[OVERVIEW]
Magnemite is a slow but powerful Electric-type that serves as a strong wallbreaker in ADV LC. Magnemite has access to Thunder Wave and Substitute, and can use a combination of that and strong special attacks to break down even the strongest of special walls. Magnemite is a strong lead slot, as it beats common leads such as specially defensive Wailmer and Doduo, and is one of the most consistent answers to Doduo's STAB combination of Double-Edge and Drill Peck. Magnemite's poor speed can lead to it getting overwhelmed due to the general fast pace of ADV LC, leaving it vulnerable to faster threats such as Diglett or specially offensive Wailmer, commonly requiring having a Substitute up to deal with these foes, while being favored to beat dig. Magnemite does decently versus offensive team structures due to its powerful defensive typing, power, and access to Thunder Wave. Magnemite's biggest threats are the trappers Diglett and Trapinch, who can both trap and OHKO Magnemite, with Trapinch having a near unloseable 1v1, where the Magnemite user has to crit HP Grass to win.
[SET]
Offensive Utility (Magnemite) @ Sitrus Berry
Level: 5
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 240 SpA / 236 Spe
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 SpA
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Grass
- Thunder Wave / Metal Sound
- Substitute
[SET COMMENTS]
Hidden Power Grass is used to hit Diglett and can be used to leave targets slightly above Sitrus Berry activation range to be removed by Thunderbolt, such as Koffing, Snubbull, and Porygon after one layer of Spikes. Thunder Wave slows down targets so Magnemite can outspeed them, while Metal Sound can be used to OHKO would-be checks such as Trapinch while behind a Substitute, as Magnemite can OHKO without activating Sitrus Berry. Substitute has synergy with Metal Sound, but also with Thunder Wave, allowing Magnemite to fish for a full paralysis. Substitute also allows Magnemite to have a good chance of beating Specially Defensive Diglett, one of the most common counters. Magnemite can setup Substitute on pokemon like Wailmer and Doduo, allowing it to 2HKO with HP Grass into Thunderbolt or spread paralysis for its allies. While Sturdy is a useless ability, it is still used here to avoid being countertrapped by Trace Porygon or Ralts.
Magnemite is one of the most consistent Porygon and Wailmer answers, while also being a fallback Doduo counter. This role compression works well with Dragon Dance users Larvitar and Bagon, who can worry less about being walled and revenge killed. Magnemite is also one of the best trap lures in the meta, as very little else reliably counters it. Thus, Magnemite pairs well with Porygon to countertrap and remove the trappers, as well as other trapping weak mons such as Ponyta and Chinchou, who can run wild after the trapper is removed. It can also double switch into Porygon on a predicted trapper switch-in, counter trapping the trapper and allowing Magnemite to not worry about being trapped. Magnemite is a great lead, beating the common lead Wailmer and being able to paralyze the Spikes leads, and generally annoying many of the common leads.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Magnemite can use Toxic to reliably chip walls such as Porygon or Lileep, which is niche due to the fast pace of the metagame, but the extra chip can enable KOs its partners usually wouldn't have gotten. It can also use Magnet Pull to trap opposing Magnemite to revenge kill or trade with it. Magnemite is also a potential user of Endure + Salac Berry, allowing it to turn the tables on an unsuspecting Diglett, however, Magnemite loses the longevity of Sitrus Berry, which is essential for a Thunder Wave + Substitute spam strategy.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Trappers**: Diglett can outspeed and OHKO Magnemite, while Trapinch lives a hit and also OHKOes. These two prevent Magnemite from switching with Arena Trap, and are the most reliable Magnemite counters.
**Fast Offensive Wailmer**: Magnemite, being one of the only able to OHKO the common Specially Defensive Wailmer, can be caught off guard by specially offensive Wailmer, which can outspeed and OHKO Magnemite with Water Spout.
**Houndour**: Houndour, while not a reliable switch in as it can get paralyzed and switched out on, can OHKO Magnemite with Fire Blast, and thus is a good replacement mon for when an ally faints revenge killer against Magnemite.
**Ground Move Users**: Pokemon that commonly use ground type moves such as Bonemerang Cubone and Earthquake Snubbull can beat Magnemite one-on-one, being able to tank one hit and OHKO back.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/teamo.623117/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/grape-tylenol.593128/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited: