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Set Description Air Balloon allows Metagross to beat Ground-types that usually counter it, like both Landorus formes, Garchomp, and Rhyperior. Meteor Mash hits targets like Rhyperior and Kyurem. Ice Punch hits the aforementioned Ground-types while also hitting Grass-types like Rillaboom. Earthquake hits Steel- and Electric-types like Magnezone and Zeraora, and Bullet Punch finishes off weakened foes and Custap Berry users like Sawk, Magnezone, and Crustle. EVs The HP EVs allow Metagross to survive Knock Off from Choice Band Landorus-T, while the Speed EVs are used for opposing Metagross and certain Carracosta sets. The remaining EVs are dumped into Attack for damage against Regidrago. Usage Tips Against Encore + Disable users like Gardevoir, Alolan Ninetales, and Aromatisse, always use Meteor Mash turn 1, and use Bullet Punch turn 2 to avoid being forced to use Struggle. Against Crustle, you use Bullet Punch turn 1 because it can use Counter, and then KO it with Meteor Mash the next turn. Against Aggron, you should use Bullet Punch turn 1 so that Metal Burst doesn't KO Metagross, and finish it off turn 2 with Earthquake.

Set Description Equipped with a Choice Band, Metagross can demolish Pokemon that check other sets like Regidrago and Zeraora. Meteor Mash hits neutral targets like Porygon-Z hard while also hitting targets like Aromatisse super effectively. Bullet Punch beats Galarian Darmanitan and Earthquake beats Zeraora, Magnezone, and some Arcanine and Incineroar sets. Trick beats various stall Pokemon like Cresselia, Galarian Corsola, and Ferrothorn. Ice Punch allows it to KO Garchomp and bulky Regidrago sets, while Zen Headbutt hits offensive Urshifu-R and Galarian Zapdos. EVs The HP EVs ensure Metagross survives Custap Berry Dracozolt's Bolt Beak, and the Special Defense EVs allow it to survive Dragon Energy into Draco Meteor from Custap Berry Regidrago. The remaining EVs are dumped into Attack for better damage versus Togekiss and Regidrago. However, an alternative spread of 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Jolly nature allows it to outspeed neutral-nature base 80 Speed Pokemon, like Regidrago. Here, maximum Attack gives it the best KO odds versus Tyranitar. If you are running these EVs, you should run Thunder Punch as the fourth move for a better Celesteela matchup. Usage Tips Most of the time, using the strongest move is the best option. If running Trick, always use it against stall Pokemon like Galarian Corsola and Corviknight. Against Encore + Disable Pokemon like Alolan Ninetales, always use Bullet Punch instead of Meteor Mash to avoid getting locked into Struggle. Bullet Punch OHKOes some Pokemon such as Galarian Darmanitan, Weavile, and Archeops, so you should always use it to avoid the risk of getting KOed first. Against Zeraora, using Earthquake will always OHKO unless Zeraora uses Knock Off. In that case, you can use Bullet Punch turn 2 to KO it.

Set Description Meteor Mash, besides nailing Steel-weak targets like Sylveon and Tapu Lele, is Metagross's best neutral STAB move for targets like Azumarill and Porygon-Z. Bullet Punch finishes off weakened foes and is extremely useful for KOing Sturdy or Custap Berry users like Sawk, Magnezone, and Primarina. Earthquake hits Steel- and Electric-types like Tapu Koko, most Zeraora, and Magnezone. Ice Punch hits non-Choice Band Landorus-T and Landorus, Zapdos, Dragapult, and some Garchomp. Power-Up Punch is a useful alternative for better matchups against Iron Defense Tapu Koko and Iron Defense Tapu Fini. Assault Vest offers reliability versus the aforementioned Primarina and Landorus, and it lets Metagross survive super effective hits from Pokemon like Hydreigon. EVs Assault Vest with 204 HP and 144 Special Defense EVs allows Metagross to survive Sparking Aria twice from Choice Specs Primarina. The HP EVs also allow Metagross to survive Life Orb Zeraora's Knock Off after Bulk Up. The remaining EVs are dumped into Attack for better KO odds versus Dragapult. Usage Tips There are some matchups that are a bit different than using the highest damaging move. For example, against Crustle you use Bullet Punch turn 1 because it can use Counter, and then KO it with Meteor Mash the next turn. Versus Tapu Fini, use Meteor Mash instead of Power-Up Punch turn 1 to avoid getting locked into Power-Up Punch by Trick. Against Tapu Koko, use Earthquake turn 1, and if it uses Iron Defense, start using Power-Up Punch until Earthquake can 2HKO it. Against Encore + Disable users like Gardevoir, Alolan Ninetales, and Aromatisse, always use Meteor Mash turn 1, and use Bullet Punch turn 2 to avoid being forced to use Struggle. Against Togekiss, you should use Bullet Punch turn 1 to scout its set. If it's Kee Berry or Babiri Berry, you should use Power-Up Punch turn 2 and then use Meteor Mash turn 3. Even if it uses Encore turn 2, you can still finish it off by using Bullet Punch when Metagross's Encore ends. If it's another Togekiss set, you can use Meteor Mash turn 2 to finish it off.

Set Description With a Choice Scarf, Metagross can surprise and outspeed numerous threats that normally beat it like Landorus-T and SubSeed Venusaur. Meteor Mash hits neutral targets like Porygon-Z hard and nails Steel-weak targets such as Sylveon and Tapu Lele. Earthquake hits Electric-types like Dracozolt and Tapu Koko, while Trick is used for stall Pokemon like Galarian Corsola and Cresselia. Ice Punch beats most Garchomp, Landorus, and Landorus-T, while Thunder Punch can be used to hit Choice Scarf Tapu Fini. EVs The HP EVs allow Metagross to survive Hydro Pump from Choice Specs Tapu Fini and Earthquake from Jolly Choice Scarf Garchomp. The Speed EVs allow it to outspeed base 110s like Latios. An alternative spread of 240 HP / 28 Atk / 96 Def / 144 Spe can be used with Rest in the last moveslot for a more defensive approach, letting it survive Jolly Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan's attacks and outspeed other Galarian Darmanitan sets. Also, it will have a better matchup versus stall Pokemon like Chansey, Blissey, and Sap Sipper Azumarill because of Rest. Usage Tips Using the highest damaging move most of the time works. Use Trick on Pokemon that cannot deal high damage, like Tapu Bulu, Togekiss, and stall Pokemon like Galarian Corsola and Corviknight, locking them into their low-damage or status moves.

Set Description Weakness Policy is beneficial for Kartana, opposing Metagross, and Zeraora. Meteor Mash hits neutral targets like Haxorus and Regidrago hard. Bullet Punch finishes off weakened foes and Custap Berry users such as Sylveon and Magnezone. Earthquake hits Steel- and Electric-types like Regieleki and Carracosta. Psychic may seem like an odd choice, but it helps versus a few foes that Zen Headbutt wouldn't beat, such as Counter Sawk, Iron Defense Urshifu-R, Kartana, and Avalugg. Endure helps against Galarian Darmanitan and Choice Band Dragapult. Weakness Policy surprises many Pokemon that Metagross can tank supereffective hits from and KO back, such as Assault Vest Entei and Choice Band Steelix. EVs 248 HP EVs and 28 Defense EVs ensure that Metagross beats Haxorus. The remaining EVs are dumped into Attack to reliably beat all Regidrago sets. Metagross can run 8 Speed IVs to still outspeed Azumarill and have a better chance at activating Weakness Policy against Incineroar or some variants of Tyranitar, and it can even run 0 Speed IVs for a better opposing Metagross matchup. However, Metagross will lose reliably versus Primarina with less Speed investment. Usage Tips Against Crustle you should use Bullet Punch turn 1 because it can use Counter, and then KO it with Meteor Mash the next turn. Against Encore + Disable users like Gardevoir, Alolan Ninetales, and Aromatisse, always use Meteor Mash turn 1, and use Bullet Punch turn 2 to avoid being forced to use Struggle. Against Galarian Darmanitan, you should use Endure to survive Flare Blitz and KO back with +2 Bullet Punch. Against Dragapult, you should use Endure on turn 2 if Phantom Force is used, and use Bullet Punch on turns where Phantom Force will not hit. However, other Dragapult sets like Choice Specs will beat you, so be wary of that.

Steel Roller is incredibly powerful, able to at least 2HKO almost everything that doesn't resist it. However, it requires a Terrain to be active to do damage, so it is recommended that you have at least one terrain setter like Tapu Fini or Rillaboom. Meteor Mash, while having considerably less power and shaky accuracy, is not reliant on a terrain being active. Ice Punch covers Ground- and Flying-types, OHKOing against Landorus and having a small chance of OHKOing Zygarde. Stomping Tantrum covers Electric- and Fire-types, 2HKOing Zeraora and Incineroar while picking up an OHKO on Heatran. Stealth Rock chips away at opposing switch-ins and is especially good against Rock-weak Pokemon like Kyurem-B and Incineroar. Toxic is great at wearing down bulky Pokemon like Porygon2 and Tapu Fini. Protect can be used if other teammates are able to provide such utility or the utility isn't deemed necessary. Occa Berry weakens Fire-type attacks like Heatran's Eruption, while Shuca Berry weakens Ground-type attacks like Landorus's Earth Power, allowing Metagross to OHKO them in return. Clear Body prevents other Pokemon from dropping its stats, most significantly making Metagross unfazed by Intimidate.

Cosmic Power raises both Defense and Special Defense, making Metagross difficult to KO and boosting the power of its Body Press. Body Press offers neutral or super effective coverage against much of the tier. It can OHKO troublesome Fire-types like Incineroar and Heatran after two Cosmic Power boosts. Ice Punch nails Landorus, always OHKOing it with the given EV spread. It also offers coverage for Dragapult, one of the few Pokemon Metagross cannot hit with Body Press, and deals solid damage to Amoonguss, which can redirect Body Press with Rage Powder. Metagross can recover extra HP from Leftovers and Grassy Terrain while it uses Protect, increasing its longevity. The Attack and Special Defense investment allows Metagross to survive Landorus' Earth Power after one Cosmic Power boost and OHKO it back with Ice Punch. The remaining EVs are dumped into Defense with an Impish nature to maximize Body Press’s damage. Clear Body allows Metagross to ignore Intimidate, guaranteeing that it will still OHKO Landorus with Ice Punch.

This spread allows Metagross to take two Flamethrower from Togekiss and outspeeds Adamant Golurk.

Metagross's great bulk and typing make it a very solid choice for Dynamaxing, with Max Steelspike making it particularly difficult to KO. Earthquake is very useful for gaining a Special Defense boost via Max Quake, and hitting opposing Steel-types hard. Thunder Punch is mainly useful for dealing as much damage to Celesteela and Corviknight as possible. Hammer Arm lets Metagross boost its Attack while Dynamaxed with Max Knuckle, and still hits Heatran and Ferrothorn decently hard. Zen Headbutt is Metagross's most powerful STAB when Psychic Terrain is up, and it severely damages Urshifu-R and the rare Toxapex. Bullet Punch is a useful priority move to carry when not Dynamaxed. Although giving up an attack is difficult, Agility is notable for allowing Metagross to potentially sweep late-game. Items Weakness Policy is the obvious choice as a Dynamax attacker, punishing foes that dare hit Metagross super-effectively. Assault Vest is a reasonable alternative that makes Metagross even more difficult to KO with Special Attacks. EV Spreads 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe with Adamant: This EV spread mazimizes Metagross's bulk and Attack stat. 164 HP / 252 Atk / 92 Spe with Adamant: When used with Agility, this EV spread allows Metagross to outspeed up to neutral natured Pheromosa. 68 HP / 252 Atk / 188 Spe with Jolly: This EV spread allows Metagross to outspeed Timid Celesteela, which is very useful when running Thunder Punch. 44 HP / 252 Atk / 212 Spe with Jolly: When using Agility, this Speed investment allows Metagross to outspeed up to +1 Nihilego, +1 Garchomp, and max Speed neutral natured Regieleki.

