Metal Pokémon typically have tanky HP, damage reduction buffers, and a play style that aims to wear down opponents over a long game. These are 13 of the strongest Metal-type Pokémon cards in the Standard Format.
With the 2025 Standard Format rotation, aggressive archetypes that once commanded the meta with raw speed and power have made way for archetypes centered around slower and tactical play.
With that shift, Metal decks have reclaimed new relevance in the meta.
No longer a fallback type sitting on the sidelines- Metal is now one of the most capable types to play, with strong options in attack, defence, and support.
Here are 13 of the best Metal-type Pokémon cards to grind your opponent into submission.
Let’s level up.
Metal-Type Overview
Common gameplay traits shared by Metal-type Pokémon:
Known For
Defensive durability and strong resource management leaning on search, acceleration, and Tool cards. Slow to set up with high energy requirements, but heavy-hitting once it gets going.
Gobble Down scales 240 to 400 damage in the mid to late-game. Devastating potential as a late-game sweeper.
Huge Bite does a respectable 260 base damage to Pokémon with full HP.
Basic evolution and moderate energy requirement make Mawile easy to set up when paired with Metal energy acceleration.
Weaknesses:
Situational use. Gobble Down only reaches peak damage once you’ve already taken Prizes. Nevertheless, great for closing a game and gaining the edge in tight Prize trades.
270 HP is low for a 3-prize Mega ex. Makes it an easy target for experienced opponents. Field Mawile only when needed.
2. Gholdengo ex
Explosive damage scaling with built-in draw engine.
Strengths:
Coin Bonus provides a consistent and stackable card draw every turn.
Make It Rain scales up to 300+ damage turn after turn if supported by a strong engine for draw, energy search, and energy recycling.
Consistency further improved with the new Genesect ex for Metal evolution search.
Weaknesses:
Discards a lot of energy to maintain attack pressure. Earthen Vessel, Superior Energy Recycler, and Night Stretcher are a must. Fighting Gong and Levincia provides further support.
3. Genesect ex
Evolution setup engine for Metal decks.
Strengths:
Metallic Signal accelerates setup by fetching up to two Metal-type evolutions. Fantastic for searching Stage 1 and 2 Pokémon like Steven’s Metagross ex, Archaludon ex, and Gholdengo ex.
Protect Charge reduces 30 damage next turn for defensive plays. Pair with Full Metal Lab, Iron Defender, and damage-reduction Tool cards for stackable tanking.
Easily searched in the early-game using Nest Ball and Precious Trolley.
Weaknesses:
Mediocre offensive capabilities and an easy target if it enters the Active. Keep it sat on the bench for setup support. After it’s fulfilled its setup role, scoop Genesect back into your hand using ProfessorTuro.
4. Archaludon ex
All-in-one tank, attacker, and energy acceleration engine.
Strengths:
Assemble Alloy accelerates up to 2 Basic Metal Energy from discard to any of your Meta-type Pokémon- one of the best energy accelerators for Metal decks.
Metal Defender hits a respectable 220 damage and removes weakness. Great tech attacker against popular Fire-type meta decks.
Can use Raging Hammer from its pre-evolution, Duraludon, when paired with Relicanth. Useful for taking key knockouts when Metal Defender falls short on damage.
300 HP is incredibly bulky for a Stage 1. Further improve sustainability with Metal Lab, Iron Defender, and HP buffer and damage reduction Tool cards.
Weaknesses:
Assemble Alloy requires Metal energy to be in the discard pile. Use Professor’s Research, Ultra Ball, and Earthen Vessel to achieve this.
5. Steven’s Metagross ex
Bulky tank and energy accelerator.
Strengths:
X-Boot consistently accelerates both Metal and Psychic energy from deck to any Metal or Psychic Pokémon turn after turn.
Metal Stomp deals a strong 200-damage base damage. Self-setup using X-boot and support with other Metal energy accelerators, like Archaludon ex if needed.
Huge 340 HP bulk makes it one of the hardest non-Mega ex Pokémon to KO.
Weaknesses:
Slow to set up as a Stage 2. Improve consistency using Genesect ex, Ultra Ball, and Rare Candy.
3x Retreat Cost makes it susceptible to being trapped in Active. Mitigate this risk by using mobility cards like Big Air Balloon, Switch, or Archaludon (non-ex).
Fire-types can still easily one-shot through its bulky HP.
6. Metang
Metal-type energy acceleration.
Strengths:
Metal Maker gives energy acceleration by filtering the top 4 cards from your deck. Consistency card that keeps metal decks rolling without Trainer reliance.
Add mobility with Archaludon (non-ex) for a hit-and-run style deck. Switch multiple Zacians in and out of Active for sustained offensive pressure. Use Full Metal Lab, Iron Defender, Professor Turo, and heal Trainers for extra sustainability.
Weaknesses:
Insta-Strike was insanely powerful in the old format, dealing 60 damage and one-hit KO’ing most Basics from turn 1. But power has reduced in the new format as HP creep has bumped many Basic Pokémon to 70 HP.
Damage output often falls short of one-hit-KOs as the game enters the mid to late-stages. Still, a great Basic attacker for early-game pressure.
8. Revavroom ex
Defensive Tool-based Metal-type fortress.
Strengths:
Tune-Up is a unique Ability, allowing up to 4 Pokémon Tools to be attached to Revaroom. Enables wild combos, with a wealth of Tool cards to choose from in the current Format.
Wild Drift deals 170 and also reduces 30 damage from your opponent’s next attack. Stacks nicely with Full Metal Lab and Rigid Band for 90 total damage reduction. Add heal cards for even more longevity.
Weaknesses:
Completely shut down by Iron Thorns ex Ability-lock. Needs a backup attacker for this matchup.
Base stats are underwhelming. Tool attachments need to be chosen carefully and maxed out for Revaroom to shine. Tool search using cards like Arven and TownStore is essential.
9. Archaludon (non-ex)
Add mobility to retreat-heavy Metal-types
Strengths:
Metal Bridge grants free retreat to Pokémon with Metal energy attached. Metal-types, which are often burdened with high retreat, benefit from this mobility.
Enables constant cycling between Metal-type tanks like Archaludon ex and Steven’s Metagross ex, and attackers like Hop’s Zacian ex. Switch cards in, our, and heal, to make it difficult for the opponent to take Prizes.
Weaknesses:
Vulnerable against fire-type decks and being Boss’d into the Active. Consider running multiple copies.
10. Melmetal ex
Snowball Metal energy into massive damage.
Strengths:
Metal-bolize accelerates 2 Metal energy from deck. Self-charges Full Metal Knuckle.
Full Metal Knuckle can scale 300+ damage with enough Metal energy attached.
300 HP bulk soaks hits for a Prize trade advantage. Combine with damage reducers like Full Metal Lab and HP buffers like Hero’s Cape for extra sustainability.
Weaknesses:
4 Retreat Cost makes it an easy target if trapped in the Active. Add mobility support using Arcahludon’s Metal Bridge.
Needs 5+ energy before it can start one-hit KO’ing ex targets. Include a high energy count of 12+ in your deck for maximum consistency.
11. Orthworm ex
Punish attackers with retaliation damage.
Strengths:
Pummeling Payback places 2 damage counters per Metal energy attached. Perfect for stall and counter tactics. Use Metal energy acceleration from Steven’s Metagross ex and Archaludon exto quickly charge up.
Pair with Spiky Energy to place even more damage counters.
Rock Tomb locks retreat. Trap opponents in the Active whilst taking retaliation damage using Pummeling Payback.
Weaknesses:
Low HP means it won’t survive long. Multiple copies are essential if this is your core strategy. Pair with healing or HP buffers.
12. Full Metal Lab
Reinforce Metal-types signature bulk.
Strengths:
Reduces incoming damage by 30 for all Metal-type Pokémon. Further improves staying power of all your Metal-types, which are already tanky.
Weaknesses:
30 damage reduction is usually not enough to prevent a one-hit KO. Stack with other damage-reducing effects and healing cards for maximum effect.
13. Iron Defender
Strategic one-turn shield for Metal decks..
Strengths:
Reduces damage taken by Metal Pokémon by 30. Stacks with other damage-reduction effects.
Provide a lifeline when timed right- give a Pokémon on the verge of being KO’d one more turn or prevent a one-hit KO. This can potentially swing the Prize trade back in your favor.
Weaknesses:
Occupies valuable Trainer slots in your deck. Run 1 or 2 copies and use them strategically rather than being the core deck strategy.
Ready To Build A Metal-Type Deck?
For a long time, Metal has been outcasted to the sidelines because of its slow build-up play and limited firepower.
But it’s making a comeback in 2025.
With newfound firepower and search-acceleration support bolstering its signature tankiness, Metal-type decks can last through long attrition games and punish overly aggressive opponents.
Along with its fire-type weakness, the type’s biggest hurdle is the acceleration needed to fuel high energy costs.
But with careful tuning, Metal decks can hold their own in this meta.Check out our deck-builders guide to learn how to piece together the ultimate Metal deck!
Kalam is a PTCG gameplay expert and content creator. He started playing and collecting Pokémon cards since 1996. When he’s not working, you can find him nerding out on Anime!
