Introduced in the generation two, with the Pokemon Gold and Silver games, Slugma is a monotype fire Pokemon. It is the base of a two stage evolution line and is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokemon. Slugma is classified by the Pokedex as the “Lava Pokemon” which points to its general design. This guide will showcase Slugma’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Slugma.
About Slugma
As a generation two Pokemon, Slugma first appeared in the original series with the episode Love, Pokemon Style. It is typically used by minor characters that the protagonists encounter throughout the anime. Slugma will evolve into Magcargo upon reaching level 38 and the line doesn’t evolve any further. The Pokedex states that Slugma will circulate lava throughout its body and needs to continue moving otherwise its body will cool and harden.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Original Series: Love, Pokemon Style |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Gold and Silver |
| Region | Johto |
| Evolution | Evolves into Magcargo, not known to evolve from any other Pokemon |
| 1st Evo level | 38 |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | Molten magma courses throughout Slugma's circulatory system. If this Pokémon is chilled, the magma cools and hardens. Its body turns brittle and chunks fall off, reducing its size. |
Slugma Base Stats
| HP | 40 |
| ATTACK | 40 |
| DEFENCE | 40 |
| SP. ATTACK | 70 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 40 |
| SPEED | 20 |
| TOTAL | 250 |
Appearance
Slugma is a small Pokemon that seems to be made of lava and has a slug-like bright red body with fiery accents found throughout its body. It has no visible limbs, but will slither around similar to real life slugs. There are two flame-like brows on top of Slugma’s head as well as two drops of magma dangling from Slugma’s chin. It has black pupils and yellow sclera, and is a small Pokemon at only 2 feet and 4 inches, or 0.7 meters, tall.
Behavior
Slugma’s entire body is made up of lava and needs to continue moving otherwise its body will cool and harden. Throughout its life, it will constantly be on the move searching for warm places to reside. In addition, it never sleeps to ensure that the lava in its body does not solidify. The Pokedex states that without movement, it can become chilled and its body will become brittle. Typically, it is found in volcanoes or mountains along with several other members of its species.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As a base evolution Pokemon of an older generation of the franchise, Slugma is underpowered even for the first evolution. It has a respectable special attack but it is lacking in its other stats and much like a slug, Slugma is also very slow. As a monotype fire Pokemon, Slugma is 2x weak to ground, rock, and water type moves, is immune to no types but will resist steel, bug, fire, grass, ice, and fairy type moves.
Shiny Slugma
A Shiny Slugma is very distinct from a regular Slugma as while Shiny Slugma’s eyes remain the same color, its entire body changes drastically. It seems to have cooled off and instead of a burning red color, Shiny Slugma has a dull gray body. Not much else changes between regular Slugma and Shiny Slugma but as it changes its primary color, it is easy to distinguish between a shiny and regular Slugma. Like all shiny Pokemon, Shiny Slugma gains a starry animation upon entering battle.
Credit to TrainerParshen on Deviantart for the below picture.
Best Moveset
As a base evolution, Slugma is exclusively limited to LC (Little Cup) brackets where it only has to face other base evolution Pokemon. While it is a slow fire type Pokemon, it has access to strong disabling moves and is capable of being self-sustainable. Utilizing Slugma in competitive battle means playing the long game rather than quickly sweeping the opposing team. Consider running Recover, Fire Blast/Lava Plume, Earth Power/Memento, and Will-O-Wisp/Memento. Recover can help you sustain your Slugma, Fire Blast and Lava Plume are interchangeable as STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves, Earth Power is for type coverage, while Memento and Will-O-Wisp are powerful disabling effects against the opposing team.
| Recover | Fire Blast/Lava Plume |
| Earth Power/Memento | Will-O-Wisp/Memento |
How to Catch Slugma in Pokemon Go
If you would like to obtain a Slugma in Pokemon Go, there are a few ways to do so. You can hatch a Slugma from 2 km eggs, encounter one in the wild, or even encounter a Magcargo in Pokemon Gym raids. To find a Slugma in the wild, you will want to search neighborhoods in dry/arid climates, and its spawn rate will also be boosted in clear weather. Unfortunately, it does not seem as if Slugma has appeared as a raid boss in the past, but you can catch its evolution in tier two Pokemon Gym raid battles. You will need 50 Slugma candies in order to evolve Slugma into Magcargo.
Trivia
- Of all the fire type Pokemon in the franchise, Slugma has the lowest base stat total of all the fire types.
- The inspiration for Slugma’s design comes from real life slugs along with a theme of lava.
- The name Slugma is a combination of the words slug and magma.
Video
FAQ
Where can I find a Slugma?
In the generation two games you can find Slugma on routes 16, 17, and 18 while in the generation three you can reliably find Slugma on Fiery Path. With the generation four games, it resides in Stark Mountain and Slugma is not available in the wild in the generation five games. Finally, you can find Slugma in fire type Friend Safaris or on route 13 with Rock Smash. In the newer generations, you will either need to trade Slugma, or it is not available in the games.
What is the evolved form of Slugma?
Slugma will evolve into Magcargo upon reaching level 38. You do not need to fulfill any special conditions to evolve Slugma and it will evolve after reaching the level threshold. Just allow the evolution animation to play without pressing the “B” button and you will end up with a Magcargo.
Is Slugma a good Pokemon?
In competitive battles, there aren’t too many reasons to consider Slugma over other fire type Pokemon. While it does offer a unique strategy of outlasting other Pokemon, its statline does not support this strategy very well. Once it evolves into Magcargo, it can suffice as a physical wall, especially as it grants easy access to burn.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Lava Pokemon”. While Slugma may not be the most powerful Pokemon, it offers a straightforward strategy. It is capable of disabling your opponents with strong moves and status effects while also providing self-sustainability. Reserve a slot on your team for Slugma if you want a long-lasting fire type Pokemon capable of slowing down your opponents.
