[OVERVIEW]
Steel
========
* Magnezone helps Steel-types in checking Water-types and relieves some pressure off Ferrothorn by taking care of Keldeo, Slowbro, and Tapu Fini fairly easily.
* It's one of the best pivots of the type due to its access to STAB Volt Switch.
* It also is a Thunder Wave sponge and is the only viable Pokemon to do so other than Excadrill.
* Magnezone is one of the few Landorus checks the type has.
* It traps and beats Skarmory, which is painful to face with a Steel team otherwise.
* It lacks a good movepool and has to rely on Hidden Power Fire for decent coverage.
* A lack of high Speed lets it be outsped by Greninja, Mega Aerodactyl, and Alakazam, and common Choice Scarf users such as Excadrill, Heracross, and Terrakion threaten to KO Magnezone.
* Being 4x weak to Ground means Magnezone is almost always death fodder versus Ground teams.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Flash Cannon
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Magnet Pull
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Volt Switch allows Magnezone to pivot out of threats while inflicting damage. It can help Magnezone escape matches that are unfavorable to it, such as Mega Venusaur and Zapdos, and gain momentum in the process.
* Thunderbolt is used in order to hit harder, KOing Volcanion and Keldeo, which Volt Switch cannot do.
* Flash Cannon is used to hit Fairy-, Ice-, and Rock-types, such as Tapu Bulu, Mamoswine, Tyranitar, and Cradily, and is a nice spammable attack that hits most Pokemon neutrally.
* Hidden Power Fire is used to hit trapped threats such as Ferrothorn and Scizor.
* On the other hand, Hidden Power Ice can be used to take care of Landorus, Dragonite, Garchomp, and Gliscor, all big threats for Steel teams.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment is used so Magnezone can outspeed almost the entire unboosted metagame and hit as hard as possible, as well as OHKO Keldeo.
* Choice Scarf allows Magnezone to outspeed threats such as Keldeo and Infernape.
* A Timid nature is the preferred choice because Magnezone would otherwise be too slow to outspeed threats.
* Magnet Pull traps Steel-types that are a nuisance to the team.
Usage Tips
========
* It is useful to have entry hazards on the opponent's side. With Volt Switch, Magnezone can punish the opponent for further switching.
* Magnezone should be cautious when using an Electric-type move when there's a Ground-type or any Electric-immune Pokemon like Swampert, Landorus-T, or Lightning Rod Alolan Marowak. Magnezone would lose momentum if those Pokemon switched into Electric-type attacks.
* Keeping entry hazards off the field is recommended, as Spikes and Sticky Web hinder Magnezone's performance.
* Magnezone is a great lead by using its fast Volt Switch to get out of bad situations if necessary.
* Switch Magnezone in versus Flying or Steel teams when you expect them to switch to Skarmory or Celesteela and eliminate them.
* Magnezone should be hard switched out whenever you feel the opponent will switch to Landorus, Thundurus, or Gliscor to later lure them in to KO with Hidden Power Ice.
* Wear the opposing team down, then use Magnezone to clean with a STAB move.
* Volt Switch is very spammable, and Magnezone can chip HP off the specially defensive walls that tend to switch into Magnezone.
Team Options
========
* Heatran is absolutely necessary in all Steel teams due to it being a fantastic Stealth Rock user, immune to Fire, and a good check to special attackers. Air Balloon + Earth Power Heatran is a great partner because Magnezone can Volt Switch and pop the opposing Heatran's Air Balloon, putting the opponent in a big disadvantaged position in Steel mirror matches.
* Skarmory or Celesteela are mandatory due to them being immune to Ground-types' STAB moves such as Excadrill and Hippowdon, and they can provide support with Spikes and Leech Seed respectively. Skarmory is a great switch-in to physical attackers as well, while Celesteela can pressure Steel-types with Earthquake.
* Choice Scarf Excadrill can help Magnezone deal with Electric- and Fire-types such as Tapu Koko, Rotom-W, Volcanion, and Entei with Earthquake and Rock Slide. It can also serve as a cleaner too. Rapid Spin support from Excadrill can help Magnezone pivot more easily with Volt Switch.
* Spikes support is appreciated by Magnezone, so Ferrothorn and Skarmory are recommended. Ferrothron also helps Magnezone to take care of Ground-types, most notably Swampert, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad.
* Mega Scizor can bring Knock Off utility in removing items off others, deal with special walls that Magnezone has trouble with such as Chansey, and take on Terrakion. Also, Magnezone appreciates Mega Scizor's presence in weakening defensive Pokemon. Doublade can also be used to check Fighting-types like Terrakion, Breloom, Cobalion, and Hawlucha. Both of these Pokemon appreciate Magnezone being able to take out Skarmory.
* Magearna can wallbreak and set Magnezone up for a sweep later on. Alternatively, it can also be a sweeper, which appreciates Magnezone's support in bringing it in or trapping Pokemon like Mega Scizor that wall it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Steel
--------
* Sturdy can be used to check Sand Rush Excadrill, but it works only when entry hazards are off the field.
* Choice Specs with or without a Modest nature can be used to hit harder, but Magnezone loses the Speed it needs.
* Hidden Power Grass can be used to beat Gastrodon, Seismitoad, and Swampert, but other teammates are better at handling them.
Checks and Counters
===================
Steel
--------
**Alolan Marowak**: Alolan Marowak counters Magnezone completely and immediately threatens Magnezone and its team with the possibility of a Flare Blitz, Shadow Bone, or Earthquake.
**Lanturn**: Lanturn is immune to Electic-type attacks and resists all the other moves Magnezone has. It can also threaten Magnezone with Scald.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types resist Flash Cannon forcing Magnezone to use Volt Switch or Thunderbolt, which makes it become setup fodder for Mega Charizard X. Heatran takes its hits pretty well, and Volcarona can set up on it.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types are immune to Electric-type attacks and so block Magnezone from pivoting around. Gastrodon, Seismitoad, and Excadrill resist Flash Cannon, so they are better checks, although the former two should look out for Hidden Power Grass.
**Faster Pokemon**: Greninja, Starmie, Alakazam, and Choice Scarf users with a higher Speed stat, such as Victini, Kyurem-B, Terrakion, Darmanitan, and Heracross, threaten Magnezone, as they outspeed it.
**Electric-types**: Rotom-C and Rotom-H are solid checks to Magnezone, as they resist its STAB moves. Zapdos has good Special Defense stat to take on any hits from Magnezone.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Zapdos and Chansey are too bulky for Magnezone to break through due to their high Special Defense stat.
Steel
========
* Magnezone helps Steel-types in checking Water-types and relieves some pressure off Ferrothorn by taking care of Keldeo, Slowbro, and Tapu Fini fairly easily.
* It's one of the best pivots of the type due to its access to STAB Volt Switch.
* It also is a Thunder Wave sponge and is the only viable Pokemon to do so other than Excadrill.
* Magnezone is one of the few Landorus checks the type has.
* It traps and beats Skarmory, which is painful to face with a Steel team otherwise.
* It lacks a good movepool and has to rely on Hidden Power Fire for decent coverage.
* A lack of high Speed lets it be outsped by Greninja, Mega Aerodactyl, and Alakazam, and common Choice Scarf users such as Excadrill, Heracross, and Terrakion threaten to KO Magnezone.
* Being 4x weak to Ground means Magnezone is almost always death fodder versus Ground teams.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Flash Cannon
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Magnet Pull
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Volt Switch allows Magnezone to pivot out of threats while inflicting damage. It can help Magnezone escape matches that are unfavorable to it, such as Mega Venusaur and Zapdos, and gain momentum in the process.
* Thunderbolt is used in order to hit harder, KOing Volcanion and Keldeo, which Volt Switch cannot do.
* Flash Cannon is used to hit Fairy-, Ice-, and Rock-types, such as Tapu Bulu, Mamoswine, Tyranitar, and Cradily, and is a nice spammable attack that hits most Pokemon neutrally.
* Hidden Power Fire is used to hit trapped threats such as Ferrothorn and Scizor.
* On the other hand, Hidden Power Ice can be used to take care of Landorus, Dragonite, Garchomp, and Gliscor, all big threats for Steel teams.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment is used so Magnezone can outspeed almost the entire unboosted metagame and hit as hard as possible, as well as OHKO Keldeo.
* Choice Scarf allows Magnezone to outspeed threats such as Keldeo and Infernape.
* A Timid nature is the preferred choice because Magnezone would otherwise be too slow to outspeed threats.
* Magnet Pull traps Steel-types that are a nuisance to the team.
Usage Tips
========
* It is useful to have entry hazards on the opponent's side. With Volt Switch, Magnezone can punish the opponent for further switching.
