Head-to-head
Metagross vs Garchomp
Steel/Psychic vs Dragon/Ground — pseudo-legendary mirror.
Side-by-side
Metagross
Steel/Psychic · #0376
BST: 600
Garchomp
Dragon/Ground · #0445
BST: 600
Verdict
Winner: Garchomp (base) / Mega Metagross (Mega forms)
Garchomp wins base via Speed + Earthquake. Mega Metagross wins Mega mirror via Speed advantage + Tough Claws.
Context: why this matchup matters
Metagross (Gen 3, Hoenn) and Garchomp (Gen 4, Sinnoh) are both pseudo-legendary Pokémon (600 BST). They've been OU-tier together across multiple generations. The matchup is interesting: Garchomp has STAB Earthquake hitting Metagross's Steel typing 4× super-effective, but Metagross has Bullet Punch priority + Meteor Mash one-shotting Garchomp's bulk.
Stat battle: who has the numbers?
Metagross: 80/135/130/95/90/70 BST 600. Physical attacker with high Defense (130). Garchomp: 108/130/95/80/85/102 BST 600. Physical attacker with higher HP (108) and Speed (102 vs 70).
Garchomp outspeeds Metagross by 32 Speed points — a huge gap. Metagross has 35 more Defense + 5 more Atk. Stat trade is roughly even, leaning Garchomp due to Speed.
Mega Metagross (700 BST: 80/145/150/105/110/110) gains 40 Speed, jumping ahead of Garchomp. Mega Garchomp (700 BST: 108/170/115/120/95/92) loses 10 Speed but gains 40 SpA + Atk.
Full matchup analysis
Garchomp vs Metagross (base): Garchomp wins. Earthquake hits Metagross's 4× Ground weakness (Steel 2× + Psychic neutral = wait, Steel 2× weak to Ground, Psychic neutral to Ground = 2× total, not 4×). Earthquake does ~60% to Metagross. Metagross's Meteor Mash does ~50% to Garchomp (Steel hits Dragon/Ground neutral). Garchomp wins on the second turn due to Speed.
Mega Metagross vs Mega Garchomp: Mega Metagross outspeeds (110 vs 92) and Meteor Mash with Tough Claws Adaptability... actually Mega Metagross has Tough Claws not Adaptability. Tough Claws boosts contact moves +30%. Meteor Mash + Tough Claws does ~75% to Mega Garchomp; Earthquake from Mega Garchomp does ~85% to Mega Metagross (Mega doesn't fix Ground weakness). Mega Metagross slightly favored due to Speed.
Bullet Punch priority: Metagross's Bullet Punch (Steel priority, +1) lets it pick off low-HP Garchomps that would otherwise outspeed.
When to pick each
Pick Metagross for: Mega Metagross Tough Claws Meteor Mash + Bullet Punch priority, defensive Stealth Rock setter with Magnet Pull synergy, mixed attacker with Ice Punch / Earthquake / Zen Headbutt coverage.
Pick Garchomp for: Stealth Rock + Scale Shot Loaded Dice sweeper, Choice Scarf revenge killer (outspeeds most non-Scarf threats), defensive Rocky Helmet pivot, Sand Veil dodge sets. Garchomp is more flexible across team archetypes; Metagross fits specific Hyper Offense and Trick Room builds.