Magneton is one of the more unique Electric-types in the tier, mainly due to its solid abilities in Magnet Pull and Analytic; the former allows Magneton to trap Steel-types and weaken them severely or potentially OHKO them in order to support its teammates in sweeping, while the latter turns Magneton into a dangerous wallbreaker when coupled with Choice Specs. Magneton also has a great typing both offensively and defensively, as it has a good STAB combination that hits a large portion of the tier for at least neutral damage and it also has the most resistances to offer for any Pokemon, which makes it easy for it to switch in and pressure the foe. However, Magneton has many flaws that hold it back, including a mediocre base 70 Speed that leaves it outpaced and threatened by a number of offensive threats. Its bulk is also middling, even when boosted by Eviolite, thanks to its low HP stat, and it also has to deal with weaknesses to common offensive types. Its movepool also leaves much to be desired, as it has very little to work with aside from Hidden Power for coverage.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Flash Cannon
move 3: Volt Switch
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
item: Choice Specs
ability: Magnet Pull
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Timid / Modest
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt and Flash Cannon are Magneton's primary STAB attacks, which have good coverage just by themselves, hitting important Pokemon in the tier such as Empoleon, Florges, Suicune, and Crobat for super effective damage. Volt Switch is used to keep offensive momentum while doing a decent amount of damage to most targets, as well as gradually wearing down Magneton's potential switch-ins. The Hidden Power type of choice can usually be adjusted to preference; Hidden Power Ice hits Gligar and Mega Sceptile for super effective damage, while Hidden Power Grass gets a nice super effective hit against Swampert and Seismitoad.
Set Details
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The given EV spread is self-explanatory, as maximum investment in Special Attack and Speed is used to make Magneton as fast and powerful as possible. A Timid nature is used to maximize Magneton's Speed, but a Modest nature is an option if you care more about Magneton's wallbreaking potential. Magnet Pull is used to trap Steel-types and weaken or KO them so that Magneton's teammates can have an easier time setting up and sweeping, although Analytic is an option if you prefer doing more damage overall.
Usage Tips
========
Because Magneton can trap and weaken Steel-types such as Empoleon and Forretress, it should be kept healthy until threats to it have been removed. Because Ground-types are immune to Volt Switch and Thunderbolt, Magneton should play cautiously around them, and it should use Flash Cannon if a switch to a Pokemon that resists Electric will be forced. Hidden Power should only be used if you're certain that the opponent will bring out a Pokemon that can be hit for super effective damage, as Hidden Power is otherwise very weak. Volt Switch should be used to gain momentum if Thunderbolt won't KO an incoming switch-in, as it lets Magneton switch into an appropriate answer to what the opponent brings in.
Team Options
========
Because Magneton is able to trap and weaken Steel-types, Pokemon that appreciate their removal, such as Slurpuff, Dragon Dance Salamence, and Haxorus, pair well with Magneton, because Steel-types such as Forretress can impede their sweep. Pokemon that can keep up offensive momentum with Magneton and form a VoltTurn core with it are also good partners, including Mega Beedrill, Crobat, and Mienshao. As Ground-types can stop Magneton from gaining momentum through Volt Switch, Pokemon that can remove these threats are appreciated; Shaymin, Swampert, and Suicune are prime examples of teammates that can fulfill this role. Magneton also benefits from entry hazard support, as many of its answers are worn down by having them in play. Again, Swampert is a very good partner, as it can deal with Fire- and Ground-types such as Darmanitan and Krookodile while also being able to set up Stealth Rock easily and also works well with Magneton's ability to check Water-types such as Suicune. Other entry hazard setters such as Roserade and Qwilfish also pair well with Magneton.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Magneton can run a Choice Scarf set to patch up its average Speed stat, but this makes it much weaker and it isn't as fast as other Choice Scarf users. Magnet Rise with Eviolite can be run so that Magneton won't have to worry about Ground-type moves. Charge Beam is an option to boost Magneton's Special Attack and can turn Magneton into a decent win condition, but it usually does not have the room in its moveset to run this. Sturdy can be used if you need Magneton to serve as a backup check to offensive threats; however, this requires Magneton to not take any damage, which can be difficult due to entry hazards, Sturdy and is not as useful as Magnet Pull or Analytic. Endure + Custap Berry is also an option for Magneton to check offensive threats in an emergency.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon with large natural Special Defense, such as Blissey, Snorlax, and Umbreon, can switch into Magneton's attacks and can heal off the damage with little trouble, although it is a little more difficult for the latter two to switch in if Magneton is running Analytic.
**Ground-type Pokemon**: Swampert, Seismitoad, and Quagsire are all good switch-ins to Magneton, as they are immune to Thunderbolt and Volt Switch and don't mind taking damage from Flash Cannon, although they must be wary of Hidden Power Grass. Specially defensive variants of Gligar can switch into Flash Cannon and heal off the damage, but it must be careful of Hidden Power Ice. Other Ground-types such as Krookodile, Nidoqueen, and Nidoking also put pressure on Magneton by preventing it from using Volt Switch too freely, but they cannot switch in on Flash Cannon, Hidden Power Ice, or Hidden Power Grass repeatedly.
**Faster Offensive Threats**: Fast, powerful Pokemon such as Infernape, Nidoking, Entei, Heracross, and Mienshao can take advantage of Magneton's mediocre Speed and either revenge kill it or force it out. However, none of them can directly switch into Magneton's attacks.
**Electric-types**: Offensive variants of Mega Ampharos, Heliolisk, and Rotom-H can all switch into Magneton's STAB attacks and hit Magneton for super effective damage with a coverage move or, in Rotom-H's case, Overheat. Jolteon is also a solid answer because it regains HP if hit by Volt Switch or Thunderbolt.
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