QC: Gary, Finchinator, PK Gaming
QP: P Squared
* Magearna's great typing allows it to be a good check to several threats like Tapu Lele, Hoopa-U, Mega Alakazam, and Latios.
* Its rare Steel / Fairy type combination gives it a lot of resistances and leaves it with only two weaknesses.
* Magearna does have fairly low Speed, but it does make up for it with good offensive prowess and good bulk to pivot on the previously mentioned threats.
* With access to Shift Gear, Magearna becomes a potent late-game sweeper with Soul-Heart allowing it to snowball a KO into cleaning up teams with relative ease.
* With its typing, movepool, and base stats, Magearna is very versatile in what it can provide for team. It can act as a pivot, a sweeper, or even a wallbreaker for another Pokemon to sweep instead.
[SET]
name: Shift Gear
move 1: Flash Cannon
move 2: Aura Sphere / Focus Blast
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Shift Gear
item: Steelium Z
ability: Soul-Heart
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Flash Cannon in combination with Steelium Z gives you a powerful nuke that will help you activate Soul-Heart for Magearna sweeps.
* Aura Sphere hits the Steel-types that give Magearna issues like Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Bisharp.
* Focus Blast is an option over Aura Sphere for extra power, which allows Magearna to OHKO offensive Heatran and Excadrill after Stealth Rock and 2HKO Ferrothorn.
* Thunderbolt hits bulky Water-types like Rotom-W, Suicune, Tapu Fini, and Toxapex or other defensive walls like Celesteela and Mandibuzz.
* Shift Gear boosts Magearna's Speed, letting it outspeed everything up to Choice Scarf Garchomp. The Attack boost doesn't matter, as Magearna is a special attacker.
Set Details
========
* A Timid nature and a Shift Gear boost will allow Magearna to outspeed up to Choice Scarf Garchomp.
* 4 EVs in Special Defense will give Download users, more specifically Genesect, a boost in Attack. This does give Choice Band Genesect really strong Iron Heads, though, so be wary of this. You could instead opt to put those 4 EVs in Defense, giving Genesect a Special Attack boost. This decision largely depends on which boost your team would rather give to Genesect.
* Steelium Z will turn Flash Cannon into a 160-BP Corkscrew Crash to blow past a specific threat and help Magearna sweep from there after the Soul-Heart boost.
Usage Tips
========
* The Shift Gear set shines best against offensive teams once they are weakened and Corkscrew Crash is able to net the KO that triggers a sweep.
* Look for opportunities to set up on the likes of Latios and Tapu Lele or on Choice-locked moves that Magearna resists or is immune to.
* Even just setting up to threaten the sweep isn't a bad idea to soften up the opposing team for another Pokemon to clean up later.
Team Options
========
* Entry hazard setters like Landorus-T, which can switch into and cover the Pokemon that would give Magearna a hard time, are good teammates.
* VoltTurn users are good for applying pressure and wearing down the opposing team. They will also give Magearna more opportunities to come in and set up.
* Teammates that can beat Alolan Marowak or just strong wallbreakers in general like Ash-Greninja, Kyurem-B, and Hoopa-U are appreciated.
* Magnezone and Dugtrio are good options to pair with Magearna to trap and beat some would-be counters like Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Alolan Marowak.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Fleur Cannon
move 2: Flash Cannon
move 3: Volt Switch
move 4: Aura Sphere
item: Assault Vest
ability: Soul-Heart
nature: Modest
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Fleur Cannon is Magearna's nuke on this set to net KOs or just to weaken the opposing team as much as possible.
* Flash Cannon hits Fairy-types like Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Clefable.
* Volt Switch allows Magearna to to pivot out and keep up momentum after threatening something out.
* Aura Sphere is a coverage move to hit bulky Steel-types like Excadrill, Heatran, and Ferrothorn. It also hits Bisharp and will deal more damage to Tyranitar than Flash Cannon would.
Set Details
========
* The EV spread maximizes bulk so Magearna can handle Tapu Lele, Latios, Latias, and Mega Alakazam and scare them out with the threat of being OHKOed or taking a heavy hit. It also maximizes Special Attack so Magearna is still able to dish out good damage.
* The 8 Special Defense EVs give Genesect an Attack boost instead of Special Attack. They can be moved to Defense if your team would rather give Genesect Special Attack boosts, namely if you fear the Choice Band Set.
* Assault Vest boosts Magearna's already solid Special Defense and makes it a counter for Tapu Lele, Latios, Latias, Mega Alakazam, and more.
Usage Tips
========
* This set works as a pivot for foes like Tapu Lele, Latios, Latias, Mega Alakazam, and Greninja to an extent, using Volt Switch to get out and to keep up momentum.
* If the opposing team has a bulky Ground-type like Landorus-T that can stop Volt Switch, use Flash Cannon or Fleur Cannon to dent it or KO it on the switch.
* Fleur Cannon is still a strong nuke even without Choice Specs, so don't be afraid to throw it out and deal heavy damage, especially if the opposing doesn't have good switch-ins for the move.
Team Options
========
* Magearna can't break through Alolan Marowak, so it appreciates teammates that are able to deal with it or keep it under pressure.
* Hazard control is nice so Magearna doesn't get worn down by entry hazards, allowing it to have better longevity through the battle.
* Since this set does a really good job of dealing with Tapu Lele, Latios, and Mega Alakazam, Pokemon that are threatened by those foes are good teammates. Mega Venusaur and Buzzwole fit the bill here.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fleur Cannon
move 2: Flash Cannon
move 3: Volt Switch
move 4: Aura Sphere
item: Choice Specs
ability: Soul-Heart
nature: Modest
evs: 200 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD / 48 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Fleur Cannon is the main move to spam to brute force past offense and balance teams.
* Flash Cannon is for hitting Fairy-types super effectively and gives you a way to deal with Tapu Lele without lowering Magearna's Special Attack with Fleur Cannon.
* Volt Switch hits Flying- and Water-types as well as keeping up momentum as you force a switch.
* Aura Sphere hits Heatran and Ferrothorn, as both resist Fleur Cannon and Flash Cannon.
Set Details
========
* The EV spread maximizes Magearna's Special Attack to make the most use of the Choice Specs. 48 Speed EVs let it outspeed Mantine and so it can KO it with Volt Switch. The rest goes in HP for bulk so Magearna can take hits.
* The 8 Special Defense EVs will give Genesect an Attack boost, though you can move them to Defense depending on your team's needs. For example, if you pair Magearna with Rocky Helmet Landorus-T, giving Genesect the Attack boost is fine, since you have a check for that scenario.
* Choice Specs is used for more wallbreaking power .
Usage Tips
========
* Look for openings to switch in on resisted moves, giving you more opportunities to throw out a Flash Cannon or Fleur Cannon. Utilize double switches or U-turn to bring Magearna in more often to throw out an attack or Volt Switch out.
* As this set isn't as bulky without Assault Vest, you shouldn't rely on it to pivot as well into Tapu Lele or Mega Alakazam. .
Team Options
========
* Landorus-T covers some of Magearna's weaknesses and can handle a number of the Pokemon that would normally threaten it, such as Mega Venusaur if it's running the Swords Dance + Fly set. In return, Magearna can nuke a lot of the Pokemon that switch into Landorus-T. They also form a good VoltTurn core.
* Consider strong late-game sweepers that can set up on Pokemon Magearna is countered by and lures in. Landorus-T, Salamence, and Mega Charizard X are good examples.
* Hoopa-U appreciates having Magearna around; together, they can break down bulkier teams more easily.
* Trappers like Dugtrio and Magnezone are solid options, as both can remove Pokemon that resist Magearna's STAB moves so it can freely throw out Fleur Cannons.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Trick Room sets are viable in niche scenarios, specifically on full Trick Room teams.
* A fully defensive set with Calm Mind is an option but is heavily outclassed by the likes of Tapu Lele.
* Shadow Ball can be run to hit Alolan Marowak and Jirachi if you aren't able to fit any Pokemon that can deal with them on your team.
* Air Balloon and Shuca Berry are decent options if you want Magearna to be able to set up on bulky Ground-types.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Steel-types**: Ferrothorn, Heatran, specially defensive Excadrill, Jirachi, and Celesteela are good counters to Magearna, as Magearna can't break through them without some team support.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types resist both of Magearna's STAB types and force it out. Heatran, Mega Charizard Y, and Alolan Marowak are good examples. Alolan Marowak resists both STAB types, is immune to Aura Sphere, and has Lightning Rod.
**Bulky Defensive Pokemon**: Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Toxapex all pretty much wall Magearna unless it has enough boosts to win the one-on-one. Amoonguss and Toxapex both carry Clear Smog or Haze to reset boosts. Mega Venusaur has recovery and can just wear Magearna down with Hidden Power Fire or the rare Earthquake.
**Ground-types**: Bulky Ground-types like Landorus-T, Hippowdon, and Garchomp give Magearna a hard time, as they block Volt Switch and threaten it out with an Earthquake. Choice Scarf Garchomp outspeeds Shift Gear sets and OHKOes them with Earthquake.
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