Is Salamence viable in Gen 3 OU?

Salamence is ranked #4 in Gen 3 OU with 35.94% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Salamence in Gen 3 OU?

Suicune has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 64.5% of 50.209397197275635 relevant encounters. Standard error is 9.5 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 · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0373 Salamence

DragonFlying

USAGE 35.9% #4

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 76.9% Hidden Power Flying 58.4% Dragon Dance 56.6% Rock Slide 46.5% Dragon Claw 36.7% Earthquake 33.1% Hidden Power Grass 27.5% Fire Blast 25.7%

Items

Leftovers 93.6% Choice Band 5.2% Lum Berry 0.8% Quick Claw 0.1% Shell Bell 0.0% Black Belt 0.0% Scope Lens 0.0% Petaya Berry 0.0%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 3 OU teams using Salamence →

Explore Salamence + Suicune teams 27 score Explore Salamence + Blissey teams 22 score Explore Salamence + Swampert teams 21 score Explore Salamence + Zapdos teams 20 score Explore Salamence + Jirachi teams 18 score Explore Salamence + Aerodactyl teams 16 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 66.1% 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

Suicune

Water DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

50.209

26.5

64.5% Standard error 9.50 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 →

Blissey

Normal DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

64.01

22.2

57.0% Standard error 8.68 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 →

Swampert

WaterGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

115.584

20.7

52.3% Standard error 7.90 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 →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

53.129

19.6

57.8% Standard error 9.56 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 →

Jirachi

SteelPsychic DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

23.194

17.9

58.8% Standard error 10.22 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 →

Aerodactyl

RockFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

25.873

16.5

55.6% Standard error 9.77 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 →

Salamence

DragonFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

101.124

11.7

39.0% Standard error 6.83 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

158.848

6.5

31.8% Standard error 6.34 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 →

Snorlax

Normal SOFT CHECK View matchup

22.309

4.7

47.0% Standard error 10.57 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- Atk Snorlax Self-Destruct vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 504-594 (127.9 - 150.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Snorlax counters → Teams with Snorlax →

Metagross

SteelPsychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

51.221

-1.6

36.3% Standard error 9.47 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

47.834

-7.6

27.4% Standard error 8.75 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 →

Heracross

BugFighting SOFT CHECK View matchup

20.975

-12.3

26.1% Standard error 9.59 points

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 →

Celebi

PsychicGrass SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.967

-14.4

13.3% Standard error 6.93 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

42.521

-14.7

6.7% Standard error 5.35 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 →

Ranked #4 with 35.94% usage. Sorted by conservative score.