You finally see that purple glow. Your heart races because you’re hoping for a massive Uber Rare that can carry you through the Cosmos. Instead, out pops a tiny, silver, metallic-looking kitty that looks like it belongs in a scrap yard. It’s Metal Cat. At first glance, it feels like a total prank by PONOS. Its HP is laughably low, and its attack power? Basically non-existent. But if you’ve played The Battle Cats for more than a week, you know that numbers in this game are often a huge lie. Metal Cat in Battle Cats is one of those units that completely changes how you approach "boss" stages, and honestly, it’s probably the most consistent meatshield you'll ever own.
Most units in this game rely on having thousands of health points to survive. Metal Cat doesn't care about that. It operates on a completely different mechanic—the Metal trait. Just like those annoying Metal Hippoes or CyberFace enemies that take forever to kill unless you land a critical hit, Metal Cat shares that same "1 damage per hit" rule. It doesn't matter if an Awakened Bahamut hits it or a tiny Snache nibbles on it; it’s only taking one point of damage. This makes it a mechanical god against single-target bosses that hit for millions of damage.
The Math Behind the Metal Logic
Let's get into the weeds for a second. Metal Cat has a maximum HP of 12 at level 20. That sounds like a joke. You might think, "Why would I use something that dies in 12 hits?"
Think about the boss of Floor 30 in Heavenly Tower or any of the Manic stages. These bosses attack slowly but hit with enough force to vaporize your entire frontline in one swing. A normal Wall Cat or even a Manic Eraser gets deleted instantly. Metal Cat? It sits there. It takes the hit. It loses exactly one point of health. Against a boss that attacks every 3 seconds, a single Metal Cat can stall for 36 seconds. That is an eternity in Battle Cats time.
It’s basically a localized "invincibility" button. You aren't playing a game of stats; you're playing a game of hit counts. If the enemy doesn't have a high attack frequency, they are effectively stuck behind a silver wall they cannot break.
Where It Fails (Hard)
You can't just bring it everywhere. If you drop Metal Cat into a stage filled with those fast-attacking R.O.S.T.s or a swarm of Shadow Boxer Ks, it's going to disappear in about 0.5 seconds. Because it only has 12 HP, any enemy that hits fast—even if they hit weak—is a hard counter. It's the ultimate niche specialist.
Also, watch out for the "Critters." While it’s rare for enemy units to have the Critical Hit ability, those that do will ignore your metal defense and kill Metal Cat instantly. It's a taste of your own medicine, really.
Evolution and the Glass Cat Connection
The evolution of Metal Cat is Glass Cat (and later Crystal Cat). This is where things get even weirder. While Metal Cat is a wall, Glass Cat is a kamikaze unit. You send it out, it hits once, slows a non-metal enemy by 100% for a massive duration, and then it breaks. Literally. It shatters and disappears from the field.
It’s a bizarre gameplay loop. You go from having the sturdiest, most unmovable tank to a unit that is designed to die immediately. But in the late game, specifically against traits like Relic or Traitless bosses, that slow effect is a life-saver. Using Metal Cat to hold the line while Glass Cat provides crowd control is a high-level strategy that separates the casual players from the ones who actually beat the Uncanny Legends chapters.
The Cost Factor
Another thing people forget is the cost. Metal Cat isn't cheap like a basic Cat or a Gold Cat. It costs 600¢ in Stories of Legend. That’s a lot for a meatshield. You have to be smart with your wallet. If you’re spamming it alongside Erasers, you’ll find your cash flow drying up fast. It’s a tactical deployment. You drop it when the boss is about to swing, not just whenever the cooldown is up.
Why Google Discover Loves This Unit
If you're wondering why everyone keeps talking about this specific unit, it's because it's a "Super Rare" that outperforms most Ubers in specific scenarios. In the gaming community, we call this a "game-breaker."
There are very few units in The Battle Cats that can boast a 100% survival rate against a direct hit from a God-tier boss. Metal Cat is on that short list. Most players who pull it don't realize they've just unlocked the "Easy Mode" key for stages like Crazed Titan or any level featuring the Manic variations.
A Quick Reality Check on Gacha Rates
Don't get your hopes too high if you don't have it yet. Metal Cat is part of the "Reinforcements" Gacha, or sometimes featured in specific "Buster" banners. It’s not in the regular pool of units you get during a standard Uberfest. This makes it significantly rarer than some Ubers. If you see a banner featuring "Metal Cat," and you don't have it, that’s usually where your Cat Food should go. Forget the flashy dragons for a minute. Get the silver cat.
Strategic Synergies: Who Plays Well With Metal?
You can't just run Metal Cat alone. It needs a team. Because it’s so good at stalling, it pairs perfectly with "Long Distance" (LD) hitters like Aphrodite or any of the Almighties.
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- The Stall-and-Snipe: You use Metal Cat to keep the boss at a specific distance. Because the boss can't move forward while hitting the Metal Cat, your LD units can sit safely in the back and rain down fire.
- The Wave Buffer: Metal Cat is immune to waves. This is huge. If a Berserkory is sending out shockwaves that are killing your other meatshields, Metal Cat stays standing. It won't stop the wave from hitting the units behind it, but it will stay on the field to prevent the Berserkory from pushing into your base.
- Research Combos: If you're serious, you run "Biohazard" or "Bony Bone" combos to speed up the recharge time. A faster-respawning Metal Cat is basically an infinite wall.
Common Misconceptions and Mistakes
I see a lot of newer players making the same mistakes with Metal Cat. First, they try to level it up to 50 immediately. Don't do that.
The health scaling on Metal Cat is very flat. It caps out its "hits taken" potential very early. Spending Millions of XP to take its health from 10 to 12 isn't going to change your life. Save that XP for your attackers. Metal Cat does its job just fine at level 20.
Second, don't use it in XP stages. XP stages are filled with "Black" enemies like Le'Noir or Shadow Boxer K. These guys have insane attack speeds. Your Metal Cat will be gone before the animation even finishes. It’s a waste of 600¢.
Lastly, remember that it's "Metal," not "Invincible." It still takes damage from Poison. Late-game enemies like Cadaver Bear or some of the newer Zilch enemies can inflict Poison, which does a percentage of health. For a unit with 12 HP, Poison is an instant death sentence regardless of the "1 damage" rule.
The Verdict: Is It Worth the Hype?
Honestly? Yeah.
Metal Cat is one of the few units that stays relevant from the mid-game all the way to the end of the current JP version updates. It’s a tool. It’s not a "main" unit you'll bring to every fight, but when you hit a wall—literally or figuratively—this is the unit that usually breaks it.
The "Reinforcements" units are often overlooked because they don't have the flashy designs of the Lugalugas or the Gals of Monsters, but Metal Cat is the undisputed king of that set. If you pull it, lock it immediately. Do not trade it for XP. Do not trade it for NP (unless you already have it at max health).
Your Next Steps for Success
If you've just pulled Metal Cat or you're planning to hunt for it, here is how you should actually use it to see a difference in your gameplay:
- Check the Enemy Attack Speed: Before starting a stage, look up the boss on the Battle Cats Wiki. If the "Attack Frequency" is slow (e.g., more than 2 seconds), Metal Cat is your best friend.
- Optimize Your Lineup: Pair it with a high-HP meatshield like Eraser Cat. Let Eraser take the small hits from the "peons" (the small guys) so Metal Cat can save its 12 HP for the big boss hits.
- Don't Over-Level: Get it to level 20 and stop. Use those Catseyes on something that actually benefits from them, like Pizza Cat or Ramen Cat.
- Watch Out for "Critters": If you see a Metal enemy on the opposing side, be careful. Some stages have "mirrored" mechanics where enemies can crit you back.
Start by testing Metal Cat on the Crazed Cat stages. You'll see immediately how it can hold a frontline solo while your attackers do the heavy lifting. It's a weird, metallic little guy, but it’s a powerhouse in disguise.