[OVERVIEW]
After Mega Evolving, Mega Metagross is a force to be reckoned with in the VGC metagame. With incredible Attack further boosted by Tough Claws, Mega Metagross is one of the hardest hitters around. It also has very good bulk, allowing it to not only have high damage output but also survive quite a few hits. It is one of the best checks to Fairy-types, resisting their STAB attacks and hitting them back with a super effective Steel-type STAB move, which usually results in an OHKO. Clear Body lets it ignore Intimidate prior to Mega Evolving, which is rather unique amongst physical attackers. Unfortunately, it also gets hard countered by some of the most common Pokemon in the metagame, namely Heatran, Aegislash, and Bisharp, which all resist both its STAB attacks and can hit it back with their super effective STAB move. Mega Metagross has many coverage options, but it can't fit more than one of them into a set, as dual STAB moves and Protect are necessities.
[SET]
name: Mega Attacker
move 1: Iron Head / Meteor Mash
move 2: Zen Headbutt
move 3: Substitute / Ice Punch / Bullet Punch
move 4: Protect
item: Metagrossite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Iron Head provides Mega Metagross with a STAB attack and a slight chance to make the foe flinch. Meteor Mash is an option over Iron Head, offering a possibility for an Attack boost but coming with a chance to miss. Zen Headbutt is another STAB move, which beats Pokemon such as Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur, and Conkeldurr. Substitute allows Mega Metagross to ignore status, as well as avoid taking a lot of damage from hard hits. Ice Punch hits Landorus-T, Mega Salamence, and Garchomp for super effective damage. Bullet Punch gives Mega Metagross priority, which is useful to finish off Pokemon with Focus Sash. Protect lets Mega Metagross avoid unnecessary hits and double targeting.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed with a Jolly nature make Mega Metagross hit as hard and fast as possible. An optional spread for running Substitute is 60 HP / 188 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Jolly nature. The HP EVs give Mega Metagross an HP stat of 163, which lets it set up four Substitutes and be left with 3 HP. This spread also makes positive-natured Mega Kangaskhan's second Sucker Punch do no more than 25 percent, leaving Mega Metagross able to set up a Substitute and survive a Sucker Punch from Mega Kangaskhan twice. In addition, Mega Metagross will always survive Sucker Punch from Bisharp without a boosting item after having one Substitute broken. 252 EVs in Speed and a Jolly nature lets Metagross utilize its amazing Speed tier to its fullest. The remaining EVs are placed into Attack to maintain a high damage output.
Usage Tips
========
As many players are aware of how threatening Mega Metagross can be when it has set up a Substitute, you will often find your opponent aggressively targeting Metagross. Predicting correctly with Protect can give you crucial momentum, as your opponent might waste an entire turn double targeting Mega Metagross to try to break its Substitute and KO it while you just use Protect with it. If you fear Intimidate spam from your opponent, you can try to hold off on Mega Evolving for a bit, as it allows you to ignore Intimidate. When running Substitute, you must always look for opportunities to set up a Substitute, as getting Mega Metagross behind a Substitute can often be a game changer.
Team Options
=======
In order to more freely set up Substitute, Fake Out support from Pokemon such as Scrafty and Hitmontop is appreciated. Mega Metagross fits perfectly onto rain teams, as rain neutralizes its Fire-type weakness. Most common rain sweepers also beat popular Earthquake users, essentially leaving Ghost- and Dark-types as the only threats to Mega Metagross under rain. Politoed and Ludicolo can easily form a rain core which does this job excellently. Rotom-W has excellent synergy with Metagross, as it is immune to Ground, and Mega Metagross resists Rotom-W's only weakness, Grass. Hydreigon, Tyranitar, and Scrafty make for good partners, as they patch up Mega Metagross's weakness to Ghost- and Dark-types. Scrafty also gets a special mention here, as it also can hit Dark-types for great damage due to its Fighting typing. Thundurus is also a great partner for Mega Metagross for a number of reasons. It provides Thunder Wave support, which can easily make Mega Metagross be the fastest Pokemon on the field and can help create free turns, which is especially nice when you run Substitute. Taunt support lets Mega Metagross avoid status prior to using Substitute and greatly helps its matchup against Aegislash, which is one of the biggest threats to Mega Metagross. Choice Scarf Landorus-T also has issues when facing both Mega Metagross and Thundurus, as it has to choose between locking itself into Earthquake, fearing Hidden Power Ice from Thundurus, and using Rock Slide, risking that Mega Metagross gets up a free Substitute.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thunder Punch is a niche pick if you want coverage for Water- and Flying-types. Earthquake gives Mega Metagross a spread attack, as well as coverage for Fire- and Electric-types. Hammer Arm allows it to beat Steel- and Dark-types, both which usually gives Mega Metagross trouble. Rock Slide is another option for a spread move and offers coverage for Flying-, Fire-, and Bug-types, in addition to having a chance to flinch the foe. If your Mega Evolution slot is taken already, you can run a regular Metagross set with either Lum Berry or Assault Vest.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types resist Steel-type attacks and deal super effective damage against Mega Metagross with their own STAB attacks. Many of the biggest Fire-type threats are special attackers, which is unfortunate, as Mega Metagross has a higher Defense than Special Defense.
**Ghost- and Dark-types**: Pokemon such as Aegislash, Gengar, Bisharp, and Hydreigon pose a huge threat to Mega Metagross, as they have super effective STAB attacks to hit it with. Mega Metagross also does not pack any moves to hit these Pokemon for super effective damage, except Gengar, which is hit by Zen Headbutt.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Lowering its Attack either through Intimidate after Mega Evolution or by burning it makes Mega Metagross lose its high damage output, which renders it useless.
After Mega Evolving, Mega Metagross is a force to be reckoned with in the VGC metagame. With incredible Attack further boosted by Tough Claws, Mega Metagross is one of the hardest hitters around. It also has very good bulk, allowing it to not only have high damage output but also survive quite a few hits. It is one of the best checks to Fairy-types, resisting their STAB attacks and hitting them back with a super effective Steel-type STAB move, which usually results in an OHKO. Clear Body lets it ignore Intimidate prior to Mega Evolving, which is rather unique amongst physical attackers. Unfortunately, it also gets hard countered by some of the most common Pokemon in the metagame, namely Heatran, Aegislash, and Bisharp, which all resist both its STAB attacks and can hit it back with their super effective STAB move. Mega Metagross has many coverage options, but it can't fit more than one of them into a set, as dual STAB moves and Protect are necessities.
[SET]
name: Mega Attacker
move 1: Iron Head / Meteor Mash
move 2: Zen Headbutt
move 3: Substitute / Ice Punch / Bullet Punch
move 4: Protect
item: Metagrossite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Iron Head provides Mega Metagross with a STAB attack and a slight chance to make the foe flinch. Meteor Mash is an option over Iron Head, offering a possibility for an Attack boost but coming with a chance to miss. Zen Headbutt is another STAB move, which beats Pokemon such as Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur, and Conkeldurr. Substitute allows Mega Metagross to ignore status, as well as avoid taking a lot of damage from hard hits. Ice Punch hits Landorus-T, Mega Salamence, and Garchomp for super effective damage. Bullet Punch gives Mega Metagross priority, which is useful to finish off Pokemon with Focus Sash. Protect lets Mega Metagross avoid unnecessary hits and double targeting.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed with a Jolly nature make Mega Metagross hit as hard and fast as possible. An optional spread for running Substitute is 60 HP / 188 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Jolly nature. The HP EVs give Mega Metagross an HP stat of 163, which lets it set up four Substitutes and be left with 3 HP. This spread also makes positive-natured Mega Kangaskhan's second Sucker Punch do no more than 25 percent, leaving Mega Metagross able to set up a Substitute and survive a Sucker Punch from Mega Kangaskhan twice. In addition, Mega Metagross will always survive Sucker Punch from Bisharp without a boosting item after having one Substitute broken. 252 EVs in Speed and a Jolly nature lets Metagross utilize its amazing Speed tier to its fullest. The remaining EVs are placed into Attack to maintain a high damage output.
