Is Salamence viable in Gen 3 OU?

Salamence is ranked #4 in Gen 3 OU with 37.16% usage according to Smogon Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 data.

What beats Salamence in Gen 3 OU?

The best counter for Salamence in Gen 3 OU is Starmie with a 73.7% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Salamence include Starmie, Suicune, Blissey, Aerodactyl, Zapdos.

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 73.7% of their encounters.

Salamence counters

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

#0373 Salamence

DragonFlying

USAGE 37.2% #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 72.2% Hidden Power Flying 60.4% Dragon Dance 58.3% Rock Slide 50.2% Earthquake 38.2% Dragon Claw 34.9% Fire Blast 26.6% Hidden Power Grass 26.3%

Items

Leftovers 93.3% Choice Band 5.7% Lum Berry 0.7% Quick Claw 0.1% Black Belt 0.1% Scope Lens 0.0% Shell Bell 0.0% Soft Sand 0.0%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 3 OU teams using Salamence →

Teams using Starmie 74% Teams using Suicune 65% Teams using Blissey 59% Teams using Aerodactyl 57% Teams using Zapdos 56% Teams using Jirachi 54%

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

25.458

73.7% dies 8.73%

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 →

Suicune

Water DEFENSIVE COUNTER

82.53

65.1% dies 9.04%

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 COUNTER

117.079

58.9% dies 7.78%

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

57.158

56.8% dies 9.25%

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 →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

85.653

55.6% dies 9.26%

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 SOFT CHECK

54.677

54.1% dies 9.47%

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Jirachi Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Salamence: 166-196 (42.1 - 49.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Jirachi counters → Teams with Jirachi →

Snorlax

Normal SOFT CHECK

49.873

51.3% dies 9.97%

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 →

Swampert

WaterGround SOFT CHECK

142.976

51.2% dies 7.17%

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

157.457

41.0% dies 6.75%

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 →

Metagross

SteelPsychic SOFT CHECK

89.691

36.2% dies 8.73%

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 →

Tyranitar

RockDark SOFT CHECK

192.096

30.9% dies 5.74%

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 →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK

87.784

25.5% dies 7.81%

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

51.218

21.1% dies 8.02%

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

66.349

16.2% dies 6.26%

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

42.521

6.7% dies 5.35%

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 37.16% usage. Sorted by reliability score.