Draft Metagross

[jscurf2]

**Draft order**: Round 4 onwards

**Price range**: 13-14 points

**Overview**: Metagross is a valuable pick thanks to its strong wallbreaking ability, coveted Steel typing, great stat distribution, and versatility. Few Pokemon can reliably check Metagross when powered up by a damage-boosting item or with the ability to Tera due to its wide movepool of strong physical attacks. Metagross also has the ability to take on a more supportive role as a bulky Steel-type with access to Stealth Rock and Knock Off. While Metagross has many strengths, it is held back by its incredibly awkward Speed and a decent amount of common weaknesses, causing Metagross to fall to the middle of most drafts.

Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Metagross can utilize its strong Attack stat and powerful STAB and coverage attacks to severely weaken teams. These sets will commonly use a damage-boosting item such as Choice Band to give Metagross incredibly threatening immediate power as it lacks setup.

**Offensive utility**: Metagross can use its number of supportive options paired with its existing offensive prowess to play a hybrid role of utility and offense. On these sets, Metagross can run Stealth Rock, Knock Off, and even dual screens to support your team while still maintaining an offensive presence.

**Agility sweeper**: Metagross is able to become a capable sweeper through the use of Agility to overcome its awkward Speed. Metagross can simply use its naturally high Attack stat, or it can use an item to gain power, such as Weakness Policy, leveraging its natural bulk, or Power Herb in combination with Meteor Beam, enabling it to be a special sweeper.

Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Heavy Slam, Meteor Mash, Iron Head, Psychic Fangs, Bullet Punch

**Setup moves**: Agility, Hone Claws, Iron Defense, Trailblaze

**Utility moves**: Stealth Rock, Knock Off, Light Screen, Reflect, Trick, Brick Break, Psychic Noise, Rock Tomb

**Coverage**: Earthquake, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Body Press, Hammer Arm, Grass Knot, Shadow Claw

Niche Moves
========
**Explosion**: Explosion can be used as a very powerful one time attack to severely damage or eliminate a wall while providing momentum to your team.

**Endure**: Endure can be found on sets with a Custap Berry or Weakness Policy, allowing Metagross to survive an attack and allow your item to activate.

**Meteor Beam**: With a respectable Special Attack stat, Metagross can utilize Meteor Beam paired with a Power Herb to boost its Special Attack and allow it to run special sets in matchups where that may see success. These sets will commonly be paired with Agility to increase Speed, special STAB options such as Flash Cannon and Psychic, and coverage attacks like Grass Knot.

**Gravity**: Metagross can use Gravity to boost the accuracy of some attacks and temporarily remove Ground immunities. Metagross may also set this field condition if teammates benefit from this support.

Common Items
========
**Choice Band**: Choice Band allows a wallbreaking Metagross to tear down walls, often enabling it to even break through foes that resist its attacks. This also helps Metagross to clean up late-game with its priority Bullet Punch.

**Leftovers / Sitrus Berry**: Leftovers can provide extra longevity for bulkier sets that aim to serve as a check to specific foes.

**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Against entry hazard stacking teams, Heavy-Duty Boots, can prevent Spike stacking from weakening Metagross.

**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries such as Colbur Berry and Shuca Berry can provide Metagross an extra turn to absorb an expected super effective attack and set up Stealth Rock or attack back.

**Weakness Policy**: Metagross may use its number of common weaknesses and natural bulk in its favor to gain a lot of power. Weakness Policy is typically found on sets with Agility to attempt to sweep games or clean up a weakened team.

Niche Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf lets Metagross overcome its mediocre Speed stat and catch foes by surprise with fast, powerful attacks. You will often use Trick on Choice Scarf sets to impede the effectiveness of an incoming wall and give the ability to switch moves.

**Damage-boosting items*: Damage-boosting items such as Expert Belt and Metal Coat can help wallbreaking sets increase their damage and provide more flexibility by allowing Metagross to switch attacks.

**Assault Vest**: When additional bulk is needed, Metagross can use an Assault Vest while still taking advantage of its movepool of strong STAB, coverage priority, and utility attacks.

**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry allows a weakened Metagross to gain an additional turn despite its Speed stat. This can pair well with Endure to ensure the activation of this item.

