[OVERVIEW]
* Mega Metagross's ability Tough Claws gives all its contact moves a 33% boost.
* Mega Metagross has access to priority STAB Bullet Punch and a wide variety of coverage moves, such as Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Earthquake, and Hammer Arm. These coverage moves allow it to cover certain weaknesses Mega Metagross or its teammates have, carving a niche for this Pokemon.
* Mega Metagross's great defensive typing grants it an immunity to Poison as well as resistances to Fairy, Psychic, Normal, Flying, Ice, Rock, Steel, Dragon, and Grass. This allows it to check many offensive threats, some of which are Xerneas, Mega Salamence, Mega Lucario, and Deoxys-A.
* Mega Metagross's good overall bulk allows it to tank hits from Pokemon like Mega Salamence and Mega Lucario and then retaliate back with Ice Punch and Hammer Arm, respectively, to OHKO.
* Mega Metagross doesn't have a good offensive typing, making it weak to common Ghost- and Dark-type threats such as Lunala, Arceus-Ghost, Mega Gengar, and Yveltal.
* Unlike its competitor Solgaleo, Mega Metagross lacks reliable recovery, which makes it less effective as a Xerneas check and means it can be easily whittled down.
* Thanks to all these great coverage options, Mega Metagross does experience heavy four-moveslot syndrome, as it is limited to the number of coverage moves that can be carried.
* Running Mega Metagross in your team comes in exchange for not being able to run a different Mega Evolution like Mega Lucario or Mega Salamence, both of which are able to check more Pokemon and offer better offensive presence for the team.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Ice Punch / Earthquake
move 4: Toxic / Thunder Punch
item: Metagrossite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 184 HP / 148 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Meteor Mash is Mega Metagross's strongest Steel-type STAB move and allows it to check Pokemon like Geomancy Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy.
* Priority Bullet Punch in conjunction with Meteor Mash allows Mega Metagross to 2HKO Geomancy Xerneas, as well as letting it pick off weakened threats.
* Ice Punch lets Mega Metagross check and OHKO Mega Salamence and deal a good amount of damage to Zygarde-C.
* Earthquake could be run over Ice Punch in order to hit the very common Primal Groudon.
* Toxic allows Mega Metagross to cripple common switch-ins such as Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, Mega Slowbro, and support Arceus formes.
* Thunder Punch can be used over Toxic, as it can OHKO defensive Ho-Oh after Stealth Rock damage, 2HKO defensive Primal Kyogre after Stealth Rock damage, and 3HKO Celesteela without including recovery from Leech Seed.
* Hammer Arm allows Mega Metagross to 2HKO Ferrothorn and check some variants of Extreme Killer Arceus when used in conjunction with Bullet Punch.
Set Details
========
* Running 184 HP EVs lets Mega Metagross survive a +1 252+ Earthquake from Mega Salamence after Stealth Rock damage and OHKO back with Ice Punch.
* A Jolly nature with 176 Speed EVs allows Mega Metagross to outspeed everything up to positive-natured base 100 Speed Pokemon.
* 148 Attack EVs allow Mega Metagross to OHKO standard Geomancy Xerneas after Stealth Rock damage and to KO Arceus-Fairy with Meteor Mash followed by Bullet Punch.
* Clear Body grants it an immunity to Intimidate as well as Sticky Web prior to Mega Evolving.
Usage Tips
========
* Mega Metagross should be switched in through predicted switches and resisted attacks from Pokemon like Xerneas, after which it can proceed to use its coverage moves and STAB Meteor Mash to weaken the opposing team.
* Avoid letting Mega Metagross take unnecessary damage from resisted hits, Leech Seed, and Iron Barbs, as it requires the HP to check Xerneas and Mega Salamence. Predict switches into Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Celesteela and go to teammates like Primal Groudon to check them entirely.
* Use Bullet Punch to pick off weakened threats such as Xerneas, Mega Gengar, and Deoxys-A and also to create 50-50s with Sucker Punch Yveltal.
