So, you have the Candy. You have the dream. You may even have a powerful Scyther or Onix sitting in your Pokémon storage like it is waiting for a dramatic movie soundtrack. There is only one tiny problem: you need a Metal Coat. In Pokémon Go, the Metal Coat is one of those special evolution items that sounds simple until the game decides to play hide-and-seek with your patience.
The good news? Getting a Metal Coat in Pokémon Go is not complicated. The bad news? It is mostly based on chance, which means there is no magic button that says, “Give me shiny metal jacket now.” Still, there are smart ways to improve your odds, build a routine, and avoid wasting time on methods that are not worth chasing.
This guide explains how to get a Metal Coat in Pokémon Go using three simple methods: spinning PokéStops and Gyms, keeping a seven-day spin streak, and checking Gifts plus Research tasks. We will also cover what the Metal Coat does, which Pokémon need it, how to use it, and practical trainer experience tips to help you farm one without turning your neighborhood into a full-time walking simulator.
What Is a Metal Coat in Pokémon Go?
A Metal Coat is a special evolution item in Pokémon Go. Unlike regular evolutions that only require Candy, some Pokémon need both Candy and a specific item before they can evolve. The Metal Coat is used for Steel-related evolutions, which makes sense because the item is basically a stylish metallic film. Pokémon fashion has rules, apparently.
In Pokémon Go, the Metal Coat is required for two evolutions:
- Scyther evolves into Scizor with 50 Scyther Candy and 1 Metal Coat.
- Onix evolves into Steelix with 50 Onix Candy and 1 Metal Coat.
Once you use a Metal Coat, it is consumed. That means one Metal Coat equals one evolution. You cannot use the same item twice, lend it to another Pokémon, or ask Professor Willow for a refund because you changed your mind. Choose carefully.
How Rare Is a Metal Coat in Pokémon Go?
The Metal Coat is considered rare because it usually drops randomly from item sources. You may get one quickly, or you may spin PokéStops for days and collect everything except the item you actually want. That is normal. Evolution items are designed to be occasional rewards, not something you can reliably farm in five minutes.
Most trainers get Metal Coats through routine play rather than a single guaranteed trick. The best strategy is to combine several methods at the same time. Spin stops, maintain your daily streak, open Gifts, and watch Research rewards. It is not glamorous, but it works better than staring at your item bag and whispering, “Please.”
Method 1: Spin PokéStops and Gyms
The most basic way to get a Metal Coat in Pokémon Go is by spinning Photo Discs at PokéStops and Gyms. When you spin one, the game gives you random items such as Poké Balls, Berries, Potions, Revives, Eggs, and sometimes evolution items.
This method is simple: walk to a PokéStop or Gym, spin the disc, collect the items, and repeat when the stop refreshes. Metal Coat can appear as a random drop, but the chance is low. Because of that, this method works best when you are already playing regularly rather than trying to force the item in one short session.
How to Make PokéStop Spins More Efficient
To increase your chances, play in areas with many PokéStops close together. Parks, downtown areas, shopping districts, campuses, museums, and public landmarks often have better stop density. More stops mean more spins, and more spins mean more chances at a Metal Coat.
Try making a simple walking loop. Spin every stop on the route, catch Pokémon while you wait for stops to refresh, and keep your item bag from filling up. A full item bag can block you from collecting new items, which is especially painful if the next spin could have been the Metal Coat. That is the kind of tragedy no trainer needs.
Clean Your Item Bag Before Farming
Before a serious farming session, delete items you do not need. Keep enough Poké Balls, healing items, and Berries for your play style, but do not let hundreds of unused items clog your storage. If your bag is always full, you are making the hunt harder than it needs to be.
Also, remember that Gyms count too. Many players focus only on PokéStops and forget that spinning Gym Photo Discs can also give useful items. If you pass a Gym, spin it. The Metal Coat does not care whether it arrives from a stop near a coffee shop or a Gym guarded by a suspiciously motivated Blissey.
Method 2: Complete a Seven-Day PokéStop Spin Streak
The most reliable simple method is the seven-day PokéStop spin streak. To build this streak, spin at least one PokéStop or Gym each day for seven days in a row. On the seventh day, you receive a bigger bonus bundle, including a guaranteed random evolution item.
The key word is random. The seventh-day streak can reward an evolution item, but it does not guarantee that the item will be a Metal Coat. You might get a King’s Rock, Sun Stone, Dragon Scale, Upgrade, or another eligible evolution item instead. Still, this is one of the best ways to get a Metal Coat because it gives you a regular shot at the item pool.
Why the Seven-Day Streak Matters
Random PokéStop drops can be very rare, so the streak bonus is valuable because it gives you a much stronger opportunity than ordinary spins. If you are serious about getting a Metal Coat, make the daily spin part of your routine. You do not need to play for hours every day. You only need one spin to keep the streak alive.
A good habit is to spin a stop during a daily commute, a walk, or a quick trip outside. Set a mental rule: no day ends without one spin. Your future Scizor will respect the discipline. Your current Scyther may still look impatient, but that is just Scyther’s face.
What If You Miss a Day?
If you miss a day, the streak resets. Annoying? Absolutely. Game-ending? Not at all. Just start again the next day. The important thing is consistency over time. Many trainers get evolution items simply because they keep their streak going week after week.
For best results, combine the streak method with normal spins. Do not only spin one stop per day if you have access to more. The streak gives you a strong weekly chance, while regular spins add extra opportunities in the background.
Method 3: Open Gifts and Check Research Tasks
Another simple way to get a Metal Coat is by opening Gifts from friends and checking available Research tasks. Gifts can sometimes contain rare items, including evolution items. The odds are not something you should rely on completely, but opening Gifts is easy, free, and useful for more than just Metal Coat hunting.
To use this method well, add active friends, send Gifts regularly, and open Gifts daily when possible. Active friend lists create steady item flow. Even when you do not get a Metal Coat, you may receive Poké Balls, Stardust, healing items, and other useful supplies.
Use Research Tasks to Your Advantage
Field Research, Timed Research, and Special Research can sometimes reward evolution items. The rewards change depending on events and task rotations, so it is worth checking before you ignore or delete a task. Some past Special Research lines have rewarded Metal Coats directly, which makes Research one of the few ways the item can appear without relying only on random stop drops.
Tap the binoculars icon in the game and look through your current Research. If a task shows an item reward, check whether it is worth completing. During Steel-type events, Johto-themed events, or evolution-focused events, pay extra attention. Event Research often gives out useful items that are harder to find during normal play.
Do Not Ignore Event Bonuses
Events are one of the best times to hunt for evolution items. Pokémon Go frequently changes Field Research rewards, event bonuses, and special tasks. If an event features Steel-type Pokémon, Johto Pokémon, Scyther, Onix, Scizor, or Steelix, there may be a better-than-usual chance of seeing related rewards.
Even when Metal Coat is not listed as a headline reward, events can still help indirectly. More Scyther or Onix spawns mean more Candy. More PokéStop tasks mean more reward checks. More Gifts and item drops mean more chances for useful resources. In other words, events are the game’s way of saying, “Here, be productive,” while disguising it as chaos.
How to Use a Metal Coat in Pokémon Go
Once you finally get a Metal Coat, using it is easy. The harder part is deciding which Pokémon deserves it. Since the item disappears after use, check your Pokémon’s IVs, CP, moves, and usefulness before evolving.
- Open Pokémon Go.
- Tap the Poké Ball menu.
- Select Pokémon.
- Choose Scyther or Onix.
- Make sure you have enough Candy and 1 Metal Coat.
- Tap Evolve.
If the Evolve button is not available, you are missing either the Candy or the Metal Coat. Double-check your item bag and Candy count before assuming the game is broken. Sometimes the villain is not a bug. Sometimes it is math.
Should You Evolve Scyther or Onix First?
If you only have one Metal Coat, the choice usually comes down to your goals. If you want Scizor, evolve Scyther. If you want Steelix, evolve Onix. Both are great Pokédex additions, and both look like they were designed by someone who thought, “What if this Pokémon became 80% more dramatic?”
Choose Scizor If You Want Style and Attack
Scizor is a Bug- and Steel-type Pokémon. It is popular because it looks fantastic and can be useful in certain battle situations. If you have a strong Scyther with good IVs, Scizor is often a satisfying first Metal Coat evolution.
Scizor also has collector appeal. Shiny Scizor, in particular, is a favorite for many trainers. If your Scyther is shiny, shadow, high-IV, or personally special, using your first Metal Coat on it can feel very rewarding.
Choose Steelix If You Want a Big Defensive Beast
Steelix is a Steel- and Ground-type Pokémon. It has a huge design, strong defensive identity, and a very memorable presence. If you enjoy bulky Pokémon or want to complete the Onix evolution line, Steelix is an excellent choice.
For Pokédex completion, there is no wrong answer. You will eventually want both Scizor and Steelix, so your first choice only decides who gets the shiny metal ticket first.
Common Mistakes When Hunting for a Metal Coat
Expecting a Guaranteed Drop from Regular Spins
Regular PokéStop and Gym spins can reward a Metal Coat, but they are not guaranteed. Do not get discouraged if you spin many stops without seeing one. That is normal. The best strategy is volume plus consistency.
Letting Your Item Bag Stay Full
A full bag can stop you from collecting items. If you are farming evolution items, keep space available. Delete excess Potions, regular Poké Balls, or Nanab Berries if you do not use them often.
Ignoring Gifts
Gifts are easy to overlook, but they are a useful daily item source. Add friends, exchange Gifts, and open them consistently. Even when they do not give a Metal Coat, they support your overall gameplay.
Using the Metal Coat Too Quickly
Do not rush the evolution unless you are happy with the Pokémon. Check IVs, CP, and whether you might catch a better Scyther or Onix soon. A little patience can save you from instant regret.
Extra Trainer Experiences: What It Feels Like to Hunt for a Metal Coat
Hunting for a Metal Coat in Pokémon Go is one of those experiences that sounds easy when explained in one sentence and feels strangely personal when you are actually doing it. On paper, the plan is simple: spin PokéStops, keep your streak alive, open Gifts, check Research, and wait. In practice, your brain starts treating every PokéStop like a tiny slot machine that owes you a silver jacket.
The first lesson most trainers learn is that patience matters more than intensity. You can walk through a busy area with twenty PokéStops and still not get a Metal Coat. Then, three days later, you might spin one random stop outside a grocery store and suddenly there it is. That randomness can be frustrating, but it is also part of the rhythm of the game. The players who get evolution items most consistently are usually not doing anything mysterious. They simply play often enough that luck has more chances to show up.
One helpful experience-based approach is to connect Metal Coat hunting with another goal. Instead of walking only for the item, walk to hatch Eggs, earn Buddy Candy, complete Field Research, catch event Pokémon, or refill your Poké Balls. That way, even if you do not get the Metal Coat, the session still feels useful. Nothing drains motivation faster than saying, “I failed because I did not get one item.” Change the goal to, “I made progress and gave myself more chances.” Much healthier. Much less likely to make you glare at a perfectly innocent PokéStop.
Another practical tip is to save strong candidates before you get the item. Tag your best Scyther and Onix so you do not have to search through storage later. You can create a tag like “Metal Coat” or “Evolve Later.” Add any high-IV, shiny, shadow, lucky, or personally meaningful Scyther and Onix to that tag. When the Metal Coat finally drops, you will already know your options.
Friend Gifts also become more valuable when you treat them as part of a daily routine. Many players open Gifts only when they are low on items, but opening them regularly gives you more chances at rare drops over time. It also builds friendship levels, which can help with XP, trading, and raid coordination. In other words, your Metal Coat hunt can quietly improve other parts of your account.
The seven-day streak is probably the most important habit. Missing a day feels bad because it delays your next bonus, but do not let one missed spin make you quit the effort. Just restart the streak. Pokémon Go rewards long-term consistency. A trainer who spins one stop every day for several weeks will usually have better results than a trainer who plays intensely once and then disappears like a wild Abra.
Finally, be careful with item management after you get one Metal Coat. If you already evolved Scizor and Steelix, you may not need to keep a large pile of extra Metal Coats. However, keeping one or two spares can be useful in case you catch a better shiny or a future event gives you a reason to evolve another. Do not let rare items completely take over your bag, but do not delete your last Metal Coat unless you are absolutely sure.
The best mindset is simple: treat the Metal Coat as a bonus you are steadily working toward, not an emergency. Keep spinning, keep opening Gifts, keep checking Research, and keep your streak alive. Eventually, the item will appear. And when it does, evolving that Scyther or Onix will feel much better because you earned it through persistence, planning, and possibly a dramatic amount of walking.
Conclusion
Getting a Metal Coat in Pokémon Go is not about finding a secret location or defeating a hidden boss. It is about using the right daily habits. Spin PokéStops and Gyms whenever you can, protect your seven-day spin streak, open Gifts from friends, and check Research tasks during events. Those three simple methods give you the best practical chance of adding this rare evolution item to your bag.
Once you have a Metal Coat, use it wisely. Scyther evolves into Scizor with 50 Scyther Candy and 1 Metal Coat, while Onix evolves into Steelix with 50 Onix Candy and 1 Metal Coat. Since the item is consumed after use, pick a Pokémon you will be happy with. A strong Scizor or Steelix is worth the wait, especially when your Pokédex finally gets that satisfying new entry.
Note: Pokémon Go events and Research rewards can change over time, so always check your in-game Research tab and current event details before farming. The core methods above remain the safest everyday approach for most trainers.