Metagross Weaknesses and Raid Counters in Pokemon GO

Out of the entire national Pokedex, there are few Pokemon as feared and respected as Metagross. It’s a perfect predator with nearly unapproachable offensive and defensive capabilities. There’s a reason it’s the signature Pokemon of Hoenn’s Pokemon League Champion, Steven Stone: because Metagross is a monster. Even attempting to fight one of these things is a frightening prospect, but even the mightiest monsters have critical weaknesses. Here are Metagross’s weaknesses and Raid counters in Pokemon GO.

Metagross Resistances and Weaknesses

Metagross is a Steel/Psychic type, a especially potent combination with a multitude of resistances and few weaknesses, which are as follows:

• Resistant to: Normal, Flying, Rock, Steel, Grass, Ice, Dragon, Fairy
• Double-Resistant to: Poison, Psychic
• Weak against: Ground, Ghost, Fire, Dark

In addition to its litany of resistances, Metagross has above average stats almost across the board, with a base attack of 257, a base defense of 228, and a slightly below-average base stamina of 190. Metagross doesn’t move slow, it moves decisively, especially if it’s at its max CP of 3,791.

Metagross Moves

Meanwhile, these are the moves available in Metagross’s kit:

Quick Moves

• Bullet Punch (Steel)
• Zen Headbutt (Psychic)

Main Moves

• Earthquake (Ground)
• Flash Cannon (Steel)
• Psychic (Psychic)
• Meteor Mash (Steel, Elite TM)

Metagross Counters in Pokemon GO

Picking an ideal counter for Metagross is a tricky business. Due to its vast number of resistances, picking anything but something it’s weak against is a complete non-starter. Even then, though, one of the most damaging types against Metagross, Fire types, are endangered due to Metagross’s ability to use Earthquake, a very powerful Ground move, so going for the pure DPS option may not be the best call.

List of Metagross Counters

• Chandelure – Fire Spin/Shadow Ball
• Darkrai – Snarl/Shadow Ball
• Reshiram – Fire Fang/Overheat
• Darmanitan – Fire Fang/Overheat
• Ho-Oh – Incinerate/Sacred Fire++
• Hoopa – Astonish/Shadow Ball
• Moltres – Fire Spin/Overheat
• Gengar – Lick/Shadow Ball
• Zoroark – Snarl/Foul Play
• Cursola – Hex/Shadow Ball
• Polteageist – Hex/Shadow Ball

Your safest pick would probably be either a pure Ghost or pure Dark type. Pokemon like Zoroark, Cursola, or Polteageist would all be fairly safe, as none of them are weak against any of the moves in Metagross’s kit, and Zoroark, in particular, is also resistant against Psychic moves. If you absolutely have to go all-in, then you want strong Ghost types like Chandelure or Gengar, but remember that due to their respective Fire and Poison typing, they’re both critically weak against Earthquake, so this route is a bit of a gamble.

For Legendaries, Reshiram is the first thought due to its Dragon/Fire typing and high base attack. Indeed, Reshiram can deal the most possible damage to a Metagross, but it is still just as vulnerable to Ground moves. For a safer Legendary pick, go for Darkrai, whose pure Dark typing gives it the same resistances as Zoroark with much greater damage-dealing potential.