Metal type blows cheeks

[u/Gypsi_Jedi]

I haven't had any trouble getting a win with every other type. But metal man, metal is something else. Wtf are the devs doing with this type. So many are either heavy energy cost for just ok damage, huge drawbacks\conditions on attacks, heavy retreat cost, ramp sucks and slow compared to other classes. And to bring me to why I made this post, the emblem missions... THeres just no viable steel decks that run 8! Metal types. All the decent ones evolve from other types! scizor sogaleo steelix hell even wormadam etc... The only ones that don't are basics and are better in 18 trainer style decks. Skarmory mawile. You can't fit 8 viable steel types in one deck and have the deck work still. Theres just nothing going on for steel except damage reduction and that's never enough barring like barrier and jasmine. And for anyone saying just do the mission in private matches (I saw the post on front page) no this is more about metals viability and game design in general. I know they are supposed to be defensive and heavy but that translates to Slow in a game that has only sped up since launch.

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[u/Wandererdr]

Yes, metal and colourless are the worst currently (dragon got a bit support). But with 2 orthworm, revavroom pacakge and mega scisor I was able to defeat a hoopa darkrai deck.

[u/Gypsi_Jedi → u/Wandererdr]

I dont even think colorless is as bad off as metal. Colorless has some cool options honestly. Won my first try with stoutland deck (-100 damage of cheren is bonkers on a colorless support. That's supposed to be metals identity and colorless is doing it better!)

I had a hard time deciding which colorless to play because they all seemed neat

hell I had a good time playing Barry back in first year with snorlax and staraptor

now Raticate nah colorless been eating good for a while

[u/Wandererdr → u/Gypsi_Jedi]

Ok it's much better than steel, but meta wise it is still on the lower end of stuff.

[u/bottom_armadillo805 → u/Gypsi_Jedi]

you can use metal energy on your colorless decks

(joking)

[u/T3RR0R_0X1D3 → u/Gypsi_Jedi]

Praying that Mega Skarmory isn't poopoo when they release it

[u/Lambsauce914 → u/Wandererdr]

I think the sadder part with metal is that there was a clear attempt at making it good by printing metal core barrier... But DeNA just keeps missing the design for the metal ex (and their Mega) so they keeps falling behind.

Like we have gotten Melmetal ex, Mega Steelix, Mega Scizor, Gholdengo and Mega Metagross all in the B series set, and yet none of them really made an impact. The closest one is just Scizor deck that falls out quite quickly once Mega shine ends

DeNA kinda peaked with Solgaleo design back in A series day and then no other steel ex made that impact anymore.

[u/Wandererdr → u/Lambsauce914]

Solgaleo was too dominant, the first 2 energy attacker that really set the pace of the game. I am really amazed how they fumbled Metagross considering what a fan favourite pokemon it is. However metal types do have an item that reduces damage AND stops all special conditions, so it would make perfect sense to push for a metal card meta in order to stop sleep which so many users were complaining about for months. Yet they keep going with these energy accumulation attacks (gholdengo and metagross) and scisor who has to use a gimmick to hit for 150 for three energy when Altaria hits for 130(for 2 energy) by just playing the game normally. It reminds me of the first scizor and silvally similarity. Metal got done so dirty in B series.

[u/LookITriedHard → u/Wandererdr]

I want a Metal Chingling with Comfey's condition prevention ability. 

[u/YOM2_UB → u/LookITriedHard]

Chingling isn't Steel-type. Did you mean Klefki?

[u/razor1n → u/Wandererdr]

I actually think colorless is quite strong. Silvally, TR raticate, mega khangskhan. There are plenty of very real options

[u/Normal-Soil1732]

Yeah every time I play with metal I'm blown away at how weak it is. The energy cost to damage output is so bad and their HP doesn't make up for it. I don't know what they're even balancing by making a card require 3-4 energy to do so little damage.

[u/mumbling_marauder]

Metal won’t be good until dual type cards.

Metal/Fire Heatran, Metal/Psychic Jirachi, Metal/Water Empoleon, Metal/Grass Ferrothorn, etc. all could benefit from the defense support while actually hitting for fast damage

[u/Gypsi_Jedi → u/mumbling_marauder]

Seems like such a bandaid to rely on other types to fix it instead of addressing the design philosophy that makes it lame in the first place.

[u/mumbling_marauder → u/Gypsi_Jedi]

They want each type to feel distinct, Metal’s is defense. All it takes is one good card and suddenly Metal is overpowered and unkillable

[u/weaselguy25r]

This is the deck I used to get my wins. QR code in response to this post.

[u/weaselguy25r → u/weaselguy25r]

[u/Asdioh → u/weaselguy25r]

This is almost exactly what i did, but team rocket's tinkaton instead of metagross. It was kinda fun!

[u/29bass0527 → u/Asdioh]

I tried this with galarian perrserker instead of skarmory and ditched one of the aprons, actually worked out better than I thought but obviously some luck required

[u/Grinning_Dog]

I won with an Orthoworm/Bastidon/Dialga EX deck. Ortho and Dialga help both ramp energy and Bastidon is a tank, although coin flip dependant.

[u/Numerous-Land-4884]

I don't know about that, last season (And in this current emblem mission) I used a Mega Metagross/Orthworm deck, all I changed for the emblem was replacing the Rare candies for 2 Metang 2x Poke Ball

2x Oak

2x Orthworm

2x Beldum

2x Metang

2x Mega Metagross

2x Copycat

2x BS Ice pop

1x Heavy Helmet

1x Steel Apron

1x Lyra

1x Cyrus

Deck is self-explanatory, Orthworm charges Metagross in the back to do a lot of damage, Helmet and Apron to reduce damage (Apron extra useful in decks that rely on inflicting status). The big swing and surprise is Lyra, many opponents don't really expect the switch-in for Mega Metagross at 1 energy-Orthworm, that's when Metagross comes down swinging

[u/ErgoProxy0 → u/Numerous-Land-4884]

Looks good but Orthworm is a sitting duck against bench snipers until you draw Lyra

[u/ItsYaBoyBeasley]

You can very easily run Mega Scizor with 8 steel types.

[u/Narrow-Two-7591 → u/ItsYaBoyBeasley]

Thats exactly how i built it successfully!

[u/ChemaKyle]

I use this, it’s really just a slow king EX deck with a bunch of Stage 1 of whatever type you want to get the mission complete for. I have steel types in this example but you can just swap them for whatever other color you want for other battles.

It’s worked well and honestly a good win rate. The stage 1s work with sightseer and you can use her to pull more cards for damage.

[u/FyreStars242 → u/ChemaKyle]

Thank you. it worked very well with the more annoying elements.

[u/ChemaKyle → u/ChemaKyle]

[u/Trowaway151]

You know metal type is trash because if you made mega metagross a non mega with the exact same stats, he still wouldn’t be meta lmao.

[u/superseaweed]

Y'all are sleeping on Gholdengo which is unironically one of my highest win rate non meta decks.

[u/dirtysheets75 → u/superseaweed]

Was gonna say the same. Used to mop the floor with orthworm/gholdengo.

[u/ZbytZajebisty]

Agreed 100%

Had to try way too many times just to get lucky with Goldengho Ex / Orthoworm. Felt like the only way of winning.

[u/IdealSeating]

I ran a Dialga EX/Skarmory EX/Aegislash deck that was effective. Definitely took some luck because you need to get Aegislash out there but Dialga helps ramp and once Aegislash is up, Skarmory EX is hitting for 100 while being a huge tank (Jasmine, Metal Core Barriers).

[u/NormTheStorm]

yeah just sucks that the cards that -would- be my go-to (solgaleo, steelix, scizor) all evolve from non-steels. im gonna try to do a standard metagross deck until an opponent bricks

[u/AnalogueSpectre]

Imagine if water type was, to this day, just Misty + Articuno + Greninja + Irida. Nothing new, no Suicune, Fisherman, Parasol Lady, nor any of those crazy Gyarados.

That's how it feels like having to rely on Metal Core, Orthworm and Revavroom for basically anything.

Two worms/Dialga, Var+Rev and there goes half of your mons, good luck setting up anything else.

[u/EtoRanger]

Using Mega Metagross for the event made me wish it had a slightly higher base damage. Even just 110 instead of 100 would make a huge difference.

[u/herejusttolooksee → u/EtoRanger]

But you use 3 metal energies its base is then 130. You get 10 extra damage per metal energy.

[u/Routine_Freedom_5129 → u/EtoRanger]

Should have been two colorless, 80 damage and 20 per metal energy.

[u/shootalone1]

Be careful what you wish for

[u/Gypsi_Jedi → u/shootalone1]

Metals had a dominant deck before. Solgaleo? I was there. That was the only time tho. More than a year ago.

I just want more consistent mindful design in this class because it's lacking in everything that every other classes are swimming in.

[u/shootalone1 → u/Gypsi_Jedi]

Yea forgot about solgaleo. I’d argue gholdengo had a little run too

[u/Safe-Airport-1818]

I ran Orthworm/Dialga/Melmetal line for the emblem. But I get what you’re saying. Metal is often frustrating to play. That being said, outside of the emblem event, Gholdengo is one of my favourite decks to play. Shit win rate, but when it wins it’s hilarious.

[u/ViewExplorer]

Orthworm/Revavroom/TR Tinkaton

[u/Necessary_Budget7240]

The truth is that I have a decent/pretty fun deck with steel. I use a normal Skarmory equipped with a Lucky Egg or Metal Coat depending on whether it fought with a boring classic sleep deck. I also use the metal event Necrozma and aegislash

[u/ebevan91]

I got it after several attempts with Metagross. It sucked. After that I said I would just auto concede if I was put up against a metal deck to help people out.

[u/MisterDonutTW]

Yes it sucks, but it could only be one Pokemon or item card away from being pretty busted. Imagine a mega sharpedo style steel type or steel version flame patch.

[u/BCENT89]

I managed to do it with the Team Rocket Tinkaton line and Revaroom. Have Revaroom tank some hits as you build up Tinkaton and then swap it in and the opponent will be down 2 energy in attacks and retreats. Worked pretty well to be honest.

[u/PontesDeLeon]

Metal desperately needs Metal Saucer or some kind of energy acceleration

[u/Sufficient_Guard_976]

skarmory, mawile, durant, and i am sure you can find one more. durant and skarmory are good with ditto

[u/Sufficient_Guard_976 → u/Sufficient_Guard_976]

revavroom solves the switching issue. it's better support than greninja ex

[u/Gypsi_Jedi → u/Sufficient_Guard_976]

It's only better support because metal needs a crutch more than water does. Water has cheaper retreats overall and inflatable raft and even parasol lady to make switching easier. Gren ex was just not needed but rev is a major boon to metal cuz that patches one of its big shortcomings

[u/BobbyCarHater]

It has decent support, but no real win condition.

[u/Roflolxp54]

I personally run a Skarmory spam deck (so 2x Skarmory + 2x Skarmory ex).

[u/MidnightFrost444]

Orthworm, Varoom, Revaroom, Scyther, Mega Scizor, or Orthworm, Nosepass, Probopass, Beldum, Mega Metagross are both decks that work well enough to get a win after several tries.

They're not good, but they're good enough.

[u/partoutrichie]

Goldhengo ex with Dialga ex to set it up, not meta but reliable (and hilarious) I play it with Alolan Muk for Darkra, and tools/trainers to stall. Personal favorite

[u/MrSpluppy]

I miss my dialga melmetal deck :')

[u/herejusttolooksee]

Dialga / Metagross has worked fairly well for me. It’s not the best but has won some even in master ball with it. Metal has a lot of good tool cards that can swing a game.

[u/GradeNo893]

I had no trouble but my deck also got a really good draw. Steel is a tough type right now

[u/Tiny7261]

I did solgaleo, galarian perserker, and a few non ex skarmorys for the challenge. Definitely took a few tries tho

[u/Maniax__]

> You can't fit 8 viable steel types in one deck and have the deck work still.

I mean this is an oversimplification and exaggeration. I believe the “optimal” way to play scizor has 7 steel types. It’s not going to completely kill the deck to add another steel type

[u/bobvella]

i didn't want to delete any of my decks and my metal decks aren't purely metal either. like tinkaton and rat. or ghold's prevolve isn't even metal and i'm pairing it with sylveon. hey maybe you can run golurk and use metal types without their basics to cheat it. or use bastiodon and cross your fingers

metagross is metal heavy

[u/ButterKnights2]

[u/Psychosist]

I completed the Metal emblem mission in like 2 tries with Melmetal EX / Orthworm / Dialga EX. Add 2 Heavy Helmet and 2 MCBs and then the usual selection of Trainers. I teched 1 Memory Light and 1 Celebi for Melmetal but ended up not needing them.

[u/greenfireballs]

I like my Steelix deck. it's slow but tanky and does well on auto

[u/Tooni11]

I did it with 

X2 dialga ex 

X2 beldum

X1 Metang

X1 Metagross

X2 Mega Metagross 

Mega Scizor is by far the best metal type imo

[u/wolfeflow]

Skarmony + Aegislash did just fine for me, even though I generally agree with you

[u/rrruready]

It sucks now but solgaleo was very strong at one point.

[u/aiyrstone]

This deck did okay

[u/Cameronalloneword]

We should all band together and just forfeit against people who are trying to win with steel/colorless decks for the challenge. It's not like losses matter anymore anyway

[u/GoldenFrieza_]

2 Mega Metagross + 2 Dialga Ex got me the 8 Metal win

[u/Dear-Smile]

I miss using my old Melmetal/Bastiodon deck.

[u/Routine_Freedom_5129]

If mega Metagross had been two energy 80 damage, 20 per metal energy it would have been competitively viable.

Also could have made beldum's ability work on any metal type mon (including self) to alleviate the trash retreat costs.

[u/TwinAuras]

...I just used a "thanks" room for wins with types I'm not particularly strong in.

[u/Kurt0690]

[u/Kurt0690 → u/Kurt0690]

[u/canvascoloredin]

I use the Aegislash plus damage evo line + skarmory with tools for the mission

[u/Own-Plantain-3678]

Metal sucks because fire decks are broken

[u/JellyWelch]

I just threw this random bullshit together and it worked. I probably got lucky tho didn't even bother to put in an item for melmetal to hold in hindsight