RU Spotlight: Magneton

By Andromeda.. Art by Bummer.
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Magneton by Bummer

Magneton's History

Magneton is a Pokémon from Kanto. In RBY, it was practically unviable, as there were a lot of Ground-types, and there weren't many coverage options for Magneton back then. Come GSC, and Magneton is seen mostly running a RestTalk set with a Hidden Power to account for its lack of coverage. Its Electric / Steel typing meant it had a plethora of resistances, leading it to become UU. In ADV, Magneton was used to trap Skarmory and Forretresss, usually paired with a couple of physically offensive Pokémon so that they could sweep once Skarmory was gone. However, the threat of Dugtrio meant Magneton was only used in teams that really hated Skarmory.

In DPP, Magneton had a niche over Magnezone in OU because of its higher Speed with Choice Scarf, allowing it to outspeed key Pokémon such as Starmie and Alakazam. In NU, it was used more as a hard hitter than a trapper due to the lack of good Steel-types in the tier. In BW, Magneton fell into the newly formed RU and was a great Pokémon, primarily used as a Steel-type trapper. It ran Eviolite to trap Escavalier, Choice Specs to trap Steelix and Aggron, while it ran Choice Scarf to work as the best revenge killer to Durant, one of the biggest threats in BW RU.

As XY came, Magneton stayed in RU and dropped to NU in early ORAS, where it was broken and was banned via suspect. Magneton rose to RU, mainly being used to trap Mega Steelix with its Magnet Rise + Hidden Power Fire set. Magneton was usually paired with Tyrantrum, as most teams used Mega Steelix to check Tyrantrum. After Mega Steelix and Tyrantrum were banned, Magneton became more prominent, as its best check in Mega Steelix was banned. Moreover, the rise of Flying-type Pokémon, especially Fletchinder and Substitute + Bulk Up Braviary, meant that Magneton became even more useful. Now in RU, Magneton runs Choice Specs with Analytic as its ability in order to punish switches.

Magneton's Qualities

With Mega Steelix's departure, Magneton lost one of its best checks. Yes, Magneton was previously used to trap and beat Mega Steelix, but that set was limiting Magneton's true potential: a Choice Specs set. Moreover, ever since Mega Steelix and Tyrantrum were banned, Flying-types such as Braviary and Fletchinder became more common. Fletchinder, especially, lost two of its best offensive counters, and its checks were just passive Pokémon, which lose momentum most of the time. This led trainers to use Magneton even more. Magneton's amazing typing allows it to check a handful of Pokémon despite its subpar bulk, such as Venusaur, Fletchinder, and Substitute + Bulk Up Braviary. But the main thing Magneton does is it punishes switch-ins, since it will be able to easily use a Volt Switch on bulky Water-types and heavily dent the Pokémon that switches into it.

Magneton can also opt for running Magnet Pull in order to trap Registeel and Bronzong, although it isn't that reliable at trapping, as Registeel can beat it one-to-one with Seismic Toss, while Bronzong can spam Psywave or use Earthquake. Moreover, Magneton can also run Sturdy to fare better versus offense, but Analytic is preferred, as it helps Magneton wallbreak much more easily.

Playing with Magneton

Magneton

This is Magneton's best set at the moment. Volt Switch and Thunderbolt hit Water-types, OHKOing most of them, while Volt Switch takes advantage of switches forced by Magneton and gains momentum alongside doing massive damage thanks to Analytic. Flash Cannon is used to hit Ground-types, which are immune to Electric-type attacks. Flash Cannon is very useful, as opponents tend to switch to their Ground-types on Magneton, which then get nuked by an Analytic-boosted Flash Cannon. Finally, Hidden Power Water is used to hit Mega Camerupt, which otherwise checks Magneton well, while Hidden Power Grass allows Magneton to beat Seismitoad, which is also another nice check to it.

Other Options

Although Choice Specs is Magneton's best set at the moment, it can also opt for running Choice Scarf sets to act as a revenge killer and trapper. Although Choice Scarf Magneton lost its niche after Durant was banned, Sturdy and Analytic are also nice abilities alongside this set. The Sturdy set is often paired with Hidden Power Ice to lure in and KO Flygon, which the Analytic set hits somewhat hard if the foe switches out. Nevertheless, Choice Scarf Magneton is noticeably weaker and should not be used unless completely necessary.

Eviolite Magneton is also viable in RU, especially paired with Analytic; it allows Magneton to switch moves, which can throw the opponent off when they predict it to be Choiced. Having Eviolite also lets Magneton check specially offensive Venusaur better, as it can take a Life Orb Leaf Storm more easily. Eviolite Magneton can also opt for running Magnet Rise in order to avoid being revenge killed by Ground-types such as Dugtrio and Flygon. However, the power difference is still noticeable, and Magneton prefers having Choice Specs as its primary item.

Playing Against Magneton

The best way to deal with Magneton is to predict which move it will use, assuming it is carrying Choice Specs. You're safer if you have a Mega Camerupt, Steelix, or a Seismitoad in your team, but bulky Pokémon such as Registeel and Bronzong can switch into it. Rhyperior, Dugtrio, and Flygon can switch into Magneton if predicting a Electric-type attack and can retaliate to KO it. Dugtrio especially can trap Magneton and KO it, which is great when paired with a Pokémon with U-turn, particularly Braviary or Fletchinder.

Providing offensive pressure is also a nice way to take on Magneton, as it is easy to take down by faster, hard-hitting Pokémon due to its mediocre Speed and bulk. Therefore, Pokémon such as Medicham, Heat Wave Sigilyph, Meloetta, Hoopa, Choice Scarf Emboar, Virizion, Sawk, Gurdurr, Delphox, Houndoom, and Scrafty can take Magneton down with their super effective attacks and can beat it one-on-one.

Fitting Magneton into the team

Magneton, being a great Volt Switch user and wallbreaker, is great on bulkier teams that need a wallbreaker to take down the opposing team. Therefore, Magneton is great on teams with bulky Pokémon, such as Alomomola, Jellicent, Slowking, Rhyperior, Flygon, and Blastoise, that mitigate Magneton's weakness to Fire-types. Magneton also appreciates U-turn users and can form a VoltTurn core with these Pokémon. It is even better if the partner resists Fighting, which Magneton is weak to, so Uxie and Scyther are nice teammates. Magneton also appreciates Choice Band Flygon as a VoltTurn partner, as it can form a wallbreaking duo with it. Magneton also appreciates Pokémon that benefit from bulky Water- and Rock-types being off the field; thus, Fletchinder, Sigilyph, and Braviary are also excellent teammates. Finally, it should be noted that Magneton is a wallbreaker, so it appreciates Pokémon that can sweep late-game when the opponent's team has been weakened. Therefore, Pokémon such as Choice Scarf Medicham, Virizion, Sneasel, Scrafty, and Choice Scarf Flygon make for good partners.

Get out there!

As the metagame shifts to its favor, Magneton looks like one of the biggest threats in RU at the moment. Try it out—it is definitely a very fun Pokémon to use, and stay tuned to see what happens next!

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