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.
Its body has been compressed deep under the ground. As a result, it is even harder than a diamond.
It’s said that if an ONIX lives for 100 years, its composition becomes diamondlike as it evolves into a STEELIX.
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 9 types.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer 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.
Where To Catch Steelix in HeartGold & SoulSilver
The path to Steelix starts with Onix at Lv. 6-48 via walking and trade encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch OnixEASYUnion Cave - B1FSoulSilverGrassLv.8UncommonEarlyCaveEASYUnion Cave - B1FHeartGoldGrassLv.8UncommonEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGUnion Cave - 1FSoulSilverGrassLv.6RareEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGUnion Cave - 1FHeartGoldGrassLv.6RareEarlyCaveEASYRock Tunnel - B1FSoulSilverGrassLv.16UncommonMidCaveEASYRock Tunnel - B1FHeartGoldGrassLv.16UncommonMidCaveEASYCliff Cave - 1FSoulSilverGrassLv.20UncommonMidCaveEASYCliff Cave - 1FHeartGoldGrassLv.20UncommonMidCaveEASYCliff Cave - 2FSoulSilverGrassLv.20UncommonMidCaveEASYCliff Cave - 2FHeartGoldGrassLv.20UncommonMidCaveEASYCliff Cave - B1FSoulSilverGrassLv.20UncommonMidCaveEASYCliff Cave - B1FHeartGoldGrassLv.20UncommonMidCaveCHALLENGINGUnion Cave - B2FSoulSilverGrassLv.23RareMidCaveCHALLENGINGUnion Cave - B2FHeartGoldGrassLv.23RareMidCaveEFFORTLESSMt. Silver - 1FSoulSilverGrassLv.42CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSMt. Silver - 1FHeartGoldGrassLv.42CommonLateCaveEASYVictory Road - 1FHeartGoldGrassLv.34-36UncommonLateCaveEASYVictory Road - 1FSoulSilverGrassLv.34-36UncommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSMt. Silver - Lower mountainsideSoulSilverGrassLv.48CommonPostCaveEFFORTLESSMt. Silver - Lower mountainsideHeartGoldGrassLv.48CommonPostCaveLEGENDARYViolet CitySoulSilverIn-game tradeLimitedCityTrade for (give Bellsprout)LEGENDARYViolet CityHeartGoldIn-game tradeLimitedCityTrade for (give Bellsprout)
Step 2Steelix ✓CHALLENGINGCliff Cave - 1FHeartGoldGrassLv.23RareMidCaveCHALLENGINGCliff Cave - 1FSoulSilverGrassLv.23RareMidCaveCHALLENGINGCliff Cave - 2FHeartGoldGrassLv.23RareMidCaveCHALLENGINGCliff Cave - 2FSoulSilverGrassLv.23RareMidCaveCHALLENGINGCliff Cave - B1FSoulSilverGrassLv.23RareMidCaveCHALLENGINGCliff Cave - B1FHeartGoldGrassLv.23RareMidCaveEASYMt. Silver - 1F Upper ChamberSoulSilverGrassLv.48UncommonPostCaveEASYMt. Silver - 1F Upper ChamberHeartGoldGrassLv.48UncommonPostCaveLEGENDARYOlivine CitySoulSilverIn-game tradeLimitedCityTrade anyLEGENDARYOlivine CityHeartGoldIn-game tradeLimitedCityTrade anyor 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