Metagross - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

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
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Metagross

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Metagross
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
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage
Takes 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Metagross

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Metagross

Weakness Policy Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

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

Lum Berry Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

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

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

Weakness

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
Dragapult	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Faster than Metagross ・Can easily KO Metagross with STAB Shadow Ball Moveset & Best Build for Dragapult
Volcarona	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
Hydreigon	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
Landorus (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
Celesteela	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
Corviknight	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
Heat 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
Dragapult	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Lower Attack stat with Will-O-Wisp. Moveset & Best Build for Dragapult

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon
Galarian Articuno	Galarian Zapdos	Galarian Moltres
Raikou	Entei	Suicune
Articuno	Zapdos	Moltres
Tornadus	Thundurus	Landorus
Tapu Koko	Tapu Lele	Tapu Bulu
Tapu Fini	Regieleki	Regidrago
Latios	Latias	Heatran
Cresselia	Glastrier	Spectrier
Nidoking	Swampert	Dragonite
Salamence	Garchomp	Metagross
Galarian Slowking	Nihilego	Naganadel
Pheromosa	Buzzwole	Celesteela
Kartana	Stakataka	Blaziken
Kyogre	Yveltal	Xerneas
Necrozma (Dusk Mane)	Calyrex (Shadow Rider)	Mewtwo
Calyrex (Ice Rider)	Dialga	Lugia
Black Kyurem	Zekrom	Ho-Oh
Rayquaza	Zygarde	Reshiram
White Kyurem	Groudon	Regirock
Palkia	Regigigas	Registeel
Regice	Giratina	Solgaleo
Lunala	Kyurem	Necrozma
Uxie	Mesprit	Azelf
Calyrex