How to Get Metal Coat Pokemon Go: The Evolution Item That's Been Driving Trainers Crazy Since 2017

You know that feeling when you're standing there with your Scyther, ready to evolve it into that sleek, red-armored Scizor, but you're missing that one crucial item? Yeah, the Metal Coat. It's been the bane of many trainers' existence since evolution items dropped into the game back in February 2017. I remember spending weeks spinning PokéStops like a madman, convinced the game was personally conspiring against me.

The Metal Coat is one of those items that seems simple enough in concept but can be frustratingly elusive when you actually need it. Unlike regular Poké Balls or berries that practically rain from the sky, this particular evolution item plays hard to get. And trust me, after helping countless trainers in my local community finally snag their first Metal Coat, I've learned a thing or two about maximizing your chances.

The PokéStop Lottery and Why It Feels Rigged

Let's start with the most common method: spinning PokéStops. Every time you spin a stop, there's roughly a 0.14% chance of getting an evolution item. Yes, you read that right – less than one percent. That means statistically, you'd need to spin about 700 PokéStops to guarantee getting an evolution item, and even then, it might not be the Metal Coat you're after.

But here's something most players don't realize: not all spins are created equal. Regular PokéStop spins have that abysmal drop rate I mentioned, but there's a hidden mechanic that significantly boosts your odds. I stumbled upon this pattern after tracking my own drops for months (yes, I kept a spreadsheet – don't judge).

The seven-day streak bonus is your best friend here. When you spin a PokéStop on your seventh consecutive day of playing, you're guaranteed an evolution item. The catch? It's still random which one you'll get. With eight different evolution items in the pool (including the Metal Coat), you're looking at a 12.5% chance each week. Not great odds, but infinitely better than the regular drop rate.

I've noticed something else interesting over the years. Certain PokéStops in my area seem to drop evolution items more frequently than others. Now, Niantic has never confirmed this, and it could just be confirmation bias, but I swear the stop at our local library has given me more Metal Coats than any other location. Maybe it's the universe's way of rewarding literacy?

Field Research Tasks: The Overlooked Goldmine

This is where things get interesting, and where I think most casual players miss out. Specific Field Research tasks can reward evolution items, including the Metal Coat. The tasks rotate regularly, but there are some reliable ones that pop up frequently.

The "Evolve a Pokémon" task sometimes rewards evolution items. I know, I know – it sounds too simple. But I've gotten three Metal Coats from this basic task alone. The trick is knowing when these tasks are in rotation. The Silph Road community (bless their data-mining hearts) usually has this information within hours of a new rotation.

Another task to watch for is "Win 5 raids." This one's been particularly generous with evolution items in my experience. Sure, it requires more effort and potentially some raid passes, but if you're already raiding regularly, it's essentially a bonus reward for something you're doing anyway.

Trading: The Social Solution Nobody Talks About

Here's a strategy that's criminally underused: trading for Pokémon that are already holding Metal Coats. Wait, what? Let me explain.

When you catch certain Pokémon in the wild, there's a tiny chance they'll be holding an evolution item. Magnemite and Magneton occasionally come with Metal Coats attached. The drop rate is laughably low – we're talking maybe 1 in 500 catches – but if you're in an active community, someone's bound to have extras.

I once met a player who had six Metal Coats just from catching Magnemite during the electric-type event in 2019. He was more than happy to trade away some Magnemite holding the items for relatively common Pokémon he needed for his living dex. The beauty of this method is that the Metal Coat transfers with the Pokémon during the trade.

Timing Your Hunt: When RNG Becomes Less Random

After playing since launch, I've developed some theories about when evolution items drop more frequently. Take this with a grain of salt, but I've noticed patterns that seem too consistent to be coincidence.

First, new players or returning players seem to have boosted drop rates for their first few evolution items. I've seen this happen too many times to dismiss it. My theory? Niantic wants to hook players by giving them that sweet evolution dopamine hit early on. If you've taken a break from the game, your first week back might be the perfect time to hunt for that Metal Coat.

Second, event periods often have adjusted drop rates, even when evolution items aren't explicitly mentioned. During the Johto Tour event, I got more evolution items in one weekend than I usually see in a month. The Steel-type events are particularly good for Metal Coat hunting, though again, Niantic never officially confirms these rate adjustments.

The Psychological Warfare of RNG

Let's talk about something nobody really addresses: the mental game of hunting for specific items. The desire sensor is real, folks. The more desperately you want that Metal Coat, the more elusive it seems to become. I've watched trainers spin hundreds of stops in a day, getting increasingly frustrated with each empty spin.

My advice? Set realistic expectations and play the long game. Instead of making Metal Coat hunting your primary goal, incorporate it into your regular playing routine. Spin stops while you're catching Pokémon. Complete Field Research tasks as you encounter them. The Metal Coat will come when it comes.

I learned this lesson the hard way. I once spent an entire Saturday doing nothing but spinning stops, determined to get a Metal Coat for my perfect IV Onix. Eight hours and probably 400 stops later, I had nothing to show for it but a sore thumb and a deep hatred for RNG. The next day, playing casually while walking my dog, I got two Metal Coats within an hour. The universe has a twisted sense of humor.

Alternative Strategies and Community Wisdom

Over the years, the Pokémon GO community has developed some interesting theories about Metal Coat acquisition. Some swear by spinning gym discs instead of regular PokéStops, claiming the drop rates are slightly higher. Others insist that spinning new stops (ones with the white ring) have better odds.

Personally, I haven't seen conclusive evidence for either theory, but I do notice that players who vary their routes and spin different stops tend to have better luck overall. Maybe it's just because they're spinning more stops total, or maybe there's some hidden mechanic we don't understand yet.

One strategy that definitely works: patience and persistence. I know a trainer who's been playing since day one and has over 50 Metal Coats just from regular play. She doesn't do anything special – just spins every stop she passes and completes her daily research. Time is on your side if you let it be.

The Endgame Reality

Here's the truth bomb: once you've been playing for a while, Metal Coats become almost trivial. I currently have 23 sitting in my bag, and I've already evolved every Pokémon that needs them. It's one of those weird progression curves where items that seem impossibly rare early on eventually become bag-clogging nuisances.

But that doesn't help when you're staring at your Scyther right now, does it? So here's my practical advice: combine all the methods. Maintain your seven-day streak religiously. Complete every evolution item-rewarding research task you find. Check your caught Pokémon for held items. And most importantly, don't let the hunt consume you.

The Metal Coat will come. It might be tomorrow, it might be next week, but it will come. And when it does, that Scizor or Steelix you've been dreaming about will feel all the more special because of the journey to get there. Just don't be surprised when you start finding Metal Coats everywhere once you no longer need them. That's just how Pokémon GO works – the game's greatest joke and perhaps its most human element.

Remember, we're all just trainers spinning stops and hoping for the best. Sometimes the RNG gods smile upon us, sometimes they don't. But that's what makes finally getting that Metal Coat feel like a genuine achievement, even if it's ultimately just a digital item in a mobile game. Happy hunting, and may your next seven-day streak bring you exactly what you're looking for.

Authoritative Sources:

Silph Road. "Evolution Item Drop Rates Analysis." The Silph Road Research Group, 2021. Web.

Niantic, Inc. "Pokémon GO: Evolution Items Update." Pokémon GO Official Blog, Niantic, Inc., 16 Feb. 2017. Web.

Trnrtips, Nick. "Pokémon GO: The Complete Evolution Items Guide." Trainer Tips YouTube Channel, 2020. Web.