An illustration of Salamence using a fire attack.
Image via the official Pokemon TCG

Pokemon GO: Best Salamence Movesets, Listed

Everyone loves a dragon with a lot of firepower

This guide lists the best movesets for Salamence in Pokemon GO, from PvE to PvP.

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Best Salamence Movesets for Pokemon GO Gym Battles (PvE)

Best Offensive Salamence Moveset for Pokemon GO Gym Battles

When using Salamence to challenge Pokemon GO Gyms, its best fast attack is Dragon Tail. Dragon Tail has a decent rate of energy gain, and Salamence will gain the same type of attack bonus (STAB) when using it, dealing extra damage that will add up over time.

Salamence’s best-charged attack for challenging Gyms is Outrage. Draco Meteor does more damage overall, but Outrage does more damage per energy cost, so it’s more efficient when challenging a Gym.

Fast moveCharged move
Dragon TailOutrage
Best Salamence moveset for challenging Gyms in Pokemon GO

Normally, Salamence can learn Outrage when it evolves from Shelgon during a special event such as April 2024’s Community Day Classic. Outside of such events, you can teach Outrage to Salamence by using an Elite Charged TM on it.

Best Defensive Salamence Moveset for Pokemon GO Gym Battles

If you’re leaving Salamence to defend a Gym in Pokemon GO, its best fast attack is Fire Fang. Trainers will inevitably send Ice or Fairy type Pokemon in to battle Salamence when they see one at a Gym. Fire Fang hits Fairy type Pokemon for neutral damage while Dragon Tail wouldn’t be very effective. Better yet, Ice type Pokemon will be weak to Fire Fang, giving Salamence a better fighting chance.

Like with offensive Gym battles, Outrage is Salamence’s best-charged move on defense. Its faster charge time gives it an edge over opponents in fast-faced Gym battles.

Fast moveCharged move
Fire FangOutrage
Best Salamence moveset for defending Gyms in Pokemon GO

Best Salamence Moveset for the Pokemon GO Battle League (PvP)

Thriving in the Pokemon GO Battle League means hitting hard, and Salamence’s best fast move for the job is Dragon Tail. Salamence will deal extra damage thanks to STAB and generate energy at a decent clip.

Unlike Gym Battles, which benefit from the faster Outrage, Salamence’s best-charged move for the Pokemon GO Battle League is Draco Meteor. In the hands of the player, the higher damage output of Draco Meteor outperforms the faster Outrage.

Salamence’s second charged move for the Pokemon GO Battle League should be Fire Blast. Fire Blast helps get some damage onto Fairy types and majorly damages Ice and Steel types when Salamence doesn’t have access to the fast move Fire Fang.

Fast moveCharged move 1Charged move 2
Dragon TailDraco MeteorFire Blast
Best Salamence moveset for the Pokemon GO Battle League

When deciding what build best works for your Salamence, think about the kinds of events you’ll be taking part in. Build Salamence as you need for upcoming events like Mega Heracross Raid Day, the Pokemon GO Bug Out event, or even the Pokemon GO Fests for 2024.


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About the Author

Niki Fakhoori

Niki’s love for video games encompasses a wide range of genres, but she is especially fond of RPGs, adventure games, visual novels, simulation games, and fighting games. Her favorite video game-related pastime is asking her unwieldy backlog why she doesn’t have any new games to play. When she isn’t playing or writing about video games, she’s playing with cats, journaling, painting, or obsessing over the latest news in the world of stationery and planners.