Is Steelix Good in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Playthrough?
Trade evolution from Onix with Metal Coat. Steel/Ground with massive Defense. Handles Kahili's Flying E4 with Rock coverage and resists most of Mina's Fairy attacks. Slow, but the typing carries it through matchups where speed doesn't matter.
Onix has the type edge here and should clean up Ilima's team.
Hala's team hits Onix's weaknesses hard.
Onix trades roughly evenly with Lana's team.
ElectricSteelReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Moon only)
BugElectricReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GrassReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GhostFairyReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou...
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Kiawe's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Mallow's team.
Onix trades roughly evenly with Olivia's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Sophocles's team.
Acerola's typing presses Steelix's defenses.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Nanu's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Mina's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Hapu's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Molayne's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Olivia's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Kahili's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Kukui's team.
Catch Onix on Ten Carat Hill (walking, Lv 14). Island Scan; LIMITED; Tuesday.
Most players are ready to trade before reaching Kiawe.
How to Get Steelix in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Steelix's 2-stage line starts with Onix, which appears at moderate rates in the locations below. Level through 2 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.
How to Obtain Steelix in USUM
Step 1Catch OnixTen Carat Hill - InsideLv.14GrassIsland Scan (Tuesday)- 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
 Hawlucha Fighting | A | |
 Crabrawler Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Crabrawler builds →Brick Break 2x31-39% Bubble 2x19-22% | ||
 Machop Fighting | C | |
 Mankey Fighting | C | |
 Slowbro WaterPsychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Slowbro builds →Water Gun 2x46-56% Brick Break 2x20-26% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | A | |
Crabrawler Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Crabrawler builds →Brick Break 2x31-38% Bubble Beam 2x25-31% | ||
Mankey Fighting | C | |
Machop Fighting | C | |
Vaporeon Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | A | |
Crabrawler Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Crabrawler builds →Brick Break 2x33-41% Bubble Beam 2x27-33% | ||
Machop Fighting | C | |
Mankey Fighting | C | |
 Bewear NormalFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodHauoli City Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Bewear builds →Brick Break 2x40-48% Bulldoze 2x23-27% | ||
 Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Passimian builds →Brick Break 2x40-48% Bulldoze 2x20-25% | ||
 Hariyama Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hariyama builds →Brick Break 2x40-48% Bulldoze 2x20-25% Brine 2x26-32% | ||
 Gallade PsychicFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Gallade builds →Brick Break 2x40-48% Bulldoze 2x23-27% | ||
 Poliwrath WaterFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Poliwrath builds →Brick Break 2x34-41% Bubble Beam 2x55-65% Bulldoze 2x19-23% | ||
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Wimpod (Dividing Peak Tunnel Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Golisopod builds →Razor Shell 2x40-47% Brick Break 2x26-31% | ||
 Talonflame Fire | C | |
 Houndoom DarkFire | C | |
 Primarina WaterFairy | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Popplio (Route 1 Gift) Available Move Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Primarina builds →Sparkling Aria 2x120-142%KO | ||
 Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Pangoro builds →Hammer Arm 2x54-64% Bulldoze 2x21-26% | ||
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
 Charizard Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Charizard builds →Overheat 2x147-174%KO Brick Break 2x19-23% Bulldoze 2x15-18% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Passimian builds →Close Combat 2x59-70% Bulldoze 2x20-24% | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Wimpod (Dividing Peak Tunnel Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Golisopod builds →Razor Shell 2x38-45% Brick Break 2x26-30% | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Blaziken builds →High Jump Kick 2x63-74% Overheat 2x147-174%KO Bulldoze 2x20-24% | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Wimpod (Dividing Peak Tunnel Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 2x42-50% Brick Break 2x25-30% | ||
 Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Passimian builds →Close Combat 2x58-69% Bulldoze 2x20-24% | ||
Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Hariyama Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hariyama builds →Close Combat 2x58-69% Bulldoze 2x20-24% Surf 2x32-39% | ||
Bewear NormalFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodHauoli City Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Bewear builds →Superpower 2x61-72% Earthquake 2x33-40% | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Wimpod (Dividing Peak Tunnel Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 2x44-52% Brick Break 2x26-30% | ||
 Marowak Ground | C | |
Obtain MethodHeahea Beach Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x35-42% Brick Break 2x18-22% Fire Blast 2x46-54% | ||
Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Passimian builds →Close Combat 2x58-69% Earthquake 2x32-39% | ||
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Greninja can KO Steelix with Hydro Pump (122-144%).
 Greninja WaterDark | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityBattlebond ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Greninja builds →Dark Pulse45-53% Ice Beam34-40% Hydro Pump 2x122-144%KO | ||
Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Volcarona builds →Giga Drain22-27% | ||
 Machamp Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNoguard ItemAssault Vest NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Machamp builds →Stone Edge5-5% Bullet Punch4-5% Knock Off12-14% | ||
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
Breeding
Breed with Steelix to get Onix eggs easily using 58 partners from the Mineral egg group. Notable egg moves include Block, Defense Curl, Flail and 7 more.
USUM Steelix Best Moveset
200 Defense makes Steelix one of the physically hardest targets to break in the format. Steel/Ground TermStab at 85 Attack provides moderate offense. Mega Steelix pushes Defense to 230 with AbilitySand Force boosting Ground, Rock, and Steel moves in sand. But 30 Speed means the moveset always acts last. C-tier through enormous physical bulk that the Speed stat undermines.
Best Build
Steelix best EVs are HP and Attack
Physical Tank Moveset
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Fire Fang
- Thunder Fang
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 8 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
Base Stats
Steelix Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Guide
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Sheer Force changes the entire equation for Steelix. The 510 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as a trick room. Ironhead with Assault Vest is the standard set.
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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 Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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