Is Steelix Good in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Playthrough?
Metal Coat trade evolution from Onix. ORAS gives Steelix a brand-new Mega with AbilitySand Force boosting Rock, Ground, and Steel moves in sand. Even base Steelix's 200 Defense absorbs everything Steven throws except his Mega Metagross. Worth the trade.
Onix has the type edge here and should clean up Roxanne's team.
Onix trades roughly evenly with Brawly's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Wattson's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Flannery's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Tate & Liza's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Wallace's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Sidney's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Phoebe's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Glacia's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Drake's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Steven's team.
Catch Onix on Granite Cave (walking, Lv 12, rare). DexNav.
Most players are ready to trade before reaching Wattson.
How to Get Steelix in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
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 ORAS
To get Steelix, start by catching Onix through walking encounters at Lv. 12-38. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch OnixGranite Cave - Area 1Lv.12CaveRate 5%DexNav chainGranite Cave - Area 2Lv.12CaveRate 5%DexNav chainGranite Cave - Area 3Lv.12CaveRate 5%DexNav chainMirage SpotsLv.36-38GrassRate 20%Mirage Spots - Area 26Lv.36-38GrassRate 10%
Step 2Steelix ✓
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 8 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, Dragon, Steel, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Rock |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric, Poison |
What is Steelix Weak Against
ExcellentBest Pokemon Against Steelix
 Shellos Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Shellos builds →Surf 2x67-80% Mud Bomb 2x35-41% | ||
 Piplup Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
 Oshawott Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
 Totodile Water | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
 Mudkip Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Mudkip builds →Surf 2x61-73% Mud-Slap 2x12-16% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Oshawott Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
Shellos Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Shellos builds →Surf 2x70-83% Mud Bomb 2x33-41% | ||
Piplup Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
 Tympole Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Tympole builds →Surf 2x65-78% Mud Shot 2x28-33% | ||
 Hitmonlee Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hitmonlee builds →High Jump Kick 2x64-76% Bulldoze 2x22-26% | ||
 Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Ludicolo builds →Surf 2x89-105%KO Power-Up Punch 2x11-13% | ||
 Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hariyama builds →Vital Throw 2x36-43% Dig 2x27-33% Surf 2x33-40% | ||
 Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodBattle Resort Surfing | ||
 Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Sandslash builds →Dig 2x36-43% Rock Smash 2x12-15% | ||
Hitmonlee Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hitmonlee builds →High Jump Kick 2x65-77% Bulldoze 2x21-25% | ||
Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Ludicolo builds →Surf 2x89-105%KO Power-Up Punch 2x10-12% | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hariyama builds →Vital Throw 2x36-43% Dig 2x28-33% Surf 2x35-41% | ||
Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodBattle Resort Surfing | ||
Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Sandslash builds →Dig 2x36-43% Rock Smash 2x13-16% | ||
 Torterra GrassGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Torterra builds →Earthquake 2x47-56% Rock Smash 2x15-18% | ||
Hitmonlee Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hitmonlee builds →High Jump Kick 2x65-76% Bulldoze 2x22-25% | ||
Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Ludicolo builds →Surf 2x89-106%KO Power-Up Punch 2x10-12% | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hariyama builds →Vital Throw 2x37-44% Dig 2x27-33% Surf 2x34-41% | ||
Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodBattle Resort Surfing | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x62-73% Dig 2x29-34% | ||
Torterra GrassGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Torterra builds →Earthquake 2x46-55% Rock Smash 2x13-16% | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Torchic (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Blaziken builds →High Jump Kick 2x65-77% Overheat 2x151-179%KO Dig 2x27-32% | ||
Hitmonlee Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hitmonlee builds →High Jump Kick 2x65-77% Blaze Kick 2x29-34% Bulldoze 2x21-25% | ||
 Scrafty DarkFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Scrafty builds →High Jump Kick 2x52-62% Dig 2x22-26% | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hariyama builds →Close Combat 2x58-69% Earthquake 2x32-39% Surf 2x32-39% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x60-71% Earthquake 2x34-40% | ||
Torterra GrassGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Torterra builds →Earthquake 2x45-54% Rock Smash 2x13-16% | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x53-63% Hammer Arm 2x35-42% Fire Blast 2x42-50% Surf 2x35-42% | ||
 Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Krookodile builds →Earthquake 2x47-56% Brick Break 2x24-29% | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hariyama builds →Close Combat 2x58-68% Earthquake 2x32-38% Surf 2x32-38% | ||
 Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Gurdurr builds →Focus Punch 2x64-76% Dig 2x23-27% | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x52-62% Brick Break 2x26-31% Fire Fang 2x23-27% Surf 2x53-63% | ||
 Volcarona BugFire | B | |
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x60-71% Earthquake 2x33-39% | ||
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Excadrill's Earthquake hits Steelix for 42-49%. Greninja threatens a KO with Hydro Pump (160-188%). Volcarona's Flamethrower also KOs at 134-158%.
 Excadrill GroundSteel | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x42-49% Rapid Spin3-4% | ||
 Greninja WaterDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityProtean ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Greninja builds →Dark Pulse58-69% Ice Beam44-51% Hydro Pump 2x160-188%KO | ||
Volcarona BugFire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLum Berry NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Volcarona builds →Giga Drain37-44% Flamethrower 2x134-158%KO | ||
 Machamp Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNoguard ItemAssault Vest NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Machamp builds →Knock Off10-12% Bullet Punch3-4% Stone Edge4-4% | ||
Steelix Evolutions
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
ORAS Steelix Best Moveset
Steel/Ground at 200 Defense. Mega Steelix reaches 230 Defense with AbilitySand Force boosting Ground, Rock, and Steel moves in sandstorm. 85 Attack limits the offensive ceiling. The moveset earns its slot through the highest physical Defense available, with the Mega form adding sandstorm synergy.
Best Build
Steelix best EVs are HP and Defense
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Dragon Tail
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
Base Stats
Steelix lives even further underground than Onix. This Pokémon is known to dig toward the earth’s core. There are records of this Pokémon reaching a depth of over six-tenths of a mile underground.
Steelix Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Guide
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Sheer Force changes the entire equation for Steelix. The 510 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as a trick room. Earthquake with Leftovers is the standard set.
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Steelix can Mega Evolve into Mega Steelix. That's 610 BST, up from 510. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, 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.
Steelix is obtained by trade-evolving Onix. Catch or evolve a Onix first, then trade. Trade needs a Game Boy Advance link cable and a second GBA running another Gen 3 game (FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald). Trade Onix to a friend, then have them trade it back. The 2026 Switch re-release supports the same trade through local wireless on the Pokemon Center 2F Wireless Club, with no cables required. The Metal Coat must be held during the trade. Bring one over from a sibling Gen 3 game if needed.
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.
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 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves