Statistics
|
Stat |
| HP |
50
|
303 |
| Atk |
60
|
218 |
| Def |
95
|
288 |
| SpA |
120
|
338 |
| SpD |
70
|
238 |
| Spe |
70
|
238 |
No Magnet Pull here, but Magneton can still manage. The general idea is to Substitute when you get in to prevent any kind of status afflictions, and then go from there. Hidden Power Water is probably optimal for the Super Effectiveness on Nidoking, Steelix, Rhydon, and Golem. If they send in Exeggutor or a Special Wall, Thunder Wave will ensure that they don't leave completely unscathed. If you're using Magneton in a completely underused environment, you might want to opt for Hidden Power Grass for a cool 4x coverage of Quagsire.
Other Options
The type of Hidden Power you use can vary widely; in addition to Water, viable choices include Ice (for most Grounds and Grass-types), Grass (most Ground-types), and Fire (Grass-types and Steelix). Reflect is good to pass around the team, and if your team is cut out for it, you can use Toxic on special walls (Snorlax especially) and make them take damage every turn. The poison damage Snorlax takes in addition to a Thunderbolt will translate into a good chunk of its health.
Opinion
Magneton is a really cool Pokémon, but it's also kind of an oddball. Like Ampharos and Lanturn, Magneton lacks the distinguishing Speed of most Electric-types. Gaining the Steel typing from RBY gave it a few more resistances, and it has good Defense, but it also has horrible HP (also, its Special Defense leaves something to be desired). Its movepool is pretty limited, but it does have awesome Special attack and STAB on Thunderbolt. Magneton is a good choice for an underused team, as it can counter all of those Cursing Sleep Talkers with Reflect and repeated Thunderbolts. In order to work in standard, however, Magneton needs support to take out those Special walls that will almost always block it. Once they are out of the way, however, Magneton can actually be a formidable opponent, and that resistance to Normal attacks can always come in handy.
Counters
Prediction, really. Anything that has a Ground, Fire, or Fighting move will kill Magneton, but make sure it can absorb a strong Thunderbolt or Hidden Power. The most obvious are Blissey, Snorlax, and Fire Punch Electabuzz/Ampharos.
