gastlies
running up that hill
[OVERVIEW]
At first glance, Magmar appears to be outclassed by Arcanine and Rapidash. The former is much bulkier, and the latter crucially outspeeds Fearow. However, Magmar has a unique niche thanks to its diverse movepool, making it a good lead. Moves like Psychic, Confuse Ray, and Counter help Magmar defeat leads such as Gastly and opposing Fire-types. However leads with Thunder Wave, such as Dragonair and Staryu, generally force Magmar out due to its fear of paralysis. Staryu is especially nasty since it has a strong STAB Surf to hit Magmar with.
Although Magmar is most commonly seen as a lead, it can also be used in the back as a Fire-type that's not walled by Omanyte, using either Seismic Toss or Psychic to defeat it. Psychic also allows Magmar to break through Porygon with special drops. Despite these positives, Magmar is typically not worth using over Arcanine's strong defensive profile or Rapidash's amazing Speed. Magmar has a much worse matchup against Fearow, the most dangerous Pokemon in the tier, as well as opposing Fire-types if Magmar lacks Counter. Overall, Magmar is a fantastic lead thanks to its diverse toolkit and excellent matchups against common leads, but Rapidash and Arcanine keep it from being one of the top threats in the metagame.
[SET]
name: Swagmar
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Body Slam
move 3: Confuse Ray / Seismic Toss
move 4: Counter / Psychic
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Fire Blast is Magmar's strongest move, dealing significant damage to any neutral target. Body Slam allows Magmar to fish for paralysis, and parafusion makes dealing with Magmar extremely difficult. Confuse Ray is also a fantastic option against opposing Gastly and Drowzee leads, reducing the accuracy of Hypnosis to a measly 29.9%. Seismic Toss is a decent alternative to Confuse Ray when not leading Magmar, allowing Magmar to 3HKO Omanyte while also doing more damage to opposing Fire-types, Water-types, Graveler, and Dragonair. Counter is used to deal with opposing Fire-types, since they risk Counter if they use their more effective Normal-type moves. Even if Magmar is not running Counter, simply the threat of the move will force prediction. If Magmar does drop Counter, Psychic is a good alternative that is more accurate while dealing the same amount of damage as Fire Blast to Psychic-weak or Fire-resistant Pokemon, such as Dragonair or Gastly. Psychic's chance of a Special drop is also useful in some cases, such as allowing Magmar to break Porygon; it also gives Magmar a slim chance to 2HKO Nidoqueen if the first one drops its Special.
Since Magmar is used primarily as a lead, it can fit on almost any kind of team. Rapidash and Arcanine are good teammates since Magmar can weaken their shared checks such as Staryu and Omanyte early-game, making them easier to handle later. Since Magmar has a worse matchup against Fearow compared to the other Fire-types, teammates that check Fearow, such as Rock-types and Sandslash, are good teammates. Paralysis spreaders are also great teammates, since they help Magmar break through Fire-types and make Confuse Ray even more infuriating to deal with. Dragonair in particular is a fantastic teammate since it can switch into Pokemon like Seaking that force Magmar out. It can then use Thunder Wave and Wrap to pivot back into Magmar. In return, Magmar can defeat Gastly, one of Dragonair's biggest counters, early-game. Porygon can switch in to Graveler and Omanyte, which generally force Magmar out, especially if it's not running Psychic or Seismic Toss. Pokemon such as Drowzee that can switch into opposing Thunder Wave leads are also good teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hyper Beam is a powerful move that deals over 50% to frail Pokemon such as Drowzee and Staryu while also OHKOing Abra, but it is hard to fit. Submission is Magmar's strongest move against Omanyte, but it has little other use since Fire Blast does around the same amount of damage to Graveler and Porygon, and the more consistent Psychic and Seismic Toss are generally preferred as anti-Omanyte options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Although Magmar has a better matchup compared to other Fire-types, Graveler and Omanyte are still both capable of 2HKOing Magmar. Magmar only 3HKOes Omanyte with Seismic Toss and has a very slim chance to 3HKO Graveler with Psychic barring Special drops.
**Paralysis**: Magmar hates being paralyzed since it's frail and relies on outspeeding the foe to use Confuse Ray effectively. Because of this, Magmar has trouble against leads with Thunder Wave, such as Staryu, Dragonair, and Drowzee.
**Water-types**: Seaking, Slowpoke, and the aforementioned Omanyte can switch into Magmar and beat it one-on-one. Staryu is too frail to switch in, but it beats Magmar one-on-one, making it a good revenge killer. Magmar is capable of pushing through these threats if it gets lucky with Confuse Ray, although this strategy is unreliable.
**Ground-types**: Although it struggles to switch in to a healthy Magmar, Nidoqueen is capable of KOing Magmar with Earthquake after some chip damage. Magmar's Fire Blast only 3HKOes Nidoqueen, although Nidoqueen must fear burn. Fire blast is likely to 2HKO Sandslash, but its Earthquake has a 43.6% chance to OHKO Magmar.
**Fearow**: Magmar lacks the bulk of Arcanine and the Speed of Rapidash to handle Fearow, which outspeeds Magmar and easily KOes it with Double-Edge followed by Hyper Beam. However, Magmar is capable of burning Fearow with Fire Blast.
**Opposing Fire-types**: If not running Counter, Magmar is unable to defeat Rapidash and Arcanine due to their greater bulk and Speed. Rapidash and Arcanine are unlikely to attack Magmar with Normal-type moves right away in order to scout for Counter, but once Magmar is confirmed to not have it, these Fire-types easily defeat Magmar.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gastlies.540559/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
At first glance, Magmar appears to be outclassed by Arcanine and Rapidash. The former is much bulkier, and the latter crucially outspeeds Fearow. However, Magmar has a unique niche thanks to its diverse movepool, making it a good lead. Moves like Psychic, Confuse Ray, and Counter help Magmar defeat leads such as Gastly and opposing Fire-types. However leads with Thunder Wave, such as Dragonair and Staryu, generally force Magmar out due to its fear of paralysis. Staryu is especially nasty since it has a strong STAB Surf to hit Magmar with.
Although Magmar is most commonly seen as a lead, it can also be used in the back as a Fire-type that's not walled by Omanyte, using either Seismic Toss or Psychic to defeat it. Psychic also allows Magmar to break through Porygon with special drops. Despite these positives, Magmar is typically not worth using over Arcanine's strong defensive profile or Rapidash's amazing Speed. Magmar has a much worse matchup against Fearow, the most dangerous Pokemon in the tier, as well as opposing Fire-types if Magmar lacks Counter. Overall, Magmar is a fantastic lead thanks to its diverse toolkit and excellent matchups against common leads, but Rapidash and Arcanine keep it from being one of the top threats in the metagame.
[SET]
name: Swagmar
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Body Slam
move 3: Confuse Ray / Seismic Toss
move 4: Counter / Psychic
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Fire Blast is Magmar's strongest move, dealing significant damage to any neutral target. Body Slam allows Magmar to fish for paralysis, and parafusion makes dealing with Magmar extremely difficult. Confuse Ray is also a fantastic option against opposing Gastly and Drowzee leads, reducing the accuracy of Hypnosis to a measly 29.9%. Seismic Toss is a decent alternative to Confuse Ray when not leading Magmar, allowing Magmar to 3HKO Omanyte while also doing more damage to opposing Fire-types, Water-types, Graveler, and Dragonair. Counter is used to deal with opposing Fire-types, since they risk Counter if they use their more effective Normal-type moves. Even if Magmar is not running Counter, simply the threat of the move will force prediction. If Magmar does drop Counter, Psychic is a good alternative that is more accurate while dealing the same amount of damage as Fire Blast to Psychic-weak or Fire-resistant Pokemon, such as Dragonair or Gastly. Psychic's chance of a Special drop is also useful in some cases, such as allowing Magmar to break Porygon; it also gives Magmar a slim chance to 2HKO Nidoqueen if the first one drops its Special.
Since Magmar is used primarily as a lead, it can fit on almost any kind of team. Rapidash and Arcanine are good teammates since Magmar can weaken their shared checks such as Staryu and Omanyte early-game, making them easier to handle later. Since Magmar has a worse matchup against Fearow compared to the other Fire-types, teammates that check Fearow, such as Rock-types and Sandslash, are good teammates. Paralysis spreaders are also great teammates, since they help Magmar break through Fire-types and make Confuse Ray even more infuriating to deal with. Dragonair in particular is a fantastic teammate since it can switch into Pokemon like Seaking that force Magmar out. It can then use Thunder Wave and Wrap to pivot back into Magmar. In return, Magmar can defeat Gastly, one of Dragonair's biggest counters, early-game. Porygon can switch in to Graveler and Omanyte, which generally force Magmar out, especially if it's not running Psychic or Seismic Toss. Pokemon such as Drowzee that can switch into opposing Thunder Wave leads are also good teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hyper Beam is a powerful move that deals over 50% to frail Pokemon such as Drowzee and Staryu while also OHKOing Abra, but it is hard to fit. Submission is Magmar's strongest move against Omanyte, but it has little other use since Fire Blast does around the same amount of damage to Graveler and Porygon, and the more consistent Psychic and Seismic Toss are generally preferred as anti-Omanyte options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Although Magmar has a better matchup compared to other Fire-types, Graveler and Omanyte are still both capable of 2HKOing Magmar. Magmar only 3HKOes Omanyte with Seismic Toss and has a very slim chance to 3HKO Graveler with Psychic barring Special drops.
**Paralysis**: Magmar hates being paralyzed since it's frail and relies on outspeeding the foe to use Confuse Ray effectively. Because of this, Magmar has trouble against leads with Thunder Wave, such as Staryu, Dragonair, and Drowzee.
**Water-types**: Seaking, Slowpoke, and the aforementioned Omanyte can switch into Magmar and beat it one-on-one. Staryu is too frail to switch in, but it beats Magmar one-on-one, making it a good revenge killer. Magmar is capable of pushing through these threats if it gets lucky with Confuse Ray, although this strategy is unreliable.
**Ground-types**: Although it struggles to switch in to a healthy Magmar, Nidoqueen is capable of KOing Magmar with Earthquake after some chip damage. Magmar's Fire Blast only 3HKOes Nidoqueen, although Nidoqueen must fear burn. Fire blast is likely to 2HKO Sandslash, but its Earthquake has a 43.6% chance to OHKO Magmar.
**Fearow**: Magmar lacks the bulk of Arcanine and the Speed of Rapidash to handle Fearow, which outspeeds Magmar and easily KOes it with Double-Edge followed by Hyper Beam. However, Magmar is capable of burning Fearow with Fire Blast.
**Opposing Fire-types**: If not running Counter, Magmar is unable to defeat Rapidash and Arcanine due to their greater bulk and Speed. Rapidash and Arcanine are unlikely to attack Magmar with Normal-type moves right away in order to scout for Counter, but once Magmar is confirmed to not have it, these Fire-types easily defeat Magmar.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gastlies.540559/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
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