"How to Catch and Evolve Bagon in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet"

Bagon, the Dragon-type Pokémon that evolves into the powerful Salamence, is a must-have for any trainer aiming to complete their Paldea Pokedex in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. If you're playing Pokémon Scarlet, you might find yourself missing out on Bagon and its evolutions, as they are exclusive to Pokémon Violet. Fear not, as this guide will walk you through how to obtain Bagon, evolve it into Salamence, and understand why this pseudo-legendary is a valuable addition to your team.

Updated on January 13, 2025 by Renri Seong: Bagon evolves into the formidable Salamence, making it a prized catch for players of Pokémon Violet. This guide has been meticulously updated to offer comprehensive insights into Salamence's stats, type effectiveness, and suggested moves, helping you decide if this Dragon/Flying-type pseudo-legendary is worth the effort.

Where to Find Bagon

Bagon Location in Pokémon Violet

In Pokémon Violet, Bagon can be found in several key locations. A prime spot to start your search is in East Province (Area Three), renowned for its expansive terrain and numerous caves ripe for exploration. If you're still navigating the early stages of the game, you can snag a fixed spawn Bagon on a mountain in South Province (Area Five). Just head southwest of the bridge connecting the grassy and rocky regions to find it.

Another hotspot is Dalizapa Passage, situated north of The Great Crater of Paldea and south of Glaseado Mountain. Here, you'll find a deep hole leading to a Pokémon Center. You can either ride Koraidon or Miraidon to jump down or explore one of the many cavern entrances. This location is less open but hosts rare Pokémon like Bagon and Frigibax.

For those interested in Tera Raids, Bagon can be captured from 3-star Tera Raids, which unlock after obtaining three gym badges. Keep in mind that Bagon from raids might have a different Tera Type, but they could also possess their Hidden Ability, making them especially valuable.

How to Get Bagon in Pokémon Scarlet

How to Trade and Transfer Pokémon

Since Bagon and its evolutions are absent in Pokémon Scarlet, your options are to trade with a Pokémon Violet player or utilize Pokémon HOME for transfers. Trading requires joining or creating a Group via the Union Circle, and you'll need a Nintendo Switch Online Membership for online interactions. Transferring via Pokémon HOME might be the more straightforward option.

To transfer Bagon using Pokémon HOME:

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

Upon reopening Pokémon Scarlet, Bagon should appear in the designated PC Box, and you'll have its Dex Entry completed.

How to Evolve Bagon into Shelgon and Salamence

What Level Does Bagon Evolve

To evolve Bagon into Shelgon, you'll need to level it up to 30. Further, to evolve Shelgon into Salamence, you must reach level 50. The fastest method involves auto-battling Pokémon around Bagon's level. If you're not focused on EV training, target Pokémon like Chansey, which provide substantial experience points, found in East Province (Area Two), North Province (Areas One to Three), Casseroya Lake, and West Province (Areas Two to Three).

Alternatively, you can use Exp. Candy to accelerate the process. Exp. Candy L or XL will boost Bagon's or Shelgon's level significantly, while Exp. Candy M can also work but may require more pieces.

You can also encounter Shelgon and Salamence in 4-star and 5/6-star Tera Raids, respectively.

Is Salamence Good?

Salamence Strengths & Weaknesses

Salamence, alongside Metagross, stands as one of the pseudo-legendary Pokémon from Generation 3. With a base stat total of 600, it's a formidable contender in PVP battles when properly trained.

A recommended Nature for Salamence is Adamant (+Attk, -Sp.Attk) or Lonely (+Attk, -Def).

As a Dragon/Flying-type, Salamence boasts a powerful move set with super-effective attacks against Dragon-type Pokémon. However, its dual-typing also comes with a significant weakness to Ice-type moves, which deal quadruple damage.

Recommended Moves

Given Salamence's higher Attack stat, it excels with physical moves like Dragon Claw over special moves like Dragon Breath. To counter its weaknesses to Fairy and Rock types, consider teaching it Iron Head via TM099.

Although its Attack is higher, Salamence's Special Attack is not to be underestimated. If you choose to train it as a special attacker, opt for a Timid Nature (+Spd, -Attk). This approach would maximize the effectiveness of moves like Draco Meteor and Flamethrower.