[Overview]
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Meteor Mash
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic
item: Eviolite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
[OTHER OPTIONS]
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
barely had any use pre-BW2 but is now a valid check to normal and flying types60/100/80 means excellent defenses with eviolitesteel/psychic is a great typing; emphasis on steel's resistances with neutrality to fightinghardly any offensive presence with base 75 attack so metang can't do much else aside from stealth rock
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Meteor Mash
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic
item: Eviolite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
base 100 defense boosted by eviolite makes metang a usable physical wallmain draw to this set (and the only reason to use metang) is the steel/psychic typing which stops many of the threatening and common normal and flying types cold; swellow, braviary, cinccino, zangooseno other steel-type can risk switching into fighting-type coverage attacks from the likes of zangoose, ursaring, or braviary while still resisting flying-type attacks from braviary and swellowhazard support in stealth rockmeteor mash as STAB, can nab an attack boostearthquake hits fire, electric, and other steels types that resist meteor mashtoxic to deal passive damage as metang usually does not do significant damage with its attacks; can catch usual counters on the switch
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
EVs and nature are standard; maximum physical bulkclear body doesn't see much use but is neat to avoid random stat drops from abilities such as intimidatewith no recovery, wish support from alomomola (who resists fire-type attacks) or lickilicky (with great special bulk) is appreciatedpokémon such as ludicolo and SMASHKOAL don't mind coming in and setting up so teammates like grumpig and altaria are okgrumpig and altaria are also cool since they can switch into fire and ground attacks aimed at metangludicolo and misdreavus are other options for switch-ins for ground-types, such as torterra, and can immediately threaten backcarracosta can also switch into fire-type attacks and threaten back with aqua jetmost offensive things that are frail and/or slower than the common normal- and flying-types can take advantage of metang's ability to halt them; choice band sawk and emboar as some examples
[OTHER OPTIONS]
dual screens, but metang has middling speed & 5 turns aren't that good unless it foregoes defenses with eviolite for light clay; something like gardevoir can do it betterpursuit allows metang to trap haunter since it is frail; however, it does not even KO so it does not do much to bulkier ghost and psychic typespsych up helps metang deal with substitute + bulk up braviary better by boosting metang's defense and attack and allowing it to break braviary's sub to get a toxic offexplosion can be used as a last ditch effort against anything trying to finish off or set up on metang; won't be doing much damage though due to its mechanics since BWmagic coat to bounce back random spores and hazards; not really recommended since it's gimmicky and some common stealth rock users threaten metang with earthquakelight metal helps metang take on fraxure better, but outside of that, nothing else really uses low kick
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
metang is really weak, many things can switch in without taking too much damagethings can set up on it (must watch out for toxic):
ludicolo (resists steel/eq)gorebyssoffensive torkoal (is only 3HKO'd with eq after rocks and can spin metang's rocks)gurdurrthroheelektross (resists steel, immune to eq)
strong ground attacks from golurk, torterra, seismitoadfire types such as emboar and rapidash can switch into meteor mash and threaten to KO with flare blitz, but do not appreciate switching into earthquakemisdreavus isn't threatened at all and can will-o-wispmost special attackers that can hit metang for strong neutral damage do well; rotom-s can switch into either of its attacks and hit it on its weaker defense stat.
[Overview]
<p>What was once the laughing stock of NU is now a Pokemon with a useful, albeit very small, niche. With a superb Steel / Psychic typing and 60 / 100 / 80 defenses further boosted by Eviolite, Metang sports the ability to do what no other Steel-type in NU can do: take on attacks from Flying- and Normal-types while still being able to tank their Fighting-type coverage attacks. Sadly, this is where all of Metang's glory ends. With a paltry base 75 Attack, Metang has no hope of severely damaging opponents with its easily resisted attacks and must therefore use Toxic for passive damage. Also, like its Steel-type brethren, Metang does not appreciate taking Fire- and Ground-type attacks from fairly common Pokemon such as Emboar and Golurk. Despite this, Metang can still be a welcomed addition to many teams that require its useful ability to stop the aforementioned Flying- and Normal-type Pokemon cold.</p>
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Meteor Mash
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic
item: Eviolite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Eviolite boosting its stellar base 100 Defense, Metang becomes a usable physical wall. The main draw to this set is its Steel / Psychic typing which allows Metang to check the ubiquitous Normal- and Flying-types in the tier such as Zangoose, Swellow, Braviary, and Cinccino. However, Metang differentiates itself from other Steel-types; while keeping its important resistances, Metang has an additional neutrality to Fighting-type attacks which allows it to take, for example, a Superpower from Braviary or a Close Combat from Zangoose. Zangoose has no hopes of beating Metang as it can only 4HKO Metang while being worn down by Meteor Mash in return.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Metang can also take advantage of its resistances by having opportunities to support its team with entry hazards in the form of Stealth Rock. Meteor Mash is Metang's strongest STAB move of choice to directly damage its foes while potentially nabbing an Attack boost. For the Fire-, Electric-, and Steel-types that resist Meteor Mash, Metang can hit them for considerable damage with Earthquake instead. However, because of Metang's poor Attack stat, Toxic gives it a way to wear down bulky Pokemon that would otherwise take very little damage from Metang's other attacks. It can also catch many common counters on the switch, such as Ludicolo, who would otherwise be able to set up for free.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EV spread and an Impish nature capitalizes on Metang's physical bulk in order for it to switch into the aforementioned Normal- and Flying-type Pokemon several times. Clear Body does not have many uses but is useful to avoid unexpected stat drops from instances such as Intimidate. Because Metang lacks a form of recovery, Wish support from Pokemon such as Alomomola, who can also switch into Fire-type attacks, is much appreciated in order to increase Metang's longevity. As some Pokemon will try to attack Metang's weaker Special Defense stat, Lickilicky is a great teammate that can sponge attacks coming from such threats while also providing Wish support. In addition, Altaria and bulky Psychic-types, such as Grumpig, prove to be decent teammate options as they fear very little from the many Fire- and Ground-type attacks coming from the likes of offensive Torkoal. Many Ground-type Pokemon that defeat Metang do not have a reliable way to threaten Pokemon such as Misdreavus or Ludicolo, so they are good options for teammates as well. For Fire-types, Carracosta can easily switch into them and threaten back with an Aqua Jet or Waterfall. Finally, Choice Band Sawk and Emboar are offensive teammate options that would appreciate Metang's ability to halt the Normal- and Flying-types that outspeed and KO them.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Metang can hardly make great use of other sets, but it does have several utility options in its arsenal that can be considered. With Reflect and Light Screen, Metang can support frail Pokemon, such as Linoone, that need the support to have a chance to set up. However, Metang must have Eviolite to maintain its bulk, and without Light Clay to increase the duration of these moves, five turns of screens are inefficient. As a result, Pokemon such as Gardevoir usually perform this role better. Although situational, Psych Up gives Metang a fighting chance against Substitute + Bulk Up Braviary who would otherwise be able to avoid Toxic with bulky Substitutes and set up on Metang. Metang can also make use of Magic Coat in order to bounce Spore or Sleep Powder back to Amoonguss, Exeggutor, or Tangela while bouncing back Spikes or Stealth Rock from hazard setters. However, many common Stealth Rock users can threaten Metang with Earthquake or another Ground-type attack and Magic Coat becomes a gimmicky and unreliable option. Finally, Metang can use Light Metal as its ability to handle Fraxure better, but hardly any other Pokemon uses Low Kick.</p>
<p>For offensive options, Explosion allows Metang to deal damage to any Pokemon that aims to take out or set up on Metang. However, Explosion is undesirable for a defensive Pokemon and is relatively weak considering Metang's poor Attack and Explosion's mechanics in BW. Pursuit is also a decent option for Metang to trap frail Pokemon such as Haunter, but it fails to even OHKO Haunter which makes it situational as it does not heavily damage bulkier Ghost- and Psychic-types.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>In general, Metang will be threatened by anything carrying a strong super effective attack. Golurk, Torterra, and Seismitoad are Pokemon that can hit Metang with a STAB Ground-type attack. Fire-types, such as Emboar and Rapidash, can switch into Meteor Mash and KO with Flare Blitz, but they do not appreciate switching into Earthquake. Because of Metang's lack of offensive presence, many things can switch in without taking too much damage but must watch out for Toxic. Ludicolo is able to resist either of Metang's attacks and will have a free opportunity to use Rain Dance or attack. Offensive Torkoal, while weak to Earthquake, is only 3HKOed after Stealth Rock and can KO Metang and spin away Stealth Rock. Substitute variants of Gorebyss can avoid Toxic and set up a Shell Smash with relative ease. Gurdurr takes pitiful damage from Metang and can use Bulk Up while recovering damage with Drain Punch; Toxic will also boost Gurdurr's damage output due to Guts. Throh can also use Bulk Up against Metang and defeat it while avoiding Toxic with either Rest or Substitute. Misdreavus takes pitiful damage from either of Metang's attacks and can use Heal Bell to avoid being damaged by Toxic while crippling Metang with Will-O-Wisp in return. Metang will generally do poorly against most special attackers that can use a strong neutral attack; Rotom-S and Eelektross can switch into Metang's attacks and hit it on its weaker Special Defense.</p>