Steelix was practically built for Trick Room teams. Sheer Force drops secondary effects for a straight power boost, and 200 base Defense gives it real offensive presence. Electric and Poison moves can't touch it, which offsets the 4 weaknesses somewhat. Known as the Iron Snake Pokemon.
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.
Tempered underground under high pressure and heat, its body is harder than any metal.
It chews its way through boulders with its sturdy jaws. Its eyes can see in the darkness underground.
Steelix Weakness
ExcellentSteelix is weak to Fire, Water, Fighting, and Ground-type moves. 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.
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
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.
How to Evolve
Breed with Steelix to get Onix eggs easily using 29 partners from the Mineral egg group. Notable egg moves include Block, Defense Curl, Explosion and 4 more.
Brave nature gives Steelix the slow physical lean it needs to trade hits effectively. Leftovers adds passive recovery each turn, max HP and Attack EVs split the difference, and Normal coverage punishes anything trying to wall it.
Best Build
Best Steelix Moveset
- Earthquake
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
Recommended Teammates
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
The chain to Steelix requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Onix at solid rates and level through the stages, but line up the trade first. The rest of the chain runs on levels alone.
Where To Catch Steelix in Diamond & Pearl
To get Steelix, start by catching Onix through walking encounters at Lv. 8-56. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch OnixEASYOreburgh Mine - 1FDiamondGrassLv.8UncommonEarlyCaveEASYOreburgh Mine - 1FPearlGrassLv.8UncommonEarlyCaveEASYOreburgh Mine - B1FDiamondGrassLv.8-9UncommonEarlyCaveEASYOreburgh Mine - B1FPearlGrassLv.8-9UncommonEarlyCaveEFFORTLESSIron Island - B2F Right CavePearlGrassLv.31-33CommonLateWaterEFFORTLESSIron Island - B2F Right CaveDiamondGrassLv.31-33CommonLateWaterEFFORTLESSIron Island - B2F Left CavePearlGrassLv.32-33CommonLateWaterEFFORTLESSIron Island - B2F Left CaveDiamondGrassLv.32-33CommonLateWaterEFFORTLESSIron Island - B3FDiamondGrassLv.32-33CommonLateWaterEFFORTLESSIron Island - B3FPearlGrassLv.32-33CommonLateWaterEASYIron Island - 1FDiamondGrassLv.32-33UncommonLateWaterEASYIron Island - 1FPearlGrassLv.32-33UncommonLateWaterEASYIron Island - B1F Left CaveDiamondGrassLv.32-33UncommonLateWaterEASYIron Island - B1F Left CavePearlGrassLv.32-33UncommonLateWaterEASYIron Island - B1F Right CavePearlGrassLv.32-33UncommonLateWaterEASYIron Island - B1F Right CaveDiamondGrassLv.32-33UncommonLateWaterEASYVictory Road - 1FPearlGrassLv.44UncommonLateCaveEASYVictory Road - 1FDiamondGrassLv.44UncommonLateCaveEASYVictory Road - 2FPearlGrassLv.45UncommonLateCaveEASYVictory Road - 2FDiamondGrassLv.45UncommonLateCaveEASYSnowpoint Temple - 1FDiamondGrassLv.50-52UncommonPostIceEASYSnowpoint Temple - 1FPearlGrassLv.50-52UncommonPostIceEASYVictory Road - Nat Dex AreaDiamondGrassLv.50UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - Nat Dex AreaPearlGrassLv.50UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - Nat Dex Exit AreaDiamondGrassLv.50UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - Nat Dex Exit AreaPearlGrassLv.50UncommonPostCaveCHALLENGINGSnowpoint Temple - B1FDiamondGrassLv.52-53RarePostIceCHALLENGINGSnowpoint Temple - B1FPearlGrassLv.52-53RarePostIceCHALLENGINGSnowpoint Temple - B2FDiamondGrassLv.52-53RarePostIceCHALLENGINGSnowpoint Temple - B2FPearlGrassLv.52-53RarePostIceCHALLENGINGSnowpoint Temple - B3FDiamondGrassLv.52-53RarePostIceCHALLENGINGSnowpoint Temple - B3FPearlGrassLv.52-53RarePostIceCHALLENGINGStark Mountain - EntrancePearlGrassLv.54RarePostVolcanoCHALLENGINGStark Mountain - EntranceDiamondGrassLv.54RarePostVolcanoCHALLENGINGStark Mountain - InteriorPearlGrassLv.56RarePostVolcanoCHALLENGINGStark Mountain - InteriorDiamondGrassLv.56RarePostVolcano
Step 2Steelix ✓EASYIron Island - B2F Left CaveDiamondGrassLv.33-34UncommonLateWaterEASYIron Island - B2F Left CavePearlGrassLv.33-34UncommonLateWaterEASYIron Island - B3FDiamondGrassLv.33-34UncommonLateWaterEASYIron Island - B3FPearlGrassLv.33-34UncommonLateWaterEASYVictory Road - 1FPearlGrassLv.46UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - 1FDiamondGrassLv.46UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - B1FDiamondGrassLv.46UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - B1FPearlGrassLv.46UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - 2FDiamondGrassLv.47UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - 2FPearlGrassLv.47UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - Nat Dex AreaDiamondGrassLv.52UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - Nat Dex AreaPearlGrassLv.52UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - Nat Dex Area B1FPearlGrassLv.52UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - Nat Dex Area B1FDiamondGrassLv.52UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - Nat Dex Exit AreaPearlGrassLv.52UncommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - Nat Dex Exit AreaDiamondGrassLv.52UncommonPostCaveEASYSnowpoint Temple - B1FPearlGrassLv.53-54UncommonPostIceEASYSnowpoint Temple - B1FDiamondGrassLv.53-54UncommonPostIceEASYSnowpoint Temple - B2FPearlGrassLv.53-54UncommonPostIceEASYSnowpoint Temple - B2FDiamondGrassLv.53-54UncommonPostIceEASYSnowpoint Temple - B3FPearlGrassLv.53-54UncommonPostIceEASYSnowpoint Temple - B3FDiamondGrassLv.53-54UncommonPostIceEASYSnowpoint Temple - B4FPearlGrassLv.54-56UncommonPostIceEASYSnowpoint Temple - B4FDiamondGrassLv.54-56UncommonPostIceEASYSnowpoint Temple - B5FPearlGrassLv.54-56UncommonPostIceEASYSnowpoint Temple - B5FDiamondGrassLv.54-56UncommonPostIceCHALLENGINGSnowpoint Temple - 1FPearlGrassLv.52RarePostIceCHALLENGINGSnowpoint Temple - 1FDiamondGrassLv.52RarePostIceor evolve from Onix (Step 1)
Sheer Force changes the entire equation for Steelix. The 510 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a trick room.
Onix evolves into Steelix while holding a Metal Coat. Steelix is the fully evolved form. At 510 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.
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.
Steelix appears in 18 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.
Obtainable through a trade evolution, Steelix appears in 18 titles across 8 generations since Gold & Silver. The evolution method adds a barrier that wild-catchable Pokemon don't have.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A