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.
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 Love, Pokémon Style and was used in her battle against Ash in the Silver Conference. At the end of the episode, it had evolved into Magcargo.
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.
In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
Slugma is Giovanni's first-revealed Johto Pokémon. It was part of Giovanni's evil scheme in PM073.
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, 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 Litwick for the lowest Speed of all Fire types.
Slugma has the lowest base stat total of all Fire-type Pokémon.
Origin
Slugma is based on a slug with a body of lava. It may also be based on the Cherufe, evil creatures of rock and magma that inhabit the magma pools found deep within Chilean volcanoes. Slugma's Shiny form may be based on cooled, hardened magma, which becomes a dark, metallic color. The form may also be based on solder, a liquid metal that is extremely hot and hardens when it cools, similarly to lava.