How to Evolve Shelgon into Salamence in Pokémon Games: A Comprehensive Guide
Evolving Pokémon is a core mechanic of the Pokémon franchise, and Shelgon, the second-stage evolution of Bagon, is no exception. Many trainers eagerly anticipate the moment their Shelgon transforms into the powerful Dragon/Flying-type Salamence. However, the evolution process isn’t always straightforward and depends on the specific Pokémon game you’re playing. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to evolve your Shelgon, covering the process across various generations of Pokémon games, providing tips and tricks, and addressing frequently asked questions.
Understanding Shelgon and Salamence
Before diving into the evolution process, it’s essential to understand the characteristics of Shelgon and Salamence.
* **Shelgon:** Shelgon is the evolved form of Bagon, typically reached at level 30. It’s a pure Dragon-type Pokémon known for its hard, shell-like body. This shell protects it as it stores energy for its final evolution. While not particularly strong offensively, Shelgon has decent defensive stats.
* **Salamence:** Salamence, the final evolution of Bagon, is a Dragon/Flying-type Pokémon. This powerful creature possesses incredible attack power and speed, making it a formidable opponent in battles. Salamence is highly sought after by trainers due to its strength and impressive design.
The Simple Method: Leveling Up
The primary and most consistent method to evolve Shelgon into Salamence is through leveling up. In all Pokémon games where Shelgon appears, it evolves into Salamence at **level 50**. This means you need to train your Shelgon until it reaches this level.
Steps to Evolve Shelgon through Leveling:
1. **Obtain a Shelgon:** You can obtain a Shelgon by evolving a Bagon (usually at level 30) or by catching one in the wild, depending on the game you’re playing. We’ll discuss specific locations in different games later in this guide.
2. **Train Your Shelgon:** The most crucial step is to train your Shelgon to level 50. This can be achieved through various methods, including battling wild Pokémon, challenging other trainers, and using experience-boosting items.
3. **Battle Wild Pokémon:** This is the most traditional method. Find areas with Pokémon that provide a decent amount of experience points. Areas with Pokémon around level 30-40 are ideal for leveling up Shelgon.
4. **Challenge Trainers:** Trainer battles typically offer more experience points than wild Pokémon encounters. Look for trainers you haven’t battled yet or rematch trainers using features like the VS Seeker (in some games).
5. **Use Experience-Boosting Items:** Items like Lucky Egg, Exp. Share (or its equivalents), and O-Powers (in certain games) can significantly increase the amount of experience your Shelgon gains. Utilizing these items will speed up the leveling process.
6. **Pay Attention to Happiness (Friendship):** While Shelgon doesn’t evolve based on friendship, keeping your Pokémon happy can have minor benefits in battle, such as increased critical hit ratios, which can help in leveling up faster. Feed it berries it likes and avoid letting it faint often.
7. **Level Up to 50:** Once your Shelgon reaches level 50, it will automatically initiate the evolution process after its next battle or when you use a Rare Candy.
Detailed Game-Specific Locations and Tips
Finding and training your Shelgon can vary depending on the specific Pokémon game you’re playing. Here’s a breakdown of where to find Bagon (and potentially Shelgon) and specific tips for each generation.
Generation III (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald)
* **Bagon Location:** Meteor Falls. Bagon can be found in the deepest part of Meteor Falls, accessible after obtaining the HM Waterfall. It’s a relatively rare encounter, so patience is key.
* **Shelgon Location:** Rarely, wild Shelgon can be found at Meteor Falls in the same area as Bagon. However, evolving your own Bagon is generally more reliable.
* **Training Tips:**
* Use the Exp. Share to passively level Bagon while battling with stronger Pokémon.
* Challenge the Elite Four multiple times for significant experience gains.
* Consider using Pokémon with moves like False Swipe to weaken wild Pokémon without knocking them out, making them easier to catch.
Generation VI (Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)
* **Bagon Location:** Meteor Falls. Similar to Generation III, Bagon is found in the deepest part of Meteor Falls, accessible after obtaining Waterfall. DexNav can be used to find Bagon with better IVs and Hidden Abilities.
* **Shelgon Location:** Very rarely found at Meteor Falls using DexNav, but evolving Bagon is recommended.
* **Training Tips:**
* The Exp. Share is now a key item, distributing experience to the entire party.
* Utilize Super Training to improve Shelgon’s base stats (EVs).
* Explore Secret Bases and battle other players’ teams for additional experience.
* Use O-Powers to temporarily boost experience gain.
Generation VII (Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon)
* **Bagon Location:** Kala’e Bay (Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon only). Bagon can be fished up using a fishing rod. It is relatively rare.
* **Shelgon Location:** Evolving from Bagon is the primary way to obtain Shelgon. It does not appear in the wild.
* **Training Tips:**
* Festival Plaza provides access to missions that reward experience and items.
* SOS battles can be chained to increase the chances of finding Pokémon with good stats and Hidden Abilities.
* The Exp. Share is a party-wide experience distribution item.
* Pelago can be used to train Pokémon passively.
Generation VIII (Sword, Shield)
* **Bagon Location:** Bagon appears in Max Lair during Dynamax Adventures. It’s a random encounter and availability changes regularly.
* **Shelgon Location:** Evolves from Bagon.
* **Training Tips:**
* Dynamax Adventures are an excellent source of experience and rewards.
* Raid Battles against Dynamax Pokémon offer significant experience and valuable items.
