Metagross, The Iron Legs Pokémon. Because the magnetic powers of these Pokémon get stronger in freezing temperatures, Metagross living on snowy mountains are full of energy. Metagross is the result of the fusion of two Metang. This Pokémon defeats its opponents through use of its supercomputer-level brain.
Overview
Metagross may be mourning the loss of its Mega Evolution and Pursuit, but the new Dynamax Mechanic may be an even bigger buff than Mega Evolution ever was, giving Metagross a host of new boosting options. Additionally, Fairy types remain as popular as ever, meaning that Metagross has no lack of targets for its powerful Steel STABs. However, Knock Off is more popular than ever as well with no Mega Stones and Z-Crystals to soften the initial blow.
Positives
-Massive Base 135 Attack alongside a varied movepool means Metagross has an answer for most situations.
-130 Defense plus the Steel Psychic typing makes Metagross impressively durable and able to take a few hits before going down.
Negatives
-Common weaknesses in Ground, Fire and Dark alongside an average Special Defense ensures that nearly every team has an answer for Metagross
-Base 70 speed is an awkward speed tier, being too fast for Trick Room but too slow for just about everything else.
-Lack of reliable recovery in conjunction with the above flaws means that Metagross can be worn down quickly
Movesets
Living Fortress
-Meteor Mash
-Earthquake
-Thunder Punch/Hammer Arm
-Bullet Punch
Item Attached: Assault Vest
Ability: Clear Body
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Atk /4 SDef
Adamant Nature
This set acts as a bulky pivot, coming on many attacks and firing back with its own. Meteor Mash is fantastic, being a STAB move with the chance of raising Metagross’ Attack even higher. Earthquake provides great coverage against opposing Steel and Fire types. Thunder Punch hits Skarmory, Gyarados and Celesteela harder than anything else Metagross has, while Hammer Arm hits Ferrothorn, Urshifu Single and Porygon 2 incredibly hard. Bullet Punch gives Metagross valuable priority, allowing it to pick off or chip faster targets that would otherwise KO it without retaliation.
DYNAMAX:
Metagross is a fantastic abuser of Dynamax, as the massive bulk increase, and Metagross’ tendency to run STAB Max Steelspike and Max Quake can make it ludicrously hard to take down. Max Knuckle Hammer Arm gives Metagross an option to boost its Attack while Dynamaxed. The added power on a Max Thunder to muscle through Skarmory and Celesteela is appreciated as well.
EVs and Items:
Max HP and Attack are necessary to make Metagross as bulky as possible while still providing an immense offensive threat. Assault Vest patches up Metagross’ main weakness in its Special Defense, with Meteor Mash and Dynamax enabling Metagross to setup even with the Assault Vest.
Partners:
Clefable can pass on Wishes to keep Metagross healthy over a long battle, enabling it to take even more hits and serves as a reliable pivot into Dark moves.
Blissey is another Wish passer that also absorbs Special attacks similar to how Metagross absorbs physical attacks for a pseudo SkarmBliss core.
Galarian Moltres can pivot into Ground, Dark and Ghost moves with ease and can blow by physical walls with its Special moves
Tapu Fini setting up Misty Terrain gives Metagross status protection and serves as a reliable pivot into Fire and Dark moves.
Anti-Kaiju Weapon
-Agility
-Iron Head
-Ice Punch
-Earthquake/Thunder Punch
Item Attached: Weakness Policy
Ability: Clear Body
EVs and Nature:
44 HP / 252 Atk / 212 Spe
Jolly Nature
Agility patches up Metagross’ speed, enabling it to outspeed everything and take out weakened teams with ease. Iron Head is the preferred STAB here, being more accurate and having a healthy flinch chance on top of it. Ice Punch provides great coverage, hitting Dragonite, Garchomp, and Landorous-Therian incredibly hard as well as generally being a safe option to click. Earthquake and Thunder Punch provide anti-Steel type coverage, the former getting Heatran especially hard, while the latter deals with Skarmory and Celesteela.
DYNAMAX:
Agility Metagross is perhaps even a more terrifying Dynamax sweeper. The bulk increase alongside STAB Max Steelspike and Max Quake make Metagross incredibly difficult to revenge kill after setup and near ensures a Weakness Policy activation. The increase in power to Thunder Punch and Ice Punch is appreciated as well.
