Is Magcargo Good in Black 2 & White 2 Playthrough?
Slugma evolves at level 38. Fire/Rock with AbilityFlame Body. If imported, the 4x Water and Ground weaknesses make Clay, Marlon, and half the E4 dangerous. Arcanine is natively available and safer.
Slugma trades roughly evenly with Cheren's team.
Slugma has the type edge here and should clean up Roxie's team.
Slugma has the type edge here and should clean up Burgh's team.
Slugma trades roughly evenly with Elesa's team.
Slugma trades roughly evenly with Clay's team.
Slugma trades roughly evenly with Skyla's team.
Drayden's team hits Magcargo's weaknesses hard.
Marlon's team hits Magcargo's weaknesses hard.
Magcargo trades roughly evenly with Shauntal's team.
Magcargo trades roughly evenly with Grimsley's team.
Magcargo trades roughly evenly with Caitlin's team.
Marshal's team hits Magcargo's weaknesses hard.
Magcargo trades roughly evenly with Iris's team.
Magcargo cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four. Alternatively, transfer the pre-evolution and level it up to Lv 38.
How to Get Magcargo in Black 2 & White 2
No wild encounters for Magcargo in Black 2 & White 2. Bring Slugma over from Gold & Silver, Crystal, or Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
How to Obtain Magcargo in B2W2
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 ✓
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. 6 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 |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Fire |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
What is Magcargo Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Magcargo
 Oshawott Water | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift | ||
 Jellicent WaterGhost | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Jellicent builds →Bubble Beam 4x139-165%KO | ||
 Azumarill Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Azumarill builds →Bubble Beam 4x110-129%KO Rock Smash 2x16-20% Rollout 2x12-16% | ||
 Alomomola Water | B | |
 Psyduck Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Psyduck builds →Water Pulse 4x110-129%KO Rock Smash 2x16-20% | ||
Oshawott Water | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Oshawott builds →Razor Shell 4x88-106%KO Rock Smash 2x20-24% | ||
Jellicent WaterGhost | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Jellicent builds →Bubble Beam 4x132-157%KO | ||
 Dewott Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Oshawott (Aspertia City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Dewott builds →Razor Shell 4x102-120%KO Rock Smash 2x20-25% | ||
Azumarill Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Azumarill builds →Aqua Tail 4x94-111%KO Rock Smash 2x15-18% Rollout 2x12-15% | ||
Alomomola Water | B | |
Psyduck Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Psyduck builds →Water Pulse 4x102-120%KO Rock Smash 2x15-18% | ||
 Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Sandslash builds →Dig 4x135-159%KO Rock Tomb 2x29-35% Rock Smash 2x23-28% | ||
Jellicent WaterGhost | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Jellicent builds →Bubble Beam 4x135-159%KO | ||
 Trapinch Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Trapinch builds →Dig 4x135-159%KO Rock Slide 2x43-51% Rock Smash 2x23-28% | ||
 Krokorok GroundDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Krokorok builds →Dig 4x115-137%KO Rock Tomb 2x25-30% Rock Smash 2x22-25% | ||
Dewott Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Oshawott (Aspertia City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Dewott builds →Razor Shell 4x103-122%KO Dig 4x72-86% Revenge 2x28-33% | ||
Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Sandslash builds →Dig 4x127-150%KO Brick Break 2x40-48% Rock Tomb 2x26-32% | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x113-133%KO Dig 4x100-118%KO Smack Down 2x32-39% | ||
Jellicent WaterGhost | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Jellicent builds →Bubble Beam 4x127-150%KO | ||
Dewott Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Oshawott (Aspertia City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Dewott builds →Razor Shell 4x98-116%KO Dig 4x69-82% Revenge 2x26-32% | ||
Azumarill Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Azumarill builds →Aqua Tail 4x86-102%KO Dig 4x53-64% Brick Break 2x25-30% Rollout 2x11-14% | ||
 Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 4x198-234%KO Brick Break 2x51-60% Rock Slide 2x51-60% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Vaporeon builds →Surf 4x219-258%KO Dig 4x61-72% Rock Smash 2x17-20% | ||
 Samurott Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Oshawott (Aspertia City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Samurott builds →Surf 4x219-258%KO Dig 4x85-100%KO Revenge 2x32-38% | ||
Jellicent WaterGhost | B | |
Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Sandslash builds →Dig 4x127-150%KO Brick Break 2x40-48% Rock Slide 2x40-48% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 4x203-240%KO Brick Break 2x51-60% Rock Slide 2x51-60% | ||
Samurott Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Oshawott (Aspertia City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Samurott builds →Surf 4x225-265%KO Dig 4x85-100%KO Revenge 2x33-38% | ||
 Wailord Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Wailord builds →Water Spout 4x302-355%KO Bulldoze 4x59-70% Rock Tomb 2x25-30% Rock Smash 2x21-25% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Vaporeon builds →Hydro Pump 4x284-335%KO Dig 4x62-73% Rock Smash 2x17-20% | ||
 Poliwrath WaterFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Poliwrath builds →Dive 4x123-145%KO Dig 4x82-97% Brick Break 2x57-68% Rock Slide 2x38-45% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 4x201-236%KO Brick Break 2x50-60% Rock Slide 2x50-60% | ||
Samurott Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Oshawott (Aspertia City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Samurott builds →Surf 4x220-260%KO Dig 4x85-101%KO Revenge 2x31-38% | ||
Wailord Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Wailord builds →Water Spout 4x297-350%KO Bulldoze 4x58-69% Rock Tomb 2x25-30% Rock Smash 2x20-24% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Vaporeon builds →Hydro Pump 4x281-331%KO Dig 4x61-72% Rock Smash 2x16-19% | ||
Poliwrath WaterFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Poliwrath builds →Dive 4x120-142%KO Dig 4x80-94% Brick Break 2x57-69% Rock Slide 2x39-46% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Vaporeon builds →Hydro Pump 4x281-331%KO Dig 4x59-70% Rock Smash 2x15-18% | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 22 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Terrakion builds →Earthquake 4x128-151%KO Close Combat 2x115-136%KO Stone Edge 2x96-113%KO | ||
 Flygon GroundDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Flygon builds →Earthquake 4x154-182%KO Stone Edge 2x51-61% Rock Smash 2x21-25% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 4x201-237%KO Brick Break 2x50-59% Rock Slide 2x50-59% | ||
 Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Krookodile builds →Earthquake 4x178-209%KO Stone Edge 2x59-70% Brick Break 2x44-52% | ||
In Black 2 & White 2, Garchomp can KO Magcargo with Earthquake (235-276%). Tyranitar threatens a KO with Superpower (93-110%).
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 4x235-276%KO Outrage70-83% | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChopleberry NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Tyranitar builds →Pursuit24-28% Crunch47-55% Superpower 2x93-110%KO | ||
Magcargo Evolutions
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 420 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Magcargo to get Slugma eggs easily using 45 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Acid Armor, Curse, Earth Power and 8 more.
B2W2 Magcargo Best Moveset
120 Defense absorbs physical hits, but Fire/Rock typing gives a 4x Water weakness and 4x Ground weakness that most opponents carry. The moveset answers Bug and Ice types through Fire TermStab at 90 Sp. Atk. 30 Speed goes last against everything. The typing costs more than the bulk provides.
Best Build
Magcargo best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Shell Smash
- Ancient Power
- Earth Power
- Lava Plume
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
You'll want to breed for Acid Armor and Curse on Magcargo. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Overheat and Fire Blast, they expand what Magcargo can actually threaten in practice.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Base Stats
Its body temperature is roughly 18,000 degrees F. Flames spout from gaps in its hardened shell.
Magcargo Black 2 & White 2 Guide
In Black 2 & White 2, 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.
For Black 2 & White 2, it depends on your team. Magcargo at 420 BST isn't a powerhouse, but the Fire/Rock coverage might be exactly what you're missing.
In Black 2 & White 2, Magcargo has a 420 base stat total and ranks as C-Tier: a niche pick in Black 2 & White 2's meta. It works best as a trick room. Shellsmash with White Herb is the standard set.
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.
In Black 2 & White 2, 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