[VGC 2017] Magnezone - Special Attacker Movesets
[VGC 2017] Magnezone - Special Attacker Movesets
![[Image: day_193___jibacoil___magnezone__shiny__b...86gv9n.jpg]](http://pre13.deviantart.net/383a/th/pre/i/2014/319/5/1/day_193___jibacoil___magnezone__shiny__by_autobottesla-d86gv9n.jpg)
Thanks to its Electric/Steel typing, Magnezone is a unorthodox, though strong pick to chose in the VGC format to utilize its type for both offensive and defensive purposes. Based on its BST, Magnezone is a rather slow, but capable Pokemon with high defensive stats and naturally 130 special attack which can certainly punch holes with it respective STABs. The Electric/ Steel-type and high base 115 Def / 90 SpDef, Magnezone resists about eleven types and immune to one, thus making it a great Pokemon to tank most hits in the format. In terms of abilities, Magnezone has three interesting ones to chose from with Magnet Pull trapping Steel-types, Sturdy allowing it to withstand a fatal hit, or Analytic to bolster its special attack even further if it can move last. With the prevalence of strong Fairy-type Pokemon such as the Island Guardians, Magnezone serves as one of the best checks to these Pokemon as it has natural resistances to both these types and a plethora of others.
Keep in mind, Magnezone still has some notable weaknesses, including against strong offensive types such as Ground-, Fire-, and Fighting-type Pokemon. It should be noted that Magnezone's Electric/Ground-typing, though strong makes it a target for any Pokemon with Ground-type moves or Ground-type Pokemon themselves to exploit. Even Magnezone's rather limited movepool is quite disappointing as it can only use its STABs, and a couple niche options. Regardless, its best to use Magnezone for its strong points, such as a powerful special attacker with high defensive qualities with its resistances. The fact Magnezone can withstand and take on all four of the Tapu Pokemon thanks to its STABs is reason enough to consider Magnezone as viable, especially with the options presented here.
![[Image: magnezone.png]](http://pokemonforever.com/images/pokeimages/gen4/magnezone.png)
Magnezone
Type:
Base Stats: 70 HP / 70 Attack / 115 Defense / 130 Special Attack / 90 Special Defense / 60 Speed
Weaknesses:
[x4] , 
[x2] , 
[x2]Resistances:
[x0.25], 
[x0.25], [x0.5], 
[x0.5], 
[x0.5], 
[x0.5], 
[x0.5], 
[x0.5] 
[x0.5], 
[x0.5], 
[x0.5]Immunities:
[x0]Ability 1 : Magnet Pull - Prevents Steel-types from switching out unless they have certain abilities/items.
Ability 2: Sturdy - Allows the user to withstand one hit which normally OHKOs, and granst inmunity to respective "OHKO" moves.
Hidden Ability - Analytic - Grants 30% boost in power if it moves last in the battle turn.
Electrium Z
Magnezone @ Electrium Z
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 50
EVs: 108 HP / 12 Def / 252 SpA / 52 SpD / 84 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire / Ice / Ground] / Magnet Rise / Substitute
- Protect
Milestones:
- Z-Thunderbolt OHKOs most Water- and Flying-types, including Celesteela, Araquanid, Milotic, etc.
- OHKOs most frailer Arcanine sets with Z-Thunderbolt.
- OHKOs 4 HP Tapu Lele and Tapu Koko (needs Electric Terrain) with Z-Thunderbolt
- HP Value to take less Hail Damage.
Magnezone @ Electrium Z
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 50
EVs: 108 HP / 12 Def / 252 SpA / 52 SpD / 84 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire / Ice / Ground] / Magnet Rise / Substitute
- Protect
Milestones:
- Z-Thunderbolt OHKOs most Water- and Flying-types, including Celesteela, Araquanid, Milotic, etc.
- OHKOs most frailer Arcanine sets with Z-Thunderbolt.
- OHKOs 4 HP Tapu Lele and Tapu Koko (needs Electric Terrain) with Z-Thunderbolt
- HP Value to take less Hail Damage.
