Blue and Brutal: Salamence Trivia Quiz

Answer: Shelgon

Shelgon, a white cocoon with dragon powers, breaks its shell and becomes a Salamence when it evolves. Gabite evolves into Garchomp, Seadra evolves into Kingdra and Dragonair evolves into Dragonite. These four evolutions are deemed as "the four demi-legendary dragons", due to their usefulness in battling. Salamence, a Dragon/Flying type, can be given a Choice Band and, with Outrage, knock out almost every Pokemon in one or two shots. Garchomp has in fact been classified as "uber", meaning that it is as strong as the "bigger" legendaries (e.g. Giratina). Dragonite has a more balanced set, being able to both survive and sweep, whilst Kingdra is most seen in the Rain weather, making use of its ability, Swift Swim, as well as other little amenities.

Answer: Drake

The Pokemon company make all elite four names similar to the type they use: Drake uses dragons, Glacia uses ice, Phoebe uses ghosts and Sydney has dark-types. At level 55, Drake's Salamence accompanies a level 52 Shelgon, a level 54 Altaria, a level 53 Flygon and a level 53 Kingdra.

The Salamence knows Dragon Claw, Flamethrower, Crunch and Rock Slide. Although a combination of Crunch and Rock Slide is quite deadly, as well as the possible burning from Flamethrower, a decent ice, rock or dragon move will deal with it.

In fact, a decent normal, flying, poison, ghost, steel, electric or dark move from a strong enough Pokemon will do the job. It's just that Salamence is rather fast and hits hard.

Answer: Rock Climb

Salamence can fly great distances, smash boulders, cut trees... but they can't climb rocks. Salamence can also learn Defog and Strength as HMs. With the exceptions of Surf and Waterfall, HMs are generally useless in battle. Fly is the perfect opportunity for the opponent to make a set-up move that will mean your loss, Dive is ditto, Cut is basically Body Slam divided by three in terms of value, Rock Smash has an amazing power 20, Rock Climb is easily outclassed by Return, and Defog might save your life, but very rarely. On the other hand, Surf and Waterfall are the key attacks of Pokemon such as Kyogre, Gyarados and Starmie.

Answer: Dragon Claw

Although Salamence can learn all of these moves, Dragon Claw is the only one available through level-up. At level 61, Salamence can learn this move. Dragon Dance can be learnt by breeding a female Salamence with a male Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Horsea, Seadra, Kingdra, Altaria or Gyarados that knows the move. Dragon Pulse can be taught by TM59, and Outrage can be bought in "Pokemon Platinum" at the Survival Area for 8 blue shards. All four moves are dragon-type. Outrage has a power of 120 in the 4th generation and 90 in the 3rd, with an accuracy of 100.

It keeps attacking for two or three turns, then confuses whoever uses it. Dragon Pulse is power 90 and has an accuracy of 100, with no side effects. Dragon Claw is the same, except that it is a physical attack and has power 80. Dragon Dance raises the attack and speed of the user.

Answer: False

Nope, sorry, you can't get a Salamence into "Pokemon Diamond" without cheating or trading. However, an Ace Trainer on Route 228, just north of the Resort Area, has a Salamence, so if you don't know anyone who can get you a Salamence, battle him and head to the GTS. Alternatively, Salamence is obtainable from the Pal Park. If you have a copy of "Pokemon Pearl" or "Pokemon Platinum", you can use the Pokeradar to grab a Bagon from Route 210, the foggy part east of Celestic Town.

In "Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald", Salamence and Shelgon can be received by evolving a Bagon. Bagon can be caught at the Meteor Falls, past the waterfall, where the TM02 Dragon Claw is, with an encounter chance of 15%.

Answer: Boss of the "Challenge of Destruction", Boss 7 in the "Capture Arena"

The Marine Challenge, Field Challenge and Capture Arena are the three capture challenges in "Pokemon Ranger". In the former two, your character rides on a Lapras/Doduo and tries to capture as many Pokemon as possible; capturing some unlocks others. In the Marine Challenge, Gyarados (2500 points) is unlocked by capturing 5 Magikarp (harder than it sounds), Kingdra (2300) can be found after 2 Horsea, Luvdisc (700) appear after a minute, Starmie (600) appears after capturing 2 Staryu, and Psyduck (1600) appears after 2 Starmie are caught. Mantine (1500) is unlocked by capturing 3 Remoraid, Seaking (700) is unlocked by capturing 2 Goldeen, and Wailmer (2200) is available after 2 Seaking. Finally, Pelipper (2301) is unlocked when you beat Cameron's high score. I won't bother with the Field Challenge, although there are three special Pokemon available: Dodrio, worth 2301 points, is unlocked after beating Joel's record; Skarmory, worth 2301, is unlocked after beating the game; Fearow arrives after beating Spencer in the Capture Arena for a whopping 2601 points. Gordor's Pokemon is Entei, the boss of Mission 9 is a Steelix, and there are many Pokemon in the Sekra Range, but Salamence isn't one of them.

