Magnezone
Magnet Area Pokémon
It evolved from exposure to a special magnetic field. Three units generate magnetism.
Base Stats
Type Effectiveness
Abilities
Held Items
Evolution Chain
Moves
Details
Sprites
Competitive
Strategy Overview
Magnezone's ability Magnet Pull, which allows it to trap Steel-types and effectively cripple or remove most of them, is unmatched by any other Pokemon. The consistency that comes with trapping as opposed to luring a target can enable a variety of setup sweepers and physical attackers. In particular, trapping Skarmory, Jirachi, Empoleon, and even Bronzong can be extremely desirable. Magnezone can fit on just about any team thanks to its unparalleled utility. Not to mention, its extremely powerful base 130 Special Attack and desirable Electric-type STAB distinguishes its offensive potential outside of its ability. In addition, Magnezone is the only Electric / Steel type in the metagame—other than its pre-evolutions—that resists the popular BoltBeam coverage, and it has a 4x resistance to Steel-type attacks. In the latter case, Jirachi's Iron Head does barely any damage to Magnezone.
Unfortunately, Magnezone's main competition is with its lower evolution, Magneton. Magneton's Speed advantage allows it to outspeed Dragon Dance Tyranitar and neutral-natured Dragon Dance Gyarados and Dragonite with a Choice Scarf and revenge kill them. This is a huge advantage, as more balanced teams featuring Choice Scarf Magnezone can struggle against these Pokemon. However, outside of Choice Scarf sets, Magneton's lower base stats come back to haunt it, as Magnezone is both significantly bulkier and stronger. It is much harder to overwhelm Magnezone with attacks such as Latias's Draco Meteor, Dragonite's Outrage, Scizor's Superpower, Rotom-A's Thunderbolt, and Gyarados's Waterfall than it is for Magneton. While Magneton is generally preferred for Choice Scarf sets, Choice Scarf Magnezone notably can use Hidden Power Fire without drawbacks and is significantly better against bulkier Steel-types like Jirachi and Empoleon.
Magnezone's main flaws come from its typing, low Speed, and how the metagame adapts to it. Magnezone has a huge number of resistances, but very common weaknesses to Fire-, Fighting-, and especially Ground-type attacks mean many offensive Pokemon threaten it. Prime targets such as Metagross, Bronzong, Scizor, Lucario, Heatran, and Jirachi can potentially OHKO Metagross with their attacks should they get the chance, such as when Magnezone switches in. This is exacerbated by its low Speed, as non Choice Scarf Magnezone can struggle to trap faster variants of Scizor, Empoleon, and Metagross who can OHKO Magnezone before Magnezone KOs them back. Steel-types have also largely adapted to Magnezone, as prominent targets such as Skarmory can carry a Shed Shell to get away unimpeded, while Jirachi can either U-turn out, beat down frailer Magnezone with Fire Punch or Hidden Power Ground, or outstall Choiced Magnezone with Wish + Protect.
Most Used Moves
Competitive data from Smogon University via data.pkmn.cc