With the Electrium Z, Magnezone can achieve OHKOs with Z-Thunderbolt which even the Choice Specs set couldn't. The goal of this Magnezone is simply to lure out certain Pokemon who are threatening to the team and immediately OHKO them with the Z-Thunderbolt, especially with Sturdy to withstand at least one hit. Magnezone's Electric/Steel typing allows it to combat the Tapu Quartet and Z-Thunderbolt has a chance to OHKO three of them in a single blow, provided they aren't too specially defensive in the first place. Given that Z-Thunderbolt is a one time use, make sure Magnezone can properly position itself to where it can lure any target and pick them off at the right time.
In terms of attacks, Magnezone's movepool is limited to STABs and few options, though reliable enough to make use. STAB Thunderbolt coming off a base 130 Pokemon like Magnezone can hit hard, especially against Water- and Flying-type opponents. Flash Cannon is Magnezone's special Steel-type coverage to hit opposing Fairy-type Pokemon for super effective damage. Hidden Power listed here depends on the what Pokemon Magnezone wants to target with HP Ice for Dragon Pokemon, Fire for Steel-types, and Ground for other Electric-types.
Other moveslots are rather interesting options, but useful in certain situations. Magnet Rise allows Magnezone to be "immune" to all Ground-type attacks for about 5 turns, allowing it to potentially wall them, including arguably the most popular Garchomp. Substitute allows Magnezone to create a decoy and let itself take utilize its naturally high defenses and resistances for the Sub to even withstand them.
For a list of damage calculations for this Magnezone set, see below for offensive calcs.
Offensive Calcs
In terms of attacks, Magnezone's movepool is limited to STABs and few options, though reliable enough to make use. STAB Thunderbolt coming off a base 130 Pokemon like Magnezone can hit hard, especially against Water- and Flying-type opponents. Flash Cannon is Magnezone's special Steel-type coverage to hit opposing Fairy-type Pokemon for super effective damage. Hidden Power listed here depends on the what Pokemon Magnezone wants to target with HP Ice for Dragon Pokemon, Fire for Steel-types, and Ground for other Electric-types.
Other moveslots are rather interesting options, but useful in certain situations. Magnet Rise allows Magnezone to be "immune" to all Ground-type attacks for about 5 turns, allowing it to potentially wall them, including arguably the most popular Garchomp. Substitute allows Magnezone to create a decoy and let itself take utilize its naturally high defenses and resistances for the Sub to even withstand them.
For a list of damage calculations for this Magnezone set, see below for offensive calcs.
Offensive Calcs
Choice Specs
Magnezone @ Choice Specs
Ability: Magnet Pull / Sturdy
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 12 Def / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice / Fire / Ground]
Ability: Magnet Pull / Sturdy
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 12 Def / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice / Fire / Ground]
Milestones:
- OHKOs most Water-types in the format who aren't specially bulky.
- Magnet Pull traps any Steel-type on the field while Sturdy allows Magnezone to live one hit.
-Takes less hail damage due to HP value.
- OHKOs most Water-types in the format who aren't specially bulky.
- Magnet Pull traps any Steel-type on the field while Sturdy allows Magnezone to live one hit.
-Takes less hail damage due to HP value.
Given Magnezone's high base special attack stat of 135, Choice Specs is a worthy item to allow the Electric/Steel-type to net some potential OHKOs or punch holes. With the Choice Specs item, Magnezone can OHKO most variations of the Tapus and even some common Pokemon with the combination of Thunderbolt and Flash Cannon. Thunderbolt is Magnezone's primary STAB of choice as it can OHKO most Water- and Flying-types Pokemon in the game such as Celesteela, Gyarados, Araquanid, Milotic, etc. Keep in mind with the prevalence of Tapu Koko, Choice Specs Thunderbolt can receive a further boost in power which can help Magnezone literally OHKO things like Arcanine or 2HKO specially defensive Porygon2. Flash Cannon is the secondary Steel-type STAB used for most of the Tapu Pokemon (bar Fini...but it gets roasted by Thunderbolt anyways) and the rest of the Fairy-, Rock-, and Ice-type Pokemon like Mimiyku, Gigalith, or Alolan Ninetales. Volt Switch allows Magnezone to switch out in case it needs to pivot out for an ally Pokemon, while still dealing notable damage. The last move, Hidden Power it based on whatever Magnezone needs to hit for super effective damage with HP Ice for Ground- and Dragon-types, HP Fire for Steel-types, and HP Ground for Electric- and Fire-types.
The following damage calculations show Modest Choice Spec Magnezone with its respective coverage options.
Offensive Calcs:
Sub Leftovers Trapper
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Def / 156 SpA / 44 SpD / 12 Spe
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Substitute
- Protect
Ability: Magnet Pull
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Def / 156 SpA / 44 SpD / 12 Spe
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Substitute
- Protect
Milestones:
- This is Wolfey Glick's Magnezone used at London IC.
- Takes Garchomp's -1 Earthquake with Intimdate Support.
- Takes two Life Orb Timid Psychic's from Tapu Lele.
- This is Wolfey Glick's Magnezone used at London IC.
- Takes Garchomp's -1 Earthquake with Intimdate Support.
- Takes two Life Orb Timid Psychic's from Tapu Lele.
This Magnezone is designed mostly to trap opposing Celesteela and wear them down with STAB Thunderbolts. The goal of the build is to setup a Substitute when Magnezone is position against Pokemon who can't break its Sub thanks to its naturally high defenses and resistances. Substitute allows Magnezone to use as a decoy while it can attack or continue to trap opposing Steel-type Pokemon for it to wear down, or have its partner beat. With gradual use of Substitutes, Leftovers slowly recovers Magnezone's HP by 1/16th every turn. For STABs, Thunderbolt can 2HKO opposing Water- and Flying-type Pokemon. Flash Cannon is aimed for Fairy-, Rock, and Ice-types who don't appreciate STAB Steel-type hits. Finally Protect allows Magnezone to replenish HP, scout for the opponent's attack, or position itself for the upcoming turn.
Offensive Calcs:
Defensive Calcs:
Potential Teammates include, but aren't limited to:
- Flying-types - Magnezone appreciates Pokemon who are part Flying-type as they are immune to Ground-type hits which the Electric/Steel-type can't take. (Ex. Gyarados, Salamence, Talonflame, Dragonite, Drifblim, etc.)
- Water-types - Given two of Magnezone's are mostly are Fire- and Ground-type Pokemon respectively, having Water-type Pokemon can help deal with these two types given their type advantage and overall bulk. ( Ex. Araquanid, Gyarados, Milotic, Gastrodon, Pelipper, Politoed, etc)
- Dragon-types - Some Dragon-type Pokemon can help out Magnezone deal with some of its foes, as it can deal with opposing Fairy-type Pokemon with its natural resistance and high defensive stats. ( Ex. Garchomp, Salamence, Goodra, Drampa, Dragonite, etc. )
- Fairy-types - Even Fairy-types appreciate Magnezone's potential trapping ability as it can take on most Steel-type Pokemon especially those who can't harm Magnezone back. ( Ex. Tapus, Mimikyu, etc)
- Intimidate Support - With its rather high defensive stats, Magnezone can utilize these Intimidate users to at least allow it to take further punishment. ( Ex. Arcanine, Krookodile, Gyarados, Salamence, etc).
- Trick Room Support - With its low base speed, Magnezone can make use of the Trick Room to now outspeed formerly faster opponents. ( Ex. Porygon2, Mimikyu, Oranguru, etc. )
- Grassy Terrain - With the help of Tapu Bulu, the damage of some Ground-type moves such as Earthquake is reduced by 50%.
Threats include, but aren't limited to:
- Ground types - Garchomp, Gastrodon, Krookodile, Mudsdale, etc.
- Fire-types - Arcanine, Incineroar, Alolan Marowak, Talonflame,etc.
- Fighting-types - Pheromosa, Buzzhole, Hariyama, etc.
- Snarl Spam - Arcanine, Mandibuzz, Krookodile, etc
- Dragon-types - Garchomp, Salamence, Goodra, etc
- Lightening Rod Users - Alolan Marowak, Togedemaru, etc
- Specially Defensive Pokemon - Gastrodon, Goodra, Porygon2, etc.
- Magnezone can utilize the 50% Berries such as Iapapa, Figy, Wiki, Mago, and Aguav Berry to replenish about 50% HP when at 25% mark.
- Life Orb can be utilize to give Magnezone an extra 30% damage, though at the cost of 10% of its HP.
- Shuca Berry can allow Magnezone to take about 50% reduced damage of Ground-type damage.
- Air Balloon is useful to allow Magnezone to be "immune" to all Ground-type attacks until it gets a direct hit.
- Steelium Z is another useful to lure common Fairy-types and net a OHKO.
GET IN THE ZONE...AUTO... I mean MAGNEZONE!
