How to Catch and Evolve Bagon in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Bagon, a Dragon-type Pokémon, evolves into the formidable Salamence, and you can add one to your team in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. However, players of Pokémon Scarlet will find that Bagon and its evolutions are exclusive to Pokémon Violet. If your aim is to complete the Paldea Pokédex, you'll need to obtain Bagon, Shelgon, and Salamence.

Updated on January 13, 2025 by Renri Seong: Bagon evolves into the powerful Salamence, a Dragon/Flying-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon with a base stat total of 600, similar to Dragonite. This guide has been updated to provide in-depth information on Salamence's stats, type effectiveness, and suggested moves to help you determine whether it's worth catching.

Where to Find Bagon

Bagon Location in Pokémon Violet

In Pokémon Violet, Bagon can be found in several locations. Start your search in East Province (Area Three), known for its expansive terrain and numerous caves, which are ideal for exploration.

If you're still in the starting area, you can catch a fixed spawn Bagon on a mountain in South Province (Area Five). Climb the mountain located southwest of the bridge connecting the grassy and rocky regions of South Province (Area Five).

Another recommended spot is Dalizapa Passage, north of The Great Crater of Paldea and south of Glaseado Mountain. Here, there's a deep hole in the ground with a Pokémon Center. You can ride Koraidon or Miraidon to jump down the hole or enter through one of the many cavern entrances. This cave is home to several rare Pokémon, including Bagon and Frigibax.

For those interested in Tera Raids, Bagon can be captured from 3-star Tera Raids, which unlock after earning three gym badges. Note that Bagon's Tera Type may differ from its regular type when caught in a raid, and Pokémon from 3-star Raids might have their Hidden Ability, which could be a valuable consideration.

How to Get Bagon in Pokémon Scarlet

How to Trade and Transfer Pokémon

Since you can't catch Bagon or its evolutions in Pokémon Scarlet, you'll need to trade with a Pokémon Violet player or transfer Bagon using Pokémon HOME. To trade, either create or join a Group via the Union Circle. A Nintendo Switch Online Membership is required for online features, making transferring Bagon from another game a more straightforward option.

If Pokémon HOME is on your Switch, you can transfer Bagon from games like Pokémon Sword/Shield (Expansion Pass), Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, or Pokémon HOME:

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

Upon reopening Pokémon Scarlet, Bagon should be in the selected 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, you need to level it up to 30, at which point it will evolve into Shelgon. Continue leveling Shelgon until it reaches level 50 to evolve it into Salamence. The fastest way to do this is by having Bagon or Shelgon auto-battle Pokémon around their level.

If you're not focused on EV training, have your Bagon auto-battle Pokémon like Chansey, which provides more experience. Chanseys are found in East Province (Area Two), North Province (Areas One-Three), Casseroya Lake, and West Province (Areas Two-Three).

Alternatively, you can use Exp. Candy to quickly level up. One piece of Exp. Candy L or Exp. Candy XL can increase their level multiple times, while Exp. Candy M might require more pieces to evolve Shelgon into Salamence.

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

Is Salamence Good?

Salamence Strengths & Weaknesses

Salamence, along with Metagross, is a pseudo-legendary Pokémon from Generation 3, with a base stat total of 600. This makes it highly sought after for PVP when properly trained.

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

Salamence's Dragon/Flying type makes it super effective against many Pokémon. However, its dual-typing also gives it a significant weakness:

Recommended Moves

Salamence's move set is predominantly physical, aligning with its higher Attack stat. Opt for moves like Dragon Claw over Dragon Breath. To counter its Fairy and Rock weaknesses, consider teaching it Iron Head via TM099.

Despite its higher Attack, Salamence's Special Attack isn't negligible, and you can train it as a special attacker. For this approach, choose a Timid Nature (+Spd, -Attk), which will enhance moves like Draco Meteor and Flamethrower.