Onix Best Moveset
That 160 Defense number misleads. 35 HP undercuts it so badly that percentage-based damage still cuts through, and 45 Attack barely registers offensively. Rock and Ground TermStab fires slowly at 70 Speed. The moveset stalls on the physical side until Steelix's Mega transformation opens up.
160 Defense in Gen I (Red & Blue). Rock/Ground pre-evolution. 45 Attack was the worst stat. Steelix didn't exist yet. Onix walled and stared.
Best Moves
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Explosion
- Bind
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
Recommended Teammates
Two gens at the bottom in Gen II (Gold & Silver). Steelix arrived as the evolution. 160 Defense on 35 HP was less bulk than it looked.
Utility Moveset
- Earthquake
- Roar
- Rock Slide
- Explosion
Recommended Teammates
Onix saw minimal competitive use in Gen III (Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald). Onix maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Rockhead with Leftovers, favoring a Impish nature.
Bulky Support Moveset
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Protect
- Roar
Recommended Teammates
Onix saw minimal competitive use in Gen IV (Diamond, Pearl & Platinum). Onix maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Rockhead with Focus Sash, favoring a Jolly nature.
Support Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Explosion
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Onix saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). Onix maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sturdy with Custapberry, favoring a Jolly nature.
Physical Stallbreaker Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Dragon Tail
- Explosion
Recommended Teammates
Onix saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Onix maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sturdy with Eviolite, favoring a Impish nature.
Wall Moveset
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rest
Recommended Teammates
Onix saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Onix maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sturdy with Berryjuice, favoring a Hardy nature.
Support Moveset
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Onix saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Onix maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Rockhead with Leftovers, favoring a Naive nature.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Rest
- Ancient Power
- Earthquake
- Flash Cannon
Recommended Teammates
Onix Weakness
Onix's Rock/Ground typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Ground, and Steel. Water and Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Electric-type attacks completely. The Rock/Ground typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. Onix's physical bulk (base 160 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Water, Grass |
| 2x (Weak) | Ice, Fighting, Ground, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Fire, Flying, Rock |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Poison |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
What is Onix Weak Against
FragileBest Pokemon Against Onix
Rillaboom can KO Onix with Wood Hammer (266-313%). Gyarados threatens a KO with Waterfall (121-142%).
 Rillaboom Grass | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityGrassy Surge ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Onix View Rillaboom builds →Knock Off24-28% U Turn26-31% Wood Hammer 4x266-313%KO | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Onix View Gyarados builds →Waterfall 4x121-142%KO Earthquake 2x50-59% Ice Fang 2x33-39% | ||
 Baxcalibur DragonIce | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityThermalexchange ItemLoaded Dice NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Onix View Baxcalibur builds →Icicle Spear 2x21-26% | ||
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Onix View Urshifu builds →Close Combat 2x124-146%KO Close Combat 2x124-146%KO | ||
 Landorus Ground | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySheerforce ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves View Landorus builds →
| ||
Evolution
To get Steelix from Onix, you need a trade. The evolution method matters here. The evolved forms gain up to 125 total stats over Onix. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Onix easily with 84 breeding partners from the Mineral egg group.
How to Get Onix
The chain to Onix requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Onix in the wild and level through the stages, but line up the trade first. The rest of the chain runs on levels alone.
Where To Catch Onix in LZA
- Step 1Onix ✓Wild Zone 14Lv.37-39OverworldLegends: Z-A
Step 2Evolve into Steelix
Onix's 2-stage line starts with Onix, which appears in the wild in the locations below. Level through 2 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.
Where To Catch Onix in PLA
Onix is your first catch on the way to Onix. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 18-70 across 5 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Onix ✓Bolderoll SlopeLv.18-28GrassRate 15%Scarlet BogLv.21-70GrassRate 15%Lake ValorLv.26-70GrassRate 15%Celestica TrailLv.43-46GrassRate 15%
Onix's 2-stage line starts with Onix, which appears in the wild in the locations below. Level through 2 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.
Where To Catch Onix in BDSP
Onix is your first catch on the way to Onix. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 8-56 across 70 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Onix ✓Oreburgh Mine - 1FLv.8CaveRate 10%Oreburgh Mine - B1FLv.9CaveRate 10%Big Bluff CavernLv.16-20CaveRocky CaveLv.16-20CaveSandsear CaveLv.16-20GrassTyphlo CavernLv.16-20CaveVolcanic CaveLv.16-20CaveIron Island - B2F Right CaveLv.31-33GrassRate 30%Iron Island - B2F Left CaveLv.32-33GrassRate 30%Iron Island - B3FLv.32-33GrassRate 30%Iron Island - 1FLv.32-33GrassRate 10%Iron Island - B1F Left CaveLv.32-33GrassRate 10%Iron Island - B1F Right CaveLv.32-33GrassRate 10%Victory Road - 1FLv.44CaveRate 10%Victory Road - 2FLv.45CaveRate 10%Snowpoint Temple - 1FLv.50-52CaveRate 15%Victory Road - Nat Dex AreaLv.50CaveRate 10%Snowpoint Temple - B1FLv.52-53CaveRate 5%Snowpoint Temple - B2FLv.52-53CaveRate 5%Snowpoint Temple - B3FLv.52-53CaveRate 5%Stark Mountain - EntranceLv.54CaveRate 5%Stark Mountain - InteriorLv.56CaveRate 5%
Step 2Catch or Evolve into SteelixIron Island - B2F Left CaveLv.33-34GrassRate 10%Iron Island - B3FLv.33-34GrassRate 10%Snowpoint Temple - B4FLv.54-56CaveRate 20%Snowpoint Temple - B5FLv.54-56CaveRate 20%Snowpoint Temple - B1FLv.53-54CaveRate 15%Snowpoint Temple - B2FLv.53-54CaveRate 15%Snowpoint Temple - B3FLv.53-54CaveRate 15%Victory Road - 1FLv.46CaveRate 10%Victory Road - B1FLv.46CaveRate 10%Victory Road - 2FLv.47CaveRate 10%Victory Road - Nat Dex AreaLv.52CaveRate 10%Victory Road - Nat Dex Area B1FLv.52CaveRate 10%Snowpoint Temple - 1FLv.52CaveRate 5%or evolve from Onix (Step 1)
The chain to Onix requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Onix in the wild and level through the stages, but line up the trade first. The rest of the chain runs on levels alone.
Where To Catch Onix in SwSh
To get Onix, start by catching Onix through walking encounters at Lv. 8-35. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Onix ✓East Lake AxewellLv.8-12CaveRate 10%SandstormEast Lake AxewellLv.8-12CaveRate 10%Intense SunMotostoke RiverbankLv.26-28GrassRate 30%SandstormGiant's SeatLv.30-35GrassRate 20%OvercastGiant's SeatLv.30-35GrassRate 20%Normal WeatherGiant's SeatLv.30-35GrassRate 20%Intense SunGiant's SeatLv.30-35GrassRate 20%Sandstorm
Step 2Evolve into SteelixBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Steelix egg.
Base Stats
The stat bars tell the story: Defense carries everything and Sp. Atk's dead weight. But this Rock Snake Pokemon still yields 1 Defense EV per fight on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
As it digs through the ground, it absorbs many hard objects. This is what makes its body so solid.
Onix Guide
At 385 BST, Onix is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Steelix before bringing it to any serious fight.
Watch for Starmie (Water), Exeggutor (Grass), and Cloyster (Ice) when using Onix. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Starmie is the most dangerous since Water moves deal 4x damage. Fighting, Ground, and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 6 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
No. Onix only evolves into Steelix through a real trade. There is no in-game alternative in . Trade needs a Game Boy Advance link cable and a second GBA running another Gen 3 game (FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald). Trade Onix to a friend, then have them trade it back. The 2026 Switch re-release supports the same trade through local wireless on the Pokemon Center 2F Wireless Club, with no cables required. The Metal Coat must be held during the trade. Bring one over from a sibling Gen 3 game if needed.
Rock Head protects against recoil damage. That's the one you want on Onix. Weak Armor is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Sturdy works too if your team needs something different.
Onix is a physical attacker with base 45 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 70 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many.
Game Availability
Present since Red & Blue, Onix appears in 21 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Onix have the longest track record of availability in the series.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves