[OVERVIEW]
* Mega Metagross is one of the most commonly seen Mega Evolution users in Battle Spot Singles.
* Despite the continued usage of Mimikyu and Landorus-T, and other Pokemon that can defensively check Mega Metagross, Mega Metagross remains as a reliable attacker, being able to overcome most unfavorable matchups with its bulk, Speed, and a lot of coverage moves available.
* Mega Metagross's own resistance to Stealth Rock, ability to force switches with prevalent Stealth Rock support, Clear Body before Mega Evolution, and ability to survive supereffective attacks Choice Scarf users and fast, frail attackers make it one of the best suited Pokemon for Battle Spot Singles where switches repeatedly happen.
* Access to Tough Claws help Mega Metagross pressure its defensive checks in a long run, and Iron Head and Zen Headbutt's considerable chance to flinch and weaken Pokemon like Porygon2 also prove to be attractive in some instances.
* Despite its high bulk and room to customize its EV spread to improve this further, Mega Metagross's weakness to very common Ground- and Fire-type attacks should be noted, especially if it cannot afford to get a right coverage move within its crowded moveset.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Iron Head / Bullet Punch
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Zen Headbutt / Earthquake
move 4: Thunder Punch / Rock Tomb / Hammer Arm
item: Metagrossite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Iron Head is chosen over Meteor Mash due to its perfect accuracy, still sufficient enough power to threaten most Fairy-types, and a considerable chance to flinch.
* Bullet Punch can be used instead, as it helps Mega Metagross take out weakened faster foes and is useful specially when picking up busted Mimikyu when Mega Metagross cannot take a Shadow Sneak.
* Ice Punch hits Ground-types like Landorus-T and Garchomp and do high damage to over vulnerable Pokemon like Mega Salamence, Hippowdon, and Serperior.
* Zen Headbutt has strong neutral damage output against Fire-types like Charizard and Volcarona and is the strongest move available for Mega Venusaur and Toxapex.
* Earthquake OHKOes Heatran and Magnezone and serves as an important tool to surmount Aegislash.
* Thunder Punch hits bulky Pokemon like Celesteela, Skarmory, and Suicune, and eases mind game against Gyarados.
* Rock Tomb hits Fire-types decently hard and has utility of preventing Mega Metagross from being set up on by Charizard with Dragon Dance or Flame Charge and Gyarados. Rock Slide can be an appropriate substitution that has a merit of having a decent flinch chance.
* Hammer Arm heavily damages Ferrothorn, Porygon2, and Chansey. It also heavily pressures Snorlax should it attempt to set up Curse against Mega Metagross.
Set Details
========
* A straightforward EV spread with Jolly nature takes advantage of Mega Metagross's high Attack and Speed stat.
* Clear Body is the most appropriate choice of an ability to prevent stat drop from Intimidate on the turn Metagross Mega Evolves.
* Mega Metagross has multiple viable EV spreads, depending on what attacks it aims to survive in exchange of what foes it wants to outspend at worst.
Usage Tips
========
* Mega Metagross can easily pressure opposing lead and discourage setup sweepers from setting up due to its offensive presence, but it should not waste its health combating a foe that its teammates can adequately handle. Especially being wary of status moves like Thunder Wave or Will-O-Wisp, Mega Metagross should focus on netting as much damage possible while remaining healthy enough to combat foes like Tapu Lele, revenge kill faster Pokemon, and switch into Pokemon using Toxic.
* Mega Metagross can cause more damage on opposing team if it manages to land a supereffective hit on switch. While this may not sound the most effective for a Pokemon with high Speed, Mega Metagross is often rendered ineffective after Choice Scarf users rack up damage with moves like U-turn or Volt Switch. This becomes especially important against foes like Celesteela that will struggle to stop Mega Metagross after taking Thunder Punch on switch, Aegislash that may attempt to play mind games after switching into resisted Attack, and Porygon2 that retaliates with Traced Tough Claws-boosted Foul Play or a status move.
* If there are no other ways to defeat opposing Pokemon, do not hesitate to attempt flinching them with Iron Head and Zen Headbutt. Mega Metagross's damage output is high enough to take out a foe with a supereffective attack followed by a single flinch, and it is typically not punished hard on failure as long as it has remained healthy. Especially when Mega Metagross lacks a suitable coverage move to effectively deal with bulky foes, flinching them often becomes a solution.
Team Options
========
* Most offensive Pokemon, with exceptions of powerful attackers like Greninja that has enough damage output and faster Speed, will avoid matchup with Mega Metagross and react defensively. Tapu Fini excels at dealing with Pokemon like Hippowdon, Porygon2, and Cresselia, being able to bother them with Taunt. It also sets Misty Terrain that prevents status ailments that Mega Metagross is especially vulnerable to. Tapu Fini also checks Fire-type for Mega Metagross. Mega Metagross in exchange can threaten Grass-types, including Ferrothorn as long as it has Hammer Arm.
* Tapu Lele can overpower physically defensive Pokemon and set Psychic Terrain to empower Zen Headbutt and prevent Shadow Sneak and Sucker Punch. Tapu Koko can set Electric Terrain to empower Thunder Punch to help Mega Metagross against Water-types and prevent Spore from Breloom.
* Breloom can threaten Water-types, can revenge kill a foe in case Mega Metagross didn't employ Bullet Punch, and put a troublesome foe to sleep. Its ability to cripple Mimikyu in one on one matchup is attractive as well.
* Landorus-T can support most Pokemon well, and it can support Mega Metagross by switching into predicted Earthquake and bothersome Electric-type attacks, particularly blocking Volt Switch that would substantially damage Mega Metagross. Stealth Rock support can help Mega Metagross combat foes, especially denting Charizard to the point where Mega Metagross can consider using different coverage moves.
* Thundurus formes are viable options for similar reason, and it can deal with Water-types like Gyarados or Suicune that Mega Metagross cannot swiftly KO.
* Both formes of Mega Charizard can lure in Steel-types from team preview and take advantage of them. Pokemon that check Mega Metagross well are often not capable of dealing with Mega Charizard X's boosted attacks or sheer power of Mega Charizard Y.
* Rotom-Heat can pivot into Ground-type attacks, threaten Steel-types like Ferrothorn or Celesteela more immediately, and can even attempt to permanently cripple other Pokemon like Cresselia using a Choice item and Trick.
* Volcarona takes advantage of Steel-types and passive physical walls, and can collaborate with Mega Metagross to deal with offense well.
* Other countermeasures for Charizard forms, Volcarona, and physically defensive Pokemon can be considered as long as they do not stack Ground-weakness or allow Electric-type Pokemon to freely dent the whole team with repeated Volt Switches.
* Healing Wish support from Pokemon like Cresselia can be considered if Mega Metagross is in a matchup to combat multiple Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Zen Headbutt
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Hammer Arm / Power-Up-Punch
move 4: Ice Punch / Thunder Punch / Earthquake / Iron Head
item: Metagrossite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 124 HP / 196 Atk / 4 Def / 148 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Bullet Punch's importance becomes greater for slower Mega Metagross that may lack enough damage output to finish a faster foe when compared with more offensive sets.
* Power-Up-Punch opens Mega Metagross a room to bypass bulky foes with bulkier investment and limited moves with +1 Attack if it hits a foe on switch. It also helps with easing predictions.
* Appropriate coverage moves should be chosen depending on what checks will Mega Metagross will rely on its teammates to deal with; Ice Punch is the most common choice to hit Ground-types that immediately threaten Mega Metagross.
Set Details
========
* The given EV spread gives Mega Metagross enough special bulk to survive a Z-Move from Tapu Koko and Shadow Ball from offensive Mega Gengar.
* Jolly nature can be considered for Mega Metagross to outspend neutral-natured Mamoswine and Breloom.
Usage Tips
========
* This variant of Mega Metagross aims to survive strong hits like aforementioned ones, improving the odds that it defeat more Pokemon in one on one situation.
