Competitive Information for Salamence [Sword/Shield]
Dragon / Flying
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Salamence? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
AmoongussIncineroarRotom-WashTyranitarExcadrillMetagrossRegielekiUrshifuRillaboomTapu Koko
Salamence is a decent Dragon and Flying-typed Pokemon. It's pretty standard to see Salamence show up as a Sword/Shield opponent. Salamence is weak to Dragon, Fairy, Ice, and Rock-typed attacks.
Item: Life Orb / Lum Berry
Ability: Moxie
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Earthquake / Bulldoze
- Dragon Claw / Outrage
- Dual Wingbeat / Fly
- Protect
Physical Sweeper Salamence (Popular/Trending)
Salamence is a decent Physical Sweeper. It is meant to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Salamence's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Moxie, Salamence's attack is raised by 1 stage if it attacks and koes another pokemon.
♦ Bulldoze is a physical 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent pkmn speed by 1 stage).
♦ Dragon Claw is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Dragon-type move that deals a mighty amount of damage.
♦ Outrage is a physical STAB-boosted 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. confuses your Salamence afterwards).
♦ Dual Wingbeat is a physical STAB-boosted 40-base power Flying-type move (hits 2 times in one turn).
♦ Fly is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Flying-type move (flies up on first turn, then strikes the next turn).
♦ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Salamence this turn).
Item: Life Orb / Lum Berry
Ability: Moxie
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Flamethrower / Heat Wave
- Air Slash
- Dragon Dance / Draco Meteor
- Protect
Special Sweeper Salamence (Popular/Trending)
Salamence is popular Special Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Life Orb boosts the power of Salamence's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Moxie, Salamence's attack is raised by 1 stage if it attacks and koes another pokemon.
♦ Heat Wave is a special 95-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
♦ Air Slash is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Dragon Dance is a status move (raises your Salamence's attack and speed by 1 stage).
♦ Draco Meteor is a special STAB-boosted 130-base power Dragon-type move (lowers your Salamence's special attack by 2 stages).
♦ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Salamence this turn).
Item: Yache Berry / Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 Atk / 244 Spe
Moveset:
- Outrage / Dragon Claw
- Aqua Tail / Double-Edge
- Dual Wingbeat
- Earthquake
Physical Sweeper Salamence (Intimidate)
Salamence is an outstanding Physical Sweeper. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Salamence's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Intimidate, on switch-in Salamence lowers the attack of adjacent opponents by 1 stage. Aqua Tail was added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ Dragon Claw is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Dragon-type move that deals a hefty amount of damage.
♦ Aqua Tail is a physical 90-base power Water-type move that deals a substantial amount of damage.
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
♦ Dual Wingbeat is a physical STAB-boosted 40-base power Flying-type move (hits 2 times in one turn).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
Item: Yache Berry / Throat Spray
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
Moveset:
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
- Air Cutter / Air Slash
- Flamethrower / Heat Wave
- Hyper Voice / Hyper Beam
Special Sweeper Salamence (Intimidate)
Salamence is an awesome Special Sweeper. This moveset is designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Hyper Voice) and raises Salamence's special attack stat by 2 stages. With Intimidate, on switch-in Salamence lowers the attack of adjacent opponents by 1 stage.
♦ Dragon Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a decent amount of damage.
♦ Air Cutter is a special STAB-boosted 60-base power Flying-type move (high critical hit ratio. hits adjacent foes).
♦ Air Slash is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Flamethrower is a special 90-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the target).
♦ Heat Wave is a special 95-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
♦ Hyper Voice is a special 90-base power Normal-type move (no additional effect. hits adjacent foes).
♦ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Salamence cannot move next turn).
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Moxie
Nature: Naive (+Spe, -SpD)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Dragon Claw
- Outrage
- Fire Blast / Aqua Tail
- Earthquake
Salamence Physical Sweeper (Scarf Salence)
Salamence is a decent Physical Sweeper. This moveset is designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Choice Scarf will increase Salamence's speed by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Moxie, Salamence's attack is raised by 1 stage if it attacks and koes another pokemon.
♦ Outrage is a physical STAB-boosted 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. confuses your Salamence afterwards).
♦ Fire Blast is a special 110-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the target).
♦ Aqua Tail is a physical 90-base power Water-type move that deals a mighty amount of damage.
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
Item: Salac Berry
Ability: Moxie
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Rock Slide / Roost
- Earthquake / Stone Edge
Salamence Physical Sweeper (Moxie )
Salamence is an interesting Physical Sweeper. It is meant to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. With Moxie, Salamence's attack is raised by 1 stage if it attacks and koes another pokemon.
♦ Dragon Claw is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Dragon-type move that deals a great amount of damage.
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Roost is a status move (heals 50% hp. flying-type removed until turn ends).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Stone Edge is a physical 100-base power Rock-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Salamence? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
AmoongussIncineroarRotom-WashTyranitarExcadrillMetagrossRegielekiUrshifuRillaboomTapu Koko
Item: Yache Berry / Shell Bell
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 Atk / 244 Spe
Moveset:
- Outrage / Breaking Swipe
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Double-Edge / Dual Wingbeat
Doubles Physical Sweeper Salamence (Intimidate)
Salamence is an outstanding Physical Sweeper. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. With Intimidate, on switch-in Salamence lowers the attack of adjacent opponents by 1 stage.
♦ Breaking Swipe is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Dragon-type move (100% chance to lower the foes attack by 1 stage).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
♦ Dual Wingbeat is a physical STAB-boosted 40-base power Flying-type move (hits 2 times in one turn).
Item: Yache Berry / Throat Spray
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
Moveset:
- Air Cutter / Air Slash
- Hyper Voice / Hyper Beam
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
- Heat Wave / Incinerate
Doubles Special Sweeper Salamence (Intimidate)
Salamence is an astounding Special Sweeper. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Hyper Voice) and increases Salamence's special attack stat by 2 stages. With Intimidate, on switch-in Salamence lowers the attack of adjacent opponents by 1 stage.
♦ Air Slash is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Hyper Voice is a special 90-base power Normal-type move (no additional effect. hits adjacent foes).
♦ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Salamence cannot move next turn).
♦ Draco Meteor is a special STAB-boosted 130-base power Dragon-type move (lowers your Salamence's special attack by 2 stages).
♦ Dragon Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a great amount of damage.
♦ Heat Wave is a special 95-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
♦ Incinerate is a special 60-base power Fire-type move (destroys the foes berry/gem).
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Salamence learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Salamence can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Salamence
- Moves: Defense curl + Rollout
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
Most notable and possible best moves for Salamence
- Air Slash
- Bulldoze
- Draco Meteor
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Dance
- Dual Wingbeat
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Flamethrower
- Fly
- Heat Wave
- Hydro Pump
- Outrage
- Protect
- Rock Slide
- Stone Edge
Common Effort Values for Salamence in Sword and Shield
- Jolly Nature ( 4/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Timid Nature ( 4/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Salamence's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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