Is Steelix Good in Sun & Moon Playthrough?
Evolve Onix by trading with a Metal Coat for Steelix. Steel/Ground bulk is solid, but the trade requirement and import effort make Alolan Dugtrio the easier Ground/Steel option.
Onix has the type edge here and should clean up Ilima's team.
Hala's team hits Onix's weaknesses hard.
Onix trades roughly evenly with Lana's team.
Onix has the type edge here and should clean up Kiawe's team.
Mallow's team hits Onix's weaknesses hard.
Onix has the type edge here and should clean up Olivia's team.
Onix has the type edge here and should clean up Sophocles's team.
Acerola's typing presses Onix's defenses.
Onix trades roughly evenly with Nanu's team.
Totem Kommo-o's team hits Onix's weaknesses hard.
Hapu's team hits Onix's weaknesses hard.
Hala's team hits Onix's weaknesses hard.
Onix has the type edge here and should clean up Olivia's team.
Onix trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Onix trades roughly evenly with Kahili's team.
Steelix cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
How to Get Steelix in Sun & Moon
Steelix isn't available in the wild in Sun & Moon. Start by transferring Onix from Red & Blue, Yellow, or FireRed & LeafGreen. The evolution path from Onix to Steelix is covered in the steps below.
How to Obtain Steelix in SM
Step 1Obtain OnixBREEDINGAvailableLeave Steelix with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Onix egg.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Red & BlueNot TradeableAppears in Red & Blue via Walking · Victory Road. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom YellowNot TradeableAppears in Yellow via Walking · Victory Road. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Gold & SilverNot TradeableAppears in Gold & Silver via Walking · Mt. Silver. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom CrystalNot TradeableAppears in Crystal via Walking · Mt. Silver. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom FireRed & LeafGreenNot TradeableAppears in FireRed & LeafGreen via Walking · Victory Road. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Steelix ✓
Steelix Weakness
Steelix is weak to Fire, Water, Fighting, and Ground. On the flip side, it's immune to Electric and Poison-type moves entirely. With 8 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Steelix's physical bulk (base 230 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Water, Fighting, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Dragon, Steel, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Rock |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric, Poison |
What is Steelix Weak Against
ExcellentBest Pokemon Against Steelix
 Crabrawler Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Crabrawler builds →Brick Break 2x33-40% Bubble 2x15-19% | ||
 Machop Fighting | C | |
 Mankey Fighting | C | |
 Slowbro WaterPsychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Slowbro builds →Water Gun 2x38-46% Brick Break 2x19-23% | ||
 Litten Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodIki Town Gift | ||
Slowbro WaterPsychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Slowbro builds →Scald 2x68-82% Brick Break 2x17-21% | ||
 Brionne Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Popplio (Iki Town Gift) | ||
Crabrawler Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Crabrawler builds →Brick Break 2x30-36% Scald 2x27-33% | ||
 Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Azumarill builds →Scald 2x50-59% Brick Break 2x15-18% | ||
Machop Fighting | C | |
Slowbro WaterPsychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Slowbro builds →Scald 2x63-76% Brick Break 2x15-20% | ||
Brionne Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Popplio (Iki Town Gift) | ||
Crabrawler Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Crabrawler builds →Brick Break 2x28-34% Scald 2x25-31% | ||
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Azumarill builds →Scald 2x46-55% Brick Break 2x14-17% | ||
Mankey Fighting | C | |
 Passimian Fighting | C | |
Slowbro WaterPsychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Slowbro builds →Scald 2x66-78% Brick Break 2x17-21% | ||
Brionne Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Popplio (Iki Town Gift) | ||
 Mudbray Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Mudbray builds →High Horsepower 2x39-47% Double Kick 2x10-13% | ||
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Azumarill builds →Scald 2x45-55% Brick Break 2x13-16% | ||
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Wimpod (Poni Breaker Coast Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Golisopod builds →Razor Shell 2x37-44% Brick Break 2x25-30% | ||
 Bewear NormalFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Bewear builds →Brick Break 2x37-44% Bulldoze 2x20-24% | ||
 Flareon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
 Turtonator FireDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Turtonator builds →Overheat 2x99-117%KO Bulldoze 2x14-17% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Passimian builds →Brick Break 2x35-42% Bulldoze 2x19-22% | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Wimpod (Poni Breaker Coast Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Golisopod builds →Razor Shell 2x34-40% Brick Break 2x23-27% | ||
Bewear NormalFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Bewear builds →Hammer Arm 2x45-53% Bulldoze 2x18-22% | ||
 Primeape Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Primeape builds →Close Combat 2x47-55% Overheat 2x45-54% Bulldoze 2x17-20% | ||
 Primarina WaterFairy | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Popplio (Iki Town Gift) Available Move Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Primarina builds →Sparkling Aria 2x86-101%KO | ||
 Salazzle PoisonFire | B | |
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Wimpod (Poni Breaker Coast Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 2x39-46% Brick Break 2x24-28% | ||
 Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Passimian builds →Close Combat 2x53-63% Bulldoze 2x19-22% | ||
 Typhlosion Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Typhlosion builds →Eruption 2x127-150%KO Focus Blast 2x68-81% Bulldoze 2x14-17% | ||
Flareon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
 Conkeldurr Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Conkeldurr builds →Focus Punch 2x73-86% Earthquake 2x32-38% | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Wimpod (Poni Breaker Coast Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 2x38-45% Brick Break 2x22-26% | ||
Bewear NormalFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Bewear builds →Superpower 2x53-63% Earthquake 2x29-35% | ||
 Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x31-37% Brick Break 2x16-19% Fire Blast 2x34-40% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Passimian builds →Close Combat 2x51-60% Earthquake 2x28-34% | ||
In Sun & Moon, Greninja can KO Steelix with Hydro Pump (91-107%).
 Greninja WaterDark | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityBattlebond ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Greninja builds →Dark Pulse33-39% Ice Beam25-29% Hydro Pump 2x91-107%KO | ||
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Volcarona builds →Giga Drain17-20% | ||
 Machamp Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNoguard ItemAssault Vest NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Machamp builds →Stone Edge4-5% Bullet Punch3-4% Knock Off11-13% | ||
Steelix Evolutions
Getting Steelix requires a trade, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Onix. Breed this form to get Onix eggs (average hatch time). Attack grew the most through evolution (+80 over Onix), and Steelix peaks at 610 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Steelix to get Onix eggs easily using 58 partners from the Mineral egg group.
SM Steelix Best Moveset
Mega Steelix fires from 125 Attack at 230 Defense with AbilitySand Force boosting Ground, Rock, and Steel moves by 30%% in sandstorm. Base form's 200 Defense with AbilitySturdy survives one hit. Steel/Ground typing resists 10 types. The moveset earns C-tier through Mega physical bulk that absorbs nearly everything non-special.
Best Build
Steelix best EVs are HP and Attack
Physical Tank Moveset
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Fire Fang
- Thunder Fang
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Leveling does the heavy lifting. Steelix picks up Iron Tail and Stone Edge along the way, building toward a complete offensive set. TMs add coverage across 8 types, but the foundation's already strong by then.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
Base Stats
Steelix Sun & Moon Guide
For Sun & Moon, we rate Steelix B-Tier: a solid option in Sun & Moon for the right team. At 610 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Ironhead with Assault Vest is the standard set.
In Sun & Moon, Steelix can Mega Evolve into Mega Steelix. That's 710 BST, up from 610. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.
In Sun & Moon, Steelix's biggest threats include Charizard (Fire), Starmie (Water), and Machamp (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Ground-type attackers are also a problem. At base 30 Speed, Steelix won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Steelix is obtained by trade-evolving Onix. Catch or evolve a Onix first, then trade. 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.
Sand Force is the go-to ability for Steelix. It strengthens rock, ground, and steel moves to 1.3× their power during a sandstorm. It's Steelix's only ability.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Gold & Silver, Steelix has appeared in 18 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 6, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
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 6ORASMega
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