NationalDex
steelix
#208

Steelix

Iron Snake Pokémon

SteelGround

Tempered underground under high pressure and heat, its body is harder than any metal.

Base Stats

HP 75
Attack 85
Defense 200
Sp. Atk 55
Sp. Def 65
Speed 30
Total 510

Type Effectiveness

Abilities

Held Items

Forms

Evolution Chain

Moves

Details

Category Iron Snake Pokémon
Height 9.2 m
Weight 400.0 kg
Base Exp 179
Growth Rate Medium
Capture Rate 25
Base Happiness 70
Gender 50% ♂ / 50% ♀
Habitat Cave
Egg Groups Mineral

Sprites

steelix Front Front
steelix Back Back
steelix Front Shiny Front Shiny
steelix Back Shiny Back Shiny
steelix Front ♀ Front ♀
steelix Back ♀ Back ♀
steelix Front Shiny ♀ Front Shiny ♀
steelix Back Shiny ♀ Back Shiny ♀
steelix Official Art Official Art
steelix Official Art (Shiny) Official Art (Shiny)

Competitive

Defensive Tank
Item
Leftovers
Ability
Sturdy
Nature
Careful / Sassy
EVs
HP 252
Def 4
SpD 252

Strategy Overview

Thanks to its unique typing, Steelix manages to check certain Pokemon other Ground-types would struggle to deal with, such as Meloetta and Magneton, and it has two handy immunities to Poison and Electric, meaning that it is immune to status-inducing moves in Toxic and Thunder Wave, with the former giving it another notable advantage over other Ground-type Pokemon such as Rhyperior by preventing it from getting worn down as easily. Steelix's massive Defense stat lets it focus on investing mainly in Special Defense to make the most efficient use of its EVs and improve its bulk. Steelix is also much more immediately threatening than other defensive Steel-types like Bronzong and Registeel, make Steelix a nice choice for some teams.

However, compared to other Ground-types, it is much more passive and really struggles to beat opposing Ground-types, since most of them can beat it one-on-one pretty easily. An unfortunate neutrality to Ice-type attacks means it won't be dealing with Pokemon like Abomasnow and Mega Glalie anytime soon unlike its Steel-type comrades. Furthermore, unlike Rhyperior, Flygon, and Seismitoad, Steelix lacks the offensive presence to threaten Grass-types, and this is another thing to be aware of when using this Pokemon.

Most Used Moves

Toxic
46.3%
Roar
35.5%

Most Used Items

Leftovers
74.8%
Life Orb
10.5%

Competitive data from Smogon University via data.pkmn.cc