quziel
I am the Scientist now
[OVERVIEW]
Magmortar's Fire typing and high offensive stats allow it to pose an incredible threat to many defensive teams, and a wide offensive movepool containing Focus Blast and Thunderbolt sets it apart from competing Fire-types and lets it hit Guzzlord, Type: Null, and Slowbro super effectively. Thanks to Magmortar's Fire typing and acceptable special bulk, it can also function as a one-time switch-in to some special threats such as Whimsicott and Vanilluxe. However, this is contrasted with its mediocre Defense, meaning that Magmortar will struggle to switch into any physical attacker safely. Additionally, Magmortar's weakness to entry hazards and mediocre bulk mean that it can struggle to switch in multiple times. Magmortar's mediocre Speed also hampers its wallbreaking capabilities, leaving it with an imperfect matchup versus faster playstyles.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Taunt / Hidden Power Grass
item: Fightinium Z / Electrium Z
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Fire Blast is Magmortar's main STAB move and hardest-hitting move. Thunderbolt lets Magmortar hit enemy Water-types such as Slowbro and Jellicent, hitting both for a 2HKO. Focus Blast along with Fightinium Z lets Magmortar OHKO Guzzlord and Miltank, the former after Stealth Rock. Taunt prevents enemy Pokemon from recovering, allowing Magmortar to easily beat Mega Audino, Altaria, and Pyukumuku, letting it easily take on and beat stall and balance teams. This also prevents Type: Null from using Rest, letting Magmortar match up more comfortably versus it. Alternatively, Hidden Power Grass allows Magmortar to effectively damage Rhydon without needing to use All-Out Pummeling as well as hit Gastrodon, which otherwise walls Magmortar.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment allows Magmortar to outspeed Vanilluxe and check it. Maximum Special Attack investment with a Modest nature allows Magmortar to hit as hard as possible. Fightinium Z is necessary to use All-Out Pummeling, which allows Magmortar to OHKO Guzzlord after Stealth Rock most of the time. Alternatively, Electrium Z allows Magmortar to OHKO Slowbro with Gigavolt Havoc, meaning that Slowbro cannot hit it back with a Scald.
Usage Tips
========
Magmortar should be brought in on special attacks it resists such as Delphox's Fire Blast and Whimsicott's Moonblast. Use Taunt when you expect the foe to try to recover and against Pokemon that might status Magmortar, such as Mega Audino. Be careful with All-Out Pummeling, as not only is it the only way Magmortar has enough power to break Guzzlord and Type: Null efficiently, but it can also guarantee a hit against those Pokemon, which Focus Blast may not be able to do. Similar care is needed with Electrium Z, as otherwise Magmortar needs to take a hit from Slowbro and cannot beat enemy Assault Vest Slowking. Thanks to Magmortar's mediocre bulk, entry hazards heavily limit the attacks it can switch into; for example, if Stealth Rock is up, it can only switch into attacks such as Vanilluxe's Blizzard once. As a result, keeping the field clear of entry hazards means that Magmortar is able to utilize its defensive typing more easily.
Team Options
========
Magmortar is a very efficient wallbreaker for support Pokemon such as Whimsicott and Delphox, as it removes or weakens some of their main checks like Guzzlord, Mega Audino, and Type: Null. U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Whimsicott, Xatu, and Rotom can help bring in Magmortar without it being damaged. Stealth Rock is very bad for Magmortar's health, so it appreciates entry hazard removal from Xatu, Whimsicott, and Rotom. Fighting-types such as Hariyama and Scrafty enjoy Magmortar's good matchup versus Fairy-types and Vileplume, and they can take on Rock-types such as Gigalith for Magmortar, which it can occasionally struggle with. Stealth Rock users such as Rhydon, Druddigon, and Steelix can help Magmortar further pressure the opposing team, and the former two pair exceptionally well because they bring in Whimsicott, which Magmortar can switch into and use as an opportunity to attack. As Diancie takes little damage from all of Magmortar's coverage, Pokemon such as Rhydon and Silvally-Steel that can take it on make good partners for Magmortar.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Earthquake
item: Assault Vest
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Timid
evs: 112 HP / 252 SpA / 144 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Fire Blast is Magmortar's main STAB move and hardest-hitting move. Thunderbolt lets Magmortar hit Water-types such as Slowbro and Jellicent, hitting both for a 2HKO. Focus Blast is Magmortar's strongest attack against foes such as Guzzlord, Magmortar, and Incineroar, with the former two being 2HKOed and the latter being OHKOed after Stealth Rock if using the Swords Dance set. Hidden Power Grass allows Magmortar to effectively damage Rhydon (RC) as well as hit Gastrodon, which otherwise walls it. Earthquake is Magmortar's strongest move against Delphox and hits enemy Fire-types such as Houndoom and Incineroar for reliable damage.
