What is a good moveset for Magcargo?
If you have a good competitive moveset for Magcargo,post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.
Be sure to includefull set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated.Access the full list of guidelines here.
Magcargo Pokédex and learnsetfor reference.
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Gen V
Magcargo (M) @ Light Clay
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 252 Def / 128 SAtk / 128 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
I know this moveset sounds stupid, but hear me out-
Magcargo @ LeftoversAbility: Flame BodyBold NatureEVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 SpeIron Defense- Raises already high DefenseFlamethrower / Recover- STAB Flamethrower, what’s not to love? OR you can just be a jerk with Recover.Amnesia- Raises already high Special DefenseToxic- Slowly kill them
This moveset is mainly for stalling and trolling.
Offensive MagcargoA fun set to run and can get some surprising Ko’s even sweeps.Gen V
Magcargo @Life Orb
Ability: Weak Armor
EV: 56 Hp / 200 SAtk / 252 SpeTimid Nature (+Spe , -Atk)
Earth Power- Coverage
Ancient Power- More STAB and is Magcargo’s only special rock type attack. Also get a chance to get a scummy boost in all stats
Give it a try and it’ll surprise you from time to time
Role: Trick Room Sweeper
Gary (Magcargo) (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 SDef
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
I use a Magcargo as a Physical Wall and it’s very useful. You have to be aware of Water and Ground type attacks that are relatively easy to predict. And don’t put him against special sweepers.
Role: Defense wall
Magcargo @ Air Balloon / LeftoversAbility: Flame BodyEVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpABold Nature- Lava Plume- Recover- Hidden Power [Rock] / Ancient Power- Toxic / Will-O-Wisp
Easy. Put Magcargo against Physical offense Pokemons and see that it can be very good. You can choose into Toxic, WOW for the first slot, if you want to counter walls Toxic is more useful, and Lava Plume has a good chance of burning. I prefer WOW, but just because I want to make sure that Magcargo will burn if it needs. But I usually don’t need to use it, because Flame Body and Lava Plume take care of it. Recover is a very reliable recovery move, so after burning or poisoning (Making the physical adversary even more weak against Magcargo) you can Recover and make a big problem to the defensive Pokemon. Lava Plume a good STAB move. You can choose Hidden Power [Rock] or Ancient Power. I prefer Ancient Power, because you don’t need to attack to much with Magcargo, so the lack of PP is not a big problem, the second reason is breeding with Hidden Power is very annoying, the third point is that when Ancient Power’s secondary effect works, it’s a great bonus.
Magcargo counters: everything that uses Water and Ground type attacks. Pokemon that use Special Attack are something to take care about.
More gimmicks. Yay.
Magcargo @ Focus SashAbility: Weak ArmorEVs: 28 Def / 252 SpA / 228 SpeTimid NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Shell Smash- Guard Swap- Flamethrower- Ancient Power
Step 1: Shell Smash on an opponent that is setting up defensive stats.Step 2: Guard Swap the negative stat changes onto your target and take their positive stats. Basically a white herb as a move.Step 3: Kill it with fire.
Move Options:Flamethrower and Ancient Power can be swapped for coverage moves like Earth Power, Clear Smog, Hidden Power (Grass), or even Solar Beam for sun teams. I don’t recommend defensive moves like Acid Armor or Amnesia because you’ll just lose them to either Shell Smash or Guard Swapping them onto your opponent. You could run Fire Blast or Overheat for extra power too. Recover isn’t a horrible option, as long as you change the ability to something other than Weak Armor.
EVs:With the speed investment, a +2 from Shell Smash, and a possible +1 from Weak Armor, Magcargo hits 420 speed, enough to outspeed Adamant Ninjask on switch in and kill it with Flamethrower. The special attack EVs are to maximize its power, and the rest are dumped into Defense to maintain some of its bulk after Guard Swap.
This moveset is a little average, but it has served me well.
Magcargo @ LeftoversAbility: Flame BodyCalm Nature (+SpD, -Atk)EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Moves:
