[OVERVIEW]
Metagross is a unique Pokemon in UU thanks to its Steel / Psychic typing that lets it check Rock-, Fairy-, and Flying-types, its excellent Attack, and its hard-hitting STAB moves. Unfortunately, its low base 70 Speed means it can struggle against other offensive Pokemon, such as Mamoswine and Cobalion, and it finds itself checked by the bulky and omnipresent Ground- and Water-types in the tier. It also faces heavy competition from Cobalion, which has higher Speed, a Dark resistance, and access to moves like Swords Dance that makes it easier to fit on most teams.
[SET]
name: Offensive Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Meteor Mash
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Exposion / Zen Headbutt
item: Life Orb / Shuca Berry
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is an essential move on all competitive teams, and Metagross makes good use of it, as it threatens many spinners and Defoggers, such as Tentacruel and Empoleon. Meteor Mash is Metagross's main STAB attack, giving it decent neutral coverage against a large amount of the tier as well as hitting Rock-types like Mega Aerodactyl and Fairy-types like Florges for super effective damage. Earthquake hits Steel-types such as Empoleon for decent damage and provides good coverage alongside Meteor Mash. Explosion is a good option in the last slot that makes Metagross go out with a bang, notably hitting bulky Water-types hard and preventing hazard removers like Tentacruel from removing Stealth Rock. Zen Headbutt can be used over Explosion as a secondary STAB move that hits bulky Water-types neutrally and hits Fighting- and Poison-types such as Tentacruel and Machamp for super effective damage. However, it doesn't hit as hard as Explosion. Bullet Punch is an option in the last slot in order to pick off or revenge kill weakened and frail threats such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Beedrill. It's also very useful to pick off a weakened Slurpuff and avoid taking damage from Drain Punch. Hammer Arm is an option on sets that utilize Colbur Berry to lure in Hydreigon and Krookodile and hit them for great damage, but the move leaves Metagross walled by Doublade and lowers its Speed stat, making it extremely slow.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack EVs augment Metagross's offensive potential and maximum Speed investment helps Metagross more safely outspeed faster Suicune variants while also letting Metagross outspeed Jolly Crawdaunt and Nidoqueen. Life Orb makes Metagross very powerful, which is useful to boost up Explosion's power against bulky Water-types, but the recoil damage can wear it down quickly. Shuca Berry is a good option, making Metagross a one-time check to the likes of Mamoswine and helping against Earthquake Mega Aerodactyl. Lum Berry works well with Explosion, helping Metagross prevent the burn from Scald users like Suicune so that it can use Explosion on them, but it means Metagross lacks the power of a Life Orb-boosted Explosion. Colbur Berry is a decent alternative item, helping Metagross out in the matchup versus Dark-types like Mega Absol, and it also prevents Metagross from being revenge killed by Sucker Punch users. However, it isn't as effective as Shuca Berry due to some Dark-types, like Mega Houndoom, having a secondary STAB move that hits Metagross hard.
Usage Tips
========
Metagross should be switched in on Pokemon it checks, such as Fairy-types like Sylveon and Rock-types like Mega Aerodactyl, and should set up Stealth Rock on the forced switch to support its team. Once it has set up Stealth Rock, Metagross can proceed to attack the opposing team with its powerful moves before finishing off with Explosion when its done punching through walls; mainly hitting bulky Water-types.
Team Options
========
Metagross fits best on offensive teams, as bulkier teams prefer a more reliable Stealth Rock setter. Therefore, more offensive teammates like Mienshao and offensive Roserade are preferred over defensive ones. Teammates that appreciate having a check to Mega Aerodactyl or Florges, such as Mega Sceptile and Heliolisk, make for good partners to Metagross because they are checked by both of these Pokemon. Teammates that can handle bulky Water-types, such as Grass-types like Roserade or Pokemon with Water Absorb or Dry Skin like Toxicroak, make for good partners if Metagross is not running Explosion, but they are still useful because Metagross can only use Explosion once. Metagross can't do much to Forretress, which can just set up entry hazards in front of Metagross; hazard removers that can beat Forretress like Tentacruel and Mega Blastoise are appreciated to help out this problem. Hydreigon is one of the best Metagross partners, as Metagross both takes care of Hydreigon's Fairy weakness and appreciates Hydreigon being able to resist all the types that Metagross is weak to. If Metagross runs Explosion, teammates that can appreciate Metagross crippling bulky Water-types with Explosion, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Choice Scarf Mienshao, can make for good partners. These teammates can also help out against offensive teams, a playstyle that Metagross can have trouble keeping up with.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Explosion / Trick
item: Choice Band
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Meteor Mash hits quite hard with a Choice Band equipped and possesses a chance to raise Metagross's Attack. Earthquake is important to hit Steel-types like Cobalion and Empoleon for decent damage. Zen Headbutt hits bulky Water-types like Jellicent and Milotic for good damage and hits Fighting- and Poison-types hard. Explosion lets Metagross go out with a bang, dealing huge damage to Pokemon that don't resist it. It also lets a teammate switch in safely without sacrificing momentum. Trick is a decent option over Explosion, letting Metagross cripple switch-ins such as Suicune by Tricking them a Choice Band. Bullet Punch can pick off and revenge kill fast or frail attackers like Mega Beedrill and Mega Aerodactyl and can also stop a Slurpuff sweep. However, it isn't the best move to be locked into and doesn't have the wallbreaking utility that Trick or Explosion has.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with a Choice Band makes Metagross a very powerful wallbreaker. Maximum Speed investment lets Metagross outspeed all relevant walls and Speed tie with other neutral-natured base 70 Speed Pokemon; this also allows it to outspeed threats such as Jolly Crawdaunt. A Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Adamant Mamoswine and OHKO it. However, Jolly Mamoswine—the most common variant of Mamoswine—still outspeeds and OHKOes Metagross, so it's usually not worth it.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Band Metagross should be played as a wallbreaker, breaking apart bulky Pokemon with its STAB moves and coverage. This set fits well on offensive teams that want a wallbreaker with some defensive utility in checking Mega Aerodactyl and Fairy-types. This variant of Metagross is a bit reliant on prediction, as none of its moves are the best to be locked into, especially if the foe resists them. Explosion is a great move to use if Metagross is weakened or if it doesn't have much of a use in the game, letting Metagross do massive damage to a Pokemon that doesn't resist it and let another teammate switch in safely.