Set Details
========
144 Speed EVs and a Timid nature allow Magmortar to outrun Modest Vanilluxe and check it much more easily. Maximum Special Attack investment maximizes Magmortar's power, letting it achieve many KOs it wouldn't otherwise get. 112 HP EVs maximize bulk and, combined with an Assault Vest, let Magmortar avoid the KO from Vivillon's +1 Supersonic Skystrike if Stealth Rock is not on the field. Vital Spirit allows Magmortar to avoid being put to sleep by Vivillon's Sleep Powder.
Usage Tips
========
Try to switch Magmortar into sleep-inducing moves such as Vivillon's Sleep Powder, as this allows Magmortar to come in on these Pokemon with little risk. While Assault Vest gives Magmortar reasonable bulk, it is still only decent, so avoid bringing in Magmortar on too many attacks it does not resist, as it will get worn down quickly. Magmortar should be played carefully when Stealth Rock is up, as it no longer has the ability to safely switch into certain attacks it otherwise would be able to such as Vanilluxe's Blizzard. Magmortar's HP should be preserved if the opponent has a sweeper such as Vivillon or Houndoom that it needs to check; otherwise, it can be played as a blanket check to Ice-types such as Vanilluxe and Fire-types such as Houndoom.
Team Options
========
Stealth Rock heavily limits Magmortar's opportunities to switch in, so Pokemon that either prevent it from getting up or remove it such as Xatu, Whimsicott, and Rotom are good partners. Magmortar generally should not be a team's sole check to Grass-, Fire-, and Ice-types, so teammates such as Cryogonal, Piloswine, and Rhydon are often good partners, as they relieve much of the stress that Magmortar faces if used as the sole answer to those Pokemon. Fighting-types such as Hariyama and Scrafty enjoy Magmortar's good matchup versus Fairy-types, and in return they can take on Rock-types such as Rhydon for it, which it can occasionally struggle with. Stealth Rock users such as Rhydon, Druddigon, and Steelix can help Magmortar further pressure the opposing team, and the former two pair exceptionally well because they bring in Whimsicott, which Magmortar can switch into and use as an opportunity to attack. Thanks to Magmortar's ability to heavily pressure many Fire-resistant Pokemon such as Rhydon, Gastrodon, and Slowbro, Pokemon such as Houndoom, Braviary, and Incineroar can be excellent partners. Thanks to Magmortar's weakness to entry hazards and passive damage, Wish support from Pokemon such as Vaporeon and Mega Audino can be very helpful, keeping Magmortar healthy throughout a match and letting it come in more times.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Expert Belt is a great option if you are already using a Z-Move user on your team, letting Magmortar retain its bulk while hitting harder with its wide coverage. Choice Scarf turns Magmortar into a revenge killer, but Magmortar's offensive prowess comes from its ability to utilize its fantastic coverage. Furthermore, Delphox outclasses Magmortar in this role due to it outspeeding major threats in the tier. Flame Charge allows Magmortar to boost its Speed, making it match up much better against offensive teams if it can manage to get enough Speed boosts, though giving up Taunt means that certain defensive Pokemon such as Mega Audino can wall it much more easily. Solar Beam with Grassium Z allows Magmortar to surprise Rhydon and Slowbro with a KO but at the cost of only achieving this with a Z-Crystal, as well as losing potentially helpful coverage such as Focus Blast or support moves such as Taunt. Mach Punch can be used to OHKO Sneasel after Stealth Rock if using a Hasty or Mild nature, although it requires Magmortar to give up potentially valuable coverage or utility moves.
Checks and Counters
==================
**Specially Defensive Tanks:**: Slowking takes little damage from any of Magmortar's moves, especially with an Assault Vest set, and either forces it out with Scald or threatens to set up on it with Calm Mind. Assault Vest Hariyama generally takes little from any of Magmortar's attacks and can threaten to OHKO it with Close Combat. Gigalith boasts the special bulk to take on Magmortar's attacks, only fearing Focus Blast, while easily KOing it with its Rock STAB moves.
**Diancie**: Diancie takes little from any of Magmortar's coverage and threatens to OHKO it with Diamond Storm or set up against it with Calm Mind.
**Entry Hazards**: Stealth Rock and other entry hazards heavily limit Magmortar's opportunities to switch in, making it significantly less threatening to deal with.
**Faster Physical Attackers**: Magmortar's speed is easily its biggest downfall, and faster threats such as Choice Scarf Passimian and Toxicroak threaten to OHKO Magmortar or heavily damage it, though they struggle to switch in.