* The Exp. Charm can be obtained to further boost experience gains.
* Utilize the Isle of Armor DLC for access to the Cram-o-matic, which can create useful items, including Exp. Candies.
* The Crown Tundra DLC allows battling legendary pokemon which give great experience.
Generation IX (Scarlet, Violet)
* **Bagon Location:** Various locations, including near waterfalls and caves, mainly in the northern areas. It’s not extremely common, so explore thoroughly.
* **Shelgon Location:** Evolves from Bagon, also can be found at the same location. Evolving from Bagon is recommended.
* **Training Tips:**
* Auto-Battles with Let’s Go! feature can quickly level up Pokémon.
* Tera Raid Battles provide significant experience and rewards.
* Sandwiches with experience-boosting effects can be crafted to speed up leveling.
* Explore the entire Paldea region for trainers to battle and resources to collect.
* Pay attention to Tera Types to ensure your Salamence is effective in battles.
Tips and Tricks for Faster Leveling
Leveling a Pokémon from level 30 (Shelgon) to level 50 can take time. Here are some advanced strategies to speed up the process:
* **Lucky Egg:** The Lucky Egg is an invaluable item that boosts experience gain by 50%. Obtain and equip this item to your Shelgon as soon as possible.
* **Exp. Share/Exp. All:** Ensure the Exp. Share (or its equivalent in older games) is active. This distributes experience points to all Pokémon in your party, even those that didn’t participate in the battle.
* **Affection and Friendship:** While not directly affecting evolution, high affection can trigger bonus effects like dodging attacks or surviving with 1 HP, which can make training smoother.
* **Effective Move Coverage:** Teach Shelgon moves that are effective against a wide range of Pokémon types. This will allow you to efficiently battle various opponents without switching Pokémon frequently.
* **Identify Weaknesses:** Understand the type matchups in the game. Knowing which types your Shelgon is strong against and which types it’s weak against will help you optimize your battles.
* **Train in High-Level Areas:** Once Shelgon is a sufficient level, train it in areas with higher-level Pokémon. This maximizes the experience gained per battle.
* **Repeat Elite Four/Champion Challenge:** After defeating the Elite Four and Champion, you can challenge them again. This is a reliable method for gaining a large amount of experience points.
* **Use Rare Candies (Sparingly):** Rare Candies instantly level up your Pokémon. While useful, they are a finite resource, so use them strategically, especially when Shelgon is close to level 50.
* **Utilize Daycare/Nursery (with Caution):** While depositing Shelgon in the Daycare (or Nursery) allows it to gain experience passively, it’s generally slower than actively battling. Use it sparingly or if you need to level up while focusing on other tasks.
* **Explore Post-Game Content:** After beating the main story, many games offer post-game areas with higher-level Pokémon and challenging trainers, which are excellent for leveling.
* **Take advantage of in-game Events:** Nintendo regularly hosts in-game events. Sometimes these events include temporary experience boosts. Keep an eye out on your in-game news features.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
* **Shelgon isn’t evolving at level 50:** Double-check that your Shelgon is actually at level 50 or higher. Sometimes, players misremember the level required for evolution.
* **Game Glitches:** While rare, game glitches can sometimes interfere with evolution. Try restarting your game or console. If the problem persists, consult online forums or contact the game developers.
* **Using Rare Candies Excessively:** While Rare Candies can quickly level up Pokémon, relying on them too much can prevent your Pokémon from learning moves naturally. Ensure Shelgon learns its essential moves before using Rare Candies.
* **Accidental Button Presses:** Be careful during the evolution sequence! Accidentally pressing the B button (or its equivalent) during the evolution animation can sometimes cancel the evolution. However, it can be retried upon another level up.
Post-Evolution: Making the Most of Salamence
Once your Shelgon has evolved into Salamence, you’ll have a powerful Dragon/Flying-type Pokémon at your disposal. Here’s how to make the most of your newly evolved Salamence:
* **Movepool Optimization:** Salamence has a versatile movepool. Consider teaching it moves like Dragon Claw, Outrage, Fly, Earthquake, Fire Blast, and Hydro Pump to cover a wide range of types.
* **EV Training:** Focus on training Salamence’s Attack and Speed EVs to maximize its offensive potential. Consider using items like Power Anklet and Power Bracer to speed up the EV training process.
* **Held Items:** Equip Salamence with items that boost its offensive capabilities, such as Choice Band, Choice Scarf, Life Orb, or Dragon Fang.
* **Mega Evolution (If Applicable):** In games where Mega Evolution is available, Mega Salamence is an absolute powerhouse. Its stats receive a significant boost, making it even more formidable in battles.
* **Tera Type (If Applicable):** In Generation 9, choosing the right Tera Type for Salamence can turn the tide of battle. A Steel-type Salamence can resist Fairy-type attacks, while a Fire-type Salamence can boost its Fire-type moves.
* **Battle Strategies:** Utilize Salamence’s high Speed and Attack to sweep through opponents. Be mindful of its weaknesses to Ice, Dragon, Rock, and Fairy-type moves. Consider using Salamence as a late-game sweeper after eliminating potential threats.
Conclusion
Evolving Shelgon into Salamence is a rewarding experience in the Pokémon games. By following the steps and tips outlined in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to train your Shelgon and unleash the power of Salamence. Whether you’re a seasoned trainer or new to the Pokémon world, remember that patience and dedication are key to achieving your goals. Happy training!
