Magneton's Special powers Thunderbolt effectively in Yellow, but C-Tier coverage limits keep it in a narrow Electric-type role.
515HP50Attack60Defense95Speed70Sp.Def120Sp.Atk120
Magnemite
Magneton
Weak to
Special
Wallbreaker
70Speed · Below Avg

Is Magneton Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Stronger than most Electric options in Yellow. Magneton takes physical hits better than Jolteon and hits hard on the special side. Useful against Lorelei at the E4. Ground is always the concern, but every Electric-type shares that weakness.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTBTGEETSEGEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3MagnemiteCatchableMagnetonEvolveErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Magnemite's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Risky
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Magnemite's defenses.

Risky
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Bad

Lt. Surge's Pokemon outpace and outclass Magnemite here.

Avoid
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's typing presses Magneton's defenses.

Risky
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Risky
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Risky
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Magneton has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

You Win
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Even
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Magneton trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Even
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Even
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Magneton trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Even
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Tough

Giovanni's team hits Magneton's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
You Win
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Risky
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Avoid
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Avoid
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Strong

Magneton resists most of Lorelei's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Easy KO
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Easy KO
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Easy KO
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Even

Magneton trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.

Risky
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Avoid
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
You Win
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Good

Magneton has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Easy KO
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Even
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Magneton trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Easy KO
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Magneton trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Risky
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Risky
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Even
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Risky
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
You Win
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Catch Magnemite

Available after Badge 3
Type
Electric
Tier
F

Catch Magnemite on Route 10 (walking, Lv 16-22, common).

View Magnemite locations

Evolve Magnemite to Magneton

Level 30
Type
Electric
Tier
C

Magnemite evolves into Magneton at Level 30. Your Magnemite should hit Level 30 before you reach Erika, at typical leveling pace.

View Magneton locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Magneton in Yellow

Magneton does appear wild at one uncommon spot in the 30s. Otherwise a Magnemite clicks over at level 30.

1 location to catch Magneton

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 7

Where To Catch Magneton in Y

Available earlier: catch Magnemite (before Badge 4) and evolve it at Lv 30. Wild Magneton first appears at Power Plant (after Badge 7).

  1. Magneton
    Step 2Magneton ✓
    or evolve from Magnemite (Step 1)

To plan your throws, open the Yellow catch rate calculator with Magneton preloaded.

Magneton Weakness

Type-wise, Magneton takes extra damage from Ground. Few weaknesses and 2 resistances make the typing clean. Magneton's special bulk (base 120 Special) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Magneton Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Ground
0.5x (Resist)Electric, Flying
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Magneton Weak Against

Avg
1Weak
2Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Magneton Strong Against

2Strong
3Resisted
1Immune
Score-2
2xStrong
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Magneton

Sandslash
Sandslash
Ground
C
Rhydon
Rhydon
GroundRock
S
Nidoking
Nidoking
PoisonGround
C
Nidoqueen
Nidoqueen
PoisonGround
C
Graveler
Graveler
RockGround
C

Magneton Evolutions

Magnemite's chain leads to Magneton (at level 30). A Electric type at 515 stats, sitting in the Undiscovered group. Special grew the most through evolution (+65 over Magnemite), and Magneton peaks at 515 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Magnemite
Electric
Magneton
Electric
HP
25
50+25
ATK
35
60+25
DEF
70
95+25
SP.ATK
95
120+25
SP.DEF
55
70+15
SPE
45
70+25
BST
325F-Tier
465C-Tier+140
ROLE
Balanced
Cannon
TYPE
Special
Special
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Magneton Best Moveset

MoveThunderbolt from 120 Special hits hard enough to threaten most of the format, and MoveThunder Wave paralyzes what the damage alone can't handle. 70 Speed is the critical flaw, going second against most relevant threats. Massive Special on a frame that can't act before the opponent does.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Magneton
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • ThunderboltSTAB
  • Thunder WaveSTAB
  • SubstituteUtility
  • Double Edge

Moves List

TMs carry this one. Magneton learns Thunder and Thunderbolt naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Sonic Boom
——9020Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 1
Thunder Shock
—6010030Electric
Lv 21
Sonic Boom
——9020Normal
Lv 25
Thunder Shock
—6010030Electric
Lv 29
Supersonic
——5520Normal
Lv 38
Thunder Wave
B—10020Electric
Lv 46
Swift
C60—20Normal
Lv 54
Screech
D—8540Normal

TM Moves

All 17 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
B12010015Normal
HM05D—7020Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
B150905Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
B——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
C60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D908520Normal
TM30
Teleport-6Route 9badge 2
———20Psychic
TM25
ThunderKanto Power Plantbadge 5
B1657010Electric
TM45
Thunder WaveRoute 24badge 1
B—10020Electric
TM24S14210015Electric
TM06C—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Magneton can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
High
HP50
D
Attack60
C
Defense95
B
Sp. Atk120
A
Sp. Def120
A
Speed70
C
Total515
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging60 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.0 m
Weight60.0 kg
Base XP163
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe
Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

Generates strange radio signals. It raises the temperature by 3.6F degrees within 3,300 feet.

Pokemon Yellow

Magneton Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, Magneton has 515 BST, so weigh it against what your team already covers.

  • In Yellow, Magneton plays as a wallbreaker. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully. Thunderbolt is the primary attack.

Game Availability

One of the original 151, Magneton has appeared in 21 games: nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.

Explore

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