Mettaton

I'M NOT GOING TO DESTROY YOU WITHOUT A LIVE TELEVISION AUDIENCE!!

Mettaton

Mettaton (JP: メタトン) is a main character and the fourth boss in Undertale. He is a robot with a SOUL, whose body was built by Alphys. Mettaton is the sole television star of the underground, and he poses as an entertainment robot turned human-killing robot in Hotland. He is eventually revealed to be a ghost referred to as "Happstablook", and to be Napstablook's cousin.

At the end of the CORE, Mettaton reveals his intentions to the protagonist and transforms into one of two forms for a final confrontation. On the Neutral and True Pacifist Routes, he transforms into Mettaton EX, and on the Genocide Route, he transforms into Mettaton NEO.

Profile

Appearance

Mettaton making a "number 1" symbol.

Mettaton is a large gray rectangular box with a 4x5 grid of rectangular lights on his front. The grid of lights can change colors between red, yellow, green, and blue, and Mettaton uses these color changes in place of facial expressions. Underneath the main screen is a row of four/five small rectangular lights. He has four dials underneath the row. The bottom of his base has a single-legged wheel. He has two segmented robotic arms that have four-fingered white gloves. On Mettaton's back is a large flippable switch, with the word "SWITCH" and an arrow above it.

Personality

Mettaton is a confident, charismatic, and charming TV host. His shows emphasize drama, action, and violence, for which he has garnered a loyal fanbase. He enjoys performing, as he often abruptly performs various actions that do not correlate to the show he is currently producing.

Mettaton is very egotistical, having centered his brand around himself. His hotel and the products he advertises are themed heavily around his physical appearance. In the Mettaton Ending, this goes to such extremes that, when placed in a position of power, he transforms the underground into a self-serving dystopia.

Despite his self-centered personality, however, he deeply cares about the seemingly positive impact his show has had on the inhabitants of the underground, and is shown to have soft spots for several characters, such as Alphys and Napstablook. Mettaton is also secretive, as he tries to not acknowledge the Mystery Key if it is found, and refrains from sharing his friend's secrets.

Mettaton is one of the few monsters who does not express prejudice against humanity despite knowing of the monsters' history with the former, being more interested in entertainment than harming anyone. Likewise, his attempt to kill the protagonist is motivated by a desire to prevent Asgore from taking their SOUL and destroying humankind. His lack of prejudice is further shown when he is killed during the Alphys Ending of the Neutral Route, as he claims that the protagonist is not "ABSOLUTELY EVIL", indicating that he still has some faith in them.

Many of Mettaton's employees praise him for his actions in the workplace. Mettaton is known for prioritizing accessibility and expressing support for his employees. However, Burgerpants claims that Mettaton is a demanding employer who is very unpleasant to work for, having once considered working for him to be a dream.

Etymology

"Mettaton" may be a portmanteau of "Meta" and "ton", as Mettaton offers many instances of meta-commentary on the structure of Undertale. Examples include: referencing the player if the protagonist selects "Don't Know" for Alphys's crush question during the quiz show, offering a newscast to the fourth wall while the protagonist is visible on-screen, his words turning into bombs in the news report, changing the name of the game's window during his musical segment, mentioning room numbers before his colored tile maze and discussing Toriel plush toys in the epilogue. The name could also be a combination of "metal" and "automaton" or "zettaton".

Main story

History

Prior to the events of Undertale, Mettaton used to be a ghost, seemingly named "Hapstablook" who lived in Blook Acres in the house next to Napstablook's. Hapstablook would often write diary entries about certain days, such as when they offered to perform together with Shyren and Napstablook. One day, an unnamed ghost cousin became the Mad Dummy, and Hapstablook reassured Napstablook that they would not be left behind. The two of them would also watch television shows together for long periods, and practiced performances.

Eventually, Hapstablook created the "Human Fanclub" and met Alphys through it. At some point, they had told Alphys about wanting a body of their own. At an unspecified point in time, Alphys offered to create a robotic body for Mettaton, which was accepted. Mettaton then left his past behind to become "a star", with the Mystery Key to his home left somewhere in Waterfall, where it was ultimately found by Bratty and Catty.

While Mettaton's first TV premiere was successful, his body was incomplete. This led to him often visiting Alphys for updates, which included combat capabilities. After learning of Alphys's infatuation with Undyne, he visited the latter at one point.

Neutral Route

Mettaton's introduction, as It's Showtime! plays

A machine that shares its appearance with the box part of Mettaton is seen in Snowdin during one of Papyrus's puzzles. It activates the Multicolor Tile Puzzle and disappears once Papyrus is defeated. It is possible but unknown if this is the real Mettaton.

When meeting Alphys in the Lab, she warns the protagonist about a machine that she had created, Mettaton. Alphys describes it as a robot that was made to be a TV star but recently had anti-human combat features added as a way of making him more useful.

Immediately after this warning, Mettaton bursts through the wall and forces the protagonist into a deadly quiz show. He asks a series of multiple-choice questions that get increasingly harder as time goes on. Alphys gives answers via hand motion, and upon realizing this, Mettaton chooses to humiliate her by quizzing the protagonist on the identity of her unrequited love interest. Regardless of the protagonist's choice, Mettaton ultimately departs, concluding that the quiz show has lost its dramatic tension.

One of Mettaton's shows, the news report, as Live Report plays

As the protagonist journeys through Hotland, Mettaton entraps them in deadly pastiches of various media genres, including: Cooking with a Killer Robot, a MTT News report, and a musical. In each, he tasks the protagonist with completing various minigames that he claims will end in their death if they fail. Regardless of the protagonist's performance, either Alphys disables the minigames, or Mettaton makes an excuse for her, with both ending in his plan getting foiled.

Eventually, the protagonist encounters Mettaton again at the end of the CORE. There, he reveals that Alphys had set up an extensive plan in which she would insert herself into the protagonist's journey out of a desire to feel important. Mettaton initially played along with Alphys's plan and took on the role of a "malfunctioning" robot who would torment the protagonist. However, he reveals that he had rearranged the CORE and hired monsters to kill the protagonist behind Alphys's back, hoping to use their SOUL to cross the barrier and prevent Asgore's war on humanity.

Mettaton locks the door and attacks the protagonist. During the battle, the protagonist tricks Mettaton into turning around and exposing the switch on his backside. The protagonist flips the switch, causing Mettaton to panic and the screen to go white. Once the screen clears, Mettaton reveals his new body, Mettaton EX, and begins a final confrontation. After the battle, his body is left behind, with its condition varying based on the protagonist's actions.

True Pacifist Route

Mettaton, partially transformed

Mettaton's deactivated body can be found on the workbench in Alphys's lab, where he is undergoing repairs. While reuniting with the protagonist at the barrier, Mettaton shows up off-screen, sticking his leg out and encouraging Alphys and Undyne to kiss. After defeating Asriel, Mettaton can be found in his EX form outside his house, where he expresses his desire to become a star on the surface. In the True Pacifist ending credits, Mettaton appears on stage in his rectangle form, changing his wheel to his EX form's legs to dance.

Genocide Route

Instead of breaking through the wall, Mettaton waits at the far end of the Lab. He informs the protagonist that Alphys has been evacuating everyone to a safe and inaccessible location, implied to be the True Lab. When the protagonist approaches Mettaton, he flees, claiming the world needs stars more than it needs corpses. He is later found at the end of the CORE, where he transforms into Mettaton NEO.

In battle

For Mettaton's alternate forms encountered at the end of the CORE, see Mettaton EX or Mettaton NEO.

Attacks

• During the quiz show, if the protagonist answers incorrectly, Mettaton fires an unavoidable electrical beam that halves the protagonist's HP until it reaches 1.
• After the tile puzzle, if the protagonist does not press ACT → "Yellow" right away, Mettaton drops boxes from above in a set pattern, with gaps in between.

Strategy

In Mettaton's battles, attempting to attack him always fails, with the text "Miss" appearing to indicate no damage has been inflicted.