EVs and Items:
212 Speed EVs and Jolly nature is necessary to outspeed Neutral Regieleki and Scarf Garchomp after an Agility. Maximizing Attack is mandatory if trying to go for a sweep while putting the remainder in HP gives Metagross a modicum of bulk.
Partners:
Hippowdon makes for an excellent partner in the early game, chipping many targets with Sandstream, Stealth Rock and Whirlwind and can take out prospective counters with Yawn.
Tapu Fini setting up Misty Terrain gives Metagross status protection when setting up and serves as a reliable pivot into Fire and Dark moves.
Other Options
Zen Headbutt -Alternate STAB that becomes even stronger under Psychic terrain that provides great neutral coverage as opposed to the oft resisted Steel STABs
VGC & Double Battle Options
Metagross finds its niche still going strong in doubles. Clear Body is fantastic, avoiding stat drops from the numerous Intimidates, Bulldozes, Icy Winds and Max Moves in the flying around. Combine that with being a vicious Weakness Policy abuser who can easily setup with an Ally’s Bulldoze and Metagross remains a strong option.
Steely Vanguard
-Iron Head
-Protect
-Stomping Tantrum
-Ice Punch/Rock Slide
Item Attached: Weakness Policy
Ability: Clear Body
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Atk /4 SDef
Adamant Nature
Metagross operates similarly in doubles as in singles as a terrifying bulky Dynamax Sweeper. Iron Head is preferred STAB for reliability and can nab flinches with Speed Control from a partner. Stomping Tantrum replaces Earthquake, as having a ground type move that doesn’t hit your partner and becomes even more powerful if Metagross was flinched the previous turn. Ice Punch and Rock Slide hit many flying types such as Thundurus, Yvetal and Tornadus. Ice Punch can also land hard hits on Landorus-Therian and various dragons, while Rock Slide is a spread move that can cause Flinching and is a secondary option for Fire types.
Just like in Singles, Metagross is very flexible in its EV spread. Max HP and Attack are preferred to get the most out of a Dynamax, but extra speed investment allows Metagross to outspeed more targets after a Bulldoze
Other Options & Team Ideas
-Landorus Therian and Salamence provide an excellent combo in Intimidate and Bulldoze, reducing the opponent’s attack and speed while triggering the Weakness Policy boost that can be easily tanked with a Dynamax. Their ability to dispatch opposing Fire types like Incineroar is a boon as well.
-Incineroar and Yveltal provide Snarl support, patching up Metagross’ average Special Defense and enabling mind games if the Metagross carries Ally Switch, tanking Super Effective Dark moves for it as well as Fire moves for Incineroar and Stomping Tantrum for Yveltal.
-Rillaboom and Tapu Bulu’s Grassy Terrain weakens Earthquake and provides greatly appreciated passive recovery
Countering Metagross
Metagross is an incredibly versatile Pokémon, but cannot cover everything that threatens it, and will have gaps in its movesets that allow Pokémon to hard counter it.
Slowbro, Skarmory, Moltres, and Celesteela do well against any Metagross lacking Thunderpunch, able to outlast it with their recovery moves, burn it with Scald in the case of Slowbro and setup and wear it down. Gyarados also performs well but needs to be healthy.
Garchomp and Landorus-Therian deal well with sets lacking Ice Punch, but need a safe switch in as they are less frail than the above.
Heatran and Excadrill can take on any Metagross lacking Earthquake and Hammer Arm and strike back with their STAB super effective moves.
Hippowdon does well against any Metagross that has not setup, easily taking its attacks and massively damaging it with STAB Earthquake.
Buzzwole can take any attack except Zen Headbutt and easily KO back with Earthquake.
Dragapult can’t take an attack, but will utterly hinder Metagross with Will-o-Wisp or outright KO with STAB Shadow Ball
Many of the above also naturally outspeed Metagross and can come in to revenge KO as Metagross is often worn down, taking hits as it switches and attacks.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Evolve Metang
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Trade from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald
Colosseum/XD:
Snagged from Cipher Nascour in Realgam Tower Colosseum
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Metang
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Evolve Metang
Black/White:
Giant Chasm
Black 2/White 2:
Giant Chasm
X/Y:
Evolve Metang
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Evolve Metang
Sun/Moon:
Evolve Metang
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Evolve Metang
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Snowslide Slope
Max Raid Battles: Giant's Bed, Snowslide Slope, Path to the Peak, Frigid Sea, Ballimere Lake
Anime Appearences
