Halloween DealsAmazon USHalloween week deals: useful picks before month-endAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PCHalloween DealsAmazon USOctober picks are moving - compare before checkoutAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Blog › Max Battles

Which Steel Pokémon should you use for raids and Max Battles?

By Freedom251 Team · · 3 min read

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

For raids, Zacian in its Crowned Sword form, Zamazenta in Crowned Shield form, and Necrozma in Dusk Mane form are among the strongest Steel-type attackers in current ranking lists. Their recommended Steel movesets are Metal Claw with Behemoth Blade, Metal Claw with Behemoth Bash, and Metal Claw with Sunsteel Strike, respectively. The order is not universal: rankings use different scoring methods and assumptions, so the best choice can vary by boss and simulator.

Best Steel attackers for raids

Two reviewed rankings put these three Crowned or fused Pokémon at the top, while another ranks Zamazenta ahead of Zacian. Treat them as leading options rather than a definitive, universal 1–2–3 list.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Attacker Recommended Steel moveset Why consider it
Zacian (Crowned Sword) Metal Claw + Behemoth Blade Ranks first in the displayed raid lists from Dittobase and Pokémon GO Hub.
Zamazenta (Crowned Shield) Metal Claw + Behemoth Bash Ranks second in those two lists; Pokebattler places it first in its displayed Steel-move ranking.
Necrozma (Dusk Mane) Metal Claw + Sunsteel Strike Ranks third in the Dittobase and Pokémon GO Hub displayed lists.

Moveset availability matters: use the named moves only if you can obtain them for that Pokémon in your game. The ranking tables are third-party tools, not official Niantic rankings, and their configurations and outputs can change.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Why rankings disagree

A ranking is only meaningful alongside its scoring method and settings. Dittobase’s default raid list uses effective DPS, or eDPS, against a representative pool of bosses weak to Steel. It defines eDPS as: “The default ranking value. eDPS blends DPS and TDO with the cost of relobbying after a faint, so a glassy nuker and a tanky bruiser are scored on equal footing.” DPS is sustained damage rate, TDO is total damage before fainting, and eDPS accounts for relobbying.

#1 Best Overall
Sale
50+ Official Pokemon Cards Collection with 5 Foils in Any Combination and at Least 1 Rarity, GX, EX, FA, Tag Team, Or Secret Rare
  • 50+ Pokemon Cards
  • 5 Holos Guaranteed minimium per order
  • 1 GX, EX, V, VMax, Full Art, Tag Team, or Secret Rare

Dittobase’s default settings are level 40 and 15/15/15 IVs, with no weather, friendship, Party Power, or teammate Mega boost. Its list includes Mega, Shadow, and off-type Pokémon that can use Steel moves unless filtered. Pokémon GO Hub’s displayed list also includes off-type attackers and allows configuration of Shadows, Megas, legacy moves, and other settings; its score is not directly interchangeable with Dittobase’s eDPS.

Pokebattler displays matchup count, estimator, and points rather than the same eDPS measure. Its Steel-move list puts Zamazenta first and Zacian second, followed by Dawn Wings Necrozma using Metal Claw and Moongeist Beam. That example also shows why a Steel-type fast move does not require a Steel-type charged move for a Pokémon to appear in a Steel-move ranking. For a specific raid, check performance against that boss rather than assuming one general leaderboard settles the choice.

Rank #2
Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box
  • The Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box includes 9 Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black booster packs and 1 full-art foil promo card featuring Zarude.
  • This also comes with 65 card sleeves, 40 Pokémon TCG Energy cards, and a player’s guide to the Mega Evolution—Pitch Black expansion.
  • You will also get a competition-legal coin-flip die, 6 damage-counter dice, and a plastic coin.
  • You will also find a collector’s box to hold everything, with 6 dividers to keep it organized and a code card for Pokémon Trading Card Game Live.

Strong alternatives: Shadow, Mega, and non-Legendary

Shadow Metagross

Shadow Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash is a strong alternative in the displayed raid rankings. Shadow status is one of the settings that can affect a list, so compare rankings with Shadow Pokémon enabled if you want to include it.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Mega Metagross and Mega Lucario

Mega Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash appears among the leading alternatives. Mega Lucario also ranks near the top in Pokémon GO Hub’s displayed list, though its listed fast move can be Fighting-type. Mega and non-Mega rankings should not be treated as identical: a teammate Mega boost is excluded from Dittobase’s stated defaults.

Rank #3
50 Pokemon Cards Plus a Rare Legendary Pokemon Card | Bundle with LCC Deck Box
  • 50 assorted Pokemon cards
  • Bundle with an LCC deck box that holds upto 100 Pokemon cards
  • 1 Double rare legendary Pokemon card

Best non-Legendary, non-Ultra Beast pick

Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash is Dittobase’s listed top Steel attacker when Legendary Pokémon and Ultra Beasts are excluded. This makes it a useful target for a roster built without those categories; the result is specific to that filter and the list’s assumptions.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Best Steel attackers for Max Battles

Max Battles use different mechanics from raids, so their scores are not comparable with raid eDPS. These co-op battles take place at Power Spots, where eligible Pokémon Dynamax or Gigantamax and use Max Moves. In Dittobase’s Steel Max Battle table, updated October 6, 2026, Zacian (Crowned Sword) ranks first, Metagross second, and Excadrill third; Zacian’s listed Max Move is Behemoth Blade. Use a Max Battle ranking for this mode, not a raid leaderboard.

Rank #4
Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black Booster Bundle
  • Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black Booster Bundle contains six booster packs from Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black.
  • This is a great option for getting into the new Choas Rising expansion.
  • A great gift for the Pokémon collector or player in your life.

How to choose for your roster

  • Building a raid team: Start with Zacian (Crowned Sword), Zamazenta (Crowned Shield), or Necrozma (Dusk Mane) if you have the recommended Steel moves. Compare the specific raid matchup when the boss is known.
  • Including Shadows or Megas: Check that the ranking tool includes the relevant category, and note whether its score assumes a Mega boost for teammates.
  • Using a non-Legendary option: Consider Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash; the top non-Legendary result cited here excludes Ultra Beasts too.
  • Preparing for a Max Battle: Consult the Max Battle list separately because its mode-specific score answers a different question.

All rankings cited here are third-party simulator or database outputs. They are model-dependent and may change as Pokémon GO adds forms and moves or adjusts balance.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
50+ Official Pokemon Cards Collection with 5 Foils in Any Combination and at Least 1 Rarity, GX, EX, FA, Tag Team, Or Secret Rare
50+ Official Pokemon Cards Collection with 5 Foils in Any Combination and at Least 1 Rarity, GX, EX, FA, Tag Team, Or Secret Rare
50+ Pokemon Cards; 5 Holos Guaranteed minimium per order; 1 GX, EX, V, VMax, Full Art, Tag Team, or Secret Rare
$7.49
Bestseller No. 3
50 Pokemon Cards Plus a Rare Legendary Pokemon Card | Bundle with LCC Deck Box
50 Pokemon Cards Plus a Rare Legendary Pokemon Card | Bundle with LCC Deck Box
50 assorted Pokemon cards; Bundle with an LCC deck box that holds upto 100 Pokemon cards; 1 Double rare legendary Pokemon card
$19.99
Bestseller No. 4
Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black Booster Bundle
Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black Booster Bundle
This is a great option for getting into the new Choas Rising expansion.; A great gift for the Pokémon collector or player in your life.
$44.97

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Max BattlesMetagrossPokémon GOPokémon GO raidsSteel-type attackers

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.