[OVERVIEW]
* Mega-Metagross' top-tier Attack stat is complimented extremely well by its already strong STAB moves and versatile physical movepool, giving Mega-Metagross the capacity to 2HKO majority of the metagame
* Tough Claws is a very fitting ability for Mega-Metagross, with both STAB options being contact moves as well as other coverage options including Hammer Arm, and Post Pokebank options including Ice Punch / Thunder Punch
* Natural bulk is particularly good due the part Steel-type typing, giving Mega-Metagross nine resistances and one immunity. Despite these resistances, Mega-Metagross is still weak to three of the metagame's most offensive move types, being Ghost-type / Ground-type / Dark-type
* Given how popular the Tapus' are on nearly every team, Mega-Metagross serves as a fantastic answer to them
* Base 110 Speed puts Mega-Metagross ahead of threats including Aegislash, Hydreigon and Garchomp
[SET]
name: AoA (All out Attacker)
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Zen Headbutt
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Bullet Punch / Hammer Arm
item: Metagrossite
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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* Meteor Mash is used over Iron Head as the Steel-type STAB of choice, while despite being less accurate than Iron Head, it does hit notably harder and has the chance to gain what could be a game changing attack boost
* Zen Headbutt is Mega-Metagross' only option for Psychic-type STAB, hitting Poison-type and Fighting-type threats including Mega-Gengar and Buzzwole with extreme firepower
* Earthquake covers Steel-type threats which resist both STAB moves such as Aegislash, Mega-Lucario, Magnezone, and other Mega-Metagross while also providing an 81.3% chance to OHKO Tapu Koko. Earthquake coverage lets it threaten certain Pokemon which would otherwise check it, including Alolan-Marowak
* Bullet Punch is used as means of hitting faster threats such as Tapu Koko, Mega-Gengar and Mega-Aerodactyl. Hammer Arm has a chance to 2HKO defensive Porygon2 and guaranteed OHKO on Mega-Kangaskhan and Hydreigon, although makes you very vulnerable to be revenge killed by Ground-type threats such as Garchomp due to the speed drop. Hydreigon can also take advantage of this and OHKO with Dark Pulse
Set Details
========
* Clear Body assists in not having to worry about common Intimidate Pokemon such as Salamence, Gyarados, and Arcanine, giving Metagross much more freedom when you chose to Mega evolve
* 252 Atk coupled with Tough Claws after mega evolving and powerful STAB contact moves lets Mega-Metagross abuse its insane physical power
* 252 Spe with a Jolly nature lets Mega-Metagross outspeed majority of the metagame including the more commonly seen Aurora Veil Alolan-Ninetails by one point, stopping it from setting up Aurora Veil with Meteor Mash if it's a Light Clay variant, as well as Garchomp, which would otherwise pose to be a big threat for Mega-Metagross
Usage Tips
========
* Mega-Metagross has amazing natural bulk. Generally, it can actually take one Super-Effective hit before being knocked out, making its checks fairly limited and its counters even fewer
* With the immunity to Toxic, Mega-Metagross can comfortably 1v1 any Porygon2 that doesn't carry Shadow Ball
* Offensive Ghost-types including Aegislash, Mimikyu, Mega-Gengar, Alolan-Marowak, and the occasional Ghost Z-Conversion Porygon-Z all pose a threat to Mega-Metagross. The team preview stage is important because of this, as the support to help Mega-Metagross against these Pokemon may not be entirely worth it
* Given Mega-Metagross' natural bulk and movepool, it can function reliably at any stage of the game, putting pressure on the opponent right from the beginning if you chose to lead or posing as a sweep threat if late game, as it forces the opponent to keep its Mega-Metagross answers healthy
* Can serve as a Tapu Lele counter if choice locked into Psychic / Psyshock / Moonblast.
Metagross cannot switch in safely especially in its non-Mega form where Choice Specs Shadow Ball OHKOs. Vs Choice Scarf variants, you lose as well, so play carefully when against Tapu Lele
* Mega evolving straight away is the best option for Mega-Metagross, granting you the instant 110 speed tier which grants you the ability to revenge kill Pokemon which would have initially been faster
Team Options
========
* It's Tapu central here. Mega-Metagross appreciates a Bulky Water-type to tank out the Ground-type and Fire-type moves which otherwise pose as a threat to Mega-Metagorss. Physically Defensive Tapu Fini fits this role perfectly, taking Ground-type moves with ease, while a base 130 Spd allows it to eat up Fire-type and Dark-type moves. Misty Surge is also really nice, allowing Mega-Metagross to switch-in against scald and have a better matchup vs Physically Defensive Arcanine and other mons carrying Will-O-Wisp
* Mega-Metagross loves the support from Tapu Lele's Psychic Terrain. Under Psychic Terrain, furtherly increasing Zen Headbutt's power. Psychic Terrain also renders priority useless, protecting Mega-Metagross from Shadow Sneak / Sucker punch threats, but at the same time hindering your own ability to use Bullet Punch
* Tapu Bulu is also a nice partner, giving Mega-Metagross some much loved recovery from being grounded. This however has drawbacks, for while you take less damage from opposing Ground-type moves and sponge them, you also deal less damage with your own Earthquake, changing what would be a 2HKO on Aegislash-Defence to a 42.6% chance to 4HKO, which is not at all fine given that 252 Spa Modest Shadow Ball Aegislash can OHKO Mega-Metagross in return
* Tapu Koko fits quite nicely as well, being able to outspeed and OHKO Hydreigon, weaken Garchomp to the point where Mega-Metagross can revenge kill it, and also threaten bulky Water-types and Celesteela
* Pheromosa can be used to revenge kill opposing ground and dark threats with Ice beam / High Jump Kick coverage
* Mandibuzz can Taunt Celesteela and does fairly against Aegislash as long as it avoids Toxic, and it also provides a ground immunity and a Dark-type / Ghost-type resist
* Offensive Porygon2 works well against Defensive Celesteela and Offensive Aegislash, but falters against Substitute Aegislash
* Scarf Chandelure offers a means of speed control whilst also checking Aegislash and Defensive Celesteela, with Fire Blast being a guaranteed OHKO on both Pokemon
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* For the Post Pokebank metagame, Ice Punch / Thunder Punch would be excellent options for Mega-Metagross, giving it more sufficient coverage against the metagame's current threats including Celesteela / Garchomp / Mega-Salamence / Mega-Gyarados / Tapu Fini, and post-bank threats to come such as Landorus-Therian / Crawdaunt
* Rock Polish as the 4th move along with an Adamant nature can be used as a sweeper, outpacing the entire meta and even some anti-meta threats such as Choice Scarf Tapu Koko
* Substitute is also a 4th move option to make Mega-Metagross harder to break, but at the cost of some coverage
Checks and Counters
===================
**Celesteela**: Celesteela counters Mega-Metagross with ease, able to sponge up any physical hit and retaliate with Flamethrower / Earthquake / Leech seed + Protect
**Garchomp**: Garchomp's Earthquake does anywhere between 77-93% of damage, making it a reliable counter if Choice Scarf and reliable check if any other set, as Mega-Metagross can't OHKO with its current accessible moves
**Offensive Ghost-types**: Choice Scarf Chandelure can OHKO with Heat wave / Fire Blast while Mega-Gengar and Aegislash can OHKO with Shadow Ball. Granted, these Pokemon can only check Mega-Metagross, as a good prediction can OHKO all of them
**Bulky Water Types / Bulky Ground Types**: Mega Metagross struggles to break them without the two elemental punches, and spamming Meteor Mash until you get an attack boost / spamming Zen Headbutt until you flinch is an unreliable method of breaking these threats. Gyarados is the main culprit here, being able to intimidate Mega-Metagross and then proceed to setup with Dragon Dance. This is especially annoying, as Gyarados can then mega evolve, which can then OHKO Mega-Metagross with crunch at +1 after the Dragon Dance boost
**Post Pokebank Threats**: Ferrothorn easily sponges up Mega-Metagross' hits, dealing back damage with Iron Barbs + Rocky Helmet and can stall it out with Leech Seed + Protect. Choice Scarf Excadrill has a 75% chance to OHKO with Earthquake, making it a very reliable revenge killer. Bisharp can OHKO with sucker punch if at +2, while dealing 75%-90% with Adamant and Life Orb, while Weavile can comfortably revenge kill if Mega-Metagross is weakened and without Bullet Punch, dealing 62%-75% with Knock Off.
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