Salandit

Introduced in Generation VII with Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, Salandit is a small, reptilian Poison Lizard Pokémon. Its design resembles a salamander or lizard, with a dark body, a reddish line running along its back and tail, and side markings that look like a mask. The pattern also fits the traditional association between salamanders and fire, as well as the Japanese fire-bellied newt.

It lives in volcanoes and dry, rocky areas. It burns the fluids from its poisonous sacs with the flame on its tail to produce a toxic gas with a sweet aroma. That smell attracts Bug-type Pokémon, which are left dazed before the attack lands. It also approaches from behind and uses the gas to immobilise its prey.

The species has a pronounced gender imbalance. Males give most of their food to females, and the resulting lack of nutrients prevents them from evolving. Only a female that reaches level 33 can evolve into Salazzle, so many Salandit remain at this stage for their entire lives.

Salandit lacks the stats to withstand long exchanges: its HP is 48, Attack 44, Defense 40 and Special Defense 40. Its Special Attack reaches 71 and its Speed 77, allowing it to function as a fast special attacker, but it goes down easily to neutral hits. The total of 320 makes it clear that it cannot compete with evolved species.

Corrosion defines its best matchups. It allows it to poison even Steel- or Poison-type opponents, giving Toxic value against targets that would normally block the status. Oblivious, its Hidden Ability, prevents it from being attracted or taunted, although it offers less overall utility.

Poison and Fire provide good combined coverage. Flamethrower and Sludge Bomb make use of both its types, while Nasty Plot can raise its Special Attack before it attacks. Venoshock also punishes opponents that are already poisoned. Its Speed lets it move before many opponents in a standard match, and Corrosion opens up targets that other Pokémon cannot poison.

In competitive battles, it has a clear niche only in Little Cup, where it appears in the B- rank in the Sun and Moon viability rankings. There, it pressures Pokémon vulnerable to poison and threatens Grass-, Bug- and Steel-types with Flamethrower. Its weaknesses to Ground, Water, Psychic and Rock, its low defences and its lack of immediate power greatly limit its use. A sturdier opponent can knock it out before Nasty Plot changes the exchange.

Salandit belongs to the Monster and Dragon Egg Groups, so it can breed with compatible species from either group. The gender ratio is extremely uneven: there is a 12.5% chance of being female. That proportion matters more than it does for other species because only females evolve into Salazzle.

Hatching requires 20 Egg Cycles, equivalent to approximately 5355 steps using the usual conversion. Its notable Egg Moves include Belch, with a power of 120, and Fake Out, which allows it to act with priority when entering battle. Sand-Attack and Mud-Slap complete its inherited options.

The evolution requirement is exact: a female Salandit must level up to level 33. Males do not evolve. Reaching that level with just any specimen is not enough, so finding a female is the requirement that extends the search the most.

In the adventure, its catch rate of 120 puts it at an intermediate difficulty: it is not a trivial capture, but it does not require saving your best Poké Balls either. Its natural habitat consists of the volcanoes and dry, rocky terrain described in its Pokédex entries. It may be holding a Smoke Ball when encountered as a wild Pokémon.