Introduced in generation two, with Pokemon Gold and Silver games, Magcargo is a dual type fire and rock Pokemon. It is the second stage evolution of its two stage evolution line and evolves from Slugma when it reaches the level threshold. It is not known to evolve further. Magcargo is classified by the Pokedex as the “Lava Pokemon” which is likely a reference to its general design. This guide will showcase Magcargo’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Magcargo.
About Magcargo
As a generation two Pokemon, Magcargo first appeared in the Original Series of the anime in the episode Some Like it Hot. In this episode, a character named Egan appeared who attempted to capture a Magcargo. The Pokedex mentions that Magcargo’s body temperature is approximately 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It also mentions that if Magcargo is caught in the rain, the raindrops turn into steam.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Original Series: Some Like it Hot |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Gold and Silver |
| Region | Johto |
| Evolution | Evolves from Slugma, not known to evolve into another Pokemon |
| 1st Evo level | 38 |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | Magcargo's shell is actually its skin that hardened as a result of cooling. Its shell is very brittle and fragile - just touching it causes it to crumble apart. This Pokémon returns to its original size by dipping itself in magma. |
Magcargo Base Stats
(Generations 2-6)
| HP | 50 |
| ATTACK | 50 |
| DEFENCE | 120 |
| SP. ATTACK | 80 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 80 |
| SPEED | 30 |
| TOTAL | 410 |
(Generation 7+)
| HP | 60 |
| ATTACK | 50 |
| DEFENCE | 120 |
| SP. ATTACK | 90 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 80 |
| SPEED | 30 |
| TOTAL | 430 |
Appearance
Magcargo is a small red and gray Pokemon that resembles a fiery snail. Most of its body is red, but its shell is gray. There is also much fire accompanying Magcargo’s trail on account of how hot its body temperature is. It has yellow eyes with black pupils, but has no discernible arms or legs. Molten lava bubbles occasionally form on Magcargo’s body. It is a small Pokemon at only 2 feet and 7 inches, or 0.8 meters, tall.
Behavior
Magcargo can cause numerous problems wherever it goes due to its high internal body temperature. Since it is over 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit (10,000 degrees Celsius), Magcargo can cause sudden fires or other significant damage to the environment around it. Luckily it stays near mountainous regions and feels most at home near volcano craters. The Pokedex mentions that Magcargo has been living in volcanoes for tens of thousands of years.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Magcargo is not a powerful Pokemon but while it has a strong physical defense, its health pool prevents it from performing as a defensive Pokemon. While its physical defense is stellar, its special defense is somewhat average and it also has trouble in general given its low speed stat. Most Magcargo will assume a supportive role, setting up hazards or disabling enemy Pokemon. As a dual type fire and rock Pokemon, Magcargo takes 2x damage from fighting and rock type moves. It also takes 4x damage from ground and water type moves. It has no immunities but is resistant to normal, flying, poison, bug, fire, ice, and fairy type moves.
Best Moveset
In competitive play, it is best to use Magcargo in a supportive role rather than use it as a defensive Pokemon. Magcargo’s slow speed, low health pool, and uneven defensive stats makes it unwieldy in a defensive role. Use a Leftovers held item to keep Magcargo healthy, and use its Flame Body ability to dissuade your opponents from attacking Magcargo. Consider running Stealth Rock, Lava Plume, Toxic/Ancient Power, and Recover. This set aims to disrupt your opponents with hazards and keep Magcargo healthy. Magcargo can also deal damage through Lava Plume and Toxic/Ancient Power.
| Stealth Rock | Lava Plume |
| Toxic/Ancient Power | Recover |
How to Catch Magcargo in Pokemon Go?
If you would like to obtain a Magcargo in Pokemon Go, the easiest way to do so would be to first obtain a Slugma and eventually evolve it into a Magcargo. Like most evolved forms of Pokemon, its base evolution is much easier to obtain than its evolved form. You can find Slugma spawning in the wild, at a boosted rate, near cities, neighborhoods, dry/arid areas, beaches, and other residential areas. Slugma can also be hatched from 5 km eggs. Unfortunately, Slugma has not been featured as a raid boss in the past, but Magcargo has been a tier two raid boss at Pokemon Gyms. To evolve Slugma into Magcargo, it will take 50 candies.
Trivia
- In generation two, Magcargo had three different sprites across all three games. Its shell was edited slightly between each iteration.
- The inspiration for Magcargo’s design likely comes from snails or slugs.
- The name Magcargo is a combination of the word magma and escargot (French for snail).
FAQ
What temperature is Magcargo?
The Pokedex states that Magcargo can reach temperatures of over 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit (10,000 degrees Celsius). Magcargo’s body temperature is so high that falling rain will dissipate immediately when it falls near Magcargo. This effect can cause fog and steam to rise up into the air.
What is Magcargo good for?
Magcargo can be utilized as a supportive/disruptive Pokemon that deals damage through hazards and preventing your opponent’s strategies from functioning. Remember that Magcargo is a slow Pokemon, so it will often go last in turn order during battle. Keep an eye on its weak matchups if you want to succeed with Magcargo.
What does Magcargo evolve into?
Magcargo is the final evolution of its two stage evolution line. It evolves from Slugma once it reaches level 38, but does not evolve further. There are no evolution conditions to fulfill for Magcargo as it does not evolve into another Pokemon. Once your Slugma has evolved into Magcargo, you have finished the Pokemon’s evolution line and can move on to collecting other Pokemon.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Lava Pokemon”. While Magcargo is not as powerful as other supportive Pokemon, it can still be considered if you need a physically defensive Pokemon. Even though Magcargo’s role is more of a supportive one, Magcargo can deal significant damage if it is left alone. It can also be difficult to target Magcargo due to its abilities. Reserve a slot on your team for Magcargo if you want a disruptive fire and rock type Pokemon.