Moves The sheer power of Meteor Mash is what sets Choice Band Metagross apart from its primary competition in Scizor. It is very spammable because of this power, its decent neutral coverage, and its chance to raise Metagross's Attack stat. Earthquake synergizes well offensively with Meteor Mash due to its ability to hit most Steel-resistant Pokemon for super effective damage. Scizor, Cobalion, and Volcanion are all otherwise decent switch-ins to Meteor Mash that are crushed by Earthquake. Pursuit provides Metagross with crucial offensive utility that capitalizes off of the many switches it forces by virtue of its bulk and typing, allowing it to trap Psychic-type such as Latias and Celebi quite convincingly. Explosion lets Metagross get off a massive neutral hit in exchange for it bring KOed, which can prove key in supporting its teammates by crippling or eliminating threats to your team. Rotom-Heat, Hippowdon, Slowbro, and Alomomola all take ridiculous damage from Explosion, with Rotom-Heat being outright OHKOed and all other examples being OHKOed after relatively little chip damage. Bullet Punch provides key revenge killing power that Metagross would otherwise lack, letting it scare out worn-down offensive Pokemon such as Mamoswine and Mega Aerodactyl. It is worth noting, though, that it is considerably weaker than Scizor's Bullet Punch. Trick exchanges Metagross's long-term wallbreaking power for the opportunity to lure in and cripple a switch-in by removing its item and giving it a Choice Band. This can prove extremely useful in longer games against teams that rely on bulky Water- and Ground-types such as Alomomola, Suicune, Hippowdon, and Gligar to keep physical attackers at bay. Set Details 216 Speed EVs give Metagross the jump on Jolly Crawdaunt and Adamant Scizor, allowing it to outspeed both and 2HKO them with Earthquake. Usage Tips Use Metagross's bulk and typing to apply immediate pressure and spam Meteor Mash early-game to soften up its switch-ins and clear the way for a teammate. If you are carrying Trick and do not feel Metagross will be useful in the long run, try to give a switch-in its Choice Band with Trick. Crippling an Alomomola or Hippowdon early-game will often get you much more mileage out of Metagross than being walled indefinitely. This same result can also be achieved with Explosion, though at a higher cost. Feel free to go for Explosion if you feel Metagross has outlived its usefulness or if it is at low HP. Avoid switching directly into attacks Metagross doesn't necessarily have to take, especially if its bulk is needed to soft-check an offensive Pokemon later. Dragon Dance Mega Altaria and Calm Latias, for example, do not need much chip damage at all to KO Metagross with +1 Earthquake or +1 Devastating Drake, respectively. Unnecessary damage can be avoided with VoltTurn support from Pokemon such as Mega Manectric and Hydreigon. All of Metagross's moves are exploitable to some capacity, so be discerning with which move you lock it into. Calm Mind Slowbro or Calm Mind Suicune, for example, can set up on Metagross locked into Meteor Mash or Earthquake, while going for Pursuit will leave Metagross a sitting duck versus virtually anything that comes in. Team Options Choice Band Metagross fits best on bulky offense teams that can support slow wallbreakers and compensate for Metagross's relative lack of staying power with healing support and entry hazard removal. Wish users such as Alomomola and Florges are effective at counteracting Metagross's longevity issues as well as the shortcomings of its defensive typing, with each example also acting as consistent switch-ins to a good number of Metagross's offensive checks, such as Hydreigon in the case of Florges and Krookodile and Doublade in the case of Alomomola. Alomomola also tends to bait in Pokemon that will allow Metagross in for free, such as Latias, while Florges is capable of luring Scizor and removing it with Hidden Power Fire. Defensive answers to the common Ground-, Dark-, and Fire-type Pokemon looking to force Metagross ensure that Metagross does not forfeit free turns to them. Kommo-o, Hydreigon, and Chesnaught all comfortably handle the likes of Krookodile, Bisharp, and Crawdaunt to some capacity, while also providing team support by annoying special walls with Taunt and Spikes, respectively. Many setup Pokemon appreciate Metagross's wallbreaking ability between Meteor Mash and Explosion. For example, Nasty Plot Infernape and Calm Mind Suicune are much tougher to handle if Metagross has handled an opposing Latias or Mega Altaria, and Mega Sharpedo can clean up late-game after Metagross has softened up opposing bulky Pokemon with repeated Meteor Mashes. Offensive pivots such as Choice Scarf Hydreigon and Mega Manectric can bring in Metagross for free on their switch-ins, most of which are threatened by Choice Band-boosted Meteor Mash. Their Speed also helps take offensive pressure off Metagross by revenge killing opposing fast Pokemon capable of revenge killing it. Rotom-Heat is an extremely effective defensive pivot that shuts down most Ground-types that would otherwise feast on Metagross as well as Scizor, and they can force them out to bring Metagross in with Volt Switch. In return, Metagross is a decent soft answer to the Dragon-types that come in to sponge Rotom-Heat's Volt Switch.

Moves Meteor Mash provides Metagross with a STAB move to threaten opposing Fairy-types and special walls, which it otherwise can't do much against with its coverage moves. Explosion is a viable alternative, as on top of being a massively powerful nuke when boosted by Life Orb, it provides you with a free switch to a teammate in exchange for Metagross being KOed. Hidden Power Fire is necessary for this set to lure in and KO opposing Scizor, one of the biggest threats in the tier, while also hitting other Steel-types for decent damage. Grass Knot allows Metagross to damage Ground-types, OHKOing Swampert and Quagsire and crippling Hippowdon. Stealth Rock is run because Metagross is an excellent user of the move, setting it up for free on forced switches against Latias, Klefki, Sylveon, and Blissey. Set Details The lack of Attack investment doesn't affect the power of Metagross's physical moves that drastically, as Explosion and Meteor Mash are still extremely strong coming off its high Attack stat with a Life Orb boost. A Hasty nature is used over Naive because Metagross's physical bulk is still high enough despite the stat drop to take the physical hits it needs to, namely Scizor's Bullet Punch. It also appreciates having more Special Defense to switch into attacks such as Draco Meteor from Latias and Moonblast from Florges if it needs to. Life Orb is essential to power up Metagross's special attacks to the level necessary to KO the threats it needs to, guaranteeing the OHKO on offensive Scizor with Hidden Power Fire and giving a chance to OHKO defensive Scizor after Stealth Rock with Hidden Power Fire. It also allows Grass Knot to OHKO Swampert the vast majority of the time and 2HKO any Hippowdon variant. Alternatively, Expert Belt can be used to bluff a different set and achieve many of the OHKOs and 2HKOs that Life Orb achieves, but it does not do so as reliably, and lacking Life Orb makes its neutral attacks far weaker. Usage Tips Bring Metagross in on foes it checks by virtue of its typing, such as Latias and Klefki, to set up Stealth Rock or fire off an attack. Don't do this frequently, however, as the lack of bulk investment means Metagross doesn't take many hits, and it needs HP to fire off as many Life Orb-boosted attacks as possible. Precise prediction is necessary to get the most damage out of Metagross and cripple or eliminate the targets it is intended to lure. Predict obvious switch-ins to the likes of Scizor, Hippowdon, Swampert, and Doublade early on so that Metagross's teammates can do work unhindered by their defensive checks. If carrying Explosion, be extremely selective with its use and designate a threat you want to use it on, as you can only use it once. It should generally be saved for a Pokemon Metagross cannot hurt otherwise, such as Blissey or Tentacruel, or if you desperately need to get a teammate in for free on your chosen target. Note that without Meteor Mash, Explosion is this set's only real way to threaten special walls, so be careful not to reveal your coverage until an opportune time unless you decide to target a specially bulky Pokemon with Explosion. Team Options Mixed Metagross makes for a great offensive support Pokemon because of the common threats it lures by virtue of its typing and coverage. For this reason, offensive Pokemon that need bulky Pokemon put in KO range of their attacks such as Terrakion and Dragon Dance Altaria make excellent partners, as they greatly appreciate Metagross's ability to lure Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Quagsire, and Scizor, as well as bringing them in for free on weakened targets with Explosion. Metagross's lack of bulk investment means it generally lacks defensive utility despite being a Steel-type. Klefki does an excellent job picking up the slack, as it not only switches reliably into opposing Dragon- and Fairy-types but can also set up Spikes, which gives Metagross a decent chance to OHKO defensive Scizor and guarantees the OHKO on Swampert with Grass Knot. Due to Metagross's low Speed, lack of longevity, and weaker Meteor Mash, it is bait for most of the tier's Dark-types, making checks to them essential so they cannot capitalize on the free turns Metagross gives to them. Mega Altaria, Terrakion, and Togekiss all appreciate lure Metagross's support while also keeping Dark-types at bay.

Moves Meteor Mash is Metagross's best option for its Steel-type STAB move, and its very useful chance to raise its Attack makes it decently spammable. Earthquake is necessary coverage to not be walled by Fire- and Steel-types and does decent neutral damage to bulky Water-types. Volcanion, Cobalion, Mega Aggron, and Mega Steelix all take massive damage from Earthquake but would be able to switch in consistently to Meteor Mash otherwise. Bullet Punch allows Metagross to act as a revenge killer or get last-ditch chip damage versus Pokemon about to KO it, meaning that faster Pokemon weak to Steel such as Mamoswine, Togekiss, and Mega Aerodactyl aren't safe bets for revenge killing Metagross. Explosion allows Metagross to get off a massive nuke once you feel like it has outlived its usefulness, allowing it to support its teammates by crippling Pokemon such as Suicune and Hippowdon in exchange for KOing itself. Pursuit is an alternative option that lets Metagross trap Pokemon it checks by virtue of its typing, such as Latias and Celebi, but this isn't always ideal because of its lack of power, overcompression of roles sacrificing general utility and coverage, and chip damage from Life Orb. The latter issue will often lead to a Metagross carrying both Stealth Rock and Pursuit often having to choose between one or the other, due to how quickly it is worn down. Set Details The Speed investment in conjunction with Life Orb is necessary for Metagross to outspeed and 2HKO Crawdaunt and offensive Scizor with Earthquake. If running a damage reduction Berry, the choice between Shuca and Colbur Berry will determine which of two pools of threats Metagross can stay in against for that one turn. This greatly improves its utility as an offensive glue. Usage Tips Use Metagross's typing to your advantage and switch it into Pokemon such as Latias, Klefki, Florges, and Amoonguss, provided something has been put to sleep in the case of the latter, to set up Stealth Rock. Do note, though, that Metagross should not be your primary switch-in to such Pokemon due to how quickly it is worn down. If the opponent is carrying a Pokemon that can take advantage of Metagross, either pick up the slack with aggressive play or apply offensive pressure by firing off attacks so Pokemon can't come in completely for free. If Rotom-Heat comes in to Defog away Stealth Rock, for example, you can lure it in and remove it from play with Explosion. Preserve Metagross's HP and Berry, if using one, so it can stay in against a foe using either Ground- or Dark-type attacks. This can prove useful for beating massive threats such as Mamoswine and Bisharp one-on-one that would otherwise force Metagross out. Team Options Despite being a predominantly offensive Pokemon, Metagross's defensive qualities make it a decent glue for more frail offensive teams that need a lot of utility poured into one teamslot. Its bulk lets it act as an emergency check to the likes of Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Sceptile, as well as a serviceable check to Dragon- and Fairy-types such as Latias, Florges, and Mega Altaria. Late-game sweepers such as Mega Sharpedo and Mega Sceptile appreciate Metagross's ability to wallbreak and soft-check Fairy- and Dragon-types, as well as softening up walls with Meteor Mash. Since Metagross can only tank one or two particularly strong attacks, backup offensive checks to the aforementioned Fairy- and Dragon-types are needed to handle them reliably. Such Pokemon include Mamoswine, Rotom-Heat, and Mega Beedrill. Metagross's subpar Speed stat and general role on offensive teams almost always calls for a Choice Scarf user to help alleviate offensive pressure. Its common weaknesses to Fire, Dark, Ghost, and Ground makes Hydreigon an absolutely excellent option in this role, as it covers for all of these shortcomings. Choice Scarf Infernape is an effective revenge killer that handles most of such Pokemon decently well. Both of these Pokemon can use U-turn to bait opposing Fairy-types that Metagross can beat. Fire-resistant bulky attackers such as Mega Altaria, Swampert, Nihilego, and Mega Aerodactyl do a good job keeping opposing Fire-types from taking advantage of this set if one manages to come in on Metagross for free. Pokemon capable of exploiting bulky Water- and Ground-types such as Hippowdon and Slowbro are also necessary so they cannot freely exploit Metagross. Calm Mind Latias and Celebi are capable of reliably beating such Pokemon while making for solid wallbreakers in their own right. They also do well on frail offense teams, as their defensive qualities mesh well with Metagross's and make for a decent defensive backbone.

Moves Thunder Punch is a necessity for many of the bulky Water-types that do not take enough damage from Mega Metagross's Steel-type STAB attacks, particularly Mega Gyarados, non-Substitute Primarina, Tapu Fini, and Mega Blastoise. Earthquake is an essential move for combating opposing Steel-types, mainly Magnezone and rival Mega Metagross. Iron Head, while not as powerful as the popular Meteor Mash, has 100% accuracy, improving consistency against your opponents by not risking a miss. Additionally, Iron Head has a much more beneficial side effect in its 30% flinch chance, granting Mega Metagross opportunities to get a free turn of damage whenever it uses the move; this is particularly helpful for Pokemon where you really need a single spare turn to win, such as Heatran, Dragonite if you lack Ice Punch, and Magearna if you lack Substitute. Zen Headbutt can be used either as an alternative STAB move for hitting foes neutrally or as a coverage move. Like Iron Head, it also has a flinch chance, though it's only 20% as opposed to Iron Head's 30%, so it's not really something that can be relied on as effectively for flinches. The main threats that it provides coverage for are Kommo-o and Mega Venusaur, and it is more reliable for OHKOing Naganadel. Substitute is a helpful utility move for dancing around status move users, as well as avoiding significant damage from Counter, Metal Burst, and Z-Moves. It is most useful for Magearna, Aegislash, Mega Venusaur, Celesteela, and Mega Mawile. Ice Punch is mainly just a coverage move for the threatening Dragon- and Ground-type Pokemon that occupy the metagame, namely Dragonite, Mega Altaria, and Landorus-T, although Mega Metagross will still lose to Groundium Z Landorus-T sets. Bullet Punch is a STAB priority move that helps for chipping down opposing Pokemon or following up for a KO. Bullet Punch will benefit you the most against Magnezone, Choice Specs Greninja, Mega Mawile, and Naganadel if you lack Zen Headbutt. Rock Slide can be run alongside a speedy EV spread for the purpose of catching Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona by surprise. If you're lucky, you could also get a flinch against Mega Charizard X for a 2HKO. Meteor Mash can be run on a speedy EV spread as well, 2HKOing Choice Specs Necrozma, and putting Pheromosa and Z-Conversion Porygon-Z into Bullet Punch range. Set Details The 248 HP and 28 Defense EVs with an Impish Nature make Mega Metagross capable of withstanding a maximum Attack Mega Gyarados's Dragon Dance-boosted Crunch. The 64 Special Defense EVs also just barely enable Mega Metagross to withstand a Timid Choice Specs Naganadel's Fire Blast, among other significant special hits like Choice Specs Greninja's Dark Pulse, Magnezone's Electrium Z-boosted Zap Cannon, and Heatran's -2 Overheat after using Substitute. The 72 Speed EVs just barely creep past maximum Speed Smeargle in order to avoid being put to sleep, as well as outspeeding Adamant Mega Gyarados in order to avoid a potential 2HKO from Crunch. The 96 Attack EVs make Thunder Punch a near-guaranteed 2HKO against maximum HP Mega Gyarados, as well as maximizing Mega Metagross's general damage output without sacrificing any essential investments. Clear Body is an essential ability before Metagross Mega Evolves because it prevents Intimidate and moves like Charm from lowering Metagross's Attack, as well as stopping moves like Electroweb, Rock Tomb, and Bulldoze from lowering its Speed. Mega Metagross can run maximum Attack and maximum Speed to outspeed Pokemon like Garchomp and Landorus-T and OHKO them with Ice Punch or become immune to their Ground moves with Magnet Rise. This is mandatory for both Rock Slide and Meteor Mash, as well. Outspeeding Porygon-Z also helps so that you can 2HKO it with the combination of Meteor Mash, before it boosts with Z-Conversion, and Bullet Punch. This, however, sacrifices many matchups against bulky offensive or faster Pokemon due to the bulk you sacrifice in order to do so, meaning you now lose to Mega Gyarados, Greninja, Magnezone, and Naganadel. Usage Tips Mega Metagross finds itself best suited against opposing bulky offensive threats like Dragonite, Mega Gyarados, Meloetta, Mega Tyranitar, and Mega Mawile. In most scenarios against offensive Pokemon like Mega Gyarados, Dragonite, and Greninja, Mega Metagross wants to deal as much damage as possible as fast as possible because these Pokemon often don't use moves that it would be beneficial to use Substitute against. In scenarios against certain Pokemon that rely on a single powerful attack or aim to hinder Mega Metagross with status moves, such as Primarina and stall Celesteela, using Substitute immediately will help you be able to negate these moves so that you can go for the KO unhindered; however, some Pokemon possess the means to break its Substitutes, which means some predictions may be required, namely against foes like Aegislash and Hidden Power Fire Mega Venusaur. Against Magearna, you're best suited using Earthquake Turn 1 in order to get as much damage off as possible before it uses Iron Defense, as well as 2HKO it in the event that it's a Choice Specs set, then following up with Substitute so that it can't recover its HP by using Pain Split. Even though Greninja is a Water-type, it loses that typing upon using Dark Pulse, which means that you're better off using Mega Metagross's Steel STAB attack, rather than Thunder Punch; even if they use Hydro Cannon to resist Steel, they'll be stuck recharging the next turn, making them easy to pick off with Thunder Punch. Be forewarned that you will need Bullet Punch in order to reliably 2HKO Greninja if it uses Dark Pulse, as Iron Head does not have a reliable OHKO chance. Additionally, Greninja may opt to use Hidden Power Fire to resist Mega Metagross's Steel attacks, but this leaves it susceptible to being knocked out by Earthquake, thus making the matchup more reliant on predictions if you're unfamiliar with the set or if they're running both Hidden Power Fire and Dark Pulse. Against Altaria, Ice Punch is often the ideal move to start with, as most Altaria will not Mega Evolve immediately out of fear of a Steel-type STAB attack, and try to set up defensively with Cotton Guard; even if they do Mega Evolve, it's still very feasible for Iron Head to pick up the 2HKO on the next turn even if Mega Altaria is at +3 unless they're running a lot of Defense investment. Against Mega Mawile, using either Bullet Punch or Substitute immediately is the best option, as most Mawile wouldn't think to use Play Rough against Mega Metagross, nor can it even reliably break Mega Metagross's Substitute, unless they have near-maximum Attack or Fire Fang. Bullet Punch's utility is to outprioritize Sucker Punch as well as minimize damage taken from a potential Metal Burst. In certain unfavorable situations, like being up against a Zygarde or Air Balloon Heatran, your only option will be to go for the unlikely odds of a 30% Iron Head flinch, which would put Zygarde in range of an Ice Punch 2HKO and pop Heatran's Air Balloon so that you can finish it off with Earthquake. The biggest downside of using Mega Metagross is that it will often find itself needing coverage moves that it doesn't have room for, such as Ice Punch for Dragonite, Zen Headbutt for Kommo-o, and Bullet Punch for Magnezone. Don't be afraid to switch up moves on Mega Metagross to cover whatever weaknesses your team may have at a given point in time. Team Options Water-types like Mega Gyarados, Mega Slowbro, Primarina, and Tapu Fini cover Mega Metagross's weaknesses to Fire- and Ground-types like Charizard, Heatran, Donphan, and Garchomp very well, while Mega Metagross in turn aids the Water-types by resisting and tanking hits from the Grass- and Electric-types they're weak to, namely Mega Venusaur, Magnezone, and Zeraora. Stall-oriented Pokemon like Mega Slowbro, Zygarde, Jumpluff, Mega Altaria, and Mega Venusaur work well with Mega Metagross, as it covers many of the most viable Taunt users in the metagame such as Mega Gyarados, Mega Gardevoir, Kommo-o, and Tapu Fini, while most of Mega Metagross's weaknesses are either stall users themselves or bulky offensive Pokemon that have little answer to being stalled down, like Mega Charizard X and Y, Landorus-T, and Donphan. Dragonite is a suitable partner for Mega Metagross, as it can handle the Fire- and Ground-types that threaten Mega Metagross, as well as Z-Conversion Porygon-Z. In return, Mega Metagross aids Dragonite in handling the threatening Fairy-types and Mold Breaker Pokemon that present Dragonite with issues.

Moves Meteor Mash's high damage output against Fairy-types assists in offensively checking them with help from Bullet Punch. Access to Ice Punch sets Mega Metagross apart from other Steel-types. Unlike other Steel-types, Mega Metagross can swiftly remove Mega Salamence with Ice Punch instead of merely switching into it. More importantly, Mega Metagross becomes more hazardous for Zygarde to take advantage of. Rock Slide prevents Ho-Oh from easily shutting down this set by allowing Mega Metagross to OHKO it after Stealth Rock damage. Thunder Punch can be opted for instead of Rock Slide, trading Mega Metagross's ability to pressure Ho-Oh with a better matchup against Primal Kyogre. However, Thunder Punch's inability to 2HKO Arceus-Water and defensive Ho-Oh and Primal Kyogre's greater susceptibility to repeated damage make it a far less ideal option than Rock Slide. Bullet Punch picks off weakened foes like Geomancy Xerneas. With this move, Mega Metagross becomes an improved check to Fairy-types that can switch into them and still do sizable damage to them when it's at low health. Earthquake can be considered to hit Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM hard on the switch, but neither of them is 2HKOed from full health. Set Details 176 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allow Mega Metagross to outspeed everything up to maximum base 100 Speed Pokemon. The investment makes it harder for Yveltal to recklessly take on Mega Metagross should it lack Choice Scarf and enables Mega Metagross to make the first move against the less common Palkia, Mega Kangaskhan, and Mega Blaziken. 232 HP EVs and 40 Special Defense EVs combine to help Mega Metagross survive a hit from boosted Geomancy Xerneas after a layer of Spikes. This EV spread also allows Mega Metagross to survive three Moonblasts from Xerneas and a Shadow Ball from Mega Gengar at full health. The remainder of the EVs are invested in Attack to improve the odds that Geomancy Xerneas will be taken out by Bullet Punch after taking an uninvested Precipice Blades from Primal Groudon. Usage Tips Mega Metagross will typically pivot into Xerneas, as Xerneas struggles to immediately overpower a healthy Mega Metagross. Mega Metagross is also a blanket check to Deoxys-A and Arceus-Fairy, but the latter can cripple Mega Metagross with Will-O-Wisp or surprise it with Fire Blast when it's weakened enough. What makes it very difficult to make the most use of Mega Metagross is the fact that it will often hand over the momentum to its switch-in after entering the field. Threatening Pokemon like Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM can switch into a weak attack and essentially gain a free turn, and it will be impossible for Mega Metagross to weaken Ferrothorn or Arceus-Water. This means Mega Metagross will lack a move to hit its switch-in against a lot of teams, and even if it does, it will have to make a correct prediction to 2HKO foes like Ho-Oh and slightly weakened Primal Groudon. Arceus-Water, Arceus-Ground, and Arceus-Dark are forced to recover if Mega Metagross hits them with the right move, and Arceus-Fairy lacking moves to deal with Steel-types can be an opportunity for Mega Metagross to be more useful. It is also worth noting that Extreme Killer Arceus has only a very slim chance to defeat Mega Metagross in a one-on-one situation, so a healthy Mega Metagross can also be somewhat of an insurance against it. As this set's entire purpose is to maximize Mega Metagross's offensive coverage, an opponent may end up with a false sense of security that it will lack a coverage move to hit certain Pokemon. Should Pokemon like Zygarde and Ho-Oh start to directly switch into Mega Metagross around mid-game, be quick to surprise and punish them with appropriate moves. Revealing these moves too early can ruin the surprise factor, so be patient until said foes end up falling to the trap. There is a ray of hope for Mega Metagross against offensive teams as well. Due to its Speed, slightly weakened Primal Groudon and physical Primal Kyogre can be much shakier checks to Mega Metagross with appropriate moves. While they can check Necrozma-DM as long as they successfully switch in, Mega Metagross outspeeds them and 2HKOes them on the switch. Yveltal lacking Choice Scarf is also not entirely safe from Mega Metagross for this reason. Said foes are typically offensive checks to Steel-types, or Necrozma-DM in Yveltal's case, and they can be pressured and surmounted with Stealth Rock support and predictions. Team Options Mega Metagross draws in a lot of undesirable foes, but this also means it will cause switches. Thus, entry hazard support is needed for Mega Metagross to not pivot into attacks and gradually lose its health. Primal Groudon can set Stealth Rock and pivot into Steel-types that attempt to take advantage of Mega Metagross, and support Arceus formes can set the said entry hazard and help to reduce the damage caused by Primal Groudon or Necrozma-DM that switches into Mega Metagross depending on their typing. Hazard removers are also needed, as many Pokemon that check Mega Metagross can set them. Giratina-O is a reliable way to deal with Primal Groudon that can capitalize on Mega Metagross lacking Earthquake, and Ho-Oh can take on many support Arceus formes and force out Ferrothorn. Dark-types like Yveltal and Arceus-Dark appreciate Mega Metagross's defensive presence against Fairy-types, and they can offensively handle Giratina-O and some Necrozma-DM variants. Among Dark-types, Yveltal can be particularly helpful due to its ability to compensate for Mega Metagross's vulnerability against Ghost- and Ground-types and a disappointing matchup against defensive teams. Yveltal can run generic offensive or even stallbreaker sets to break through defensive teams, and Mega Metagross can check Fairy-types and potentially lure in Ho-Oh and punish it with Rock Slide. Pokemon that can cover Dark-types are also necessary, and Arceus-Dark can do this reasonably well, though Xerneas is more of a reliable option. Arceus-Fairy may sound like an acceptable choice, but note that it will be an additional Pokemon vulnerable to Mega Gengar, and its Stealth Rock support is meaningless if opposing Ho-Oh has Defog. Gothitelle or Gothorita can be considered to trap and neutralize Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, and support Arceus formes that easily shut down Mega Metagross.