Alphys is present during the quiz show and uses her hands to shape the correct answer's letter. If Alphys does not provide an answer, it means any is fine. Answering any questions wrong causes Mettaton to halve the protagonist's HP; however, if the protagonist is at 1 HP, Mettaton skips to the final question.

In Mettaton's second battle, the only way to progress is to select the "Yellow" option in the ACT menu. This turns the SOUL yellow and allows it to fire projectiles by pressing [CONFIRM]. The SOUL must fire several projectiles at Mettaton to end the battle.

Quotes

Pre-battle

Quiz Show

• OHHHH YES!
• WELCOME, BEAUTIES...
• ... TO TODAY'S QUIZ SHOW!!!
• OH BOY! I CAN ALREADY TELL IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT SHOW!
• EVERYONE GIVE A BIG HAND FOR OUR WONDERFUL CONTESTANT!
• NEVER PLAYED BEFORE, GORGEOUS?
• NO PROBLEM! IT'S SIMPLE!
• THERE'S ONLY ONE RULE.
• ANSWER CORRECTLY...
• OR YOU DIE!!!

Multicolor Tile Puzzle

• [Failed the puzzle]
  • OOOOH, I'M SO SORRY! LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE OUT OF TIME!!!
  • HERE COME THE FLAMES, DARLING!
  • THEY'RE CLOSING IN!
  • GETTING! CLOSER! OH MY!
  • ANY MINUTE NOW!!!
  • ... ... (ROBOTIC COUGH)
  • [Narrator] Ring...
  • [Alphys] Watch out!! I'll save you!!
  • [Alphys] I'm hacking into the firewall right now!
  • OH NO!!! HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN???
  • FOILED AGAIN BY THE BRILLIANT DOCTOR ALPHYS!!
  • THA-
  • [Alphys] That's right!
  • [Alphys] Come on, Mettaton, give up already!
  • [Alphys] You'll never be able to defeat us...
  • [Alphys] Not as long as we work together!
  • [Alphys] Your puzzle's over.. Now go home and leave us alone!
  • PUZZLE? OVER?
  • ALPHYS, DARLING, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT...?
  • DID YOU FORGET WHAT THE GREEN TILES DO?
  • THEY MAKE A SOUND, THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGHT A MONSTER.
  • [Step on a green tile]
    • WELL, DARLING... THAT MONSTER...
    • IS ME!!
  • [Didn't step on a green tile]
    • WELL, DARLING...!
    • WELL, WELL, WELL.
    • WELLY WELL WELL.
    • WELL WELLY WELL WELL, WELL WELL WELLY.
    • YOU NEVER STEPPED ON A GREEN TILE.
    • ...
    • AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.
• [Completed the puzzle]
  • CONGRATULATIONS!
  • YOU MADE IT THROUGH THE PUZZLE!!!
  • AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, THE FLAMES WILL BE DEACTIVATED!
  • NO! MORE! FIRE!
  • ... BUT IT'S AS THE PHRASE GOES.
  • "OUT OF THE FIRE, AND INTO THE FRYING PAN."
  • THAT'S RIGHT, DARLING!
  • EVEN IF YOU MANAGE TO BEAT THE HEAT...
  • YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND MY HOT METAL BODY!
  • PREPARE YOURSELF FOR MY
  • [Narrator] Ring...
  • [Alphys] Watch out!! I'll save you!!
  • [Alphys] Flames, deactivate!!
  • [Alphys] ...
  • [Alphys] ... huh?
  • THE HUMAN FINISHED THE PUZZLE.
  • I ALREADY TURNED OFF THE FLAMES.
  • IN FACT, I WAS ABOUT TO FIGHT THE HUMAN.
  • [Alphys] Wh-wh-what? TH-THAT puzzle?
  • [Alphys] I mean, uhh...
  • [Alphys] Great job! We've got him on the ropes, now!
  • ON THE ROPES? HA!
  • I ONLY DEACTIVATED THE FLAMES KNOWING THAT ALPHYS WOULD HAVE ANYWAY.
  • ... NOW, WHERE WERE WE?
  • OH YES.
  • I WAS GOING TO ERADICATE YOU!