* As long as there are not any Pokemon on the opposing side that Mega Metagross cannot effectively hit, it can aim to trade hits with opposing Pokemon, and this will pressure opposing team particularly harder if Mega Metagross has a super effective move against Pokemon that can revenge kill it. Dealing with this Mega Metagross will only become harder as opponents struggle to decide how would they trade damage with Mega Metagross if it is using Power-Up-Punch.
* Avoid taking faster Pokemon or possible Choice Scarf users one on one immediately, however, as the ones like Tapu Koko or Landorus-T can choose to evade matchup with Mega Metagross with pivoting move, and predicting a switch and using coverage move or Power-Up-Punch will be more tempting yet risky without identifying the rest of the team.
* Instead of punishing a switch-in with boosted attacks, Power-Up-Punch can also be useful when cleaning up late game or pressuring slower teams that rely on high physical bulk to keep Mega Metagross in check. Avoid doing this until Rocky Helmet users like Cresselia are taken down, however.
Team Options
========
* Any mentioned teammates for offensive Mega Metagross are valid choices for this set.
* Some of the notable supports that this specific variant of Mega Metagross can have are paralysis inducers like Serperior or Mimikyu.
* The rest of the team can be made of more offensive, faster partners due to this set's lower Speed. Special attackers will come in handy when pressuring Rocky Helmet users, and Choice Scarf users can net a surprise KO on pesky foes that are faster than Mega Metagross and checks like Mega Gengar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A niche set with the EV spread of 204 Atk / 52 SpA / 252 Spa with Jolly nature using Grass Knot and Hidden Power Fire can lure Hippowdon, Suicune, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor, but the opportunity cost of forgoing bulkier and stronger EV investment and better coverage moves is too high.
* Agility and Hone Claws are possible setup options, but Mega Metagross is far less threatening with less coverage moves.
* Explosion can force a trade with a problematic Pokemon, though the trade is often not worth it.
* Stomping Tantrum can OHKO Heatran and hit other Ground-weak Pokemon hard under Grassy Terrain's effect unlike Earthquake.
* Substitute can help with mind game against Blaziken with Protect and Aegislash, but reducing Mega Metagross's health for other instances is usually not worth it.
* Toxic helps weakening Porygon2 and Cresselia in a long run, but it makes Mega Metagross more manageable to Steel-types and it often becomes incompatible if common partner Tapu Fini is in the same team.
* Regular form of Metagross can be used to lead and support its team with Stealth Rock and Gravity, supporting Pokemon like Mega Gengar using Hypnosis.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physically Defensive Foes**: Mega Metagross relies on its decently strong STAB moves and a large pool of coverage moves to net damage on the other team. This makes foes like Porygon2, Cresselia, and Hippowdon hard to surmount. These Pokemon are particularly problematic as they have their unique ways to retaliate against Mega Metagross with Foul Play, Rocky Helmet and Thunder Wave, and Earthquake, respectively. Note that Iron Head and Zen Headbutt's flinches can be dangerous to these Pokemon after some prior damage and coverage moves like Hammer Arm and Grass Knot should be watched out for as well.
**Mega Gengar**: Mega Gengar's higher Speed, supereffective Shadow Ball, and Shadow Tag combine to become serious concern for Mega Metagross for the entirety of the game if it has been slightly damaged. Even if Mega Gengar's EV spread isn't offensive enough to take out Mega Metagross, Destiny Bond usually results in an unfavorable trade.
**Steel-types with Immunities**: Steel-types with immunities require specific coverage move for Mega Metagross to hit them supereffectively, as they take very little damage from other attacks. Facing Celesteela without Thunder Punch, Ferrothorn without Hammer Arm, and Aegislash without Earthquake reduces Mega Metagross's usefulness to a large extent.
**Water-types**: Mega Metagross may struggle to deal with Water-types like Suicune or Slowbro if it lacks Thunder Punch or Grass Knot.
**Faster Foes**: Mega Metagross has high base Speed, but it is vulnerable to Landorus-T and Garchomp using Choice Scarf, as well as Greninja and Mega Gengar. Mega Metagross can survive a hit from these foes with appropriate EV investment, however.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lotus, 434601]]
- Quality checked by: [[,], [,]]
- Grammar checked by: [[,], [,]]
* Mega Metagross is one of the most commonly seen Mega Evolution users in Battle Spot Singles.
* Despite the continued usage of Mimikyu and Landorus-T, and other Pokemon that can defensively check Mega Metagross, Mega Metagross remains as a reliable attacker, being able to overcome most unfavorable matchups with its bulk, Speed, and a lot of coverage moves available.
* Mega Metagross's own resistance to Stealth Rock, ability to force switches with prevalent Stealth Rock support, Clear Body before Mega Evolution, and ability to survive supereffective attacks Choice Scarf users and fast, frail attackers make it one of the best suited Pokemon for Battle Spot Singles where switches repeatedly happen.
* Access to Tough Claws help Mega Metagross pressure its defensive checks in a long run, and Iron Head and Zen Headbutt's considerable chance to flinch and weaken Pokemon like Porygon2 also prove to be attractive in some instances.
* Despite its high bulk and room to customize its EV spread to improve this further, Mega Metagross's weakness to very common Ground- and Fire-type attacks should be noted, especially if it cannot afford to get a right coverage move within its crowded moveset.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Iron Head / Bullet Punch
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Zen Headbutt / Earthquake
move 4: Thunder Punch / Rock Tomb / Hammer Arm
item: Metagrossite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Iron Head is chosen over Meteor Mash due to its perfect accuracy, still sufficient enough power to threaten most Fairy-types, and a considerable chance to flinch.
* Bullet Punch can be used instead, as it helps Mega Metagross take out weakened faster foes and is useful specially when picking up busted Mimikyu when Mega Metagross cannot take a Shadow Sneak.
* Ice Punch hits Ground-types like Landorus-T and Garchomp and do high damage to over vulnerable Pokemon like Mega Salamence, Hippowdon, and Serperior.
* Zen Headbutt has strong neutral damage output against Fire-types like Charizard and Volcarona and is the strongest move available for Mega Venusaur and Toxapex.
* Earthquake OHKOes Heatran and Magnezone and serves as an important tool to surmount Aegislash.
* Thunder Punch hits bulky Pokemon like Celesteela, Skarmory, and Suicune, and eases mind game against Gyarados.
* Rock Tomb hits Fire-types decently hard and has utility of preventing Mega Metagross from being set up on by Charizard with Dragon Dance or Flame Charge and Gyarados. Rock Slide can be an appropriate substitution that has a merit of having a decent flinch chance.
* Hammer Arm heavily damages Ferrothorn, Porygon2, and Chansey. It also heavily pressures Snorlax should it attempt to set up Curse against Mega Metagross.
Set Details
========
* A straightforward EV spread with Jolly nature takes advantage of Mega Metagross's high Attack and Speed stat.
* Clear Body is the most appropriate choice of an ability to prevent stat drop from Intimidate on the turn Metagross Mega Evolves.
* Mega Metagross has multiple viable EV spreads, depending on what attacks it aims to survive in exchange of what foes it wants to outspend at worst.
Usage Tips
========
* Mega Metagross can easily pressure opposing lead and discourage setup sweepers from setting up due to its offensive presence, but it should not waste its health combating a foe that its teammates can adequately handle. Especially being wary of status moves like Thunder Wave or Will-O-Wisp, Mega Metagross should focus on netting as much damage possible while remaining healthy enough to combat foes like Tapu Lele, revenge kill faster Pokemon, and switch into Pokemon using Toxic.
* Mega Metagross can cause more damage on opposing team if it manages to land a supereffective hit on switch. While this may not sound the most effective for a Pokemon with high Speed, Mega Metagross is often rendered ineffective after Choice Scarf users rack up damage with moves like U-turn or Volt Switch. This becomes especially important against foes like Celesteela that will struggle to stop Mega Metagross after taking Thunder Punch on switch, Aegislash that may attempt to play mind games after switching into resisted Attack, and Porygon2 that retaliates with Traced Tough Claws-boosted Foul Play or a status move.