Tera
========
While not the most common Tera Captain due to its mediocre Speed and premier higher-tier options available, Metagross can be a strong Tera Captain. Metagross can use the STAB-enhancing Tera Steel to annihilate almost any foe and strengthen its Bullet Punch. Metagross will also use some defensive Tera types such as Fairy, Water, and Poison to increase longevity and improve matchups. It can become a far better sweeping threat with Agility on Tera variants, and picking up a strong typing can pair well with its fantastic defenses.

Draft Strategy
========
As a middle-round pick that will not always be your Tera Captain, Metagross should not be the star of your draft. That being said, the versatility Metagross provides through its wallbreaking, bulk, utility, and late-game cleaning potential will be greatly supportive to many team structures.

**Sweepers and wallbreakers**: While it's a fantastic wallbreaker itself, Metagross can be excellent when paired with Pokemon that can weaken foes enough for it to clean up late-game with its Bullet Priority. Pokemon such as Garchomp, Iron Moth, and Ogerpon-W can fill this role.

**Entry hazard setters**: Metagross fits well on teams with hazard setters, letting another teammate set hazards provides Metagross an additional moveslot and item flexibility. It also can become incredibly difficult to avoid using a Choice Band or other damage-boosting items with Metagross, which can claim KOs after hazard chip damage. There is further synergy with these team structures, as Metagross can consistently remove items with Knock Off. Hisuian Samurrott, Gliscor, and Glimmora all pair well with Metagross in this role.

**Speed control**: One of Metagross's main weaknesses is a very subpar Speed stat for an offensive Pokemon. As a result, Metagross enjoys fast teammates such as Tornadus-T, Darkrai, and Meowscarada.

**Reliable pivots**: To maximize Metagrosses's wallbreaking potential, teammates that can allow Metagross safely enter to the field are fantastic teammates. Reliable pivots such as Zapdos, Landorus-T, and Rotom-W can provide safe entry for Metagross numerous times over the course of a match, providing it many opportunities to tear down walls.

Checks and Counters
========
**Physically bulky walls**: While it's a very potent wallbreaker, Metagross can be checked by a number of common walls if they have a strong type advantage or enough natural bulk. Pokemon such as Deoxys-D, Ting-Lu, and Alomomola can all effectively serve as Metagross checks.

**Faster offensive foes**: Metagross can be hindered a great deal by its Speed stat and common weaknesses, allowing it to be offensively checked by Pokemon not threatened by its priority move. Pokemon such as Urshifu-S, Iron Moth, and Garchomp outspeed and threaten Metagross off the field.

**Burn infliction**: As a result of its mediocre Speed, many Pokemon can outspeed Metagross and burn it, or live an attack due to their bulk and typing and inflict status. Pokemon such as Rotom-W and Skeledirge can diminish the efficacy of Metagross by burning it.

**Knock Off**: Knock Off is very threatening to Metagross, as it is weak to the move and often requires an item to hit damage thresholds or have longevity.

[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf2.608304/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/

 

[Hacker]

qc 1/2

[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 4 and beyond

**Price range**: 13-14 points

**Overview**: Metagross is a valuable member pick of the Draft meta (implied) thanks to its strong wallbreaking, coveted Steel typing, even excellent stat distribution, and versatility. Few Pokemon can reliably check Metagross when powered up by a damage-boosting item or with the ability to Tera due to its wide movepool of strong physical attacks. Metagross also has the ability to take on a more supportive role as a bulky Steel with access to Stealth Rock, and Knock Off, and Dual-Screens (dont think its worth mentioning screens in overview). While Metagross has many strengths, it is held back by its mediocre Speed stat, and a decent amount of common weaknesses, and a lack of viable setup options, causing Metagross to fall to the middle of most drafts.


[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Metagross can utilize its strong Attack stat and powerful STAB and coverage attacks to severely weaken teams. These sets will commonly use a damage-boosting item such as Choice Band to give Metagross incredibly threatening immediate power as it lacks setup.

**Bulky Utility**: Metagross can use its strong natural bulk and solid defensive typing to fill a more supportive role. Metagross can function as a Stealth Rock setter, Dual Screens setter, and disrupt the opponent through means such as Knock Off to support your team.

i kind of think you could combine these into something like offensive utility bc metagross can p often run offensive spreads / attacks alongside rocks, knock, etc. if nothing else i would make it take over bulky utility

Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Heavy Slam, Meteor Mash, Psychic Fangs, Bullet Punch

**Setup moves**: Agility, Hone Claws, Iron Defense, Trailblaze,

**Utility moves**: Stealth Rock, Knock Off, Light Screen, Reflect, Trick, Brick Break, Psychic Noise

**Coverage**: Earthquake, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Rock Tomb (move to utility), Shadow Claw, Body Press

Niche Moves
========
**Special Coverage**: With a subpar albeit respectable Special Attack stat, Metagross can utilize special coverage to help break physical walls or Pokemon with a weakness to one of its special attacks. (tbh not rly)

**Explosion**: Explosion can be used as a very powerful one time attack to severely damage or eliminate a wall while providing momentum to your team.

**Endure**: Endure can be found on sets with a Custap Berry or Weakness Policy to survive an attack and allow your item to activate.

**Gravity can find use to boost the accuracy of some attacks and remove Ground-type immunities. Metagross may also set this field condition if teammates enjoy this support. (fix formatting of this one to match others)

Common Items
========
**Choice Band**: Choice Band allows a wallbreaking Metagross to tear down walls, often through resists. This also helps Metagross to clean up late game with its strong priority.

**Leftovers**: Leftovers can provide extra longevity to more bulkier sets that aim to serve as a check.

**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries such as Colbur Berry and Shuca Berry can allow Metagross an extra turn to absorb an expected super effective attack and get up Stealth Rock or hit back.

**Weakness Policy**: Metagross may turn its number of common weaknesses and natural bulk in its favour to gain a lot of power. Weakness Policy is typically found on sets with agility to attempt to sweep games or clean up a weakened team.

Niche Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf lets Metagross overcome its mediocre Speed stat and catch opponents by surprise with a fast powerful attacks. (mention trick)

**Damage-boosting items*: Damage-boosting items such as Expert Belt and Metal Coat can help wallbreaking sets increase their damage
more flexibility to switch attacks.

**Assault Vest**: Metagross can take use its strong movepool of STAB, coverage, priority, and utility attacks to equip an Assault Vest for added bulk.

**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry allows a weakened Metagross to gain an additional turn despite its Speed stat. This can pair well with Endure to ensure the activation of this item.

**Lum Berry** A Lum Berry will be used when playing a team with strong status spreaders to keep Metagross healthy.

**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Against hazard stacking teams, Heavy-Duty Boots, can prevent Spike stacking from weakening Metagross.

Tera
========
While not the most effective Tera Captain due to its mediocre speed, lack of setup(agility, but tbh idt u need this point anyways), and stronger high tier options available, Metagross can be a serviceable Tera Captain. Metagross can use the STAB enhancing Tera Steel to annihilate almost any foe and strengthen its priority. Metagross may also use some defensive Tera typings such as Fairy, Water, and Poison, to increase longevity and improve type matchups.

Draft Strategy
========
As a middle round pick that will not often be your Tera Captain, Metagross should not be the star of your draft. That being said, the versatility Metagross provides through its wallbreaking, bulk, utility, and late game cleaning potential will be greatly supportive to many team structures.

**Sweepers and wallbreakers**: While a fantastic wallbreaker itself, Metagross can be excellent when paired with Pokemon who can weaken foes enough for Metagross to clean up late game with its priority. Pokemon such as Garchomp, Sneasler, and Ogerpon-W can fill this role.

**Hazard setters**: Metagross fits well on hazard stacking teams as it becomes incredibly difficult to avoid a Choice Band or damage-boosting item Metagross from claiming KOs. There is further synergy with these team structures as Metagross can consistently remove items with Knock Off. Hisuian Samurrot, Gliscor, and Glimmora all pair well with Metagross to provide entry hazard support. (i dont mind this point if you want to free up a moveslot on metagross, but idr think of fitting metagross onto hazard stack teams)

**Speed control**: One of the main weaknesses of Metagross is a very subpar Speed stat for an offensive Pokemon. As a result, Metagross enjoys fast teammates such as Tornadus Therian, Darkrai, Meowscarada to outspeed foes.

**Reliable pivots**: In order to maximize the wallbreaking of Metagross, teammates that can allow Metagross safe entry to the field make for fantastic teammates. Reliable pivots such as Zapdos, Landorus-T, and Rotom-W can provide safe entry for Metagross numerous times over the course of a match to tear down walls.

Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky physical walls**: While a very potent wallbreaker, Metagross can be checked by a number of common walls if they have a strong type matchup or enough natural bulk. Pokemon such as Zapdos, Ting Lu, and Scizor can all effectively serve as Metagross checks.

**Faster offensive foes**: Metagross can be hindered a great deal by its Speed stat and common weaknesses, allowing it to be offensively checked by Pokemon not threatened by its priority. Pokemon such as Urshifu-S, Iron Moth, and Garchomp outspeed and threaten Metagross off the field.

**Status Spreading**: As a result of its mediocre speed or type matchups, many Pokemon can outspeed Metagross and status it, or live an attack and inflict status. Pokemon such as Rotom-W and Skeledirge can diminish the efficacy of Metagross by spreading status conditions to it. (doesnt rly feel noteworthy to me, should be focussed on burn if you do keep it tho)

**Knock Off** The very commonly found Knock Off is very threatening to Metagross as it is weak to the move and often requires an item to hit damage thresholds or have longevity.

 

[jscurf2]

QC1 from Hacker fully implemented with some changes discussed on discord. Ready for qc2!

 

[Nyx]

[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 4 and beyond onwards

**Price range**: 13-14 points

**Overview**: Metagross is a valuable pick thanks to its strong wallbreaking ability, coveted Steel typing, excellent great stat distribution, and versatility. Few Pokemon can reliably check Metagross when powered up by a damage-boosting item or with the ability to Tera due to its wide movepool of strong physical attacks. Metagross also has the ability to take on a more supportive role as a bulky Steel with access to Stealth Rock, and Knock Off. While Metagross has many strengths, it is held back by its mediocre incredibly awkward Speed stat and a decent amount of common weaknesses, causing Metagross to fall to the middle of most drafts. excellent just feels too positive about something thats crippled by one of the worst speed tiers in the game, too fast for tr, too slow for scarf and still revenge killable


[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Metagross can utilize its strong Attack stat and powerful STAB and coverage attacks to severely weaken teams. These sets will commonly use a damage-boosting item such as Choice Band to give Metagross incredibly threatening immediate power as it lacks setup.

**Offensive Utility**: Metagross can use its number of supportive options paired with its existing offensive prowess to play a hybrid role of utility and offence. On these sets, Metagross can run Stealth Rock, Knock Off, and even Dual Screens to support your team while still maintaining offensive presence.

Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Heavy Slam, Meteor Mash, Iron Head, Psychic Fangs, Bullet Punch

**Setup moves**: Agility, Hone Claws, Iron Defense, Trailblaze,

**Utility moves**: Stealth Rock, Knock Off, Light Screen, Reflect, Trick, Brick Break, Psychic Noise, Rock Tomb

**Coverage**: Earthquake, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Body Press, Grass Knot, Shadow Claw, Hammer Arm

Niche Moves
========
**Explosion**: Explosion can be used as a very powerful one time attack to severely damage or eliminate a wall while providing momentum to your team.

**Endure**: Endure can be found on sets with a Custap Berry or Weakness Policy to survive an attack and allow your item to activate.

**Meteor Beam**: With a respectable Special Attack stat, Metagross can utilize Meteor Beam paired with a power herb to boost its Special Attack and allow it to run special sets in matchups where that may see success. id mention some examples of moves it uses alongside meteor beam

**Gravity**: Metagross can find use Gravity to boost the accuracy of some attacks and remove Ground-type immunities. Metagross may also set this field condition if teammates enjoy this support.

Common Items
========
**Choice Band**: Choice Band allows a wallbreaking Metagross to tear down walls, often through resists. This also helps Metagross to clean up late game with its strong priority.

**Leftovers**: Leftovers can provide extra longevity to more bulkier sets that aim to serve as a check.

**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries such as Colbur Berry and Shuca Berry can allow Metagross an extra turn to absorb an expected super effective attack and get up Stealth Rock or hit back.

**Weakness Policy**: Metagross may turn its number of common weaknesses and natural bulk in its favour to gain a lot of power. Weakness Policy is typically found on sets with agility to attempt to sweep games or clean up a weakened team. move to niche

Niche Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf lets Metagross overcome its mediocre Speed stat and catch opponents by surprise with a fast powerful attacks. You will often use Trick on Choice Scarf sets to impede the effectiveness of an incoming wall and gain the ability to switch moves.

**Damage-boosting items*: Damage-boosting items such as Expert Belt and Metal Coat can help wallbreaking sets increase their damage
more flexibility to switch attacks.

**Assault Vest**: Metagross can take use its strong movepool of STAB, coverage, priority, and utility attacks to equip an Assault Vest for added bulk.

**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry allows a weakened Metagross to gain an additional turn despite its Speed stat. This can pair well with Endure to ensure the activation of this item.

**Lum Berry** A Lum Berry will be used when playing a team with strong status spreaders to keep Metagross healthy. too niche imo, delete, ur never sending it in/keeping it in against mons w/ wisp

**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Against hazard stacking teams, Heavy-Duty Boots, can prevent Spike stacking from weakening Metagross. move to common, above lefties even since spikes are that prevalent in this gen

**Power Herb**: Power Herb may be used on special sets to allow Meteor Beam to be charged in one turn and give an immediate boost to your Special Attack stat. too niche, can mention under m beam that m beam is paired w/ p herb

Tera
========
While not the most effective Tera Captain due to its mediocre speed and stronger high tier options available, Metagross can be a serviceable Tera Captain. Metagross can use the STAB enhancing Tera Steel to annihilate almost any foe and strengthen its priority. Metagross may also use some defensive Tera typings such as Fairy, Water, and Poison, to increase longevity and improve type matchups. underselling tera meta here, its an incredibly threatening agility sweeper when it has access to tera, its defensive statline is also great w. tera, allowing it to completely shut down many phys atkers. its a great pick on teams that have 2 tera banned/ non reliant top tiers eg chomp + meow, tusk + chiyu etc etc

Draft Strategy
========
As a middle round pick that will not often be your Tera Captain, Metagross should not be the star of your draft. That being said, the versatility Metagross provides through its wallbreaking, bulk, utility, and late game cleaning potential will be greatly supportive to many team structures.

**Sweepers and wallbreakers**: While a fantastic wallbreaker itself, Metagross can be excellent when paired with Pokemon who can weaken foes enough for Metagross to clean up late game with its priority. Pokemon such as Garchomp, Sneasler, and Ogerpon-W can fill this role. id change at least one of these examples to a spc atker, otherwise it comes across as advocating for physical overload

**Hazard setters**: Metagross fits well on teams with hazard setters as it allows Metagross an additional moveslot and item flexibility. It also can become incredibly difficult to avoid a Choice Band or damage-boosting item Metagross from claiming KOs after hazard chip damage. There is further synergy with these team structures as Metagross can consistently remove items with Knock Off. Hisuian Samurrot, Gliscor, and Glimmora all pair well with Metagross to provide entry hazard support.

**Speed control**: One of the main weaknesses of Metagross is a very subpar Speed stat for an offensive Pokemon. As a result, Metagross enjoys fast teammates such as Tornadus Therian Tornadus-T, Darkrai, Meowscarada to outspeed foes.

**Reliable pivots**: In order to maximize the wallbreaking of Metagross, teammates that can allow Metagross safe entry to the field make for fantastic teammates. Reliable pivots such as Zapdos, Landorus-T, and Rotom-W can provide safe entry for Metagross numerous times over the course of a match to tear down walls.

Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky physical walls Physically bulky Pokemon**: While a very potent wallbreaker, Metagross can be checked by a number of common walls if they have a strong type matchup or enough natural bulk. Pokemon such as Zapdos, Ting Lu, and Scizor can all effectively serve as Metagross checks. zapdos deffo isnt a safe switchin anymore, knock + threat of band pfangs/edge is too risky to call it a check. scizor isnt a wall, it doesnt have reliable recovery, nor is it obscenely bulky, if it had kept roost, i could see it but ur naturally slower and ur hitting into meta's incredibly good defenses. id change them for stuff like alo and deo d

**Faster offensive foes**: Metagross can be hindered a great deal by its Speed stat and common weaknesses, allowing it to be offensively checked by Pokemon not threatened by its priority. Pokemon such as Urshifu-S, Iron Moth, and Garchomp outspeed and threaten Metagross off the field.

**Burn infliction**: As a result of its mediocre speed or type matchups, many Pokemon can outspeed Metagross and burn it, or live an attack and inflict status. Pokemon such as Rotom-W and Skeledirge can diminish the efficacy of Metagross by spreading the burn condition to it.

**Knock Off** The very commonly found Knock Off is very threatening to Metagross as it is weak to the move and often requires an item to hit damage thresholds or have longevity.

[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf2.608304/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.400000

QC 2/2 - @ me on disc if smth doesn't make sense

 

[jscurf2]

Implemented QC2 from Nyx with some changes discussed on Discord. Ready for GP!

 

[ken]

1/1 GP Team done
add remove comment

midagross

[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 4 onwards

**Price range**: 13-14 points

**Overview**: Metagross is a valuable pick thanks to its strong wallbreaking ability, coveted Steel typing, great stat distribution, and versatility. Few Pokemon can reliably check Metagross when powered up by a damage-boosting item or with the ability to Tera due to its wide movepool of strong physical attacks. Metagross also has the ability to take on a more supportive role as a bulky Steel-type with access to Stealth Rock (rc) and Knock Off. While Metagross has many strengths, it is held back by its incredibly awkward Speed and a decent amount of common weaknesses, causing Metagross to fall to the middle of most drafts.


[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Metagross can utilize its strong Attack stat and powerful STAB and coverage attacks to severely weaken teams. These sets will commonly use a damage-boosting item such as Choice Band to give Metagross incredibly threatening immediate power as it lacks setup.

**Offensive utility**: Metagross can use its number of supportive options paired with its existing offensive prowess to play a hybrid role of utility and offence offense. On these sets, Metagross can run Stealth Rock, Knock Off, and even dual screens to support your team while still maintaining an offensive presence.

**Agility sweeper**: Metagross is able to become a capable sweeper through the use of Agility to overcome its awkward Speed. Metagross can simply use its naturally high Attack stat, (ac) or it can use an items to gain power, (ac) such as Weakness Policy, leveraging its natural bulk, (ac) with Weakness Policy or sweeping on the special side with Meteor Beam or Power Herb in combination with Meteor Beam, enabling it to become a special sweeper. added pherb after consulting w/ qc

Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Heavy Slam, Meteor Mash, Iron Head, Psychic Fangs, Bullet Punch

**Setup moves**: Agility, Hone Claws, Iron Defense, Trailblaze (rc)

**Utility moves**: Stealth Rock, Knock Off, Light Screen, Reflect, Trick, Brick Break, Psychic Noise, Rock Tomb

**Coverage**: Earthquake, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Body Press, Hammer Arm, (ac) Grass Knot, Shadow Claw

Niche Moves
========
**Explosion**: Explosion can be used as a very powerful one-time (ah) attack to severely damage or eliminate a wall while providing momentum to your team.

**Endure**: Endure can be found on sets with a Custap Berry or Weakness Policy, (ac) allowing Metagross to survive an attack and allow your its item to activate.

**Meteor Beam**: With a respectable Special Attack stat, Metagross can utilize Meteor Beam paired with a Power Herb to boost its Special Attack, (ac) and allowing it to run special sets in matchups where that may see success. These sets will commonly be paired with Agility to increase Speed, special STAB options such as Flash Cannon and Psychic, and coverage attacks like Grass Knot.

**Gravity**: Metagross can use Gravity to boost the accuracy of some attacks and temporarily remove Ground-type immunities. Metagross may also set this field condition if teammates enjoy benefit from this support.

Common Items
========
**Choice Band**: Choice Band allows a wallbreaking Metagross to tear down walls, often enabling it to even break through resists foes that resist its attacks. This also helps Metagross to clean up late-game (ah) with its strong priority Bullet Punch it only learns one priority attack move, so makes sense to mention it.

**Leftovers / Sitrus Berry**: Leftovers can provide extra longevity to more for bulkier sets that aim to serve as a check to specific foes. assuming this is what you mean?

**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Against entry hazard stacking teams, Heavy-Duty Boots (rc) can prevent Spikes stacking from weakening Metagross.

**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries such as Colbur Berry and Shuca Berry can allow provide Metagross an extra turn to absorb an expected super effective attack and get set up Stealth Rock or hit attack back.

**Weakness Policy**: Metagross may turn use its number of common weaknesses and natural bulk in its favour favor to gain a lot of power. Weakness Policy is typically found on sets with Agility to attempt to sweep games or clean up a weakened team.

Niche Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf lets Metagross overcome its mediocre Speed stat and catch opponents foes by surprise with a fast, (ac) powerful attacks. You will often use Trick on Choice Scarf sets to impede the effectiveness of an incoming wall and gain give Metagross the ability to switch moves.

**Damage-boosting items*: Damage-boosting items such as Expert Belt and Metal Coat can help wallbreaking sets increase their damage and provide more flexibility by allowing Metagross to switch attacks.

**Assault Vest**: Metagross can take use its strong movepool of STAB, coverage, priority, and utility attacks to equip an Assault Vest for added bulk. When additional bulk is needed, Metagross can use an Assault Vest while still taking advantage of its movepool of strong STAB, coverage, priority, and utility attacks.

**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry allows a weakened Metagross to gain an additional turn despite its Speed stat. This can pair well with Endure to ensure the activation of this item.

Tera
========
While not the most common Tera Captain due to its mediocre Speed and premier higher-tier options available, Metagross can be a strong Tera Captain. Metagross can use the STAB-enhancing (ah) Tera Steel to annihilate almost any foe and strengthen its priority Bullet Punch. Metagross will also use some defensive Tera typings types such as Fairy, Water, and Poison (rc) to increase longevity and improve type matchups. It can become a far larger better sweeping threat with Agility on Tera variants, (ac) and picking up a strong typing can pair well with its fantastic defensive stat spread defenses.

Draft Strategy
========
As a middle-round (ah) pick that will not always be your Tera Captain, Metagross should not be the star of your draft. That being said, the versatility Metagross provides through its wallbreaking, bulk, utility, and late-game (ah) cleaning potential will be greatly supportive to many team structures.

**Sweepers and wallbreakers**: While it's a fantastic wallbreaker itself, Metagross can be excellent when paired with Pokemon who that can weaken foes enough for Metagross it to clean up late-game (ah) with its priority Bullet Punch. Pokemon such as Garchomp, Iron Moth, and Ogerpon-W can fill this role.

**Entry hazard setters**: Metagross fits well on teams with hazard setters, (ac) as it allows letting another teammate set hazards provides Metagross an additional moveslot and item flexibility. It also can become incredibly difficult to avoid using a Choice Band or other damage-boosting items with Metagross, (ac) from claiming which can claim KOs after hazard chip damage. There is further synergy with these team structures, (ac) as Metagross can consistently remove items with Knock Off. Hisuian Samurrot Samurott, Gliscor, and Glimmora all pair well with Metagross in this role to provide entry hazard support.

**Speed control**: One of the Metagross's main weaknesses of Metagross is a very subpar Speed stat for an offensive Pokemon. As a result, Metagross enjoys fast teammates such as Tornadus-T, Darkrai, and Meowscarada to outspeed foes.

**Reliable pivots**: In order to maximize the wallbreaking of Metagross To maximize Metagross's wallbreaking potential, teammates that can allow Metagross safely enter entry to the field are fantastic make for fantastic teammates. Reliable pivots such as Zapdos, Landorus-T, and Rotom-W can provide safe entry for Metagross numerous times over the course of a match, (ac) providing it many opportunities to tear down walls.

Checks and Counters
========
**Physically bulky walls**: While it's a very potent wallbreaker, Metagross can be checked by a number of common walls if they have a strong type matchup advantage or enough natural bulk. Pokemon such as Deoxys-D, Ting-Lu (ah), and Alomomola can all effectively serve as Metagross checks.

**Faster offensive foes**: Metagross can be hindered a great deal by its Speed stat and common weaknesses, allowing it to be offensively checked by Pokemon not threatened by its priority move. Pokemon such as Urshifu-S, Iron Moth, and Garchomp outspeed and threaten Metagross off the field.

**Burn infliction**: As a result of its mediocre Speed or type matchups type matchups meaning what; be more specific, since typing doesn't automatically lead to a burn, many Pokemon can outspeed Metagross and burn it (rc) or live an attack and inflict status. Pokemon such as Rotom-W and Skeledirge can diminish the efficacy of Metagross by spreading the burn condition to burning it.

**Knock Off** The very commonly found Knock Off is very threatening to Metagross, (ac) as it is weak to the move and often requires an item to hit damage thresholds or have longevity.

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