[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price range**: 14-15
**Overview**: Salamence's access to Dragon Dance along with Moxie makes it a very potent cleaner. It also possesses high Base Power moves and good coverage, allowing it to use its strong offensive stats to break through teams. Its access to reliable recovery and the ability Intimidate give it a use as a defensive Pokemon as well, though its common weaknesses, including a 4x weakness to Ice, hold it back defensively. However, its average Speed and middling defenses mean that it is often reliant on Choice items or Dragon Dance in order to fulfill its potential offensively. These capabilities are further compounded when given the opportunity to be a Tera Captain. You should, more often than not, have this in consideration when drafting it on a team.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Cleaner**: Salamence's high Attack and Speed give it the ability to clean late-game if given the opportunity to set up a Dragon Dance, especially when compounded with its ability Moxie. Moxie can also allow Salamence to win while holding a Choice Scarf. Intimidate can also be valuable on a cleaner Salamence, as it provides more opportunities to set up a Dragon Dance with the foe at -1 Attack.
**Wallbreaker**: Salamence's strong attacking stats and high Base Power moves, when paired with offense-boosting items such as Choice Band and Choice Specs, allow for it to break through opposing teams with relative ease.
**Defensive wall**: Salamence's usable natural bulk, solid set of resistances, and access to Intimidate allow for it to act as a defensive answer to some physically offensive Pokemon that do not have strong, super effective coverage or another way to disrupt Salamence such as statusing it.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Dragon Claw, Outrage, Dragon Pulse, Draco Meteor, Dual Wingbeat, Hurricane, Air Slash
**Setup moves**: Dragon Dance, Iron Defense
**Utility moves**: Dragon Tail, Roar, Brick Break, Roost, Substitute
**Coverage**: Body Slam, Double-Edge, Crunch, Earthquake, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Temper Flare, Hydro Pump, Iron Head, Psychic Fangs, Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Shadow Claw, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Fire Spin**: Fire Spin gives Salamence the ability to trap and remove a Pokemon that could be an issue for the rest of its team.
**Tailwind**: Tailwind can act as a worse, and turn-sensitive, alternative to Dragon Dance as a Speed-boosting move, though it can also boost the speed of Salamence's teammates.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots allows Salamence to switch into battle without worrying about taking chip damage from Stealth Rock. It can maximize its ability to set up a Dragon Dance or allow it to get an extra hit off.
**Choice Band / Choice Specs**: Both of these items allow for Salamence to maximize its offensive stats, and they let it inflict as much damage as possible.
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf allows for Salamence to get the speed it needs without needing a turn in battle to set it up. It can also play very nicely with its Moxie ability, allowing for Salamence to clean late-game much easier.
**Lum Berry**: Lum Berry lets Salamence set up a Dragon Dance without worrying about being paralyzed or burned by the opposing Pokemon. It can also use it to cure confusion inflicted by its own Outrage, making it much easier to spam its strongest STAB move in a battle.
Niche Items
========
**Salac Berry**: Endure and Salac Berry, in combination with Moxie, can act as a replacement for Choice Scarf or Dragon Dance if there is a matchup where living an attack from a specific Pokemon that Salamence can KO with the Speed boost is necessary.
**Resistance Berries**: Berries that help nullify Salamence's weaknesses give it an easier time setting up a Dragon Dance to help it in the long run.
**Damage-boosting items**: Items such as Expert Belt, Life Orb, and Sharp Beak let Salamence further improve its damage output while still allowing it to set up a Dragon Dance and not be locked into just one attacking move.
Tera
========
Salamence's good stats, large coverage movepool, access to Dragon Dance, and Moxie make it a huge offensive threat when given the opportunity to Terastallize. It can use Tera to expand its coverage and allow it to set up a Dragon Dance with more ease. Its access to Intimidate also gives Salamence the ability to deal with some physically offensive threats by Terastallizing into a type that beats them. Salamence can use a STAB Tera type to maximize its damage output, it can use a Tera type to counteract its weaknesses such as Steel or Fire, or it can use a Tera type like Ground, Fire, or Fighting to beat its common answers, including Steel-types. Tera Flying also gives Salamence a more reliable Flying-type STAB move in Tera Blast as opposed to being reliant on Dual Wingbeat.
Draft Strategy
========
Salamence provides teams with a large array of offensive capabilities in one Pokemon. Having Pokemon that enable it as much as possible is ideal when building a team around it.
**Flexible offensive threats**: Pokemon that are capable of being either a wallbreaker or a cleaner in any given matchup pair very well alongside Salamence. They allow for Salamence to have more flexibility in its own sets rather than being stuck performing just one of its roles on a team. Pokemon that complement Salamence nicely include Sneasler, Darkrai, and Urshifu-S.
**Entry hazard removal**: Salamence's weakness to Stealth Rock can prevent it from performing its best due to it being unable to live attacks as well as limit its opportunities to switch in. Its lack of defog as a Flying-type can also leave a team lacking in hazard removal. Thus, having good hazard removal alongside Salamence greatly lessens the burden that these faults cause for the rest of its team. Pokemon like Great Tusk, Iron Treads, and Terapagos are excellent partners for these reasons.
**Entry hazard setters**: Salamence enjoys having the opposing team weakened for its Dragon Dance sets to be as effective as possible. Thus, having good hazard setters is great to force the opposing Pokemon to be as close as possible to be within range of Salamence's attacks. Excellent hazard setters to pair with it include Hisuian Samurott, Meowscarada, and Glimmora.
**Good Ice resistances**: Pokemon that help to cover Salamence's crippling 4x weakness to Ice are highly appreciated. Pokemon that fill this role nicely include Empoleon, Bronzong, and Heatran.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Steel-types**: As Steel-type Pokemon resist both of Salamence's STAB types, a bulky Steel-type can be difficult for Salamence to break through on its own. Salamence does have coverage to hit them super effectively, but there are still some that are an annoyance even with the coverage to hit them. Pokemon like Jirachi, Bronzong, and Hisuian Goodra fit into this category.
**Strong priority move users**: While Salamence does have solid physical bulk, especially in combination with Intimidate, it can still be revenge killed by strong priority moves. Ice Shard in particular is a massive problem for Salamence. It is often OHKOed by STAB Ice Shard without protection from a Yache Berry. While it does resist some priority moves like Mach Punch, Vacuum Wave, and Jet Punch, it can still struggle to survive attacks like Bullet Punch from Scizor and Sucker Punch from Kingambit if its HP gets too low.
**Fast Choice Scarf / Booster Energy users**: Due to Salamence's middling Speed tier, it can be easily revenge killed by Pokemon holding Speed-boosting items with strong, super effective coverage. Pokemon capable of revenge killing Salamence at +1 Speed include Iron Bundle, Meowscarada, and Latios.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kingofkrook.472513/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scribble.356084/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
**Draft order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price range**: 14-15
**Overview**: Salamence's access to Dragon Dance along with Moxie makes it a very potent cleaner. It also possesses high Base Power moves and good coverage, allowing it to use its strong offensive stats to break through teams. Its access to reliable recovery and the ability Intimidate give it a use as a defensive Pokemon as well, though its common weaknesses, including a 4x weakness to Ice, hold it back defensively. However, its average Speed and middling defenses mean that it is often reliant on Choice items or Dragon Dance in order to fulfill its potential offensively. These capabilities are further compounded when given the opportunity to be a Tera Captain. You should, more often than not, have this in consideration when drafting it on a team.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Cleaner**: Salamence's high Attack and Speed give it the ability to clean late-game if given the opportunity to set up a Dragon Dance, especially when compounded with its ability Moxie. Moxie can also allow Salamence to win while holding a Choice Scarf. Intimidate can also be valuable on a cleaner Salamence, as it provides more opportunities to set up a Dragon Dance with the foe at -1 Attack.
**Wallbreaker**: Salamence's strong attacking stats and high Base Power moves, when paired with offense-boosting items such as Choice Band and Choice Specs, allow for it to break through opposing teams with relative ease.
**Defensive wall**: Salamence's usable natural bulk, solid set of resistances, and access to Intimidate allow for it to act as a defensive answer to some physically offensive Pokemon that do not have strong, super effective coverage or another way to disrupt Salamence such as statusing it.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Dragon Claw, Outrage, Dragon Pulse, Draco Meteor, Dual Wingbeat, Hurricane, Air Slash
**Setup moves**: Dragon Dance, Iron Defense
**Utility moves**: Dragon Tail, Roar, Brick Break, Roost, Substitute
**Coverage**: Body Slam, Double-Edge, Crunch, Earthquake, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Temper Flare, Hydro Pump, Iron Head, Psychic Fangs, Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Shadow Claw, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Fire Spin**: Fire Spin gives Salamence the ability to trap and remove a Pokemon that could be an issue for the rest of its team.
**Tailwind**: Tailwind can act as a worse, and turn-sensitive, alternative to Dragon Dance as a Speed-boosting move, though it can also boost the speed of Salamence's teammates.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots allows Salamence to switch into battle without worrying about taking chip damage from Stealth Rock. It can maximize its ability to set up a Dragon Dance or allow it to get an extra hit off.