* Predict switches and go for the right coverage move to weaken the switch-in, which will make it easier for teammates like Xerneas and Primal Groudon to potentially sweep late-game.
* Go for Toxic when predicting switches into Pokemon like Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, and Ho-Oh to put them on a timer, making them easier to deal with.
Team Options
========
* Swords Dance Arceus-Ground pairs rather well with Mega Metagross, and it can check switch-ins like Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh.
* Primal Groudon is also a great partner, as it can provide Stealth Rock support for the team while also switching into Steel-types like Celesteela and Skarmory and Water-types like Primal Kyogre.
* Geomancy Xerneas appreciates Mega Metagross weakening its checks such as Primal Groudon, Magearna, and Ferrothorn using its STAB and coverage moves.
* Yveltal can provide an immunity to Ground-type attacks from Primal Groudon, and it also appreciates checks to Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy.
* Strong offensive threats like Extreme Killer Arceus, Deoxys-A, Primal Groudon, and Rayquaza appreciate Mega Metagross weakening their checks like Ferrothorn, Giratina-O, and Celesteela, making it easier for them to punch holes through the opposing team.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Stealth Rock can be carried over Toxic to relieve Primal Groudon of the role, allowing it to run a setup move over Stealth Rock. However, Mega Metagross lacks the qualities of a good Stealth Rock setter, since it gets walled by Defog Arceus formes and is better off carrying coverage moves or Toxic for its switch-ins.
* Explosion can be run to deal heavy damage to the opposing Pokemon and prevents hazard removal by an opposing Defog Arceus forme.
* Rock Slide is another possible coverage move that allows Mega Metagross to OHKO Ho-Oh.
* Pursuit can be used as the fourth move to trap Pokemon like Mega Mewtwo Y without Fire Blast and Deoxys-A.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Arceus formes**: Pokemon like Arceus-Ground, Arceus-Water, and Arceus-Dark can switch into Mega Metagross's STAB Meteor Mash and proceed to remove entry hazards or retaliate back with STAB Judgment, possibly OHKOing it.
**Steel-types**: Pokemon like Mega Scizor, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn are able to avoid getting poisoned thanks to their Steel typing, which makes them annoying for Mega Metagross to face. Mega Scizor can easily take any hit and pivot around with U-turn, while Ferrothorn and Skarmory can set up entry hazards like Spikes on it. Ferrothorn can also set up Leech Seed and slowly weaken Mega Metagross with Protect; however, it must be cautious, as Mega Metagross could carry Hammer Arm.
**Primal Groudon**: Primal Groudon can take any two hits from Mega Metagross and in return can set up Stealth Rock or even OHKO with Precipice Blades.
**Primal Kyogre**: Defensive Primal Kyogre can comfortably switch into any of Mega Metagross's attacks apart from Thunder Punch and proceed to inflict heavy damage with Scald.
**Zygarde-C**: Zygarde-C is able to take any hits from Mega Metagross and deal heavy damage with Thousand Arrows, while the Coil set can use Mega Metagross as setup fodder. However, it must be aware of Ice Punch, which can 2HKO Zygarde and 3HKO Zygarde-C, while Thousand Arrows is roll to 2HKO.
**Ghost-types**: Mega Sableye can't get 2HKOed by Meteor Mash from Mega Metagross, and it can deal back heavy damage with Foul Play. Other Ghost-types like Giratina-O, Lunala, and Mega Gengar can check Mega Metagross, as they as all downright OHKO it with Shadow Force, Moongeist Beam, and Shadow Ball, respectively.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh can easily switch into Mega Metagross and OHKO it with Sacred Fire. However, it must be wary of Rock Slide and Thunder Punch.
**Dark-types**: Pokemon like Yveltal and Darkrai can offensively check Mega Metagross, as they can OHKO it with STAB Dark Pulse.
**Lugia**: While Lugia can't hit Mega Metagross back for much, it can weaken it gradually; however, it does not like getting poisoned by Toxic.
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