In Ruby & 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.

Does Steelix mega evolve?

Mega Evolution isn't available in Ruby & Sapphire, but Steelix does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Steelix hits 610 BST.

What is Steelix weak to?

In Ruby & 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.

What is the best ability for Steelix?

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.

What role does Steelix play in battle?

Base 30 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Steelix is a physical attacker with base 85 Attack. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a trick room.

Steelix - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Trick Room

BTier

30Speed · Very Slow

Stats & Training

Defense leads and Speed gets almost nothing. That's Steelix's stat line in a nutshell. 2 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Very hard to catch and yields 2 Defense EVs.

Base Stats

High

HP75

Attack85

Defense200

Sp. Atk55

Sp. Def65

Speed30

Total510

Details

Catch Rate

Difficult25 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height9.2 m

Weight400.0 kg

Base XP179

Abilities

Rock HeadTop Pick

Protects against recoil damage.

SturdyNiche

Prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.

Sheer ForceHANot in game

Strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.

EV Yield

HPAtkDef+2SpASpDSpe

Defense training target

Pokedex Entries

STEELIX lives even further underground than ONIX. This POKéMON is known to dig towards the earth’s core. There are records of this POKéMON reaching a depth of over six-tenths of a mile underground.

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.

Steelix Weakness and Resistance Chart
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

Type ChartExcellent

4Weak

9Resist

2Immune

Score+8

Gen III Type Chart

Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Fire Water Fighting Ground

½xResist

Normal Flying Psychic Bug Ghost Dragon Dark Steel

¼xResist

Rock

0xImmune

Electric Poison

STAB (6)

Ice Rock Fire Electric Poison Steel

How to Beat Steelix in Ruby & Sapphire (Best Counters)

In Ruby & Sapphire, Aerodactyl deals 40-47% with Earthquake.

BlisseyWears down with Toxic, threatens with Seismic Toss, cures status via Natural Cure Normal	S
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves Soft Boiled Ice Beam Seismic Toss Thunder Wave Damage vs Steelix Ice Beam 23-27% View Blissey builds →
JolteonResists Steel, outspeeds Electric	A
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves ThunderboltSTAB Baton Pass Hidden Power Ice Hidden Power Grass View Jolteon builds →
AerodactylImmune to Ground, threatens with Earthquake, outspeeds RockFlying	A
Recommended Build AbilityRockhead ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves Earthquake Rock Slide Double Edge Hidden Power Flying Damage vs Steelix Earthquake 2x 40-47% Rock Slide 5-6% Double Edge 12-14% View Aerodactyl builds →
RegirockThreatens with Superpower, sturdy guarantees survival, outspeeds Rock	B
Recommended Build AbilityClearbody ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves Explosion Rock Slide Thunder Wave Superpower Damage vs Steelix Explosion 17-20% Rock Slide 4-5% Superpower 2x 34-40% View Regirock builds →
SlakingThreatens with Earthquake, outspeeds Normal	B
Recommended Build AbilityTruant ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves Earthquake Shadow Ball Focus Punch Hyper Beam Damage vs Steelix Earthquake 2x 59-69% Shadow Ball 12-14% Hyper Beam 33-39% View Slaking builds →

Ruby & Sapphire Evolution

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

2 Forms

#095Onix

Trade + Metal Coat

#208Steelix

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Onix

RockGround

Steelix

SteelGround

75+40

ATK

85+40

DEF

160

200+40

SP.ATK

55+25

SP.DEF

65+20

SPE

30-40

BST

385C-Tier

510C-Tier+125

ROLE

Balanced

Trick Room

TYPE

Utility

Physical

Breeding

Easy

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.

Egg Groups

Mineral

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

25 cycles·6,425 steps

Moderate~6 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

4moves

Breed With (best first)

Ruby & Sapphire Steelix Best Moveset

Rockhead gives Steelix passive value while it walls. Impish nature boosts Defense, max HP and Sp. Def EVs maximize the physical wall profile, and Leftovers keeps it in the game.

Best Build

Recommended

Wall

Ability

Rock Head

Item

LeftoversSUSTAIN

Best Nature for Steelix

Impish+DEF

Steelix best EVs are HP and Sp. Def

EVs

Atk

SpD

Wall Moveset

EarthquakeSTAB
RoarSLOW -6Utility
ExplosionCoverage
ToxicUtility

Recommended Teammates

SalamenceDecent

TyranitarDecent

CharizardDecent

Moves

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.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Screech

D—8540Normal

Lv 1

Tackle

—3510035Normal

Lv 9

Bind

—157520Normal

Lv 13

Rock Throw

—509015Rock

Lv 21

Harden

D——30Normal

Lv 25

Rage

—2010020Normal

Lv 33

Sandstorm

———10Rock

Lv 37

Slam

—807520Normal

Lv 45

Iron Tail

C1007515Steel

Lv 49

Crunch

C8010015Dark

Lv 57

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

——10015Normal

HM01

Cut

—509530Normal

TM28

Dig

—6010010Ground

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM26

Earthquake

S10010010Ground

TM42

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM21

Frustration

——10020Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

C150905Normal

TM23

Iron Tail

C1007515Steel

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM05

Roar-6

S——20Normal

HM06

Rock Smash

—2010015Fighting

TM39

Rock Tomb

—609510Rock

TM37

Sandstorm

———10Rock

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

HM04

Strength

—8010015Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM12

Taunt

C—10020Dark

TM41

Torment

D—10015Dark

TM06

Toxic

B—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg

Block

———5Normal

Egg

Explosion

S2501005Normal

Egg

Flail

D—10015Normal

Egg

Rock Slide

B759010Rock

Tutor Moves

Steelix can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Steelix in Ruby & Sapphire

Steelix can't be caught in Ruby & Sapphire. Transfer Onix from Red, Yellow, or FireRed and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.

Trade Evolution Required — Requires trading with another player

How to Obtain Steelix in Ruby & Sapphire

Step 1Obtain Onix
Catch in the wild in:
FireRedWalking · Rock Tunnel
Then trade to Ruby & Sapphire to continue the evolution chain.
Also found in:
Red Yellow Gold Crystal
Trade + Metal Coat
Step 2Steelix ✓

Steelix Guide

In Ruby & 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.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Ruby & Sapphire, but Steelix does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Steelix hits 610 BST.
In Ruby & 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.
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.
Base 30 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Steelix is a physical attacker with base 85 Attack. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a trick room.

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

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