Is Magby Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Magby is Magmar's baby form in the Crown Tundra. AbilityFlame Body hatches eggs faster, which is its main value. Evolve into Magmar through friendship, then Magmortar through Magmarizer trade. Postgame DLC chain that arrives too late for the story.
Magby resists most of Milo's coverage and hits back hard.
Magby trades roughly evenly with Nessa's team.
Magby trades roughly evenly with Kabu's team.
Magby trades roughly evenly with Bea's team.
Magby has the type edge here and should clean up Opal's team.
Magby trades roughly evenly with Gordie's team.
Magby has the type edge here and should clean up Piers's team.
Magby trades roughly evenly with Raihan's team.
Magby has the type edge here and should clean up Bede's team.
Leon's team hits Magmortar's weaknesses hard.
Catch Magby on Slippery Slope (walking, Lv 60-65). Intense Sun.
Most players are ready to trade before reaching Leon.
How to Get Magby in Sword & Shield
A trade step sits in Magby's 3-stage chain from Magby. The step cards below map each stage with catch locations and evolution methods. Magby shows up in the wild, so the starting catch is the easy part.
Where To Catch Magby in SwSh
The path to Magby starts with Magby at Lv. 60-65 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Magby ✓Frostpoint FieldLv.60-65CaveRate 20%Intense SunGiant's FootLv.60-65GrassRate 20%Intense SunSnowslide SlopeLv.60-65CaveRate 20%Intense SunThree-Point PassLv.60-65GrassRate 20%Intense SunBallimere LakeLv.60-65GrassRate 19%Intense SunGiant's BedLv.60-65GrassRate 18%Intense SunOld CemeteryLv.60-65GrassRate 18%Intense SunSlippery SlopeLv.60-65GrassRate 18%Intense Sun
Step 2Catch or Evolve into MagmarBallimere LakeLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Intense SunFrostpoint FieldLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Intense SunGiant's BedLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Intense SunGiant's FootLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Intense SunOld CemeteryLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Intense SunSlippery SlopeLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Intense SunSnowslide SlopeLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Intense SunThree-Point PassLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Intense Sunor evolve from Magby (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into MagmortarBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Magmortar egg.
Magby Weakness
Magby is weak to Water, Ground, and Rock. 6 resistances give it solid defensive coverage on top of that. 3 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy |
What is Magby Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Magby
 Mudbray Ground | C | |
 Onix RockGround | C | |
 Roggenrola Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Roggenrola builds →Smack Down 2x80-94% Mud-Slap 2x11-15% | ||
 Diggersby NormalGround | C | |
 Corphish Water | C | |
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing | ||
 Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Drednaw builds →Razor Shell 2x152-181%KO Rock Tomb 2x125-148%KO Sand Tomb 2x51-60% | ||
 Carkol RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Carkol builds →Ancient Power 2x63-76% Sand Tomb 2x32-38% | ||
Mudbray Ground | C | |
 Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Quagsire builds →Mud Shot 2x60-71% Water Gun 2x44-52% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Drednaw builds →Razor Shell 2x155-183%KO Rock Tomb 2x125-148%KO Sand Tomb 2x51-61% | ||
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Sudowoodo builds →Stone Edge 2x184-217%KO Sand Tomb 2x46-55% | ||
Carkol RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Carkol builds →Ancient Power 2x62-74% Sand Tomb 2x32-38% | ||
 Pelipper Water | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing | ||
 Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x200-236%KO Rock Slide 2x126-148%KO | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Drednaw builds →Razor Shell 2x165-196%KO Rock Tomb 2x131-155%KO Dig 2x116-137%KO | ||
 Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Coalossal builds →Ancient Power 2x76-91% Dig 2x88-103%KO | ||
 Mudsdale Ground | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Magby View Mudsdale builds →High Horsepower 2x222-263%KO | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x205-242%KO Rock Slide 2x128-151%KO | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Drednaw builds →Razor Shell 2x170-200%KO Rock Tomb 2x137-161%KO Dig 2x120-142%KO | ||
Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Coalossal builds →Ancient Power 2x78-94% Dig 2x89-105%KO | ||
Mudsdale Ground | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Magby View Mudsdale builds →High Horsepower 2x227-268%KO | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x207-244%KO Bulldoze 2x93-110%KO | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x194-229%KO Rock Slide 2x123-145%KO | ||
 Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Barbaracle builds →Razor Shell 2x150-176%KO Dig 2x106-125%KO Ancient Power 2x57-68% | ||
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Golisopod builds →Razor Shell 2x172-203%KO Mud Shot 2x38-45% | ||
