherie's Mega Wave. Salamence was used to battle Ash's Noivern and Greninja. It was later freed from their control when Alva's Mega Wave Crystal was destroyed, and it escaped.

Minor appearances

Salamence made its main series debut in a fantasy in Let Bagons be Bagons, where Michelle's Bagon had a fantasy about evolving so it could fly.

In Battling the Enemy Within, Team Rocket found a Salamence living in underground ruins while searching for Ho-Oh.

In May, We Harley Drew'd Ya!, a Coordinator's Salamence competed in the Kanto Grand Festival.

In Pinch Healing!, Team Rocket imagined evolving Matt's Bagon into a Salamence.

A Salamence appeared in the opening sequence of Giratina and the Sky Warrior.

A Salamence appeared in the opening sequence of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.

A Salamence that can Mega Evolve into Mega Salamence appeared in the ending segment of Mega Evolution Special II.

In Battle Royal 151!, a Trainer's Salamence competed in the Battle Royal preliminary round of the Manalo Conference but was defeated by Snowy and Kiawe's Turtonator.

A Salamence appeared in A Talent for Imitation! as an image in the Pokédex or a fantasy.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry HS18 Salamence Ritchie's Pokédex Salamence, a Dragon Pokémon. Fully evolved form of Bagon. Equipped with sharp teeth and massive claws, weighs over 200 pounds, and has the fastest flying speed of all the Flying-type Pokémon.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry AG101 Salamence May's Pokédex Salamence, the Dragon Pokémon. Salamence is the final evolution of Bagon. It is able to exhale powerful blasts of fire while flying.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry DP020 Salamence Dawn's Pokédex Salamence, the Dragon Pokémon. As a result of a powerful desire to fly, Salamence were able to trigger the cells in their body and cause them to grow wings.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry XY128 Salamence Serena's Pokédex Salamence, the Dragon Pokémon. Constant dreams of flight caused a shift in its cellular structure. When it evolved, Salamence finally grew wings.

In the Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer

Mega Salamence in the animated trailer

In the Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer, a Mega Salamence battled a Mega Pidgeot.

In Pokémon Generations

A soldier's Salamence appeared in The Redemption, during a fantasy of a story from the past. It was one of the many Pokémon fighting in the great war of Kalos 3,000 years previously.



In the manga

In the Ash & Pikachu manga

Drake owns a Salamence, which appeared in Battle Till The End! Drake, One Of The Elite Four!.

In the Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King!! manga

A Salamence appeared in PBK2, where it fought Yū Shirogane's Infernape and a Glaceon.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

When Ruby was a child, he battled a Salamence that attacked him and Sapphire while the two were playing outside. After being defeated by Ruby and having scarred his forehead with its Dragon Claw in the process, the Salamence went on a rampage and destroyed a lab, freeing Rayquaza, which was in captivity at that time, in the process. This resulted in Norman being banned from the Gym Leader test for five years. This encounter changed both Ruby and Sapphire and their views on Pokémon, as well as themselves. In Ruby's case, he felt he was too strong, and in order to keep himself back, he focused on Pokémon Contests. Sapphire, on the other hand, felt weak after the encounter and decided she had to become stronger, and spent much of her time in the wild honing her battle skills. It appeared in a flashback in The Beginning of the End with Kyogre & Groudon XIV. In the Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire chapter, where Zinnia is revealed to be its owner, it has obtained a Salamencite, allowing it to Mega Evolve into Mega Salamence.

In Swanky Showdown with Swalot, Tucker is shown to be in possession of another Salamence, with which he defeats Sapphire. While Sapphire acknowledges the man's overwhelming skill, she also adds that such a Pokémon is a hard one to fight against with her phobic old experience many years back.

A Salamence appeared in a flashback in Flabébé Blooms.

In Omega Alpha Adventure 4, a Salamence appeared as a silhouette during Steven's explanation about the Draconid people.

Anabel owns a Salamence, which first appeared in Battle in Vast Poni Canyon.

In the Pokémon Battle Frontier manga

Tucker used a Salamence in a Tag Battle against Enta in Introducing the Frontier Brains!.

In the Pokémon - The Legend of the Dragon King manga

A Salamence appeared LDK1.

Goro also owns a Salamence which debuted in LDK3.

In the TCG

In the TFG

One Salamence figure has been released.

Other appearances

Salamence appears as a Spirit.

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity: Salamence is a member of Munna's gang working for Kyurem to stop any (transformed) humans called upon by Hydreigon from destroying the Bittercold. He aided his companions in pursuing the player and their partner, but was outmaneuvered by Hydreigon. Salamence, along with two Chandelure, later attempted to stop the player and their allies from reaching the Glacier Palace, but they were defeated.

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

In events

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Mega Salamence

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

Generation VIII Other generations: III - IV - V - VI - VII This Pokémon is unavailable within Generation VIII.

Click on the generation numbers above to see Salamence's learnsets from other generations.





Side game data

Evolution

Forms

Mega Evolution

Default Salamence Salamence

Dragon Flying

Salamencite





↔ Held Salamencite Mega Salamence Salamence

Dragon Flying

Sprites

Trivia

Salamence shares its category with Horsea, the Dratini evolutionary line, and Goodra. They are all known as the Dragon Pokémon.

Salamence is tied with Metagross for the highest base Attack stat of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

Origin

Salamence seems to be based on the archetypal fire-breathing European dragon. It may also be based on a salamander, most likely the Hida salamander or Anderson's salamander; this is backed up by Salamence featuring three prominent finlets on either side of its head, which can be interpreted as external gills. These external gills are typical for many species of amphibians.

Mega Salamence's wing and head shape resemble that of a fighter jet. Alternatively, it might take inspiration from the mythical salamanders, as evidenced by its ability to learn numerous Fire-type moves by leveling up, and its Pokédex entry describing its propensity for breathing fire.

Name origin

Salamence may be a combination of salamander and menace, vengeance, vehemence, or violence (in regard to its brutal nature).

Bohmander is a combination of 暴行 bōkō (assault, outrage, or violent act) and salamander.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese ボーマンダ Bohmander From 暴行 bōkō (assault, outrage, or violent act) and salamander French Drattak From dragon and attak Spanish Salamence Same as English name German Brutalanda From brutal and Salamander Italian Salamence Same as English name Korean 보만다 Bomanda Same as Japanese name Cantonese Chinese Mandarin Chinese 暴蠑螈 Bào Róng Yuán Literally "Violent salamander". More languages Thai โบมันเดอร์ Bohmander Transcription of trademarked Japanese name





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