Nixon73
Scuttlebug Jamboree
[OVERVIEW]
Through its bulk and defensive typing, Magearna acts as an excellent blanket check for some of the most dangerous offensive Pokemon in the tier, including Xerneas, Yveltal, Deoxys-A, Darkrai, Mewtwo without Fire Blast, and Arceus-Dark. Heart Swap in particular allows it to defeat prominent boosting special attackers, making it arguably the best counter to the omnipresent Xerneas as well as a significant obstacle to Calm Mind Arceus formes. However, Magearna's viability is severely hurt by the common usage of its counters, especially Primal Groudon, which is present on almost any serious team and can easily set up on Magearna. Since Magearna lacks access to Toxic, it has no effective options to punish these threats, and its dependence on Leftovers and the unreliable Pain Split for recovery leaves it easy to wear down throughout the match. Moreover, its generally passive nature means that it loses a lot of momentum when it comes in and makes it a bad fit for offensive teams. Magearna has one role it can fill effectively as a blanket check for several powerful threats in the tier. Teams that need to cover all of these threats in one slot should give serious consideration to Magearna; those that do not should opt for a different check with more general utility.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Fleur Cannon
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Heart Swap
move 4: Pain Split
item: Leftovers
ability: Soul-Heart
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Fleur Cannon is a powerful STAB attack that hits Dark- and Dragon-types for significant damage. It causes a sharp drop in Special Attack, but since Magearna is so easy to scare out, this is usually insignificant. Volt Switch allows Magearna to provide safe opportunities to switch in for its teammates, which works well with its low Speed. Heart Swap is the defining move of the set, making it impossible for prominent special sweepers such as Xerneas and Arceus-Dark to set up unpunished. Pain Split is Magearna's only form of recovery and makes for an effective option to punish its checks such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh. As an alternative to Volt Switch, Flash Cannon can be used as a way to hit foes without being forced out by a stat drop and can inflict substantial damage on Fairy-types such as Xerneas.
Set Details
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The only use Magearna has is to pivot into special attackers, so full investment in HP and Special Defense helps it perform this role. Leftovers further contributes to Magearna's ability to take special attacks throughout the match by providing a steady means of recovery. Soul Heart provides Magearna with a Special Attack boost whenever it lands a KO, but this is largely useless since Magearna still poses no threat whatsoever to its counters at +1.
Usage Tips
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Almost every opponent will switch to Groudon or Ho-Oh when faced with Magearna, since they function as repeatedly usable hard checks. Anticipate these switches and try to double switch to something that can seize momentum against them, such as Mega Salamence or Giratina-O. Magearna's access to Volt Switch may seem promising, but it is severely hampered by the fact that Primal Groudon blocks Volt Switch and is the default switch-in to Magearna. Switching out normally is typically a better option if one anticipates a switch to Primal Groudon, although Volt Switch can be an effective way to punish a predicted switch to Ho-Oh or a Steel-type check. Pain Split tends to be the most consistent way to punish Magearna's checks after taking some chip damage and should be used often if Magearna is being used to check multiple Pokemon. Magearna should be played cautiously if your team is relying on it to check a specific opposing Pokemon and sent out only for that purpose, although it can be switched in liberally and repeatedly against most Pokemon that it checks. However, it is important to watch out for coverage moves on these Pokemon, especially Earth Power from Calm Mind Arceus formes, Heat Wave from Yveltal, and Hidden Power Ground from Xerneas. On the other hand, if Magearna isn't needed to check any of its usual targets, it still has enough physical bulk to get a good hit in against physical sweepers such as Mega Salamence. When facing Xerneas, the threat of Heart Swap is more important than its actual usage, since most good players will not be foolish enough to leave a boosted Xerneas in on Magearna. However, if Magearna does steal boosts, it is still incapable of functioning as an offensive threat unless its checks have all been worn down significantly, so it is usually best to just fire off a Fleur Cannon and pivot out.
Team Options
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Magearna is not a Pokemon to build a team around, but rather it is one that can cover several weaknesses for a mostly complete team. It also fits better in defensive teams, since it is a significant momentum drain. Pokemon such as Giratina-O, Zygarde, Giratina, Kyurem-W, and Arceus-Dragon appreciate Magearna, since it can blanket check the weaknesses they invite onto a team. Giratina-O and Zygarde-C in particular make for excellent teammates, as Magearna can handle the Ice-, Fairy-, and Dragon-type moves these physical tanks fear. In turn, they can punish switches to Primal Groudon and other Magearna checks. Mega Sableye is an effective partner to Magearna, as Magearna can cover its only weakness in Fairy, and it can beat passive Pokemon that often switch into Magearna such as Ferrothorn. Ho-Oh is also a good partner, as it can switch into special Arceus-Ground and the Steel-types that can comfortably wall Magearna, and it fits well in the defensive teams where Magearna is used. Defog support from defensive Arceus formes or Giratina formes can help remedy Magearna's vulnerability to Spikes.
Magearna appreciates being paired with Pokemon that can punish a predicted switch to Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and Magearna's other counters. Physical Arceus-Ground is an effective offensive option that can threaten Magearna checks with its EdgeQuake coverage and appreciates Magearna's ability to tank Ice Beams. Primal Kyogre checks every Pokemon commonly switched into Magearna and is very hard to switch into. Mega Gyarados can also break through Magearna checks such as Arceus-Ground and Primal Groudon, and it appreciates having Magearna nullify its most prominent check in Xerneas. Once the opposing Primal Groudon is defeated, Magearna's use of Volt Switch lets it support frail wallbreakers that appreciate free opportunities to switch in, such as Mega Lucario, Deoxys-A, Kyurem-W, and Rayquaza.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Magearna's coverage options are hampered by its Speed and the fact that it cannot afford offensive investment, so its STAB moves are usually its best moves. 4x super effective coverage is always devastating, so running Shadow Ball for Lunala or Hidden Power Fire for Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor can net some surprise KOs, but these are largely gimmicks that compromise Magearna's ability to perform its proper role. Magearna's passivity and the fact that it can handle little outside of its specific targets mean that Magearna really only has one viable set; seeking other options is a sign that a team does not need a check for Magearna's specific targets and should consider something with more general utility.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types are Magearna's most effective counters, resisting both of its STAB moves and threatening it with super effective attacks. Primal Groudon is the most significant by far, as it hard checks Magearna repeatedly and is the most common Pokemon in the metagame, to the point where it defines how Magearna is played. Ho-Oh is also a dangerous wallbreaker that can freely switch into any Magearna set and is incredibly hard to switch into. If a team is to run Magearna, it must come prepared to handle giving these powerful Pokemon repeated opportunities to switch in.
**Ground-types**: Offensive Ground-types can force out Magearna by threatening it with their powerful STAB moves. While the likes of Arceus-Ground, Dugtrio, and Excadrill don't appreciate taking a Fleur Cannon on the switch, they each outspeed and easily KO Magearna. Dugtrio is particularly worthy of caution if you're counting on Magearna as your only Xerneas check, since getting trapped will immediately cost you the game.
**Coverage Moves**: Magearna will take serious damage from Yveltal's Heat Wave, Xerneas's Hidden Power Ground, and Calm Mind Arceus's Earth Power, so play carefully if the opponent seems willing to stay in with a Pokemon checked by Magearna.
**Physical Attackers**: Magearna is intended to check special attackers, so strong physical attackers such as Mega Lucario, Mega Salamence with Earthquake, physical Arceus, Pheromosa, and Solgaleo can easily pick it off with only a little prior damage.
**Spikes**: Magearna resists Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes, but as a grounded defensive pivot with no reliable recovery it is very easy to wear down with Spikes. This is not helped by the fact that it can do nothing to common Spikes users such as Ferrothorn.
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