Salamence have long dreamed of soaring through the air, but they win far more than wings when their dreams come true, and the wings they do win put other pokemon to shame. Although slower than Pidgeot at full acceleration, they are much heavier, yet despite their relatively small wings remain among the fastest pokemon on the battlefield.
Their speed is outclassed only by their raw power, for there are few things in life more terrifying to castles and pokemon alike than a charging, angry Salamence. In ancient times, Salamence were a feared menace, because of their penchant to breathe fire when celebrating personal triumphs – and burning down wooden villages in the process. Modern Salamence have suppressed that ability, for Salamence are a gentle pokemon by nature and valued fire not for the destruction it wrought, but for the beauty of its burning light. Yet countless Salamence had made enemies that way; although most survived the inevitable conflicts, they lived out their days away from civilization, often flying over villages where they were forbidden to land. Salamence today breathe the so-called breath of dragons, a blue breath weapon of reduced beauty, primarily of value for fighting off other dragon pokemon. Nor do wild Salamence still fly about with the force to topple skyscrapers and dragons alike, for as buildings grew taller, their uncontrolled flights grew far deadlier – to humans, not to the Salamence, who at worst would be left confused and disoriented.
Their techniques of old remain as feared as ever in pokemon battles, but today they must be taught to the Salamence. Technical Machines and specialized Move Tutors have drained many trainers of their savings, but the victories these techniques promise mean most trainers soon make back well more than their investment in the Pokemon League.