Usage Tips
========
As many players are aware of how threatening Mega Metagross can be when it has set up a Substitute, you will often find your opponent aggressively targeting Metagross. Predicting correctly with Protect can give you crucial momentum, as your opponent might waste an entire turn double targeting Mega Metagross to try to break its Substitute and KO it while you just use Protect with it. If you fear Intimidate spam from your opponent, you can try to hold off on Mega Evolving for a bit, as it allows you to ignore Intimidate. When running Substitute, you must always look for opportunities to set up a Substitute, as getting Mega Metagross behind a Substitute can often be a game changer.
Team Options
=======
In order to more freely set up Substitute, Fake Out support from Pokemon such as Scrafty and Hitmontop is appreciated. Mega Metagross fits perfectly onto rain teams, as rain neutralizes its Fire-type weakness. Most common rain sweepers also beat popular Earthquake users, essentially leaving Ghost- and Dark-types as the only threats to Mega Metagross under rain. Politoed and Ludicolo can easily form a rain core which does this job excellently. Rotom-W has excellent synergy with Metagross, as it is immune to Ground, and Mega Metagross resists Rotom-W's only weakness, Grass. Hydreigon, Tyranitar, and Scrafty make for good partners, as they patch up Mega Metagross's weakness to Ghost- and Dark-types. Scrafty also gets a special mention here, as it also can hit Dark-types for great damage due to its Fighting typing. Thundurus is also a great partner for Mega Metagross for a number of reasons. It provides Thunder Wave support, which can easily make Mega Metagross be the fastest Pokemon on the field and can help create free turns, which is especially nice when you run Substitute. Taunt support lets Mega Metagross avoid status prior to using Substitute and greatly helps its matchup against Aegislash, which is one of the biggest threats to Mega Metagross. Choice Scarf Landorus-T also has issues when facing both Mega Metagross and Thundurus, as it has to choose between locking itself into Earthquake, fearing Hidden Power Ice from Thundurus, and using Rock Slide, risking that Mega Metagross gets up a free Substitute.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thunder Punch is a niche pick if you want coverage for Water- and Flying-types. Earthquake gives Mega Metagross a spread attack, as well as coverage for Fire- and Electric-types. Hammer Arm allows it to beat Steel- and Dark-types, both which usually gives Mega Metagross trouble. Rock Slide is another option for a spread move and offers coverage for Flying-, Fire-, and Bug-types, in addition to having a chance to flinch the foe. If your Mega Evolution slot is taken already, you can run a regular Metagross set with either Lum Berry or Assault Vest.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types resist Steel-type attacks and deal super effective damage against Mega Metagross with their own STAB attacks. Many of the biggest Fire-type threats are special attackers, which is unfortunate, as Mega Metagross has a higher Defense than Special Defense.
**Ghost- and Dark-types**: Pokemon such as Aegislash, Gengar, Bisharp, and Hydreigon pose a huge threat to Mega Metagross, as they have super effective STAB attacks to hit it with. Mega Metagross also does not pack any moves to hit these Pokemon for super effective damage, except Gengar, which is hit by Zen Headbutt.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Lowering its Attack either through Intimidate after Mega Evolution or by burning it makes Mega Metagross lose its high damage output, which renders it useless.
[OVERVIEW]
[SET]
name: Mega
move 1: Iron Head / Meteor Mash
move 2: Zen Headbutt
move 3: Substitute / Ice Punch / Bullet Punch
move 4: Protect
item: Metagrossite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types resist one of its STABs, and deal super effective damage towards it. Many of the biggest Fire-type threats are specially based, which is unfortunate as Metagross has way higher Defense than Special Defense
**Ghost/Dark-types**: Pokemon like Bisharp, Hydreigon, Aegislash, and Gengar pose a huge threat to Metagross, as they have super effective STAB attacks. The average Metagross also doesn't have super effective coverage against them (Would like opinions on whether or not these should be lumped together, kind of does the same against it)
**Crippling its Attack**: Crippling Metagross Attack through either Intimidate after Mega Evolution or burning it makes Metagross suffer from losing its high damage output, which is its major selling point
- Very good Attack paired with Though Claws gives a immense damage output
- Also very good bulk
- Good way to beat Fairy-types
- Doesn't care about Intimidate before Mega Evolving
- Gen VI gave it two new weaknesses, Ghost and Dark
- Has many team dependent coverage options, but can't fit them all in one set
- almost hard countered by bisharp, heatran, aegislash
[SET]
name: Mega
move 1: Iron Head / Meteor Mash
move 2: Zen Headbutt
move 3: Substitute / Ice Punch / Bullet Punch
move 4: Protect
item: Metagrossite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Iron Head is Steel-type STAB, and hits Fairy-types for super effective damage and just a lot else for really good neutral damage
- Meteor Mash risks accuracy for chance of Attack rise
- Zen Headbutt hits mainly Venusuar and Amoonguss for super effective damage, but also gives crucial neutral damage on things that resist Steel, like Water and Fire
- Substitute makes Gross put on even more pressure, and helps it avoid status. Also helpful as it might be aggresively double targeted while its teammate is free to attack
- Ice Punch hits Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Mega Salamence for 4x super effective damage
- Bullet Punch is nice priority, and is particualry helpful against Pokemon with Focus Sash
- Protect is a staple, protecting it from double targeting and status
Set Details
========
- Simple max Attack, max Speed to maximize damage output and Speed, as Gross has a very good Speed tier
- If running Substitute, you can opt for a bulkier spread of 44 HP / 164 Atk / 44 Def / 4 Spd / 252 Spe and a Jolly nature. 44 HP gives you a HP stat of 161, which lets you set up 4 subs and be left with 1 HP. The defense makes the second hit of Adamant Kangaskhan's Sucker Punch do no more than 25 %, so you will always be able to set up a Substitute and survive Sucker Punch from Kangaskhan twice. Sucker Punch from a Bisharp without a boosting item deals a maximum of 120 HP, so you will always survive Sucker Punch after a sub has been broken. Max Speedto take advantage of the good speed, and dump the rest in Attack.
Usage Tips
========
- As it provides such a huge offensive pressure, and the possibility of setting up a sub, you will often experience aggresive targetnig against Metagross. Predicting correctly with Protect can be crucial in order to win
- Maintaining Clear Body for as long as possible helps a lot against Intimidate spam
- Always scout for opportunities to get up a Substitute
Team Options
========
- Fake Out support from Pokemon like Scrafty and Hitmontop lets you more easily get up a sub
- Mega Metagross is very good in rain, as it neutralizes its Fire weakness, and common rain Pokemon also beat most Earthquake users. Commonly used rain Pokemon are Politoed and Ludicolo
- Rotom-W provides solid synergy with Metagross, being immune to Ground and Metagross resisisting Rotom-W's only weakness
- Dark-types like Tyranitar, Hydreigon, and Scrafty are good partners, dealing with Gengar and Aegislash, as Metagross can handle their Fariy-type weakness. Scrafty stands particulary out as it also deals with Dark-types
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Could run a non-mega set with Assault Vest or Lum Berry
- Thunder Punch gives you coverage for bulky Water-types and Flying-types
- Earthquake gives you a powerful spread attack, and coverage against Fire- and Electric-types
- Hammer Arm lets you beat Dark-types, but also drops your speed
- Rock Slide is also spread, and also offers a chance of flinching
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types resist one of its STABs, and deal super effective damage towards it. Many of the biggest Fire-type threats are specially based, which is unfortunate as Metagross has way higher Defense than Special Defense
**Ghost/Dark-types**: Pokemon like Bisharp, Hydreigon, Aegislash, and Gengar pose a huge threat to Metagross, as they have super effective STAB attacks. The average Metagross also doesn't have super effective coverage against them (Would like opinions on whether or not these should be lumped together, kind of does the same against it)
**Crippling its Attack**: Crippling Metagross Attack through either Intimidate after Mega Evolution or burning it makes Metagross suffer from losing its high damage output, which is its major selling point
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