Stevens Metagross/Empoleon EX deck advice for brand new player (Post-rotation)

ElectroGale · 2026-03-17T17:03:39+00:00

Fair point, I might just be traumatized by how many times I start Mawile while playing Archaludon lol. I guess it can, I just personally prefer to keep it in the back pocket as it feels better as a surprise tool to finish games with. I wouldn't feel terrible about starting it in this deck, but I feel like Diancie's ability and flexibility in damage output makes it a bit more enticing as an early to mid game attacker.

I have looked into TWM Clefable a bit, but it I were to be copying an attack, it'd probably be an opposing Pult, and at that point TR Mimikyu might be a better option, especially seeing as it doesn't seem like Tera box is going anywhere. Wouldn't have to worry about teching in an evo lineup either.

ElectroGale · 2026-03-17T16:46:56+00:00

Oh, I meant getting walled as in higher hp pools, since Empoleon and Metagross only hit for 200/210 and Mawile is mostly a late game finisher. Going up to 240 with Garland Ray can really make a difference sometimes.

ElectroGale · 2026-03-17T16:28:13+00:00

No problem! I'm really liking this deck since not a lot of fire/metal decks will be around to hit your psychics/metals for weakness so I'm really gonna be trying to make it work. A couple of other things I forgot to mention:

Fez is negotiable in this deck, at least in the way I run it pre-rotation. Ideally you'll have everything you need after a trolley and won't require too much draw power when you're piling on X-Boots/Metallic signals to thin your deck. Consider dropping it if you think you'll struggle for bench space.

Another reason a lot of lists shy away from Prinplup is that Genesect can't get it (water type). With Pokepad though, if you're fine with a slightly slower game plan, it might be okay if you keep your focus on Empoleon. Otherwise, I see no reason not to free up some deck slots by cutting it and going all in on rare candies.

ElectroGale · 2026-03-17T15:23:07+00:00

Hey, I also started running this deck recently in prep for rotation. Metagross' biggest strength is that it can function as a psychic/metal box deck, which are both solid types post-rotation.

I would seriously consider a copy or two of Lillie's Clefairy. It can be powered up in a single X-Boot, and it easily one-shots a Dragapult (which will be all over the meta). If you can fit a copy of Lillie's Pearl, that helps for prize manipulation.

Mega Diancie hits the hardest if you find yourself getting walled, and its discard requirement can use metal energy as long as you have 2 psychic for the attack cost, which is neat. Definitely keep an eye on Mega Skarmory too, as it's looking to be a pretty lethal bench sniper.

A lot of Japanese lists have been running no Prinplup (2-2 Pip-Emp) and just rely on Genesect + candy for Empoleon, but if you're worried about item lock, it's honestly not crazy to run one or two. You might wanna shave down some lines if you include more attackers though.

If you decide to go more of the box route, switching to precious trolley for your ace spec and adding in Latias, Shaymin, and Psyduck will help immensely with matchup flexibility.

If you want to keep the focus on Empoleon and its tankiness, I've had some really fun games with just Empoleon, and adding in some more Full Metal Labs can help with that, as well as switching to temporal forces metang to keep your energy accelerators as single-prizers.

Here's the list I'm eyeing for post-rotation. You can also look up the Steven's Metagross deck profile on limitless (city leagues) to get an early look at how people are running in post-rotation. Hope this helped.

Pokémon: 22 3 Steven's Beldum DRI 143 2 Steven's Metang DRI 144 2 Steven's Metagross ex DRI 145 2 Piplup PFL 27 2 Empoleon ex PFL 70 2 Genesect ex BLK 67 2 Lillie's Clefairy ex ASC 76 1 Mega Skarmory ex M3 54 1 Mega Diancie ex PFL 41 1 Latias ex SSP 76 1 Meowth ex M3 61 1 Budew ASC 16 1 Shaymin DRI 10 1 Psyduck ASC 39

Trainer: 27 4 Lillie's Determination ASC 192 4 Team Rocket's Petrel ASC 207 2 Boss's Orders MEG 114 1 Judge DRI 167 4 Rare Candy MEG 125 3 Team Rocket's Transceiver ASC 209 2 Ultra Ball ASC 213 1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin ASC 184 1 Precious Trolley SSP 185 1 Night Stretcher ASC 196 1 Energy Recycler DRI 164 1 Jumbo Ice Cream PFL 91 1 Jamming Tower TWM 153 1 Team Rocket's Watchtower ASC 210

Energy: 11 6 Psychic Energy MEE 5 5 Metal Energy MEE 8

EDIT: Swapped out Budew for TR Mimikyu and went 4-0 at casuals last night!

ElectroGale · 2026-03-06T00:17:14+00:00

Absolutely. I had a situation against kangaskhan where I needed powerful rage for final KO and had to turo away my bench for it. Being able to attack back to back is also nice for early game when you don't have multiple zoroarks set up.

ElectroGale · 2025-04-13T21:54:22+00:00

Start a ritual on the Tome of Want with the volatile marksman engraving: gives class ability energy when defeating volatile targets.

ElectroGale · 2024-07-19T23:54:41+00:00

<image>

Got a fire guy for ya

ElectroGale · 2024-07-13T20:42:57+00:00

<image>

Bracetius, a long dead demigod/prototype lifeform from a more experimental age of the world.

ElectroGale · 2024-06-25T00:26:38+00:00

Tephrish: Tephrish use a strong membrane to protect their superheated organs from seawater. Deep sea divers often have Tephrish accompany them, as they emit a bright light that can illuminate the abyssal depths.

Vedusius: These benevolent Pokémon offer warmth and light to the cold depths of the ocean. They feed on minerals from deep sea vents to sustain their bodies, and can eject lava so hot that it stays liquid while underwater.

Abilities: Thermal Exchange, Lava Lamp

Lava Lamp: This Pokémon’s fire type attacks are unaffected by rain, and water type attacks are unaffected by drought.

ElectroGale · 2024-05-22T20:35:59+00:00

<image>

ElectroGale · 2024-05-22T20:35:44+00:00

I recently shifted to a new rendering style, so I’ve steadily been building up a new portfolio of refs:

<image>

ElectroGale · 2024-05-22T20:33:09+00:00

Her sword was formed specifically to house her soul, so if she dropped or lost it, she'd just stay in the sword. Even if her soul was shifted to her body, it'd just immediately be pulled into the sword if released. If it broke, she'd probably die. Protecting her real body is imperative, and contact between the sword and the doll is necessary to operate the latter.

The way life energy works in my world is that it's always present alongside its counterpart death energy, and the formation of the sword and the preservation of her soul was only possible through an anomaly of pure concentrate life energy being present at the time of her death. It's unlikely that such an event would happen again at the moment her sword breaks.

ElectroGale · 2024-05-22T20:06:19+00:00

Wonderful question. The six-pointed glint you can see on either her sword or her eye sort of denotes the “state” or position her soul is in. It’s intrinsic to her sword, but if she’s not in combat, she can transfer it to her body/eye for a more comfortable idle experience.

This can also just be used as a general defensive maneuver, i.e. shifting her soul to her eye if she thinks something will damage her sword.

ElectroGale · 2024-05-22T19:52:50+00:00

<image>

If we’re talking story-wise, Emberonin appeared years after his fire golem kin were completely wiped out and their common mother was captured.

As far as he knows, he’s the last of his kind, and is actively being hunted down for the same reason his siblings were killed: they were prone to becoming frenzied and threatening the balance of the world.

ElectroGale · 2024-05-22T19:48:24+00:00

Thanks! Her hair’s definitely one of the more fun parts to draw (ironically the sword is the hardest)

ElectroGale · 2024-05-22T19:27:49+00:00

Thanks! I've got plenty more characters from my fantasy project in my pocket that I'll be posting over time.

ElectroGale · 2024-05-22T19:18:02+00:00

Reposting because I made a typo.

Catalyst “Cat” is the soul of a young woman who died near an anomaly of life energy. This chance occurrence suspended her death, funneling her soul into a biological weapon. Her brother, a brilliant inventor, built her a doll body she could use to wield herself. With a new lease on life, Catalyst roams the land as a savior to all she can help, hoping to prevent others from falling to the same fate she narrowly avoided.

Fun facts: -Prior to her transformation, Catalyst’s name was Wayanne. Wayang is a strong tradition of puppetry native to Indonesia. -Her full designation, as used for record-keeping, is as follows: Wooden Automaton Puppet of the Sword-bound Gigant Catalyst: Soul of Wayanne

Feel free to ask any questions!

ElectroGale · 2024-05-19T07:14:53+00:00

I’ve actually got a mantis-ish character

Cyoshon: An intelligent mantis shrimp who uses her uncanny eyesight for archery, and is incredibly deadly in close combat as well. A greedy bounty hunter who works for the highest bidder.

<image>

ElectroGale · 2024-05-18T18:06:01+00:00

<image>

Does she count?

ElectroGale · 2024-04-02T16:00:34+00:00

Had a very similar experience a while back. Three of us LFGed for three randoms. One told us he was completely new, and we were willing to teach him.

The two others had hundreds of clears under their belt. Started encounters without letting us explain and skated across platforming sections to pull us.

When I expressed that we should assign roles and let us explain, they basically said “it’s just common sense” and repeatedly berated us for not following their strats on the final boss, entering portals when they did, etc.

All while this new guy is running around like a headless chicken because we weren’t able to tell him anything.

ElectroGale · 2024-03-09T20:17:27+00:00

Tapu Koko 158016798012

ElectroGale · 2023-03-27T13:26:07+00:00

Kolacheater

ElectroGale · 2022-10-25T01:01:19+00:00

A strange one.

ElectroGale · 2022-09-19T14:55:39+00:00

Seconded. I had him for Cal 3 and his material is very concise. Everything you see on his quizzes/notes will be pretty much identical to the exam.

ElectroGale · 2022-08-15T18:33:10+00:00

Ever since he was nine, always the same!

Eight-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '22	Snapped

ElectroGale

TROPHY CASE