Salamence
Type: Dragon / Flying
Ability
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Intimidate: Lowers the foe's Attack 1 stage. Decreases wild encounter rate.
| Statistics | Min- | Min | Max | Max+ |
| HP 95 | - | 331 | 394 | - |
| ATK 135 | 275 | 306 | 369 | 405 |
| DEF 80 | 176 | 196 | 259 | 284 |
| SpA 110 | 230 | 256 | 319 | 350 |
| SpD 80 | 176 | 196 | 259 | 284 |
| SPE 100 | 212 | 236 | 299 | 328 |
Set #1: Dragon Dance
Held Item: Life Orb
Nature: Naughty / Naive
EV's: Option(1) 232 ATK / 24 SpA / 252 SPE (If Using Fire Blast)
Option(2) 252 ATK / 6 DEF / 252 SPE (With use of Stone Edge or Dragon Claw)
Moveset
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Fire Blast / Stone Edge / Dragon Claw
-Dragon Dance
Dragon Dance, is one of Salamence's most fearsome and threatening move sets. After a single Dragon Dance, Salamence can leave the game wide open for a win, it easily does it best late game. Outrage as a STAB move adds up to a total of 180 Power which is high enough to almost 2HKO every Pokemon in the OU Metagame after using a Dragon Dance with the held item as Life Orb. Earthquake allows you to hit most Steel Types, such as; opposing Heatran, Metagross, and Jirachi. Fire Blast allows you to OHKO Scizor and Forretress, and 2HKO Skarmory, which Salamence couldn't OHKO with Earthquake. You may exchange Fire Blast, for Stone Edge exclusively for Zapdos and Gyarados, but STAB Outrage already has 180 power, which is why its optional. Dragon Claw could be used if you don't like to be locked into a Outrage. Picking Stone Edge or Dragon Claw will leave some steel types to wall you.
Set #2: MixMence #1
Held Item: Life Orb
Nature: Rash
EV's: 80 ATK / 252 SpA / 176 SPE
Moveset
-Draco Meteor
-Fire Blast
-Brick Break
-Roost / Crunch / Outrage
MixSweeping Salamence has the capability of wiping out stalling Pokemon quite easily. As its movepool is vast and can hit pretty much anything in the metagame. Draco Meteor has a base 140 Power, when factoring in STAB it total as 210 Power and with the use of Fire Blast, Salamence can basically take on almost every Physical Wall the metagame has to offer. Brick Break, OHKO's Tyranitar and will also 2HKO the common Heatran. Roost can help provide survivability, since of Life Orb's recoil. You may option for Crunch to hit the likes of Dusknoir, Cresselia, and Uxie, after they take devastating damage from Draco Meteor. Last and least is Outrage, which could be used as a secondary STAB, it deals more damage than Super Effective Crunch, however it may lead you into trouble when you run into the likes of Bulky Steel Types. The Ev's provided help evening out the Physical ATK and Special ATK which is essential to a Mix Sweeper, as for the speed evs's 176 of them reach 280 which is just enough to out speed Adamant Lucario.
Set #3: MixMence #2
Held Item: Life Orb
Nature: Mild
EV's: 84 Atk / 216 SpA / 208 Spe
Moveset
-Draco Meteor
-Earthquake
-Fire Blast
-Outrage / Roost
This is the newest variant of a MixMence, but this time its taking advantage of its excellent balanced offensive stats, using deadly STAB, such as; Draco Meteor and Outrage. The Earthquake and Fire Blast combination is quite needed obviously, to deal with Steel Types, which resist Salamence's STAB. Instead of Outrage you may option for Roost to deal with Stealth Rock switchins and to increase the usage of Life Orb. The ev's given to this set ensure that Salamence can KO 252 HP / 252 DEF Cresselia, by using Draco Meteor on its switch in and then 2 uses of Outrage, however you need to watch out for Reflect. Any Blissey that switches in will get 2HKO'd by Outrage. 208 Spe ev's ensures that Salamence will outspeed any Gyarados, not fitted with a scarf or had used Dragon Dance. Mild Nature chosen over Rash, will help Salamence's survivability against weak non-STAB Ice Beam, from Pokemon such as; Blissey and Cresselia.
Set #4: Choice Band
Held Item: Choice Band
Nature: Naive / Naughty
EV's: 248 ATK / 8 SpA / 252 SPE
Moveset
-Outrage
-Aqua Tail
-Fire Blast
-Earthquake / Stone Edge / Dragon Claw
Salamence does absolutely great, when fitted with a Choice Band, thanks to its impressive offense stats and movepool. It does great against those who would normally expect a Dragon Dance, which will lead them into troublesome threats. Having this as a surprise, can make you lead with a advantage. Outrage will hit massively hard, as for Aqua Tail it will hit the likes of Gliscor and Hippowdon, for a 2HKO when factoring in SR damage. Fire Blast can deal with Skarmory and can also deal with Celebi, without having to lock yourself in with Outrage. Earthquake is a all out nice attack, it can deal with the likes of Steel Types and mainly Tyranitar. Stone Edge has a high 74.36% of OHKOing Zapdos, after it takes its SR damage and is good against opposing Salamence and Gyarados, as for Dragon Claw can be used as a Secondary STAB if you have the fear of locking into Outrage. The ev's given allow to Salamence to hit hard physically supported with Choice Band. Nature is decided by what your preference is, Naive is if you want to Outspeed neutral 100 Speed and tie up with with max positive speed nature with 252 speed ev Pokemon, as for Naughty it will provide Salamence with even more Power and will guarantee more KO's. 8 Sp. ATK Ev's 2HKO Celebi after factoring in SR damage.
