Is Melmetal viable in Gen 8 OU?

Melmetal is ranked #9 in Gen 8 OU with 21.46% usage according to Smogon Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 data.

What beats Melmetal in Gen 8 OU?

The best counter for Melmetal in Gen 8 OU is Buzzwole with a 70.9% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Melmetal include Buzzwole, Urshifu-Rapid-Strike, Garchomp, Heatran, Corviknight.

What is the best counter for Melmetal in Gen 8 OU?

Buzzwole is the best counter for Melmetal in Gen 8 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 70.9% of their encounters.

Melmetal counters

Gen 8 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

#0809 Melmetal

Steel

USAGE 21.5% #9

BASE STATS

HP 135

ATK 143

DEF 143

SPA 80

SPD 65

SPE 34

BST600

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

FireFightingGround

½×

NormalGrassIceFlyingPsychicBugRockDragonSteelFairy

0×

Poison

Moves

Double Iron Bash 99.9% Thunder Punch 69.5% Superpower 55.1% Earthquake 48.2% Protect 48.1% Toxic 35.4% Ice Punch 29.2% Thunder Wave 8.5%

Items

Leftovers 58.4% Assault Vest 18.9% Choice Band 13.2% Protective Pads 8.0% Custap Berry 1.0% Life Orb 0.2% Chople Berry 0.1% Choice Scarf 0.1%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian61.9%

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike41.4%

Tornadus-Therian23.0%

Checks & Counters

Ranked by reliability — blends KO rate with how often each Pokémon is matched up.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Buzzwole

BugFighting DEFENSIVE COUNTER

22.277

70.9% dies 9.62%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Iron Fist Melmetal Double Iron Bash (2 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Buzzwole: 158-188 (37.7 - 44.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Buzzwole counters → Teams with Buzzwole →

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike

FightingWater OFFENSIVE CHECK

51.596

63.7% dies 9.45%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Melmetal: 474-560 (100 - 118.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Urshifu-Rapid-Strike counters → Teams with Urshifu-Rapid-Strike →

Garchomp

DragonGround OFFENSIVE CHECK

29.473

56.9% dies 9.12%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Melmetal: 264-312 (55.6 - 65.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

60.036

55.5% dies 8.95%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Melmetal: 338-398 (71.3 - 83.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery and trapping damage

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Corviknight

FlyingSteel SOFT CHECK

92.269

54.6% dies 7.18%

DAMAGE CALC

0 Def Corviknight Body Press vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Melmetal: 90-106 (18.9 - 22.3%) -- possible 6HKO

View Corviknight counters → Teams with Corviknight →

Kartana

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK

25.317

46.7% dies 9.92%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Kartana Sacred Sword vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Melmetal: 204-242 (43 - 51%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Kartana counters → Teams with Kartana →

Melmetal

Steel SOFT CHECK

95.593

46.7% dies 7.20%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Melmetal Superpower vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Melmetal: 226-268 (47.6 - 56.5%) -- 30.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Melmetal counters → Teams with Melmetal →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK

42.886

43.4% dies 7.57%

DAMAGE CALC

0 Def Ferrothorn Body Press vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Melmetal: 108-128 (22.7 - 27%) -- possible 5HKO

View Ferrothorn counters → Teams with Ferrothorn →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK

68.751

40.4% dies 8.31%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Melmetal: 208-246 (43.8 - 51.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Dragonite

DragonFlying SOFT CHECK

23.736

39.7% dies 10.04%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Dragonite Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Melmetal: 180-214 (37.9 - 45.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Dragonite counters → Teams with Dragonite →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

119.712

36.8% dies 7.43%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Melmetal: 288-338 (60.7 - 71.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Landorus-Therian counters → Teams with Landorus-Therian →

Dragapult

DragonGhost SOFT CHECK

61.918

30.3% dies 8.22%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Choice Specs Dragapult Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Melmetal: 254-300 (53.5 - 63.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Dragapult counters → Teams with Dragapult →

Tapu Koko

ElectricFairy SOFT CHECK

21.866

28.8% dies 9.68%

DAMAGE CALCElectric Terrain

Tapu Koko Nature's Madness vs. 252 HP Melmetal: 237-237 (50 - 50%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Tapu Koko counters → Teams with Tapu Koko →

Toxapex

PoisonWater SOFT CHECK

69.187

23.8% dies 7.18%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Toxapex Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Melmetal: 54-64 (11.3 - 13.5%) -- possible 8HKO

View Toxapex counters → Teams with Toxapex →

Tornadus-Therian

Flying SOFT CHECK

69.009

23.1% dies 7.14%

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Tornadus-Therian Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Melmetal: 126-150 (26.5 - 31.6%) -- 26.9% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Tornadus-Therian counters → Teams with Tornadus-Therian →

Weavile

DarkIce SOFT CHECK

68.576

21.1% dies 6.85%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Weavile Low Kick (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Melmetal: 200-236 (42.1 - 49.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Weavile counters → Teams with Weavile →

Tapu Lele

PsychicFairy SOFT CHECK

68.543

20.0% dies 6.67%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Melmetal: 272-320 (57.3 - 67.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Tapu Lele counters → Teams with Tapu Lele →

Slowbro

WaterPsychic SOFT CHECK

25.523

15.7% dies 7.20%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Slowbro Scald vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Melmetal: 112-133 (23.6 - 28%) -- possible 5HKO

View Slowbro counters → Teams with Slowbro →

Clefable

Fairy SOFT CHECK

128.791

9.4% dies 3.57%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Clefable Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Melmetal: 164-194 (34.5 - 40.9%) -- 63.9% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Clefable counters → Teams with Clefable →

Slowking-Galar

PoisonPsychic SOFT CHECK

25.21

5.4% dies 4.51%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Slowking-Galar Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Melmetal: 180-214 (37.9 - 45.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Slowking-Galar counters → Teams with Slowking-Galar →

Ranked #9 with 21.46% usage. Sorted by reliability score.