Moves Zen Headbutt is a fairly strong STAB move with a good chance to induce flinch; with Psychium Z, however, a 160-Base Power Shattered Psyche, with Psychic-type STAB, is even more terrifying to face, especially if powered up by a previous Meteor Mash's Attack boost. Meteor Mash is Metagross's strongest STAB move, and a 20% chance to boost Attack by one stage is especially beneficial for this set. Bullet Punch helps Metagross finish off opposing threats weakened by its Shattered Psyche. Protect gives tremendous utility to any VGC Pokemon, and Metagross is no exception. It allows it to scout what the opponent is planning to do, save itself from damage as its teammate takes out one of its checks or counters, or simply stall out undesirable field effects like Trick Room and harsh sunlight. Set Details This set wants speed. As such, 124 EVs and a Jolly nature help it outpace everything up to and including uninvested Arcanine. 252 EVs in Attack ensure Metagross hits as hard as possible, and the rest of the EVs go into HP to increase its overall bulk. Psychium Z turns Zen Headbutt into a 160-Base Power, physical Shattered Psyche. If you do not care for outspeeding Arcanine, you can choose to run other Speed investments. 0 Speed EVs make Metagross faster than uninvested Tapu Bulu, 12 EVs let it outpace uninvested Goodra, and 52 EVs ensure it moves before uninvested Tapu Fini. Clear Body is the ability of choice for ignoring opposing Intimidate and taking less damage from Heavy Slam, should it ever do so. Usage Tips As this set has less bulk than bulky attacking sets, do not be hasty in bringing it out. Make sure it can outspeed and KO an opposing threat before sending it out to do so. As this set has no coverage options apart from its STAB moves, it would be better to leave it behind if there are multiple Steel-type threats on the opposing team and to bring it into battle if there are multiple Fairy- or Ice-type threats. Fire-type threats are not as troublesome if they are weakened slightly, for a Shattered Psyche will often be a sufficient finisher. Be very careful when using Shattered Psyche. As it only does 25% of its usual damage when going through Protect or Detect, its only use must be aimed and timed perfectly to achieve optimal damage. Immediately after the Pokemon you want it to hit has used Protect would be the optimal time to use it. Team Options Garchomp and Salamence are good Pokemon for taking out some of Metagross's main checks, like Gengar and Alolan Muk, and their typings complement Metagross's to a high degree. Pelipper and Tapu Bulu are good options to mitigate its weakness to Fire-type moves or Earthquake, respectively. Tapu Fini gives Metagross immunity from status conditions with the Misty Terrain it sets. Tapu Lele is a great teammate, for its Psychic Terrain increases the power of Shattered Psyche even further. Bear in mind that Bullet Punch is consequently rendered useless against grounded Pokemon in Psychic Terrain. As this set has little means of dealing with opposing Steel-types, Fire-type help is appreciated. Do note that if running Pelipper, the utility that Fire-types would provide is diminished.

Moves Meteor Mash is Metagross's strongest STAB move, and its chance to boost Attack by one stage in exchange for only 90 accuracy is a fair trade-off. Bullet Punch allows Metagross to finish off weakened threats and allows it to "outspeed" faster threats not affected by Psychic Terrain. Zen Headbutt is a nice secondary STAB move that offers some decent coverage, and the flinch chance that comes with it can hinder slower threats. Hammer Arm rounds out its coverage in the form of a strong Fighting-type move, being able to hit opposing Steel-types harder than any of its other moves. Set Details The given EVs maximize Metagross's overall bulk and power, and an Adamant nature ensures that Metagross hits as hard as possible. There are a few Speed investments you can opt to run if you want to outspeed certain Pokemon: 44 EVs in Speed make Metagross faster than uninvested Tapu Bulu, 84 EVs let it outpace uninvested Goodra, and 124 EVs ensure Metagross moves before uninvested Tapu Fini. You can also opt to give Metagross a Jolly nature to reduce the above Speed EV requirements to 0, 12, and 52, respectively, but there will be a noticeable drop in its offensive power. Assault Vest helps Metagross tank special attacks like Flamethrower and Shadow Ball better and complements its bulk rather well. Choice Band significantly increases Metagross's offensive power, and due to having to deal with multiple targets at once, being locked into a single move is not as detrimental in this metagame. Clear Body should be the obvious choice of ability, letting it stand up to opposing Intimidate users while still keeping Heavy Slam damage against it at a relative low. Usage Tips Do not be hasty in bringing in Metagross and spamming Meteor Mash against the opponent's team. Metagross has no means of recovery outside of Grassy Terrain, so premature spamming may leave it vulnerable to heavy damage; if you can keep Metagross from being worn down excessively, any Meteor Mash boosts it gains are worthwhile in the long run. If you see plenty of Fairy-types that are detrimental to your team's success, it would be a good idea to send Metagross out early so that it can quickly dispatch of them. On the other hand, if you see a Torkoal and other Pokemon that work well in the sun, it would be best to have Metagross sit that battle out. As with all other Pokemon, consider Metagross's damage output and what you can afford to use. Don't risk a Meteor Mash miss if Earthquake or Bullet Punch can KO just as easily. Team Options Garchomp helps take care of opposing Alolan Marowak and Alolan Muk. Metagross, in return, can take care of opposing Fairy-types that threaten Garchomp. Aerodactyl and its Wide Guard utility can help protect Metagross against the likes of Earthquake and Eruption. Metagross appreciates help from a number of different Terrains. Tapu Bulu's Grassy Terrain mitigates its weakness to Earthquake, Tapu Lele's Psychic Terrain powers up its Zen Headbutt, and Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain renders Metagross immune to detrimental status conditions. Pelipper brings rain, which helps reduce Metagross's Fire-type weakness. It can also offer Tailwind support to give the latter more speed. Other Water-types, like Araquanid and Milotic, are helpful Pokemon that can switch into Metagross's spot to take opposing Fire-type attacks that originally targeted it. Araquanid is particularly notable for its Water Bubble rendering it immune to burn, letting it take opposing Will-O-Wisps and Scalds as well. Having a Salamence or an Arcanine to Intimidate the many physical attackers that threaten Metagross is appreciated.

Mega Metagross's high overall base stats make it solid choice for a Mega Evolution. Its pre-Mega ability in Clear Body also stops Intimidate; you may even wish to delay Mega Evolving for a turn if you anticipate an Intimidate user switching in. Mega Metagross's traits are complemented by allies such as Drizzle Politoed and Pelipper, whose rain dampens Fire moves, and Tapu Lele, whose Psychic Terrain raises Zen Headbutt's damage further. Tapu Koko can also be an effective partner for boosting Thunder Punch and making Bullet Punch less likely to be blocked. Finally, Hydreigon is also a notable partner due to perfect defensive synergy.

Moves Bullet Punch makes up for Metagross's lackluster Speed stat and turns it into a potent revenge killer, notably being able to outspeed Azumarill's Aqua Jet. Meteor Mash is Metagross's strongest STAB attack, hitting for very heavy damage with a chance to boost its Attack and most notably dealing huge damage to Klefki, which shrugs off Bullet Punch. Thunder Punch prevents bulky Water-types such as Mantine and Slowbro from completely walling Metagross while also damaging troublesome Pokemon like Celesteela, which walls Metagross's other moves. Pursuit is a very potent move, especially in the Psychic mirror, letting Metagross trap and remove Pokemon it can freely switch into such as Choice Scarf Latios. Alternatively, Ice Punch grants Metagross BoltBeam coverage, providing immense utility in the Flying matchup to eliminate Landorus-T and Gliscor and more reliably take on Zapdos. Set Details 252 Attack EVs with an Adamant nature and a Choice Band ensure Metagross is as strong as possible, allowing it to function as a potent wallbreaker and strong priority attacker. 172 Speed EVs allow Metagross to most importantly outspeed Jolly Azumarill, which allows its Bullet Punch to outspeed Azumarill's Aqua Jet. Clear Body blocks Intimidate from foes like Landorus-T as well as Sticky Web, which can prove to be very beneficial. Usage Tips Due to Metagross's importance in the Fairy matchup, be sure to preserve its HP as much as possible in order to consistently threaten Fairy-types like Azumarill and Mega Diancie. If the opponent is utilizing Mimikyu, be sure to stay out of +2 Shadow Sneak KO range, as Metagross is one of the primary means of stopping Mimikyu from sweeping. Additionally, be careful in choosing when to use Bullet Punch or Meteor Mash. Utilizing Bullet Punch when not necessary can allow a defensive Pokemon like Klefki to freely come into play and freely set up entry hazards or dual screens. Look for opportunities to bring Metagross in safely throughout the battle in order to wallbreak. This can vary from utilizing a slow U-turn from Pokemon like Celebi to bring it in against resisted attacks from Pokemon like Mega Venusaur. In addition, when using Pursuit, look for opportunities to trap and remove threatening foes to the team. This can include switching in against Pokemon that do not threaten Metagross such as Choice Scarf Latios, following a fainted teammate, or bringing it in against weakened offensive threats that attempt to switch out to prevent being knocked out by Bullet Punch. When using Ice Punch, Metagross is able to make waves in the Flying matchup due to its potent BoltBeam coverage; be sure to conceal Metagross's Ice Punch to freely grab a KO against Landorus and Gliscor that attempt to switch into a predicted Thunder Punch. In matchups where preserving Metagross isn't a key win condition such as Normal and Dragon, utilize Metagross's high defenses to take on attackers lacking super effective coverage to punch holes through their team. Avoid burns from the likes of Will-O-Wisp Mega Sableye and Scald users like Toxapex at all cost, as they prevent Metagross from having any offensive presence. Team Options Mega Gallade is one of the best teammates for Metagross, as it is able to take on Steel- and Dark-types with ease while helping immensely in the Poison matchup, where Metagross needs accurate predictions to be of any benefit. In turn, Metagross is able to switch into weak Fairy-type attacks from Pokemon like Clefable that threaten out Mega Gallade. Latios and Latias are both great ways of keeping faster foes in check, allowing Metagross to be saved to breaking past walls. Latias notably is able to provide Healing Wish support, while Latios is a great special attacker with ample coverage moves like Ice Beam and Thunderbolt to fill in holes of Pokemon that Metagross cannot handle depending on its chosen moveset. Victini is another Choice Scarf option to pair with Metagross that is very effective in matchups such as Electric where Metagross struggles to keep up. Celebi pairs effectively with Metagross due to its resistance to Ground-type attacks, allowing it to switch in with ease. It also benefits Metagross by utilizing a Steel killer set and can very effectively deal with Steel-types that Metagross cannot do much against. Furthermore, thanks to Natural Cure, it can switch into predicted Will-O-Wisps from Pokemon like Rotom-Wash that would otherwise cripple Metagross. Mega Latias and Mega Slowbro are effective specially-oriented setup sweepers that greatly appreciate Metagross eliminating special walls that they cannot break past such as Chansey and can take on Pokemon Metagross struggles with like Toxapex. Mew is a fantastic stallbreaker that can help ease the struggle Metagross has with some bulky types like Water and Flying as well as defensive Pokemon like Ferrothorn, easing the predictions necessary for Metagross to be effective in those matchups. Slowbro is a great defensive partner for Metagross, as it can reliably switch into oncoming Fire-type and physical attacks that threaten Metagross from the likes of Infernape and Victini. Alakazam works as a blanket check for nearly all physically offensive Pokemon thanks to Magic Guard, Focus Sash, and Counter, which enables it to take on sweepers that severely threaten Metagross such as Mega Sharpedo. Jirachi is another good partner for Metagross, as it both acts as a means of setting Stealth Rock to chip down foes and can pivot out to Metagross to bring it into the field safely.

Moves Metagross can set up Stealth Rock by utilizing its good physical bulk. Meteor Mash is Metagross's strongest Steel-type STAB attack, allowing it to deal huge amounts of damage to foes that don't resist it. Bullet Punch makes up for Metagross's low Speed and occasionally lets it revenge kill Pokemon such as Mimikyu and Mega Diancie. Pursuit allows Metagross to trap Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Latios and Choice Band Victini. Zen Headbutt is used to handle Poison-type Pokemon that Meteor Mash can't hit effectively, such as Toxapex. Thunder Punch deals heavy damage to bulky Water-type Pokemon such as Mantine and Suicune. Set Details 172 EVs in Speed ensure that Metagross outspeeds Jolly Azumarill and Choice Band Victini, the latter after it has used V-create. 252 Attack EVs and an Adamant nature ensure that Metagross hits as hard as possible. The remaining EVs are placed in HP to increase its bulk. Kasib Berry allows Metagross to safely break Mimikyu's Disguise. Colbur Berry is an option that allows Metagross to check fast Dark-type Pokemon such as Greninja and Hydreigon, which are troublesome for Psychic-type teams. Usage Tips Metagross has to preserve its HP in order to safely check the threats it is supposed to check, such as Greninja and Mimikyu, so avoid letting it take unnecessary damage. Prevent Metagross from getting burned by Scald and Will-O-Wisp users such as Toxapex and Rotom-Wash; try to switch in teammates like Slowbro and Celebi instead. Metagross should also avoid paralysis from Klefki and excessive chip damage in Fairy-type matchups, as this will prevent it from checking Azumarill effectively. Be wary that damage-reducing Berries only have one use, so try to not waste them at the wrong time in order to preserve Metagross's ability to check problematic Pokemon. Avoid switching directly into attacks to prevent this from happening and instead, try to pivot with teammates like Celebi. Try to lead with Metagross in matchups where the Berry it's holding is not useful and take advantage of Metagross's good bulk and typing to set Stealth Rock as soon as possible. Use Bullet Punch to pick off opposing Pokemon if they're in the KO range. Take advantage of Choice-locked Pokemon such as Latios and Victini and Pursuit trap them. Try to use Bullet Punch in order to break Mimikyu's Disguise or revenge kill Mega Diancie. Team Options Meloetta's part-Normal typing lets it switch into Ghost-type attacks for Metagross, freeing it from running Kasib Berry to check Mimikyu. In return, Metagross threatens Fairy-type teams with Meteor Mash and Bullet Punch. Meloetta's Normal typing also lets it excel in a mirror matchup with its Shadow Ball and Hyper Voice, while Metagross can Pursuit trap opposing Meloetta and Choice Scarf Latios. Mega Gallade is an excellent partner, as it can pressure Steel- and Dark-type Pokemon for Metagross. In return, Metagross can switch into Flying- and Fairy-type attacks for Mega Gallade. Victini takes out Water- and Steel-type Pokemon for Metagross and frees it from needing to run Thunder Punch with its access to Bolt Strike. Victini can also bring Metagross into the field safely with U-turn. Alakazam makes a good partner for Metagross, as it can use Counter to take on fast Dark-type Pokemon that pose a huge threat to Psychic-type teams, such as Mega Sharpedo. Latios's excellent coverage moves, allow it to form a good offensive core with Metagross. Its STAB moves deal heavy damage to targets such as Swampert, Zapdos, and Rotom-Wash, and it can run Thunderbolt, to free Metagross from needing to run Thunder Punch and hit Flying- and Water-type Pokemon such as Mantine and Celesteela. Additionally, Latios can switch into Ground- and Fire-type attacks for Metagross. In return, Metagross can switch into Fairy- and Ice-type attacks that are targeting Latios. Choice Scarf Latias provides Healing Wish support for Metagross, and it can still switch into the same Pokemon as Latios. Celebi can switch into and beat Ground- and Water-type Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Swampert, and Suicune for Metagross and can use Earth Power to effectively punish Steel-type Pokemon that Metagross cannot touch, such as Heatran. Slowbro forms a good defensive core with Metagross, as it is a good check to Fire-types and can use Thunder Wave to cover for Metagross's low Speed by crippling faster threats such as Greninja. Mega Slowbro is a potent setup sweeper that greatly benefits from Metagross, as Metagross can eliminate specific threats that Mega Slowbro struggles against, namely Chansey, Mantine, and Toxapex.

Moves Iron Head is Mega Metagross's most reliable Steel-type STAB move and has a 30% chance to cause its target to flinch, which Mega Metagross is often able to take advantage of due to its high Speed. Meteor Mash offers slightly more power at the expense of accuracy, and it has a 20% chance of boosting Mega Metagross's Attack stat. Ice Punch allows Metagross to OHKO the metagame's plethora of Ice-weak threats, such as Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Mega Salamence. Stomping Tantrum hits would-be checks, including Fire-types like Incineroar and Volcanion and Steel-types like Aegislash and opposing Mega Metagross, for decent damage. Protect keeps Mega Metagross safe while its partners deal with any possible threats. In place of Stomping Tantrum or Ice Punch, Zen Headbutt offers a secondary STAB attack that is most useful for Amoonguss and Kommo-o and becomes Mega Metagross's strongest attack inside of Psychic Terrain. Set Details The given EV spread allows Mega Metagross to hit as hard and fast as possible. A Jolly nature with maximum Speed investment is preferred to allow Mega Metagross to outpace positive-natured base 100s like Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona as well as faster attackers like Kartana and Landorus. Clear Body is a handy pre-Mega ability that can be used strategically to scout out and negate Intimidate drops from Landorus-T and Salamence as they switch in. Usage Tips With a great defensive typing and a versatile offensive movepool, Mega Metagross works well in early- or mid-game scenarios to pressure foes and force switches. With solid bulk and a good defensive typing, Mega Metagross pivots into resisted and neutral attacks fairly well. However, it lacks a means of recovery, so its HP should be conserved as much as possible if you're relying on it to check a particular threat like Deoxys-A. Prior to Mega Evolution, Metagross's Clear Body negates Intimidate drops, so consider not Mega Evolving if you expect your opponent to switch in an Intimidate user like Incineroar or Landorus-T. Team Options Steel-types tend to wall Mega Metagross, so Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Volcanion make for excellent partners. Fire-types like Incineroar and Charizard Y can snipe down Mega Metagross if left unchecked, so partners such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Tapu Fini that can deal with Fire-types are useful. Mega Metagross does well on rain teams, which clear out Fire-types and also cancel out Mega Metagross's weakness to Fire. Ground-types like Landorus-T and Zygarde can snipe down Mega Metagross if given the chance, especially if holding a Choice Scarf or Dragon Dance-boosted, respectively. As such, faster Pokemon with Ice-type coverage such as Choice Scarf Genesect and Swift Swim Kingdra make for good partners. Icy Wind or Tailwind users like Kyurem-B and Zapdos are able to place Mega Metagross in a favorable position against faster threats like Tapu Koko and Mega Manectric. Milotic stands out as a niche option with access to Competitive that deters would-be threats such as Landorus-T and Incineroar.

Zen Headbutt is the primary STAB attack that deals with bulky Poison-type Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur and Toxapex while also providing a 2HKO on Buzzwole. It also provides coverage on Rotom-Wash and Rotom-Heat as well, which are otherwise big threats to Metagross, while also really benefiting from the power boost given by Psychic Terrain. Bullet Punch provides a means of priority for hitting faster Pokemon such as Pheromosa, Tapu Koko, and Mega Gengar. Meteor Mash smashes Fairy-types such as Tapu Lele and Mimikyu while also being able to break any Porygon2 that isn't carrying Shadow Ball. Iron Head can also be used for an accurate and reliable STAB alternative to Meteor Mash that also provides a 30% flinch chance. Earthquake can OHKO opposing Steel-types including Excadrill and Heatran, while most notably hitting Aegislash. Hammer Arm can 2HKO Porygon2 and OHKO both Mega Kangaskhan and Hydreigon, but makes Mega Metagross prone to being revenge killed due to the Speed drop. Ice Punch is used as coverage for Ground- and Dragon-type Pokemon, notably Landorus-T, Mega Salamence, and Garchomp. Thunder Punch can be used to hit Bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini, Suicune, and Gyarados, but can be quite underwhelming in terms of damage. Brick Break can be an option for Fighting-type coverage that doesn't lower Speed and can be used to break Light Screen, Reflect, and Aurora Veil at the cost of some power. Note that Mega Metagross is extremely versatile, so coverage options can be changed around to suit your team. The given spread allows Mega Metagross to be as fast and as powerful as possible, while a Jolly nature lets Mega Metagross outspeed non-Choice Scarf Garchomp. Mega Metagross appreciates a Ground-type resist or immunity as while it can usually take one super effective hit, it would much rather prefer not to.

Substitute is the focus of this set, giving Mega Metagross the ability to set up against foes that can't break Mega Metagross's Substitute such as Cresselia, Tapu Fini, and non-boosted Suicune. It also adds a layer of protection against Will-O-Wisp, which would otherwise heavily cripple Mega Metagross. Hone Claws boosts Mega Metagross's Attack and accuracy, making Zen Headbutt and Meteor Mash guaranteed to hit after a boost. Zen Headbutt lets Mega Metagross hit Rotom-Heat, Suicune, and Rotom-Wash, while Meteor Mash takes on Cresselia and Hydreigon and grants a slightly more powerful STAB attack. Earthquake ensures that Mega Metagross isn't walled by the likes of Excadrill, Heatran, and Aegislash. The given EV spread allows Mega Metagross to set up a fast Substitute, while maximum HP investment complements Mega Metagross's natural bulk. As coverage options change with the use of Zen Headbutt / Meteor Mash, teammates should be Pokemon that can deal with whichever Pokemon wall Mega Metagross depending on which move you use.

Moves Meteor Mash hits quite hard with a Choice Band equipped and possesses a chance to raise Metagross's Attack. Earthquake is important to hit Steel-types like Cobalion and Empoleon for decent damage. Zen Headbutt hits bulky Water-types like Jellicent and Milotic for good damage and hits Fighting- and Poison-types hard. Explosion lets Metagross go out with a bang, dealing huge damage to Pokemon that don't resist it. It also lets a teammate switch in safely without sacrificing momentum. Trick is a decent option over Explosion, letting Metagross cripple switch-ins such as Suicune by Tricking them a Choice Band. Bullet Punch can pick off and revenge kill fast or frail attackers like Mega Beedrill and Mega Aerodactyl and can also stop a Slurpuff sweep. However, it isn't the best move to be locked into and doesn't have the wallbreaking utility that Trick or Explosion has. Set Details Maximum Attack investment with a Choice Band makes Metagross a very powerful wallbreaker. Maximum Speed investment lets Metagross outspeed all relevant walls and Speed tie with other neutral-natured base 70 Speed Pokemon; this also allows it to outspeed threats such as Jolly Crawdaunt. A Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Adamant Mamoswine and OHKO it. However, Jolly Mamoswine—the most common variant of Mamoswine—still outspeeds and OHKOes Metagross, so it's usually not worth it. Usage Tips Choice Band Metagross should be played as a wallbreaker, breaking apart bulky Pokemon with its STAB moves and coverage. This set fits well on offensive teams that want a wallbreaker with some defensive utility in checking Mega Aerodactyl and Fairy-types. This variant of Metagross is a bit reliant on prediction, as none of its moves are the best to be locked into, especially if the foe resists them. Explosion is a great move to use if Metagross is weakened or if it doesn't have much of a use in the game, letting Metagross do massive damage to a Pokemon that doesn't resist it and let another teammate switch in safely. Team Options Volt Switch and U-Turn users such as Heliolisk and Hydreigon synergize well with Choice Band Metagross, as Metagross likes to switch in safely; they also appreciate Metagross breaking down their checks and counters with Choice Band-boosted attacks. While this set has an easier time against bulky Water-types due to the power of Choice Band and Explosion, Metagross still wants an answer to them, so Pokemon that can check these Water-types such as Toxicroak and Heliolisk partner up well with Metagross. Fast cleaners such as Mega Aerodactyl appreciate Metagross wearing down their checks and counters, and Mega Aerodactyl also can act as a soft Fire-type check if it runs Roost.

Moves Stealth Rock is an essential move on all competitive teams, and Metagross makes good use of it, as it threatens many spinners and Defoggers, such as Tentacruel and Empoleon. Meteor Mash is Metagross's main STAB attack, giving it decent neutral coverage against a large amount of the tier as well as hitting Rock-types like Mega Aerodactyl and Fairy-types like Florges for super effective damage. Earthquake hits Steel-types such as Empoleon for decent damage and provides good coverage alongside Meteor Mash. Explosion is a good option in the last slot that makes Metagross go out with a bang, notably hitting bulky Water-types hard and preventing hazard removers like Tentacruel from removing Stealth Rock. Zen Headbutt can be used over Explosion as a secondary STAB move that hits bulky Water-types neutrally and hits Fighting- and Poison-types such as Tentacruel and Machamp for super effective damage. However, it doesn't hit as hard as Explosion. Bullet Punch is an option in the last slot in order to pick off or revenge kill weakened and frail threats such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Beedrill. It's also very useful to pick off a weakened Slurpuff and avoid taking damage from Drain Punch. Hammer Arm is an option on sets that utilize Colbur Berry to lure in Hydreigon and Krookodile and hit them for great damage, but the move leaves Metagross walled by Doublade and lowers its Speed stat, making it extremely slow. Set Details Maximum Attack EVs augment Metagross's offensive potential and maximum Speed investment helps Metagross more safely outspeed faster Suicune variants while also letting Metagross outspeed Jolly Crawdaunt and Nidoqueen. Life Orb makes Metagross very powerful, which is useful to boost up Explosion's power against bulky Water-types, but the recoil damage can wear it down quickly. Shuca Berry is a good option, making Metagross a one-time check to the likes of Mamoswine and helping against Earthquake Mega Aerodactyl. Lum Berry works well with Explosion, helping Metagross prevent the burn from Scald users like Suicune so that it can use Explosion on them, but it means Metagross lacks the power of a Life Orb-boosted Explosion. Colbur Berry is a decent alternative item, helping Metagross out in the matchup versus Dark-types like Mega Absol, and it also prevents Metagross from being revenge killed by Sucker Punch users and Pursuit users. However, it isn't as effective as Shuca Berry due to some Dark-types, like Krookodile and Mega Houndoom, having a secondary STAB move that hits Metagross hard. Usage Tips Metagross should be switched in on Pokemon it checks, such as Fairy-types like Sylveon and Rock-types like Mega Aerodactyl, and should set up Stealth Rock on the forced switch to support its team. Once it has set up Stealth Rock, Metagross can proceed to attack the opposing team with its powerful moves before finishing off with Explosion when its done punching through walls; mainly hitting bulky Water-types. Team Options Metagross fits best on offensive teams, as bulkier teams prefer a more reliable Stealth Rock setter. Therefore, more offensive teammates like Mienshao and offensive Roserade are preferred over defensive ones. Teammates that appreciate having a check to Mega Aerodactyl or Florges, such as Mega Sceptile and Heliolisk, make for good partners to Metagross because they are checked by both of these Pokemon. Teammates that can handle bulky Water-types, such as Grass-types like Roserade or Pokemon with Water Absorb or Dry Skin like Toxicroak, make for good partners if Metagross is not running Explosion, but they are still useful because Metagross can only use Explosion once. Metagross can't do much to Forretress, which can just set up entry hazards in front of Metagross; hazard removers that can beat Forretress like Tentacruel and Mega Blastoise are appreciated to help out this problem. Hydreigon is one of the best Metagross partners, as Metagross both takes care of Hydreigon's Fairy weakness and appreciates Hydreigon being able to resist all the types that Metagross is weak to. If Metagross runs Explosion, teammates that can appreciate Metagross crippling bulky Water-types with Explosion, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Choice Scarf Mienshao, can make for good partners. These teammates can also help out against offensive teams, a playstyle that Metagross can have trouble keeping up with.

Moves Rock Polish is required for Mega Metagross to gain a major amount of Speed, and a +2 boost will ensure it outspeeds the vast majority of Pokemon in the CAP metagame. Meteor Mash is a great move to take out any Rock-, Fairy-, or Ice-type Pokemon, such as Sylveon and Mega Diancie. Meteor Mash also does good damage against neutral targets. Zen Headbutt is used to take out Fighting-types such as Tomohawk and the Poison-types that Mega Metagross walls. The flinch chance can also prove helpful. Hammer Arm is the preferred move in the fourth moveslot, taking out Steel-types and Dark-types such as Colossoil and Ferrothorn, as well as hitting any other Ice- and Rock-types. However, the Speed drop can be counterproductive with Rock Polish, hampering Mega Metagross's late-game sweeping capabilities. Earthquake is another solid option with great coverage, hitting Pokemon such as Kitsunoh, Heatran, Ferrothorn, and opposing Mega Metagross, and it has no negative drawbacks unlike Hammer Arm. However, Earthquake is not boosted by Tough Claws. Ice Punch is also an option, hitting Landorus-T and Dragon-types hard, but it should not be used for hitting Cyclohm due to Cyclohm's massive base 115 Defense and access to Static, as well as the lower Base Power of Ice Punch. In fact, Ice Punch is a 3HKO after Leftovers against physically defensive Cyclohm. Set Details Metagrossite is required for Metagross to Mega Evolve and gain power, Speed, and bulk. 252 Attack EVs are required so that Mega Metagross can have as much power as possible and fulfill its role as a late-game sweeper. 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature ensure that Mega Metagross can take advantage of its good Speed tier before a Rock Polish boost. However, a bulkier EV spread of 228 HP / 252 Atk / 28 Spe and an Adamant nature may also be used. 28 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Choice Scarf base 110 Speed Pokemon in the CAP metagame such as Latios, Gengar, and Kitsunoh after a Rock Polish boost. The remaining 228 EVs are put into HP so that Mega Metagross can be as bulky as possible. An Adamant nature allows Mega Metagross to OHKO Colossoil with Hammer Arm and generally have much more power. Clear Body is a handy ability to have before Mega Evolving, preventing stat drops from Intimidate and Sticky Web. Usage Tips This set is a late-game setup sweeper, but it one of its main niches is that it can be also used effectively early-game as a wallbreaker. However, Wish support is often recommended to bring it back to full health and allow it to start its role as a late-game sweeper. Mega Metagross should also be used once most or all of its checks and counters are gone, as once it has gotten a boost, it would kill momentum to switch out and try setting up again, as the opponent would know that you would try to set up. To set up, Metagross should be brought in on a Pokemon that will force the opponent to switch Pokemon so it can Mega Evolve, use Rock Polish, and then proceed to outspeed and hopefully sweep everything. Team Options As with many late-game setup sweepers, Mega Metagross's main checks and counters need to be eliminated for it to effectively clean up. Therefore, Stratagem is a great team member, as it deals with many of Mega Metagross's checks and counters. Earth Power has a 30% chance to OHKO physically defensive Cyclohm after Stealth Rock, and Earth Power will OHKO Choice Specs Cyclohm and Heatran after Stealth Rock. Stratagem will also OHKO Pyroak with Ancient Power or Paleo Wave after Stealth Rock and OHKO Bisharp with Vacuum Wave. Azumarill can be a good team member, as it takes down Talonflame, Colossoil, and Stratagem with Aqua Jet. Electric-types can deal with Talonflame, which can tear through Mega Metagross's health with Flare Blitz. Rotom-W and Cyclohm can also deal with Mega Slowbro, which severely walls Mega Metagross.

Moves Meteor Mash is Mega Metagross's strongest STAB attack, which allows it to get past anything that does not resist it. Zen Headbutt takes down Fighting-, Ghost-, and Poison-types, OHKOing Mollux, and 2HKOing physically defensive Tomohawk and Rotom-W. Bullet Punch revenge kills weakened Pokemon and allows Mega Metagross to be used late-game to clean up. It OHKOes Stratagem after Stealth Rock and also has perfect accuracy. Grass Knot can 2HKO Mega Slowbro and 3HKO Slowbro, which otherwise wall Mega Metagross. It also generally does good damage against heavy Pokemon, which are fairly common in the CAP Metagame. Ice Punch OHKOes most Landorus-T sets and 2HKOes physically defensive variants. Ice Punch also OHKOes all variants of Gliscor with a little prior damage. Hammer Arm is the preferred move in the fourth moveslot, as it deals great damage to Steel-, Dark-, Rock-, and Ice-types. Earthquake deals with some common Pokemon such as Heatran, Plasmanta, Mollux, and opposing Mega Metagross. Set Details A Metagrossite is required for Metagross to Mega Evolve. Maximum Attack and Speed EVs are for Mega Metagross to be a potent and fast attacker. A Jolly nature is recommended for a chance to outspeed or Speed tie any of the common base 110 Speed Pokemon such as Latios, Gengar and Mega Gallade. An Adamant nature, however, can also be used, as Mega Metagross gains a significant amount of power, and can get a guaranteed OHKO on Colossoil with Hammer Arm. Clear Body helps with any Intimidate or Sticky Web drops before Mega Evolving. Usage Tips This set is best used as a powerful wallbreaker, preferably early- and mid-game. It can check many common threats due to its bulk and favorable typing, so it can be used as a generally safe safe switch-in to many Pokemon. These qualities also allow it to stay in and punch holes in the opposing team for a while before going down. Avoid careless switches against Pokemon such as Mollux and Colossoil, as they can either OHKO Mega Metagross or put a massive dent in its health before it even starts attacking, which can severely limit its longevity. Team Options Azumarill is a great team member for Mega Metagross, as it deals with Talonflame and Colossoil, both of which can do massive damage to Mega Metagross. Colossoil takes care of Mollux if Mega Metagross isn't running Earthquake and also if Trick Room is up. Colossoil also appreciates Mega Metagross's ability to take on Fairy-types. Stratagem is a wonderful partner too, as it can eliminate Mollux with Earth Power and also OHKO Pyroak (Mega Metagross's ultimate counter) with Ancient Power or Paleo Wave after Stealth Rock. Stratagem, on the other hand, really appreciates Mega Metagross weakening Pokemon so that it can easily clean up late-game. Keldeo performs well with Mega Metagross, as it eliminates some of Mega Metagross's counters, such as Colossoil and Bisharp, while Mega Metagross protects it from any Fairy-, Flying-, or Grass-types. Stealth Rock users are appreciated, such as Tomohawk, as they further improve Mega Metagross's wallbreaking capabilities, and allow it to get some crucial OHKOs, such as against Stratagem with Bullet Punch.

Moves Mega Metagross's most important moves are its STAB options. Meteor Mash is Metagross's strongest attack and has a chance to boost its Attack and make it even more threatening. Iron Head can be used over Meteor Mash for its greater accuracy and a 30% chance to flinch its target, but has lower Base Power. This drop is noticeable in at least one common instance: Meteor Mash OHKOes standard Kyurem-B, but Iron Head does not. Zen Headbutt is also quite strong and patches the Steel typing's poor offensive coverage. Protect is important because it allows Metagross to safely Mega Evolve and reach Mega Metagross's higher base Speed; it also helps stall out field conditions such as rain and Trick Room. The final moveslot has many possible options. Hammer Arm is a powerful option that lets Mega Metagross damage Steel-types besides Aegislash, OHKO Hydreigon and have a chance at OHKOing Mega Kangaskhan, but must be used cautiously because of its Speed-lowering effect. Ice Punch can be used for the sole purpose of OHKOing Landorus-T, but Mega Metagross's STAB moves will still do hefty damage at -1, so it's not vital. Substitute lets Metagross avoid status moves from the likes of Thundurus, Rotom-W, and Amoonguss and lets it soak up a single hit if set up safely. Substitute also blocks Intimidate, which makes using Substitute on the turn Metagross Mega Evolves a cool strategy—Landorus-T's Intimidate is useless on that turn because of Clear Body, and is useless on the next turns because of Substitute. Bullet Punch is rather weak, but very useful for hitting specific threats. It should only be considered on teams that totally lack priority or are uncomfortably weak to Mega Diancie. If necessary for a team's function, Mega Metagross can drop one of its STAB options for one of these moves, although this is not recommended. Set Details It may seem that Metagross's ability before Mega Evolving does not matter, as it almost certainly will be Mega Evolving as soon as possible. However, this is untrue—Clear Body renders Metagross immune to the weakening effects of Intimidate, making it futile for Landorus-T and other Intimidate users to switch in. The EV spread is simple but effective. Attack and Speed receive full investment to best suit Mega Metagross's stats and ability. A Jolly nature lets it take advantage of its great Speed tier. There are some alternate EV spreads that can be run; 16 HP / 240 Atk / 252 Spe lets Mega Metagross survive a Sucker Punch from Adamant Life Orb Bisharp and makes Substitutes that can be broken by Adamant Landorus-T's U-turn only with a maximum damage roll. Another possible EV spread is 72 HP / 252 Atk / 184 Spe with an Adamant nature. This bulkier spread is best used on semi-Trick Room teams. It outruns neutral base 101 Speed Pokemon normally, and after a Hammer Arm it will be slower than opposing Rotom-W, so Mega Metagross will outrun it under Trick Room. The Adamant nature gives it a high chance to OHKO Heatran with Hammer Arm and a small chance to OHKO 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Charizard Y with Zen Headbutt, although most Mega Charizard Y are bulkier, so you must be cautious. Usage Tips If your opponent has a Pokemon that Metagross needs its Speed to dispatch, such as Keldeo or Hydreigon, then it is best to Mega Evolve as soon as possible, even going as far as leading with Metagross to do it, so that you don't need to waste a turn on Protect when you need Mega Metagross ready to switch in. Otherwise, you can wait until you need it to attack to Mega Evolve, sometimes waiting on purpose so that Clear Body can block an Intimidate. Mega Metagross has the bulk to switch in multiple times throughout a match, which it uses to its advantage. Typically, Metagross is best brought in when it can score an OHKO, and then it just uses the appropriate move. Because Mega Metagross's main prey, Keldeo, is typically a cleanup Pokemon, Metagross often comes in after a teammate faints, though its good bulk also lets it come in on weak or resisted hits. Once Mega Metagross is no longer able to OHKO something, or once it's threatened by a Pokemon such as Talonflame, you switch it back out, and it comes back in again later. Metagross gives free momentum to Aegislash and, should it lack Hammer Arm, Heatran. If your opponent has one, you will need to play more aggressively with Metagross than usual, double switching and the like. Substitute Mega Metagross plays somewhat differently from three-attacks, coming in on Pokemon that allow it to set up a Substitute, such as Amoonguss, and only switching once both its Substitute is broken and it cannot KO anything. Team Options Between its incredible offensive presence and its innate defensive capabilities, it's very difficult to find a team that won't benefit from using Mega Metagross. In many cases where a team is not built around a Mega Pokemon, Metagross will often be the best fit thanks to its supportive capabilities. Mega Metagross's best partners are Pokemon that can beat Steel-types and bulky Water-types, as these two groups are perhaps its biggest threats. Hydreigon is an excellent partner here, as it threatens all of Aegislash, Jirachi, Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Rotom-W. Mega Metagross greatly appreciates any type of speed control, including Tailwind, Thunder Wave, and even Icy Wind, from partners such as Talonflame, Thundurus, and Cresselia. This allows Mega Metagtoss to outrun foes and lets it get past some Choice Scarf users such as Landorus-T. Politoed is a nice partner for those who want to use rain, as it negates Metagross's Fire weakness and allows Swift Swim partners to remove fast attackers and Choice Scarf users. Like all offensive Pokemon, Mega Metagross enjoys redirection support from the likes of Amoonguss and Togekiss to let it avoid attacks and continue its rampage. When building around Mega Metagross, other Pokemon to add are those that enjoy what it has to offer. Hydreigon is again a great partner, as Mega Metagross removes the Fairy-types and Fighting-types that Hydreigon fears, and together the two hit both physically and specially.

Moves Iron Head provides Mega Metagross with a STAB attack and a slight chance to make the foe flinch. Meteor Mash is an option over Iron Head, offering a possibility for an Attack boost but coming with a chance to miss. Zen Headbutt is another STAB move, which beats Pokemon such as Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur, and Conkeldurr. Substitute allows Mega Metagross to ignore status, as well as avoid taking a lot of damage from hard hits. Ice Punch hits Landorus-T, Mega Salamence, and Garchomp for super effective damage. Bullet Punch gives Mega Metagross priority, which is useful to finish off Pokemon with Focus Sash. Protect lets Mega Metagross avoid unnecessary hits and double targeting. Set Details Maximum Attack and Speed with a Jolly nature make Mega Metagross hit as hard and fast as possible. An optional spread for running Substitute is 60 HP / 188 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Jolly nature. The HP EVs give Mega Metagross an HP stat of 163, which lets it set up four Substitutes and be left with 3 HP. This spread also makes positive-natured Mega Kangaskhan's second Sucker Punch do no more than 25 percent, leaving Mega Metagross able to set up a Substitute and survive a Sucker Punch from Mega Kangaskhan twice. In addition, Mega Metagross will always survive Sucker Punch from Bisharp without a boosting item after having one Substitute broken. 252 EVs in Speed and a Jolly nature lets Metagross utilize its amazing Speed tier to its fullest. The remaining EVs are placed into Attack to maintain a high damage output. Usage Tips As many players are aware of how threatening Mega Metagross can be when it has set up a Substitute, you will often find your opponent aggressively targeting Metagross. Predicting correctly with Protect can give you crucial momentum, as your opponent might waste an entire turn double targeting Mega Metagross to try to break its Substitute and KO it while you just use Protect with it. If you fear Intimidate spam from your opponent, you can try to hold off on Mega Evolving for a bit, as it allows you to ignore Intimidate. When running Substitute, you must always look for opportunities to set up a Substitute, as getting Mega Metagross behind a Substitute can often be a game changer. Team Options In order to more freely set up Substitute, Fake Out support from Pokemon such as Scrafty and Hitmontop is appreciated. Mega Metagross fits perfectly onto rain teams, as rain neutralizes its Fire-type weakness. Most common rain sweepers also beat popular Earthquake users, essentially leaving Ghost- and Dark-types as the only threats to Mega Metagross under rain. Politoed and Ludicolo can easily form a rain core which does this job excellently. Rotom-W has excellent synergy with Metagross, as it is immune to Ground, and Mega Metagross resists Rotom-W's only weakness, Grass. Hydreigon, Tyranitar, and Scrafty make for good partners, as they patch up Mega Metagross's weakness to Ghost- and Dark-types. Scrafty also gets a special mention here, as it also can hit Dark-types for great damage due to its Fighting typing. Thundurus is also a great partner for Mega Metagross for a number of reasons. It provides Thunder Wave support, which can easily make Mega Metagross be the fastest Pokemon on the field and can help create free turns, which is especially nice when you run Substitute. Taunt support lets Mega Metagross avoid status prior to using Substitute and greatly helps its matchup against Aegislash, which is one of the biggest threats to Mega Metagross. Choice Scarf Landorus-T also has issues when facing both Mega Metagross and Thundurus, as it has to choose between locking itself into Earthquake, fearing Hidden Power Ice from Thundurus, and using Rock Slide, risking that Mega Metagross gets up a free Substitute.

Moves Zen Headbutt is Mega Metagross's STAB move, which allows it to hit Fighting- and Poison-types such as Blaziken, Mega Heracross, Breloom, Gengar, and Mega Venusaur. It is also Mega Metagross's strongest option against be used to hit Rotom-W. Bullet Punch lets Mega Metagross pick off weaker threats along with hitting Fairy- and Ice-types for super effective damage such as Mega Gardevoir and Weavile. Meteor Mash can be used over Bullet Punch to hit other threats for more damage. Despite the lack of perfect accuracy, the move still has high power. It is also helpful with the Tough Claws ability. Ice Punch has great coverage, dealing with Dragon-, Flying-, Grass-, and Ground-types such as Garchomp, Mega Salamence, Dragonite, Landorus-T, Thundurus, Zapdos, Serperior, and Gliscor. Earthquake gives Mega Metagross more coverage against Fire- and Steel-types such as Mega Charizard X, Heatran, Mega Lucario, Aegislash, and Excadrill. Hammer Arm allows Mega Metagross to hit Ferrothorn along with Dark-, Normal-, and Rock-types such as Hydreigon, Mega Kangaskhan, Chansey, and Tyranitar. Unfortunately, Hammer Arm decreases Mega Metagross's Speed after each use, putting it at a disadvantage against fast Pokemon that wouldn't outspeed it normally. Iron Head can be used instead of Bullet Punch or Meteor Mash because of its perfect accuracy and decent Base Power. Set Details Metagrossite is the only item for Metagross to use because it gives a huge boost in power, bulk, and Speed, as well as Tough Claws to deal a little extra damage on foes through contact. Maximum Attack and Speed investment ensures that Mega Metagross can hit hard while outspeeding many threats in the metagame. A Jolly nature is preferred over Adamant because it allows Mega Metagross to outspeed base 100 Speed Pokemon such as Mega Gardevoir, Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Zapdos, Jolly Mega Kangaskhan, and Jolly Garchomp. Clear Body prevents Mega Metagross's stats from being lowered before Mega Evolving. For example, the ability lets Metagross face off against Intimidate users such as Landorus-T, Mega Mawile, Mega Manectric, and Gyarados as well as switch into Icy Wind and Rock Tomb. If tying with base 100 Speed threats such as Gengar or Latios is unnecessary or unappealing, you can add some bulk over max Speed. 220 EVs allow Mega Metagross to outspeed base 105 threats such as Manectric, Lopunny, and Mega Pinsir after Mega Evolving, while 196 Speed is needed to outspeed Garchomp, if it's your only concern. 244 Speed EVs can be used to outspeed base 108 Speed Pokemon such as Infernape; however, it is uncommon. The rest of the EVs can be allocated to HP and Defense, which is particularly useful when you're dealing with Garchomp, as the combination of Earthquake + Rough Skin damage can KO Mega Metagross. Usage Tips Mega Metagross's primary job is to start attacking and forcing out various threats in the metagame such as Mega Salamence, Sylveon, Heatran, Gliscor, and Conkeldurr. If you're planning on using Mega Metagross early-game as a lead, make sure your opponent doesn't have a lead that could hinder Metagross. It's also best for Mega Metagross to be on the lookout for potential Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and the uncommon Heatran. It's very crucial to watch out for Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave users such as Mega Sableye, Rotom-W, Rotom-H, Cresselia, and Thundurus, as Will-O-Wisp renders Mega Metagross's attacks useless and deals passive damage, while Thunder Wave ruins its Speed. It's better to almost always use Zen Headbutt and Bullet Punch or Meteor Mash because both moves hit many Pokemon hard that do not resist them, unless you're facing a Pokemon that is weak to Mega Metagross's coverage moves. Even though Mega Metagross is resistant against several types, don't switch it in repeatedly because it lacks reliable recovery; this means it can only be switched in a few times. Because Mega Metagross is holding Metagrossite, it can use that to its advantage to scout for Trick / Switcheroo users such as Rotom-W, Gothitelle, and Noivern. It's usually best to send Mega Metagross in on Fairy-types such as Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir because it resists their STAB moves. However, some Gardevoir carry Will-O-Wisp, which is capable of burning Metagross on the switch or prior to Mega Evolution. Try to Mega Evolve Metagross as soon as possible, as the Speed boost is crucial for outspeeding certain threats such as Garchomp and Mega Kangaskhan. Team Options Hydreigon and Mega Metagross have excellent synergy with each other, as Hydreigon can take on Dark-, Fire-, and Ghost-types while Mega Metagross can handle Dragon-, Fairy-, Fighting-, and Ice-types. Additionally, Hydreigon's ability Levitate gives it an immunity to Ground-type attacks, and it can eliminate Aegislash with Choice Specs Dark Pulse. Stallbreaker variants of Hydreigon can even provide Taunt or Thunder Wave support against defensive threats such as Cresselia and Porygon2 so that Mega Metagross has an easier time dealing with these bulky matchups. Togekiss is a viable teammate, as it can take down Dark-, Fighting-, and bulky Grass-types such as opposing Hydreigon, Breloom, Tangrowth, and Mega Venusaur, while Mega Metagross can switch into Ice-type attacks. Together, Mega Metagross, Togekiss, and Hydreigon can form a nice Steel / Fairy / Dragon core. Both Gyarados and Landorus-T can switch in and soften physical attacks for Mega Metagross with Intimidate. With a Ground immunity and Fire resistance, Gyarados can punish both types with its STAB Water-type moves. Landorus-T is able to punish Fire- and Steel-types with Earthquake. In return, Mega Metagross can sponge Rock- and Ice-type attacks for Gyarados and Landorus-T, respectively. Talonflame pairs well with Mega Metagross, as it can clean Aegislash off the field and burn physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp. Tyranitar resists Dark-, Fire-, and Ghost-type moves and can get rid of Mega Gengar with Pursuit if it switches out. However, it needs to watch for Focus Blast. Rotom-W and Rotom-H are immune to Ground and can burn physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp, while Mega Metagross can take Rock-type moves for Rotom-H and Grass-type moves for Rotom-W. Rotom-H also helps with eliminating Aegislash. Garchomp and Mamoswine can both switch into Electric-type moves, keeping Mega Metagross safe from Thunder Wave from Pokemon such as Thundurus. Conkeldurr makes a decent partner, being able to take on Dark-types such as Bisharp while not even fearing status thanks to Guts, so it can absorb Will-O-Wisp or Thunder Wave for Mega Metagross.

Moves Substitute prevents Mega Metagross from being hit by powerful attacks and helps it avoid status moves such as Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp, and Leech Seed. Many expect Mega Metagross to run an all-out attacking set; this gives Mega Metagross the opportunity to set up Substitute on a predicted Sucker Punch from Pokemon such as Mega Mawile and Bisharp. Hone Claws raises Mega Metagross's Attack and accuracy by one stage. Using it in conjunction with Substitute also lets Mega Metagross set up for free against defensive Pokemon such as Cresselia, Ferrothorn, and Clefable. Earthquake is used to hit Fire-, Rock-, and Steel-types such as Heatran, Tyranitar, and Aegislash. The last moveslot is a toss-up between Zen Headbutt and Meteor Mash. Zen Headbutt can hit Poison- and Fighting-types such as Gengar and Breloom and has a chance to make the foe flinch, while Meteor Mash hits Mega Altaria, Sylveon, Clefable, Latios, Latias, and Cresselia. It notably OHKOes Latios at +1 and OHKOes Mega Kangaskhan at +2. With a Hone Claws boost under Mega Metagross's belt, both of these attacks will have perfect accuracy. Set Details 252 HP EVs give Mega Metagross more bulk to take hits better. This also ensures that Mega Metagross's Substitute doesn't break from weak attacks such as Breloom's Mach Punch. 252 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allow Mega Metagross to outspeed non-Choice Scarf variants of Garchomp. There's no point in running any EVs in Attack for this set because it's necessary for Mega Metagross to outspeed as many foes as possible while having extra bulk to take hits. Clear Body allows Metagross to block any moves or abilities that would decrease its stats. 236 HP EVs can be used to keep Suicune from breaking Substitute with Scald. The remaining 20 EVs can be added to Attack to give Mega Metagross a little more damage output. Usage Tips This set helps with Mega Metagross's bulk, allowing it to have a safe turn behind a Substitute after a weak attack. It resists many attacks that don't break it's Substitute. Mega Metagross should set up Substitute on defensive Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Clefable, Cresselia, and Ferrothorn because they won't be able to break it. Notably, its Substitute can survive Scald from Suicune, Mach Punch from Breloom, and Ice Beam from Cresselia. Try to use Substitute on predicted status moves such as Leech Seed and Thunder Wave, Sucker Punches, or switches to either get a Hone Claws boost or to hit the opposing Pokemon for damage. For example, Mega Metagross can predict Aegislash to be switched in, which gives it the perfect time to set up Substitute. It can then proceed to spam Earthquake and 2HKO it while ignoring King's Shield. However, if Aegislash carries Weakness Policy, it 2HKOes Mega Metagross with Shadow Sneak. Set up Hone Claws as soon as Mega Metagross is behind a Substitute in order to prepare for a sweep. Also, it's very crucial that its checks and counters are gone for a safe switch in and setup. It's always best for Mega Metagross to switch in after its teammate has fainted, as it won't have to risk taking any damage. You have to be very careful when Mega Evolving Metagross because it'll still have its low base 70 Speed first turn, so switch it into slower Pokemon such as Cresselia, Sylveon, and Tyranitar. Team Options Hydreigon and Mega Metagross have amazing synergy and check each other's checks and counters. Serperior's Glare allows it to paralyze Ground-types such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Excadrill, and it's able to deal with Hippowdon, Rhyperior, and Mamoswine for Mega Metagross. The more Pokemon Mega Metagross outspeeds, the more free turns it has to set up Substitute on a turn they're fully paralyzed. Serperior also helps by setting up dual screens and can help break down physical walls with Contrary Leaf Storm such as Suicune and Rotom-W. Garchomp can help take care of Fire-types and can switch into any Electric-type move. Mega Metagross resists Dragon-, Fairy-, and Ice-type moves, providing a nice switch-in for Garchomp's counters. Greninja has excellent coverage that can help get rid of threats such as Garchomp, Gengar, Hippowdon, Mega Salamence, and Landorus-T. Thundurus gives speed control with Thunder Wave, and with its ability Prankster, it'll surely get a paralysis off. Rotom-H and Rotom-W are immune to Ground-type moves, and both can use Will-O-Wisp to soften attacks aimed at Mega Metagross. Breloom offers Metagross Spore support and can even slow foes with Rock Tomb so that Metagross has an easier time outspeeding them prior to Mega Evolution. Breloom is also able to eliminate bulky Water-types such as Rotom-W, Suicune, and Slowbro, which Metagross really appreciates. Mamoswine does an excellent job at removing Ground-, Dragon-, and Steel-types such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Mega Mawile so Mega Metagross has an easier time setting up. If Ferrothorn is a pain when trying to set up Hone Claws, consider Magnezone as a partner to trap and remove this nuisance. Mega Metagross isn't actually too bad on rain teams for their ability to threaten dangerous Fire-types Mega Metagross might struggle with such as Talonflame, Blaziken, and Mega Charizard X and Y. Mega Salamence has an easy time with certain matchups Mega Metagross struggles with, namely Fairy-, Fighting-, and Ice-types such as Mega Mawile, Mamoswine, and Blaziken.

This is a straightforward set focusing on pure damage output. Metagross's ability, Clear Body, prevents Intimidate and other stat-reduction strategies from crippling it. STAB Meteor Mash deals enormous damage to anything that does not resist it. Bullet Punch is a useful priority attack for dealing with Focus Sash users and fast, frail Pokemon. Earthquake somewhat rounds out coverage. It gives Metagross a way to hit opposing Metagross, Jolteon, and Fire-type Pokemon. Earthquake is not always the best option for Metagross, however. Explosion still has 187.5 Base Power when factoring in how spread moves' Base Powers are calculated in double battles. As such, Explosion may be necessary in order to deal heavy damage to Pokemon such as Zapdos, Gyarados, and Rotom-W. Occa Berry allows Metagross to survive most Fire-type attacks. This is especially important because of its lower base Special Defense and the widespread use of Heat Wave. Normal Gem is also an option in conjunction with Explosion, drastically increasing its damage output. An Adamant nature and 252 Attack EVs are preferred to give Metagross as much power as possible. Meteor Mash followed by Bullet Punch grabs a 2HKO on a huge portion of Pokemon in VGC 2012. Bullet Punch alone 2HKOes Abomasnow, Weavile, Terrakion, and Froslass. If a Normal Gem is given to Metagross, Explosion's power will surpass that of a 2x super effective Earthquake. Normal Gem-boosted Explosion OHKOes most Zapdos, Garchomp, and Rotom-W, some of Metagross' best counters otherwise. Metagross requires a teammate that can handle Zapdos, Garchomp, and Fire-type Pokemon. Latios provides superb offensive and defensive coverage. Latios can OHKO Garchomp and resists Fire- and Electric-type moves. It is also immune to Ground-type moves, forcing the opponent to think again before using Earthquake. Cresselia functions a lot like Latios, but focuses on support more. Cresselia can use Icy Wind or Trick Room to help Metagross overcome Zapdos while also having a Ground-type immunity. Both of these Pokemon are also immune to Metagross's own Earthquake.

Metagross is rarely seen as a Pokemon who can outspeed its enemies. This set is situational, but it yields an incredibly high reward if it pays off. With a Choice Scarf, Metagross outspeeds many of its counters and hits them with a super effective move. Many prominent Pokemon in VGC 2012 have trouble dealing with fast Steel- and Ice-type attacks. Iron Head is a decent STAB attack, and the flinch rate is even more useful with Choice Scarf. Ice Punch deals heavy damage to Zapdos and Garchomp. A super fast Explosion can catch teams completely off-guard. With the Explosion nerf, double Protecting to scout for it has become quite rare, allowing a first-turn Explosion to be more effective. Earthquake can be used to get coverage on Heatran and opposing Metagross. Trick is extremely useful as Metagross can Trick its Choice Scarf onto support Pokemon, such as Cresselia. Getting rid of the Choice Scarf also allows Metagross to switch attacks if the matchup becomes unfavorable. With as much Speed investment as possible, Metagross hits 201 Speed, outspeeding Jolteon, Aerodactyl, and Crobat while equipped with a Choice Scarf. Iron Head is preferred over Meteor Mash for its accuracy. Risking two Meteor Mash misses against a Focus Sash user can put Metagross and your team at a major disadvantage; however, the additional power that Meteor Mash brings may be worth it in some cases. Dusclops and Dusknoir work the best with Choice Scarf Metagross, as it is easy to mistake a team with this combination for a Trick Room team. As such, this draws the attention of the opponent to Dusclops and Dusknoir in an attempt to prevent Trick Room from going up, allowing Metagross to fire off unexpected attacks. Dusclops and Dusknoir can also boost Metagross's attacks with Helping Hand. They have an immunity to Explosion also, allowing them to boost it or use any number of supporting moves the same turn. Ironically, Dusclops and Metagross also cause this set the most trouble. Metagross's best option against Dusclops is to use Trick; nevertheless, Dusclops can still use Will-O-Wisp, crippling Metagross, and then switch out. Opposing Metagross resist Iron Head, Ice Punch, and Explosion, putting your own Metagross at a disadvantage.

Meteor Mash is Metagross's strongest Steel-type attacking move and preferred option, hitting key KO ranges on threats like Latios and Tyranitar. In addition, triggering its secondary effect can easily turn a game on its head. Zen Headbutt hits more targets for neutral damage than Meteor Mash, and it most importantly hits key threats like Amoonguss and Conkeldurr for super effective damage. Bullet Punch guarantees damage before Metagross gets KOed, as well as finishing off low-HP Pokemon. The combination of non-Steel Gem Meteor Mash and Bullet Punch can KO Latios. Earthquake is a secondary option that gives Metagross a way to hit opposing Metagross and potentially flip the matchup on Heatran. Psychic Gem lets Metagross OHKO Amoonguss with Zen Headbutt, Steel Gem lets it OHKO Latios and Tyranitar with Meteor Mash, and Lum Berry prevents status effects or enables its partner to use Swagger on Metagross. With maximum HP investment, Metagross is only 3HKOed by opposing Metagross's Earthquake. Other Options Iron Head is sometimes chosen as an alternative to Meteor Mash because it cannot miss and can make the target flinch if it moves after Metagross. Ice Punch can be used to hit the numerous top-tier threats weak to Ice, such as Landorus-T, Thundurus, Latios, and Amoonguss. Substitute + Leftovers is a threatening set, as Metagross forces many switches and can take advantage to position itself better. Shuca Berry or Occa Berry allows Metagross to flip one of its bad matchups in Landorus-T and Heatran, respectively. Doing so requires slotting in Ice Punch or Earthquake, however. Investing EVs into Metagross's Speed can be useful, but there is no standard amount to allocate. Outspeeding uninvested Cresselia and Rotom formes is worth considering, but this comes at the cost of the power and bulk of Metagross. Common Partners Rotom-Wash + Metagross is a tried and true pairing, with Rotom-Wash threatening both Heatran and Landorus-T and Metagross eliminating Amoonguss and Latios for Rotom-Wash. Cresselia can support Metagross in numerous ways. It can use Swagger on a Lum Berry set; provide speed control via Trick Room, Icy Wind, or Thunder Wave; threaten Landorus-T with Ice Beam or Heatran with Hidden Power Ground; and even give Levitate to Metagross with Skill Swap. Thundurus can support Metagross similarly to Cresselia but with far less variety, being limited to just Thunder Wave, Swagger, and Hidden Power Ice. Checks and Counters Heatran resists both STAB moves and 2HKOes Metagross with Heat Wave. It can also freely set up Substitute in front of Metagross. Rain teams pose a significant threat to Metagross, as it is nearly OHKOed by a rain-boosted Muddy Water from Kingdra and does not meaningfully threaten Kingdra back with Zen Headbutt. Landorus-T survives the combination of any non-Gem-boosted attack and Bullet Punch and 2HKOes Metagross with Earthquake.

This is a sample set. We aren't working on BW Monotype analyses at the moment, but check out BW Monotype resources for more information about the metagame.

Metagross is one of the most fearsome Substitute users in the metagame thanks to its excellent defensive typing and bulk, which allow it to set up and maintain Substitute against common Pokemon such as Amoonguss and Jellicent. Additionally, it is immune to Intimidate and has a sky-high Attack stat that can be further boosted with Meteor Mash. This allows Metagross to snowball behind a Substitute, giving it the opportunity to quickly take over games. Metagross, however, is held back by a lackluster Speed tier, allowing common Pokemon, such as Thundurus and Heatran, to outspeed and break its Substitute. Meteor Mash is the preferred STAB attack due to its Base Power, doing significant damage to Tyranitar and Kyurem-B, and chance of raising Metagross's Attack. Zen Headbutt is a secondary STAB attack that hits Amoonguss super effectively and does reliable damage to Steel-resistant foes such as Thundurus and Jellicent. Earthquake hits Heatran, a common Metagross counter, and opposing Metagross super effectively. Zen Headbutt is typically the more reliable option, though, as Amoonguss and Conkeldurr are more common foes. Zen Headbutt also does more damage to neutral foes that have a resistance to Steel such as Thundurus and Jellicent. Metagross is most effective behind a Substitute, so it is best preserved until it finds a favorable opportunity to set it up, such as against Amoonguss, or when its teammate is able to outspeed and KO the foe. Even without Substitute, Metagross is still very usable, as its strong attacks and immunity to Intimidate make it difficult to switch into. Intimidate users effectively increase Metagross's Defense, allowing it to set up Substitute easier. Landorus-T is a great teammate, as it threatens Steel-types, such as Heatran and Excadrill, that can switch in and threaten Metagross. Thundurus makes up for Metagross's low Speed with Thunder Wave while threatening Landorus-T, a common Metagross check, and Water-types such as Jellicent. Water-types, such as Jellicent and Gastrodon, are also excellent teammates due to their ability to check Heatran and Ground-types that threaten Metagross. As a result, Metagross can be found on rain teams, as Kingdra is a more offensive Water-type that checks Heatran and Ground-types while also able to outspeed and KO foes that threaten Metagross to facilitate Substitute opportunities. Metagross, in return, beats Tyranitar and Amoonguss while also matching up well against Latios.