Pokemon GO Melmetal: Best moveset, counters, and is it any good?

In Pokemon GO, Melmetal is a Steel-type mythical Pokemon introduced in Generation VII and hails from an unknown region. An evolution of Meltan, Melmetal was introduced in GO with the arrival of Mystery Boxes in 2018. However, for trainers who have obtained one, how good is Melmetal in PvE and PvP battles?

The short answer is that while it doesn't do well in PvE battles, it's fearsome in PvP formats.

With that in mind, let's take a look at Melmetal's best battle movesets, the counters that give it a tough time, and why it falls short in PvE while excelling in high-end PvP bouts.

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Pokemon GO Melmetal: Best movesets

An illustration of Melmetal for the Pokemon TCG Illustration Contest in 2024 (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Melmetal's best PvE and PvP movesets are similar, though trainers will want to pick up a second Charged Attack in PvP to give this Steel-type species some extra type coverage to counter more opponents. Regardless, trainers can find a breakdown below:

Pokemon GO Melmetal best PvE Moveset

• Fast Attack: Thunder Shock
• Charged Attack: Double Iron Bash

Pokemon GO Melmetal best PvP Movesets

• Fast Attack: Thunder Shock
• Charged Attack: Double Iron Bash and Superpower

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Is Melmetal good in Pokemon GO PvE and PvP?

Melmetal in Pokemon GO PvE

Unfortunately, since it lacks a Steel-type Fast Move to trigger the Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB) and doesn't have great Attack stats, Melmetal simply can't deal quality damage per second in raids. It can fight fine against Team GO Rocket or gym defenders, but its PvE applications are severely limited due to its moves and middling Attack stat.

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Melmetal in Pokemon GO PvP

Conversely to PvE, Melmetal shines in PvP. It performs best in the Master League where it can flex the full extent of its Combat Power (CP) and its quality Stamina and Defense stats. It can serve as an excellent defender to close out matches against opponents or soak up damage for its teammates.

However, Melmetal can also serve well in the Great and Ultra Leagues in the same capacity, though some other Steel-types benefit more in these PvP formats and may be worth using instead.

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Pokemon GO Melmetal: All moves and stats

Ash's Melmetal in the Pokemon anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Fast Attacks

• Thunder Shock

Charged Attacks

• Flash Cannon
• Thunderbolt
• Hyper Beam
• Rock Slide
• Superpower
• Double Iron Bash (Elite Charged Move)

Base Stats

• Attack: 226
• Defense: 190
• Stamina: 264
• Max CP: 4069

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Pokemon GO Melmetal: Strengths and weaknesses

As a pure Steel-type Pokemon, Melmetal will take increased damage from these elements since it's weak to them:

• Fighting (160% damage)
• Fire (160%)
• Ground (160%)

Meanwhile, Melmetal will resist the following attack elements and sustain reduced damage from them:

• Poison (39.1%)
• Bug (62.5%)
• Dragon (62.5%)
• Fairy (62.5%)
• Flying (62.5%)
• Grass (62.5%)
• Ice (62.5%)
• Normal (62.5%)
• Psychic (62.5%)
• Rock (62.5%)
• Steel (62.5%)

When using its Steel-type STAB moves, Melmetal can deal super effective damage to the following enemy types:

• Fairy (160%)
• Ice (160%)
• Rock (160%)

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Best counters to Pokemon GO Melmetal

Best Great League Counters: Shadow Excadrill, Galarian Stunfisk, Shadow Chandelure, Female Pyroar, Midnight Forme Lycanroc, Shadow Alolan Marowak, Complete Forme Zygarde.

Best Ultra League Counters: Shadow Excadrill, Galarian Stunfisk, Shadow Golurk, Female Pyroar, Shadow Chandelure, Shadow Alolan Sandslash, Shadow Mamoswine, Complete Forme Zygarde.

Best Master League Counters: Shadow Excadrill, Female Pyroar, Shadow Golurk, Complete Forme Zygarde, Shadow Chandelure, Shadow Mamoswine, Shadow Alolan Sandslash, Groudon, Reshiram, Shadow Darmanitan, Shadow Entei.

Best PvE Counters:

• Primal Groudon: Mud Shot and Precipice Blades
• Mega Blaziken: Counter and Blast Burn
• Mega Garchomp: Mud Shot and Earth Power
• Mega Heracross: Counter and Close Combat
• Mega Charizard X: Fire Spin and Blast Burn
• Shadow Excadrill: Mud-Slap and Scorching Sands
• Reshiram: Fire Fang and Fusion Flare
• Shadow Darmanitan: Fire Fang and Overheat
• Terrakion: Double Kick and Sacred Sword
• Shadow Chandelure: Fire Spin and Overheat
• Shadow Entei: Fire Fang and Overheat
• Keldeo: Low Kick and Sacred Sword
• Shadow Machamp: Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Therian Forme Landorus: Mud Shot and Sandsear Storm
• Blacephalon: Incinerate and Mystical Fire
• Heatran: Fire Spin and Magma Storm
• Shadow Hariyama: Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Shadow Infernape: Fire Spin and Blast Burn

It should be noted that Melmetal hasn't appeared in Pokemon GO PvE so far, and may not do so due to its rarity. However, if it ever does, the Pokemon above should be able to easily counter it.