ultimatedra
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[GAL=53321]Metagross[/GAL]
By: Benzo
Metagross is a tank with a brain. It can dish out the damage, while thinking about how much it hurt you!
This guy was introduced in the 3rd generation of the series. It's type: steel+psychic is a great type combination, leaving little to be uncovered on the field as far as move sets go.
Well, with base stats that look like this:
HP= 80
Attack= 135
Defense= 130
Special attack= 95
special defense= 90
speed= 70
Your bound to come to a conclusion that this guy really CAN toss around the punches. Being a physical fighter, it does rank in the tiers of the elite Pokemon for many reasons. Time to check into why this metal beast is favored so much on the competitive scene:
Abilities:
Clear body: This allows protection from stat lowering attacks from opponent Pokemon like tail whip, and even abilities like Intimidate won't drop it's attack stat. However, the ability does not block the effects of self inflicting stat drops like Hammer Arm (which is an attack that Metagross can learn) that lowers the user's speed stat. It also does not block the stat drop from Burn or Paralysis. It can not prevent stat loss from attacks like Heart Swap, Guard Swap, Power Swap, Guard Split, Power Split, and Baton Pass. Things to keep in mind for this ability is that it does not prevent stat increase attacks, and is subject to the side effects of attacks that increase a stat. This ability is the most preferred ability of use on the battle field.
Light Metal: Obtainable through the Dream World, this ability cuts the weight of a Pokemon in half. So you weigh a ton, you now weigh 1,000 lbs. instead. It does reduce the amount of damage taken from few attacks, but Clear Body wins in favor of choice because it does offer better over all protection in a battle.
Now to the part you all just want to get to: How can I make an awesome Tank with this guy?
44 physical attacks, and 22 special attacks! Somehow it just favors the fact that this Pokemon can hurt opposing Pokemon in so many ways there are more choice options to prepare the assault that special attacks are few and between. (And not only do the base stats compliment this guy to toss around the pain infliction, it does pack a few special attacks to switch things up if need be.)
OK- first on the list is the physical hitter. Your opponent won't play nice, so build Metagross like so:
Adamant Nature
Ability: Clear Body
Held item: Occa berry. Why? Metagross has an issue with fire type opponent Pokemon. Don't play with matches near this guy, he won't be to happy if you did.
Effort Value spread:
252 in Hit Point = Keeps Metagross around a while, since it does have a high defense stat for being metal type- it can take some hits from attacks it can resist.
252 in Attack = Well, if your going to hit hard, you need to build up the muscle, right? With an attack stat of 405 at level 100, you now know why this guy is used in the competitive play scene.
4 in speed. Sometimes being slower is OK. Metagross is slower then most Pokemon, but having the 4 added in the speed stat will put the edge up just enough at times to be quicker. If your worried about speed, Change the hold item to the scarf. Metagross can handle being slow, since it does get a specific priority move that will make this tank get the jump on things, which I will get to in a moment.
Move set:
Meteor Mash: The "mash" is no joke. It is an attack that has a nice side effect for the user. It has a chance to increase the attack stat, just adding on more pain and gaining a stronger advantage over your opponent.
Ice Punch: Can handle the dragons, and maybe freeze an opponent. Grass Pokemon can be a problem sometimes for Metagross, but not enough to worry about. So you could go with-
Earthquake: Fire Pokemon are a huge threat to Metagross. And sometimes the occasional Ground type Pokemon is going to spell trouble for you with their own ground attacks to juggle you around. Metagross is rather speedy over most Ground type Pokemon, so having the ability to rattle them first instead is a great way to hit them where it hurts.
Hammer Arm: A solid fighting type attack that hits so hard- you become slower every time you use it.
Sure, you suffer a speed drop in your speed stat. But, come on- this is HAMMER ARM! Dark Pokemon fear this, Normal Pokemon wet there pants at the thought of it, and really- M.C. Hammer is jealous. A good number of steel type Pokemon don't favor this attack as well, so Hammer Arm does come in handy.
Now, since a Pokemon as we all know can have only four moves, and Metagross can use so many physical attacks- I will mention one last one:
Bullet Punch!: This is the priority attack I mentioned earlier. What's the big deal with Bullet Punch?
Let me just say that I don't think it would be all that great when you come face-to-face with this attack.
It will mess up so many things for your opponent. Most Metagross users equip Metagross with this attack for many reasons. It is a priority attack for one, it can make Metagross attack first over Pokemon that are so much faster, that with little health on the receivers end- a KO is eminent. It strikes fear into your opponent. If your in a battle and things are coming down to the wire-- BAMM! You Bullet Punch and take the Win! And the best part is, if there is nothing your opponent can do to stop this attack, they know right away that Metagross has once again spelled doom for their team.
Quick notes time!
OK, OK. Here is a quick special attack Metagross version, as Metagross can battle using special attacks. There are some available for him to use that compliment specific strategies when you feel that punching is just not in your plans for the day.
Never Mind! I think I will skip on the special attacker, and continue to brag about how much of a physical fighter this guy is! If anyone is interested in mentioning a good special attacker for Metagross, feel free to post one below!
Now back to why Metagross is a tank, has a great ability, has a great type match-up, is feared, has a tough defense, dishes out the hits like no other, and the so-many-combinations of physical attacks that give this Pokemon so much versatility it just BEGS to be in battles.
Sadly, I do need to say that Metagross is not Arceus status of God ship, and yes, can suffer defeat.
A few Pokemon do laugh in Metgross's face, because they are able to stand up to the challenge in a balanced game that Pokemon is good about doing. Keeping it fair.
Fire Pokemon. They just have it in for Metagross, being all mad that they can't have Bullet Punch and all.
Electric Pokemon can give your tank a hard time as well, thus the need to have your tank equipped with Earthquake, which will also give Fire types a good heap of pain. Most electric and Fire Pokemon can hassle Metagross, with Fire type just making bacon bits out of Metagross with a flamethrower or Heatwave. Bulky high defense Ground Pokemon can make it a bad day for Metagross as well, so you'll want to pair up a Pokemon with Metagross in doubles that can assist in keeping the flames low, keep the electric Pokemon focused away, and plain flat out cover the weaknesses so Metagross can do what it does best- Go Hulk on everything and smash, smash, and Bullet Punch for the finish!
I am leaving this review as is, since there are so many good versions of Metagross that can be made and used in so many ways, like for Rain dance teams, Trick Room, and single battles-
I want to know how you guys would use Metagross, what is your Metagross style?
