Magnezone

A flying saucer built around the idea of electromagnetism: Magnezone looks like a metal spacecraft with a large central eye and two side units that retain features of Magnemite. The three components generate a magnetic field and emit electrical waves while receiving signals from an unknown source. That is why it has been mistaken for a UFO when seen crossing the night sky, and some people still believe it came from space.

Its behaviour is hardly friendly. It detects intruders with its radar and can eliminate them with a destructive beam. It also emits fields so intense that several specimens can attract one another until they are left immobilised. The species is the final stage of its evolutionary line: Magnemite evolves into Magneton, which reaches its final form when exposed to certain magnetic conditions or a Thunder Stone. Its body weighs 180 kg despite measuring 1.2 m, a proportion that fits its appearance as compact, heavy machinery.

Magnezone does have a defined competitive role, although its Speed of 60 greatly limits the opportunities it has to switch in. Its best assets are its 130 Special Attack, 115 Defense and Electric/Steel typing. The latter gives it many resistances and an immunity to Poison, while its moves have a good combination of targets: Thunderbolt pressures Water- and Flying-type Pokémon, and Flash Cannon hits Fairy, Ice and Rock. Volt Switch lets it attack and leave the field to maintain momentum.

The ability that makes the difference is Magnet Pull: it prevents Steel-type Pokémon from fleeing. This allows Magnezone to trap opponents such as Corviknight, Scizor or other Steel types that have no way to escape and punish them with Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon or Steel Beam. Thunder Wave also compensates for its low Speed by reducing the target’s Speed. Sturdy prevents a hit taken at full HP from knocking it out in one blow, while Analytic powers up the move if it acts last.

The problem lies in its weaknesses to Fire, Fighting and, above all, Ground. Ground-type attacks force it to switch out easily, while its 70 HP and 60 Speed make it difficult for it to handle prolonged exchanges. It works best by switching in against a Steel type it can trap, surviving a specific attack and taking it out, or using Volt Switch before a faster opponent arrives.

Magnezone belongs to the Mineral Egg Group and has no differentiated sexes, so there is no distinction between males and females. Its Eggs take 20 cycles to hatch, equivalent to approximately 5355 steps using the usual formula. Its experience growth rate is Medium Fast, and it starts with a base friendship of 70.

Its catch rate is 30, which is low: finding one in the wild does not guarantee an easy capture, so it is worth bringing status moves or enough Poké Balls. It can be found holding a Metal Coat as a wild item.

In Scarlet and Violet, Magneton evolves into Magnezone when a Thunder Stone is used on it. In games with special magnetic areas, the condition is to level it up at Mt. Coronet, Chargestone Cave, Route 13 in Kalos, Blush Mountain, Vast Poni Canyon or New Mauville. The previous evolution is simpler: Magnemite becomes Magneton upon reaching level 30.