Metagross

Arcticblast

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QC 3/3

[OVERVIEW]

Unlike the all-out offensive Mega Evolutions such as Diancie, Charizard Y, and Kangaskhan, Mega Metagross is held back by its poor offensive typing and the low Base Power of its STAB moves. It gives free momentum to the opponent's Steel-types, especially Aegislash, and it can be stopped by common Intimidate users, including Landorus-T. It's also pretty useless after being paralyzed or burned, though unlike Diancie and Charizard Y, it has the bulk to ride out temporary field conditions such as Tailwind and Trick Room. Moreover, with its good defensive typing, high base Speed, and fantastic stats all around, Mega Metagross is still able to serve as an effective speedy attacker, pivot, and utility check to offensive Pokemon such as Keldeo and Shaymin-S. It's not forced out too easily, except by Aegislash, and it can come in without much difficulty and threaten to deal major damage to offensive Pokemon or potential switch-ins. While the "big three" Mega Evolutions mentioned above may provide immense power, they require a lot of support; Mega Metagross, with its high Speed and numerous resistances, provides both some power and some support and is often a great choice for teams not built around a Mega Evolution.

[SET]
name: Mega Physical Attacker
move 1: Zen Headbutt
move 2: Meteor Mash / Iron Head
move 3: Protect
move 4: Hammer Arm / Ice Punch / Substitute / Bullet Punch
ability: Clear Body
item: Metagrossite
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Mega Metagross's most important moves are its STAB options. Meteor Mash is Metagross's strongest attack and has a chance to boost its Attack and make it even more threatening. Iron Head can be used over Meteor Mash for its greater accuracy and a 30% chance to flinch its target, but has lower Base Power. This drop is noticeable in at least one common instance: Meteor Mash OHKOes standard Kyurem-B, but Iron Head does not. Zen Headbutt is also quite strong and patches the Steel typing's poor offensive coverage. Protect is important because it allows Metagross to safely Mega Evolve and reach Mega Metagross's higher base Speed; it also helps stall out field conditions such as rain and Trick Room.

The final moveslot has many possible options. Hammer Arm is a powerful option that lets Mega Metagross damage Steel-types besides Aegislash, OHKO Hydreigon and have a chance at OHKOing Mega Kangaskhan, but must be used cautiously because of its Speed-lowering effect. Ice Punch can be used for the sole purpose of OHKOing Landorus-T, but Mega Metagross's STAB moves will still do hefty damage at -1, so it's not vital. Substitute lets Metagross avoid status moves from the likes of Thundurus, Rotom-W, and Amoonguss and lets it soak up a single hit if set up safely. Substitute also blocks Intimidate, which makes using Substitute on the turn Metagross Mega Evolves a cool strategy—Landorus-T's Intimidate is useless on that turn because of Clear Body, and is useless on the next turns because of Substitute. Bullet Punch is rather weak, but very useful for hitting specific threats. It should only be considered on teams that totally lack priority or are uncomfortably weak to Mega Diancie. If necessary for a team's function, Mega Metagross can drop one of its STAB options for one of these moves, although this is not recommended.

Set Details
========

It may seem that Metagross's ability before Mega Evolving does not matter, as it almost certainly will be Mega Evolving as soon as possible. However, this is untrue—Clear Body renders Metagross immune to the weakening effects of Intimidate, making it futile for Landorus-T and other Intimidate users to switch in. The EV spread is simple but effective. Attack and Speed receive full investment to best suit Mega Metagross's stats and ability. A Jolly nature lets it take advantage of its great Speed tier. There are some alternate EV spreads that can be run; 16 HP / 240 Atk / 252 Spe lets Mega Metagross survive a Sucker Punch from Adamant Life Orb Bisharp and makes Substitutes that can be broken by Adamant Landorus-T's U-turn only with a maximum damage roll. Another possible EV spread is 72 HP / 252 Atk / 184 Spe with an Adamant nature. This bulkier spread is best used on semi-Trick Room teams. It outruns neutral base 101 Speed Pokemon normally, and after a Hammer Arm it will be slower than opposing Rotom-W, so Mega Metagross will outrun it under Trick Room. The Adamant nature gives it a high chance to OHKO Heatran with Hammer Arm and a small chance to OHKO 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Charizard Y with Zen Headbutt, although most Mega Charizard Y are bulkier, so you must be cautious.

Usage Tips
========

If your opponent has a Pokemon that Metagross needs its Speed to dispatch, such as Keldeo or Hydreigon, then it is best to Mega Evolve as soon as possible, even going as far as leading with Metagross to do it, so that you don't need to waste a turn on Protect when you need Mega Metagross ready to switch in. Otherwise, you can wait until you need it to attack to Mega Evolve, sometimes waiting on purpose so that Clear Body can block an Intimidate. Mega Metagross has the bulk to switch in multiple times throughout a match, which it uses to its advantage. Typically, Metagross is best brought in when it can score an OHKO, and then it just uses the appropriate move. Because Mega Metagross's main prey, Keldeo, is typically a cleanup Pokemon, Metagross often comes in after a teammate faints, though its good bulk also lets it come in on weak or resisted hits. Once Mega Metagross is no longer able to OHKO something, or once it's threatened by a Pokemon such as Talonflame, you switch it back out, and it comes back in again later. Metagross gives free momentum to Aegislash and, should it lack Hammer Arm, Heatran. If your opponent has one, you will need to play more aggressively with Metagross than usual, double switching and the like. Substitute Mega Metagross plays somewhat differently from three-attacks, coming in on Pokemon that allow it to set up a Substitute, such as Amoonguss, and only switching once both its Substitute is broken and it cannot KO anything.

Team Options
========

Between its incredible offensive presence and its innate defensive capabilities, it's very difficult to find a team that won't benefit from using Mega Metagross. In many cases where a team is not built around a Mega Pokemon, Metagross will be the best fit thanks to its supportive capabilities. Mega Metagross's best partners are Pokemon that can beat Steel-types and bulky Water-types, as these two groups are perhaps its biggest threats. Hydreigon is an excellent partner here, as it threatens all of Aegislash, Jirachi, Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Rotom-W. Mega Metagross greatly appreciates any type of speed control, including Tailwind, Thunder Wave, and even Icy Wind, from partners such as Talonflame, Thundurus, and Cresselia. This allows Mega Metagtoss to outrun foes and lets it get past some Choice Scarf users such as Landorus-T. Politoed is a nice partner for those who want to use rain, as it negates Metagross's Fire weakness and allows Swift Swim partners to remove fast attackers and Choice Scarf users. Like all offensive Pokemon, Mega Metagross enjoys redirection support from the likes of Amoonguss and Togekiss to let it avoid attacks and continue its rampage. When building around Mega Metagross, other Pokemon to add are those that enjoy what it has to offer. Hydreigon is again a great partner, as Mega Metagross removes the Fairy-types and Fighting-types that Hydreigon fears, and together the two hit both physically and specially.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Rock Slide is an option to hit Mega Charizard Y, Talonflame, and Volcarona, but does pitiful damage otherwise. Grass Knot is available to hit Suicune and Mega Swampert while getting a Tough Claws boost, although it forces Metagross to use a nature that lowers a defensive stat. Magnet Rise gives Metagross an immunity to Ground and, when combined with Clear Body, stops Landorus-T cold; it also allows Mega Metagross to definitively beat Earth Power users such as Shaymin-S, Mega Diancie, and Kyurem-B. Refresh is an option to turn the tables on opposing Rotom-W and Thundurus by removing the status conditions they inflict, getting Metagross back in the game. Hone Claws is Metagross's only reliable option to boost its Attack and makes its STAB attacks 100% accurate. Finally, it gets Earthquake. While it does hit the Steel-types that otherwise wall Mega Metagross, Earthquake does not get STAB nor a Tough Claws boost and is incredibly weak as a result, doing barely more to Heatran than Hammer Arm.

Checks & Counters
=================

**Intimidate and Burns**: While a non-Mega Metagross can avoid the former with Clear Body, these are very effective ways to neuter Mega Metagross. Landorus-T and Gyarados are significant threats with Intimidate and the ability to cripple or KO it (although Mega Metagross can run Ice Punch and Thunder Punch to beat their respective targets). Sableye, Talonflame, and bulky Rotom-W are the best candidates for burning Metagross; the former two outrun it, while the latter can take a Zen Headbutt.

**Typing Advantage**: Bisharp, Heatran, and Aegislash all resist Metagross's STAB attacks and hit it for massive damage in return. Mega Charizard Y, Talonflame, and Rotom-H threaten Metagross with boosted Fire attacks. Choice Scarf Landorus-T is a major threat because it outruns Mega Metagross, Intimidates it, and then uses Earthquake; it should be noted, however, that Landorus-T's Earthquake does not OHKO Mega Metagross. Darkrai, Greninja, and Mega Gengar are notable for their ability to outspeed and hit Mega Metagross with super effective attacks, with the latter even trapping it for a guaranteed revenge kill.

**Speed Control**: Because a large part of Mega Metagross's viability hinges on its high Speed, it is very vulnerable to speed control. Tailwind from the likes of Suicune and Talonflame lets slower partners get the jump on it and its teammates for a few turns. Thunder Wave from Thundurus permanently slows down Mega Metagross, letting even Aegislash outrun it. Icy Wind from Pokemon such as Cresselia can slow it down for a short while and also dealing some chip damage, but this can be reset by switching out. Trick Room makes an opposing Mega Metagross very vulnerable to attacks from the likes of Mega Camerupt and Aegislash. Cresselia is the Trick Room setter than can most easily set it in front of Metagross, although there are other viable setters, such as Jellicent.

Moves
========
  • Meteor Mash and Zen Headbutt are Metagross's strongest options because of STAB
  • the former has a cute 20% chance to boost your Attack, which can be incredible in some games; that said, both attacks can miss
  • Ice Punch hits Lando-T and Hammer Arm hits Kangaskhan and slams the Tran
  • Substitute gets around Sucker Punch and blocks status moves like Spore and Will-O-Wisp; Mega Metagross naturally forces switches so getting up a Sub is not difficult
  • Bullet Punch is okay for priority but is somewhat weak in comparison
  • Metagross can totally get away with running only one of its STABs if your team requires it
  • Protect is the sexiest move in the entire game, allowing it to get to its excellent Speed tier unscathed and also doing all of the things Protect normally does
Set Details
========
  • max Speed and Attack with a Jolly nature to break stuff and take advantage of its great Speed tier
  • taking 12 EVs out of Attack and putting the leftover into HP allows Mega Metagross to survive a Life Orb Sucker Punch from Adamant Bisharp and, if you're Sub, prevents Adamant Lando-T from breaking the Sub with U-turn
  • an EV spread of 72 HP / 252 Atk / 184 Spe Adamant with Hammer Arm is good on semi-Trick Room; outruns neutral base 101 Pokemon but is slower than uninvested Rotom-W after using Hammer Arm (faster in Trick Room)
  • Adamant has a high chance to OHKO Heatran with Hammer Arm and a small chance to OHKO Mega Charizard Y with Zen Headbutt
Usage Tips
========
  • break stuff
  • Protect while Mega Evolving to get the Speed increase safely; this can be skipped if the situation calls for it (e.g. there's a Tyranitar on the field that you suspect may be Dragon Dance; if you Protect on it you give it a free boost)
  • you can switch in on things fairly easily due to typing and natural bulk; bulky spreads can do so as well
  • take out Lando-T and other Intimidate mons first, as well as Steel-types if you don't have Hammer Arm
Team Options
========
  • Metagross fits well on any team that needs a really good attacker, honestly
  • use things that beat Steels and Rotom-W
  • also use things that beat Intimidate - Bisharp, Milotic, etc.
  • Politoed is a nice partner - Rain lets it take Fire attacks and also allows a Swift Swim partner to beat Scarf Lando-T
  • Quick Guard for Fake Out / Sucker Punch / Prankster TWave
  • Safeguard support is cool since Metagross hates status but can be hard to fit on a team
  • appreciates speed control in the form of Tailwind / Thunder Wave / Icy Wind to beat Scarfers and your opponent's speed control
  • redirection is good; Amoonguss in particular serves as a good redirector because it can cripple opposing Pokemon with Spore and its low Speed serves as a deterrent to Trick Room
Other Options
########
  • Earthquake literally only hits Heatran for decent damage, but Heatran often carries Shuca Berry anyway. It's not a guaranteed OHKO anyway. It doesn't 2HKO Aegislash either. Don't use it unless you're REALLY Heatran weak. Don't use it at all, actually.
  • RACK SLAD for Zard Y
  • Grass Knot hits Mega Swampert and Suicune but not much else
  • Magnet Rise fucks with Landorus and is excellent if you like memes
  • gets Refresh from Pokemon XD if you want to fuck with Rotom-W a little bit
  • Hone Claws
Checks & Counters
########
  • **Intimidate** Metagross can avoid this before Mega Evolving but you need to evolve eventually and Mega Metagross hates Intimidate; Gyarados and Landorus-T all pose threats (as does Scrafty but lol Scrafty)
  • **Typing Advantage** Bisharp, Heatran, and Aegislash resist its STAB and hit it super effective; Zard Y, Talonflame, and Rotom-H threaten with Fire STAB; Landorus threatens with Ground STAB
  • **Speed Advantage** Scarf Lando-T, faster Pokemon that hit it super effective (Talonflame, Darkrai), Icy Wind, Thunder Wave, Tailwind, Trick Room
  • **Status** if not running Sub, it hates burn from things like Rotom-W and can be put to sleep by Venusaur or TR Amoonguss
 
