Physical
Trick Room
510High
30Very Slow
ATier

Steelix was practically built for Trick Room teams. 200 base Defense provides real offensive pressure once it's 'fastest' on the field. 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.

Base Stats
510High
HP75
C
Attack85
C
Defense200
S
Sp. Atk55
D
Sp. Def65
C
Speed30
F
Total510
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Steelix yields +2 Def
HPAtkDef+2SpASpDSpe
Details
Catch25Difficult•Medium Fast1M XP•9.2m / 30'02"•400kg / 881.8 lbs•179Base XP
Pokedex Entries

Its body has been compressed deep under the ground. As a result, it is even harder than a diamond.

Gold

It is said that if an ONIX lives for over 100 years, its composition changes to become diamond-like.

Silver

Steelix Weakness

Excellent

Steelix 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.

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
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
FireWaterFightingGround
½xResisti
NormalFlyingPsychicBugGhostDragonDarkSteel
¼xResisti
Rock
0xImmunei
ElectricPoison
STAB (6)i
IceRockFireElectricPoisonSteel
4Weak
9Resist
2Immune
Scorei+8
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Abilities
Rock HeadProtects against recoil damage.
SturdyPrevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.
Sheer ForceHAStrengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.

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

2 Forms
Onix
#095Onix
Trade + Metal Coat
Steelix
#208Steelix
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Onix
RockGround
Steelix
SteelGround
HP
35
75+40
ATK
45
85+40
DEF
160
200+40
SP.ATK
30
55+25
SP.DEF
45
65+20
SPE
70
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)
porygon2golemelectrodemagnetonsudowoodogravelerporygonmagnemitevoltorbgeodudesteelixonix
Showing all 12

Steelix runs a standard attacker set. A nature nature with flexible EVs EVs shapes the build, while Leftovers brings passive recovery each turn. An ability supports the kit from the background.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 2
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Not in Gen 2

Best Steelix Moveset

  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • RoarSLOW -6Utility
  • ExplosionCoverage
  • CurseSetup

Recommended Teammates

Snorlax
SnorlaxGood
Cloyster
CloysterGood
Zapdos
ZapdosDecent

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
—8540Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
3510035Normal
Lv 10
Bind
157520Normal
Lv 14
Rock Throw
509015Rock
Lv 23
Harden
——30Normal
Lv 27
Rage
2010020Normal
Lv 36
Sandstorm
——10Rock
Lv 40
Slam
807520Normal
Lv 49
Crunch
8010015Dark

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM03
Curse
——10Ghost
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM40
Defense Curl
——40Normal
TM28
Dig
6010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM24
Dragon Breath
6010020Dragon
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM20
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM21
Frustration
—10020Normal
TM02
Headbutt
7010015Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM23
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM31
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM27
Return
—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
——20Normal
TM08
Rock Smash
2010015Fighting
TM04
Rollout
309020Rock
TM37
Sandstorm
——10Rock
TM35
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TM13
Snore
4010015Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
——5Fire
TM34
Swagger
—8515Normal
TM06
Toxic
—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Flail
—10015Normal
Egg
Rock Slide
759010Rock

Tutor Moves

Steelix can't learn any Tutor moves

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 Gold & Silver

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.

  1. Onix
    Step 1Catch Onix
    Union Cave - B1F
    GoldGrassLv.8UncommonEarlyCave
    EASY
    Union Cave - B1F
    SilverGrassLv.8UncommonEarlyCave
    EASY
    Union Cave - 1F
    GoldGrassLv.6RareEarlyCave
    CHALLENGING
    Union Cave - 1F
    SilverGrassLv.6RareEarlyCave
    CHALLENGING
    Rock Tunnel - B1F
    GoldGrassLv.16UncommonMidCave
    EASY
    Rock Tunnel - B1F
    SilverGrassLv.16UncommonMidCave
    EASY
    Union Cave - B2F
    GoldGrassLv.23RareMidCave
    CHALLENGING
    Union Cave - B2F
    SilverGrassLv.23RareMidCave
    CHALLENGING
    Mt. Silver - 1F
    SilverGrassLv.42CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Mt. Silver - 1F
    GoldGrassLv.42CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Victory Road - 1F
    GoldGrassLv.34-36UncommonLateCave
    EASY
    Victory Road - 1F
    SilverGrassLv.34-36UncommonLateCave
    EASY
    Mt. Silver - Summit
    SilverGrassLv.48CommonPostCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Mt. Silver - Summit
    GoldGrassLv.48CommonPostCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Violet City
    GoldIn-game tradeLimitedCityTrade for (give Bellsprout)
    LEGENDARY
    Violet City
    SilverIn-game tradeLimitedCityTrade for (give Bellsprout)
    LEGENDARY
  2. Steelix
    Step 2Steelix ✓

  • Sheer Force changes the entire equation for Steelix. The 510 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked A-Tier as a trick room.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.