Pokemon Sword and Shield

Metagross - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

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Pokemon - Metagross Movesets and Counters.png

This is a strategy guide for using Metagross in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Metagross, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Metagross - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Metagross Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Metagross Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Metagross

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Steel Type Pokemon Sword and Shield - Psychic Type
Abilities
Clear Body Prevents other Pokemon from lowering its stats.
Light Metal (Hidden) Halves the Pokemon's weight.

Metagross Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
-
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Ground Image Pokemon Ghost Image Pokemon Dark Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Normal Image Pokemon Grass Image Pokemon Ice Image Pokemon Flying Image Pokemon Rock Image Pokemon Dragon Image Pokemon Steel Image Pokemon Fairy Image
Takes 1/4x damage
Pokemon Psychic Image
Takes 0x damage
Pokemon Poison Image

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
80 135 130 95 90 70

Best Nature for Metagross

Best Natures
Adamant
(+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
Jolly
(+Spd, -Sp.Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Metagross

Weakness Policy Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Weakness Policy Sweeper Metagross.png

Nature Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Atk 252 / Spd 4
Final Stat Values HP 156 / Atk 205 / Def 150 / Sp.Def 110 / Spd 91
Ability Clear Body
Held Item Weakness Policy
Moveset Meteor Mash
Earthquake
Hammer Arm
Zen Headbutt

Metagross is a powerful physical sweeper and is arguably the best answer to Fairy-types thanks to great STAB moves and massive attack stat. It's natural bulk also makes it a great Weakness Policy Sweeper and Dynamax lead.

About Metagross' Moves

Meteor Mash is Metagross' main STAB move and has a 20% chance to increase its attack stat by one stage. Zen Headbutt is its secondary STAB move and has a 20% chance to flinch the target.

Earthquake is its main coverage move, hitting opposing Steel-types and Fire-types alike. It's last move is Hammer Arm, allowing it to hit opposing Steel-types and Dark-types. It also doesn't lower Metagross' speed if it becomes Max Knuckle during Dynamax.

About Metagross' EV Spread

We're using a basic bulky attacking set with full investment in HP and Attack, with the remaining 4 EVs are placed in Speed.

About Metagross' Ability

We're using Clear Body for this build as it gives Metagross immunity to negative stat changes inflicted by opposing Pokemon, such as Intimidate.

About Metagross' Held Item

We're giving Metagross Choice Band for this build to boost the power of its attacks at the cost of being locked to its initial move.

Other Viable Moves

Ice Punch An alternative to Bullet Punch that gives Metagross more coverage, allowing it to hit bulky Grass-types and Dragon-types.
Thunder Punch Slightly weaker than Meteor Mash but has perfect accuracy and has a 30% chance to make the target flinch.
Facade Allows Metagross to still hit hard even if it gets a burn. Also becomes Max Strike during Dynamax.
Brick Break A weaker alternative to Hammer Arm that lacks the speed drop.
Bullet Punch A priority move that allows Metagross to hit faster sweepers. Fails if there's a Psychic Terrain on the field.
Rock Tomb Lets Metagross hit Fire-types ssuch as Charizard. Also lowers the opposing Pokemon's Speed.

Lum Berry Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Lum Berry Sweeper Metagross.png

Nature Jolly (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 4 / Atk 252 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values HP 156 / Atk 187 / Def 150 / Sp.Def 110 / Spd 134
Ability Clear Body
Held Item Lum Berry
Assault Vest
Moveset Meteor Mash
Zen Headbutt
Earthquake
Bullet Punch

Metagross is a powerful physical sweeper and is arguably the best answer to Fairy-types thanks to great STAB moves and massive attack stat. It's natural bulk also makes it a great Weakness Policy Sweeper and Dynamax lead.

About Metagross' Moves

Meteor Mash is Metagross' main STAB move and has a 20% chance to increase its attack stat by one stage. Zen Headbutt is its secondary STAB move and has a 20% chance to flinch the target.

Earthquake is its main coverage move, hitting opposing Steel-types and Fire-types alike. It's last move is Bullet Punch, a priority move that lets it threaten faster and frailer sweepers.

About Metagross' EV Spread

We're using a basic attacking set with full investment in Attack and Speed, with the remaining 4 EVs placed in HP.

About Metagross' Ability

We're using Clear Body for this build as it gives Metagross immunity to negative stat changes inflicted by opposing Pokemon, such as Intimidate.

About Metagross' Held Item

We're giving Metagross Lum Berry to protect it from status effects that can cripple its sweep, such as a burn from Will-O-Wisp.

Assault Vest is a good alternative, boosting Metagross' Special Defense by 50% but restricts it to just using attacking moves.

Other Viable Moves

Thunder Punch Slightly weaker than Meteor Mash but has perfect accuracy and has a 30% chance to make the target flinch.
Ice Punch An alternative to Bullet Punch that gives Metagross more coverage, allowing it to hit bulky Grass-types and Dragon-types.
Rock Tomb Lets Metagross hit Fire-types ssuch as Charizard. Also lowers the opposing Pokemon's speed.
Brick Break A weaker alternative to Hammer Arm that lacks the speed drop.
Iron Head A more accurate STAB move that also has a chance to flinch the target.
Hammer Arm A powerful Fighting-type coverage move that hits Dark and Steel-types, but lowers Metagross' speed stat.

How to Use Metagross Effectively

A Bulky Fairy Counter

Metagross is often overlooked due to faster and equally stronger sweepers in the metagame, but it's one of the few sweepers that can dish out and take hits equally.

It's best used as the team's bulky sweeper, and thanks to its respectable bulk, it can easily find opportunities to switch in - especially against Fairy-type Pokemon!

How to Build a Team with Metagross

Metagross is a good fit for both offensive and more defensive-oriented teams, especially if said teams are looking for sweepers that can easily dispatch Fairy-type Pokemon. As a result, it's often paired with the likes of Garchomp and Dragapult in both Singles and Doubles.

A Bulky Sweeper for Balanced Teams

Metagross is a great addition to any balance team, boasting an impressive natural bulk even without investment.

While it doesn't have the same all-encompassing coverage as other sweepers, its ability to threaten Fairy-type Pokemon and destroy terrain make it a great choice for balanced and defensive teams looking for its main sweeper.

Check out our teambuilding guide for defensive and balanced teams to learn more!
How to Build a Defensive Team

Counters for Metagross

Metagross
Weakness Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Ground Image Pokemon Ghost Image Pokemon Dark Image

Outrun it with a Special Sweeper

Despite its great bulk, Metagross is a beat weak on its special defense. This means it can be taken out by powerful special sweepers that can outspeed it.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Dragapult ImageDragapult Ranking: ★★★★★
・Faster than Metagross
・Can easily KO Metagross with STAB Shadow Ball

Moveset & Best Build for Dragapult
Pokemon SWSH - Volcarona ImageVolcarona Ranking: ★★★★★
・Faster than Metagross
・Can easily KO Metagross with STAB Fiery Dance
・Can leave Metagross with a Burn thanks to its Flame Body ability

Moveset & Best Build for Volcarona
Pokemon SWSH - Hydreigon ImageHydreigon Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can use the hard-hitting Dark-type move Dark Pulse which Metagross is weak against.
・Unaffected by Earthquake due to Levitate, and takes 0 damage from Psychic-type moves.
・Can switch with U-Turn.
Moveset & Best Build for Hydreigon
Pokemon SWSH - Landorus (Therian Forme) ImageLandorus (Therian Forme) Ranking: ★★★★
・Can one-shot Metagross with a Life Orb-boosted Earthquake.
・Can switch with U-Turn.
Watch our for Ice Punch.
Moveset & Best Build for 'Landorus (Therian Forme)

Use Durable Pokemon

Among all physically durable Pokemon, Celesteela and Corviknight are more effective as both of them are Steel- and Flying-types. Additionally, they take less damage from Metagross's Steel or Psychic-type attacks, which can be further improves by using Iron Defense.

However, look out for Thunder Punch, which is super-effective against Flying-types.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Celesteela ImageCelesteela Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can learn hard-hitting Fire- and Ground-type moves.
・Can recover HP with Leech Seed
・Can be built to play various roles for any team.
Moveset & Best Build for Celesteela
Pokemon SWSH - Corviknight ImageCorviknight Ranking: ★★★★
・Will be able to withstand attacks with Iron Defense and Roost.
Moveset & Best Build for Corviknight

Reduce its Attack with Will-O-Wisp

Tone down Metagross's power by using Will-O-Wisp to reduce its Attack stat. Note that these Pokemon may be easily defeated because of their typing.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Heat Rotom ImageHeat Rotom Ranking: ★★★★★
・Lower Attack stat with Will-O-Wisp.
・Can attack with special moves to take advantage of Metagross's low Special Defense stat
Weak to Ground-type moves like Earthquake.
Moveset & Best Build for Heat Rotom
Pokemon SWSH - Dragapult ImageDragapult Ranking: ★★★★
・Lower Attack stat with Will-O-Wisp.
Moveset & Best Build for Dragapult

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

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