Is Steelix Good in Emerald Playthrough?
Onix trade evolution with a Metal Coat. Steelix with AbilityRock Head has enormous Defense on a Steel/Ground frame. Handles Wattson, Winona, and resists most attack types in the game. The double trade requirement limits access, but the defensive profile is among Emerald's best.
Roxanne's typing presses Steelix's defenses.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Brawly's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Wattson's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Flannery's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Norman's team.
Winona's team hits Steelix's weaknesses hard.
Tate & Liza's team hits Steelix's weaknesses hard.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Juan's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Sidney's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Phoebe's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Glacia's team.
Drake's team hits Steelix's weaknesses hard.
Wallace's team hits Steelix's weaknesses hard.
Trade
Steelix cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
Recommended Moves
- After Wattson
- TM28GroundDigPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 10Route 114
- After Norman
- TUTORNormalExplosionPower 250Accuracy 100%PP 5Pacifidlog Town
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Lilycove Department Store
- After Tate & Liza
- TM26GroundEarthquakePower 150Accuracy 100%PP 10Seafloor Cavern
- LV 45SteelIron TailPower 150Accuracy 75%PP 15
- LV 49DarkCrunchPower 80Accuracy 100%PP 15
- LV 57NormalDouble-EdgePower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalBody SlamPower 85Accuracy 100%PP 15Battle Frontier
- TUTORRockRock SlidePower 75Accuracy 90%PP 10Battle Frontier
How to Get Steelix in Emerald
Steelix asks for two things Emerald lacks. Onix never spawns in Hoenn, and the evolution needs a Metal Coat passed during a trade, so you import an Onix and arrange a trade partner to finish the job.
How to Obtain Steelix in E
- Step 1Obtain OnixCARTRIDGE TRADEfrom FireRed & LeafGreenAvailableCatch in FireRed & LeafGreen via Walking · Victory Road, then trade to the current game via link cable.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Red & BlueNot TradeableAppears in Red & Blue via Walking · Victory Road. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom YellowNot TradeableAppears in Yellow via Walking · Victory Road. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Gold & SilverNot TradeableAppears in Gold & Silver via Walking · Mt. Silver. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom CrystalNot TradeableAppears in Crystal via Walking · Mt. Silver. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
- Step 2Steelix ✓
How to Get Shiny Steelix in Emerald
Steelix has no home in Emerald's caves, so trade one over from a Generation 3 game that offers it and carry your shiny Iron Snake back through the link cable. See every game where Shiny Steelix can be hunted
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 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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Water, Fighting, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Rock |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric, Poison |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Steelix Weak Against
ExcellentBest Pokemon Against Steelix
 Ho-Oh Fire | S | |
Obtain MethodNavel Rock Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Ho-Oh builds →Overheat 2x162-191%KO Earthquake 2x34-41% Rock Smash 2x8-10% | ||
 Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hariyama builds →Focus Punch 2x73-86% Earthquake 2x33-39% Surf 2x33-40% | ||
 Groudon Ground | S | |
Obtain MethodTerra Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Groudon builds →Earthquake 2x59-70% Overheat 2x100-117%KO Brick Break 2x30-35% | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
 Heracross BugFighting | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x75-89% Earthquake 2x33-40% | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Torchic (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Blaziken builds →Focus Punch 2x73-86% Overheat 2x162-191%KO Earthquake 2x33-39% | ||
 Kyogre Water | S | |
Obtain MethodMarine Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Kyogre builds →Hydro Pump 2x182-214%KO Earthquake 2x28-33% Brick Break 2x21-25% | ||
 Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x62-73% Earthquake 2x28-33% Fire Blast 2x50-59% | ||
 Donphan Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Donphan builds →Earthquake 2x50-58% Rock Smash 2x7-9% | ||
 Swampert WaterGround | S | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Mudkip (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Swampert builds →Earthquake 2x46-54% Focus Punch 2x44-52% Surf 2x89-105%KO | ||
 Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodDewford Town Surfing | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x52-61% Focus Punch 2x52-61% Fire Blast 2x46-54% Surf 2x37-44% | ||
 Camerupt FireGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Camerupt builds →Eruption 2x167-197%KO Earthquake 2x42-50% Rock Smash 2x6-8% | ||
 Feraligatr Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Totodile (Littleroot Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Feraligatr builds →Focus Punch 2x43-50% Hydro Pump 2x106-125%KO Earthquake 2x29-34% | ||
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 23 partners from the Mineral egg group. Notable egg moves include Block, Explosion, Flail and 1 more.
E Steelix Best Moveset
Few physical tanks in Emerald match 200 base Defense backed by Steel/Ground typing and nine resistances. The moveset plays a pure defensive role, tanking physical hits and threatening back with MoveEarthquake while the team handles special attackers.
Best Build
Steelix best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Wall Moveset
- Earthquake
- Roar
- Explosion
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Breeding opens up real options for Steelix. Block and Explosion come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Iron Tail and Earthquake and Normal and Rock coverage and more.
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
All 23 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Base Stats
STEELIX live even further underground than ONIX. This POKéMON is known to dig toward the earth’s core, reaching a depth of over six-tenths of a mile underground.
Steelix Emerald Guide
Mega Evolution isn't available in Emerald, but Steelix does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Steelix hits 610 BST.
In Emerald, Steelix plays as a trick room. It's slow, so Trick Room or priority moves are key. so pick your spots carefully. Earthquake is the primary attack.
In Emerald, Impish is the go-to nature for Steelix. That's +Defense / -Sp. Atk. Pair it with 252 HP / 36 Atk / 220 SpD EVs. Fits the trick room role.
No. Steelix isn't catchable in Emerald. Obtain one in FireRed or LeafGreen, then trade it over.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Gold & Silver, Steelix has appeared in 18 titles over 8 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 7Let's Go
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
Explore
Where to go next after Steelix.
Keep playing · EmeraldEmerald Tier ListThe best Pokemon ranked tier by tierSee Emerald Tier List