Pokémon TCG: Top 10 Best Metagross of All Time

In this article, we'll go over the 10 best Metagross ever released in the history of Pokémon TCG, considering the best attacks and abilities.

We'll keep exploring Hoenn Pokémon with Metagross, a Metal/Psychic Pokémon that first appeared in the Ruby & Sapphire block. It is also a very popular pseudo-legendary Pokémon, and is the signature Pokémon of the Hoenn champion, Steven.

Below, you'll see the best Metagross ever printed, from "baby" versions to the more powerful "ultra rare" versions.

Let's go!

10 - Metagross (Ruby/Sapphire: Deoxys)

We'll start by going back to the early days of Ruby & Sapphire, more specifically the Deoxys set. This Metagross was very relevant at the time because of its ability, Super Connectivity. It recycles one Psychic or Metal energy (remember, Metal energies were considered special energies back then) from your discard pile and lets you attach them to your active Pokémon. On the other side, however, after you do this, you'll also have to put a damage counter on your active Pokémon for each energy you attach to it.

This Metagross was a recursive Pokémon, essentially, and was a lot of help even when it was on your bench. And, the best of all was that it let you recycle Metal Energy EM 88, considered special energies in that block. They made the Pokémon they were attached to take 10 less damage from attacks while they were on the active spot.

You can use this Pokémon in the U150 and Palace formats.

9 - Metagross -Delta Species- (Ruby/Sapphire: Delta Species)

This "delta" Metagross from the Ruby & Sapphire block was extremely important for the meta at the time. It lets you look at the top 4 cards in your deck, pick one, add it to your hand, and then forces you to put the other 3 at the bottom of your deck.

You can use it in the U150 and Palace formats.

8 - Metagross (Black/White: Plasma Freeze)

This Metagross, from the Black & White era was critical in Plasma decks because of its ability, Plasma Search.

This ability lets you look in your deck for a Team Plasma card and add it to your hand.

You can use it in Expanded, but "Plasma" decks lost a lot of space throughout the years, as they weren't able to keep up with the power creep.

7 - Metagross (Heart Gold/Soul Silver: Unleashed)

This Metagross from the HG/SS era was an extremely strong recursive Pokémon because of its ability, Psychic Float. This ability lets you retreat your active Pokémon for free as long as they have any Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207 attached.

It was very useful in the HG/SS Standard format. You can use it in the U150 and Palace formats nowadays.

6 - Metagross (Sword/Shield: Vivid Voltage)

Its ability, Levitation Field, lets you retreat all your Pokémon for free!

This card needs no introduction. It is excellent both in Expanded and in GLC.

5 - Metagross (X/Y: Ancient Origins)

This Pokémon stands out because of its ability, Magnetic Warp, which is quite similar to Escape Rope BST 125. The only difference is that you'll first swap your active Pokémon from one of your Benched Pokémon, and then your opponent will swap theirs.

This enables many interesting strategies, as you can use it to surprise your opponent with a Boss's Orders RCL 154, Guzma BUS 115, Counter Catcher CIN 91, or Prime Catcher PRE 119. You'll disrupt their strategy completely.

4 - Metagross (Scarlet/Violet: Journey Partners)

This card stands out because of its second attack, Conjoined Beams, which deals 130 base damage, and another 150 extra damage if you have a Beldum and a Metang in play.

The strategy for this type of deck is to put as many Beldums as possible in play, evolve them gradually into Metangs, and then use Metagross as your main attacker, preferably with Rare Candy. That way, you'll put pressure on your opponent constantly, and force them into difficult situations.

This card came in the Journey Together set, the latest set, so it's Standard-legal. You can also use it in Expanded.

3 - Metagross-GX (Sun/Moon: Guardians Rising)

This Pokémon stands out because of its ability, Geotech System, which lets you attach a Basic Metal Energy SFA 99 or a Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207 from your discard pile to your active Pokémon. It is an excellent "charger" Pokémon.

2 - Metagross V & Metagross VMax (Sword/Shield: Chilling Reign)

Our second place is Metagross V and its VMax evolution. They complement each other with their diverse attacks, and are best with support cards that let you use attacks from their previous evolutions or basic forms. For instance, Relicanth TEF 84, Shining Celebi PR-SM SM79, Celebi-EX BCR 9, and staples like Memory Energy LOT 194, and Memory Capsule VIV 155.

If you play these combos correctly, Metagross VMax will be able to use Synchro Hammer, which deals 60 base damage plus 90 extra damage if both active Pokémon have the same number of energies attached.

The attacks from its VMax form are also excellent: the first lets you look for two cards in your deck and add them to your hand, and the second deals 100 damage, but also deals more 150 damage if it is still your active Pokémon. You can't stack this damage, but you can deal 250 damage for just two energies, which is extremely strong.

If you'd like to know more about this strategy in Expanded, click here.

1 - Steven's Metagross ex (Scarlet/Violet: League Battle Deck)

This is the most recent promise for May 2025, a card from the League Battle Deck, which focuses on "Trainer's Partners".

Its ability, X-Boot, is the best thing about it: it lets you look for a Basic Metal Energy SFA 99 and a Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207 in your deck and attach them to your Metal and Psychic Pokémon, respectively, in any way you'd like!

Metagross (Sword/Shield: Silver Tempest)

Do you agree with our picks? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!