**Choice Band / Choice Specs**: Both of these items allow for Salamence to maximize its offensive stats, and they let it inflict as much damage as possible.
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf allows for Salamence to get the speed it needs without needing a turn in battle to set it up. It can also play very nicely with its Moxie ability, allowing for Salamence to clean late-game much easier.
**Lum Berry**: Lum Berry lets Salamence set up a Dragon Dance without worrying about being paralyzed or burned by the opposing Pokemon. It can also use it to cure confusion inflicted by its own Outrage, making it much easier to spam its strongest STAB move in a battle.
Niche Items
========
**Salac Berry**: Endure and Salac Berry, in combination with Moxie, can act as a replacement for Choice Scarf or Dragon Dance if there is a matchup where living an attack from a specific Pokemon that Salamence can KO with the Speed boost is necessary.
**Resistance Berries**: Berries that help nullify Salamence's weaknesses give it an easier time setting up a Dragon Dance to help it in the long run.
**Damage-boosting items**: Items such as Expert Belt, Life Orb, and Sharp Beak let Salamence further improve its damage output while still allowing it to set up a Dragon Dance and not be locked into just one attacking move.
Tera
========
Salamence's good stats, large coverage movepool, access to Dragon Dance, and Moxie make it a huge offensive threat when given the opportunity to Terastallize. It can use Tera to expand its coverage and allow it to set up a Dragon Dance with more ease. Its access to Intimidate also gives Salamence the ability to deal with some physically offensive threats by Terastallizing into a type that beats them. Salamence can use a STAB Tera type to maximize its damage output, it can use a Tera type to counteract its weaknesses such as Steel or Fire, or it can use a Tera type like Ground, Fire, or Fighting to beat its common answers, including Steel-types. Tera Flying also gives Salamence a more reliable Flying-type STAB move in Tera Blast as opposed to being reliant on Dual Wingbeat.
Draft Strategy
========
Salamence provides teams with a large array of offensive capabilities in one Pokemon. Having Pokemon that enable it as much as possible is ideal when building a team around it.
**Flexible offensive threats**: Pokemon that are capable of being either a wallbreaker or a cleaner in any given matchup pair very well alongside Salamence. They allow for Salamence to have more flexibility in its own sets rather than being stuck performing just one of its roles on a team. Pokemon that complement Salamence nicely include Sneasler, Darkrai, and Urshifu-S.
**Entry hazard removal**: Salamence's weakness to Stealth Rock can prevent it from performing its best due to it being unable to live attacks as well as limit its opportunities to switch in. Its lack of defog as a Flying-type can also leave a team lacking in hazard removal. Thus, having good hazard removal alongside Salamence greatly lessens the burden that these faults cause for the rest of its team. Pokemon like Great Tusk, Iron Treads, and Terapagos are excellent partners for these reasons.
**Entry hazard setters**: Salamence enjoys having the opposing team weakened for its Dragon Dance sets to be as effective as possible. Thus, having good hazard setters is great to force the opposing Pokemon to be as close as possible to be within range of Salamence's attacks. Excellent hazard setters to pair with it include Hisuian Samurott, Meowscarada, and Glimmora.
**Good Ice resistances**: Pokemon that help to cover Salamence's crippling 4x weakness to Ice are highly appreciated. Pokemon that fill this role nicely include Empoleon, Bronzong, and Heatran.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Steel-types**: As Steel-type Pokemon resist both of Salamence's STAB types, a bulky Steel-type can be difficult for Salamence to break through on its own. Salamence does have coverage to hit them super effectively, but there are still some that are an annoyance even with the coverage to hit them. Pokemon like Jirachi, Bronzong, and Hisuian Goodra fit into this category.
**Strong priority move users**: While Salamence does have solid physical bulk, especially in combination with Intimidate, it can still be revenge killed by strong priority moves. Ice Shard in particular is a massive problem for Salamence. It is often OHKOed by STAB Ice Shard without protection from a Yache Berry. While it does resist some priority moves like Mach Punch, Vacuum Wave, and Jet Punch, it can still struggle to survive attacks like Bullet Punch from Scizor and Sucker Punch from Kingambit if its HP gets too low.
**Fast Choice Scarf / Booster Energy users**: Due to Salamence's middling Speed tier, it can be easily revenge killed by Pokemon holding Speed-boosting items with strong, super effective coverage. Pokemon capable of revenge killing Salamence at +1 Speed include Iron Bundle, Meowscarada, and Latios.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kingofkrook.472513/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scribble.356084/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
Last edited:
