What is a good moveset for Magcargo?

Question

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 include full 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 learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Gen V

Magcargo (M) @ Light Clay

Trait: Flame Body

EVs: 252 Def / 128 SAtk / 128 SDef

Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)

• Lava Plume
• Memento
• Reflect
• Light Screen

Comments

how do you copy directly from po

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The "export" button, then just copy and paste.

Answer 2

I know this moveset sounds stupid, but hear me out-

Magcargo @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
Bold Nature
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Iron Defense- Raises already high Defense
Flamethrower / Recover- STAB Flamethrower, what's not to love? OR you can just be a jerk with Recover.
Amnesia- Raises already high Special Defense
Toxic- Slowly kill them

This moveset is mainly for stalling and trolling.

Comments

That's absolutely diabolical.

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Somebody give this man BA, cause he knows what he's talking about

Answer 3

Offensive Magcargo
A 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 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe , -Atk)

• Shell Smash - Idea is to tank first hit activating Weak Armor and then get of the Shell Smash getting +3 in Spe outspeeding a fair amount of speedy Pokes
• Lava Plume / Flamethrower - Both STAB lava plume has 30% chance to burn lowering opp ATK but flamethrower or another stronger special fire type move can be used if you want to hit harder

• 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

Comments

Ancient Power is too unreliable, besides non-STAB Earth Power outdamages STAB Ancient Power. I'd suggest using Hidden Power Grass or Ice in the last slot.

Answer 4

Role: Trick Room Sweeper

Gary (Magcargo) (M) @ Life Orb

Trait: Flame Body

EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 SDef

Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)

• Earth Power
• Flamethrower
• Hidden Power [Grass]
• Recover

Comments

Why Magma Armor?

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Yeah, really doubt you have to worry about being frozen with Magcargo.

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Freeze Hax bother me too much to even take the chance 0_0

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Who's gonna use an Ice move on Magcargo though?

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And idiot who likes freeze hax.

Answer 5

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 / Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold 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.

Answer 6

More gimmicks. Yay.

Magcargo @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 28 Def / 252 SpA / 228 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 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.

Answer 7

This moveset is a little average, but it has served me well.

Magcargo @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
Calm Nature (+SpD, -Atk)
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD

Moves:

• Stealth Rock
• Recover
• Toxic / Yawn
• Lava Plume