[OVERVIEW]
As the only fully-evolved Electric-type in PU, Magneton has a very unique role&mdash it is the only Pokemon that is able to consistently beat both Fearow and Seaking one-on-one, two of the tier's most dangerous offensive threats. Magneton isn't just relegated to facing these two Pokemon, though; it also beats Staryu and Scyther with ease, and it has a decent matchup against the tier's Fire-types thanks to its access to Thunder Wave and massive base 120 Special. Magneton is also quite bulky; it is overwhelmingly favored to survive Fearow's Double-Edge into Hyper Beam barring critical hits and always survives Scyther's +2 Hyper Beam. On the special side, it is only 4HKOed by Surf from Seaking and Staryu, and 3HKOed by Fire Blast from the Fire-types.
Despite all these upsides, Magneton has one critical flaw that prevents it from being one of the top threats in the metagame&mdash it is useless against Nidoqueen. Magneton's movepool is limited to Electric-type moves and Normal-type moves coming off of a measly base 60 Attack, leaving it helpless against Nidoqueen. Nidoqueen can even set up a Substitute against Magneton, as its Hyper Beam only has a 46.2% chance to break the Substitute. This matchup means that Magneton is extremely exploitable if the opponent still has a healthy Nidoqueen, as Nidoqueen coming in for free and forcing Magneton out can be devastating. However, Nidoqueen is used as a lead somewhat often, and not every team carries Nidoqueen, meaning Magneton is able to avoid this terrible matchup completely. Magneton also faces similar issues versus the less common Graveler, which also effortlessly switches into Magneton and forces it out. Additionally, although Magneton has many favorable matchups, it generally cannot take advantage of all of them in one game, as its low Speed and lack of reliable recovery means it will be worn down over the course a match. For example, if Magneton switches into Seaking's Surf, then takes another Surf as it KOes Seaking, it is now in range for of Fearow's Hyper Beam. Overall, Magneton has many positive traits that make it a solid Pokemon worth using in PU, but its Nidoqueen matchup keeps it from being a top threat.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Thunder Wave
move 3: Hyper Beam
move 4: Screech / Thunder
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Thunderbolt is Magneton's most consistent move. It 2HKOes Seaking, OHKOes Staryu, and has a 64.1% to OHKO Fearow and a 79.5% chance to OHKO Scyther. The move also 3HKOes most neutral targets, such as Arcanine and Porygon. Thunder Wave allows Magneton to spread paralysis against faster foes such as Fearow, Fire-types, and boosted Seaking. Hyper Beam is used primarily to finish off a low HP Nidoqueen; for example, it is put into Magneton's Hyper Beam range after taking a Double-Edge followed up by a Hyper Beam from Fearow. Magneton's fourth move is more flexible. Screech is used to catch Nidoqueen on a switch. If Nidoqueen switches into Magneton as it uses Screech, Hyper Beam now does a minimum of 44.9%. However, Magneton still has to take an Earthquake from Nidoqueen in this case. Another option is switching to Fearow on Nidoqueen's Earthquake to threaten a 2HKO with Double-Edge. Thunder has a 64.1% chance to OHKO Seaking, which is an effective 44.5% chance factoring in the move's accuracy. Although these odds are low, it can be useful in certain endgames to preserve Magneton's health to check another foe, such as Fearow, or if Magneton is in OHKO range for Surf. However, in most cases it is safer to go for the guaranteed 2HKO from Thunderbolt. Thunder can also be useful against Gastly, Abra, and Porygon. Thunderbolt has a low chance to 2HKO the former two, while Thunderbolt followed up by Thunder is guaranteed on both. Thunderbolt never 2HKOes Porygon outside of a critical hit, while Thunderbolt followed up by Thunder has an 80.6% chance to KO.
It is important to try to not reveal Magneton until the opponent's Ground-type, most commonly Nidoqueen, is KOed or heavily weakened. If Magneton is revealed too early, the opponent will be inclined to preserve their Ground-type to wall it. Gameplans revolving around Magneton often rely on using Fearow and Fire-types to lure in opposing Ground-types and trade hits with them, facilitating Magneton later on. Because of this, Fearow and Fire-types are great teammates for Magneton. Lead Arcanine can trade hits with opposing Nidoqueen lead to wear it down in the first few turns of a battle. Magneton can switch into Water-types fairly safely, but it is riskier to switch into Fearow. One common way of getting Magneton in on Fearow is by switching Gastly into a predicted Normal-type move, then switching Magneton in as Fearow uses Drill Peck on Gastly, making Gastly an important teammate. Magneton generally lets one play more aggressively with their Gastly as they can switch into Magneton as Fearow revenge kills it. Once Magneton is on the field, it should paralyze the foe then attack it; if the opponent's Nidoqueen is still alive, Magneton can facilitate a double switch to a teammate like Staryu, or it can use Screech as Nidoqueen comes in, then go to Fearow on Earthquake, leaving Nidoqueen in 2HKO range. If Nidoqueen uses Substitute as Magneton switches out, Fearow can break the Substitute then OHKO it with Hyper Beam the next turn, since it does a minimum of 85.3%.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Double-Edge can be used to force damage on Nidoqueen without the recharge turn of Hyper Beam, but it is often better to just use Screech or switch out if you anticipate a Nidoqueen coming in. Magneton can run a set of Reflect + Rest to try to wall Fearow and overall give it more longevity, but Fearow's high critical hit rate make this unreliable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Graveler and especially Nidoqueen are by far Magneton's biggest issues. Magneton is helpless against them and allows them to safely set up a Substitute and force it out. Nidoqueen is also faster than Magneton. Both of these Pokemon are also hard to switch into, and considering how fast-paced PU is, this momentum sink could be disastrous. The rare Sandslash can also switch into Magneton and set up Swords Dance for free.
**Faster Attackers**: Since Magneton is slow, it can slowly get worn down by faster attackers, even if it beats them one-on-one. Even though Magneton can beat Fearow, Seaking, Scyther, and Staryu, it typically cannot take on all of them in one game, as they will all hit Magneton with damage that it won't be able to heal off. Fire-types make effective revenge killers as well, especially if Magneton is weakened.
**Vileplume**: The rare Vileplume resists Thunderbolt, taking a maximum of 19.5% while also not taking much from Magneton's Normal-type moves thanks to its high bulk and Magneton's low Attack. This means Vileplume can safely switch into Magneton and use Sleep Powder. Even if Sleep Clause is active, Vileplume is free to set up Swords Dance on Magneton, having a 71.8% chance to OHKO it at +4 Attack.
[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gastlies.540559/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
As the only fully-evolved Electric-type in PU, Magneton has a very unique role&mdash it is the only Pokemon that is able to consistently beat both Fearow and Seaking one-on-one, two of the tier's most dangerous offensive threats. Magneton isn't just relegated to facing these two Pokemon, though; it also beats Staryu and Scyther with ease, and it has a decent matchup against the tier's Fire-types thanks to its access to Thunder Wave and massive base 120 Special. Magneton is also quite bulky; it is overwhelmingly favored to survive Fearow's Double-Edge into Hyper Beam barring critical hits and always survives Scyther's +2 Hyper Beam. On the special side, it is only 4HKOed by Surf from Seaking and Staryu, and 3HKOed by Fire Blast from the Fire-types.
Despite all these upsides, Magneton has one critical flaw that prevents it from being one of the top threats in the metagame&mdash it is useless against Nidoqueen. Magneton's movepool is limited to Electric-type moves and Normal-type moves coming off of a measly base 60 Attack, leaving it helpless against Nidoqueen. Nidoqueen can even set up a Substitute against Magneton, as its Hyper Beam only has a 46.2% chance to break the Substitute. This matchup means that Magneton is extremely exploitable if the opponent still has a healthy Nidoqueen, as Nidoqueen coming in for free and forcing Magneton out can be devastating. However, Nidoqueen is used as a lead somewhat often, and not every team carries Nidoqueen, meaning Magneton is able to avoid this terrible matchup completely. Magneton also faces similar issues versus the less common Graveler, which also effortlessly switches into Magneton and forces it out. Additionally, although Magneton has many favorable matchups, it generally cannot take advantage of all of them in one game, as its low Speed and lack of reliable recovery means it will be worn down over the course a match. For example, if Magneton switches into Seaking's Surf, then takes another Surf as it KOes Seaking, it is now in range for of Fearow's Hyper Beam. Overall, Magneton has many positive traits that make it a solid Pokemon worth using in PU, but its Nidoqueen matchup keeps it from being a top threat.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Thunder Wave
move 3: Hyper Beam
move 4: Screech / Thunder
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Thunderbolt is Magneton's most consistent move. It 2HKOes Seaking, OHKOes Staryu, and has a 64.1% to OHKO Fearow and a 79.5% chance to OHKO Scyther. The move also 3HKOes most neutral targets, such as Arcanine and Porygon. Thunder Wave allows Magneton to spread paralysis against faster foes such as Fearow, Fire-types, and boosted Seaking. Hyper Beam is used primarily to finish off a low HP Nidoqueen; for example, it is put into Magneton's Hyper Beam range after taking a Double-Edge followed up by a Hyper Beam from Fearow. Magneton's fourth move is more flexible. Screech is used to catch Nidoqueen on a switch. If Nidoqueen switches into Magneton as it uses Screech, Hyper Beam now does a minimum of 44.9%. However, Magneton still has to take an Earthquake from Nidoqueen in this case. Another option is switching to Fearow on Nidoqueen's Earthquake to threaten a 2HKO with Double-Edge. Thunder has a 64.1% chance to OHKO Seaking, which is an effective 44.5% chance factoring in the move's accuracy. Although these odds are low, it can be useful in certain endgames to preserve Magneton's health to check another foe, such as Fearow, or if Magneton is in OHKO range for Surf. However, in most cases it is safer to go for the guaranteed 2HKO from Thunderbolt. Thunder can also be useful against Gastly, Abra, and Porygon. Thunderbolt has a low chance to 2HKO the former two, while Thunderbolt followed up by Thunder is guaranteed on both. Thunderbolt never 2HKOes Porygon outside of a critical hit, while Thunderbolt followed up by Thunder has an 80.6% chance to KO.
It is important to try to not reveal Magneton until the opponent's Ground-type, most commonly Nidoqueen, is KOed or heavily weakened. If Magneton is revealed too early, the opponent will be inclined to preserve their Ground-type to wall it. Gameplans revolving around Magneton often rely on using Fearow and Fire-types to lure in opposing Ground-types and trade hits with them, facilitating Magneton later on. Because of this, Fearow and Fire-types are great teammates for Magneton. Lead Arcanine can trade hits with opposing Nidoqueen lead to wear it down in the first few turns of a battle. Magneton can switch into Water-types fairly safely, but it is riskier to switch into Fearow. One common way of getting Magneton in on Fearow is by switching Gastly into a predicted Normal-type move, then switching Magneton in as Fearow uses Drill Peck on Gastly, making Gastly an important teammate. Magneton generally lets one play more aggressively with their Gastly as they can switch into Magneton as Fearow revenge kills it. Once Magneton is on the field, it should paralyze the foe then attack it; if the opponent's Nidoqueen is still alive, Magneton can facilitate a double switch to a teammate like Staryu, or it can use Screech as Nidoqueen comes in, then go to Fearow on Earthquake, leaving Nidoqueen in 2HKO range. If Nidoqueen uses Substitute as Magneton switches out, Fearow can break the Substitute then OHKO it with Hyper Beam the next turn, since it does a minimum of 85.3%.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Double-Edge can be used to force damage on Nidoqueen without the recharge turn of Hyper Beam, but it is often better to just use Screech or switch out if you anticipate a Nidoqueen coming in. Magneton can run a set of Reflect + Rest to try to wall Fearow and overall give it more longevity, but Fearow's high critical hit rate make this unreliable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Graveler and especially Nidoqueen are by far Magneton's biggest issues. Magneton is helpless against them and allows them to safely set up a Substitute and force it out. Nidoqueen is also faster than Magneton. Both of these Pokemon are also hard to switch into, and considering how fast-paced PU is, this momentum sink could be disastrous. The rare Sandslash can also switch into Magneton and set up Swords Dance for free.
**Faster Attackers**: Since Magneton is slow, it can slowly get worn down by faster attackers, even if it beats them one-on-one. Even though Magneton can beat Fearow, Seaking, Scyther, and Staryu, it typically cannot take on all of them in one game, as they will all hit Magneton with damage that it won't be able to heal off. Fire-types make effective revenge killers as well, especially if Magneton is weakened.
**Vileplume**: The rare Vileplume resists Thunderbolt, taking a maximum of 19.5% while also not taking much from Magneton's Normal-type moves thanks to its high bulk and Magneton's low Attack. This means Vileplume can safely switch into Magneton and use Sleep Powder. Even if Sleep Clause is active, Vileplume is free to set up Swords Dance on Magneton, having a 71.8% chance to OHKO it at +4 Attack.
[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gastlies.540559/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Last edited:
