Hot Snail
[Overview]
<p>Magcargo is a Pokemon which has many crippling flaws that prevent it from shining in the limelight of the NU metagame. Due to its horrible typing, Magcargo not only has a Stealth Rock weakness, but it also sports 4x weaknesses to common Water and Ground-type moves, as well as a weakness to Fighting-type moves. To make matters worse, Magcargo has incredibly underwhelming Special Defense and HP, meaning that many powerful special attacks, such as Jynx's Focus Blast, will take it out after Stealth Rock. Despite these problems, Magcargo still makes a decent check to several important Pokemon in the NU metagame, including Swellow, Drifblim and Charizard, thanks to its key resistances to Normal-, Flying-, and Fire-type attacks. Magcargo also has a unique support movepool, including options such as Memento, Will-O-Wisp, and Stealth Rock, as well as a reliable recovery move. However, theses traits do not make Magcargo a good Pokemon and more often than not, other defensive Fire- and Rock-types, such as Torkoal and Regirock, will be better options for your team.</p>
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Recover
move 3: Lava Plume
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Flame Body
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set uses Magcargo's unique defensive typing to check various threats in the NU metagame, particularly Fire- and Normal-types such as Charizard and Swellow respectively. Because of this, Magcargo can find multiple opportunities to reliably set up Stealth Rock. In the second slot, Recover is to heal Magcargo from any damage it has taken. It should be noted that Magcargo's Stealth Rock weakness forces it to Recover against foes that it walls, slowing down the team's momentum. Lava Plume is a great STAB option thanks to its nifty 30% burn chance, which can cripple many common switch-ins, such as Golurk. However, despite its decent Base Power, most foes will take very little damage from it due to Magcargo's sub-par Special Attack. This forces Magcargo to use Toxic as its primary form of damage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EV spread allows Magcargo to tank weaker special attacks, such as Zebstrika's Thunderbolt, while still allowing it to survive relatively powerful physical attacks, such as Swellow's Facade. Magcargo has 0 Attack IVs so that it takes minimal damage from confusion and Foul Play. Hidden Power Rock or Hidden Power Grass can be used for STAB or to hit Water - and Rock-types, respectively. However, these moves have little utility outside of hitting specific targets. Will-O-Wisp can be used over Toxic to cripple physical attackers, but Lava Plume already has a decent chance to burn. Good partners for Magcargo include those who resist its weaknesses. Seismitoad is a good partner because it absorbs Magcargo's Water-type weakness and resists its Rock-type weaknesses. It can also use Stealth Rock and open up a moveslot for Magcargo. Misdreavus is another solid partner, as it's immune to both Fighting- and Ground-type moves and can heal Magcargo from status with Heal Bell.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Magcargo can run an offensive Shell Smash set with Fire Blast, Earth Power, and Hidden Power Grass, but it is very difficult for Magcargo to set up due to its common weaknesses. If you do decide to run a Shell Smash set, then Memento is a fine option over Earth Power, as it allows easier setup for Pokemon like Zangoose. A dual screens set is also viable, but it suffers from the same problem as the Shell Smash set. Clear Smog can be used to eliminate stat boosts, but its low Base Power is a turnoff and Magcargo has a hard time fitting it into one of its moveslots. Overheat and Fire Blast can be used for their power, but Lava Plume is usually the better choice thanks to its higher PP and higher chance to burn. Finally, a Sunny Day set with Heat Rock can be used, but Magcargo merely compounds the weaknesses that sun teams already have.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Magcargo is not very hard to counter thanks to its low Special Attack and common weaknesses. Carmerupt is Magcargo's best counter, as it can switch into anything Magcargo throws at it, barring Toxic, and annihilate it with Earthquake. Seismitoad is another good counter, as it can switch into most of Magcargo's moves and destroy it with either of its STAB attacks. Defensive variants fear status from Magcargo, however. Probopass and Torkoal only fear the rare Earth Power, and both of them can retaliate with their own Earth Power. Golurk and Carracosta can both outspeed and OHKO Magcargo with their STAB attacks. In general, any Pokemon faster than Magcargo with a super effective attack can be considered a check to it.</p>
[Overview]
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Recover
move 3: Lava Plume
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Flame Body
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SDef
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
- Not much going for it in NU
- Horrible typing, giving it a weakness to the common Fighting, Water and Ground attacks as well as Stealth Rock while also making it an ineffective check to most Normal and Flying types, unlike most Rock Types
- Underwhelming HP and Special Defense
- Outclassed by other defensive Fire and Rock Types like Torkoal and Regirock
- Decent check to Pokemon such as Swellow, Driftblim and Charizard
- Has reliable recovery and cool support moves like Stealth Rocks, Will-O-Wisp and Memento
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Recover
move 3: Lava Plume
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Flame Body
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SDef
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
- Uses Magcargo's unique defensive typing to check various pokemon in the NU tier, especially Fire Types like Charizard, something that not many other pokemon are capable of doing
- Thanks to Magcargo's unique typing, it can often set up Stealth Rock against foes such as as Weezing, Charizard and Swellow
- In the second slot, Recover is to heal Magcargo from any damage it has taken
- Lava Plume is Magcargo's main STAB move thanks to its 30% Burn Chance and decent bse power
- Toxic is Magcargo's primary form of damage and cripples common switch-ins such as Seismitoad and Alomomola
- The given EV Spread allows Magcargo to tank weaker Special attacks like Zebstrika's Thunderbolt (assuming Stealth rock is not on the field), while still allowing it to tank relatively powerful physical attacks
- Hidden power Rock can be used for STAB, while Hidden Power Grass can maime Water and Rock Types, but Toxic already cripples these pokemon and has utility outside of hitting specific targets
- Will-O-Wisp, but Lava Plume already has a decent chance to burn
- Good partners for Magcargo include those that resist its weaknesses
- Seismitoad is a good partner since it resist Magcargo's Water and Rock Weaknesses
- Misdreavus is another good partner since its immune to Ground and Fighting moves
- A Shell Smash set with Fire Blast, Hidden Power Grass and either earth power or memento can be used, but Magcargo's common weaknesses prevent it from setting up
- Clear Smog
- Dual Screens
- Overheat and Fire Blast for power, but Lava Plume is usually the better choice thanks to its burn chance and both moves come off of Magcargo's poor base 80 special attack
- Sunny Day with Heat Rock, but it compounds the weaknesses that Sun teams have
- Seismitoad can Switch in and destroy Magcargo with Scald, but it must watch out for Toxic
- Camerupt can tank anything that Magcargo throws at it and KO it back with Earthquake, but it should also watch out for Toxic
- Probopass only fears the rare Earth Power and can deal a tremendous amount of damage back with its own Earth Power
- Torkoal only fears Hidden Power Rock and Earth Power and can either set up a Shell smash, or OHKO back with Earth Power
- Golurk and Carracosta can both outspeed and OHKO Magcargo
- In general, any Pokemon that is faster and carries a super effective move can be considered a check to Magcargo
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