Stats & Training
Defense leads and Speed gets almost nothing. That's Steelix's stat line in a nutshell. 2 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Very hard to catch and yields 2 Defense EVs.
It is thought its body transformed as a result of iron accumulating internally from swallowing soil.
It is thought its body transformed as a result of iron accumulating internally from swallowing soil.
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 9 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Steelix's physical bulk (base 200 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, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Rock |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric, Poison |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
In Black & White, Excadrill's Earthquake hits Steelix for 52-61%. Volcarona threatens a KO with Fire Blast (99-116%). Politoed deals 42-50% with Scald.
 Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySandforce ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x52-61% Rapid Spin4-5% Rock Slide3-4% | ||
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLum Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Volcarona builds →Giga Drain22-27% Fire Blast 2x99-116%KO | ||
 Politoed Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Politoed builds →Scald 2x42-50% | ||
 Conkeldurr Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityGuts ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Conkeldurr builds →Drain Punch 2x44-52% Mach Punch 2x24-28% | ||
Black & White Evolution
Getting Steelix requires a trade, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Onix. Breed this form to get Onix eggs (average hatch time). HP grew the most through evolution (+40 over Onix), and Steelix peaks at 510 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Steelix to get Onix eggs easily using 49 partners from the Mineral egg group. Notable egg moves include Block, Defense Curl, Flail and 5 more.
Black & White Steelix Best Moveset
Steelix's job is getting Stealth Rock up and staying on the field. Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn, Sturdy helps it stick around, and max HP and Sp. Def EVs prioritize longevity.
Best Build
Steelix best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Gyro Ball
- Explosion
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breeding opens up real options for Steelix. Block and Defense Curl come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Iron Tail and Earthquake and coverage across 8 types.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Steelix in Black & White
The chain to Steelix requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Onix at decent rates and level through the stages, but line up the trade first. The rest of the chain runs on levels alone.
How to Obtain Steelix in Black & White
To get Steelix, start by catching Onix through walking encounters at Lv. 48-49. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch OnixRelic Castle - B6FBlackGrass Lv.48-49 RuinsUncommonPostAnyRelic Castle - B6FWhiteGrass Lv.48-49 RuinsUncommonPostAnyRelic Castle - B7FBlackGrass Lv.48-49 RuinsUncommonPostAnyRelic Castle - B7FWhiteGrass Lv.48-49 RuinsUncommonPostAny
Step 2Steelix ✓
Steelix Guide
In Black & White, Sheer Force changes the entire equation for Steelix. The 510 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a trick room. Stealth Rock with Leftovers is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Black & White, but Steelix does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Steelix hits 610 BST.
In Black & White, 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.
Sheer Force is what you want on Steelix. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Rock Head, Sturdy) work on paper but Sheer Force is what makes Steelix worth using.
Base 30 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Steelix is a physical attacker with base 85 Attack. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a trick room.
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 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves