[OVERVIEW]
Metagross is one of the best and most versatile Steel-types in RU thanks to its great all-around stats, good offensive coverage, key resistances, and valuable utility options. What's more, Metagross has the game-changing combination of Cosmic Power and Body Press, which makes it one of the toughest bulky setup sweepers to stop in its tracks. Metagross will shrug off most attacks after just a single Cosmic Power and hit even harder in return with Body Press. But, it's not without its faults, as its Steel and Fighting coverage and reliance on Rest for recovery leaves it with solid, common answers in Haze Milotic, Nasty Plot Crobat, Chandelure, and Jellicent. Metagross also makes for a reliable Stealth Rock setter. While it doesn't provide as much defensive utility as Registeel, Steelix, and Bronzong, Metagross doesn't let up on the offensive pressure, making it an excellent pick for more offensive teams. But, Metagross's lack of reliable recovery means its good bulk and resistances can only take it so far when it comes to taking hits.
Its resistances and natural bulk let it serve as a powerful Choice Band user, and its Speed is just high enough to make it an effective Choice Scarf user on specific teams. Choice Scarf Metagross often struggles to make headway against bulkier teams directly but can cripple a crucial defensive wall by giving it Choice Scarf. Because of Metagross's lower Speed, all other Choice Scarf users can revenge kill it, but few of them KO it at full. Choice Band Metagross 2HKOes its usual switch-ins in bulky Water-types such as Milotic, Gastrodon, and Jellicent. But because most common defensive Pokemon are either immune or resistant to at least one of its moves, Metagross has to lock itself into the correct move on the right turn to effectively wallbreak, unlike other wallbreakers such as Lucario and Pangoro. Metagross's average Speed is often its downfall, because it leaves Metagross vulnerable to a myriad of offensive Pokemon, including faster wallbreakers like Nidoqueen, Heracross, and Chandelure, once it has picked up a KO.
[SET]
name: Cosmic Power
move 1: Cosmic Power
move 2: Body Press
move 3: Meteor Mash
move 4: Rest
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 76 Atk / 64 Def / 100 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Body Press takes full advantage of the Defense boost from Cosmic Power, with it 2HKOing or at least 3HKOing most of the metagame after a turn or two of setup. Meteor Mash covers most of the Pokemon resistant to Body Press, such as Togekiss, Crobat, and Celebi. It's also pivotal to countering Calm Mind Reuniclus, as after two Attack raises, it always 2HKOes Reuniclus after Leftovers. Rest is Metagross's only recovery move and removes burns, which weaken Body Press. Rest leaves Metagross vulnerable for two turns, but with enough Cosmic Power boosts, most non-setup Pokemon won't KO Metagross before it wakes up. Clear Body prevents defensive stat drops from Reuniclus's Focus Blast and Golisopod's Liquidation, as well as stops Incineroar's Intimidate from dropping its Attack. The EV spread ensures that Reuniclus's Focus Blast is a 4HKO, even with Metagross's Leftovers removed. An Impish nature alongside 64 Defense EVs guarantees the 2HKO on Flygon with Body Press after a Cosmic Power. The remaining Attack and Speed EVs are to 2HKO Nidoqueen after Stealth Rock and outrun Adamant maximum Speed Rhyperior. However, the EV spread for Cosmic Power Metagross is highly customizable. First, Metagross can either invest less or more into its special bulk. Simply maximum HP is enough to avoid the 3HKO from Reuniclus's Focus Blast after Leftovers; meanwhile, a Careful nature with either 156 or 200 Special Defense EVs ensures Life Orb Focus Blast and Shadow Ball from Reuniclus, respectively, never 3HKO. Similarly, 136 Speed EVs outrun Golurk, 160 EVs do the same for Adamant Pangoro, and 176 Speed EVs are for Adamant Incineroar and Bewear. Remember, all Cosmic Power Metagross spreads need a minimum of 40 Attack EVs to always 2HKO Reuniclus after Leftovers with +2 Meteor Mash.
Metagross is one of the best Steel-types to pair with Stealth Rock setters such as Rhyperior, Nidoqueen, and Seismitoad, because they sorely miss the defensive utility of the Steel typing; meanwhile, Metagross doesn't want to set Stealth Rock itself. Rhyperior is better for Nasty Plot Togekiss, while Seismitoad can check Fire-, Water-, and Ground-types for Metagross. Further, all three can reliably force in bulky Water-types and badly poison them with Toxic. In particular, Haze Milotic and Jellicent are key targets as full-on counters to Metagross, since neither can hope to outlive Metagross after Toxic. Other Pokemon such as Crobat, Entei, and Salazzle are likewise effective at badly poisoning Milotic and Jellicent, and Grass-types such as Celebi, Roserade, and Rotom-C can use these Water-types to set up, lay Spikes, or gain momentum, respectively. Even after setup, Metagross doesn't immediately threaten Ghost-types such as Chandelure and Dhelmise. They typically force it out with their powerful STAB moves, which Dark-types such as Umbreon, Incineroar, and Guzzlord can cover. Umbreon can also wake Metagross up early with Heal Bell and keep it healthy with Wish, making Rest less of a liability. Incineroar, on the other hand, hard counters most Jellicent sets and overpowers Milotic with Swords Dance-boosted attacks, while Guzzlord can land Toxic on Milotic. Pokemon such as Crobat and Galarian Weezing are sufficient switch-ins to Dark- and Fighting-types such as Pangoro, Bewear, and Heracross that plague Metagross. However, the former isn't an issue for faster Metagross EV spreads. Depending on what spread it runs, Metagross is somewhere between a solid and a shaky catch-all answer to any Calm Mind Reuniclus set. Pairing frailer Metagross spreads with other checks to it, such as Dark-types like Pangoro and Incineroar, Nasty Plot Togekiss, Heracross, and Haze Milotic, will shield against any Reuniclus set, while very bulky Metagross counters it all by itself.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Meteor Mash
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 124 Atk / 76 SpD / 56 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Metagross's good typing, high Attack stat, and solid natural bulk combine to make it a reliable Stealth Rock setter that doesn't give up any offensive pressure. Earthquake reliably 2HKOes the likes of Incineroar, Registeel, and Stakataka. Toxic is a fantastic last move that allows it to outlast its counters in Milotic, Gastrodon, and Umbreon. Bullet Punch can pick off weakened foes in a pinch but doesn't offer much else. While Leftovers is generally preferred, Shuca Berry allows Metagross to much more easily take on Flygon and Nidoqueen. Similarly, Colbur Berry is an option for Dark-types such as Pangoro and Sharpedo. It bears mentioning that Metagross makes great use of Custap Berry on fast-paced teams, as it often falls into Custap Berry range after surviving a powerful attack. Clear Body prevents Incineroar's Intimidate from lowering Metagross's Attack stat. The EVs are designed to outspeed Adamant maximum Speed Alolan Marowak, with enough Special Defense to avoid being 2HKOed by Togekiss's Flamethrower after Leftovers recovery. 136 Special Defense EVs can be used should your team be particularly weak to Nasty Plot Togekiss.
Metagross isn't able to effectively threaten bulky Water-types beyond Toxic, so it's very helpful to have teammates that can pressure or remove them. Roserade handles these bulky Water-types as well as Raikou and Xurkitree while forming a powerful entry hazard setting duo with Metagross, as it too doesn't give up offensive pressure to set up Spikes. Choice Band Flygon, Raikou, and Xurkitree are powerful offensive threats that can force out bulky Water-types while bringing Metagross into better matchups through U-turn or Volt Switch. Crobat and Umbreon can provide either Defog or Wish support to let Metagross take hits more freely. Late-game cleaners and powerful wallbreakers that appreciate Metagross's ability to reliably spread Toxic are great options as well. Heracross and Flygon are useful Choice Scarf users that appreciate Metagross's ability to comfortably take on their Fairy- and Poison-type checks like Togekiss and Crobat. Nidoqueen and Chandelure are great wallbreakers that have a much easier time breaking through bulky Water-types once Metagross has been able to cripple them with Toxic.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a Choice Scarf equipped, Metagross is able to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame aside from Crobat and Aerodactyl, thus allowing it to be much more effective against faster-paced teams. Earthquake threatens Electric- and Fire-types such as Raikou, non-Choice Scarf Xurkitree, and Chandelure with a KO after minimal prior damage. Ice Punch crucially OHKOes Noivern and Flygon while being an accurate move to hit Celebi and Roserade with. Trick cripples walls such as Milotic, Gastrodon, and Steelix, and can also limit the effectiveness of bulky setup sweepers like Reuniclus and Suicune. Clear Body is crucial to prevent the Attack drop from Incineroar's Intimidate and Speed drop from Sticky Web.
Choice Scarf Metagross should be played as more of a fast wallbreaker rather than a late-game cleaner like other Choice Scarf users, although the boosted Speed can allow it to clean up late-game if the opportunity arises. Roserade is a great teammate to check bulky Water-types and Choice Scarf Xurkitree—the former of which can prevent Metagross from reliably revenge killing and the latter revenge killing a slightly weakened Metagross—while also setting up Spikes to wear down the opposing team. Powerful wallbreakers such as Heracross, Pangoro, and Golurk can wear down or remove most defensive Pokemon and appreciate Metagross's increased Speed to handle naturally faster Pokemon that trouble them, such as Raikou and Noivern. Metagross is slower than other Choice Scarf users, so teammates that can reliably check them can be very helpful. Togekiss and Galarian Weezing can comfortably check Flygon. Milotic and Incineroar can help Metagross switch in with Flip Turn and U-turn, and Incineroar also wears down defensive cores with Knock Off and Toxic. Choice Scarf Metagross can outrun but not KO Togekiss from full health, thus failing to reliably revenge kill it. Other checks, such as Rhyperior, Raikou, and Xurkitree, can help Metagross to check it. Naturally fast Pokemon, such as Raikou and Noivern, can also provide extra insurance against Pokemon that Metagross generally doesn't appreciate, such as Starmie. Should Metagross successfully cripple a wall with Trick, setup sweepers like Dragon Dance Flygon and Swords Dance Mimikyu can capitalize and sweep.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Bullet Punch
move 4: Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Band
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Metagross's incredible Attack stat and good natural bulk make it a powerful Choice Band user. Earthquake crushes Steel- and Fire-type Pokemon such as Registeel, Chandelure, and Incineroar. Bullet Punch can pick off weakened offensive threats such as Heracross and Flygon while also having a chance to clean up weakened offensive teams. Zen Headbutt is the preferred last move to 2HKO all bulky Water-types hoping to take one of Metagross's other attacks. With Clear Body, Incineroar can't lower Metagross's Attack with Intimidate, which ensures it can only switch into Metagross's Meteor Mash once before it's 2HKOed. Adamant is the chosen nature for extra power. Jolly can be used specifically for Modest Nidoqueen, Jolly Incineroar, and Bewear.
As Metagross is able to consistently break down opposing defensive cores, late-game cleaners are ideal choices to capitalize on this. Heracross and Flygon are effective Choice Scarf users that capitalize on Metagross breaking through bulky Water-types. Sharpedo and Dragon Dance Flygon are good sweeping options that also appreciate Metagross reliably pressuring or outright removing bulky Water-types from the game. Roserade provides Spikes support to aid in wearing down the likes of Steelix and Suicune while also checking Xurkitree and Raikou, which can revenge kill a slightly weakened Metagross once it has KOed some foe. Other physical attackers such as Lucario, Mimikyu, and Heracross can team up with Metagross to overwhelm physical walls. Wish support from Umbreon can be helpful, as Metagross's average Speed will often mean it has to take a hit in order to strike back with a KO. Diancie and Nidoqueen are great Stealth Rock users to pair with Metagross. Diancie can weaken or KO Steel-types that resist Metagross's powerful Meteor Mash, while Nidoqueen can deny Volt Switch attempts from Xurkitree and can pressure shared checks with Metagross like bulky Water-types and Bronzong. On its own, Choice Band Metagross isn't a reliable check to Togekiss, as at full health, Togekiss avoids the KO from Bullet Punch, while Metagross is outsped and OHKOed with +2 Flamethrower. Therefore, it's wise to pair it with other Togekiss answers such as Rhyperior, Xurkitree, and Diancie.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Agility with Meteor Mash, Earthquake, Thunder Punch, and Weakness Policy, Lum Berry, or Shuca Berry can allow Metagross to sweep late-game. However, such a set can't effectively capitalize on its bulk and typing to generate pressure in early- or mid-game. Protect can scout for potential Choice-locked attackers like Flygon and stall for Toxic damage. A set with Grass Knot and Expert Belt can 2HKO Gastrodon and Seismitoad with 56 SpA EVs, even with a Special Attack dropping nature. Outside of Gastrodon, Seismitoad, and the occasional Quagsire, though, Grass Knot doesn't hit many other targets for notable damage. Metagross can take mixed sets to another level with Power Herb and Meteor Beam. Meteor Beam not only boosts its Special Attack but also lets it lure in and KO Golisopod with minimal prior damage. Such mixed sets typically run some combination of Meteor Mash, Psychic, Earthquake, and Grass Knot alongside Meteor Beam. Explosion is a viable option on offensive Stealth Rock and Choice Band sets, taking a huge chunk out of some foe while providing a safe switch in for a frail, offensive teammate once Metagross has no more use.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Outside of Choice Band-boosted Zen Headbutt, bulky Water-types such as Milotic, Suicune, and Gastrodon can handle any attack from Metagross and stay healthy to switch in multiple times. Gastrodon and Seismitoad can even retaliate with STAB Earth Power and Earthquake. Starmie is particularly annoying to Stealth Rock sets, because Natural Cure and Recover generally ensure it can spin on Metagross throughout any game. However, Metagross's Toxic and Earthquake can potentially force Starmie out, letting Stealth Rock stay up for a while longer. Jellicent stands out as one of the best counters to Cosmic Power Metagross thanks to its Ghost typing, and with the combination of Will-O-Wisp, Hex, and Taunt, Metagross has no hope to outlast it. Milotic can keep Cosmic Power sets at bay with Haze and will eventually force them to use Rest with Scald.
**Dark-types and Dark-type coverage**: Umbreon switches comfortably into Stealth Rock and Choice Scarf sets, but Choice Band Metagross cleanly 2HKOes it and Cosmic Power variants set up for free. Incineroar and Pangoro can take advantage of Stealth Rock Metagross and Cosmic Power sets that can't outspeed them. Both can even deal with Cosmic Power Metagross after setup, as they set up with Swords Dance after Metagross's Rest and KO before it wakes up. Some Choice Band Pangoro and the odd Grimmsnarl carry Darkest Lariat to ignore Cosmic Power Metagross's Defense boosts; however, neither can OHKO it and they need to watch out for Body Press and Meteor Mash, respectively. Similarly, Bewear can muscle past a set-up Metagross with Darkest Lariat, and thanks to Fluffy and a potential Chople Berry to boot, it doesn't fear Body Press as much. Many common Pokemon such as Golisopod, Heracross, and Tornadus carry Knock Off, and Metagross's item is priceless on every set.
**Faster Pokemon**: Metagross's base 70 Speed leaves it outpaced by many offensive Pokemon, which not only force it out after it gets a KO but also give it a hard time switching in at all. Sharpedo, Chandelure, and Flygon are all faster Pokemon that can threaten Metagross with powerful or super effective STAB moves, although none can switch in safely.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Chandelure, Dhelmise, Golurk, and Mimikyu offensively threaten any Metagross set but are particularly effective against Cosmic Power sets, as they're immune to Body Press. Chandelure also resists Meteor Mash and can even overwhelm Metagross after setup with Hex or Choice Specs; if all else fails, Trick can incapacitate Cosmic Power Metagross with a Choice item.
**Ground-types**: Steelix has to worry about Choice Band-boosted Earthquake some, but its high Defense lets it take a couple when necessary, and it easily handles Meteor Mash. Flygon and Nidoqueen are shakier answers because they cannot take hits as well, but they have much stronger STAB attacks to threaten Metagross with.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[EonX, 91480], [GoldCat, 359771]]
- Quality checked by: [[Expulso, 202058], [mac3, 291087], [Yourwelcomethanku, 541847], [zizalith, 410251]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [Adeleine, 517429], [UT, 523866]]
Metagross is one of the best and most versatile Steel-types in RU thanks to its great all-around stats, good offensive coverage, key resistances, and valuable utility options. What's more, Metagross has the game-changing combination of Cosmic Power and Body Press, which makes it one of the toughest bulky setup sweepers to stop in its tracks. Metagross will shrug off most attacks after just a single Cosmic Power and hit even harder in return with Body Press. But, it's not without its faults, as its Steel and Fighting coverage and reliance on Rest for recovery leaves it with solid, common answers in Haze Milotic, Nasty Plot Crobat, Chandelure, and Jellicent. Metagross also makes for a reliable Stealth Rock setter. While it doesn't provide as much defensive utility as Registeel, Steelix, and Bronzong, Metagross doesn't let up on the offensive pressure, making it an excellent pick for more offensive teams. But, Metagross's lack of reliable recovery means its good bulk and resistances can only take it so far when it comes to taking hits.
Its resistances and natural bulk let it serve as a powerful Choice Band user, and its Speed is just high enough to make it an effective Choice Scarf user on specific teams. Choice Scarf Metagross often struggles to make headway against bulkier teams directly but can cripple a crucial defensive wall by giving it Choice Scarf. Because of Metagross's lower Speed, all other Choice Scarf users can revenge kill it, but few of them KO it at full. Choice Band Metagross 2HKOes its usual switch-ins in bulky Water-types such as Milotic, Gastrodon, and Jellicent. But because most common defensive Pokemon are either immune or resistant to at least one of its moves, Metagross has to lock itself into the correct move on the right turn to effectively wallbreak, unlike other wallbreakers such as Lucario and Pangoro. Metagross's average Speed is often its downfall, because it leaves Metagross vulnerable to a myriad of offensive Pokemon, including faster wallbreakers like Nidoqueen, Heracross, and Chandelure, once it has picked up a KO.
[SET]
name: Cosmic Power
move 1: Cosmic Power
move 2: Body Press
move 3: Meteor Mash
move 4: Rest
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 76 Atk / 64 Def / 100 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Body Press takes full advantage of the Defense boost from Cosmic Power, with it 2HKOing or at least 3HKOing most of the metagame after a turn or two of setup. Meteor Mash covers most of the Pokemon resistant to Body Press, such as Togekiss, Crobat, and Celebi. It's also pivotal to countering Calm Mind Reuniclus, as after two Attack raises, it always 2HKOes Reuniclus after Leftovers. Rest is Metagross's only recovery move and removes burns, which weaken Body Press. Rest leaves Metagross vulnerable for two turns, but with enough Cosmic Power boosts, most non-setup Pokemon won't KO Metagross before it wakes up. Clear Body prevents defensive stat drops from Reuniclus's Focus Blast and Golisopod's Liquidation, as well as stops Incineroar's Intimidate from dropping its Attack. The EV spread ensures that Reuniclus's Focus Blast is a 4HKO, even with Metagross's Leftovers removed. An Impish nature alongside 64 Defense EVs guarantees the 2HKO on Flygon with Body Press after a Cosmic Power. The remaining Attack and Speed EVs are to 2HKO Nidoqueen after Stealth Rock and outrun Adamant maximum Speed Rhyperior. However, the EV spread for Cosmic Power Metagross is highly customizable. First, Metagross can either invest less or more into its special bulk. Simply maximum HP is enough to avoid the 3HKO from Reuniclus's Focus Blast after Leftovers; meanwhile, a Careful nature with either 156 or 200 Special Defense EVs ensures Life Orb Focus Blast and Shadow Ball from Reuniclus, respectively, never 3HKO. Similarly, 136 Speed EVs outrun Golurk, 160 EVs do the same for Adamant Pangoro, and 176 Speed EVs are for Adamant Incineroar and Bewear. Remember, all Cosmic Power Metagross spreads need a minimum of 40 Attack EVs to always 2HKO Reuniclus after Leftovers with +2 Meteor Mash.
Metagross is one of the best Steel-types to pair with Stealth Rock setters such as Rhyperior, Nidoqueen, and Seismitoad, because they sorely miss the defensive utility of the Steel typing; meanwhile, Metagross doesn't want to set Stealth Rock itself. Rhyperior is better for Nasty Plot Togekiss, while Seismitoad can check Fire-, Water-, and Ground-types for Metagross. Further, all three can reliably force in bulky Water-types and badly poison them with Toxic. In particular, Haze Milotic and Jellicent are key targets as full-on counters to Metagross, since neither can hope to outlive Metagross after Toxic. Other Pokemon such as Crobat, Entei, and Salazzle are likewise effective at badly poisoning Milotic and Jellicent, and Grass-types such as Celebi, Roserade, and Rotom-C can use these Water-types to set up, lay Spikes, or gain momentum, respectively. Even after setup, Metagross doesn't immediately threaten Ghost-types such as Chandelure and Dhelmise. They typically force it out with their powerful STAB moves, which Dark-types such as Umbreon, Incineroar, and Guzzlord can cover. Umbreon can also wake Metagross up early with Heal Bell and keep it healthy with Wish, making Rest less of a liability. Incineroar, on the other hand, hard counters most Jellicent sets and overpowers Milotic with Swords Dance-boosted attacks, while Guzzlord can land Toxic on Milotic. Pokemon such as Crobat and Galarian Weezing are sufficient switch-ins to Dark- and Fighting-types such as Pangoro, Bewear, and Heracross that plague Metagross. However, the former isn't an issue for faster Metagross EV spreads. Depending on what spread it runs, Metagross is somewhere between a solid and a shaky catch-all answer to any Calm Mind Reuniclus set. Pairing frailer Metagross spreads with other checks to it, such as Dark-types like Pangoro and Incineroar, Nasty Plot Togekiss, Heracross, and Haze Milotic, will shield against any Reuniclus set, while very bulky Metagross counters it all by itself.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Meteor Mash
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 124 Atk / 76 SpD / 56 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Metagross's good typing, high Attack stat, and solid natural bulk combine to make it a reliable Stealth Rock setter that doesn't give up any offensive pressure. Earthquake reliably 2HKOes the likes of Incineroar, Registeel, and Stakataka. Toxic is a fantastic last move that allows it to outlast its counters in Milotic, Gastrodon, and Umbreon. Bullet Punch can pick off weakened foes in a pinch but doesn't offer much else. While Leftovers is generally preferred, Shuca Berry allows Metagross to much more easily take on Flygon and Nidoqueen. Similarly, Colbur Berry is an option for Dark-types such as Pangoro and Sharpedo. It bears mentioning that Metagross makes great use of Custap Berry on fast-paced teams, as it often falls into Custap Berry range after surviving a powerful attack. Clear Body prevents Incineroar's Intimidate from lowering Metagross's Attack stat. The EVs are designed to outspeed Adamant maximum Speed Alolan Marowak, with enough Special Defense to avoid being 2HKOed by Togekiss's Flamethrower after Leftovers recovery. 136 Special Defense EVs can be used should your team be particularly weak to Nasty Plot Togekiss.
Metagross isn't able to effectively threaten bulky Water-types beyond Toxic, so it's very helpful to have teammates that can pressure or remove them. Roserade handles these bulky Water-types as well as Raikou and Xurkitree while forming a powerful entry hazard setting duo with Metagross, as it too doesn't give up offensive pressure to set up Spikes. Choice Band Flygon, Raikou, and Xurkitree are powerful offensive threats that can force out bulky Water-types while bringing Metagross into better matchups through U-turn or Volt Switch. Crobat and Umbreon can provide either Defog or Wish support to let Metagross take hits more freely. Late-game cleaners and powerful wallbreakers that appreciate Metagross's ability to reliably spread Toxic are great options as well. Heracross and Flygon are useful Choice Scarf users that appreciate Metagross's ability to comfortably take on their Fairy- and Poison-type checks like Togekiss and Crobat. Nidoqueen and Chandelure are great wallbreakers that have a much easier time breaking through bulky Water-types once Metagross has been able to cripple them with Toxic.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Clear Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a Choice Scarf equipped, Metagross is able to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame aside from Crobat and Aerodactyl, thus allowing it to be much more effective against faster-paced teams. Earthquake threatens Electric- and Fire-types such as Raikou, non-Choice Scarf Xurkitree, and Chandelure with a KO after minimal prior damage. Ice Punch crucially OHKOes Noivern and Flygon while being an accurate move to hit Celebi and Roserade with. Trick cripples walls such as Milotic, Gastrodon, and Steelix, and can also limit the effectiveness of bulky setup sweepers like Reuniclus and Suicune. Clear Body is crucial to prevent the Attack drop from Incineroar's Intimidate and Speed drop from Sticky Web.
Choice Scarf Metagross should be played as more of a fast wallbreaker rather than a late-game cleaner like other Choice Scarf users, although the boosted Speed can allow it to clean up late-game if the opportunity arises. Roserade is a great teammate to check bulky Water-types and Choice Scarf Xurkitree—the former of which can prevent Metagross from reliably revenge killing and the latter revenge killing a slightly weakened Metagross—while also setting up Spikes to wear down the opposing team. Powerful wallbreakers such as Heracross, Pangoro, and Golurk can wear down or remove most defensive Pokemon and appreciate Metagross's increased Speed to handle naturally faster Pokemon that trouble them, such as Raikou and Noivern. Metagross is slower than other Choice Scarf users, so teammates that can reliably check them can be very helpful. Togekiss and Galarian Weezing can comfortably check Flygon. Milotic and Incineroar can help Metagross switch in with Flip Turn and U-turn, and Incineroar also wears down defensive cores with Knock Off and Toxic. Choice Scarf Metagross can outrun but not KO Togekiss from full health, thus failing to reliably revenge kill it. Other checks, such as Rhyperior, Raikou, and Xurkitree, can help Metagross to check it. Naturally fast Pokemon, such as Raikou and Noivern, can also provide extra insurance against Pokemon that Metagross generally doesn't appreciate, such as Starmie. Should Metagross successfully cripple a wall with Trick, setup sweepers like Dragon Dance Flygon and Swords Dance Mimikyu can capitalize and sweep.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Meteor Mash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Bullet Punch
move 4: Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Band
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Metagross's incredible Attack stat and good natural bulk make it a powerful Choice Band user. Earthquake crushes Steel- and Fire-type Pokemon such as Registeel, Chandelure, and Incineroar. Bullet Punch can pick off weakened offensive threats such as Heracross and Flygon while also having a chance to clean up weakened offensive teams. Zen Headbutt is the preferred last move to 2HKO all bulky Water-types hoping to take one of Metagross's other attacks. With Clear Body, Incineroar can't lower Metagross's Attack with Intimidate, which ensures it can only switch into Metagross's Meteor Mash once before it's 2HKOed. Adamant is the chosen nature for extra power. Jolly can be used specifically for Modest Nidoqueen, Jolly Incineroar, and Bewear.
As Metagross is able to consistently break down opposing defensive cores, late-game cleaners are ideal choices to capitalize on this. Heracross and Flygon are effective Choice Scarf users that capitalize on Metagross breaking through bulky Water-types. Sharpedo and Dragon Dance Flygon are good sweeping options that also appreciate Metagross reliably pressuring or outright removing bulky Water-types from the game. Roserade provides Spikes support to aid in wearing down the likes of Steelix and Suicune while also checking Xurkitree and Raikou, which can revenge kill a slightly weakened Metagross once it has KOed some foe. Other physical attackers such as Lucario, Mimikyu, and Heracross can team up with Metagross to overwhelm physical walls. Wish support from Umbreon can be helpful, as Metagross's average Speed will often mean it has to take a hit in order to strike back with a KO. Diancie and Nidoqueen are great Stealth Rock users to pair with Metagross. Diancie can weaken or KO Steel-types that resist Metagross's powerful Meteor Mash, while Nidoqueen can deny Volt Switch attempts from Xurkitree and can pressure shared checks with Metagross like bulky Water-types and Bronzong. On its own, Choice Band Metagross isn't a reliable check to Togekiss, as at full health, Togekiss avoids the KO from Bullet Punch, while Metagross is outsped and OHKOed with +2 Flamethrower. Therefore, it's wise to pair it with other Togekiss answers such as Rhyperior, Xurkitree, and Diancie.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Agility with Meteor Mash, Earthquake, Thunder Punch, and Weakness Policy, Lum Berry, or Shuca Berry can allow Metagross to sweep late-game. However, such a set can't effectively capitalize on its bulk and typing to generate pressure in early- or mid-game. Protect can scout for potential Choice-locked attackers like Flygon and stall for Toxic damage. A set with Grass Knot and Expert Belt can 2HKO Gastrodon and Seismitoad with 56 SpA EVs, even with a Special Attack dropping nature. Outside of Gastrodon, Seismitoad, and the occasional Quagsire, though, Grass Knot doesn't hit many other targets for notable damage. Metagross can take mixed sets to another level with Power Herb and Meteor Beam. Meteor Beam not only boosts its Special Attack but also lets it lure in and KO Golisopod with minimal prior damage. Such mixed sets typically run some combination of Meteor Mash, Psychic, Earthquake, and Grass Knot alongside Meteor Beam. Explosion is a viable option on offensive Stealth Rock and Choice Band sets, taking a huge chunk out of some foe while providing a safe switch in for a frail, offensive teammate once Metagross has no more use.
Checks and Counters
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**Bulky Water-types**: Outside of Choice Band-boosted Zen Headbutt, bulky Water-types such as Milotic, Suicune, and Gastrodon can handle any attack from Metagross and stay healthy to switch in multiple times. Gastrodon and Seismitoad can even retaliate with STAB Earth Power and Earthquake. Starmie is particularly annoying to Stealth Rock sets, because Natural Cure and Recover generally ensure it can spin on Metagross throughout any game. However, Metagross's Toxic and Earthquake can potentially force Starmie out, letting Stealth Rock stay up for a while longer. Jellicent stands out as one of the best counters to Cosmic Power Metagross thanks to its Ghost typing, and with the combination of Will-O-Wisp, Hex, and Taunt, Metagross has no hope to outlast it. Milotic can keep Cosmic Power sets at bay with Haze and will eventually force them to use Rest with Scald.
**Dark-types and Dark-type coverage**: Umbreon switches comfortably into Stealth Rock and Choice Scarf sets, but Choice Band Metagross cleanly 2HKOes it and Cosmic Power variants set up for free. Incineroar and Pangoro can take advantage of Stealth Rock Metagross and Cosmic Power sets that can't outspeed them. Both can even deal with Cosmic Power Metagross after setup, as they set up with Swords Dance after Metagross's Rest and KO before it wakes up. Some Choice Band Pangoro and the odd Grimmsnarl carry Darkest Lariat to ignore Cosmic Power Metagross's Defense boosts; however, neither can OHKO it and they need to watch out for Body Press and Meteor Mash, respectively. Similarly, Bewear can muscle past a set-up Metagross with Darkest Lariat, and thanks to Fluffy and a potential Chople Berry to boot, it doesn't fear Body Press as much. Many common Pokemon such as Golisopod, Heracross, and Tornadus carry Knock Off, and Metagross's item is priceless on every set.
**Faster Pokemon**: Metagross's base 70 Speed leaves it outpaced by many offensive Pokemon, which not only force it out after it gets a KO but also give it a hard time switching in at all. Sharpedo, Chandelure, and Flygon are all faster Pokemon that can threaten Metagross with powerful or super effective STAB moves, although none can switch in safely.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Chandelure, Dhelmise, Golurk, and Mimikyu offensively threaten any Metagross set but are particularly effective against Cosmic Power sets, as they're immune to Body Press. Chandelure also resists Meteor Mash and can even overwhelm Metagross after setup with Hex or Choice Specs; if all else fails, Trick can incapacitate Cosmic Power Metagross with a Choice item.
**Ground-types**: Steelix has to worry about Choice Band-boosted Earthquake some, but its high Defense lets it take a couple when necessary, and it easily handles Meteor Mash. Flygon and Nidoqueen are shakier answers because they cannot take hits as well, but they have much stronger STAB attacks to threaten Metagross with.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[EonX, 91480], [GoldCat, 359771]]
- Quality checked by: [[Expulso, 202058], [mac3, 291087], [Yourwelcomethanku, 541847], [zizalith, 410251]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [Adeleine, 517429], [UT, 523866]]
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