Pokémon counters guide

Best Counters for Magcargo

Find practical counter Pokémon, attacking types, and defensive matchup notes for Magcargo.

FireRock
Magcargo Pokémon sprite

Magcargo

#0219

Quick answer

Water and Ground is the strongest answer because both Fire and Rock are weak to Water, creating a 4x weakness. Fighting and Rock are strong secondary attacking types.

Best move types

Water×4Ground×4Fighting×2Rock×2

Top weaknesses (2)

Water×4Ground×4

Type matchup table

Water type iconWater4x
Ground type iconGround4x
Fighting type iconFighting2x
Rock type iconRock2x
Electric type iconElectric1x
Grass type iconGrass1x
Psychic type iconPsychic1x
Ghost type iconGhost1x
Dragon type iconDragon1x
Dark type iconDark1x
Steel type iconSteel1x
Fire type iconFire0.25x
Normal type iconNormal0.5x
Ice type iconIce0.5x
Poison type iconPoison0.5x
Flying type iconFlying0.5x
Bug type iconBug0.5x
Fairy type iconFairy0.5x

Recommended practical counters

Garchomp Pokémon sprite

Garchomp

#0445

Best overallResists both STABsFast pressure
DragonGround
  • Deals 4x damage with Ground-type attacks
  • Has STAB Ground-type attacks
  • Resists the target's Fire 0.5x, Rock 0.5x STAB attacks
  • Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
  • Good Speed helps apply pressure first
Best typeGround×4

Safe into Fire 0.5x, Rock 0.5x

130 offense · 102 Speed

Kabutops Pokémon sprite

Kabutops

#0141

Bulky switch-inBudget option
RockWater
  • Deals 4x damage with Water-type attacks
  • Has STAB Water-type attacks
  • Resists the target's Fire 0.25x STAB attacks
  • Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
Best typeWater×4

Safe into Fire 0.25x

115 offense · 80 Speed

Strong theoretical counters

Best move types to use

Water×4Ground×4Fighting×2Rock×2

Move availability depends on game version and learnset data, so this page recommends move types rather than guaranteed moves.

Water type pageGround type pageFighting type pageRock type page

Counter notes for Magcargo

  • Magcargo's Fire / Rock typing makes Water and Ground the cleanest answer because it reaches 4x damage. Its 30 base Speed means very slow counters still need enough bulk to take a hit first.
  • Fighting and Rock attackers are useful secondary options when the top weakness is unavailable, but they should be chosen for safety, Speed, or team fit rather than raw multiplier alone.
  • Known abilities include Magma Armor, Flame Body, and Weak Armor. This page does not assume ability-specific battle effects, so verify the format before relying on a single counter.
  • Avoid counters that are weak to Fire / Rock unless they are fast enough to pressure immediately or bulky enough to survive the exchange.
  • Magcargo does not need a separate alternate-form note for the standard National Dex matchup shown here.

What not to use

Fire×0.25Normal×0.5Ice×0.5Poison×0.5Flying×0.5Bug×0.5Fairy×0.5

These attacking types are resisted or blocked by the defender's typing, so they are usually lower-priority choices unless they provide a special battle role.

Battle caveats

  • This ranking uses modern Gen 6+ type matchups, STAB value, defensive switch-in safety, and base stats.
  • Abilities, held items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and format rules can change real battle outcomes.
  • Coverage moves can punish obvious counters, so treat this as type-based guidance rather than a full matchup simulator.
  • Move availability depends on game version and learnset data; this page recommends attacking types rather than guaranteed moves.

Related pages

Magcargo weakness chartMagcargo PokédexFire / Rock countersWater type pageGround type pageFighting type pagePokémon type chartSpeed tiers

FAQ

What is the best counter for Magcargo?

Magcargo is best countered by Pokémon that can use Water and Ground (4x) attacks while avoiding bad defensive matchups into Fire / Rock STAB attacks. Because this is a 4x weakness, even moderate attackers can create pressure if they can enter safely.

What type is best against Magcargo?

Water and Ground are the strongest attacking types against Magcargo, dealing 4x damage under the modern Gen 6+ type chart.

How many useful attacking types hit Magcargo super-effectively?

Magcargo has 4 super-effective attacking options: Water, Ground, Fighting, and Rock. Use the highest multiplier first, then choose a Pokémon that is not exposed to Fire / Rock STAB attacks.

Are abilities included in this counter ranking?

No. The ranking uses base typing and base stats. Abilities, items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and special move rules can change the real matchup.

Does Terastallization change Magcargo counters?

Yes. Terastallization can replace the defensive typing used here, so the recommended counter types may change completely in formats where Tera is active.

What should I avoid using against Magcargo?

Avoid relying on Fire, Normal, Ice, Poison, and Flying attacks unless they have a special role or unusually high power.

© 2026 NationalDex. All rights reserved.
Pokémon and Pokémon character names are trademarks of Nintendo / GAME FREAK / Creatures Inc. This is a fan-made website for learning and community use only. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the trademark holders.
Terms·Privacy·About

Search NationalDex

Search Pokémon, moves, abilities, types, and items.