* Magnezone should be cautious when using an Electric-type move when there's a Ground-type or any Electric-immune Pokemon like Swampert, Landorus-T, or Lightning Rod Alolan Marowak. Magnezone would lose momentum if those Pokemon switched into Electric-type attacks.
* Keeping entry hazards off the field is recommended, as Spikes and Sticky Web hinder Magnezone's performance.
* Magnezone is a great lead by using its fast Volt Switch to get out of bad situations if necessary.
* Switch Magnezone in versus Flying or Steel teams when you expect them to switch to Skarmory or Celesteela and eliminate them.
* Magnezone should be hard switched out whenever you feel the opponent will switch to Landorus, Thundurus, or Gliscor to later lure them in to KO with Hidden Power Ice.
* Wear the opposing team down, then use Magnezone to clean with a STAB move.
* Volt Switch is very spammable, and Magnezone can chip HP off the specially defensive walls that tend to switch into Magnezone.
Team Options
========
* Heatran is absolutely necessary in all Steel teams due to it being a fantastic Stealth Rock user, immune to Fire, and a good check to special attackers. Air Balloon + Earth Power Heatran is a great partner because Magnezone can Volt Switch and pop the opposing Heatran's Air Balloon, putting the opponent in a big disadvantaged position in Steel mirror matches.
* Skarmory or Celesteela are mandatory due to them being immune to Ground-types' STAB moves such as Excadrill and Hippowdon, and they can provide support with Spikes and Leech Seed respectively. Skarmory is a great switch-in to physical attackers as well, while Celesteela can pressure Steel-types with Earthquake.
* Choice Scarf Excadrill can help Magnezone deal with Electric- and Fire-types such as Tapu Koko, Rotom-W, Volcanion, and Entei with Earthquake and Rock Slide. It can also serve as a cleaner too. Rapid Spin support from Excadrill can help Magnezone pivot more easily with Volt Switch.
* Spikes support is appreciated by Magnezone, so Ferrothorn and Skarmory are recommended. Ferrothron also helps Magnezone to take care of Ground-types, most notably Swampert, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad.
* Mega Scizor can bring Knock Off utility in removing items off others, deal with special walls that Magnezone has trouble with such as Chansey, and take on Terrakion. Also, Magnezone appreciates Mega Scizor's presence in weakening defensive Pokemon. Doublade can also be used to check Fighting-types like Terrakion, Breloom, Cobalion, and Hawlucha. Both of these Pokemon appreciate Magnezone being able to take out Skarmory.
* Magearna can wallbreak and set Magnezone up for a sweep later on. Alternatively, it can also be a sweeper, which appreciates Magnezone's support in bringing it in or trapping Pokemon like Mega Scizor that wall it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Steel
--------
* Sturdy can be used to check Sand Rush Excadrill, but it works only when entry hazards are off the field.
* Choice Specs with or without a Modest nature can be used to hit harder, but Magnezone loses the Speed it needs.
* Hidden Power Grass can be used to beat Gastrodon, Seismitoad, and Swampert, but other teammates are better at handling them.
Checks and Counters
===================
Steel
--------
**Alolan Marowak**: Alolan Marowak counters Magnezone completely and immediately threatens Magnezone and its team with the possibility of a Flare Blitz, Shadow Bone, or Earthquake.
**Lanturn**: Lanturn is immune to Electic-type attacks and resists all the other moves Magnezone has. It can also threaten Magnezone with Scald.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types resist Flash Cannon forcing Magnezone to use Volt Switch or Thunderbolt, which makes it become setup fodder for Mega Charizard X. Heatran takes its hits pretty well, and Volcarona can set up on it.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types are immune to Electric-type attacks and so block Magnezone from pivoting around. Gastrodon, Seismitoad, and Excadrill resist Flash Cannon, so they are better checks, although the former two should look out for Hidden Power Grass.
**Faster Pokemon**: Greninja, Starmie, Alakazam, and Choice Scarf users with a higher Speed stat, such as Victini, Kyurem-B, Terrakion, Darmanitan, and Heracross, threaten Magnezone, as they outspeed it.
**Electric-types**: Rotom-C and Rotom-H are solid checks to Magnezone, as they resist its STAB moves. Zapdos has good Special Defense stat to take on any hits from Magnezone.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Zapdos and Chansey are too bulky for Magnezone to break through due to their high Special Defense stat.
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