Magcargo is a limbless, snail-like Pokémon consisting almost entirely of bright red {wp|magma)). Its oval eyes are large and yellow with small pupils, and extend upward from its head. It has a bulbous snout and a wide mouth, with two drops of magma dangling from each side of its upper jaw. Magcargo's back is protected by a gray, spherical shell composed of hardened, but brittle magma, forming irregular lumps and plates. Magcargo's lower body is amorphous and covered in bubbles of magma.
Magcargo's internal body temperature can reach over 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit, causing it to evaporate water on contact. Flames circulate throughout its body, occasionally spouting through cracks in its shell. While its shell is brittle enough to be shattered with a slight touch, Magcargo can reform its body by dipping itself in magma. It can be found in mountainous regions, and has been living in volcano craters for tens of thousands of years.
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's body temperature is approximately 18,000 degrees F. Water is vaporized on contact. If this Pokémon is caught in the rain, the raindrops instantly turn into steam, cloaking the area in a thick fog.
Magcargo has its sprite changed in Crystal from Gold and Silver, in this case, its shell is edited slightly, making it one of few Pokémon to have three different sprites in Generation II.
Origin
Magcargo is based on a snail, likely the Victaphanta atramentaria, with a body of lava and a shell of rock. It may also be based on the Cherufe, mythical evil creatures of rock and magma that inhabit the magma pools found deep within Chilean volcanoes. In legends, they are the main sources of earthquakes in Chile.
Name origin
Magcargo and Magcargot are a combination of magma (intrusive molten rock) and escargot (French for snail). Cargo may also refer to the shell it carries, which it lacked as a Slugma.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.