Bagon

Bagon (タツベイ Tatsubay) is one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon from the Pokémon Franchise - a series of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. Bagon made its introduction as a third generation Pokémon, upon the release of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Bagon is the prevolution of the very powerful Dragon Pokémon Salamence.

Bagon's name is a portmanteau of baby, as it's small and unevolved, and dragon, in reference to its type and appearance.

Characteristics
Because Bagon has such a powerful dream of flying, it often hurls itself off of high cliffs, only to tumble aimlessly to the bottom. As a result of Bagon's brave (yet foolish) dives, its head has grown rock hard, allowing it to attack without feeling recoil. Hikers, however, have noticed the occasional unconscious Bagon, a victim of one fall too hard.

With the help of Bagon's rock head, it can do a double edge without the recoil damage. It uses Brick Break to deal with ice types, but because it has poor defense, it often attacks first. [1]

In the video games
Bagon is found in Meteor Falls, specifically in an area of Meteor Falls that requires Pokémon with the moves Surf and Waterfall to get to. Bagon has average Attack and Defense stats like most Basic stage Pokémon, so it is captured mostly for its evolution. It evolves into Shelgon at level 30 and then into Salamence at level 50. Bagon has the Rock Head ability. With this ability, it does not receive recoil damage from moves such as Double-Edge.

Bagon is often compared to Dratini, Larvitar and Beldum by fans of the video games to be the prevolution to one of the most powerful Pokémon in the game. Just as Dragonite in Pokémon Red and Blue, Tyranitar in Pokémon Gold and Silver and Metagross in the 3rd generation, Bagon's second stage evolution, Salamence, has above average stats that are some of the highest in the game, even higher than Legendary Pokémon. Also, like Dratini, Larvitar and Beldum, Bagon's first stage evolution is also fairly good, and better than a lot of fully evolved Pokemon, thus, why all these Pokemon evolve at late levels.

In the anime
Bagon has had one anime appearance in "Episode 319: Let Bagons Be Bagons!". In this episode, it was owned by a trainer who was trying to get it to evolve into a Shelgon because her Bagon had a fascination with flying and kept jumping off cliffs to do it. One also appeared recently, in "Episode 464: Pokemon Center Is Very Busy"