Level 100 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
60
|
- |
261 |
324 |
- |
| Atk |
75
|
167 |
186 |
249 |
273 |
| Def |
100
|
212 |
236 |
299 |
328 |
| SpA |
55
|
131 |
146 |
209 |
229 |
| SpD |
80
|
176 |
196 |
259 |
284 |
| Spe |
50
|
122 |
136 |
199 |
218 |
Overview
What was once the laughing stock of NU is now a Pokemon with a useful, albeit very small, niche. With a superb Steel / Psychic typing and 60 / 100 / 80 defenses further boosted by Eviolite, Metang sports the ability to do what no other Steel-type in NU can do: take on attacks from Flying- and Normal-types while still being able to tank their Fighting-type coverage attacks. Sadly, this is where all of Metang's glory ends. With a paltry base 75 Attack, Metang has no hope of severely damaging opponents with its easily resisted attacks and must therefore use Toxic for passive damage. Also, like its Steel-type brethren, Metang does not appreciate taking Fire- and Ground-type attacks from fairly common Pokemon such as Charizard and Golurk. Despite this, Metang can still be a welcomed addition to many teams that require its useful ability to stop the aforementioned Flying- and Normal-type Pokemon cold.
One glance at Metang's stats might suggest that it is suited to act as a defensive wall, but underestimate offensive Metang at your own risk, as it hits many of the offensive threats in the tier hard. Courtesy of its great bulk, Metang can also check physical and special attackers alike, namely Primeape, Scolipede, Jynx, and Musharna. Unfortunately, Metang still cannot beat common leads such as Piloswine and Golem one-on-one, but it can survive an Earthquake from them, allowing it to make a move before it dies. Stealth Rock is a handy move on Metang, chipping off health from Pokemon such as Charizard and Rotom-S, to whom Metang can do little otherwise. Meteor Mash is a strong STAB move, 2HKOing Serperior, Primeape, and Scolipede. Toxic is essential for Metang to cripple Tangela and Alomomola, while also allowing it to beat Musharna without gambling on Meteor Mash Attack boosts. Bullet Punch might seem odd as it limits Metang's coverage, but is incredibly useful, knocking out Jynx after Stealth Rock damage, while also picking off other frail threats such as Primeape, Haunter, and weakened Scolipede.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
176 Attack EVs allow Metang to break +1 Defense Braviary's Substitute; adding more doesn't help it net any notable KOs. 80 Special Defense EVs make it easier for Metang to sponge special hits from Haunter and Jynx. Even though both of Metang's abilities give little benefit, Clear Body is the better option, as it prevents unexpected stat drops from Shadow Ball or Psychic.
As far as partners go, Ludicolo is a great teammate as it can beat the Fire- and Ground-types that Metang despises; it also handles certain Water-types such as Alomomola, Seismitoad, and special Samurott well. Misdreavus is also a good teammate, as it is immune to Ground-type attacks and can threaten Golem, Armaldo, Piloswine, and other common leads with Will-O-Wisp or Taunt. Anything that can take on strong Fire-types helps, thus making Carracosta and Seismitoad effective partners for Metang, though they should be wary of Hidden Power Grass that the Fire-types might carry. Pokemon who find Normal- and Flying-types troublesome generally appreciate Metang's presence; Serperior and Primeape are the most noteworthy of these. Alomomola can pass big Wishes to Metang while resisting Fire-type attacks aimed at it. Psych Up allows Metang to copy stat boosts from SubBU Braviary effectively. Pursuit can be used on the slot over Bullet Punch to catch Haunter, Jynx, and Kadabra as they attempt to switch, but doesn't serve much use otherwise because it's pathetically weak against other Pokemon. Earthquake enables Metang to hit the likes of Samurott and Skuntank harder, but Metang shouldn't stay in on Samurott anyway and Skuntank does not survive constant Meteor Mashes either.
With Eviolite boosting its stellar base 100 Defense, Metang becomes a usable physical wall. The main draw to this set is its Steel / Psychic typing which allows Metang to check the ubiquitous Normal- and Flying-types in the tier such as Zangoose, Swellow, and Braviary. However, Metang differentiates itself from other Steel-types; while keeping its important resistances, Metang has an additional neutrality to Fighting-type attacks which allows it to take, for example, a Superpower from Braviary or a Close Combat from Zangoose. Zangoose has no hopes of beating Metang as it can only 4HKO Metang while being worn down by Meteor Mash in return.
