Magcargo Best Moveset
Fire/Rock at 120 Defense and 90 Sp. Atk with AbilityFlame Body burning attackers on contact. The typing gives 4x weakness to both Water and Ground, which are everywhere. AbilityWeak Armor drops Defense and boosts Speed on physical hits, but trading Defense on a 60 HP frame is suicidal. The moveset has a niche as a physical check that threatens back.
Fire/Rock gave Magcargo a 4x Water weakness in Gen II (Gold & Silver). 120 Defense was impressive, but any Water move punched straight through.
Utility Moveset
- Rest
- Fire Blast
- Amnesia
- Acid Armor
Recommended Teammates
Flame Body burned physical attackers on contact in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). Good on a 120 Defense body. 30 Speed and 4x weaknesses to Water and Ground were the real story.
Wall Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Toxic
- Hidden Power Ice
- Rest
Recommended Teammates
Peaked in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). Stealth Rock setter from 120 Defense that survived physical hits. Magcargo set rocks and fainted to the first special move.
Best Moves
Best Build
Magcargo best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Wall Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Recover
- Lava Plume
- Yawn
Recommended Teammates
Shell Smash arrived in Gen V (Black & White), doubling offensive stats and Speed. 30 Speed doubled to 60 was still slow, and 4x Water weakness doesn't care about boosts.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Shell Smash
- Ancient Power
- Earth Power
- Lava Plume
Recommended Teammates
Fell in Gen VI (X & Y). Shell Smash Magcargo required Sturdy to survive setup, then prayed nothing outsped the doubled stats. Too many conditions for too little payoff.
Wall Moveset
- Ancient Power
- Clear Smog
- Recover
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
Same position in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Fire/Rock remained one of the worst defensive type combos. 120 Defense meant nothing against the type chart.
Special Tank Moveset
- Lava Plume
- Will O Wisp
- Earth Power
- Ancient Power
Recommended Teammates
Seven gens of typing problems in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). 4x Water and Ground weaknesses were everywhere. The Defense stat couldn't outrun the matchups.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Shell Smash
- Power Gem
- Earth Power
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
Magcargo Weakness
Magcargo's Fire/Rock typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Ground, Fighting, and Rock. Water and Ground hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. 7 resistances give it solid defensive coverage on top of that. Magcargo's physical bulk (base 120 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Water, Ground |
| 2x (Weak) | Fighting, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Fire |
What is Magcargo Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Magcargo
Urshifu's Close Combat also KOs at 193-228%.
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityProtosynthesis ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Great Tusk builds →Rapid Spin9-11% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Corviknight builds →U Turn7-9% | ||
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Urshifu builds →Close Combat 2x193-228%KO Close Combat 2x193-228%KO | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 4x217-255%KO | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Tyranitar builds →Knock Off59-69% Stone Edge 2x180-213%KO | ||
Evolution
Magcargo is the evolved form of Slugma. Breeding produces Slugma eggs, and they're average hatch time. Evolving from Slugma gave Magcargo the biggest boost in Defense (+80), bringing the total to 430 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Magcargo to get Slugma eggs easily using 63 partners from the Indeterminate egg group.
How to Get Magcargo
Magcargo doesn't appear wild. Catch Slugma instead, it shows up at moderate rates. Evolve it at level 38 to get Magcargo. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Magcargo in SV
To get Magcargo, start by catching Slugma through walking encounters at Lv. 7-60. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch SlugmaCrystal PoolLv.7-60OverworldInfernal PassLv.7-60OverworldKitakami RoadLv.7-60OverworldOni MountainLv.7-60Overworld
Step 2Magcargo ✓BREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Magcargo egg.
Winds & Waves hasn't launched yet, so encounter data for Magcargo isn't confirmed. In other games, it's available in Gold & Silver, Crystal, or Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.
How to Obtain Magcargo in WW
Step 1Obtain SlugmaLATER APPEARANCEfrom Gold & SilverNot TradeableAppears in Gold & Silver via Walking · Route 17. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom CrystalNot TradeableAppears in Crystal via Walking · Route 17. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Ruby & SapphireNot TradeableAppears in Ruby & Sapphire via Walking · Fiery Path. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom EmeraldNot TradeableAppears in Emerald via Walking · Route 113. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom FireRed & LeafGreenNot TradeableAppears in FireRed & LeafGreen via Walking · Mt. Ember. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Walking · Stark Mountain. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.- Step 2Magcargo ✓
A solid number of locations for Magcargo with high spawn rates across endgame routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Magcargo in BDSP
To get Magcargo, start by catching Slugma through walking encounters at Lv. 25-63. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch SlugmaStark Mountain - EntranceLv.25-27CaveRate 5%Stark Mountain - InteriorLv.27-29CaveRate 5%Sandsear CaveLv.58-63GrassPost-gameTyphlo CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameVolcanic CaveLv.58-63CavePost-game
Step 2Magcargo ✓Stark Mountain - EntranceLv.55-56CaveRate 30%Stark Mountain - InteriorLv.57-58CaveRate 30%Sandsear CaveLv.58-63GrassPost-gameTyphlo CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameVolcanic CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameor evolve from Slugma (Step 1)
Magcargo is a fixed encounter, not a random spawn. Walk up to it, interact, and the battle starts immediately. Head to Ultra Space Wilds when your team is ready for the fight.
How to Obtain Magcargo in USUM
- Step 1Obtain Slugma
- Step 2Magcargo ✓Ultra Space Wilds - CaveLv.60Interact with Pokemonor evolve from Slugma (Step 1)
Base Stats
Magcargo's all-in on Defense at the expense of Speed. The special lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 2 Defense EVs and follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Its body temperature is roughly 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Flames burst from gaps in its shell made of hardened magma.
Magcargo Guide
Watch for Starmie (Water), Rhydon (Ground), and Hitmonlee (Fighting) when using Magcargo. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Starmie is the most dangerous since Water moves deal 4x damage. Rock-type attackers are also a problem. At base 30 Speed, Magcargo won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
It depends on your team. Magcargo at 430 BST isn't a powerhouse, but the Fire/Rock coverage might be exactly what you're missing.
Magcargo has a 430 base stat total and ranks as C-Tier: a situational pick that fills a niche. It works best as a trick room. Base 120 Defense is where it shines.
Magma Armor prevents freezing. That's the one you want on Magcargo. Weak Armor is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Flame Body works too if your team needs something different.
Magcargo fills the trick room role. It's a special attacker with base 90 Sp. Atk. Base 30 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Game Availability
Magcargo first appeared in Gold & Silver and has been available in 17 games across 9 generations. Obtainable through wild encounters in most titles where it appears.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves