The Fall of Pokemon's Strongest Pseudo-Legendary

Ray Rizzo16 minutes read

Incineroar and Metagross both have strong competitive histories in Pokémon, with Metagross showcasing resilience and adaptability across different generations and changes in the game, remaining a top contender despite challenges like the introduction of the Fairy type and the Dexit exclusion in Sword and Shield. Metagross's strategic use of moves like Explosion, along with new additions like Heavy Slam and Psychic Fangs in the Scarlet and Violet DLC, solidify its position as a reliable and powerful choice in high-level tournament play.

Insights

  • Metagross has a rich competitive history in Pokémon, evolving strategies across different generations, showcasing adaptability, resilience, and enduring success.
  • Metagross's effectiveness in competitive play stems from its diverse movepool, unique typing, and strategic partnerships, solidifying its position as a consistent top-tier contender in high-level tournaments despite evolving metagame challenges.

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Recent questions

  • What Pokémon has won the most World Championships?

    Incineroar

  • Which Pokémon tied with Incineroar for three World Championships?

    Metagross

  • What move was key to Metagross's success in competitive play?

    Explosion

  • How did Mega Evolution impact Metagross's performance in Generation 6?

    Made it faster and stronger

  • How did the pandemic affect Metagross's competitive showcase in official tournaments?

    Hindered its competitive showcase

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Summary

00:00

Metagross: Dominant Champion Across Generations

  • Incineroar has won the most World Championships in Pokémon history.
  • Metagross has also won three World Championships, tying with Incineroar.
  • Metagross was dominant in competitive Pokémon during Diamond and Pearl, with high attack and defense, strong moves like Meteor Mash and Earthquake, and the powerful move Explosion.
  • Metagross's Steel and Psychic typing made it resistant to many attacks, and Explosion was a key move in its success.
  • In Generation 5, Metagross saw a nerf to Explosion, but it remained a strong competitor with new strategies like pairing with Cresselia for Trick Room.
  • Mega Evolution in Generation 6 made Metagross faster and stronger, but the introduction of the Fairy type and changes to the type chart impacted its effectiveness.
  • Metagross had a resurgence in Generation 7, winning Regional Championships with strategies like Weakness Policy and Bulldoze Salamence support.
  • In 2018 and 2019, Metagross's Mega Evolution returned, benefiting from a change in turn order calculation and outperforming other Mega Evolutions.
  • Sword and Shield saw Metagross excluded due to the Dexit, but it returned in the DLC with strong Dynamax potential.
  • Metagross remained a top contender in competitive Pokémon, winning multiple championships and maintaining high usage across different generations.

16:58

Metagross: Strong Contender in Tournament Play

  • After the DLC release, Metagross became immune to Intimidate, benefiting from Dynamax boosts that enhanced its defense and special defense when paired with Steel and Ground types. Equipped with the Weakness Policy, it could activate a boost by enduring super effective moves, deterring opponents from attacking it aggressively, although the pandemic hindered its competitive showcase in official tournaments.
  • In the Scarlet and Violet DLC, Metagross received improvements with new moves like Heavy Slam and Psychic Fangs, enhancing its reliability and power. With access to Knock Off and a variety of coverage moves, it remains a strong contender in high-level tournament play, offering a solid option for teams due to its resistances and capabilities, positioning it below the top-tier Pokémon but still a formidable choice.
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