[OVERVIEW]
Metagross is one of the best Steel-types in the RU tier thanks to its great all-around stats, good offensive coverage, nice resistances, and key utility options. It makes for a reliable Stealth Rock setter that doesn't let up on offensive pressure, making it a great pick for more offensive teams. Its resistances and natural bulk let it serve as a very powerful Choice Band user and its Speed is just high enough to make it an effective Choice Scarf user on certain teams. Metagross's lack of reliable recovery means that its good bulk and resistances can only take it so far when it comes to taking hits. Its average Speed leaves it vulnerable to a myriad of offensive Pokemon, including faster wallbreakers like Obastagoon, Heracross, and Darmanitan, once it has picked up a KO.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Meteor Mash
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 124 Atk / 76 SpD / 56 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Metagross's good typing, high Attack stat, and solid natural bulk combine to make it a reliable Stealth Rock setter that doesn't give up offensive pressure. Earthquake reliably 2HKOes the likes of Incineroar, Registeel, and Stakataka. Hammer Arm is a notable alternative to maintain coverage for Steel-types while hitting Zarude much harder, although it becomes very difficult to threaten Fire-types and Galarian Slowbro without Earthquake. Toxic is a fantastic last move that allows it to outlast its counters in Milotic, Porygon2, and Umbreon. Grass Knot is a great lure move for Seismitoad should a teammate benefit from its weakening or outright removal. Bullet Punch can pick off weakened foes in a pinch but doesn't offer much else. The EVs are designed to outspeed Adamant maximum Speed Alolan Marowak, with enough Special Defense to avoid being 2HKOed by Togekiss's Flamethrower after Leftovers recovery. 136 Special Defense EVs can be used should your team be particularly weak to Nasty Plot Togekiss. While Leftovers is generally preferred, certain resistance berries can be beneficial should your team struggle with specific threats. Shuca Berry allows Metagross to much more easily take on Rhyperior and Trick Room Stakataka. Colbur Berry can weaken Knock Off damage from the likes of Obastagoon as well as Darkest Lariat from Zarude, though it should only be considered if using Hammer Arm so that Metagross can effectively punish these attackers.
Metagross isn't able to effectively threaten bulky Water-types beyond Toxic, so it's very helpful to have teammates that can pressure or remove them. Roserade handles these bulky Water-types as well as Raikou and Xurkitree while forming a powerful entry hazard setting duo with Metagross, as it too doesn't give up offensive pressure to set up Spikes. Toxtricity, Zarude, Raikou, and Xurkitree are powerful offensive threats that can force out bulky Water-types while bringing Metagross into better matchups through U-turn or Volt Switch. Togekiss and Sylveon provide Defog or Wish support in order to let Metagross take hits more freely. Galarian Weezing can utilize Defog as well or set up Toxic Spikes, potentially allowing Metagross to use another move over Toxic while also taking Knock Off much more comfortably than Togekiss due to its lack of a Stealth Rock weakness. Late-game cleaners and powerful wallbreakers that appreciate Metagross's ability to reliably spread Toxic are great options as well. Mienshao and Zarude are potent Choice Scarf users that appreciate Metagross's ability to comfortably take on their Fairy- and Poison-type checks like Togekiss and Crobat. Zygarde-10%, Darmanitan, and Chandelure are great wallbreakers that have a much easier time breaking through bulky Water-types and Porygon2 once Metagross has been able to cripple them with Toxic.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Bullet Punch
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Explosion
item: Choice Band
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Metagross's incredible Attack stat and good natural bulk make it a powerful Choice Band user. Earthquake crushes Steel- and Fire-type Pokemon such as Registeel, Cobalion, and Incineroar. Bullet Punch can pick off weakened offensive threats such as Heracross and Zygarde-10% while also having a chance to clean up weakened offensive teams. Zen Headbutt is the preferred last move to 2HKO all bulky Water-types hoping to take one of Metagross's other attacks. Explosion is a fine alternative that allows Metagross to take a huge chunk out of some foe while providing a safe switch in for a frail, offensive teammate once Metagross has no more use. Adamant is the chosen nature for extra power. Jolly can be used specifically for Modest Choice Specs Toxtricity, as well as speed tying Timid Volcanion.
As Metagross is able to consistently break down opposing defensive cores, late-game cleaners are ideal choices to capitalize on this. Zarude and Mienshao are fantastic Choice Scarf users that greatly appreciate being able to use U-turn early on to switch Metagross into their Fairy-type responses. Sharpedo and Nasty Plot Salazzle are good sweeping options that appreciate Metagross reliably pressuring or outright removing bulky Water-types from the game. Roserade provides Spikes support to aid in wearing down the likes of Steelix and Suicune while also checking Xurkitree and Raikou, which can revenge kill a slightly weakened Metagross once it has KOed some foe. Porygon2 is able to switch into various faster special attackers attempting to revenge kill Metagross, such as Chandelure, Toxtricity, and Xurkitree, and is able to safely bring Metagross into battle with Teleport. Other physical attackers such as Zygarde-10%, Obstagoon, and Heracross can team up with Metagross to overwhelm physical walls. Wish support from Sylveon can be helpful, as Metagross's average Speed will often mean it has to take a hit in order to strike back with a KO. Togekiss, Crobat, and Noivern are good Defog users that can help keep Metagross healthy enough to take a hit when necessary; entry hazards will take their toll with how often Metagross will switch into and out of battle. Diancie and Seismitoad are great Stealth Rock users to pair with Metagross, as they have generally strong matchups against common Fire-types looking to revenge kill Metagross. Seismitoad can spread Toxic and use Knock Off to make it easier for Metagross to break through tough defensive Pokemon, like Suicune and Vileplume, and Diancie can weaken or KO Steel-types that resist Metagross's powerful Meteor Mash.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch / Rock Slide
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a Choice Scarf equipped, Metagross is able to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame aside from Crobat, thus allowing it to be much more effective against faster-paced teams. Meteor Mash does a hefty chunk of damage to offensive Pokemon that are neutral to it, allowing it to revenge kill threats like Heracross and non-Choice Scarf Zarude at high HP. Earthquake threatens Electric- and Fire-types such as Raikou, non-Choice Scarf Xurkitree, and non-Choice Scarf Darmanitan with an OHKO. Ice Punch crucially OHKOes Noivern while being an accurate move to hit Zarude and Roserade with. Rock Slide is an alternative to cover Fire- and Flying-types in one moveslot to ease prediction. Trick cripples walls, such as Suicune, Seismitoad, and Steelix, and can also limit the effectiveness of item-reliant Pokemon like Magnezone and Necrozma.
Choice Scarf Metagross should be played as more of a fast wallbreaker rather than a late-game cleaner like other Choice Scarf users, although the boosted Speed can allow it to clean up late-game if the opportunity arises. Roserade is a great teammate to check bulky Water-types and Choice Scarf Xurkitree -- the former of which can prevent Metagross from reliably revenge killing and the latter revenge killing a slightly weakened Metagross -- while also setting up Spikes to wear down the opposing team. Zygarde-10% and Zarude are other options to handle these Pokemon for Metagross, needing prediction to switch into them but helping more with revenge killing. Powerful wallbreakers such as Heracross, Obstagoon, and Toxtricity can wear down or remove most defensive Pokemon and appreciate Metagross's increased Speed to handle naturally faster Pokemon that trouble them, such as Raikou, Zygarde-10%, and Noivern. Metagross is slower than other Choice Scarf users, so teammates that can reliably check them can be very helpful. Togekiss and Galarian Weezing can comfortably check Mienshao while using Defog to remove entry hazards that chip away at Metagross. Milotic and Seismitoad can handle Darmanitan, with Milotic helping Metagross switch in with Flip Turn and Seismitoad being able to set up Stealth Rock and spread Toxic to wear down defensive cores. Naturally fast Pokemon, such as Raikou and Noivern as well as the aforementioned Zarude and Zygarde-10%,, can also provide extra insurance against Pokemon that Metagross generally doesn't appreciate, such as Cobalion. Should Metagross successfully cripple a wall with Trick, setup sweepers like Shell Smash Cloyster and Swords Dance Mimikyu can capitalize and sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Agility can allow Metagross to sweep late-game, but such a set can't really be utilized effectively early- or mid-game to capitalize on its bulk and typing to generate pressure. Protect can scout for potential Choice-locked attackers like Darmanitan as well as stall for Toxic damage. A mixed set with Grass Knot can lure in and demolish Rhyperior and Seismitoad, the latter of which is a common switch-in to Metagross on most teams, but Choice Band Zen Headbutt generally is sufficient for this purpose. Body Press with Iron Defense seems appealing on a bulky Pokemon like Metagross, but it would much rather just use Hammer Arm should it want to punish Dark-types like Obstagoon and Zarude.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Outside of Choice Band Zen Headbutt, Seismitoad can handle any attack Metagross uses and retaliate with Knock Off or STAB Earthquake. Milotic and Suicune have ways to stay healthy in order to switch in multiple times. Volcanion 4x resists Steel and can OHKO Metagross with its Fire-type STAB moves, though Earthquake threatens it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Metagross hits incredibly hard, but its base 70 Speed leaves it outpaced by many offensive Pokemon, which not only force it out after it gets a KO but also make it hard for Metagross to get on the field to begin with. Darmanitan, Toxtricity, Chandelure, and Zarude are all faster Pokemon that can threaten with powerful or super effective STAB moves, although none can really switch in safely.
**Ground-types**: As Metagross rarely runs Ice Punch, Ground-types tend to fare well against it. Steelix has to worry about boosted Earthquake some, but its high Defense lets it take a couple when necessary, and it easily handle Meteor Mash. Rhyperior and the rare Mudsdale are shakier answers because they don't deal with Meteor Mash as well, but they have much higher Attack stats with which to threaten Metagross with their STAB Earthquake.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[EonX, 91480]]
- Quality checked by: [[Expulso, 202058], [mac3, 291087]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519, [Finland, 517429]]
Metagross is one of the best Steel-types in the RU tier thanks to its great all-around stats, good offensive coverage, nice resistances, and key utility options. It makes for a reliable Stealth Rock setter that doesn't let up on offensive pressure, making it a great pick for more offensive teams. Its resistances and natural bulk let it serve as a very powerful Choice Band user and its Speed is just high enough to make it an effective Choice Scarf user on certain teams. Metagross's lack of reliable recovery means that its good bulk and resistances can only take it so far when it comes to taking hits. Its average Speed leaves it vulnerable to a myriad of offensive Pokemon, including faster wallbreakers like Obastagoon, Heracross, and Darmanitan, once it has picked up a KO.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Meteor Mash
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 124 Atk / 76 SpD / 56 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Metagross's good typing, high Attack stat, and solid natural bulk combine to make it a reliable Stealth Rock setter that doesn't give up offensive pressure. Earthquake reliably 2HKOes the likes of Incineroar, Registeel, and Stakataka. Hammer Arm is a notable alternative to maintain coverage for Steel-types while hitting Zarude much harder, although it becomes very difficult to threaten Fire-types and Galarian Slowbro without Earthquake. Toxic is a fantastic last move that allows it to outlast its counters in Milotic, Porygon2, and Umbreon. Grass Knot is a great lure move for Seismitoad should a teammate benefit from its weakening or outright removal. Bullet Punch can pick off weakened foes in a pinch but doesn't offer much else. The EVs are designed to outspeed Adamant maximum Speed Alolan Marowak, with enough Special Defense to avoid being 2HKOed by Togekiss's Flamethrower after Leftovers recovery. 136 Special Defense EVs can be used should your team be particularly weak to Nasty Plot Togekiss. While Leftovers is generally preferred, certain resistance berries can be beneficial should your team struggle with specific threats. Shuca Berry allows Metagross to much more easily take on Rhyperior and Trick Room Stakataka. Colbur Berry can weaken Knock Off damage from the likes of Obastagoon as well as Darkest Lariat from Zarude, though it should only be considered if using Hammer Arm so that Metagross can effectively punish these attackers.