Answer: Buried Relic

Salamence are found in the farther levels of Wyvern Hill and Purity Forest. In Purity Forest, they are accompanied by other tough Pokemon, such as Metagross, Scizor and Castform (if you laugh at this, shame on you, because in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, Castform is TOUGH). Wyvern Hill is a dungeon filled mostly with dragon-like Pokemon, as well as, oddly, Ludicolo and Jumpluff.

In case you're interested, a Wyvern is a medieval type of dragon. Sky Tower Summit is the last dungeon before the end of the first storyline, and builds up to the confrontation with Rayquaza by throwing Salamence, Metagross, Claydol, Aerodactyl, Flygon and Tropius at you.

The Buried Relic is where Regice, Regirock, Registeel and Mew are sited, together with a whole bunch of fighting and other Pokemon.

The final floor, level 99, is chock-full of Golem.

Answer: Temporal Spire

These are the extension dungeons of Temporal Tower, Hidden Land, Dark Crater and Spatial Rift. Temporal Tower is where Dialga lives, and where you have to stop his evil form to save the world; Hidden Land is the vast plain leading up to Temporal Tower; Spatial Rift is the twisted world Palkia kidnaps you to; Dark Crater is the final showdown, where you fight Darkrai.

As well as Salamence, the Temporal Spire contains Porygon2, Porygon-Z, Metagross and Bronzong. Hidden Highland contains many strong Pokemon, like Garchomp, Rampardos and Magmortar.

The Deep Spatial Rift contains toughies like Gallade, Alakazam and Electivire. Deep Dark Crater holds hardcore enemies like Rhyperior, Aggron and Infernape.

Answer: Solarbeam

Salamence can slap water, create ghostly wind and badly poison opponents. They can't fire a beam of solar energy. Aqua Tail can be taught in "Pokemon Platinum" at the Survival Area for 6 red and 2 yellow shards, and Ominous Wind in the same game, on Route 212 for 6 blue and 2 green shards. Toxic can be taught to many, many Pokemon via TM06, and Salamence is no exception.

Here is a full list of all the moves that Salamence can learn up to "Pokemon Platinum", in alphabetical order (information came from www.psypokes.com): Aerial Ace, Air Cutter, Aqua Tail, Attract, Bite, Body Slam, Brick Break, Captivate, Crunch, Cut, Defense Curl, Defog, Double Team, Double-Edge, Draco Meteor, Dragon Claw, Dragon Dance, Dragon Pulse, Dragon Rage, Dragon Rush, Dragonbreath, Earthquake, Ember, Endure, Facade, Fire Blast, Fire Fang, Flamethrower, Fly, Focus Energy, Frustration, Fury Cutter, Giga Impact, Headbutt, Heatwave, Hidden Power, Hydro Pump, Hyper Beam, Iron Defense, Iron Tail, Leer, Mimic, Mud-Slap, Natural Gift, Ominous Wind, Outrage, Protect, Rage, Rain Dance, Refresh, Rest, Return, Roar, Rock Slide, Rock Smash, Rock Tomb, Rollout, Roost, Scary Face, Secret Power, Shadow Claw, Sleep Talk, Snore, Steel Wing, Stone Edge, Strength, Substitute, Sunny Day, Swagger, Swift, Tailwind, Thrash, Thunder Fang, Toxic, Twister, Vacuum Cut, Wide Slash, Wish, Zen Headbutt.

Answer: Intimidate

Intimidate lowers the attack of any Pokemon that Salamence switches into, but not any that switch into Salamence. In "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 1 and 2", Intimidate lowers the attack of all enemies in a room, or any within a 2-step range in a corridor. Chlorophyll increases the speed of the Pokemon during Sunny weather.

In the mystery dungeon games, this increases the attack rate, instead of speed. Serene Grace doubles the chances of an attack's side effects working (meaning that Charge Beam would have a 140% chance of raising Special Attack!), and Cute Charm gives a 30% chance of infatuating the opponent if hit by a direct attack.