Is Choice Specs or Choice Scarf better for Magmortar?

Is Choice Specs or Choice Scarf better for Magmortar? Heres the moveset I’m going with

Gen VII

Magmortar @ Choice Scarf / Choice SpecsAbility: Vital SpiritEVs: 252 SpA/ 140 SpD / 116 SpeModest Nature- Thunderbolt- Flamethrower- Psychic- Focus Blast

And also please explain why!

Pleaselog inorregisterto add a comment.

This holds true in general, and is definitely the case in NU, which is where Magmortar usually resides. The reasons for this:

[252 HP Vaporeon has a very high chance (99%) to be 2HKOed by Focus Blast with Specs after Stealth Rock damage, so it can’t switch in, whereas with Scarf, that becomes a 80% chance to 3HKO and Vaporeon can use Scald. Note that Vaporeon’s fastest typical set is still slower than Magmortar with 116 EVs invested]

Magmortar is not very fast to begin with, so it is easily revenge killed by faster Scarf sets and other fast Pokemon in general. Since it has a poor defensive typing and is susceptible to hazard damage and other passive damage, it can be KOed by priority.

Do note that these observations are made based on the NU usage, but the power creep as you rise above towards OU only means that Magmortar’s subpar base 83 Speed and its lack of 252 Speed EVs and no boosting nature only becomes that much more relevant and makes it less likely to be effective unless you achieve a very specific set of win conditions. Finally, a disclaimer: This answer does not take into account your other Pokemon and your playstyle, so while this holds in theory, your mileage may vary in practice.