Meanwhile, Metang can also take advantage of its resistances by having opportunities to support its team with entry hazards in the form of Stealth Rock. Meteor Mash is Metang's strongest STAB move of choice to directly damage its foes while potentially nabbing an Attack boost. For the Fire-, Electric-, and Steel-types that resist Meteor Mash, Metang can hit them for considerable damage with Earthquake instead. However, because of Metang's poor Attack stat, Toxic gives it a way to wear down bulky Pokemon that would otherwise take very little damage from Metang's other attacks. It can also catch many common counters on the switch, such as Ludicolo, who would otherwise be able to set up for free.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
The given EV spread and an Impish nature capitalizes on Metang's physical bulk in order for it to switch into the aforementioned Normal- and Flying-type Pokemon several times. Clear Body does not have many uses but is useful to avoid unexpected stat drops from instances such as Intimidate. Because Metang lacks a form of recovery, Wish support from Pokemon such as Alomomola, who can also switch into Fire-type attacks, is much appreciated in order to increase Metang's longevity. As some Pokemon will try to attack Metang's weaker Special Defense stat, Lickilicky is a great teammate that can sponge attacks coming from such threats while also providing Wish support. In addition, Altaria and bulky Psychic-types, such as Grumpig, prove to be decent teammate options as they fear very little from the many Fire- and Ground-type attacks coming from the likes of offensive Torkoal. Many Ground-type Pokemon that defeat Metang do not have a reliable way to threaten Pokemon such as Misdreavus or Ludicolo, so they are good options for teammates as well. For Fire-types, Carracosta can easily switch into them and threaten back with an Aqua Jet or Waterfall. Finally, Choice Band Sawk is an offensive teammate options that would appreciate Metang's ability to halt the Normal- and Flying-types that outspeed and KO them.
Other Options
Metang can hardly make great use of other sets, but it does have several utility options in its arsenal that can be considered. With Reflect and Light Screen, Metang can support frail Pokemon, such as Linoone, that need the support to have a chance to set up. However, Metang must have Eviolite to maintain its bulk, and without Light Clay to increase the duration of these moves, five turns of screens are inefficient. As a result, Pokemon such as Gardevoir usually perform this role better. Although situational, Psych Up gives Metang a fighting chance against Substitute + Bulk Up Braviary who would otherwise be able to avoid Toxic with bulky Substitutes and set up on Metang. Metang can also make use of Magic Coat in order to bounce SSleep Powder back to Vileplume, Exeggutor, or Tangela while bouncing back Spikes or Stealth Rock from hazard setters. However, many common Stealth Rock users can threaten Metang with Earthquake or another Ground-type attack and Magic Coat becomes a gimmicky and unreliable option. Finally, Metang can use Light Metal as its ability to handle Fraxure better, but hardly any other Pokemon uses Low Kick.
For offensive options, Explosion allows Metang to deal damage to any Pokemon that aims to take out or set up on Metang. However, Explosion is undesirable for a defensive Pokemon and is relatively weak considering Metang's poor Attack and Explosion's mechanics in BW. Pursuit is also a decent option for Metang to trap frail Pokemon such as Haunter, but it fails to even OHKO Haunter which makes it situational as it does not heavily damage bulkier Ghost- and Psychic-types.
Checks and Counters
In general, Metang will be threatened by anything carrying a strong super effective attack. Golurk, Torterra, and Seismitoad are Pokemon that can hit Metang with a STAB Ground-type attack. Fire-types, such as Charizard and Rapidash, can switch into Meteor Mash and KO with Flare Blitz, but they do not appreciate switching into Earthquake. Because of Metang's lack of offensive presence, many things can switch in without taking too much damage but must watch out for Toxic. Ludicolo is able to resist either of Metang's attacks and will have a free opportunity to use Rain Dance or attack. Offensive Torkoal, while weak to Earthquake, is only 3HKOed after Stealth Rock and can KO Metang and spin away Stealth Rock. Substitute variants of Gorebyss can avoid Toxic and set up a Shell Smash with relative ease. Gurdurr takes pitiful damage from Metang and can use Bulk Up while recovering damage with Drain Punch; Toxic will also boost Gurdurr's damage output due to Guts. Throh can also use Bulk Up against Metang and defeat it while avoiding Toxic with either Rest or Substitute. Misdreavus takes pitiful damage from either of Metang's attacks and can use Heal Bell to avoid being damaged by Toxic while crippling Metang with Will-O-Wisp in return. Metang will generally do poorly against most special attackers that can use a strong neutral attack; Rotom-S and Eelektross can switch into Metang's attacks and hit it on its weaker Special Defense.
