- QC: 2/3 [BKC | Lavos Spawn]
- GP: 0/3 [None]
- Finished? [No]
[Overview]
<p>Although the BW2 move tutors brought new moves to Magnezone's arsenal, it still brought a lot of threats to it as well. For instance, Garchomp, Kyurem-B, Landorus-T, Thundurus-T, and many pokemon getting Superpower means Magnezone will have to switch out more often. The common fire-, ground-, and fighting-type weaknesses is still problematic in this metagame. Combine that with a poor 60 base Speed stat and that makes seem like a mediocre pokemon. Magnezone also has trouble breaking past Blissey and Chansey which every special attacker suffers. Magneton, Magnezone's previous evolution has a higher speed as well.</p>
<p>However, do not make these bad traits fool you not to use Magnezone. When looking at it's abilities, one will be impressed. It gains Magnet Pull, an ability that trap and eliminate steel-types, allowing pokemon such as Dragonite, Salamence, Kyurem-B, and Haxorus spam their lethal Outrages and help other pokemon like Swords Dance Scizor clean teams with Bullet Punch. With Dream World giving it Analytic, it can make it's Choice Specs set so strong that even Choice Specs Palkia, who is Ubers, even jealous. Magnezone is also the heart of DragMag teams and despite its common weaknesses, Magnezone's steel-typing has some nifty resistances that let it take Outrages with its 115 base Defense stat and can go toe to toe against BoltBeam coverage. Magnezone even has access to BoltBeam itself when using Hidden Power [Ice]. Despite the huge amount of new threats that destroy it, Magnezone still keeps its niche as a powerful, bulky, steel killing, special attacker, the main reason it has stayed in OU this generation as well.</p>
[SET]
name: Non-Choice
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Charge Beam / Flash Cannon
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire
item: Leftovers
ability: Magnet Pull
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While the other sets are based on plowing holes or cleaning weakened teams, this set takes a different approach, setting up Substitute and taking out two pokemon almost always guaranteed. By using Substitute on the various steel-types and setting up with Charge Beam until the steel-type loses, you can are most likely to get hold of a +3 Boost to your Special Attack taking out one foe and the other almost always being KOed as they break the substitute. Even after the steel-types have been removed, you can still make this set work well because its powerful without Special attack boosts. Unlike the other sets, this set isn't prone to be set-up on from the likes of Landorus-T and Garchomp. The EVs are fairly simple. 252 Speed with Timid Nature makes you outrun neutral base 70s such as Politoed.</p>
<p>This set's moveset is standard. Substitute is a good move to let you evade status, a move that could KO Magnezone, and make sure you take no damage that is below 25%. Flash Cannon can be used over Charge Beam if extra coverage is more important. Flash Cannon also helps due to the extra power as well. Flash Cannon hits an extra group of pokemon, namely Mamoswine, Kyurem, Terrakion, and Tyranitar. All of these pokemon can actually take a boosted Thunderbolt, considering Terrakion is used in sand. Hidden Power Ice provides extra coverage and Hidden Power Fire should be used with Flash Cannon because it is outclassed by Hidden power Ice when paired with Charge Beam. Thunderbolt is the reliable STAB move when set-up. Just like most users of Substitute, Leftovers is the choice to gain HP lost by Substitute.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Thunder should always be used on a rain team due to the extra power. An optional spread by taking away 36 Spe EVs and investing them into HP can be viable still outspeeding Adamant Scizor, but out speeding Politoed and Breloom is important. If you prefer a more bulky set, an EV spread of 152 HP / 180 SpA / 176 Spe can be used to outpace Taunt Skarmory. An Air Balloon can be used to evade ground-types from choice-locked users such as Landorus.</p>
<p>Reuniclus is a good partner here because it lets Magnezone "outpace" certain threats. A Quiet nature is preffered with the Trick room set but when paired with the Calm Mind variant, Magnezone and Reuniclus can eliminate and set-up on each others counters such as Gastrodon and Blissey, respectively. Blissey commonly comes in due to the threat of Explosion being gone. To make use of Magnezone's godsend ability, pokemon that can make use of the annihilation of steel-types are good teammates. Examples are Bulky Swords Dance Scizor, Choice Scarf Salamence and Garchomp, Choice Band Kyurem-B, Choice Specs Latios, Jellicent, and Gyarados. Gyarados even has excellent synergy with Magnezone.</p>
<p>Volt Switch can be used over Substitute if you prefer of using an all-out attacker set, but this can be easier done by using an Expert Belt. Since, Magnezone faces problem with ground-type moves, Levitate user is also a good teammate. For instance, Hydreigon can switch in easily and break through walls Magnezone fails to do so. Basically, if Magnezone traps the steel-type, the only way to live is Shed Shell or phaze it away, so a good teammate is Physically Defensive Hippowdon. It can easily shrug off moves aimed at Magnezone after the steel-type has been elimanated. It can even use Ice Fang to combat the ground-types that threaten Magnezone or use Earthquake to cause solid damage. However, Hippowdon cannot take pokemon down fighting-types with Ice Punch since most 2-3HKO and Breloom as well who can threaten with Seed Bomb or Technician Bullet Seed.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Flash Cannon
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Choice Specs
ability: Magnet Pull / Analytic
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Magnezone's most powerful set and the closest thing out there to Special Choice Band Scizor. This set's niche is not neither to clean or gain Special Attack boosts, but to break huge holes in the opponent's defenses. By slapping a pair of Choice Specs on, Magnezone reaches a jaw-breaking 591 Special Attack which can easily fry teams to crisp. Volt Switch is the crux of the set. It deals huge amounts of damage while gaining momentum. With Volt Switch and the appropriate coverage move, it can punish it's counters or checks if predicted correctly. Flash Cannon is you reliable secondary STAB, but has poor coverage, but the move has no immunities which makes that a huge plus over Volt Switch. Finally, Thunderbolt is your reliable and even more powerful move that makes sure you do not switch out after use.</p>
<p>Since Magnezone has above average defenses sitting at 70/115/95, Modest really doesn't bring anything special other than a more Special Attack. Timid brings an important flight of extra speed so you can neutral outspeed Politoed, Metagross, Skarmory, and Breloom. Bar Metagross, all of them are common. If you are not scared of Scizor to U-turn out before you KO, you can still run a Modest nature. The EVs are meant for max power and allow it to interestingly outspeed neutral base 70s by 1 point as said previously. Choice Specs Politoed is the most important one of these to take out for sun teams to win the weather wars or in general.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Thunder should always be used on rain teams for the important paralysis chance and to get it many notable 2HKOes. Note, however, that the paralysis chance can be counter-productive when paired up with the ability, Analytic. Speaking of Analytic, it may seem like a useless choice because it's main niche, trapping steels, is now gone; however, Analytic gives Magnezone so much firepower when slower, Choice Specs Analytic-boosted Thunder can actually 2HKO 4/252+ Chansey with only a little prior damage! This is a common reality considering Chansey doesn't carry Leftovers. It can even OHKO Specially Defensive Heatran after Stealth Rock. If using this ability, remember to use an EVs 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef with Quiet or Modest Nature. Modest Nature should be primarily be used as being out sped by Hippowdon and getting KOed by Earthquake is really bad. Since Magnezone forces a lot of switches, the next pokemon will take severe damage because Analytic gets a boost as well if the opponent switches.</p>
<p>Just like other Magnezone sets, other Hidden Power types are viable for certain threats. Hidden Power Water should be used on rain teams to destroy Heatran and Volcarona that can switch on a non-analytic set due to their high Special Defense stats. Hidden Power Ground completely destroys Heatran, and more importantly, electric-types, which resist Magnezone's STAB. Hidden Power Dragon can be used if neutral coverage is more important than hitting dragon-types harder. Though, you will miss out on grass-, flying-, and ground-types. Sleep Talk can be used to counter Sleep Powder Roserade, Spore Breloom and Amoonguss, and Hypnosis Politoed, so you are not a sleeping duck when you are inflicted by this status, but you will rarely use this move. Because Magneton gain Tri Attack, Magnezone can use this move for excellent neutral coverage, but this should only be used with Analytic as it is weak due it lacking STAB.</p>
<p>Politoed is an excellent teammate for Magnezone. First of all, Politoed gives Magnezone the ability to use a powerful Thunder. Second of all, Politoed can easily switch in to Magnezone. For example, Politoed's weaknesses are grass and electric which are resisted by Magnezone. Magnezone can even Volt Switch back so Politoed can either spread status, change the weather, or just destroy most of Magnezone's counters. Ninetales may seem like an odd teammate but it actually helps Magnezone boost the power of Hidden Power Fire and also Magnezone is an electric-type and can destroy rain teams that mostly are packed with water- and flying-types to help the weather wars. Salamence, Dragonite, Haxorus, Kyurem, Latias, Latios, and Kyurem-B are all pokemon that can abuse and kill of steels that interfere these pokemon to spam Outrages and Draco Meteors. Magnezone is the heart of DragMag teams as mentioned before, and dragon-types should almost always be paired with Magnezone. In fact, all of these pokemon listed work well in rain too. Dragonite gets Waterfall. Salamence gets Hydro Pump. Latios gets Surf. Kyurem and Kyurem-B help have great synergy and Haxorus can use Aqua Tail. Gyarados, Mamoswine, Weavile, Gliscor, and Landorus-I and -T have great synergy with Magnezone as well. Since this set is weak to Terrakion, Keldeo, Breloom, Heatran, Hydreigon, Hippowdon, etc., by a margin due to Magnezone's low speed, a Choice Scarf user that can take down these pokemon is greatly appreciated such as Rotom-W and Scizor, the latter being able to form a strong and bulky VoltTurn core.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ground
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Flash Cannon
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Magnet Pull
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>When first visiting the Choice Scarf set, this set seems to be completely outclassed by Magneton who has higher speed, preventing it from being outsped by Starmie (By 1 point) and also Dugtrio, Alakazam, and Jolteon. However this set has some traits that separate it from Magnezone. Since Magneton cannot use an Eviolite at the same time, Magneton has the amount of bulk as cardboard. Magneton also misses out from a bunch of OHKOes due to it's only 120 base Special Attack stat, lower than Magnezone. If bulk and power is more important, Magnezone is definitely the superior option.</p>
<p>Like most Choice Scarf users that get Volt Switch or U-turn, Volt Switch is still the crux of the set by gaining momentum. With a Choice Scarf it can get rid of more steel-types before they get another layer of spikes such as Skarmory, Metagross, and Jirachi. Hidden Power Ground is even more useful on this set because it can outspeed Heatran and KO it. It even helps more of getting more damage on pokemon such as Ninetales and opposing Magnezone. However, Hidden Power Fire and Ice are superior due to the extra coverage the provide. Thunderbolt is your more powerful STAB that makes sure you do not switch and helps in late-game sweeping. Flash Cannon is your secondary STAB that hurts Tyranitar, Mamoswine, Kyurem-B, and mainly because it is safe when there are immunities to Thunderbolt on the opposing field. Max Special Attack and Speed are chosen to outspeed the Lati twins, Terrakion, and other pokemon sitting over the base 61 Speed bench.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set is geared more towards revenge killing so a Timid Nature is mandatory. Using a Modest Nature would involve being outsped by a a lot of pokemon Timid can outspeed. On a rain team, Thunder is even more important due to the power loss. Other Hidden Power types like Hidden Power Flying are usable like as said in the past two sets and the Other Options. However, on this set, Hidden Power Ice should almost be used. Magnezone now outspeeds Gliscor, Garchomp, Haxorus, Hydreigon, Dragonite, Celebi, Latios, Latias, and most of these are weak to it making it the main option. Hidden Power Fire is a pretty bad move to be locked in due to the abundance of rain but helps it take down Ferrothorn and other steel-types easier which is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Dragon-types with Choice Bands and Choice Specs are now even more viable now due to the jump in Magnezone's speed. Choice Band Kyurem-B and Choice Band Garchomp are examples on the physical side. On the special side, Choice Specs Latios and Choice Specs Kyurem are other examples. Reuniclus is a interesting teammate because it's counters are removed by Magnezone, especially the Calm Mind set. The Trick Room set is a huge con with Magnezone's speed, however. Explosion may have lost a lot of it's potential because it doesn't halve your opponents defenses, but still packs a lot of power and destroys Blissey because it hits her weak physical Defense. Choice Band Scizor, Breloom, and Dragonite are partners that help defeat finish off the pokemon taking the Volt Switch using their strong priority moves. Scizor can even run a VoltTurn core with Magnezone and defeat each others counters such as Jellicent. The two are both steel-types so they both have numerous resistances to switch in to. This is best paired in rain due to their similiar fire-type weaknesses.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>As said before, Thunder should always be used on rain teams. The extra power gets Magnezone a lot of notable OHKOes. The Dual Screens set that was effective in BW1 has been removed because it loses a lot offensive presence, is outclassed by Latios, loses valuable moveslots, and in general, Magnezone has better thing to do with it's time. The BW2 move tutors have given it some new tricks to combat its counters. Electroweb can slow down its counter while lowering there speed, Terrakion is an example, and then KO them with the appropriate move. The move, however, wastes a valuable move slot for Magnezone and cannot slow down ground-types which are the main things Magnezone wants to bypass. Signal Beam is a good move because it destroys Celebi and Alakazam, also hitting Reuniclus, Latias, Latios, and Jolteon for good damage. This move has more potential with Analytic to deal more damage on the bulkier pokemon mentioned. Magnet Rise is an option to avoid ground-type moves but Magnezone would rather use Air Balloon. RestTalk works surprisingly well on paper, because of Magnezone's good bulk, but remember about Magnezone's common weaknesses and the new mechanics make this strategy harder to use than expected. Finally, you have Gravity for gravity-based teams which boosts the accuracy of Zap Cannon to a respectable accuracy, however Gravity is generally considered a gimmick and other users outclass it.</p>
<p>Magnezone gains Discharge which is useful on non-rain teams, but the power loss is noticeable. Other Hidden Powers let it take down it's counters suddenly and unexpectedly. Heatran is mowed down by Hidden Power Ground. Hidden Power Psychic or Flying can be used to defeat fighting-types like Conkeldurr, Keldeo, Breloom, Infernape, and Terrakion, but remember that you will have to give up other useful coverage for this. Hidden Power Water is a good move on rain teams because it gains pseudo-STAB and has good coverage with Thunder. A support set is possible and can set-up entry hazards with Magic Coat. Espeon and Xatu do this better and the only thing that you benefit is the extra resistances and to awe the opponent that his/her move backfired. After that, they will see Magic Coat coming. This move can be spammed on steel-types. Toxic and Thunder Wave also support the team too. Sunny Day or Rain Dance help aid in the weather wars. These are in other options for a reason because the moves in the sets provided or the additional comments are better.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Unfortunately, BW2 brought a lot of new threats that can wipe Magnezone off the map, so checking it is fairly easy. Garchomp can OHKO it with Earthquake. Landorus-T does the same thing, and same with the Incaranate form. Basically any decently powered ground-type move will easily KO it. Even Sunkern's Earth Power makes Magnezone yell merci. Fighting-type moves do a huge amount of damage too. A Close Combat from the like of Terrakion, or Lucario easily destroy it. Finally there is Ninetales who bring out sun which makes Magnezone's fire-type weakness greater and this team can easily turn it into crisp due to almost every pokemon having a fire-type move available on it. Even with Magnezone Base 115 Defense, some damaging moves are too much for it like Gyarados's Waterfall and Choice Band Kyurem-B's Outrage. Some pokemon that Magnezone traps can easily deal with Magnezone too. Forretress has Volt Switch and can even Earthquake it. Skarmory carry Shed Shell sometimes and can Whirlwind it away. Ferrothorn, while it cannot do anything, it can set-up hazards until Stealth Rock + 3 Layers of Spikes. Finally, Scizor can just U-turn out. Terrakion and anything with 61 base Speed that is viable to run a Choice Scarf is a good counter so there is not threat of being outpaced by Choice Scarf Magnezone. Dugtrio is currently the best check due to it living with a Focus Sash, come into thunderbolt with immunity, trap and OHKO with Earthquake. Alakazam can do the same thing using a Focus Sash but Magnezone can switch and will not be trapped. Gothitelle can hit it hard with Hidden Power Fire if rain is not present, but it can escape by using Volt Switch.</p>
<p>Countering, however, is a different story. Due to the immense power of Magnezone when running the ability named Analytic, countering is near to impossible having the power of even more than Choice Specs of Latios. Even Blissey and Chansey are 2HKOed with some prior damage, making checking it the better option. If Magnezone runs Magnet Pull, it is much easier to check, but then there is a threat of your steel-types being trapped. The only group of pokemon that resist it's STAB are electric-types. Considering that most of them are frail will not be doing it any favors. Thundurus-T is hurt by Hidden Power Ice and Jolteon is 2HKOed by Hidden Power. Heatran can switch into non-Analytic sets, but has to be careful of Hidden Power Ground. Bulky Grass-types are hit hard by Hidden power Fire and pokemon such as Gliscor are mowed down by Hidden power Ice. Wobbefut can trap and Mirror Coat Magnezone, and if it uses Volt Switch, it can punish the next pokemon coming in if it is not a dark-type.</p>
