For Crystal, we rate Steelix A-Tier: a strong pick in Crystal's competitive scene. At 510 BST, it fits the trick room role. Earthquake with Leftovers is the standard set.

Does Steelix mega evolve?

Mega Evolution isn't available in Crystal, but Steelix does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Steelix hits 610 BST.

What is Steelix weak to?

In Crystal, 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.

What role does Steelix play in battle?

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.

What counters Steelix?

In Crystal, the best way to handle Steelix: Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Fire, Water, and Fighting-type attackers hit hardest.

Steelix - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Trick Room

ATier

30Speed · Very Slow

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 stat exp.

Base Stats

High

HP75

Attack85

Defense200

Sp. Atk55

Sp. Def65

Speed30

Total510

Details

Catch Rate

Difficult25 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height9.2 m

Weight400.0 kg

Base XP179

Abilities

Abilities were introduced in Generation III. Shown below for reference.

Rock Head

Protects against recoil damage.

Sturdy

Prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.

Sheer ForceHA

Strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.

EV Yield

HPAtkDef+2SpASpDSpe

Defense training target

Pokedex Entries

The many small metal particles that cover this POKéMON’s body reflect bright light well.

Crystal

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.

Steelix Weakness and Resistance Chart
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

Type ChartExcellent

4Weak

9Resist

2Immune

Score+8

Gen II Type Chart

Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Fire Water Fighting Ground

½xResist

Normal Flying Psychic Bug Ghost Dragon Dark Steel

¼xResist

Rock

0xImmune

Electric Poison

STAB (6)

Ice Rock Fire Electric Poison Steel

How to Beat Steelix in Crystal (Best Counters)

SnorlaxThreatens with Earthquake, walls special sets Normal	S
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves RestRecovery Double Edge Earthquake CurseSetup Damage vs Steelix Double Edge 13-15% Earthquake 2x 30-35% View Snorlax builds →
GengarThreatens with Dynamic Punch, outspeeds GhostPoison	S
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves Ice Punch Explosion Thunderbolt Destiny Bond Damage vs Steelix Explosion 12-14% View Gengar builds →
JolteonResists Steel, outspeeds Electric	A
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves ThunderboltSTAB Baton Pass Thunder Wave GrowthSetup View Jolteon builds →
MisdreavusImmune to Ground via Levitate, wears down with Toxic, outspeeds Ghost	B
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves Perish Song Mean Look ProtectPriority Confuse Ray View Misdreavus builds →
ElectabuzzResists Steel, threatens with Cross Chop, outspeeds Electric	C
Recommended Build ItemScopelens Moves Ice Punch Cross Chop ThunderSTAB Hidden Power Grass View Electabuzz builds →

Crystal 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

2 Forms

#095Onix

Trade + Metal Coat

#208Steelix

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Onix

RockGround

Steelix

SteelGround

75+40

ATK

85+40

DEF

160

200+40

SP.ATK

55+25

SP.DEF

65+20

SPE

30-40

BST

385C-Tier

510C-Tier+125

ROLE

Balanced

Trick Room

TYPE

Utility

Physical

Breeding

Easy

Breed with Steelix to get Onix eggs easily using 12 partners from the Mineral egg group. Notable egg moves include Flail, Rock Slide.

Egg Groups

Mineral

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

25 cycles·6,425 steps

Moderate~6 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

2moves

Breed With (best first)

Crystal Steelix Best Moveset

Best Build

Solid pick

Utility

Ability

Not in Gen 2

Item

LeftoversSUSTAIN

Nature

Not in Gen 2

Utility Moveset

EarthquakeSTAB
RoarSLOW -6Utility
ExplosionCoverage
CurseSetup

Recommended Teammates

SnorlaxGood

CloysterGood

ZapdosDecent

Moves

TMs carry this one. Steelix learns Earthquake and Iron Tail naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Rock and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Screech

D—8540Normal

Lv 1

Tackle

D3510035Normal

Lv 10

Bind

D157520Normal

Lv 14

Rock Throw

—509015Rock

Lv 23

Harden

———30Normal

Lv 27

Rage

—2010020Normal

Lv 36

Sandstorm

D——10Rock

Lv 40

Slam

—807520Normal

Lv 49

Crunch

C8010015Dark

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

D—10015Normal

TM03

Curse

S——10Ghost

HM01

Cut

—509530Normal

TM40

Defense Curl

D——40Normal

TM28

Dig

C6010010Ground

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM24

Dragon Breath

D6010020Dragon

TM26

Earthquake

S10010010Ground

TM20

Endure+4

D——10Normal

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM02

Headbutt

D7010015Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

C150905Normal

TM23

Iron Tail

C1007515Steel

TM31

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM05

Roar-6

S——20Normal

TM08

Rock Smash

—2010015Fighting

TM04

Rollout

D309020Rock

TM37

Sandstorm

D——10Rock

TM35

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM13

Snore

—4010015Normal

HM04

Strength

C8010015Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM34

Swagger

C—8515Normal

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg

Flail

D—10015Normal

Egg

Rock Slide

B759010Rock

Tutor Moves

Steelix can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Steelix in Crystal

A trade step sits in Steelix's 2-stage line from Onix. The step cards below map each stage with catch locations and evolution methods. Onix shows up at solid rates, so the starting catch is the easy part.

Trade Evolution Required — Requires trading with another player

How to Obtain Steelix in Crystal

The path to Steelix starts with Onix at Lv. 6-48 via walking and trade encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

Step 1Catch Onix
Union Cave - B1F
Grass Lv.8 Cave
10%Early
Union Cave - 1F
Grass Lv.6 Cave
5%Early
Rock Tunnel - B1F
Grass Lv.16 Cave
20%Mid
Union Cave - B2F
Grass Lv.23 Cave
5%Mid
Victory Road - 1F
Grass Lv.32 Cave
20%Late
Night
Victory Road - 1F
Grass Lv.33 Cave
20%Late
Morning/day
Mt. Silver - 1F
Grass Lv.42 Cave
20%Late
Mt. Silver - Summit
Grass Lv.48 Cave
30%Post
Violet City
In-game trade City
Limited
Trade for (give Bellsprout)
Trade + Metal Coat
Step 2Steelix ✓

Steelix Guide

For Crystal, we rate Steelix A-Tier: a strong pick in Crystal's competitive scene. At 510 BST, it fits the trick room role. Earthquake with Leftovers is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Crystal, but Steelix does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Steelix hits 610 BST.
In Crystal, 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.
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.
In Crystal, the best way to handle Steelix: Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Fire, Water, and Fighting-type attackers hit hardest.

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

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