03/29/24, 08:13
#218 | Slugma | Pokédex Strategy Moves Database | Swinub | #220 |
This article gives you ideas of how to use Magcargo in battle in the Pokémon Black, Pokémon White and Pokemon B2W2 Games. It lists popular movesets used by competitive battlers, as well as a description on how to use each set to help you understand why the moves were chosen. These popular sets are usually the best to use in battle and so reading this guide will help you in your team building.
Gen 4: OverviewGenerally Magcargo is used on good old balanced NU/UU teams. Magcargo fulfills some kind of defensive role while other stronger Pokémon usually handle the real offensive front. Any team that needs a crucial bug, ice, normal or flying resist, (and more) then Magcargo is an adequate choice. It can also be used on teams with sandstorm, as it is a Rock-type so it gets a nice Special Defense boost.
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Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Flame Body | Bold | leftovers | 252 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 220 | 0 | |
There are no current set statistics analysed |
This is Magcargo’s most used set, as it utilizes it’s strengths: it’s somewhat good defenses. With this it can tank some hits, heal himself and spread some status or help support it´s team.
Lava Plume is a nice attack that can cause a much appreciated burn to those trying to break through Magcargo’s defenses. But, if you’d rather use Wil-O-Wisp, then feel free to use the other fire moves if you desire a little more punch. Then you can support your team with Stealth Rocks, or set up a screen, depends on the needs of your team, Magcargo does a nice job at both. Recover is absolutely required for this set as its what makes this set work in the first place. In the last slot, it’s a toss up between various status moves to force switches and punish things coming in to stop Magcargo. Let it be noted that if one likes, they can drop another support option in favor of Earth Power or Hidden Power Rock if your team doesn’t really need that kind of help from Magcargo.
The EVs and Nature are up for tweeking to fit your team´s needs, this particular spread is a more balanced one that relies on burns and a screen to really work defensively on both ends. Magcargo is never 2HKO’ed by CB Dodrio’s Brave Bird with this spread either. The EVs also still ensure that Magcargo isn’t 2HKO’ed by a CB Adamant Slaking’s Return or Mild Mixed Magmortar’s Cross Chop, and the rest in Special Defense allow it to not be 2HKO’ed by a Modest CS Glaceon’s Hidden Power Fighting. It is also able to survive one Focus Blast from the likes of CS Magmortar, and rarely 2HKO’ed by LO Exeggutor’s Solar Beam. You can add more to Defense if you like, but it tanks most resisted hits like a champ anyhow, and there isn’t much you can do to tank Water and Ground attacks. Also, it should be noted that these calcs were done assuming that there was no Sandstorm.
Leftovers is an obvious Item choice, and Flame Body is the only useful ability. Plus, it might make physical attackers think twice before attacking you.
Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Flame Body | Modest | choice specs | 176 | 0 | 0 | 252 | 0 | 80 | |
There are no current set statistics analysed |
This is the basic Choice set that tries to help out with Magcargo’s only decent attacking stat. At the same time, it can be reasonably bulky and deliver hits as it takes them.
The move set is rather obvious. First there is your Fire-type STAB, Overheat does more immediate damage, but Fire Blast does more damage over two turns. If both the Special Attack drop form Overheat and the accuracy of Fire Blast is off putting, you can also use Heat Wave or Flamethrower, but the loss of power is hurtful. Furthermore, if you really think you need to burn stuff, go with Lava Plume, but again, the loss of power is not recommended. AncientPower is Rock STAB with the added bonus of maybe raising all of your stats. Yes, Hidden Power Rock is stronger, but you need another Hidden Power to make this set work better, namely Hidden Power Grass to knock off the Water/Ground-types that would otherwise not really care about this set. Finally, Earth Power finishes up the set giving it great coverage in the lower tiers and provides an easier way to deal with the Rock/Steel-types that run around.
The EVs allow Magcargo to out-speed minimum speed Quagsires and Gastrodons and hurt them badly with Hidden Power Grass. 252 EVs go into the Special Attack stat for the sake of maximizing offensive potential. The rest is thrown into HP to give him some nice bulk that allows it to take hits better. This gives him 285 HP, an odd number, which incidentally allows him 4 switch-ins to Stealth Rock without fainting, (this is of course assuming that it is not taking any hits).
Magcargo is generally played as a defensive utility Pokémon, as it´s move pool is good enough and it´s defensive stats are not half bad all things considered. It’s best used to set up Stealth Rocks, spread status and wall the numerous Bug, Flying and Normal-type attacks in NU/UU.
Other OptionsWell, due to Magcargo’s horrible base 50 Attack stat, some of it´s other moves like Gyro Ball and Explosion have rather horrible damage output, not to mention that Gyro Ball just has poor coverage. Magcargo gets Sunny Day, which is nice for boosting it´s Fire-type attacks, and it can use it with Solar Beam to go real old school and deal with some Water-types easier, but it’s really a gimmick that a lot of other Pokémon can do better. Like most bulky things with Recover and, in Magcargo´s case, Protect, it can also run a Toxic Stall set, or it can use Stockpile or one of the other defense boosting moves it has access to in order to help Magcargo survive, but it’s just set up bait and pure gimmick again. Magcargo can run Curse, and has access to physical STAB, but it would take some time to set up to be any sort of threat. Hidden Power Electric can be used to give Mantine a little surprise, but it isn´t particularly useful out side of that situation. I suppose a Passho berry or a Shuca berry could suffice as an Item over Leftovers to weaken Water and Ground attacks respectively, but it´s not entirely recommended.
Usual CountersMagcargo’s fairly poor typing can be exploited by Ground and Water-type attacks that it is 4x weak to. Also, if these Pokémon are attacking form the special spectrum, they aren’t crippled by Burn. Pokémon like Gastrodon, Quagsire and Whishcash can all hurt Magcargo bad before it has a chance to poison them or something, and two of them can just Recover off the damage. These Pokémon are best able to switch into Magcargo if it is running Hidden Power Rock instead of Earth Power, however they should be wary of Hidden Power Grass on the Choice Specs set. If it is running Earth Power instead, then Pokémon like Pelipper and Mantine can come in safely. Camerupt resists or is at least neutral to anything Magcargo can throw at it, but should still watch out for Toxic. Politoad can tank even Hidden Power Grass attacks form the Choice Specs set and use Refresh to cure any status. Calm Mind sweepers with Substitute can set up in Magcargo’s face, special mention goes to Grumpig who can come in on Fire attacks easily with it’s Thick Fat ability. Lunatone can attempt to set up on some variants of Magcargo or just threaten immediately with Earth Power.
OpinionMagcargo is a defensive Pokémon that has somewhat fortunate stats and very unfortunate typing. It does a fine job of supporting it’s team but, there are a few other Pokémon who can do that job but better, especially in the higher tiers. Magcargo has a nice niche in NU because there are lots of Fliers and Bugs there, and it does just fine in that tier, but in the end, Magcargo just has too many weaknesses to common attacking types to be much use anywhere else.