Team Options
========
Volt Switch and U-Turn users such as Heliolisk and Hydreigon synergize well with Choice Band Metagross, as Metagross likes to switch in safely; they also appreciate Metagross breaking down their checks and counters with Choice Band-boosted attacks. While this set has an easier time against bulky Water-types due to the power of Choice Band and Explosion, Metagross still wants an answer to them, so Pokemon that can check these Water-types such as Toxicroak and Heliolisk partner up well with Metagross. Fast cleaners such as Mega Aerodactyl appreciate Metagross wearing down their checks and counters, and Mega Aerodactyl also can act as a soft Fire-type check if it runs Roost.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pursuit might seem like an appealing option for Metagross at first, as it can Pursuit trap Psychic-types such as Alakazam and take them down or do severe damage to them. It could also cause mind games with Bullet Punch + Pursuit for Alakazam, but the reality is that with Metagross's four-moveslot syndrome, it has no room for Pursuit, and there are better users of the move, such as Doublade and Escavalier. Thunder Punch is an option to hit bulky Water-types, notably Gyarados, for good damage, but Zen Headbutt, which also hits bulky Water-types, somewhat outclasses it. A mixed set with Grass Knot and Hidden Power Fire can lure some of Metagross's common counters, such as Swampert, Doublade and Forretress, but is less generally useful than the other sets. Ice Punch hits bulky Ground-types like Gligar for big damage, but it's usually inferior to Metagross's other coverage options due to not hitting Swampert or other bulky Ground-types on their weaker Special Defense side. An Agility set can have some use as a late-game cleaner, but Metagross then suffers from being unable to break through bulky Water-types and other defensive walls. An Assault Vest set might seem appealing due to its special bulk, letting it check threats like Sylveon, but it takes away the utility of Stealth Rock and isn't very powerful. It also can get worn down quickly by hazards and constantly switching in.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types are reliable Metagross checks, as they resist Meteor Mash and their good Defense allows them to take Zen Headbutt or Earthquake well. However, they have to watch out for Thunder Punch, and Swampert needs to look out for Grass Knot as well; additionally, a Choice Band-boosted Explosion can do a ton of damage to them. Jellicent only has to fear Choice Band Zen Headbutt, and Alomomola can take an Explosion and heal the damage off due to Regenerator, only being really crippled by Trick. Suicune can take any of Metagross's moves and potentially set up Calm Minds on it, and it can heal the damage off as well. Slowking resists both of Metagross's STAB moves and has Regenerator to repeatedly switch in, but it fears taking an Explosion due to its low physical bulk.
**Bulky Ground-types**: Bulky Ground-types like Gligar and Donphan can switch into Metagross due to their high Defense and proceed to set up Stealth Rock or hit Metagross with a super effective Earthquake. They do have to watch out for Grass Knot variants, especially in Swampert's case, and Mamoswine is not a check due to being KOed by Meteor Mash or being picked off by Bullet Punch and is checked by Shuca Berry variants of Metagross. Explosion also does a ton to them and prevents Gligar and Donphan from clearing hazards.
**Bulky Steel-types**: Bulky Steel-types like Cobalion and Mega Aggron can switch into Metagross's STAB moves and set up Stealth Rock on it, hit Metagross, or cripple it with Thunder Wave in Mega Aggron's case. While Metagross can hit them with Earthquake, Mega Aggron and Mega Steelix are bulky enough to scoff it off, and Cobalion commonly runs Shuca Berry as well. Forretress doesn't take much from Earthquake and can Rapid Spin Metagross's hazards away, only having to fear Hidden Power Fire variants.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Entei threaten Metagross immensely with their STAB moves being able to KO Metagross easily, but they do have to fear for Earthquake on the switch.
**Dark-types**: Like Fire-types, Dark-types like Mega Absol threaten Metagross with their STAB moves, but they have to watch out for Colbur Berry variants. Most of them cannot switch into Metagross due to its power, but they can revenge kill it easily.
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