Mudsdale Ground | B | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x207-244%KO Bulldoze 2x93-110%KO | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x197-233%KO Rock Slide 2x123-146%KO | ||
Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Barbaracle builds →Dive 2x162-191%KO Rock Slide 2x152-179%KO Dig 2x107-127%KO | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 2x197-233%KO Rock Slide 2x116-136%KO Mud Shot 2x37-45% | ||
 Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Crawdaunt builds →Dive 2x179-210%KO Dig 2x119-140%KO Rock Slide 2x112-133%KO | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x213-251%KO Bulldoze 2x95-112%KO | ||
 Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Kingler builds →Dive 2x195-230%KO Dig 2x130-153%KO Rock Slide 2x122-145%KO | ||
 Flygon GroundDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Flygon builds →Earthquake 2x195-230%KO Rock Slide 2x97-116%KO | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x204-241%KO Rock Slide 2x127-150%KO | ||
Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Barbaracle builds →Dive 2x165-194%KO Rock Slide 2x153-181%KO Dig 2x109-129%KO | ||
 Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Crustle builds →Rock Wrecker 2x312-368%KO Dig 2x112-132%KO | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x259-305%KO Rock Slide 2x130-154%KO | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Drednaw builds →Head Smash 2x337-397%KO Liquidation 2x193-227%KO Dig 2x121-143%KO | ||
Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 2x252-296%KO Dig 2x135-159%KO Rock Slide 2x126-149%KO | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Sudowoodo builds →Head Smash 2x300-353%KO Dig 2x107-127%KO | ||
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Crustle builds →Rock Wrecker 2x312-368%KO Earthquake 2x140-165%KO | ||
 Tyrantrum RockDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Tyrantrum builds →Head Smash 2x354-417%KO Earthquake 2x157-185%KO | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x259-305%KO Rock Slide 2x130-154%KO | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Drednaw builds →Head Smash 2x337-397%KO Liquidation 2x193-227%KO Earthquake 2x150-177%KO | ||
 Carracosta WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Carracosta builds →Aqua Tail 2x193-227%KO Rock Slide 2x162-190%KO Earthquake 2x143-168%KO | ||
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Crustle builds →Rock Wrecker 2x312-368%KO Earthquake 2x140-165%KO | ||
Tyrantrum RockDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Tyrantrum builds →Head Smash 2x354-417%KO Earthquake 2x157-185%KO | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x259-305%KO Rock Slide 2x130-154%KO | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Drednaw builds →Head Smash 2x337-397%KO Liquidation 2x193-227%KO Earthquake 2x150-177%KO | ||
Carracosta WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magby View Carracosta builds →Aqua Tail 2x193-227%KO Rock Slide 2x162-190%KO Earthquake 2x143-168%KO | ||
In Sword & Shield, Garchomp can KO Magby with Earthquake (304-358%). Tyranitar threatens a KO with Stone Edge (511-601%). Gyarados's Waterfall also KOs at 237-279%.
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Magby View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x304-358%KO | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Magby View Tyranitar builds →Crunch204-240%KO Stone Edge 2x511-601%KO Earthquake 2x341-401%KO | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemWacanberry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Magby View Gyarados builds →Waterfall 2x237-279%KO Earthquake 2x197-232%KO Crunch79-93% | ||
Magby Evolutions
Magby is the baby form here. It evolves into Magmar at level 30, but you can't breed it directly. Hatch one by breeding the evolved forms instead. Evolving adds up to 175 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
SwSh Magby Best Moveset
Fire pre-evo with some physical presence at 75 Attack and 83 Speed. AbilityFlame Body burns on contact, and the moveset offers Fire TermStab that's too weak to compete. A stepping stone that previews what the evolution does with better numbers.
Best Build
Magby best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Substitute
- Detect
- Fire Punch
- Will O Wisp
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Breeding opens up real options for Magby. Belch and Cross Chop come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Overheat and Flare Blitz and coverage across 7 types.
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
Base Stats
This Pokémon is still small and timid. Whenever Magby gets excited or surprised, flames leak from its mouth and its nose.
This Pokémon makes its home near volcanoes. At the end of the day, Magby soaks in magma, resting and recovering from the day’s fatigue.
Magby Sword & Shield Guide
In Sword & Shield, Magby does the job early-game if you need a Fire type on your team. Evolve it into Magmar before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
Game Availability
Magby first appeared in Gold & Silver and has been available in 18 games across 9 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form 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