Battle

Quiz Show

• No question. [Question; unused]
• ERROR? [Wrong; unused]
• [1st question]
  • LET'S START WITH AN EASY ONE!!
  • What's the prize for answering correctly?
  • RIGHT! SOUNDS LIKE YOU GET IT! [More questions]
  • HAHAHA, YOU WISH! WRONG! [Wrong]
• [2nd question]
  • HERE'S YOUR TERRIFIC PRIZE!
  • What's the king's full name?
  • CORRECT! WHAT A TERRIFIC ANSWER! [Asgore Dreemurr]
  • WRONG! IF ONLY ALPHYS COULD HELP! [Wrong]
• [3rd question]
  • ENOUGH ABOUT YOU. LET'S TALK ABOUT ME!
  • What are robots made of?
  • TOO EASY FOR YOU, HUH?????????? [Metal&Magic]
  • NOPE! TOO BAD ALPHYS CAN'T HELP! [Wrong]
• [4th question]
  • HERE'S ANOTHER EASY ONE FOR YOU!
  • Two trains, Train A and Train B, simultaneously depart Station A and Station B. Station A and Station B are 252.5 miles apart from each other. Train A is moving at 124.7mph towards Station B, and Train B is moving at 253.5mph towards station A. If both trains departed at 10:00AM and it is now 10:08, how much longer until both trains pass each other?
  • WONDERFUL! I'M ASTOUNDED, FOLKS! [32.058 minutes]
  • WRONG!!! WRONG!!! WROOOOOOOONG!! [Wrong]
• [5th question]
  • DON'T 'COUNT' ON YOUR VICTORY...
  • How many flies are in this jar?
  • CORRECT! YOU'RE SO LUCKY TODAY!!! [54]
  • COMPLETELY UTTERLY WRONG!!!!!! [Wrong]

Mettaton wearing a Froggit shirt.

• [6th question]
  • LET'S PLAY MEMORY GAME.
  • What monster is this?
  • I'M SO FLATTERED YOU REMEMBERED! [Mettaton]
  • BOY, THAT'S EMBARRASSING, HUH? [Wrong]
• [7th question]
  • BUT CAN YOU GET THIS ONE???
  • Would you smooch a ghost?
  • GREAT ANSWER! I LOVE IT!!!!!!! [Heck Yeah]
  • TIME'S UP! GUESS THAT'S A NO?? [Wrong; unused]
• [8th question]
  • HERE'S A SIMPLE ONE.
  • How many letters in the name Mettaton
  • OF COURSE THAT WAS EASY FOR YOU! [Answer: C]
  • NO NO NO! CAN'T YOU READ!? [Wrong]
• [9th question or protagonist reaches 1HP]
  • TIME TO BREAK OUT THE BIG GUNS!!
  • In the dating simulation video game "Mew Mew Kissy Cutie" what is Mew Mew's favorite food?
  • [Alphys] OH! OH! I KNOW THIS ONE!!! IT'S SNAIL ICE CREAM!!!!!!!!
  • [Alphys] IN THE FOURTH CHAPTER EVERYONE GOES TO THE BEACH!!!
  • [Alphys] AND SHE BUYS ICE CREAM FOR ALL OF HER FRIENDS!!!!
  • [Alphys] BUT IT'S SNAIL FLAVOR AND SHE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTS IT!!!!!!
  • [Alphys] IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE GAME BECAUSE
  • [Alphys] IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY POWERFUL message about friendship and...
  • ALPHYS, ALPHYS, ALPHYS.
  • YOU AREN'T HELPING OUR CONTESTANT, ARE YOU?
  • OOOOOOH!!! YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME.
  • I'LL ASK A QUESTION...
  • YOU'LL BE SURE TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO!
  • Who does Dr. Alphys have a crush on?
  • [Undyne]
    • SEE, ALPHYS? I TOLD YOU IT WAS OBVIOUS.
    • EVEN THE HUMAN FIGURED IT OUT.
    • YES, SHE SCRAWLS HER NAME IN THE MARGINS OF HER NOTES.
    • SHE NAMES PROGRAMMING VARIABLES AFTER HER.
    • SHE EVEN WRITES STORIES OF THEM TOGETHER...
    • SHARING A DOMESTIC LIFE.
    • PROBABILITY OF CRUSH: 101 PERCENT.
    • MARGIN OF ERROR. ONE PERCENT.
  • [Asgore]
    • WHY WOULD SOMEONE OUTFIT AN AMUSEMENT ROBOT...
    • WITH BRUTAL COMBAT CAPABILITIES?
    • SIMPLE.
    • TO IMPRESS MR. ASGORE DREEMURR, OF COURSE!
    • OR AS ALPHYS CALLS HIM...
    • "MR. DREAMY."
    • THOSE STRONG ARMS...
    • THAT LUSTROUS BEARD...
    • LIKE ALL THOSE WHO CREATE WEAPONS.
    • SHE CRAVES THE TENDER EMBRACE OF A BURLY MAN.
    • CAN SHE TRULY BE BLAMED?
  • [The human]
    • ... SERIOUSLY?
    • MY MY... HOW CONCEITED CAN YOU GET...?
    • I LOVE IT!
    • AND WHILE YOU ARE COMPLETELY WRONG, YOU DESERVE SOME CREDIT.
    • I'VE SEEN HER WATCH YOU ON HER COMPUTER SCREEN.
    • SMILING WHEN YOU SUCCEED.
    • SHRIEKING WHEN YOU FAIL.
    • AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS, WHISPERING...
    • "NO! WRONG! YOU HAVE TO GO THAT WAY!"
    • IN ITS OWN WAY, IS THIS NOT LOVE??
  • [Don't know]
    • CORRECT.
    • DR. ALPHYS HAS A CRUSH ON...
    • THE UNKNOWABLE.
    • YOU SEE, ALPHYS BELIEVES THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE.
    • SOMEONE WATCHING HER.
    • SOMEONE SHE THINKS IS "CUTE" AND "INTERESTING."
    • HELLO, THEORETICAL PERSON.
    • DR. ALPHYS LIKES YOU.
    • TOO BAD YOU ARE NOT REAL.
    • *DERISIVE LAUGHTRACK*
    • [Alphys] H-hey, I've done research about this!
    • [Alphys] There are alternate universes out there!
    • [Alphys] S-someday, maybe, I could meet them...
    • YOU SAID THE EXACT SAME THING ABOUT "MEW MEW KISSY CUTIE."
    • BUT I'LL GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
    • PERSON, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE...
    • HOW ABOUT GIVING US A SIGN, RIGHT NOW?
    • THAT SETTLES THAT, DOESN'T IT?
  • WELL WELL WELL.
  • WITH DR. ALPHYS HELPING YOU...
  • THE SHOW HAS NO DRAMATIC TENSION!
  • WE CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS!!
  • BUT.
  • BUT!!!
  • THIS WAS JUST THE PILOT EPISODE!!
  • NEXT UP, MORE DRAMA!
  • MORE ROMANCE!!!
  • MORE BLOODSHED!!!
  • UNTIL NEXT TIME, DARLINGS...!!!
• How bright is this text? [14th question; unused]
• What's a pretzel's favorite color? [99th question; unused]

Bomb defusal

• [Neutral]
  • Zzz... [Annoying Dog]
  • Swish. [Extremely Agile Glass Of Water]
• Tick. [Neutral]
• Tock. [Neutral]

Multicolor Tile Puzzle

• [Turn 1]
  • THIS IS IT, DARLING! SAY GOODBYE!
  • IS THAT YOUR PHONE? YOU'D BETTER ANSWER IT!
  • [Alphys] H-hey!! Th-this seems bad, but don't worry!!
  • [Alphys] Th-there's one last thing I installed on your phone...!
  • [Alphys] You see that yellow button...?
  • [Alphys] Go to this phone's [[ACT]] menu and press it!!!
• HA! THAT BUTTON WON'T SAVE YOU NOW, DARLING! [Turn 2]
• YOU WOULDN'T DARE USE THE [ACT] COMMAND AND PRESS THAT BUTTON! [Turn 3]
• THAT'S RIGHT! DON'T PRESS IT! I'LL DESTROY YOU! [Turn 4]
• WITHOUT THAT BUTTON, YOU ARE INCHING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO YOUR DEMISE! [Turn 5]
• ANY MINUTE NOW! [Turn 6]
• ANY... MINUTE... ....NOW! [Turn 7]
• [The last two lines repeat]
  • ............. ............ [Turn 8]
  • .......... ...(COUGH) [Turn 9]
• [Yellow]
  • OH!!! THAT YELLOW GLOW...! [After Turn 1-5]
    • TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH! [After Turn 6-9]
  • [Alphys] Now press [(CONFIRM)]!!!
  • OOOH!
  • OOOOOOOH!
  • YOU'VE DEFEATED ME!!
  • HOW CAN THIS BE, YOU WERE STRONGER THAN I THOUGHT, ETC.
  • WHATEVER.

Flavor text

Quiz Show

• His metal body renders him invulnerable to attack. [Check]
• Mettaton attacks! [Encounter]
• The quiz show continues. [Neutral]
• Mettaton. [Neutral; unused]
• Screaming is against the rules. [Cry]

Bomb defusal

• [Check]
  • It's blissfully unaware of its circumstances. [Annoying Dog]
  • All things considered, it's an extremely agile glass of water. [Extremely Agile Glass Of Water]
  • Like all modern blockbusters, it's full of explosions. [Script Bomb]
  • Even if you explode, you'll at least look good. [Basket Bomb]
  • Regardless, you'll have to write a thank-you letter. [Present Bomb]
  • You really should have rented it first. [Game Bomb]
  • Could blow at any moment. [Bomb; unused]
• [Encounter]
  • Defuse the dog! [Annoying Dog]
  • Defuse the extremely agile glass of water! [Extremely Agile Glass Of Water]
  • Defuse the script! [Script Bomb]
  • Defuse the basketball! [Basket Bomb]
  • Defuse the present! [Present Bomb]
  • Defuse the game! [Game Bomb]
  • Defuse the bomb! [Bomb; unused]
• The bomb is still active! [Neutral]
  • The dog is still active! [Annoying Dog]
• [Defuse Bomb]
  • Defuse failed! Aim for DEFUSE ZONE! [Failed]
  • Bomb defused! [Success]
    • Dog defused! [Annoying Dog]

Multicolor Tile Puzzle

• His metal body STILL renders him invulnerable to attack. [Check]
• Mettaton attacks! [Encounter]
• Mettaton. [Neutral]
• You yell... Nothing happened. [Yell]
• Your phone's [[ACT]] menu is glowing. [After Alphys calls]
• You press the yellow button. The phone is resonating with Mettaton's presence...! [Yellow]

Relationships

Napstablook

Before he got his body, Mettaton was Napstablook's cousin, helping them with the snail farm and living next-door to them. They were very close, to the point that Mettaton originally declared that he would never leave them behind and often called them Blooky (an alias he would later recall). Although he had since left Napstablook for stardom, he still cares for his cousin, and is visibly regretful when they call into his program to give gratitude for his show ever since he left. Once he gets a permanent new body, he immediately recruits his cousin on his tour so they could stay together.

Shyren

As his ghost-self, Mettaton noted that Shyren's sister had "fell down" in a diary entry, and felt sorrow for Shyren. When she started becoming distant, Mettaton suggested Shyren should perform together with his ghost self and Napstablook. In the True Pacifist Route epilogue, he recruits Shyren to be his back-up singer.

Alphys

Mettaton initially bonded over their common interest in the culture of humanity, and he had found her funny despite her nerdiness and disliking her cartoons. When Alphys offered to create a physical body for him, he became grateful, and had given her a signed promo poster expressing his gratitude.

However, the fame caused Mettaton to talk less with Alphys, and he only visited to inquire about when his body will be finished. At some point, Mettaton became familiar with much of Alphys's routines. He also became aware of some of Alphys's secrets such as the Amalgamates, though he only hints at this knowledge. He also eventually learns of Alphys's crush on Undyne and Asgore, which he teases her on.

While Mettaton pretends to be a "killing machine", he often compliments Alphys and makes excuses for her, despite favoring his own agenda.

In the ending where he becomes the ruler of the underground he mentions how he regrets being cruel to Alphys, and tries to look for her so she can help him rule.

Undyne

Mettaton had once visited Undyne's house and lied "seductively" on her piano to consume grapes. In True Pacifist Route, he encourages Undyne and Alphys to kiss.

The protagonist

Initially, Mettaton antagonizes the protagonist under the pretense his anti-human combat features along with directive errors give him an intensified hatred for humanity. After he reveals this to have been an act, he explains that he loves humanity, but went against the protagonist on his terms in order to take their SOUL and prevent a possible war. Following his fight with the protagonist, however, he is confident they are strong enough to avoid this themselves.

Creation and development

Mettaton is at least partially inspired by Twitter user nerdbotmk2. The True Pacifist ending credits also state that Mettaton was inspired by the character Bob Sparker from the web serial Tales from Electricopolis.

Mettaton resembles the coin-operated robot Cooker from the Wallace and Gromit short "A Grand Day Out", as confirmed by the UNDERTALE Art Book. Based on old official artwork by Temmie Chang, it is likely that Mettaton was originally intended to have claw hands.

According to the Undertale Kickstarter, there were originally plans for the protagonist to have a robot husband, later confirmed to be Mettaton, though in reality this would have only been a fake photo op for the tabloids, used to promote himself. This feature ended up being cut out of the final version of the game due to a combination of Toby not wanting to do it anymore, and feeling it did not fit in anywhere.

Outside of Undertale

UNDERTALE Alarm Clock

The Winter Dialogue for the UNDERTALE Alarm Clock was announced on Undertale's 5th Anniversary. Mettaton appears in both his regular and EX form, and he has his own Winter Dialogue, where he advertises some of his merchandise, such as the "MTT-Brand Super Adult Winter Eggnog" that he lets Toriel sample. He also recalls how Mad Mew Mew started a "chainsaw duel" encounter with him, and how Napstablook reacted to it.

He also appears or is referenced in the following winter dialogues:

In the Papyrus Winter Dialogue, everyone watches Mettaton's Christmas-themed movies, which periodically had dance parties.

In the Napstablook Winter Dialogue, Napstablook mentions that Mettaton wants to hire them to shed tears for his ski resort.

In the Alphys Winter Dialogue, Mettaton admits that he was her "space heater" and that he continues his own routine while undergoing maintenance.

In the Undyne Winter Dialogue, Mettaton is the referee for the snow hockey event.

In the Asgore Winter Dialogue, Mettaton is the star at the top of the Christmas tree, implied to be an attempt at a pun.

Newsletter

In the ISSUE 5 - Winter 2024 of the Newsletter, three random Valentine's Day cards were included in the email version of the Newsletter. Mettaton has a single common Valentines card, and is referenced in one of Burgerpants's Valentines cards.

The Mettaton card is of him in his EX form, and is decorated with animated .gifs of hearts, roses, sparkles, confetti, and fireworks. It states that since the recipient did not send Mettaton a card, there is a personalized card included that the recipient can send to Mettaton.

PlayStation Trailer

In the PlayStation 4/PSVita trailer, Mettaton EX's arms appear to showcase the Collector's Edition. It was confirmed in a Twitch livestream of Super Mario RPG by Legends of Localization that the costumed hands filmed for the sequence belong to Heidi "Poe" Mandelin, wife of Clyde "Tomato" Mandelin, who was involved in the fan translation of Mother 3, and also co-wrote the book Legends of Localization Book 3: UNDERTALE, a book about the game's Japanese localization. Poe also stated that the sequence was filmed in reverse; the footage was then played backwards, to achieve the final shot seen in the trailer.

6th Anniversary Stream

In the UNDERTALE 6th Anniversary livestream, Mettaton EX's arms appear through the doorway to the set and deliver a plush figure of Ralsei to the stream hosts.

10th Anniversary Stream

Mettaton's exchange student attire

In the 10th Anniversary Stream, an extra scene is added to the Hotland segment, in which Mettaton appears in Hotland High as an exchange student named "Mettako". During class, he gives the protagonist a letter and requests that they meet him outside the school.

Outside the school, Mettaton expresses a desire to blow up the protagonist, and the scenario continues into the bomb defusal segment as normal.

Gallery

• 
  Mettaton with his arm up and displaying the letter M.
• 
  Mettaton laughing.
• 
  Mettaton clapping.
• 
  Mettaton as a news reporter for MTT News.
• 
  Mettaton in a dress during the musical segment.
• 
  Mettaton's overworld wreck sprite, if he was killed.
• 
  "Mettaton: Live from Hotland", a tour poster of Mettaton and a live studio audience sold on Fangamer.
• 
  Mettaton Little Buddy figurine sold on Fangamer.
• 
  Mettaton plush sold on Fangamer.
• 
  The Anime Friends Button Set sold on Fangamer sells Pins with both of Mettaton's forms.

Trivia

• If the player attempts to name the fallen human "Metta", "Mett" (case insensitive), or "MTT", the narration reads "OOOOH!!! ARE YOU PROMOTING MY BRAND?" and the game allows the name to be used.
• Out of every character in the game, Mettaton has the most songs associated with him, at 14 songs (15 if CORE is counted).
• Along with Flowey, Mettaton is one of the only characters in the game to have a voice clip, exclaiming "Oh, yes!" when he transforms into Mettaton EX, and "Yeah!" when attacked in his Mettaton EX form or when the protagonist steps on a green tile in the Multicolor Tile Puzzle.
• Mettaton's humanoid forms share a number of similarities with Undyne and her transformation on the Genocide Route, Undyne the Undying:
  • Mettaton EX has shoulder pads similar to Undyne's. On the Genocide Route, both Mettaton NEO and Undyne the Undying's shoulder pads are longer and spikier.
  • Both Mettaton EX and Undyne normally have one of their eyes covered; in the former's case, it is the right eye, and in the latter's case, it is the left eye. On the Genocide Route, their covered eyes are revealed, with Mettaton NEO's sparkling/crosshair eye and Undyne the Undying's empty eye socket emitting a spear-shaped flash of light.
  • Both Undyne the Undying and Mettaton NEO feature hearts on their chest plates.
  • Undyne holds a spear in her right hand, and Mettaton NEO has what seems to be an arm cannon replacing his right hand.
  • Mettaton NEO's battle theme, Power of "NEO", features the Battle Against a True Hero leitmotif.
• Mettaton is likely a transgender allegory, similarly to Mad Mew Mew.
  • A quote from one of his diary entries, "And besides... I'd never find the kind of body I'm looking for, anyway.", implies a listless outlook towards becoming corporeal, akin to how many transgender people have periods of hopelessness about transitioning.
  • Another entry, "In a form like that, I could finally feel like... 'myself.' After all, there's no way I can be a star the way I am now." describes an immediate identification with the sketches Alphys designed for him, and a disdain for his ghost form.
    • Given that he shows a love for humans, his EX body is extremely humanoid compared to most monsters, and upon transforming in his boss fight, he says "...I've been aching to show this off for a long time.", her sketch was likely a draft of his EX body rather than his rectangular body.
  • Napstablook, Mad Dummy, and Dummy are all referred to as either "they" or "it", implying ghosts may be assumed to be genderless by default. If called inside Mettaton's old home, Undyne asks "Hey, what was their name, anyway?" She does not seem to realize that Mettaton is the same person. This suggests a change in pronouns.

Version history

Version tag	Changes
v1.001	Check stats changed from "10 ATK 999 DEF" to "ATK 30 DEF 255".