magnemite

Overview
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Last generation, Magnemite was an effective bulky attacker who could switch into things like the threatening SubRoost Murkrow and take it out, and in this generation, it can still take hits while hitting back, thanks to a niche item + ability combo. Sadly, Steel lost it's resistance to Ghost, making it a less reliable counter to things like Drifloon, and Dark, meaning things like Pawniard can punish it with their STAB. In addition, Magnemite heavily relies on items, so the Knock Off buff has greatly hurt it. Not all is dark for Magnemite though, as Steel is now super effective against the new Fairy type, meaning it can counter or check things like Spiritzee and Snubbull. It was also given a gift with the unbanning of Berry Juice, allowing it to be a top notch abuser of the infamous Berry Juice and Sturdy combo. Although no where near as effective as last generation, it's Choice Scarf set can still function as a solid revenge killer. It's typing still allows it to function as a good pivot for offensive teams, with it's ability to Volt Switch out of threats, absorb Paralyses, and keep great pressure on the opponent with it's solid coverage.


Sturdy + Berry Juice
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name: Sturdy + Berry Juice
move 1: Flash Cannon
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Thunderbolt / Recycle
ability: Sturdy
item: Berry Juice
evs: 240 SpA / 236 Spe
nature: Modest / Timid

Moves
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    Flash Cannon is the main STAB, hitting Fairies and anything that doesn't resist it hard
    Volt Switch gives you momentum and lets him escape his Grass type counters
    Hidden Power Ice hits Gligar and Grass types on the switch
    Hidden Power Ground lets him touch Chinchou and other Magnemite
    Thunderbolt can be used as a more powerful STAB or to stay in after using an Electric move
    Recycle can replace either Thunderbolt or Volt Switch so you can reuse your Berry Juice


Set Details
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    EV's are standard max/max with the final 36 giving one more point in defense
    Sturdy lets him live OHKO's from full health
    Berry Juice abuses this ability and recovers all damage take meaning Sturdy can be activated again
    Modest maximizes special attack, letting it reach 20
    Timid can be used to get the jump on Swirlix before Unburden is activated


Usage Tips
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    Use it to bait in things such as Gligar, survive a hit, and OHKO back, or use it to switch in to things that do over 50% and force them to have to 2HKO you without getting KO'd
    Avoid switching into Knock Off users
    Remove Spikes and Stealth Rocks before coming in too keep Sturdy intact
    Can function as a solid lead against common leads like Gligar
    Best as a pivot
    If Sturdy is gone, but you aren't in Berry Juice range, play carefully.


Team Options
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    Pokemon that can handle Chinchou, like Foongus who can also help against Fighting types or a Chinchou with Hidden Power Grass
    Defog or Rapid Spin users to keep Sturdy intact, such as Gligar who also covers Magnemite's Ground and Fighting weaknesses
    Other Pokemon with U-turn or Volt Switch to keep momentum
    Pokemon that can switch into and defeat Fighting types like Spritzee whose Wish can keep Sturdy intact
    Other bulky Pokemon to come in on faster frail Pokemon that attempt to revenge


Choice Scarf
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name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Flash Cannon
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Thunderbolt
ability: Sturdy
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 240 SpA / 236 Spe
nature: Modest

Moves
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    Thunderbolt is your strongest STAB and can be used to clean late game
    Flash Cannon is the other STAB, hitting Fairies
    Hidden Power Ice can surprise Gligar that thinks it outspeeds
    Hidden Power Ground can be used if you'd rather hit Chinchou and other Magnemite than OHKO Gligar
    Volt Switch gives you momentum and is a good move to spam


Set Details
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    EV's are standard max/max with the final 36 giving one more point in defense
    Sturdy lets him live OHKO's from full health
    Choice Scarf fixes his below average speed, and surprises lots of his checks
    Modest gives him the most power possible, and he can outspeed the entire unboosted tier with his 14 speed

Usage Tips
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    Avoid switching into Knock Off users
    Remove Spikes and Stealth Rocks before coming in too keep Sturdy intact
    Can surprise common leads like Gligar by outspeeding and OHKO'ing
    Revenge kill slower threats with Volt Switch
    Be wary of priority


Team Options
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    Pokemon that can handle Chinchou, like Foongus who can also help against Fighting types
    Defog or Rapid Spin users to keep Sturdy intact
    Other Pokemon with U-turn or Volt Switch to keep momentum
    Pokemon that enjoy the removal of Gligar, like Mienfoo
    Pokemon that can counter priority using Fighting types, like Spritzee who can also pass Wish to keep Sturdy intact
    Pokemon that can switch into Pokemon using Sucker Punch and beat them



Other Options
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    Hidden Power Fire can be used on a Steel trapping set, but you may as well just use a counter to these Pokemon, such as a Fighting type
    Magnet Pull can be useful for Sandstorm teams looking for something to threaten Snover and handle Drilbur's counters
    Magnet Rise can negate his weakness to Ground
    It can function as a weather starter, though there's usually a better one



Checks & Counters
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    Entry Hazards
    Chinchou
    Ferroseed
    Hippopotas
    Foongus
    Porygon since Shadow Ball in neutral
    Munchlax
    Ponyta and Larvesta can take a hit or two, have recovery, and can use Will-O-Wisp to avoid Sturdy + Berry Juice
    Timburr
    Misdreavus can take most of his moves and threaten back with Shadow Ball or Hidden Power Fighting
    Croagunk can hurt it with a combination of Drain Punch and Vacuum Wave
    Knock Off users
    Hail
    Burn Status (Will-O-Wisp)
    Once it is at 1HP or is between 51% and 99% faster things with a super effective move like Gligar and Meditite or priority users like Murkrow can revenge it
    Anything that resists whatever move it is lock into can beat it's scarf set