Give us an idea of what bands you like and what kind of music you would like to be playing.

Metal Muff

Wrong question. And yes, I’m pretty sure it is. Whoever told you pedals need to be True Bypass should be thoroughly lectured. You can only really hear the difference in extreme cases (eg, a Crybaby) or if you have an otherwise pristine setup. Which I doubt.

In any case, this is my friend’s setup, who has very similar tastes to you: Tube Zipper->Metal Muff->Stereo Memory Man w/Hazarai

It’s a very nice $425 rig. You can get those ominous clean sounds with the SmMw/H, really intense metal sounds with the MM, and stuff ranging from trippy to funky with the Tube Zipper.

If you have a bigger budget, I’d probably splurge on a MicroPOG. Or a POG2.

I’d focus on a solid amp based on the music you’ve mentioned.

Messa Boogie is what most of the bands you’ve mentioned use for amps.

As for effects I think they mostly use digital multi effects – maybe a whammy or two in there as well.

I’d play with different distortions: muffs, old ibanez boxes, digitech (they seem to focus on music of these type of bands), etc..

I’d also maybe (I can’t stand ’em, but who knows) check out one of the newer boss multi floor units with the exp/vol pedal and assignable effects.

Sorry, I disagree (mostly). The amp advice is good; def go Mesa Boogie, ‘specially if you have an Ibanez, ESP, or other guitar of the sort.

Whatever you do, don’t go BOSS multi. They sound shitty, are overpriced, and are no fun to play with.
The one Digitech series that I endorse is Hardwire. A good dirt section would be Hardwire Valve Distortion/Metal Muff; the VD has some amazing bluesy tones, and also works as a nice (almost) clean boost for even more MM craziness. And it’s cheap. So, let’s revise that board I suggested:

Valve Distortion (which is true bypass)->Metal Muff (buffered bypass, which I find better)->SMMw/H (Can’t remember, but you have a buffer in front of it anyway, so it should be fine). You prolly’ll want a Wah in there, as well. I recommend Vox. And yes, all of those pedals are battery enabled.

Here’s a novel idea: Don’t try to emulate the tone of other’s or base your tone on an archetype. Create, don’t emulate. Unless you want to. It’s your prerogative.