Guide to Capturing and Evolving Bagon in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Quick Links

• Locating Bagon
  • Bagon Location in Pokemon Violet

• Acquiring Bagon in Pokemon Scarlet
  • Trading and Transferring Pokemon

• Evolving Bagon into Shelgon and Salamence
  • Bagon Evolution Levels

• Is Salamence Worth Using?
  • Salamence Strengths & Weaknesses
  • Best Moves for Salamence

Bagon, a Dragon-type Pokemon, evolves into the powerful Salamence in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. In Pokemon Scarlet, however, Bagon and its evolutions are absent, as they are exclusive to Pokemon Violet. To complete the Paldea Pokedex, you’ll need to acquire Bagon, Shelgon, and Salamence.

Updated on January 13, 2025, by Renri Seong: Bagon, a Dragon-type, transforms into the formidable Salamence in Pokemon Violet. You can capture Bagon or its evolved form, Shelgon, in several ways. For Pokemon Scarlet players aiming to complete the Pokedex, transferring from Violet is necessary. Like Dragonite, Salamence is a Dragon/Flying-type pseudo-legendary with a base stat total of 600. But does Salamence compete with the original pseudo-legendary? Is it worth adding to your team? This guide has been updated with detailed insights into Salamence’s stats, type matchups, and optimal moves.

Locating Bagon

Bagon Location in Pokemon Violet

In Pokemon Violet, Bagon can be found in several locations, with East Province (Area Three) being a prime spot due to its vast area and numerous explorable caves.

Another excellent location is Dalizapa Passage, situated north of The Great Crater of Paldea and south of Glaseado Mountain. Look for a deep hole near a Pokemon Center. You can ride Koraidon or Miraidon to jump into the hole or enter through one of the cavern entrances. While less open than East Province, this cave is a hotspot for rare Pokemon like Bagon and Frigibax.

For raid enthusiasts, Bagon appears in 3-star Tera Raids, available after earning three gym badges. Note that Bagon’s Tera Type may differ from its standard Dragon type in raids, and those caught in 3-star Raids may have their Hidden Ability, which can be a valuable asset.

Acquiring Bagon in Pokemon Scarlet

Trading and Transferring Pokemon

Bagon and its evolutions are unavailable in the wild in Pokemon Scarlet, so you’ll need to trade with a Pokemon Violet player or transfer Bagon via Pokemon HOME. To trade, create or join a Group through the Union Circle, which requires a Nintendo Switch Online Membership. Alternatively, transferring from another game may be simpler.

With Pokemon HOME on your Switch, you can transfer Bagon from games like Pokemon Sword/Shield (with Expansion Pass), Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, or directly from Pokemon HOME.

1. Open Pokemon HOME and select the game you’re transferring Bagon from.
2. Place Bagon in the Basic Box (left side of the screen), then save and exit.
3. Open your Pokemon Scarlet file and move Bagon from the Basic Box to a Scarlet PC Box.
4. Save and exit.

Upon reopening Pokemon Scarlet, Bagon should appear in the chosen PC Box, with its Pokedex entry registered.

Evolving Bagon into Shelgon and Salamence

Bagon Evolution Levels

To evolve Bagon, raise it to level 30 to become Shelgon, then to level 50 for Salamence. The fastest method is to have Bagon or Shelgon auto-battle Pokemon of similar levels.

For non-EV training, target Pokemon like Chansey, which yield high experience points. Find Chanseys in East Province (Area Two), North Province (Area One-Three), Casseroya Lake, or West Province (Area Two-Three).

Alternatively, use Exp. Candy. A single Exp. Candy L or XL can boost levels significantly, while Exp. Candy M may require multiple uses, especially for evolving Shelgon into Salamence.

Is Salamence Worth Using?

Salamence Strengths & Weaknesses

Salamence, alongside Metagross, is a Gen 3 pseudo-legendary with a base stat total of 600, making it a favorite for trainers and competitive play when trained effectively.