Metagross isn't able to effectively threaten bulky Water-types beyond Toxic, so it's very helpful to have teammates that can pressure or remove them. Roserade handles these bulky Water-types as well as Raikou and Xurkitree while forming a powerful entry hazard setting duo with Metagross, as it too doesn't give up offensive pressure to set up Spikes. Toxtricity, Zarude, Raikou, and Xurkitree are powerful offensive threats that can force out bulky Water-types while bringing Metagross into better matchups through U-turn or Volt Switch. Togekiss and Sylveon provide Defog or Wish support in order to let Metagross take hits more freely. Galarian Weezing can utilize Defog as well or set up Toxic Spikes, potentially allowing Metagross to use another move over Toxic while also taking Knock Off much more comfortably than Togekiss due to its lack of a Stealth Rock weakness. Late-game cleaners and powerful wallbreakers that appreciate Metagross's ability to reliably spread Toxic are great options as well. Mienshao and Zarude are potent Choice Scarf users that appreciate Metagross's ability to comfortably take on their Fairy- and Poison-type checks like Togekiss and Crobat. Zygarde-10%, Darmanitan, and Chandelure are great wallbreakers that have a much easier time breaking through bulky Water-types and Porygon2 once Metagross has been able to cripple them with Toxic.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Bullet Punch
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Explosion
item: Choice Band
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Metagross's incredible Attack stat and good natural bulk make it a powerful Choice Band user. Earthquake crushes Steel- and Fire-type Pokemon such as Registeel, Cobalion, and Incineroar. Bullet Punch can pick off weakened offensive threats such as Heracross and Zygarde-10% while also having a chance to clean up weakened offensive teams. Zen Headbutt is the preferred last move to 2HKO all bulky Water-types hoping to take one of Metagross's other attacks. Explosion is a fine alternative that allows Metagross to take a huge chunk out of some foe while providing a safe switch in for a frail, offensive teammate once Metagross has no more use. Adamant is the chosen nature for extra power. Jolly can be used specifically for Modest Choice Specs Toxtricity, as well as speed tying Timid Volcanion.
As Metagross is able to consistently break down opposing defensive cores, late-game cleaners are ideal choices to capitalize on this. Zarude and Mienshao are fantastic Choice Scarf users that greatly appreciate being able to use U-turn early on to switch Metagross into their Fairy-type responses. Sharpedo and Nasty Plot Salazzle are good sweeping options that appreciate Metagross reliably pressuring or outright removing bulky Water-types from the game. Roserade provides Spikes support to aid in wearing down the likes of Steelix and Suicune while also checking Xurkitree and Raikou, which can revenge kill a slightly weakened Metagross once it has KOed some foe. Porygon2 is able to switch into various faster special attackers attempting to revenge kill Metagross, such as Chandelure, Toxtricity, and Xurkitree, and is able to safely bring Metagross into battle with Teleport. Other physical attackers such as Zygarde-10%, Obstagoon, and Heracross can team up with Metagross to overwhelm physical walls. Wish support from Sylveon can be helpful, as Metagross's average Speed will often mean it has to take a hit in order to strike back with a KO. Togekiss, Crobat, and Noivern are good Defog users that can help keep Metagross healthy enough to take a hit when necessary; entry hazards will take their toll with how often Metagross will switch into and out of battle. Diancie and Seismitoad are great Stealth Rock users to pair with Metagross, as they have generally strong matchups against common Fire-types looking to revenge kill Metagross. Seismitoad can spread Toxic and use Knock Off to make it easier for Metagross to break through tough defensive Pokemon, like Suicune and Vileplume, and Diancie can weaken or KO Steel-types that resist Metagross's powerful Meteor Mash.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch / Rock Slide
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a Choice Scarf equipped, Metagross is able to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame aside from Crobat, thus allowing it to be much more effective against faster-paced teams. Meteor Mash does a hefty chunk of damage to offensive Pokemon that are neutral to it, allowing it to revenge kill threats like Heracross and non-Choice Scarf Zarude at high HP. Earthquake threatens Electric- and Fire-types such as Raikou, non-Choice Scarf Xurkitree, and non-Choice Scarf Darmanitan with an OHKO. Ice Punch crucially OHKOes Noivern while being an accurate move to hit Zarude and Roserade with. Rock Slide is an alternative to cover Fire- and Flying-types in one moveslot to ease prediction. Trick cripples walls, such as Suicune, Seismitoad, and Steelix, and can also limit the effectiveness of item-reliant Pokemon like Magnezone and Necrozma.
