Physical
Wallbreaker
600Elite
70Moderate
BTier

Steel/Psychic gives Metagross strong STAB coverage, and its stat spread wastes nothing on the offensive side. It needs some investment to avoid getting outsped. A competitive force since Gen 3. Poison moves can't touch it, which offsets the 4 weaknesses somewhat.

Attack and Defense carry most of Metagross's stat budget. Speed's the obvious dump stat. Near-impossible to catch and yields 3 Defense EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.

Base Stats
600Legend
HP80
C
Attack135
A
Defense130
A
Sp. Atk95
B
Sp. Def90
B
Speed70
C
Total600
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Metagross yields +3 Def
HPAtkDef+3SpASpDSpe
Details
Catch3LegendarySlow1.25M XP1.6m / 5'03"550kg / 1212.5 lbs270Base XP
Pokedex Entries

Because the magnetic powers of these Pokémon get stronger in freezing temperatures, Metagross living on snowy mountains are full of energy.

Sword

Metagross is the result of the fusion of two Metang. This Pokémon defeats its opponents through use of its supercomputer-level brain.

Shield

Metagross Weakness

Good

Metagross is weak to Fire, Ground, Ghost, and Dark-type moves. On the flip side, it's immune to Poison-type moves entirely. With 9 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Metagross's physical bulk (base 130 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
0xImmunei
4Weak
9Resist
1Immune
Scorei+5
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Abilities
Clear BodyPrevents stats from being lowered by other Pokémon.
Light MetalHAHalves the Pokémon's weight.

End of the line. Metagross caps a three-stage chain that started at Beldum. Breeding produces the base form, and eggs are takes forever to hatch. Attack grew the most through evolution (+80 over Beldum), and Metagross peaks at 600 total stats.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Beldum
SteelPsychic
Metang
SteelPsychic
Metagross
SteelPsychic
HP
40
60+20
80+20
ATK
55
75+20
135+60
DEF
80
100+20
130+30
SP.ATK
35
55+20
95+40
SP.DEF
60
80+20
90+10
SPE
30
50+20
70+20
BST
300D-Tier
420D-Tier+120
600A-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Difficult

Breed with Metagross to get Beldum eggs (with patience) using 60 partners from the Mineral egg group.

Egg Groups
Mineral
Gender
GenderlessDittoDitto only
Hatch Time
40 cycles·10,280 steps
Slow~10 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
avaluggglaliefroslasscrustleferrothorndwebblesnoruntferroseedcarbinkbergmitecofagrigusyamask

This build takes hits and hits back. Assault Vest provides a special bulk boost with no status moves allowed, Clearbody supports the gameplan, and max Attack without Speed EVs mean Metagross doesn't crumble to chip damage. Plus the remaining moves backing it up.

Best Build

Physical Tank
Ability
Clearbody
Item
Assault VestBULK
Nature
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Best Metagross Moveset

  • Bullet PunchSTAB
  • Iron HeadSTAB
  • Psycho CutSTAB
  • Zen HeadbuttSTAB

The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 10 types means almost nothing walls Metagross cleanly, with Steel Roller and Psychic anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bullet Punch+1
4010030Steel
Lv 1
Confusion
5010025Psychic
Lv 1
Hammer Arm
1009010Fighting
Lv 1
Metal Claw
509535Steel
Lv 1
Tackle
4010035Normal
Lv 6
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic
Lv 12
Magnet Rise
10Electric
Lv 16
Flash Cannon
8010010Steel
Lv 26
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 34
Psychic
9010010Psychic
Lv 42
Scary Face
10010Normal
Lv 52
Meteor Mash
909010Steel
Lv 62
Iron Defense
15Steel
Lv 72
Agility
30Psychic
Lv 82
Hyper Beam
150905Normal

TM Moves

Src
TR12
Agility
30Psychic
TR83
Ally Switch+2
15Psychic
TR99
Body Press
8010010Fighting
TR01
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM43
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM97
Brutal Swing
6010020Dark
TM81
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TR44
Cosmic Power
20Psychic
TR10
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TR26
Endure+4
10Normal
TM39
Facade
7010020Normal
TR70
Flash Cannon
8010010Steel
TM09
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TR77
Grass Knot
10020Grass
TR52
Gyro Ball
1005Steel
TM08
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM04
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
TM27
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TR46
Iron Defense
15Steel
TR74
Iron Head
8010015Steel
TM17
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM25
Protect+4
10Normal
TR11
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM69
Psycho Cut
7010020Psychic
TR25
Psyshock
8010010Psychic
TM33
Rain Dance
5Water
TM18
Reflect
20Psychic
TM21
Rest
10Psychic
TM22
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM48
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM76
Round
6010015Normal
TM32
Sandstorm
10Rock
TM26
Scary Face
10010Normal
TM20
Self-Destruct
2001005Normal
TR33
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TR27
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TR22
Sludge Bomb
9010010Poison
TM24
Snore
5010015Normal
TR76
Stealth Rock
20Rock
TM98
Stomping Tantrum
7510010Ground
TR20
Substitute
10Normal
TM34
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM40
Swift
6020Normal
TM05
Thunder Punch
7510015Electric
TR38
Trick
10010Psychic
TR69
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Metagross doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Expanding Force
8010010Psychic
Tutor
Meteor Beam
1209010Rock
Tutor
Steel Roller
1301005Steel

Can't catch Metagross directly. Start with Beldum at solid rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 45. The 3-stage chain from Beldum to Metagross is where the leveling time goes.

How to Obtain Metagross in Sword & Shield

To get Metagross, start by catching Beldum through walking encounters at Lv. 60-65. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.

  1. Beldum
    Step 1Catch Beldum
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldOverworldLv.60-65100%PostIceSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldOverworldLv.60-65100%PostIceRaining
    EFFORTLESS
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordOverworldLv.60-65100%PostIceThunderstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordOverworldLv.60-65100%PostIceSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordOverworldLv.60-65100%PostIceRaining
    EFFORTLESS
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldOverworldLv.60-65100%PostIceThunderstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordGrassLv.60-6533%PostIceHeavy Fog
    EFFORTLESS
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldGrassLv.60-6533%PostIceHeavy Fog
    EFFORTLESS
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldGrassLv.60-6525%PostIceNormal Weather
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldGrassLv.60-6525%PostIceSnowstorm
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordGrassLv.60-6525%PostIceSnowing
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordGrassLv.60-6525%PostIceOvercast
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordGrassLv.60-6525%PostIceNormal Weather
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordGrassLv.60-6525%PostIceSnowstorm
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldGrassLv.60-6525%PostIceSnowing
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldGrassLv.60-6525%PostIceOvercast
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordOverworldLv.60-6524%PostIceNormal Weather
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldOverworldLv.60-6524%PostIceHeavy Fog
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldOverworldLv.60-6524%PostIceOvercast
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldOverworldLv.60-6524%PostIceNormal Weather
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordOverworldLv.60-6524%PostIceIntense Sun
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordOverworldLv.60-6524%PostIceHeavy Fog
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldOverworldLv.60-6524%PostIceIntense Sun
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordOverworldLv.60-6524%PostIceOvercast
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordGrassLv.60-6520%PostIceIntense Sun
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldGrassLv.60-6520%PostIceIntense Sun
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldOverworldLv.60-6519%PostIceSnowstorm
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordOverworldLv.60-6519%PostIceSnowing
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    ShieldOverworldLv.60-6519%PostIceSnowing
    EASY
    Snowslide Slope
    SwordOverworldLv.60-6514%PostIceSnowstorm
    EASY
  2. Metang
    Step 2Evolve into Metang
  3. Metagross
    Step 3Metagross
  • We rate Metagross B-Tier — a solid choice for the right team. At 600 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Base 135 Attack stands out.

  • Metagross's biggest threats include Arcanine (Fire), Swampert (Ground), and Gengar (Ghost), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Dark-type attackers are also a problem. Metagross has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.

  • Metang evolves into Metagross at level 45. Metagross is the final evolution in a 3-stage line starting from Beldum. With 600 BST, it's a powerhouse in its final form.

  • Clear Body is the go-to ability for Metagross. It prevents stats from being lowered by other Pokémon. Its hidden ability Light Metal can work in specific setups.

  • Base 70 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Metagross is a physical attacker with base 135 Attack. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a wallbreaker.

  • Metagross appears in 16 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.

Since debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Metagross has appeared in 16 titles over 7 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.