Magmortar's Fire typing and high offensive stats allow it to pose an incredible threat to many defensive teams, and a wide offensive movepool containing Focus Blast and Thunderbolt sets it apart from competing Fire-types and lets it hit Guzzlord, Type: Null, and Slowbro super effectively. Thanks to Magmortar's Fire typing and acceptable special bulk, it can also function as a one-time switch-in to some special threats such as Whimsicott and Vanilluxe. However, this is contrasted with its mediocre Defense, meaning that Magmortar will struggle to switch into any physical attacker safely. Additionally, Magmortar's weakness to entry hazards and mediocre bulk mean that it can struggle to switch in multiple times. Magmortar's mediocre Speed also hampers its wallbreaking capabilities, leaving it with an imperfect matchup versus faster playstyles.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Taunt / Hidden Power Grass
item: Fightinium Z / Electrium Z
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Fire Blast is Magmortar's main STAB move and hardest-hitting move. Thunderbolt lets Magmortar hit enemy Water-types such as Slowbro and Jellicent, hitting both for a 2HKO. Focus Blast along with Fightinium Z lets Magmortar OHKO Guzzlord and Miltank, the former after Stealth Rock. Taunt prevents enemy Pokemon from recovering, allowing Magmortar to easily beat Mega Audino, Altaria, and Pyukumuku, letting it easily take on and beat stall and balance teams. This also prevents Type: Null from using Rest, letting Magmortar match up more comfortably versus it. Alternatively, Hidden Power Grass allows Magmortar to effectively damage Rhydon without needing to use All-Out Pummeling as well as hit Gastrodon, which otherwise walls Magmortar.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment allows Magmortar to outspeed Vanilluxe and check it. Maximum Special Attack investment with a Modest nature allows Magmortar to hit as hard as possible. Fightinium Z is necessary to use All-Out Pummeling, which allows Magmortar to OHKO Guzzlord after Stealth Rock most of the time. Alternatively, Electrium Z allows Magmortar to OHKO Slowbro with Gigavolt Havoc, meaning that Slowbro cannot hit it back with a Scald.
Usage Tips
========
Magmortar should be brought in on special attacks it resists such as Delphox's Fire Blast and Whimsicott's Moonblast. Use Taunt when you expect the foe to try to recover and against Pokemon that might status Magmortar, such as Mega Audino. Be careful with All-Out Pummeling, as not only is it the only way Magmortar has enough power to break Guzzlord and Type: Null efficiently, but it can also guarantee a hit against those Pokemon, which Focus Blast may not be able to do. Similar care is needed with Electrium Z, as otherwise Magmortar needs to take a hit from Slowbro and cannot beat enemy Assault Vest Slowking. Thanks to Magmortar's mediocre bulk, entry hazards heavily limit the attacks it can switch into; for example, if Stealth Rock is up, it can only switch into attacks such as Vanilluxe's Blizzard once. As a result, keeping the field clear of entry hazards means that Magmortar is able to utilize its defensive typing more easily.
Team Options
========
Magmortar is a very efficient wallbreaker for support Pokemon such as Whimsicott and Delphox, as it removes or weakens some of their main checks like Guzzlord, Mega Audino, and Type: Null. U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Whimsicott, Xatu, and Rotom can help bring in Magmortar without it being damaged. Stealth Rock is very bad for Magmortar's health, so it appreciates entry hazard removal from Xatu, Whimsicott, and Rotom. Fighting-types such as Hariyama and Scrafty enjoy Magmortar's good matchup versus Fairy-types and Vileplume, and they can take on Rock-types such as Gigalith for Magmortar, which it can occasionally struggle with. Stealth Rock users such as Rhydon, Druddigon, and Steelix can help Magmortar further pressure the opposing team, and the former two pair exceptionally well because they bring in Whimsicott, which Magmortar can switch into and use as an opportunity to attack. As Diancie takes little damage from all of Magmortar's coverage, Pokemon such as Rhydon and Silvally-Steel that can take it on make good partners for Magmortar.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Earthquake
item: Assault Vest
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Timid
evs: 112 HP / 252 SpA / 144 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Fire Blast is Magmortar's main STAB move and hardest-hitting move. Thunderbolt lets Magmortar hit Water-types such as Slowbro and Jellicent, hitting both for a 2HKO. Focus Blast is Magmortar's strongest attack against foes such as Guzzlord, Magmortar, and Incineroar, with the former two being 2HKOed and the latter being OHKOed after Stealth Rock if using the Swords Dance set. Hidden Power Grass allows Magmortar to effectively damage Rhydon (RC) as well as hit Gastrodon, which otherwise walls it. Earthquake is Magmortar's strongest move against Delphox and hits enemy Fire-types such as Houndoom and Incineroar for reliable damage.
Set Details
========
144 Speed EVs and a Timid nature allow Magmortar to outrun Modest Vanilluxe and check it much more easily. Maximum Special Attack investment maximizes Magmortar's power, letting it achieve many KOs it wouldn't otherwise get. 112 HP EVs maximize bulk and, combined with an Assault Vest, let Magmortar avoid the KO from Vivillon's +1 Supersonic Skystrike if Stealth Rock is not on the field. Vital Spirit allows Magmortar to avoid being put to sleep by Vivillon's Sleep Powder.
Usage Tips
========
Try to switch Magmortar into sleep-inducing moves such as Vivillon's Sleep Powder, as this allows Magmortar to come in on these Pokemon with little risk. While Assault Vest gives Magmortar reasonable bulk, it is still only decent, so avoid bringing in Magmortar on too many attacks it does not resist, as it will get worn down quickly. Magmortar should be played carefully when Stealth Rock is up, as it no longer has the ability to safely switch into certain attacks it otherwise would be able to such as Vanilluxe's Blizzard. Magmortar's HP should be preserved if the opponent has a sweeper such as Vivillon or Houndoom that it needs to check; otherwise, it can be played as a blanket check to Ice-types such as Vanilluxe and Fire-types such as Houndoom.
Team Options
========
Stealth Rock heavily limits Magmortar's opportunities to switch in, so Pokemon that either prevent it from getting up or remove it such as Xatu, Whimsicott, and Rotom are good partners. Magmortar generally should not be a team's sole check to Grass-, Fire-, and Ice-types, so teammates such as Cryogonal, Piloswine, and Rhydon are often good partners, as they relieve much of the stress that Magmortar faces if used as the sole answer to those Pokemon. Fighting-types such as Hariyama and Scrafty enjoy Magmortar's good matchup versus Fairy-types, and in return they can take on Rock-types such as Rhydon for it, which it can occasionally struggle with. Stealth Rock users such as Rhydon, Druddigon, and Steelix can help Magmortar further pressure the opposing team, and the former two pair exceptionally well because they bring in Whimsicott, which Magmortar can switch into and use as an opportunity to attack. Thanks to Magmortar's ability to heavily pressure many Fire-resistant Pokemon such as Rhydon, Gastrodon, and Slowbro, Pokemon such as Houndoom, Braviary, and Incineroar can be excellent partners. Thanks to Magmortar's weakness to entry hazards and passive damage, Wish support from Pokemon such as Vaporeon and Mega Audino can be very helpful, keeping Magmortar healthy throughout a match and letting it come in more times.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Expert Belt is a great option if you are already using a Z-Move user on your team, letting Magmortar retain its bulk while hitting harder with its wide coverage. Choice Scarf turns Magmortar into a revenge killer, but Magmortar's offensive prowess comes from its ability to utilize its fantastic coverage. Furthermore, Delphox outclasses Magmortar in this role due to it outspeeding major threats in the tier. Flame Charge allows Magmortar to boost its Speed, making it match up much better against offensive teams if it can manage to get enough Speed boosts, though giving up Taunt means that certain defensive Pokemon such as Mega Audino can wall it much more easily. Solar Beam with Grassium Z allows Magmortar to surprise Rhydon and Slowbro with a KO but at the cost of only achieving this with a Z-Crystal, as well as losing potentially helpful coverage such as Focus Blast or support moves such as Taunt. Mach Punch can be used to OHKO Sneasel after Stealth Rock if using a Hasty or Mild nature, although it requires Magmortar to give up potentially valuable coverage or utility moves.
Checks and Counters
==================
**Specially Defensive Tanks:**: Slowking takes little damage from any of Magmortar's moves, especially with an Assault Vest set, and either forces it out with Scald or threatens to set up on it with Calm Mind. Assault Vest Hariyama generally takes little from any of Magmortar's attacks and can threaten to OHKO it with Close Combat. Gigalith boasts the special bulk to take on Magmortar's attacks, only fearing Focus Blast, while easily KOing it with its Rock STAB moves.
**Diancie**: Diancie takes little from any of Magmortar's coverage and threatens to OHKO it with Diamond Storm or set up against it with Calm Mind.
**Entry Hazards**: Stealth Rock and other entry hazards heavily limit Magmortar's opportunities to switch in, making it significantly less threatening to deal with.
**Faster Physical Attackers**: Magmortar's speed is easily its biggest downfall, and faster threats such as Choice Scarf Passimian and Toxicroak threaten to OHKO Magmortar or heavily damage it, though they struggle to switch in.
Last edited: