Slugma are fiery Pokémon that appear to consist entirely of magma. They resemble slugs, with a pair of bright yellow eyes on short stalks and a small mouth. The magma inside its body acts as a circulatory system, transferring vital nutrients and oxygen throughout their bodies.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
As a Fire-type Pokémon composed of magma, Slugma is proficient at using attacks such as Lava Plume and Flamethrower.
Because of Slugma's abilities, Flame Body and Magma Armor, its body heat causes Pokémon eggs to hatch more quickly in its presence.
Behavior
Slugma have to keep moving in order to keep warm; if they stopped moving, the magma would cool and become rock, which would eventually break off and reduce this Pokémon's size. For this reason, they never sleep.
It is not known what these Pokémon eat, but they presumably consume soil and rocks to both keep the volume of their magma and collect vital nutrients for their bodies.
In the anime
Slugma in the anime
Major appearances
Slugma made its debut in the anime as one of Macy's Pokémon in Tie One On! and was used in her battle against Ash in the Silver Conference. At the end of the episode it had evolved into Magcargo.
Natasha has a Slugma that, with her Grovyle and Electrode, was used to protect her watermelon patch.
Slugma, the Lava Pokémon. Slugma have intensely hot magma which circulates throughout their bodies carrying nutrients and oxygen to their organs.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
A trio of Slugma first appeared in Volume 10. Professor Oak tried to capture them at the beginning of the volume, but failed. The Slugma later appeared outside Earl's Pokémon Academy at Violet City where they were captured by Crystal.
Mack uses his Slugma to create illusions by generating waves of distorted air via heat, forcing targets to relive their worst memories.
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 does not have any blood in its body. Instead, intensely hot magma circulates throughout this Pokémon's body, carrying essential nutrients and oxygen to its organs.
Despite multiple Pokédex entries claiming that it never sleeps and is on the move constantly, it can learn Rest, and is perfectly capable of sleeping.
Its Pokémon Emerald Pokédex entry contradicts its other Pokédex entries by stating it has to sleep near magma, instead of stating that it doesn't sleep at all.
Though it is supposedly made of magma, it appears that most Trainers can touch it without being badly burned. It shares this trait with Ponyta, Rapidash, and its evolution, Magcargo.
Additionally, while Murkrow and Houndour are catchable in Johto via the Safari Zone in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the only possible way to get a Slugma before obtaining the National Pokédex in HeartGold and SoulSilver is to receive it from Primo as an egg - it must otherwise be traded in or transferred from a Pokéwalker linked to a game which has already unlocked the National Pokédex.
Slugma is tied with Torkoal and Hitomoshi for the lowest Speed of all Fire-types.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.