Is Salamence viable in Gen 3 OU?

Salamence is ranked #6 in Gen 3 OU with 32.61% usage according to Smogon Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 data.

What beats Salamence in Gen 3 OU?

Starmie has the strongest conservative score in this observed Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 66.6% of 67.64553338178746 relevant encounters. Standard error is 5.7 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Salamence matchup checks ranked in Gen 3 OU?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Salamence was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Salamence counters

Gen 3 OU · Smogon source period Jul 2026 - Sep 2026

#0373 Salamence

DragonFlying

USAGE 32.6% #6

ABILITYIntimidate

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 77.0% Hidden Power Flying 56.9% Dragon Dance 55.7% Rock Slide 48.7% Dragon Claw 35.2% Earthquake 35.1% Fire Blast 27.3% Hidden Power Grass 20.4%

Items

Leftovers 92.3% Choice Band 6.6% Lum Berry 0.9% Black Belt 0.1% Petaya Berry 0.0% Dragon Fang 0.0% Scope Lens 0.0% Liechi Berry 0.0%

Abilities

Intimidate100.0%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 3 OU teams using Salamence →

Explore Salamence + Starmie teams 44 score Explore Salamence + Blissey teams 40 score Explore Salamence + Aerodactyl teams 35 score Explore Salamence + Jirachi teams 34 score Explore Salamence + Zapdos teams 31 score Explore Salamence + Swampert teams 31 score

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Salamence + Tyranitar 65.9% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Starmie

WaterPsychic OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

67.646

43.7

66.6% Standard error 5.73 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Starmie Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Salamence: 319-376 (80.9 - 95.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Starmie counters → Teams with Starmie →

Blissey

Normal DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

108.539

40.1

58.9% Standard error 4.72 points

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 →

Aerodactyl

RockFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

85.479

34.8

56.2% Standard error 5.37 points

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 CHECK View matchup

50.694

34.1

61.5% Standard error 6.83 points

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 →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

72.543

31.2

54.6% Standard error 5.85 points

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 View matchup

147.212

30.6

47.1% Standard error 4.11 points

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 →

Gengar

GhostPoison OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

55.35

30.5

57.1% Standard error 6.65 points

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 →

Suicune

Water DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

52.187

28.4

55.9% Standard error 6.87 points

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 →

Salamence

DragonFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

124.444

23.1

40.7% Standard error 4.40 points

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 View matchup

222.361

20.0

32.6% Standard error 3.14 points

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 View matchup

71.899

17.3

40.5% Standard error 5.79 points

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 →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

84.916

5.2

23.6% Standard error 4.61 points

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 →

Registeel

Steel SOFT CHECK View matchup

22.923

0.8

42.1% Standard error 10.31 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Registeel Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 498-587 (126.3 - 148.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Registeel counters → Teams with Registeel →

Celebi

PsychicGrass SOFT CHECK View matchup

60.699

-2.2

17.2% Standard error 4.84 points

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 →

Dugtrio

Ground SOFT CHECK View matchup

46.87

-7.8

5.6% Standard error 3.37 points

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 →

Forretress

BugSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

43.91

-8.4

6.5% Standard error 3.71 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Forretress Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 558-657 (141.6 - 166.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Forretress counters → Teams with Forretress →

Claydol

GroundPsychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.87

-10.9

24.1% Standard error 8.76 points

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 →

Heracross

BugFighting SOFT CHECK View matchup

21.705

-15.2

7.8% Standard error 5.77 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Heracross Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 316-372 (80.2 - 94.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Heracross counters → Teams with Heracross →

Ranked #6 with 32.61% usage. Sorted by conservative score.