Set #5: Choice Scarf Mix
Held Item: Choice Scarf
Nature: Naughty
EV's: 252 ATK / 80 SpA / 176 SPE
Moveset
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Fire Blast
-Hydro Pump / Draco Meteor
Salamence tends to have massive power of both Physical and Special Atk, however it doesn't have the massive speed like some other sweepers posses, so when fitted with a Choice Scarf, makes Salamence a beastly sweeper and revenge killer. In late game, Outrage is nice for a quick clean up sweep, and the combination of both, Earthquake and Fire Blast, ensure that nothing blocks its path from atleast neutral damage. Hydro Pump will 2HKO the likes of; Hippowdon, Donphan and Gliscor, which would otherwise give this set problems. Draco Meteor could be optioned, but its best to keep with Hydro Pump, as you already have the coverage you need. Maximizing Salamence's monstrous attack allows it to 2HKO any Vaporeon prior to Acid Armor when factoring in Stealth Rock damage. 176 Speed Ev's hit 280 speed with that and Choice Scarf, Salamence will outspeed common threats such as Scarftran.
Set #6: Physically Offensive Choice Scarf
Held Item: Choice Scarf
Nature: Naughty
EV's: 8 HP / 252 ATK / 72 SpA / 176 SPE
Moveset
-Outrage / Dragon Claw
-Earthquake
-Fire Blast
-Thunderfang / Stone Edge
Another option for a Choice Scarf Mence, instead of basing on using mix attacks, this one takes advantage of Salamence's Physical attacks and its movepool around it. For the first slot it's personal preference, Outrage provides you with more power, which as Dragon Claw has less power, without having to lock Salamence into a move. Just like the previous sets, Earthquake and Fire Blast will hit anything that will block Salamence's STAB in its track. Most Gyarados, will stay in since some Bulky Gyarados could live a Stone Edge, from a non-powered Salamence, making Thunderfang leaving them into the dust. Stone Edge could be optioned over Thunderfang, to hit bulky fliers, like Gyarados and Zapdos. The ATK ev's maximize Salamence's ATK, as for the 72 SpA ev's allow Salamence to 2HKO any neutral SpD Celebi, that doesn't pack any SpD evs. 176 Speed Ev's allow Salamence to outspeed other Scarf Pokemon, such as; all Scarfed Heatran and all Adamant Scarfed Heracross. It will also outspeed any Adamant Gyarados after a single Dragon Dance. With 8 HP evs, Salamence reaches 333 HP which is not divisible by 4 allowing Salamence to switch in 4 times, the fifth time it will faint.
Set #7: Specially Bulky Dragon Dance
Held Item: Lum Berry / Life Orb / Leftovers
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 236 HP / 64 ATK / 116 SpD / 92 SPE
Moveset
-Dragon Dance
-Outrage / Dragon Claw
-Earthquake
-Roost
This set is more based on the average defenses that Salamence posses, making him more sturdier for safe switchins and allowing more safe Dragon Dances. As for STAB you have Outrage and Dragon Claw. Outrage can leave you into a lock, but has a whopping base power of 120 + 60 factoring in STAB. Dragon Claw doesn't leave you into a lock, however it is weaker and KO's less Pokemon. Earthquake deals with what resists Dragon Type attacks, which are known as Steel. Roost helps Salamence preserve itself, as its sturdy enough to maintain its livability. The Ev's ensure that Salamence will live a threatening non-STAB Hidden Power Ice from a Pokemon with 359 Sp. ATK, like Gengar. Salamence can often beat the likes of bulky waters, with the combination of; Outrage or Dragon Claw, Dragon Dance, and Roost, since they tend to lack a good amount of Special Atk. 92 Speed evs ensures Salamence to outspeed Weavile after a single Dragon Dance, however you should watch out for Ice Shard, as for 64 ATK EV's ensure a 2HKO against a 404 HP and 361 DEF Suicune with Outrage, after a single Dragon Dance factoring in Stealth Rock Damage.
Set #8: Physically Bulky Dragon Dance
Held Item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
Nature: Jolly
EV's: 252 HP / 180 DEF / 76 SPE
Moveset
-Dragon Dance
-Dragon Claw / Outrage
-Earthquake
-Roost
The moves are the exact same as the specially bulkymence, except this one takes advantage of its physical defenses. For the choice of item, leftovers is the prior choice as it will help Salamence, maintain itself. Lum Berry is recommended if you do not want status crippling this Pokemon. With its defense and intimidate Salamence, could fine time to setup 1 or more Dragon Dances, with the help of Roost on the way. For STAB you have a selection of 2, which are Dragon Claw and Outrage. Dragon Claw, doesn't leave you stuck with decent power, factoring in STAB. Outrage, however has massive Power, but could leave you locked into it. Earthquake hits steel types that would wall STAB Dragon type attacks, such as; Heatran, Jirachi, etc.
