Requested by: @Stareevee 

     Nebby, GET IN THE BAG! Sorry, just had to make that joke, but anyway, Solgaleo is a decent Pokemon I think that is overshadowed by Dusk Mane Necrozma. Necrozma has the better ability out of the two in it's regular and other forms defensively that helps it out a lot more. Let's face it: Dusk Mane has the same ability from it's original form that reduces all super effective damage while Solgaleo has a rehashed and renamed version of Clear Body. Full Metal Body is very situational and only comes into effect when Intimidate, stat lowering moves, or Sticky Web are used/on the field. Unfortunately, it's moves are very limited and doesn't help it against some Pokemon who can hard counter it when it's locked into something, plus it hates status ailments. Now, let's get into this long overdue chapter, shall we, and let's start with what Solgaleo's most common, if not it's only set. 

       As you might have already guessed from what I've said so far, Solgaleo isn't particularly the best at being a good defensive Steel type. Like Mega Metagross, who is also in this tier, it's more of a fast physical attacker who has decent defense. However, there are some issues with it's speed that can't really be overlooked from a metagame stand point. Looking at it from a different angle, on paper, sure base 97 speed that hits a max total of 322 at LV 100 sounds great, but it really isn't. Speed stats such as 100 or 110 have long since been surpassed by those who go above freaking 400 or even above 500 max, with the likes of Deoxys-Speed and Zeraora. This is why Solgaleo has a scarf on it most of the time to maximize as much speed it can have and to ensure that it can outwit and speed through faster opponents. However, this leads me into it's weaknesses. 

      Seeing as Solgaleo has access to learning either Stone Edge or Earthquake, you'd think it had no problem with taking down Primal Groudon or Ho-oh. For this lion that comes from the sun, Solgaleo is going to be burnt to a crisp even though it's the emissary of it. Primal Groudon intensifies the heat to an higher level than a Magcargo does probably, and can just Fire Punch or Precipice Blades it, provided that the latter doesn't miss. Solgaleo, in short needs to have Groudon weakened. Stone Edge is a tad unreliable with it missing, but that gives you even more reason to believe in yourself and your Pokemon, even if RNG is against you! Stone Edge is a guaranteed OHKO against Ho-Oh, though. The thing about Solgaleo is that it's just a really bad sweeper. It has access to no setup moves that really help it, and it has to rely on a scarf. 

    Also, it's not very good against Pokemon who overpower it very easily, such as the Primals or Yveltal. Yveltal has access to Dark Pulse and Foul Play, both very good against Solgaleo's usual fighting style, and status ailments hindering it's progress aren't good either. With that said, to rub in the salt, Necrozma Dusk Mane does better than it. It's got a better ability in Prism Armor, has a legit good STAB move, can set up rocks and be defensive, or can go Ultra Necrozma with the Ultranecrozium Z, at the cost of shedding it's Steel type for a Dragon instead. What also sucks is if you go for a move and the opponent sees it coming a mile away, so they switch or actually stay in to take it for the team. Then what options do you have? You're forced to switch and lose momentum. If only they made a move that let Solgaleo and Lunala switch out...

    That being said, Solgaleo just sucks in my opinion. It just isn't as good as a sweeper as it could have been, and it's lunar counterpart outclasses it, but suffers similar issues. It's ironic though that it's Necrozma controlled form is better  than Dawn Wings. Full Metal Body has got to be the most disappointing thing about this Pokemon, and they didn't even give it a hidden ability! I'm sorry to you Solgaleo fans, but there's not much that can be said for it. Good teambuilding can make up for it, but see for yourselves if you prefer this Pokemon over Dusk Mane. Hopefully they fix this in the next generation or anything. 

Score: 3.5/10 

AU: sorry for not updating, I just kind of forgot about writing this book. didn't help that I work on schoolwork constantly and have a bad habit of procrastinating