Stats & Training
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.
Its body temperature is roughly 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Flames burst from gaps in its shell made of hardened magma.
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 |
 Quaquaval WaterFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Quaxly (Cabo Poco Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Quaquaval builds →Close Combat 2x101-120%KO Wave Crash 4x204-240%KO Hydro Pump 4x196-231%KO Surf 4x162-191%KO | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Gastrodon builds →Hydro Pump 4x211-249%KO Muddy Water 4x173-204%KO Earth Power 4x173-204%KO Surf 4x173-204%KO | ||
 Quagsire WaterGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Quagsire builds →Hydro Pump 4x162-191%KO Earthquake 4x132-156%KO Aqua Tail 4x117-138%KO Muddy Water 4x132-156%KO | ||
 Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Whiscash builds →Hydro Pump 4x181-213%KO Earthquake 4x121-142%KO Aqua Tail 4x109-129%KO Muddy Water 4x151-178%KO | ||
 Camerupt FireGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Camerupt builds →Earthquake 4x147-173%KO Earth Power 4x193-227%KO Body Press 2x40-47% Bulldoze 4x90-107%KO | ||
In Scarlet & Violet, Annihilape's Drain Punch hits Magcargo for 64-76%. Glimmora's Power Gem also KOs at 100-117%.
 Dondozo Water | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Dondozo builds →
| ||
 Annihilape FightingGhost | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityDefiant ItemSitrus Berry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Annihilape builds →Drain Punch 2x64-76% | ||
 Glimmora RockPoison | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityToxicdebris ItemRed Card NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Glimmora builds →Power Gem 2x100-117%KO | ||
 Krookodile GroundDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMoxie ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Krookodile builds →Earthquake 4x201-237%KO Knock Off33-38% Close Combat 2x80-94% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Magcargo View Corviknight builds →U Turn7-9% | ||
Scarlet & Violet 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 53 partners from the Indeterminate egg group.
Scarlet & Violet Magcargo Best Moveset
Flame Body helps Magcargo stick around while dealing real damage. Heavy-Duty Boots for hazard immunity on every switch-in, max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs for the right balance, and Earthpower as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.
Best Build
Magcargo best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Support Moveset
- Earth Power
- Stealth Rock
- Shell Smash
- Recover
Recommended Teammates
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Power Gem
- Shell Smash
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Attacker Moveset
- Protect
- Acid Armor
- Amnesia
- Lava Plume
Recommended Teammates
Screens Setter Moveset
- Shell Smash
- Gyro Ball
- Light Screen
- Reflect
Recommended Teammates
Bulky Support Moveset
- Memento
- Harden
- Iron Defense
- Stockpile
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Without TMs, Magcargo's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get Ground and Poison coverage and more on top of Overheat and Flare Blitz for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Magcargo in Scarlet & Violet
Magcargo can't be caught in Scarlet & Violet. Transfer Slugma from Gold, Crystal, or Brilliant Diamond and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
Magcargo Guide
In Scarlet & Violet, 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.
In Scarlet & Violet, Slugma evolves into Magcargo at level 38. Magcargo is the fully evolved form. It sits at 430 BST in its evolved form.
For Scarlet & Violet, 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.
In Scarlet & Violet, Magcargo has a 430 base stat total and ranks as C-Tier: a niche pick in Scarlet & Violet's meta. It works best as a trick room. Earthpower with Heavy-Duty Boots 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.
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 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves