[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Thunder Punch / Ice Punch
move 4: Explosion / Pursuit / Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
With a Choice Scarf, Metagross turns into a great revenge killer. Meteor Mash makes Metagross a fantastic Dragon Dance Tyranitar check, outspeeding and OHKOing it after Stealth Rock. If Metagross gets an Attack boost from Meteor Mash, it can potentially clean up weakened teams, as it outspeeds the unboosted metagame except for the uncommon Jolteon and Aerodactyl. Earthquake gives Metagross great coverage against Steel-types and lets it OHKO Pokemon such as Infernape, Lucario, and Heatran that normally outspeed Metagross.
Thunder Punch makes Metagross a great Gyarados check, as the move always OHKOes it and has a good chance to OHKO Wacan Berry variants after Stealth Rock. Thunder Punch also does good damage to other Water-types such as Starmie, Suicune, and Milotic. Another option is Ice Punch, as it allows Metagross to always OHKO Dragonite and Flygon while hitting Gliscor and Latias very hard. Explosion is most commonly the best option in the last slot, as it allows Metagross to trade with a sweeper it doesn’t have the coverage for or KO almost any wall. More specialized moves include Pursuit, which is fantastic at trapping frail Pokemon threatened out by a fast Metagross such as Gengar and Choice-locked Latias, and Trick, which neuters walls with a Choice Scarf and can prevent foes such as Suicune and Calm Mind Clefable from setting up on it.
Set Details
========
Metagross needs absolute maximum Speed EVs and a Jolly nature to outspeed neutral-natured +1 Dragon Dance Gyarados, as Metagross outspeeds neutral-natured Gyarados by one point. The remaining EVs are invested in Attack to hit as hard as possible.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Metagross should try to get in on predicted switches, setup moves, and revenge kills, as it is quite frail without bulk investment. As an example, it is 2HKOed by Modest Choice Specs Latias's Draco Meteor and, if it has Pursuit, must wait for Latias to use Draco Meteor or Trick before trying to trap it. Note that Choice Scarf Metagross can successfully bluff bulkier sets; neutral-natured Dragon Dance Gyarados must guess whether Metagross has a Shuca Berry to survive Earthquake or has a Choice Scarf, often leaving it to faint to Thunder Punch. Swords Dance Lucario is under the same predicament, as Metagross resists most priority moves. If Metagross has Trick or Explosion, be careful about using them until it is no longer needed to revenge kill threats. Also note that Choice Scarf Metagross isn't the most powerful set; it often needs the element of surprise to KO foes, and once it is revealed, it is easier to play around.
Team Options
========
Metagross is a great revenge killer on frailer teams, as it still poses the threat of Explosion or Trick and handles dangerous threats for offensive teams such as Lucario, Tyranitar, Dragonite, and Gyarados. One of its best partners, especially if it has Pursuit, is Breloom. Breloom can use Spore on Latias, as it commonly has Sleep Talk, and then Metagross can come in and use Pursuit. If Stealth Rock is up, Latias without bulk investment can potentially faint on its next switch in. This potentially gives Tyranitar the freedom to use more offensive sets such as Dragon Dance. Choice Scarf Metagross is also fantastic alongside Magnezone, as it can remove Steel-types that switch into Metagross as well as potentially trap opposing Magnezone or Magneton with a Shuca Berry equipped. Some good partners on this style are other Steel-types such as Bronzong and Jirachi and strong attackers such as Dragonite and Gengar. Choice Scarf Metagross also allows other Pokemon more commonly tasked with holding a Choice Scarf to use more offensive sets. As an example, Latias can use Choice Specs and Rotom-A can use a Substitute set. Metagross enjoys having an additional Steel-type to help handle defensive responsibilities such as switching into Latias and handling Jirachi. Passho Berry Heatran is an excellent partner, as it can take on that defensive responsibility while also luring in and using Explosion against bulky Water-types that wall Metagross.
Metagross is also a good revenge killer on more offensive Spikes teams using offensive Skarmory, as either its checks are weakened by Spikes or its teammates can remove the Spikes-immune Pokemon that check it. Mixed Dragonite is perhaps Metagross's best partner here, as it can switch into Skarmory trying to wall Metagross and unleash its strong attacks. Other good partners include Dragon Dance Tyranitar, Dragon Dance Gyarados, and Gengar.
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Thunder Punch / Ice Punch
move 4: Explosion / Pursuit / Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
With a Choice Scarf, Metagross turns into a great revenge killer. Meteor Mash makes Metagross a fantastic Dragon Dance Tyranitar check, outspeeding and OHKOing it after Stealth Rock. If Metagross gets an Attack boost from Meteor Mash, it can potentially clean up weakened teams, as it outspeeds the unboosted metagame except for the uncommon Jolteon and Aerodactyl. Earthquake gives Metagross great coverage against Steel-types and lets it OHKO Pokemon such as Infernape, Lucario, and Heatran that normally outspeed Metagross.
Thunder Punch makes Metagross a great Gyarados check, as the move always OHKOes it and has a good chance to OHKO Wacan Berry variants after Stealth Rock. Thunder Punch also does good damage to other Water-types such as Starmie, Suicune, and Milotic. Another option is Ice Punch, as it allows Metagross to always OHKO Dragonite and Flygon while hitting Gliscor and Latias very hard. Explosion is most commonly the best option in the last slot, as it allows Metagross to trade with a sweeper it doesn’t have the coverage for or KO almost any wall. More specialized moves include Pursuit, which is fantastic at trapping frail Pokemon threatened out by a fast Metagross such as Gengar and Choice-locked Latias, and Trick, which neuters walls with a Choice Scarf and can prevent foes such as Suicune and Calm Mind Clefable from setting up on it.
Set Details
========
Metagross needs absolute maximum Speed EVs and a Jolly nature to outspeed neutral-natured +1 Dragon Dance Gyarados, as Metagross outspeeds neutral-natured Gyarados by one point. The remaining EVs are invested in Attack to hit as hard as possible.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Metagross should try to get in on predicted switches, setup moves, and revenge kills, as it is quite frail without bulk investment. As an example, it is 2HKOed by Modest Choice Specs Latias's Draco Meteor and, if it has Pursuit, must wait for Latias to use Draco Meteor or Trick before trying to trap it. Note that Choice Scarf Metagross can successfully bluff bulkier sets; neutral-natured Dragon Dance Gyarados must guess whether Metagross has a Shuca Berry to survive Earthquake or has a Choice Scarf, often leaving it to faint to Thunder Punch. Swords Dance Lucario is under the same predicament, as Metagross resists most priority moves. If Metagross has Trick or Explosion, be careful about using them until it is no longer needed to revenge kill threats. Also note that Choice Scarf Metagross isn't the most powerful set; it often needs the element of surprise to KO foes, and once it is revealed, it is easier to play around.
Team Options
========
Metagross is a great revenge killer on frailer teams, as it still poses the threat of Explosion or Trick and handles dangerous threats for offensive teams such as Lucario, Tyranitar, Dragonite, and Gyarados. One of its best partners, especially if it has Pursuit, is Breloom. Breloom can use Spore on Latias, as it commonly has Sleep Talk, and then Metagross can come in and use Pursuit. If Stealth Rock is up, Latias without bulk investment can potentially faint on its next switch in. This potentially gives Tyranitar the freedom to use more offensive sets such as Dragon Dance. Choice Scarf Metagross is also fantastic alongside Magnezone, as it can remove Steel-types that switch into Metagross as well as potentially trap opposing Magnezone or Magneton with a Shuca Berry equipped. Some good partners on this style are other Steel-types such as Bronzong and Jirachi and strong attackers such as Dragonite and Gengar. Choice Scarf Metagross also allows other Pokemon more commonly tasked with holding a Choice Scarf to use more offensive sets. As an example, Latias can use Choice Specs and Rotom-A can use a Substitute set. Metagross enjoys having an additional Steel-type to help handle defensive responsibilities such as switching into Latias and handling Jirachi. Passho Berry Heatran is an excellent partner, as it can take on that defensive responsibility while also luring in and using Explosion against bulky Water-types that wall Metagross.
Metagross is also a good revenge killer on more offensive Spikes teams using offensive Skarmory, as either its checks are weakened by Spikes or its teammates can remove the Spikes-immune Pokemon that check it. Mixed Dragonite is perhaps Metagross's best partner here, as it can switch into Skarmory trying to wall Metagross and unleash its strong attacks. Other good partners include Dragon Dance Tyranitar, Dragon Dance Gyarados, and Gengar.
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