Is Steelix Good in HeartGold & SoulSilver Playthrough?
Metal Coat trade from Onix, or catch wild in Cliff Cave. Steel/Ground with AbilityRock Head or AbilitySturdy. Massive Defense and a typing that resists nearly everything. Handles Pryce, Clair through Steel, and Karen's Murkrow. Available during the Johto story.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Falkner's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Bugsy's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Whitney's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Morty's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Chuck's team.
Steelix resists most of Jasmine's coverage and hits back hard.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Pryce's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Clair's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Brock's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Janine's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.
Steelix trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Will's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Karen's team.
Steelix has the type edge here and should clean up Lance's team.
Trade Onix
Onix can be received through an in-game trade in Violet City. Trade Bellsprout. Trade a Bellsprout to a trainer in Violet City.
Recommended Moves
- After Bugsy
- TM28GroundDigPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 10National Park
- TUTORNormalHeadbuttPower 70Accuracy 100%PP 15Ilex Forest
- After Whitney
- HM04NormalStrengthPower 80Accuracy 100%PP 15Gift from a Hiker on Route 42
- LV 41SteelIron TailPower 100Accuracy 75%PP 15
- After Clair
- TM26GroundEarthquakePower 150Accuracy 100%PP 10Victory Road
- TM59DragonDragon PulsePower 90Accuracy 100%PP 10Given by Clair in the Dragon's Den after the Dragon Shrine test
- LV 49NormalDouble-EdgePower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15
- LV 54RockStone EdgePower 150Accuracy 80%PP 5
How to Get Steelix in HeartGold & SoulSilver
An Olivine City NPC trades you a Steelix for any Pokemon, the quick way in. Wild ones do exist, rare in the Cliff Cave and uncommon up on Mt. Silver, but the trade beats hunting them down.
Wild Steelix may be holding when caught:
Metal Coat (5% chance) An item to be held by a Pokemon. It is a special metallic film that ups the power of Steel-type moves.3 locations to catch Steelix7 locations to catch Onix
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8Catch Onix at any of the 7 locations below, then trade it — it evolves into Steelix.
Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3 Badge 4 Badge 5 Badge 6 Badge 7 Badge 8Where To Catch Steelix in HGSS
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 OnixSafari Zone - WastelandLv.15-17FloorRate 40%NightSafari Zone - WastelandLv.15-17FloorRate 30%DaySafari Zone - WastelandLv.15-16FloorRate 20%MorningUnion Cave - B1FLv.8CaveRate 10%Union Cave - 1FLv.6CaveRate 5%Rock Tunnel - B1FLv.16CaveRate 20%Cliff Cave - 1FLv.20CaveRate 10%Union Cave - B2FLv.23CaveRate 5%Mt. Silver - 1FLv.42CaveRate 30%Victory Road - 1FLv.34-36CaveRate 15%Victory Road - 2FLv.34-36CaveRate 15%Victory Road - 3FLv.34-36CaveRate 15%Mt. Silver - Lower mountainsideLv.48CaveRate 30%Violet CityIn-game tradeLimitedTrade for (give Bellsprout)
- Step 2Steelix ✓Cliff Cave - 1FLv.23CaveRate 2%Mt. Silver - 1F Upper ChamberLv.48CaveRate 20%Olivine CityIn-game tradeLimitedTrade anyor evolve from Onix (Step 1)
Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in HeartGold & SoulSilver for Steelix.
How to Get Shiny Steelix in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Steelix winds through the Cliff Cave and Mt. Silver, but a shiny comes faster from Masuda breeding. Compare Shiny Steelix odds across every game
HeartGold & SoulSilver Shiny Steelix Calculator
2 MethodsThe best route is Masuda Method, about 1 in 1,639 on each try.
Masuda Method: Breed with a parent from a different-language game. Works on any breedable line.
Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.
How many you have done, or plan to do.
| Chance | Encounters | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10%lucky few | 173-- | -- |
| 25%one in four | 472-- | -- |
| 50%coin flip | 1,136-- | -- |
| 90%very likely | 3,773-- | -- |
Time assumes -- at your pace and does not change your shiny odds.
How is this calculated?
Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.
chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N, where p = 1 / odds per try
Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.
The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.
These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.
Curious how fast a hunt could go? Work out your HeartGold & SoulSilver shiny odds for Steelix.
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 |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
What is Steelix Weak Against
ExcellentBest Pokemon Against Steelix
 Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hariyama builds →Focus Punch 2x73-86% Dig 2x27-32% Surf 2x35-42% | ||
 Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Marowak builds →Focus Punch 2x35-42% Dig 2x30-36% Fire Blast 2x50-59% | ||
 Gyarados Water | S | |
Obtain MethodLake Of Rage Good Rod Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x46-55% Fire Blast 2x57-67% Rock Smash 2x14-18% | ||
 Feraligatr Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Totodile (New Bark Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Feraligatr builds →Focus Punch 2x43-51% Waterfall 2x36-43% Dig 2x24-29% | ||
 Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Ludicolo builds →Surf 2x91-108%KO Focus Punch 2x32-38% | ||
 Sandslash Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Sandslash builds →Focus Punch 2x42-50% Dig 2x34-41% | ||
 Hitmonlee Fighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tyrogue (Mt Mortar Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Hitmonlee builds →Focus Punch 2x73-86% Blaze Kick 2x28-34% | ||
 Primeape Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Primeape builds →Focus Punch 2x65-77% Dig 2x24-29% | ||
 Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x63-74% Dig 2x22-27% Fire Blast 2x50-59% | ||
 Slowbro WaterPsychic | C | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Slowbro builds →Surf 2x99-118%KO Focus Punch 2x34-40% Fire Blast 2x84-99% Dig 2x18-22% | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Lapras builds →Surf 2x87-103%KO Rock Smash 2x10-13% | ||
 Gliscor Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Gliscor builds →Dig 2x34-41% Fire Fang 2x18-22% Rock Smash 2x12-14% | ||
 Suicune Water | A | |
Obtain MethodBurned Tower Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Suicune builds →Surf 2x91-108%KO Dig 2x18-22% Rock Smash 2x10-13% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Steelix View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x108-127%KO Dig 2x18-21% Rock Smash 2x9-11% | ||
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 29 partners from the Mineral egg group. Notable egg moves include Block, Defense Curl, Explosion and 4 more.
HGSS Steelix Best Moveset
200 Defense is among the highest in the game, and Steel/Ground typing resists 10 types. AbilitySturdy guarantees surviving one hit from full HP. The moveset sets MoveStealth Rock and blocks physical attackers. 30 Speed is irrelevant for a tank. 55 Sp. Atk and 65 Sp. Def are the special-side weaknesses.
Best Build
Steelix best EVs are HP and Attack
Physical Tank Moveset
- Earthquake
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
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
All 26 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Base Stats
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 HeartGold & SoulSilver Guide
Mega Evolution isn't available in HeartGold & SoulSilver, but Steelix does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Steelix hits 610 BST.
Steelix is obtained by trade-evolving Onix. Catch an Onix first, then trade. The Metal Coat must be held during the trade. Bring one over from a sibling Gen 3 game if needed.
Yes. Wild Steelix in HeartGold & SoulSilver can hold Metal Coat (5%). Use Thief (TM46) or Covet to swipe the held item without affecting your catch chance. Quickest way to farm rare items like Metal Coat.
Trade any Pokemon to a trainer in Olivine City. This is an NPC trade, so the Steelix you receive is yours immediately, no transfer cable needed.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
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
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