* If there are no other ways to defeat opposing Pokemon, do not hesitate to attempt flinching them with Iron Head and Zen Headbutt. Mega Metagross's damage output is high enough to take out a foe with a supereffective attack followed by a single flinch, and it is typically not punished hard on failure as long as it has remained healthy. Especially when Mega Metagross lacks a suitable coverage move to effectively deal with bulky foes, flinching them often becomes a solution.
Team Options
========
* Most offensive Pokemon, with exceptions of powerful attackers like Greninja that has enough damage output and faster Speed, will avoid matchup with Mega Metagross and react defensively. Tapu Fini excels at dealing with Pokemon like Hippowdon, Porygon2, and Cresselia, being able to bother them with Taunt. It also sets Misty Terrain that prevents status ailments that Mega Metagross is especially vulnerable to. Tapu Fini also checks Fire-type for Mega Metagross. Mega Metagross in exchange can threaten Grass-types, including Ferrothorn as long as it has Hammer Arm.
* Tapu Lele can overpower physically defensive Pokemon and set Psychic Terrain to empower Zen Headbutt and prevent Shadow Sneak and Sucker Punch. Tapu Koko can set Electric Terrain to empower Thunder Punch to help Mega Metagross against Water-types and prevent Spore from Breloom.
* Breloom can threaten Water-types, can revenge kill a foe in case Mega Metagross didn't employ Bullet Punch, and put a troublesome foe to sleep. Its ability to cripple Mimikyu in one on one matchup is attractive as well.
* Landorus-T can support most Pokemon well, and it can support Mega Metagross by switching into predicted Earthquake and bothersome Electric-type attacks, particularly blocking Volt Switch that would substantially damage Mega Metagross. Stealth Rock support can help Mega Metagross combat foes, especially denting Charizard to the point where Mega Metagross can consider using different coverage moves.
* Thundurus formes are viable options for similar reason, and it can deal with Water-types like Gyarados or Suicune that Mega Metagross cannot swiftly KO.
* Both formes of Mega Charizard can lure in Steel-types from team preview and take advantage of them. Pokemon that check Mega Metagross well are often not capable of dealing with Mega Charizard X's boosted attacks or sheer power of Mega Charizard Y.
* Rotom-Heat can pivot into Ground-type attacks, threaten Steel-types like Ferrothorn or Celesteela more immediately, and can even attempt to permanently cripple other Pokemon like Cresselia using a Choice item and Trick.
* Volcarona takes advantage of Steel-types and passive physical walls, and can collaborate with Mega Metagross to deal with offense well.
* Other countermeasures for Charizard forms, Volcarona, and physically defensive Pokemon can be considered as long as they do not stack Ground-weakness or allow Electric-type Pokemon to freely dent the whole team with repeated Volt Switches.
* Healing Wish support from Pokemon like Cresselia can be considered if Mega Metagross is in a matchup to combat multiple Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Zen Headbutt
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Hammer Arm / Power-Up-Punch
move 4: Ice Punch / Thunder Punch / Earthquake / Iron Head
item: Metagrossite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 124 HP / 196 Atk / 4 Def / 148 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Bullet Punch's importance becomes greater for slower Mega Metagross that may lack enough damage output to finish a faster foe when compared with more offensive sets.
* Power-Up-Punch opens Mega Metagross a room to bypass bulky foes with bulkier investment and limited moves with +1 Attack if it hits a foe on switch. It also helps with easing predictions.
* Appropriate coverage moves should be chosen depending on what checks will Mega Metagross will rely on its teammates to deal with; Ice Punch is the most common choice to hit Ground-types that immediately threaten Mega Metagross.
Set Details
========
* The given EV spread gives Mega Metagross enough special bulk to survive a Z-Move from Tapu Koko and Shadow Ball from offensive Mega Gengar.
* Jolly nature can be considered for Mega Metagross to outspend neutral-natured Mamoswine and Breloom.
Usage Tips
========
* This variant of Mega Metagross aims to survive strong hits like aforementioned ones, improving the odds that it defeat more Pokemon in one on one situation.
* As long as there are not any Pokemon on the opposing side that Mega Metagross cannot effectively hit, it can aim to trade hits with opposing Pokemon, and this will pressure opposing team particularly harder if Mega Metagross has a super effective move against Pokemon that can revenge kill it. Dealing with this Mega Metagross will only become harder as opponents struggle to decide how would they trade damage with Mega Metagross if it is using Power-Up-Punch.
* Avoid taking faster Pokemon or possible Choice Scarf users one on one immediately, however, as the ones like Tapu Koko or Landorus-T can choose to evade matchup with Mega Metagross with pivoting move, and predicting a switch and using coverage move or Power-Up-Punch will be more tempting yet risky without identifying the rest of the team.
* Instead of punishing a switch-in with boosted attacks, Power-Up-Punch can also be useful when cleaning up late game or pressuring slower teams that rely on high physical bulk to keep Mega Metagross in check. Avoid doing this until Rocky Helmet users like Cresselia are taken down, however.
Team Options
========
* Any mentioned teammates for offensive Mega Metagross are valid choices for this set.
* Some of the notable supports that this specific variant of Mega Metagross can have are paralysis inducers like Serperior or Mimikyu.
* The rest of the team can be made of more offensive, faster partners due to this set's lower Speed. Special attackers will come in handy when pressuring Rocky Helmet users, and Choice Scarf users can net a surprise KO on pesky foes that are faster than Mega Metagross and checks like Mega Gengar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A niche set with the EV spread of 204 Atk / 52 SpA / 252 Spa with Jolly nature using Grass Knot and Hidden Power Fire can lure Hippowdon, Suicune, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor, but the opportunity cost of forgoing bulkier and stronger EV investment and better coverage moves is too high.
* Agility and Hone Claws are possible setup options, but Mega Metagross is far less threatening with less coverage moves.
* Explosion can force a trade with a problematic Pokemon, though the trade is often not worth it.
* Stomping Tantrum can OHKO Heatran and hit other Ground-weak Pokemon hard under Grassy Terrain's effect unlike Earthquake.
* Substitute can help with mind game against Blaziken with Protect and Aegislash, but reducing Mega Metagross's health for other instances is usually not worth it.
* Toxic helps weakening Porygon2 and Cresselia in a long run, but it makes Mega Metagross more manageable to Steel-types and it often becomes incompatible if common partner Tapu Fini is in the same team.
* Regular form of Metagross can be used to lead and support its team with Stealth Rock and Gravity, supporting Pokemon like Mega Gengar using Hypnosis.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physically Defensive Foes**: Mega Metagross relies on its decently strong STAB moves and a large pool of coverage moves to net damage on the other team. This makes foes like Porygon2, Cresselia, and Hippowdon hard to surmount. These Pokemon are particularly problematic as they have their unique ways to retaliate against Mega Metagross with Foul Play, Rocky Helmet and Thunder Wave, and Earthquake, respectively. Note that Iron Head and Zen Headbutt's flinches can be dangerous to these Pokemon after some prior damage and coverage moves like Hammer Arm and Grass Knot should be watched out for as well.
**Mega Gengar**: Mega Gengar's higher Speed, supereffective Shadow Ball, and Shadow Tag combine to become serious concern for Mega Metagross for the entirety of the game if it has been slightly damaged. Even if Mega Gengar's EV spread isn't offensive enough to take out Mega Metagross, Destiny Bond usually results in an unfavorable trade.
**Steel-types with Immunities**: Steel-types with immunities require specific coverage move for Mega Metagross to hit them supereffectively, as they take very little damage from other attacks. Facing Celesteela without Thunder Punch, Ferrothorn without Hammer Arm, and Aegislash without Earthquake reduces Mega Metagross's usefulness to a large extent.
**Water-types**: Mega Metagross may struggle to deal with Water-types like Suicune or Slowbro if it lacks Thunder Punch or Grass Knot.
**Faster Foes**: Mega Metagross has high base Speed, but it is vulnerable to Landorus-T and Garchomp using Choice Scarf, as well as Greninja and Mega Gengar. Mega Metagross can survive a hit from these foes with appropriate EV investment, however.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lotus, 434601]]
- Quality checked by: [[,], [,]]
- Grammar checked by: [[,], [,]]
Last edited:
