Bagon is a Dragon-type Pokemon that can evolve into the pseudo-legendary Salamence, making it a decent choice for battling in Pokemon GO. Bagon and its evolutions have been a part of Pokemon GO since the "Hoenn Celebration" event in 2018, and Shiny Bagon was added a year later on April 13, 2019 for Community Day. While Community Days are the best way to Shiny Hunt, you should also take advantage of events that have increased spawn rates of specific Pokemon. For example, the "Ultra Unlock: Steel and Scales" event (July 2025) marks the debut of Honedge and its evolutions. However, you'll also see increased encounters of certain Steel-type and Dragon-type Pokemon, one of these being Bagon. Thus, it's recommended you Shiny Hunt the Rock Head Pokemon while the event is active.

Shiny Chatot in Pokemon GO
Pokemon GO: How To Get Shiny Chatot

The best way to get Shiny Chatot in Pokemon GO is by using Incense during events featuring the Pokemon.

Where to Find Shiny Bagon

Ultra Unlock: Steel and Scales, July 2025

"Ultra Unlock: Steel and Scales" has an increased chance of Shiny Bagon and Shiny Beldum appearing. Being a Dragon-type, Bagon's appearance rate isn't influenced by certain Lures like the Magnetic Lure or Glacial Lure. However, you can place a Lure Module on a nearby PokeStop during the "Steel and Scales" event to potentially increase Bagon spawns. Incense is also useful while Shiny Hunting. You'll also have better luck encountering multiple Bagon if you walk around rather than stay in one place.

Bagon won't appear in hordes like it did back on its Community Day in April 2024, but you should still see them more often from July 22, 2025 (10am local) to July 27, 2025 (8pm local). Select any Bagon that appears on your map, and one could be Shiny.

To help with your Shiny Hunting, you can get rid of the loading time for Pokemon encounters by turning on AR. Go into Settings, then AR, and switch the slider to "on." Alternatively, you can select a Pokemon and switch to AR mode with the slider in the top-right corner of the screen.

Shiny Bagon appears in the wild, not from raids, since it's not a 1-star or 3-star Raid Boss for "Ultra Unlock: Steel and Scales."

pokemon go special buddy tasks evolution feature
Pokemon GO: Every Pokemon That Evolves with Special Buddy Tasks

Some Pokemon have special requirements in order to evolve in Pokemon GO.

2

Should You Evolve Shiny Bagon?

How to Get Shiny Shelgon and Shiny Salamence

pokemon go shiny shelgon and shiny salamence

You can evolve Shiny Bagon into Shiny Shelgon by using 25 Bagon Candy. Evolving Shiny Shelgon into Shiny Salamence costs 100 Bagon Candy. If you want to go further, you can Mega Evolve your Salamence into Mega Salamence with 300 Mega Energy, and 60 Mega Energy after the first time it mega evolves.

Not enough Bagon Candy? Try feeding it a Pinap Berry or a Silver Pinap Berry before catching it. This will increase the Candy amount a little.

Evolving Shiny Bagon will unlock Shiny Shelgon and Shiny Salamence in the "Shiny" Pokedex. If you're going to use Shiny Salamence for Leagues/Trainer Battles, then you may want to evolve a 3-star Shiny Bagon instead of a 0/1-star.

As a Dragon/Flying-type, Salamence is weak to Rock, Ice (4x weakness), Dragon, and Fairy-type moves. You may want to equip it with Fast Attacks and Charged Attacks that take advantage of its typing or give it coverage.

Here are some combinations to try:

Fast Attack

Charged Attack

Damage (Trainer Battles)

Damage (Raids)

Dragon Tail (Dragon-type)

*Outrage (Dragon-type)

  • Fast: 13
  • Charged: 110
  • Fast: 14
  • Charged: 110

Fire Fang (Fire-type)

*Outrage (Dragon-type)

  • Fast: 8
  • Charged: 110
  • Fast: 13
  • Charged: 110

Bite (Dark-type)

Draco Meteor (Dragon-type)

  • Fast: 4
  • Charged: 150
  • Fast: 6
  • Charged: 150

Dragon Tail (Dragon-type)

Fly (Flying-type)

  • Fast: 13
  • Charged: 80
  • Fast: 14
  • Charged: 90

*Can only learn this move via Elite TM.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Pokemon Go Tag Page Cover Art
Display card tags widget
Augmented Reality
RPG
Display card system widget
Systems
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
July 6, 2016
Developer(s)
Niantic
Publisher(s)
Niantic
Engine
Unity
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start
Pokemon Go Press Image 1
Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Genre(s)
Augmented Reality, RPG