[Pros]
<ul>
<li>Metagross has an amazing defensive typing, giving it nine resistances and one immunity.</li>
<li>Its high Attack and Defense, give it a large amount of power and utility.</li>
<li>Its Steel typing makes it a solid check to the newly released Fairy-type.</li>
<li>By using an Assault Vest, Metagross can increase its mediocre Special Defense to great levels.</li>
<li>The recent weather nerf means that Metagross no longer needs to fear powerful rain-boosted Hydro Pumps.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>Metagross faces competition with Scizor.</li>
<li>Metagross gained weaknesses to Dark and Ghost, making it unable to check threats that it could last generation, such as Tyranitar and Gengar.</li>
<li>It's still very slow by the metagame's standards</li>
<li>Metagross is ineffective as an offensive sweeper due to its limited coverage, making it only viable in a defensive role.</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>name: Tank<br />
move 1: Meteor Mash<br />
move 2: Earthquake<br />
move 3: Bullet Punch / Zen Headbutt<br />
move 4: Hammer Arm / Zen Headbutt<br />
ability: Clear Body<br />
item: Assault Vest<br />
evs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD<br />
nature: Adamant</p>
<p>With an Assault Vest, Metagross has the ability to function as a decent offensive pivot. Meteor Mash is the main STAB move, as it hits Fairy-types for super effective damage, has decent Base Power, and can boost Metagross's Attack stat. Earthquake eliminates Steel- and Fire-types, most notably Aegislash and Mega Charizard X. Bullet Punch is primarily used for utility, revenge killing weakened threats, and Fairy-type Pokemon. Despite giving redundant coverage, Hammer Arm is used to hit Air Balloon Excadrill, Ferrothorn, Greninja, and Mega Gyarados for super effective damage. Zen Headbutt is an acceptable alternative for either of these moves, as it hits Fighting-types for super effective damage, and is Metagross's most effective move against Mega Charizard Y, Talonflame, Mega Venusaur, Gyarados, Rotom-W, and Mega-Blastoise, all of which would otherwise wall Metagross with little to no trouble.</p>
<p>Pursuit eliminates fleeing Psychic-type Pokemon, while Grass Knot puts a dent in Hippowdon and Gastrodon. However, Metagross's weakness to Ghost-type attacks makes it an ineffective Pursuit trapper, while Grass Knot leaves Metagross walled by Air Balloon Excadrill, which can then set up a free Swords Dance as Metagross switches out.</p>
<p>Even with Earthquake and Hammer Arm, Metagross still has a large amount of trouble with Steel-types. Because of this, Magnezone makes an excellent partner, as it can trap Steel-types with Magnet Pull and deal a massive amount of damage to them with Thunderbolt or Hidden Power Fire. Sticky Web support from Galvantula and Smeargle is also useful, as it allows Metagross to outspeed a larger portion of the metagame. Azumarill is also a very good partner, as it can eliminate Fire- and Ground-types with Aqua Jet, while also functioning as a check to Dark-types.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Skarmory and Forretress are Metagross's greatest counters, as they take little damage from all of Metagross's attacks due to their amazing defenses and typings and can set up multiple layers of hazards once Metagross switches out. Slowbro and Slowking make excellent counters, as both are not 2HKOed by Earthquake and can cripple Metagross with a potential Scald burn. or gradually defeat it with Slack Off and Scald or a Fire-type move. Gyarados is able to set up Hammer Arm Metagross and can defeat Zen Headbutt Metagross by Mega Evolving. Physically defensive Hippowdon and Gliscor aren't 2HKOed by anything in Metagross's arsenal and can deal major damage with Earthquake. Aegislash can function as a reliable check to Metagross, as it is not OHKOed by Earthquake and can put Metagross in a checkmate position with the combination of Shadow Ball and Shadow Sneak. Life Orb and Mega Gengar can defeat weakened Metagross with Shadow Ball, but both need to watch out for Bullet Punch, and can only switch in safely on Hammer Arm or Earthquake, in non-Mega Gengar's case. Finally, Rotom-W can defeat Metagross by virtue of its typing and can cripple it with Will-O-Wisp, which takes care of even Zen Headbutt Metagross.
Skelly said:
- Using the Assault Vest, Metagross has the ability to function as a decent offensive pivot
- Bullet Punch and Pursuit are primarily used for utility revenge killing weakened threats and fairy-type Pokemon and destroying fleeing Psychic-types respectively
- Meteor Mash is the recommended STAB move, as it hits Fairy-types for super effective damage, has high Base Power, and can boost Metagross's Attack Stat
- Zen Headbutt is still useful for hitting Poison- and Fighting-types, and is Metagross's most effective move against Charizard Y, who would otherwise kill it with Fire Blast.
- Earthquake serves the purpose of eliminating Steel-types, most notability Aegislash.
- EVs allow Metagross to outpace uninvested Mega Tyranitar and never get OHKOed by Mega Charizard Y's Fire Blast, assuming that Drought is not in play.
- Hammer Arm and Grass Knot are options to deal with Ferrothorn and Hippowdon
- Even with Earthquake, Metagross still has a large amount of trouble with Steel-types.
- Because of this, Magnezone makes an excellent partner, as it can trap Steel-types with its Magnet Pull ability and deal a massive amount of damage with Thunderbolt or Hidden Power Fire.
- Sticky Web support from Galvantula and Smeargle is useful, as it allows Metagross to outspeed a larger portion of the metagame.
- Azumarill can eliminate Fire and Ground-types with Aqua Jet, while also functioning as a check to Dark-types.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
- Skarmory and Forretress are Metagross's greatest counters, as they take little damage from all of Metagross's attacks due to their amazing defenses and can setup multiple layers of Spikes on Metagross
- Slowbro and Slowking make excellent counters, as both are not 2HKOed by Earthquake and can cripple Metagross with a potential Scald burn.
- Gyarados is able to set up on Meteor Mash variations of Metagross and can defeat Zen Headbutt variations of Metagross by Mega-Evolving.
- Physically Defensive Hippowdon and Gliscor aren't 2HKOed by anything in Metagross's arsenal and can deal major damage
- Aegislashcan function as a reliable check to Metagross, as it is not OHKOed by Earthquake and can put Metagross in a checkmate position with the combination of Shadow Claw and Shadow Sneak
- LO Gengar and can defeat weakened variations of Metagross with Shadow Ball but it needs to watch out for Bullet Punch
- Rotom-W can defeat Meteor Mash variations of Metagross by virtue of its typing
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