Is Salamence viable in Gen 3 OU?

Salamence is ranked #5 in Gen 3 OU with 36.31% usage according to Smogon Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 data.

What beats Salamence in Gen 3 OU?

The best counter for Salamence in Gen 3 OU is Starmie with a 66.5% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Salamence include Starmie, Suicune, Aerodactyl, Jirachi, Blissey.

What is the best counter for Salamence in Gen 3 OU?

Starmie is the best counter for Salamence in Gen 3 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 66.5% of their encounters.

Salamence counters

Gen 3 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

#0373 Salamence

DragonFlying

USAGE 36.3% #5

BASE STATS

HP 95

ATK 135

DEF 80

SPA 110

SPD 80

SPE 100

BST600

TYPE MATCHUPS

4×

Ice

2×

RockDragonFairy

½×

FireWaterFightingBug

¼×

Grass

0×

Ground

Moves

Brick Break 74.8% Hidden Power Flying 53.3% Rock Slide 52.7% Dragon Dance 51.7% Dragon Claw 40.4% Earthquake 35.4% Fire Blast 35.1% Hidden Power Grass 24.8%

Items

Leftovers 92.8% Choice Band 6.4% Lum Berry 0.6% Black Belt 0.2% Sharp Beak 0.0% Shell Bell 0.0% Scope Lens 0.0% Dragon Fang 0.0%

Common Teammates

Checks & Counters

Ranked by reliability — blends KO rate with how often each Pokémon is matched up.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Starmie

WaterPsychic OFFENSIVE CHECK

81.977

66.5% dies 8.91%

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Starmie Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Salamence: 207-244 (52.5 - 61.9%) -- 98.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Starmie counters → Teams with Starmie →

Suicune

Water DEFENSIVE COUNTER

87.715

65.2% dies 8.74%

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Salamence Hidden Power Grass vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Suicune: 88-104 (21.7 - 25.7%) -- possible 5HKO

View Suicune counters → Teams with Suicune →

Aerodactyl

RockFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

107.67

58.9% dies 8.19%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Aerodactyl Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 419-494 (106.3 - 125.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Aerodactyl counters → Teams with Aerodactyl →

Jirachi

SteelPsychic DEFENSIVE COUNTER

58.034

58.3% dies 9.00%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Salamence Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Jirachi: 178-210 (44 - 51.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Jirachi counters → Teams with Jirachi →

Blissey

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

145.838

56.6% dies 7.06%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Salamence Brick Break vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Blissey: 336-396 (47 - 55.4%) -- 17.6% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Blissey counters → Teams with Blissey →

Snorlax

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

49.059

56.1% dies 9.99%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Salamence Brick Break vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Snorlax: 175-206 (33.3 - 39.3%) -- 14.7% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Snorlax counters → Teams with Snorlax →

Gengar

GhostPoison OFFENSIVE CHECK

22.41

55.9% dies 10.49%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gengar Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Salamence: 302-356 (76.6 - 90.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Gengar counters → Teams with Gengar →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK

114.923

54.7% dies 7.92%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Salamence: 275-324 (69.7 - 82.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Swampert

WaterGround SOFT CHECK

128.702

46.6% dies 7.52%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Swampert Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Salamence: 285-336 (72.3 - 85.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Swampert counters → Teams with Swampert →

Salamence

DragonFlying SOFT CHECK

157.744

42.7% dies 6.79%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Salamence Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 224-264 (56.8 - 67%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Salamence counters → Teams with Salamence →

Tyranitar

RockDark SOFT CHECK

217.5

33.8% dies 5.53%

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ Atk Tyranitar Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 333-392 (84.5 - 99.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage and Leftovers recovery

View Tyranitar counters → Teams with Tyranitar →

Metagross

SteelPsychic SOFT CHECK

101.282

33.4% dies 8.04%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Metagross Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 738-869 (187.3 - 220.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Metagross counters → Teams with Metagross →

Claydol

GroundPsychic SOFT CHECK

23.405

26.8% dies 9.15%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Claydol Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 478-563 (121.3 - 142.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Claydol counters → Teams with Claydol →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK

112.834

22.8% dies 6.79%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Drill Peck vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 125-148 (31.7 - 37.5%) -- 0.1% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Skarmory counters → Teams with Skarmory →

Celebi

PsychicGrass SOFT CHECK

75.414

19.3% dies 6.41%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Celebi Psychic vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Salamence: 113-133 (28.6 - 33.7%) -- 98.2% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Celebi counters → Teams with Celebi →

Heracross

BugFighting SOFT CHECK

30.244

17.6% dies 6.93%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Heracross Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 212-250 (53.8 - 63.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Heracross counters → Teams with Heracross →

Dugtrio

Ground SOFT CHECK

25.467

1.8% dies 2.66%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Dugtrio Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 234-276 (59.3 - 70%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Dugtrio counters → Teams with Dugtrio →

Ranked #5 with 36.31% usage. Sorted by reliability score.