Metagross: Best Moveset and PVP Guide
The world of Pokémon has been a growing phenomenon since 1996, when the first pair of video games came out in stores. There are almost 900 individual Pokémon identified by the PokéDex and in this article, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about one of them – Metagross. Metagross is a dual-type Steel/Psychic Pokémon introduced in Generation III of the core game series. It is the final evolution of Beldum, also a Generation III Pokémon, which first evolves into Metang and then into Metagross, starting at level 45. Metagross also has a Mega Evolution.
In this article, we are going to tell you all the information you’ll need if you want to breed an Metagross in any of the games. We’re going to focus on both the core games, as well as other popular video games based on the Pokémon franchise.
Best moveset
In the Pokémon GO videogame, the best moves for your Metagross are Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash if you’re battling Pokémon in Gyms. Namely, this moveset gives you the highest total DPS and is, likewise, the best moveset for PVP battles. The official description for Bullet Punch reveals the following: “The user strikes the target with tough punches as fast as bullets. This also raises the user’s action speed”; as for Meteor Mash, the attack is described as follows: “The target is hit with a hard punch fired like a meteor. This may also raise the user’s Attack stat.”
Other moves that Metagross can learn across other games are:
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Metagross
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Metagross
- × indicates a move that cannot be used in Generation VIII
By leveling up
| Level | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
| 1 | Hammer Arm | Fighting | Physical | 100 | 90% | 10 |
| 1 | Confusion | Psychic | Special | 50 | 100% | 25 |
| 1 | Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95% | 35 |
| 1 | Bullet Punch | Steel | Physical | 40 | 100% | 30 |
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100% | 35 |
| Evo. | Hammer Arm | Fighting | Physical | 100 | 90% | 10 |
| 6 | Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90% | 15 |
| 12 | Magnet Rise | Electric | Status | — | —% | 10 |
| 18 | Flash Cannon | Steel | Special | 80 | 100% | 10 |
| 26 | Take Down | Normal | Physical | 90 | 85% | 20 |
| 34 | Psychic | Psychic | Special | 90 | 100% | 10 |
| 42 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100% | 10 |
| 52 | Meteor Mash | Steel | Physical | 90 | 90% | 10 |
| 62 | Iron Defense | Steel | Status | — | —% | 15 |
| 72 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 30 |
| 82 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90% | 5 |
By TM
| TM | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
| TM04 | Ice Punch | Ice | Physical | 75 | 100% | 15 |
| TM05 | Thunder Punch | Electric | Physical | 75 | 100% | 15 |
| TM08 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90% | 5 |
| TM09 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90% | 5 |
| TM17 | Light Screen | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 30 |
| TM18 | Reflect | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 20 |
| TM20 | Self-Destruct | Normal | Physical | 200 | 100% | 5 |
| TM21 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 10 |
| TM22 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90% | 10 |
| TM24 | Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100% | 15 |
| TM25 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
| TM26 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100% | 10 |
| TM27 | Icy Wind | Ice | Special | 55 | 95% | 15 |
| TM32 | Sandstorm | Rock | Status | — | —% | 10 |
| TM33 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | —% | 5 |
| TM34 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | —% | 5 |
| TM39 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100% | 20 |
| TM40 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | —% | 20 |
| TM43 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100% | 15 |
| TM48 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95% | 15 |
| TM69 | Psycho Cut | Psychic | Physical | 70 | 100% | 20 |
| TM76 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100% | 15 |
| TM81 | Bulldoze | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100% | 20 |
| TM97 | Brutal Swing | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100% | 20 |
| TM98 | Stomping Tantrum | Ground | Physical | 75 | 100% | 10 |
| TR01 | Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | 100% | 15 |
| TR10 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100% | 10 |
| TR11 | Psychic | Psychic | Special | 90 | 100% | 10 |
| TR12 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 30 |
| TR20 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
| TR22 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100% | 10 |
| TR25 | Psyshock | Psychic | Special | 80 | 100% | 10 |
| TR26 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
| TR27 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
| TR33 | Shadow Ball | Ghost | Special | 80 | 100% | 15 |
| TR38 | Trick | Psychic | Status | — | 100% | 10 |
| TR44 | Cosmic Power | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 20 |
| TR46 | Iron Defense | Steel | Status | — | —% | 15 |
| TR52 | Gyro Ball | Steel | Physical | — | 100% | 5 |
| TR69 | Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90% | 15 |
| TR70 | Flash Cannon | Steel | Special | 80 | 100% | 10 |
| TR74 | Iron Head | Steel | Physical | 80 | 100% | 15 |
| TR76 | Stealth Rock | Rock | Status | — | —% | 20 |
| TR77 | Grass Knot | Grass | Special | — | 100% | 20 |
| TR83 | Ally Switch | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 15 |
| TR99 | Body Press | Fighting | Physical | 80 | 100% | 10 |
Metagross PVP Guide
In this section of our article, we are going to give you a detailed PVP guide for Metagross, which can be applied to all known Pokémon video games. The guide is going to include several categories which are going to help you prepare a strategy involving Metagross for your games.
Weaknesses and Counters
As a dual Steel- and Psychic-type Pokémon, Metagross is super effective against Rock-, Fairy-, Ice-, Fighting-, and Poison-type Pokémon. It is weak Ghost-, Ground-, Steel-, Fire-, and Dark-type Pokémon. It is immune to Poison-type moves. It receives normal damage from Fighting-, Bug-, Water-, and Electric-type Pokémon.
Stats and Abilities
Metagross’ Stats, based on the most recent available data, are:
| Stats | Base Stats | Min- | Min | Max | Max+ | Min- | Min | Max | Max+ |
| HP | 80 | 155 | 187 | 301 | 364 | ||||
| Attack | 135 | 139 | 155 | 187 | 205 | 275 | 306 | 369 | 405 |
| Defense | 130 | 135 | 150 | 182 | 200 | 266 | 296 | 359 | 394 |
| Special Attack | 95 | 103 | 115 | 147 | 161 | 203 | 226 | 289 | 317 |
| Special Defense | 90 | 99 | 110 | 142 | 156 | 194 | 216 | 279 | 306 |
| Speed | 70 | 81 | 90 | 122 | 134 | 158 | 176 | 239 | 262 |
In Pokémon GO, Metagross has a Base Stamina of 190, a Base Attack of 257, and a Base Defense of 228.
As for its abilities, they are:
- Clear Body: Prevents other Pokémon’s moves or Abilities from lowering the Pokémon’s stats.
- Light Metal: Halves the Pokémon’s weight. (Hidden Ability)
- Tough Claw: Powers up moves that make direct contact. (Mega Metagross)
Metagross item guide
The best item you can give to your Metagross in the more recent games is the Metagrossite, which will allow it to evolve into Mega Metagross. Other useful items include Custap Berry (A Berry to be consumed by Pokémon. If a Pokémon holds one, it will be able to move first just once when it’s in a pinch) and Leftovers (An item to be held by a Pokémon. The holder’s HP is slowly but steadily restored throughout every battle).