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Bughouse

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Hi user Arcticblast

Everything on the set looks good, only thing I maybe question is the ordering of Move 3's slashes. But I'm sure there'll always be disagreement on that.

Write the rest, please
/me cracks whip
 
Moves:
  • Leave EQ in OO cause it's bad
Usage Tips:
  • Be more elementary school teacher with this like "Protect while mega evolving to boost speed" and "Take out Steel-types and Intimidate Mons early with partners to make it's sweep easy" etc.
Team Options:
  • Quick Guard to dick with sucker punch/Fake out
  • safeguard cause it hates all status
  • tailwind to beat other tailwind teams/scarfers
Other Options:
  • Rock Slide to beat Zard Y
Checks & Counters:
  • Use checks & counters tags u ballshole
  • Gyarados is a huge dick and can Intimidate then Twave or Mega Dragon Dance
  • Tailwind Twave and Trick Room help beat it.
  • Darkrai outspeeds and hurts
 

Arcticblast

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Moves:
  • Leave EQ in OO cause it's bad
agreed
Usage Tips:
  • Be more elementary school teacher with this like "Protect while mega evolving to boost speed" and "Take out Steel-types and Intimidate Mons early with partners to make it's sweep easy" etc.
Done
Team Options:
  • Quick Guard to dick with sucker punch/Fake out
  • safeguard cause it hates all status
  • tailwind to beat other tailwind teams/scarfers
done
Other Options:
  • Rock Slide to beat Zard Y
RACK SLAD
Checks & Counters:
  • Use checks & counters tags u ballshole
  • Gyarados is a huge dick and can Intimidate then Twave or Mega Dragon Dance
  • Tailwind Twave and Trick Room help beat it.
  • Darkrai outspeeds and hurts
ugh the tags are super gay, I'll sort those out when I get a chance (in other words, not when I'm supposed to be doing homework)
 

antemortem

THE ORIGINAL DAVE
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Socialization Head
you could mention in the section with magnet rise and landy-t (or somewhere else relevant) that gross can wait to mega evolve until after landy's switched in so it can absorb the Intimidate and not have to necessarily be forced out. this kind of applies to gyarados but landy can ohko so it's more importantly mentioned with the latter.

actually speaking of, why not mention agility and/or hone claws in other options? hone claws is kinda cool on tailwind, i use it on a team. just needs redirection to be successful, and while it wastes a turn of tailwind, pairing it with talon + torn to get back-ups up quickly can work -> shit can wreck. misses out on a coverage move and running dual steel (mash + punch) is almost necessary but it's still really decent.
 
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Arcticblast

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after some more testing (and seeing how it did at St. Louis [yes VGC is a different meta]) I want to add Substitute somewhere but then I get super slashitis, fuck.

might mention Iron Head in OO
 

BLOOD TOTEM

braine damaged
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after some more testing (and seeing how it did at St. Louis [yes VGC is a different meta]) I want to add Substitute somewhere but then I get super slashitis, fuck.

might mention Iron Head in OO
I think Substitute is worth mentioning. Having a 4th slash isn't too much of an issue since all of those moves are viable on the set. I'd put sub before Bullet Punch but after Hammer Arm.

Overview
  • It's not actually OHKOd by Lando-T and does have Ice Punch and Clear Body, I'd change this to has to be wary of lando-t
  • Speaking of which, mention Clear Body, it's breddy good imo
Moves
  • 20% Attack boost chance is worth mentioning for Meteor Mash
  • "Metagross's attacking moves are fluid; only one of Meteor Mash and Zen Headbutt is needed and the other moves can be coverage. Adjust the moves you use to your team." wording is weird considering neither are slashed on the set, change it to something like "it can go without one if you're team requires different coverage"
Set Details
  • Do you have an example of a bulkier spread to offer?
  • Maybe mention 16HP is a guaranteed survive vs LO Bisharp Sucker Punch (obv not the bulky set)
  • Adamant may be better if Hammer Arm is being used
Team Options
  • Remove Aqua Jet mention under Quick Guard, it's not doing much unless it's at +6 or CB in rain o,o (a CB Brave Bird from Tflame does more)
Other Options
  • You have Magnet Rise twice (keep the memes one)
  • the last two points can go :>
oLo
___
 

Arcticblast

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yeah, I was planning to write this over spring break but got sick, good thing it's only Wednesday and I still have four days
 

Bughouse

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Arcticblast

Upsell Substitute more
Other things it does: Dodges Mew's wisps, Ferro's Leech Seeds/TWaves, Sucker Punches from whatever, turns Jirachi into free setup rather than a solid check, beats Sash Breloom's Spore.
At the end of the day all 4 moves are still good and team-specific, so idc too much about ordering as long as it says they're all good.

I personally am leaning towards slashing Iron Head before Meteor Mash. imo more accurate + 30% flinch > low % chance at atk raise.
only notable calc I can find where MM's power matters is
252 Atk Tough Claws Mega Metagross Meteor Mash vs. 228 HP / 0 Def Kyurem-B: 426-504 (95 - 112.5%)
vs
252 Atk Tough Claws Mega Metagross Iron Head vs. 228 HP / 0 Def Kyurem-B: 374-444 (83.4 - 99.1%)
on basically everything else I could find the ohkos and 2hkos were the same or ZHB does better anyway

make it something like "Earthquake does not get STAB nor a Tough Claws boost and as a result is incredibly weak, even against the Steel-types it is used against, except for Heatran, which is already hit by the more versatile Hammer Arm."
Maybe even say that after Tough Claws and EQ's spread reduction that Hammer Arm does almost as much to Heatran, which shows just how pitiful EQ is.

LO Greninja can KO Metagross too, not just Darkrai (yes LO is used over Sash by most people apparently)
252 SpA Life Orb Greninja Dark Pulse vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Mega Metagross: 268-320 (88.7 - 105.9%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO
and on that note....
252 SpA Life Orb Greninja Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Metagross: 265-315 (88 - 104.6%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
looks like a jump point (shut up I know it's not a jump point in the stat, but it is for the damage outputs) so I'd move the leftover 4 to SpD :p

Beyond that, Shaymin-Sky doesn't really fit in Typing Advantage. Maybe sub it out for Mega Gengar, who can also outrun and OHKO (traps it too :o)



Overall looks pretty good but I want Stratos to look over this too, provide his feedback about IH/MM and stuff in general before pushing it to GP.
But wow. Ablast finally wrote a freaking analysis after having like 8 get locked to inactivity. I'm impressed.
 

Bughouse

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well at the very least you could have moved the 4 HP to SpD
(but do the other things too)

And also put it into the new set format plz
 

Stratos

Banned deucer.
ur overview's first sentence is pretty misleading cuz metagross isnt really used to hit hard. Low base power moves + no item boost + poor SE STAB coverage = sadness :( i mean for reference:
252 SpA Life Orb Keldeo Hydro Pump vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Mega Kangaskhan: 231-274 (65.6 - 77.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Tough Claws Mega Metagross Meteor Mash vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Kangaskhan: 213-252 (60.5 - 71.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

the main reason to use metagross is its extremely solid defensive typing + stats combined with its high base speed, allowing it to be used as a powerful offensive pokemon which isnt forced out too easily yet can be switched in multiple times throughout the match. "Metagross is kind of just using your mega ring to get a fast Aegislash" - me, just now

i mean i feel like your analysis has most of this stuff but could stand a clearer presentation

---

hammer arm in front of ice punch, hitting steels is huge, lando is still fairly scared of ur STAB

specifically mention missing the KO on cube when u talk about iron head vs meteor mash

sub also dodges intimidate, which is really cool if you sub on the mega turn since lando cant switch in on that turn

magnet rise isnt only good for lando-t: diancie, skymin, kyurem-b are other notables
 

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