Steven's Metagross — Standard Strategy Guide

Affiliate links: card links on this page go to TCGplayer, and we earn a commission on purchases at no extra cost to you. How this works

Archetype Overview

Steven's Metagross is an Energy-acceleration toolbox. You put Steven's Metagross ex into play as early as your second turn with Rare Candy, use X-Boot to pull Basic Energy straight from the deck, and give that Energy to whichever attacker answers the board in front of you. The list here is the 1st-place deck from Rare Candy Club Showdown #50 (244 players, November 2, 2026), piloted by Bruno Nobre.

The deck's real strength is that its attackers don't overlap. Almost every other Metal or Psychic Pokémon in the list exists to solve one specific problem, and X-Boot makes all of them affordable on short notice.

What each attacker is for

• Latias ex with Lillie's Clefairy ex: Fairy Zone makes opposing Dragon Pokémon weak to Psychic, so Eon Blade hits for 400. That's more than the 320 HP on Dragapult ex.
• Mega Skarmory ex: Sonic Ripper puts 220 on any opposing Pokémon, so you can remove a Benched engine without using Boss's Orders.
• Mega Excadrill ex: your biggest single hit, at 330 with five Energy attached.
• Empoleon ex: takes no effects from attacks, which shuts off damage-counter attacks and spread on itself.
• Kingambit and Deoxys: non-ex attackers for Pokémon that ignore damage from Pokémon ex.
• Genesect ex and Steven's Metagross ex: sturdy default attackers when you don't need anything fancy.

Why the plan is strong

Most decks commit to their attacker when they build. This one commits on the turn it attacks. Because X-Boot pulls Energy from the deck, you don't need to have drawn it, and you don't need to have spent earlier turns loading one Pokémon. A Benched Mega Skarmory ex with no Energy can threaten 220 on your opponent's best support Pokémon the same turn you decide it should. That forces your opponent to respect several plans at once. It also means a Knock Out on your attacker doesn't cost you much tempo, as long as a Steven's Metagross ex is still in play to rebuild the next one. Two Metagross in play can move up to four Energy a turn, and the game gets very hard for your opponent from there. Everything else in the list exists to get you to that point and keep you there.

Where it sits in the field

Be honest about the sample. Steven's Metagross took just 2 of 264 Top 8 slots across the 33 Limitless online Standard events with 100 or more players, an 8th place and this win (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). No Steven's Metagross deck appears in the Top 16 of the Nice, Puebla or Gdańsk Regionals (source: Limitless Regional results, Oct 17-31, 2026). This is a fresh, lightly tested archetype, not an established top deck. Its appeal is that its toolbox lines up well against the most common deck in that window: Dragapult had 46 of those 264 slots (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026).

The cost of the plan

Three things hold the deck back. It plays many one-of lines, so a Prized piece can take a whole plan away. It leans hard on Items early, so an opposing Budew on your key turn hurts. And your evolved Metal attackers are all weak to Fire, while nearly everything you'd attack with is worth at least two Prizes. Your two Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, Mega Excadrill ex and Mega Skarmory ex, give up three when Knocked Out (source: Mega Evolution ex rule as listed on Scrydex).

Who should pick it up

Play this if you enjoy planning two turns ahead and you're willing to learn a long list of small interactions. Most of your wins will come from choosing the right attacker and the right Prize trade, not from raw speed. Players who want a simple, repeatable game should look elsewhere. At an estimated total of about $31, it's also an inexpensive deck to try. If you want to win with it right away, spend your time on the search chains and the Energy-color math in the next chapters, because those are what separate a smooth game from a clumsy one.

Core Strategy & Game Plan

The plan has three parts: build a Bench with a Steven's Beldum or two on your first turn, land Steven's Metagross ex on your second turn, then use X-Boot every turn to power whichever attacker takes the best Knock Out available.

The engine

X-Boot reads closely, and most Energy errors come from misreading it. Once during your turn, it searches for a Basic Psychic Energy, a Basic Metal Energy, or one of each. So each Steven's Metagross ex gives you at most one Metal and one Psychic per turn, never two of the same color. You can then attach them to your Psychic Pokémon and Metal Pokémon in any split you like. Each Metagross in play has its own X-Boot, so two of them can move four Energy a turn.

That restriction shapes your whole game. X-Boot can't attach to Piplup (Water), Drilbur (Fighting), Budew (Grass) or Meowth ex (Colorless). Energy has to wait until Drilbur becomes Mega Excadrill ex, which is Metal.

Why color matters

The pattern to memorize: with one Metagross in play, the Energy in your hand decides which attacker can go this turn. A hand with only Metal can't power Latias ex from zero with a single X-Boot. Before you discard Energy to Ultra Ball, check which color you'll need.

The search web

Your consistency comes from chains of searches, not from draw. Team Rocket's Transceiver finds Team Rocket's Petrel, and Team Rocket's Petrel finds any Trainer card. That gives you eight routes to Rare Candy or Precious Trolley, as long as your Supporter for the turn is still free. Genesect ex's Metallic Signal searches for up to two Evolution Metal Pokémon, which covers Steven's Metang, Steven's Metagross ex, Bisharp, Kingambit, Empoleon ex and Mega Excadrill ex. Meowth ex and Piplup find any Supporter.

An ideal game

1. Your first turn: Use Precious Trolley or Buddy-Buddy Poffin for Steven's Beldum and support Basics. Get Genesect ex on the Bench and use Metallic Signal for Steven's Metagross ex and the next piece you need. Attach an Energy to the Pokémon you plan to attack with next turn.
2. Your second turn: Reach Rare Candy, evolve into Steven's Metagross ex, use X-Boot, and attack with Latias ex or Genesect ex if you have the Energy.
3. Midgame: Add a second Metagross if the board allows it. Choose each turn's attacker by what it can Knock Out, and bring in your specialist only when its job shows up.
4. Closing: Boss's Orders and Sonic Ripper finish damaged or Benched targets. Once your opponent has 3 or fewer Prize cards left, Special Red Card can cut their hand to three cards at the moment they need specific pieces.

Posture

You're a proactive midrange deck that reacts. You usually aren't racing to win first. You're trying to take Knock Outs your opponent can't return efficiently, and to keep your Metagross safe on the Bench behind a cheaper attacker for as long as you can. A Metagross in the Active Spot takes three Energy to retreat, and there's no Latias ex discount for it because Skyliner only covers Basic Pokémon. It belongs on the Bench until you've got a reason to bring it up.

Card Choices & Breakdown

The Metagross line

3 Steven's Beldum, 2 Steven's Metang, 3 Steven's Metagross ex, 3 Rare Candy. You want the Stage 2 quickly, so Rare Candy is the main route and Steven's Metang is the backup. Metang matters when your opponent locks your Items. You can still evolve from hand, and you'll be ready for the following turn. Three Beldum is on the light side, which is why the deck adds so many ways to fetch Basics to the Bench. Steven's Beldum has 70 HP, so it qualifies for Buddy-Buddy Poffin.

Search

4 Team Rocket's Transceiver, 4 Team Rocket's Petrel. Transceiver is effectively an extra Petrel, since Petrel is the only Team Rocket Supporter here. Together they turn your Supporter drop into whatever Trainer you need. The catch is obvious: a search turn usually can't also be a Boss's Orders or Lillie's Determination turn.

2 Genesect ex. It's both a search Ability and an attacker. Metallic Signal fetches two Evolution Metal Pokémon, and Protect Charge hits for 150 while taking 30 less on the next turn. It also has no listed Weakness, which matters in a list where so much is weak to Fire. Two copies let you recover if one is Prized or Knocked Out.

2 Ultra Ball, 1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin, 1 Precious Trolley, 1 Night Stretcher. Precious Trolley is the opening you want most, because it benches any number of Basics at once. Ultra Ball finds any Pokémon, but it costs two other cards from your hand. Discarded Basic Energy isn't lost, because Energy Recycler can put it back in the deck. Night Stretcher gets back a Pokémon or a Basic Energy, and is your way to rerun a one-of after a Knock Out or a bad discard.

Draw and disruption

4 Lillie's Determination. Your only real hand refresh, and it draws eight instead of six while you have exactly six Prize cards left. That extra draw is a large reason to play it early.

2 Boss's Orders. You can fetch it with Meowth ex or Piplup, so two copies goes further than it looks. 1 Special Red Card: it only works once your opponent has 3 or fewer Prize cards remaining, so treat it as a comeback or closing tool. 1 Team Rocket's Watchtower: turns off Abilities on all Colorless Pokémon in play, including your own Meowth ex.

The energy

6 Metal Energy, 5 Psychic Energy, 2 Energy Recycler. Eleven Energy would be thin for most attack-driven decks. Here it works because X-Boot needs those cards to still be in your deck, so your count is also your fuel. Energy Recycler shuffles up to five Basic Energy back in, and Mega Skarmory ex's Sonic Ripper does the same with its own Energy. Don't let the deck run out of the color you need.

The one-of attackers

• Latias ex: Eon Blade hits for 200 and can't attack next turn, and Skyliner removes the Retreat Cost from your Basic Pokémon. That frees up Genesect ex, Deoxys, Lillie's Clefairy ex and others to move around without a Switch effect.
• Lillie's Clefairy ex: Fairy Zone is why you'd bench it. It also has Full Moon Rondo at 20 plus 20 per Benched Pokémon on both sides, which can be a sneaky attacker against wide boards.
• Mega Skarmory ex: a Basic with no Retreat Cost. Sonic Ripper shuffles all its Energy into the deck, so it refuels X-Boot, but you must rebuild it each time.
• Drilbur and Mega Excadrill ex: Maximum Drilling needs three Metal and hits for 200, or 330 with two extra Energy. Undermine (90) discards two cards from the top of your opponent's deck and is your only mill. Drilbur's Call for Family benches two Basics.
• Piplup and Empoleon ex: Note there's no Prinplup in the list. The only way to Empoleon ex is Rare Candy on Piplup. Iron Feathers hits for 210 and takes 60 less on the next turn.
• Pawniard, Bisharp, Kingambit: a non-ex attacker that hits harder as you fall behind. Bisharp's Rapid Draw also draws two cards for a single Metal.
• Deoxys: Psy Protection prevents damage from Pokémon that have an Ability, for your opponent's next turn.
• Meowth ex: Last-Ditch Catch finds a Supporter when you play it from hand. Tuck Tail returns it and its attached cards to your hand.
• Budew: Itchy Pollen costs nothing and stops your opponent's Items on their next turn. It's also a free-retreat pivot.

The Decklist

This is the 60-card list piloted by Bruno Nobre to 1st place at Rare Candy Club Showdown #50 (244 players, November 2, 2026).

Pokémon (23)

• 3 Steven's Beldum
• 2 Steven's Metang
• 3 Steven's Metagross ex
• 2 Genesect ex
• 1 Pawniard: flexible; the Kingambit line is your non-ex answer
• 1 Bisharp: flexible; also draws two cards for one Metal
• 1 Kingambit: flexible; hits harder as your opponent takes Prizes
• 1 Piplup: flexible; also searches a Supporter
• 1 Empoleon ex: flexible; immune to effects of attacks
• 1 Drilbur: flexible; also benches two Basics
• 1 Mega Excadrill ex: flexible; your 330-damage hit
• 1 Lillie's Clefairy ex
• 1 Meowth ex
• 1 Mega Skarmory ex
• 1 Deoxys: flexible; walls Pokémon with Abilities
• 1 Budew: flexible; Item lock and free pivot
• 1 Latias ex

Trainer (26)

• 4 Lillie's Determination
• 4 Team Rocket's Petrel
• 2 Boss's Orders
• 4 Team Rocket's Transceiver
• 3 Rare Candy
• 2 Energy Recycler
• 2 Ultra Ball
• 1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin
• 1 Precious Trolley
• 1 Night Stretcher
• 1 Special Red Card
• 1 Team Rocket's Watchtower: flexible; choose it by how many Colorless Abilities you expect

Energy (11)

• 6 Metal Energy
• 5 Psychic Energy

Opening Hands & Setup

You only redraw when a hand has no Basic Pokémon. With 14 Basics to hit, you'll usually keep what you draw, so the question is what to do with it. Your first two turns almost always decide whether Metagross lands on time.

What a strong opening looks like

A strong hand has three things: a way to get Steven's Beldum on the Bench this turn, a way to find a Trainer next turn, and an Energy that fits your likely attacker.

• Best case: Precious Trolley or a route to it, since one Item builds your whole Bench. Team Rocket's Transceiver into Team Rocket's Petrel into Precious Trolley uses your Supporter but gets you there.
• Very good: Buddy-Buddy Poffin for two Basics of 70 HP or less, which covers Steven's Beldum, Pawniard, Piplup, Drilbur and Budew.
• Solid: Genesect ex in hand, because you can bench it and use Metallic Signal straight away for Steven's Metagross ex plus a second Evolution Pokémon.
• Solid: Lillie's Determination while you have six Prize cards. Drawing eight is the deck's best recovery from a bad seven.

What a weak opening looks like

• A lone Deoxys Active with no Supporter. Its Retreat Cost is 3, and it can't do much for you until you have X-Boot.
• Only Empoleon ex, Kingambit or Mega Excadrill ex as your evolution pieces, without a matching Basic or a way to find one.
• Lots of Energy with no search. Don't panic. Attach, play what you have, and aim for Lillie's Determination next turn.

Which Basic to start Active

When you have a choice, think about what you need to do on your second turn and what you need to pivot out of.

• Budew: your preferred starter. Free retreat, no-cost Item lock, and low value if it's Knocked Out.
• Mega Skarmory ex: no Retreat Cost, so it's easy to move, but a Knock Out on it gives up three Prizes (source: Mega Evolution ex rule as listed on Scrydex). Don't leave it Active unpowered for long.
• Genesect ex: 220 HP and no listed Weakness make it a good front line that can attack on your second turn.
• Steven's Beldum: Avoid this when you can, because the Active Beldum is what your opponent will try to remove. If it's your only Basic, get another Basic on the Bench and retreat it for 1.
• Latias ex: fine if you're planning Eon Blade on your second turn. Skyliner also means your Basics move for free once it's in play.

Setup priorities: your first turn

1. Bench at least two Steven's Beldum if you can. Rare Candy can't target a Basic played that turn, so a Beldum benched on your second turn is a full turn late.
2. Use Metallic Signal if Genesect ex is in play. Take Steven's Metagross ex first, then the piece your hand is missing.
3. Attach Energy with next turn's math in mind. A Psychic on Latias ex or a Metal on Genesect ex now means your second-turn attack only needs X-Boot, and your hand attachment is free for another Pokémon.
4. Keep Rare Candy's path open. Save a Team Rocket's Transceiver or Team Rocket's Petrel for next turn if you don't already hold the Candy.

Setup priorities: your second turn

1. Candy into Steven's Metagross ex, then X-Boot before anything else that depends on what's left in your deck.
2. Choose your attacker from the board. Against a Dragon, get Lillie's Clefairy ex out and swing with Latias ex. Otherwise, Genesect ex's Protect Charge is a reliable default.
3. If Latias ex is in play, your Basic attacker can move up for free. Remember you get one retreat per turn.

Going first or second

Choose to go second when you can. You can't use Rare Candy during your first turn no matter what, so going first doesn't speed up your Metagross. It does expose your second turn to an opposing Budew, and that card shows up in 101 of 264 Top 8 lists (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). Itchy Pollen on the turn you need Rare Candy stalls your whole plan. Going second also means your own Budew can attack on your very first turn, since the player going first can't attack on theirs. Going first has merit when your hand already has everything and your opponent's deck is slow, but treat that as the exception.

If you do get locked, don't waste the turn. You can still play Supporters, use Abilities, evolve from hand and attach Energy. Evolve Steven's Beldum into Steven's Metang, bench Genesect ex or Meowth ex from hand and use their Abilities, and set up the following turn. Metang gets you to Metagross without Rare Candy one turn later.

Sequencing & Key Lines

Most Metagross losses come from doing the right things in the wrong order. These are the standard lines and where they branch.

Standard order within a turn

1. Abilities that find cards first. Use Metallic Signal and Last-Ditch Catch before you commit your Supporter, because they may change which Supporter you want.
2. Choose your Supporter. Lillie's Determination shuffles your hand away, so play everything you want to keep first. That includes evolving and attaching what's already in hand.
3. Bench and evolve. Get Rare Candy down before X-Boot if the Candy is giving you the Metagross.
4. X-Boot next. Decide on the attacker first, then pull colors. Pulling before you've chosen is how you end up with the wrong pair.
5. Hand attachment last. Once X-Boot has shown you what's left in the deck and what's still in your hand, your attachment fills the gap.
6. Retreat, then attack. Retreat after attaching so you don't pay with Energy you just needed.

The main second-turn branch

• Dragon on the other side: Lillie's Clefairy ex must be in play when you attack. Eon Blade needs two Psychic, so hold a Psychic in hand or attach one on your first turn.
• A valuable Benched target: Mega Skarmory ex needs two Metal and any third Energy. Attach a Metal, use X-Boot for one of each, then Sonic Ripper it. No Boss's Orders needed.
• Nothing urgent: Genesect ex's Protect Charge is your safest attack. It keeps Energy on board, and it takes 30 less on your opponent's next turn.
• Your opponent is ahead on board: set up a second Steven's Beldum and hold back. A second Metagross doubles your Energy next turn, and that can be worth more than a small attack now.

Rotating attackers

Latias ex can't attack the turn after Eon Blade, so plan the turn after before you swing. With Skyliner active, Basic Pokémon don't pay to retreat. A common two-turn rhythm is Eon Blade, then retreat Latias ex for free into a powered Genesect ex or Mega Skarmory ex, then back. You spread Energy across two attackers and you never have an idle turn.

Mega Skarmory ex resets itself. After Sonic Ripper it has no Energy, but it also has no Retreat Cost, so it can step out and let someone else take the next hit. That Energy is back in your deck, ready for X-Boot next turn. That's why Sonic Ripper plus X-Boot is a loop rather than a one-shot.

Building to 330

Maximum Drilling needs three Metal plus two extra Energy for the bonus damage. With one Metagross, that's a two- to three-turn plan: one Metal per X-Boot, plus your hand attachment. Don't start it by accident. Decide when Drilbur hits the Bench whether this game needs it. Evolving and powering Mega Excadrill ex on the Active Spot is a commitment, since its Retreat Cost is 4. Build it on the Bench where X-Boot can reach it, then bring it up with your retreat or after your Active is Knocked Out.

Holding cards

• Hold Special Red Card until it can swing a turn. It only works when your opponent has 3 or fewer Prize cards left, and it's strongest right after they've spent resources building their hand.
• Hold Team Rocket's Watchtower until after you've used Meowth ex's Last-Ditch Catch. It removes that Ability along with the opponent's Colorless Abilities.
• Hold Boss's Orders for the turn it takes a Knock Out. Don't drag something up just to chip it unless the follow-up is already set.
• Don't over-bench. Your opponent's spread and Bench-count attacks benefit from a wide board. Bench what you'll use.

Playing around the common interaction

Item lock. Assume Budew exists on your opponent's side, given that it appears in 101 of 264 Top 8 lists (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). On your first turn, use your Items while you still can.

Spread. Dragapult ex's Phantom Dive puts 6 damage counters on your Bench. That's 60 damage: enough to take out Pawniard or Budew, but not a fresh Steven's Beldum at 70 HP, so don't bench the small ones without a reason. Empoleon ex ignores the counters because they're an effect of an attack.

Gust effects. Boss's Orders appears in 246 of 264 Top 8 lists (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). Your Benched Metagross or Lillie's Clefairy ex will get pulled up. Before you end your turn, ask what happens if your key Benched Pokémon becomes Active. A Steven's Metagross ex with no Energy and a Retreat Cost of 3 is a free attack for your opponent, so keep an Energy or two nearby, or keep a second Metagross in reserve.

Your own Prize math. Count Prizes before you choose an attacker. Your Pokémon ex give up two, and your Megas give up three (source: Mega Evolution ex rule as listed on Scrydex). If your opponent is at two or three Prizes left, the safe Active is the one that doesn't end the game on its Knock Out. Deoxys, Kingambit and Budew are the one-Prize options.

Matchup Matrix

Matchups below follow the October 20 to November 3 field, led by Dragapult at 46 of 264 Top 8 slots (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). These verdicts are reads from card text and list contents, not from recorded results, because this deck has too small a sample to measure.

Dragapult

This is the matchup the deck is best built for. Dragapult ex is a Dragon-type with 320 HP, so Lillie's Clefairy ex in play makes Eon Blade hit for 400 (source: Limitless card data). Mega Excadrill ex also clears 320 with five Energy, without help. Your risk is Phantom Dive's 6 damage counters softening Lillie's Clefairy ex, followed by Boss's Orders and a Knock Out. Keep Night Stretcher available to bring it back. Tera protects Dragapult ex on the Bench from damage, so Mega Skarmory ex should target its support Pokémon instead. Munkidori appears in every Dragapult list in the sample, at 110 HP, so it's a clean Sonic Ripper target (source: Limitless Top 8 lists, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). For that side of the matchup, see our Dragapult Standard guide.

Dragapult Blaziken

The Fire half is the problem. Blaziken ex's Smolder-sault hits for 200, which is doubled into your Steven's Metagross ex, and 400 removes its 340 HP in one attack. You must not leave a Metagross exposed. Lead with Genesect ex, which has no listed Weakness, or with Deoxys, because Blaziken ex has an Ability and Psy Protection stops its damage. It won't stop Dragapult ex, which has no Ability. Smolder-sault can't be used twice in a row, which gives you a window. Your Knock Out plan is Mega Excadrill ex at 330 against Blaziken ex's 320 HP. If Chi-Yu appears, remember Ground Melter gains damage if a Stadium is in play, so keep Team Rocket's Watchtower back. For that side of the matchup, see our Dragapult Blaziken Standard guide.

Dhelmise

Dhelmise has 140 HP and hits for 170 when four Pokémon with Hide 'n' Sneak are in the discard pile. You can one-shot it with almost anything, but each Knock Out is worth one Prize, while they need only three Knock Outs on your two-Prize Pokémon. The key is what you Knock Out: Banette has Hide 'n' Sneak, so each one in the discard moves them closer to full damage. Use Boss's Orders on Dhelmise when you can, rather than taking the easy Banette. Your Metagross survives a full hit, so make them spend two attacks per Pokémon ex. Hide 'n' Sneak also stops effects, so don't count on effect-based plays against Banette. For that side of the matchup, see our Dhelmise Standard guide.

Crustle

Crustle's Mysterious Rock Inn prevents all damage from attacks by Pokémon ex, which blanks most of your attackers. It took 16 Top 8 slots in the window, including wins on October 31 and November 1 (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). Your answers are Kingambit and Deoxys. Double-Edged Slash at 180 Knocks Out a 150 HP Crustle, but it also does 50 to itself. A damaged Kingambit at 120 HP falls to a single Superb Scissors, so these trades run close to even. Deoxys is slower but very sticky: Psy Protection prevents damage from Pokémon with an Ability, which covers Crustle. It also covers Mega Kangaskhan ex with Run Errand, as long as your Team Rocket's Watchtower isn't in play. Watchtower would remove that Ability and turn off your protection, so leave it out here. Mega Excadrill ex's Undermine still discards two cards even when the damage is prevented. For that side of the matchup, see our Crustle Standard guide.

Basic Box

Mega Kangaskhan ex has 300 HP and gives up three Prizes when Knocked Out (source: Mega Evolution ex rule as listed on Scrydex). Rapid-Fire Combo starts at 200, so your Metagross usually survives a hit. Mega Skarmory ex and Steven's Metagross ex together make for a two-attack Knock Out, and Mega Excadrill ex does it in one. Land Team Rocket's Watchtower to shut off Run Errand and any opposing Meowth ex Ability, once you've used your own. These lists play Lillie's Clefairy ex too, but their Fairy Zone does nothing to you, because you have no Dragon Pokémon. For that side of the matchup, see our Basic Box Standard guide.

Alakazam Dudunsparce

Powerful Hand places damage counters as an effect, so Empoleon ex in the Active Spot takes none of it. Alakazam and Dudunsparce both have 140 HP, so most of your attacks take them out in one. Team Rocket's Watchtower also removes Dudunsparce's Run Away Draw, and that hurts a deck that relies on drawing cards to fuel its attack. For that side of the matchup, see our Alakazam Dudunsparce Standard guide.

N's Zoroark

N's Zoroark ex has 280 HP. That's two Metal Stomps or one fully built Maximum Drilling. Latias ex and Deoxys are weak to Darkness, so don't offer them cheaply. Metal attackers are your front line. These lists often play Team Rocket's Watchtower too (11 of 12 Top 8 lists) (source: Limitless standings, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026), which turns off your Meowth ex. Use it early. Deoxys blocks N's Zoroark ex's damage, since Trade is an Ability. For that side of the matchup, see our N's Zoroark Standard guide.

Ogerpon Meganium Hydrapple

Syrup Storm scales with Grass Energy across their board, so you can't out-wait it. Hit the engine. Meganium has 160 HP, and Sonic Ripper removes it from the Bench in one attack. Hydrapple ex has 330 HP, so Maximum Drilling at full power takes it down exactly. For that side of the matchup, see our Ogerpon Meganium Hydrapple Standard guide.

Festival Lead

Dipplin has 80 HP and Thwackey has 100, and Sonic Ripper removes any of them from the Bench. Do the Wave scales with their Bench, and Festival Lead lets it fire twice. Dipplin has an Ability, so Deoxys blocks all of it with Psy Protection. Attack Dipplin first, and don't let them rebuild. For that side of the matchup, see our Festival Lead Standard guide.

Tech Choices & Variations

Nearly every one-of here can be swapped. The numbers below come from the 25 lists labelled Steven's Metagross on Limitless between October 20 and November 3, 2026, across all placements. That sample is small, and it shows what players tried, not what works.

What's stable across lists

The whole sample plays Steven's Beldum, Steven's Metang, Steven's Metagross ex, Team Rocket's Petrel, Lillie's Determination, Boss's Orders, Rare Candy, Ultra Ball, Energy Recycler and Night Stretcher (source: Limitless standings, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). Treat those as untouchable. The next tier is close behind: Lillie's Clefairy ex is in 24 of 25, Genesect ex and Buddy-Buddy Poffin in 23, and Latias ex and Mega Skarmory ex in 22 (source: Limitless standings, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026).

The flex slots in this list

• Pawniard, Bisharp, Kingambit (3 slots). This is the newest choice in the list, seen in just 4 of 25 lists, all on November 2 (source: Limitless standings, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). It's your answer to Crustle, which took 9 Top 8 slots in the 12 events from October 28 to November 3 (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). If your local field has no Crustle, these three slots open up for other uses. Without them, your only non-ex answer is Deoxys.
• Drilbur, Mega Excadrill ex (2 slots). In 17 of 25 lists (source: Limitless standings, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). It's your clean answer to high-HP attackers without needing Weakness. The downside is the Energy investment and a three-Prize Knock Out. Cut it only if your field is light on 300+ HP targets.
• Piplup, Empoleon ex (2 slots). In 19 of 25 lists (source: Limitless standings, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). It requires Rare Candy in this list, because there's no Stage 1. If you cut it, you'd free up a Candy-dependent line, but lose your only immunity to effects of attacks.
• Deoxys (1 slot). In 16 of 25 lists (source: Limitless standings, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). Excellent against Pokémon with Abilities, and useless against those without, such as Dragapult ex and Dhelmise.
• Budew (1 slot). In 16 of 25 lists (source: Limitless standings, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). It gives you a free-retreat pivot plus Item lock. It's a low-cost slot and worth keeping if you plan to go second.
• Team Rocket's Watchtower (1 slot). In 15 of 25 lists (source: Limitless standings, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). It's best when your field has Mega Kangaskhan ex, Dudunsparce or many opposing Meowth ex, and that last card is in 144 of 264 Top 8 lists (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026).
• Meowth ex (1 slot). In 19 of 25 lists (source: Limitless standings, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). A Supporter search is valuable, but it's a two-Prize Benched Pokémon.

Other options that showed up

These cards appeared in other Metagross lists during the window (source: Limitless standings, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). Their numbers tell you where other players looked, so test them before you commit.

• Fezandipiti ex (9 of 25): the most common addition not in this list. If you add one, it'll most naturally come out of your one-of support.
• Brock's Scouting (8 of 25): the second most common addition. Test it against the search slots it would compete with, since your Supporter drop is already busy.
• Judge (5 of 25): another Supporter option. Remember that every Supporter added competes for the same one-per-turn drop as your search.
• Jirachi ex, Mega Mawile ex, Frillish and Jellicent ex (5 of 25 each): more specialists. Each takes a slot from something else, so be clear about the matchup you're adding them for.
• Team Rocket's Mimikyu (5 of 25): a one-Prize Pokémon. Non-ex bodies are valuable against Crustle, so it's a place to look if you need another one.

Tuning for your field

• Heavy Dragapult: Protect Lillie's Clefairy ex access. A second Night Stretcher is the most natural change, because it gets Lillie's Clefairy ex or Latias ex back after a Knock Out.
• Heavy Crustle: Keep the Kingambit line, and add another non-ex attacker if you can find room. Leave Team Rocket's Watchtower in the deck on those days, because it interferes with Deoxys against Mega Kangaskhan ex.
• Heavy Fire: You can't fix the Weakness. Genesect ex and Deoxys are your front line, and Mega Excadrill ex is your finisher.
• Heavy Colorless Ability decks: A second Team Rocket's Watchtower makes the Stadium easier to find if you expect a lot of Mega Kangaskhan ex and Dudunsparce.

A timing note

Mega Evolution Delta Reign is listed with a release date of November 6, 2026 (source: TCGplayer, accessed November 3, 2026), so all of this data comes from before it arrives. Recheck your flex slots against new results after that set starts showing up in events. The core of the engine stays the same, but the targets may not.

Budget Options

This list is estimated at about $31 in total. That's approximate, and individual prices move. It's a low figure, so a true budget build doesn't need to change much. Still, if you already own the Metagross line and want to spend less, or you're building up a piece at a time, here's how to think about it.

Where the cost likely sits

The Pokémon ex and Mega Evolution Pokémon ex are the likely expensive cards. That means Steven's Metagross ex, Genesect ex, Latias ex, Lillie's Clefairy ex, Meowth ex, Mega Skarmory ex, Mega Excadrill ex and Empoleon ex. Most Trainers are common staples you may already own from other decks, including Lillie's Determination, Boss's Orders, Ultra Ball, Rare Candy and Buddy-Buddy Poffin. The non-ex Pokémon lines and the Basic Energy are likely the cheapest part.

What you must not cut

• 3 Steven's Metagross ex. It's the deck. Running fewer means fewer X-Boots and much worse games.
• Rare Candy, Steven's Beldum and Steven's Metang. Your engine relies on them, and they aren't where the money is.
• Team Rocket's Petrel and Team Rocket's Transceiver. They hold the deck together, and they're low-cost Trainers.

Budget swaps and what you give up

Every swap below uses more copies of cards already in this list, so you don't need to shop for new effects.

• Mega Excadrill ex and Drilbur → an extra Steven's Beldum and an extra Steven's Metang. Your setup gets steadier. You give up your only practical one-hit Knock Out on 320 and 330 HP targets without Weakness, so games against Blaziken ex and Hydrapple ex get longer.
• Empoleon ex and Piplup → a third Genesect ex and an extra Metal Energy. You lose your immunity to effects of attacks and a Supporter search on a Basic. In return you get more of a reliable front line, which has no listed Weakness. Spread and damage-counter decks become harder.
• Meowth ex → a third Boss's Orders. You lose a free Supporter search, and you remove a two-Prize Bench target. It's a fair swap at any budget.
• Mega Skarmory ex → a second Latias ex or Deoxys. You lose your Bench snipe, which is a real loss against engine decks such as Ogerpon Meganium Hydrapple and Festival Lead. You also stop risking a three-Prize Knock Out on that slot (source: Mega Evolution ex rule as listed on Scrydex). Only do this as a last resort.

What not to do

Don't replace Lillie's Clefairy ex or Latias ex to save money if you expect Dragapult. That pair is what makes your best matchup good. Dragapult is the most common deck in the sample, with 46 of 264 Top 8 slots (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026), so taking out your answer costs far more than the saving is worth.

Also, don't trim Energy to fit cheaper cards. Metal Energy and Psychic Energy cost very little, and eleven is already a lean count for a deck whose engine needs Energy left in the deck.

Upgrade path

1. Start with the engine: the Metagross line, Rare Candy, Team Rocket's Petrel, Team Rocket's Transceiver, Lillie's Determination, and Energy.
2. Add the search and front line: Genesect ex, then Ultra Ball, Precious Trolley, Buddy-Buddy Poffin and Night Stretcher.
3. Add the Dragapult answer: Latias ex and Lillie's Clefairy ex. In the current field, these come before any other specialist.
4. Add the non-ex answers: Pawniard, Bisharp, Kingambit and Deoxys. They're likely inexpensive and they fill a real hole against Crustle.
5. Finish with the specialists: Mega Skarmory ex, Empoleon ex and Mega Excadrill ex, in the order your local field calls for them.

Prices change quickly around a set release. Because Mega Evolution Delta Reign is listed for November 6, 2026 (source: TCGplayer, accessed November 3, 2026), compare current listings before you buy, and don't assume today's total will hold.

Common Mistakes

1. Reading X-Boot as "two of anything"

X-Boot gives you one Psychic, one Metal, or one of each. It never gives two of the same color. Players who plan Genesect ex or Mega Skarmory ex from zero with a Psychic in hand discover too late that they're one Metal short. The fix is simple. Before you use your attachment on any turn, work out both the attacker's color cost and what's left in your deck. If you hold only Psychic and you want a Metal-Metal attack, choose a different attacker or attach on an earlier turn. The same logic applies to Maximum Drilling, which needs three Metal: you need three separate sources.

2. Benching Steven's Beldum a turn too late

Rare Candy can't go on a Basic that was put into play this turn, and it can't be played on your first turn at all. If your first turn doesn't put Steven's Beldum on the Bench, you've lost a full turn. Treat this as the top priority on your first turn, ahead of attaching Energy or thinning your hand. If you only have one Beldum down, get a second out when you can. A single Boss's Orders or spread attack on a lone Beldum can undo your whole plan.

3. Spending your Supporter on the wrong turn

You get one Supporter a turn, and this deck's search uses that Supporter. If you use Team Rocket's Transceiver into Team Rocket's Petrel, you've spent it. There's no Boss's Orders or Lillie's Determination afterward. Plan for this before your first Item: which do you need more this turn, a specific Trainer, new cards, or a target change? Also remember that Lillie's Determination draws eight only while you have exactly six Prize cards left. Using it before your first Knock Out, rather than after, gives you two extra cards.

4. Dropping Team Rocket's Watchtower before Meowth ex

Watchtower turns off Abilities on every Colorless Pokémon in play, including yours. If it's in play, Meowth ex's Last-Ditch Catch does nothing when you bench it. Use Meowth first. Then think about whether your own Deoxys plan relies on that opposing Ability being active. Psy Protection only stops damage from Pokémon that have an Ability, so Watchtower can turn off your wall against Mega Kangaskhan ex or Dudunsparce. Against Crustle decks in particular, keep Watchtower in hand unless you have a specific reason.

5. Going for Eon Blade without planning next turn

Latias ex can't attack on your next turn after Eon Blade. Players swing for the Knock Out, then find they've nothing else ready and pass a turn. Before you attack, have a second attacker with Energy nearby, and remember that Skyliner lets your Basics retreat for free. A good second attacker is Genesect ex or Mega Skarmory ex, one X-Boot away from attacking.

6. Leaving Steven's Metagross ex exposed to Fire

Your Metal attackers are almost all weak to Fire. A 200-damage Fire attack is 400 into Steven's Metagross ex, enough to Knock it Out from full HP. Against Dragapult Blaziken, don't move Metagross Active just because you can. Genesect ex has no listed Weakness and Deoxys can block Blaziken ex's damage entirely, so lead with those. Keep Metagross on the Bench, so that your opponent has to spend a Boss's Orders to reach it.

7. Taking the easy Knock Out instead of the right one

This mistake costs the most against Dhelmise. Banette has 80 HP and it's easy to remove, but it goes to the discard, where each Pokémon with Hide 'n' Sneak moves their Vengeful Anchor closer to its 140-damage bonus. You've often helped them more than you've hurt them. The same applies to chasing support Pokémon when an attacker is the real threat. Sonic Ripper is strong, but it costs you all the Energy on Mega Skarmory ex and shuffles it away, so use it for targets that matter: Meganium, Munkidori or a damaged attacker.

8. Running out of Energy in the deck

X-Boot only finds what's in your deck. With eleven total Energy, it's easy to end up with most of them on the board or in the discard, especially after heavy Ultra Ball use. Track what's gone. Play Energy Recycler before you run out, not after X-Boot whiffs, and remember that it restores your Energy count for the next turn's attack. Sonic Ripper helps because it shuffles its Energy in rather than discarding it. When you're low on Metal specifically, don't plan a Metal-heavy attacker for next turn.

Tournament Prep & Final Notes

This is a deck you can't pick up the night before. The list has many one-of lines, and the difference between a good and a bad pilot shows up on almost every turn.

What to practice

• Your second turn, over and over. Goldfish opening hands until you can find the route to Rare Candy, Steven's Metagross ex and an attack without pausing. Do this by hand with your physical list as well as online, because you need to see what each opening asks for.
• Energy-color planning. Practice asking which attacker you'd want next turn and what colors that needs. Mistakes here are the most common and they're the easiest to fix.
• Dragapult and Crustle first. Dragapult was the most common deck at 46 of 264 Top 8 slots, while Crustle took 16 and won twice in the final days of the window (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). These two matchups ask for opposite things: Latias ex and Lillie's Clefairy ex in one, and your non-ex attackers in the other.
• Dragapult Blaziken. This is your hardest read among the common decks, with 12 Top 8 slots (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). Learn how to play without a Metagross Active.
• Playing under Item lock. Practice what you do when your opponent's Budew hits on your critical turn. Your plan should be automatic: Abilities and Supporters first, evolve into Steven's Metang, and set up for the next turn.

Rules interactions to know cold

• X-Boot finds one Basic Psychic, one Basic Metal, or one of each. It attaches only to your Psychic and Metal Pokémon.
• Rare Candy can't be used on your first turn, or on a Basic put into play that turn. Empoleon ex can only come from it in this list, since there's no Stage 1 here.
• Metallic Signal searches for Evolution Metal Pokémon, so it can't find Mega Skarmory ex or any Basic.
• Emperor's Stance stops effects of attacks on Empoleon ex, but it doesn't stop damage. Damage counters placed by an attack's effect are stopped.
• Psy Protection stops damage from Pokémon that have an Ability. A Pokémon without an Ability ignores it, and removing an opponent's Ability with Team Rocket's Watchtower removes the protection too.
• Supreme Overlord adds 30 damage to Kingambit's attacks for each Prize card your opponent has taken, and only against the opposing Active Pokémon.
• Sonic Ripper doesn't apply Weakness or Resistance to Benched Pokémon, and it shuffles the Energy into your deck. Tera Pokémon on the Bench take no damage from it.
• Fairy Zone only changes Dragon Pokémon's Weakness, and it needs Lillie's Clefairy ex in play when you attack.
• Special Red Card checks your opponent's Prize cards: 3 or fewer remaining.

Time management

This is a search-heavy deck, and every search means a shuffle. Long turns add up, especially once you've got two Metagross in play. Make a habit of deciding your attacker before you open the deck, so that you don't browse. Know your list by heart so that you can find cards quickly. If a round is running short, simplify. Take the sure Knock Out rather than building for a bigger one two turns away. An unfinished game does you no good, however well you were building.

Reading the field

The online field was broad over these two weeks. Dragapult led with 46 of 264 Top 8 slots, and Dhelmise followed with 19, then Basic Box and Crustle with 16 each (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). In-person Regionals also varied by event: Slowking won Gdańsk, Dragapult won Puebla, and an Ogerpon and Clefairy deck won Nice (source: Limitless Regional results, Oct 17-31, 2026). Don't tune to one deck. Keep the toolbox intact unless you have clear information about your local field, and recheck everything once Mega Evolution Delta Reign is out, since it's listed for November 6, 2026 (source: TCGplayer, accessed November 3, 2026).

Closing assessment

This list has real strengths: strong answers to Dragapult, a real plan for Crustle, and steady Energy that keeps your options open in long games. It also has real risks: one-of pieces that can be Prized, a Fire Weakness you can't fix, and heavy reliance on your second turn. The 244-player win is one result, and it's the only first-place finish for this archetype in the two-week sample (source: Limitless online Top 8s, Oct 20-Nov 3, 2026). Treat it as a promising list and not as a proven one. If you put in the practice, its range of answers gives you something useful to do in nearly every matchup, and that's a good reason to take it to your next event.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Steven's Metagross win games?

It lands Steven's Metagross ex with Rare Candy on your second turn, then uses X-Boot to power whichever attacker takes the best Knock Out. You win by choosing the right attacker and Prize trades, not by raw speed.

What does X-Boot actually let you attach?

Each use finds a Basic Psychic Energy, a Basic Metal Energy, or one of each, never two of the same color. It attaches only to your Psychic and Metal Pokémon, so plan your hand attachment around the attack cost.

How does this deck beat Dragapult?

With Lillie's Clefairy ex in play, opposing Dragon Pokémon become weak to Psychic, so the Eon Blade from Latias ex hits for 400 against Dragapult ex's 320 HP. Mega Excadrill ex can also clear 320 with five Energy.

What are the hardest matchups for Steven's Metagross?

Dragapult Blaziken is the hardest common read, because Fire doubles the damage on your Metal attackers. Crustle is close to even and needs Kingambit or Deoxys, because it prevents damage from Pokémon ex.

Why is Kingambit in this list?

Kingambit is a non-ex attacker, so it can damage Crustle, and Double-Edged Slash at 180 Knocks Out a 150 HP Crustle. Supreme Overlord also adds 30 damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.

Should you go first or second with this deck?

Choose to go second when you can. Rare Candy can't be played on your first turn either way, and going second helps you avoid an opposing Budew locking your Items on the turn you need the Candy.

What are the best budget swaps for this deck?

The list is already estimated at about $31. To trim further, you can swap Meowth ex for a third Boss's Orders, or replace the Mega Excadrill ex line with an extra Steven's Beldum and Steven's Metang, giving up your biggest hit.

What should you practice before a tournament?

Drill your second turn until the route to Rare Candy and Steven's Metagross ex is automatic, and practice planning Energy colors. Then work on the Dragapult and Crustle matchups, and on playing through Item lock.

Metagame Context

Built from the 1st-place list at Rare Candy Club Showdown #50 (244 players, November 2, 2026), piloted by Bruno Nobre. Metagame context: Limitless TCG online standings for the 33 Standard events with 100 or more players, plus the Limitless Regional results for Nice, Puebla and Gdańsk, from 2026-10-17 to 2026-11-03 (brief dated 2026-11-03). Matchup verdicts are reads from card text and list contents, not recorded results.

Source: tournament results. Decklist and placements as reported by the event organizer.