Choice Scarf Metagross should be played as more of a fast wallbreaker rather than a late-game cleaner like other Choice Scarf users, although the boosted Speed can allow it to clean up late-game if the opportunity arises. Roserade is a great teammate to check bulky Water-types and Choice Scarf Xurkitree -- the former of which can prevent Metagross from reliably revenge killing and the latter revenge killing a slightly weakened Metagross -- while also setting up Spikes to wear down the opposing team. Zygarde-10% and Zarude are other options to handle these Pokemon for Metagross, needing prediction to switch into them but helping more with revenge killing. Powerful wallbreakers such as Heracross, Obstagoon, and Toxtricity can wear down or remove most defensive Pokemon and appreciate Metagross's increased Speed to handle naturally faster Pokemon that trouble them, such as Raikou, Zygarde-10%, and Noivern. Metagross is slower than other Choice Scarf users, so teammates that can reliably check them can be very helpful. Togekiss and Galarian Weezing can comfortably check Mienshao while using Defog to remove entry hazards that chip away at Metagross. Milotic and Seismitoad can handle Darmanitan, with Milotic helping Metagross switch in with Flip Turn and Seismitoad being able to set up Stealth Rock and spread Toxic to wear down defensive cores. Naturally fast Pokemon, such as Raikou and Noivern as well as the aforementioned Zarude and Zygarde-10%,, can also provide extra insurance against Pokemon that Metagross generally doesn't appreciate, such as Cobalion. Should Metagross successfully cripple a wall with Trick, setup sweepers like Shell Smash Cloyster and Swords Dance Mimikyu can capitalize and sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Agility can allow Metagross to sweep late-game, but such a set can't really be utilized effectively early- or mid-game to capitalize on its bulk and typing to generate pressure. Protect can scout for potential Choice-locked attackers like Darmanitan as well as stall for Toxic damage. A mixed set with Grass Knot can lure in and demolish Rhyperior and Seismitoad, the latter of which is a common switch-in to Metagross on most teams, but Choice Band Zen Headbutt generally is sufficient for this purpose. Body Press with Iron Defense seems appealing on a bulky Pokemon like Metagross, but it would much rather just use Hammer Arm should it want to punish Dark-types like Obstagoon and Zarude.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Outside of Choice Band Zen Headbutt, Seismitoad can handle any attack Metagross uses and retaliate with Knock Off or STAB Earthquake. Milotic and Suicune have ways to stay healthy in order to switch in multiple times. Volcanion 4x resists Steel and can OHKO Metagross with its Fire-type STAB moves, though Earthquake threatens it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Metagross hits incredibly hard, but its base 70 Speed leaves it outpaced by many offensive Pokemon, which not only force it out after it gets a KO but also make it hard for Metagross to get on the field to begin with. Darmanitan, Toxtricity, Chandelure, and Zarude are all faster Pokemon that can threaten with powerful or super effective STAB moves, although none can really switch in safely.
**Ground-types**: As Metagross rarely runs Ice Punch, Ground-types tend to fare well against it. Steelix has to worry about boosted Earthquake some, but its high Defense lets it take a couple when necessary, and it easily handle Meteor Mash. Rhyperior and the rare Mudsdale are shakier answers because they don't deal with Meteor Mash as well, but they have much higher Attack stats with which to threaten Metagross with their STAB Earthquake.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[EonX, 91480]]
- Quality checked by: [[Expulso, 202058], [mac3, 291087]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519, [Finland, 517429]]
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