[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 3 onwards
**Price Range**: 12-13 Points
**Overview**: Metagross' value comes from its capability to be a Hazard Setter, a strong Wallbreaker, or a potent Sweeper; It packs a movepool and stat distribution that foes will struggle to deal with. Metagross has reasonable access to a plethora of items to either bolster its damage output or increase its staying power making it difficult to reliably prepare for. On the flip side, its rather awkward Speed tier and typing make it vulnerable to opposing offensive Pokemon and common offensive types.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Metagross will leverage its high Attack stat, STAB and coverage moves to dish out damage and start weakening teams. Metagross can run a damage-boosting item such as Expert Belt which can take advantage of its wide movepool or Choice Band to really extrapolate its damage output. More often than not, Metagross does not use a damage-boosting item and will opt to use an item that will increase its longevity, such as Leftovers or a Resistance Berry.
**Offensive Utility**: Metagross has plenty of utility options to supplement its offensive playstyle. It can carry Stealth Rock to set hazards, both Screens to soften attacks for teammates or even run Trick to disrupt a foes gameplan.
**Agility Cleaner**: Metagross can use either Agility or Rock Polish to boost its speed in conjunction with a damage-boosting item such as Life Orb, Expert Belt, or most commonly, Weakness Policy, which will likely threaten to sweep through a team.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Bullet Punch, Iron Head, Meteor Mash, Zen Headbutt
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Rock Polish, Hone Claws
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Reflect, Light Screen, Trick, Protect, Toxic, Brick Break
**Coverage**: Double-Edge, Earthquake, Explosion, Hammer Arm, Ice Punch, Pursuit, Rock Slide, Thunder Punch, Grass Knot, Hidden Power
Niche Moves
========
**Power-Up Punch**: Metagross can use Power-Up Punch to increase its damage output and chip down foes.
**Endure**: Metagross may use Endure to get trigger an item such as Custap Berry or Weakness Policy.
**Gravity**: Metagross may bring Gravity to ground Flying-type or Levitating foes that would normally escape its Ground-type coverage and boost the accuracy of some moves.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Increased longevity from Leftovers allows Metagross to continually switch-in on threats and break them down or keep a foe in check.
**Pinch Berries**: Metagross makes excellent use of the buffed Pinch Berries; It's bulk means it can survive strong attacksand likely have its Berry eaten to extend its longevity.
**Damage-boosting Items**: A Choice Band is great on Metagross, increasing the damage of its STAB moves to absurd levels where it may even severely dent resisting foes; works great with Bullet Punch during late-game scenarios. Life Orb or Expert Belt can boost the damage of attacks as well where the commitment of a Choice Band isn't necessary.
**Weakness Policy**: Metagross makes great use of Weakness Policy; becoming an amazing early breaker or late cleaner / sweeper. Commonly used when Agility or Rock Polish is in its moveset.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries like Shuca, Occa, or Colbur Berry can allow Metagross to survive an extra super-effective hit and throw off a couple extra attacks or use a chosen utility move.
**Assault Vest**: Provides some extra special bulk to help check an opposing special threat, Metagross can then afford to utilise the full extent of its offensive movepool to help deal with such a foe.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf allows Metagross to get the jump on foes that prey on its speed tier. You would likely see Trick with Choice Scarf as to disrupt an opposing wall.
**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry can allow Metagross, when weakened, to get another move in, whether offensive or for utility. Typically seen with Endure to enforce the activation.
**Lum Berry**: Lum Berry allows Metagross to lure a status move or offset a secondary effect that may hinder it from fulfilling its role.
**Rocky Helmet**: This item can punish any threats that might want to gain momentum on Metagross with chip damage and put foes closer to its range of attacks.
**Light Clay**: Light Clay can be held to extend both Reflect and Light Screen which extrapolates Metagross' bulk and supports its teammates longevity.
Draft Strategy
========
Metagross can supplement your team with its versatility, bulk, and offensive capability where it will show solid results. However, it does have its drawbacks where it isn't necessarily central to any particular draft and can get overwhelmed over the course of game, so it will appreciate support from its teammates.
**Fast Wallbreakers**: Metagross being an excellent Wallbreaker isn't enough in and of itself as its speed tier leaves much to be desired. Look for Garchomp, Zeraora, and Mega Gallade who are all potent Wallbreakers with great speed tiers.
**Pivots**: Metagross appreciates teammates that will invite it in without compromising its bulk and forcing it to take chip. Anything like Rotom-Wash, Landorus-T, and Zapdos are all great pivots who can get Metagross in reliably and allow it to make use of its Wallbreaking power.
**Alternate Hazard Setters**: Metagross doesn't want to be pressured into bringing Stealth Rock to every game, so try to grab Landorus-T or Krookodile who can all set up Stealth Rock reliably allow Metagross to run its other utility moves. Another option is Greninja who can use Spikes to supplement the hazard setting capabilities.
Checks and Counters
========
**Physical Walls**: Being a strong Wallbreaker doesn't mean there's an even stronger Wall. Look out for Pokemon like Uxie or Skarmory who can happily switch-in to keep Metagross from doing too much damage and possibly cripple it with their utility options.
**Faster Offensive Threats**: Having weaknesses to common offensive types mean Metagross can be an easy target to take advantage of for some foes. Garchomp, Infernape, and Greninja can all take Metagross down in a few hits with their strong STAB moves, although they must be wary of Metagross' coverage moves.
**Status**: Being burned or paralysed can easily reduce Metagross to dead wood in a game. Zapdos, Serperior, and Rotom-Wash can all reliably inflict status on Metagross and make sure it doesn't become a major threat.
**Knock Off**: Being weak to one of the strongest moves in the game is a huge negative for Metagross, it becomes a massive target and can struggle to recover from losing its item. Krookodile, Kartana, and Mega Mawile are all top tier examples that regularly run Knock Off as STAB or coverage.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flutterfliss.652897/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
Grammar checked by:
**Draft Order**: Round 3 onwards
**Price Range**: 12-13 Points
**Overview**: Metagross' value comes from its capability to be a Hazard Setter, a strong Wallbreaker, or a potent Sweeper; It packs a movepool and stat distribution that foes will struggle to deal with. Metagross has reasonable access to a plethora of items to either bolster its damage output or increase its staying power making it difficult to reliably prepare for. On the flip side, its rather awkward Speed tier and typing make it vulnerable to opposing offensive Pokemon and common offensive types.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Metagross will leverage its high Attack stat, STAB and coverage moves to dish out damage and start weakening teams. Metagross can run a damage-boosting item such as Expert Belt which can take advantage of its wide movepool or Choice Band to really extrapolate its damage output. More often than not, Metagross does not use a damage-boosting item and will opt to use an item that will increase its longevity, such as Leftovers or a Resistance Berry.
**Offensive Utility**: Metagross has plenty of utility options to supplement its offensive playstyle. It can carry Stealth Rock to set hazards, both Screens to soften attacks for teammates or even run Trick to disrupt a foes gameplan.
**Agility Cleaner**: Metagross can use either Agility or Rock Polish to boost its speed in conjunction with a damage-boosting item such as Life Orb, Expert Belt, or most commonly, Weakness Policy, which will likely threaten to sweep through a team.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Bullet Punch, Iron Head, Meteor Mash, Zen Headbutt
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Rock Polish, Hone Claws
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Reflect, Light Screen, Trick, Protect, Toxic, Brick Break
**Coverage**: Double-Edge, Earthquake, Explosion, Hammer Arm, Ice Punch, Pursuit, Rock Slide, Thunder Punch, Grass Knot, Hidden Power
Niche Moves
========
**Power-Up Punch**: Metagross can use Power-Up Punch to increase its damage output and chip down foes.
**Endure**: Metagross may use Endure to get trigger an item such as Custap Berry or Weakness Policy.
**Gravity**: Metagross may bring Gravity to ground Flying-type or Levitating foes that would normally escape its Ground-type coverage and boost the accuracy of some moves.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Increased longevity from Leftovers allows Metagross to continually switch-in on threats and break them down or keep a foe in check.
**Pinch Berries**: Metagross makes excellent use of the buffed Pinch Berries; It's bulk means it can survive strong attacksand likely have its Berry eaten to extend its longevity.
**Damage-boosting Items**: A Choice Band is great on Metagross, increasing the damage of its STAB moves to absurd levels where it may even severely dent resisting foes; works great with Bullet Punch during late-game scenarios. Life Orb or Expert Belt can boost the damage of attacks as well where the commitment of a Choice Band isn't necessary.
**Weakness Policy**: Metagross makes great use of Weakness Policy; becoming an amazing early breaker or late cleaner / sweeper. Commonly used when Agility or Rock Polish is in its moveset.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries like Shuca, Occa, or Colbur Berry can allow Metagross to survive an extra super-effective hit and throw off a couple extra attacks or use a chosen utility move.
**Assault Vest**: Provides some extra special bulk to help check an opposing special threat, Metagross can then afford to utilise the full extent of its offensive movepool to help deal with such a foe.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf allows Metagross to get the jump on foes that prey on its speed tier. You would likely see Trick with Choice Scarf as to disrupt an opposing wall.
**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry can allow Metagross, when weakened, to get another move in, whether offensive or for utility. Typically seen with Endure to enforce the activation.
**Lum Berry**: Lum Berry allows Metagross to lure a status move or offset a secondary effect that may hinder it from fulfilling its role.
**Rocky Helmet**: This item can punish any threats that might want to gain momentum on Metagross with chip damage and put foes closer to its range of attacks.
**Light Clay**: Light Clay can be held to extend both Reflect and Light Screen which extrapolates Metagross' bulk and supports its teammates longevity.
Draft Strategy
========
Metagross can supplement your team with its versatility, bulk, and offensive capability where it will show solid results. However, it does have its drawbacks where it isn't necessarily central to any particular draft and can get overwhelmed over the course of game, so it will appreciate support from its teammates.
**Fast Wallbreakers**: Metagross being an excellent Wallbreaker isn't enough in and of itself as its speed tier leaves much to be desired. Look for Garchomp, Zeraora, and Mega Gallade who are all potent Wallbreakers with great speed tiers.
**Pivots**: Metagross appreciates teammates that will invite it in without compromising its bulk and forcing it to take chip. Anything like Rotom-Wash, Landorus-T, and Zapdos are all great pivots who can get Metagross in reliably and allow it to make use of its Wallbreaking power.
**Alternate Hazard Setters**: Metagross doesn't want to be pressured into bringing Stealth Rock to every game, so try to grab Landorus-T or Krookodile who can all set up Stealth Rock reliably allow Metagross to run its other utility moves. Another option is Greninja who can use Spikes to supplement the hazard setting capabilities.
Checks and Counters
========
**Physical Walls**: Being a strong Wallbreaker doesn't mean there's an even stronger Wall. Look out for Pokemon like Uxie or Skarmory who can happily switch-in to keep Metagross from doing too much damage and possibly cripple it with their utility options.
**Faster Offensive Threats**: Having weaknesses to common offensive types mean Metagross can be an easy target to take advantage of for some foes. Garchomp, Infernape, and Greninja can all take Metagross down in a few hits with their strong STAB moves, although they must be wary of Metagross' coverage moves.
**Status**: Being burned or paralysed can easily reduce Metagross to dead wood in a game. Zapdos, Serperior, and Rotom-Wash can all reliably inflict status on Metagross and make sure it doesn't become a major threat.
**Knock Off**: Being weak to one of the strongest moves in the game is a huge negative for Metagross, it becomes a massive target and can struggle to recover from losing its item. Krookodile, Kartana, and Mega Mawile are all top tier examples that regularly run Knock Off as STAB or coverage.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flutterfliss.652897/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
