Steelix — Abilities, Weaknesses & Best Builds
"Steelix is a defensive wall built around physical attacks (85 Attack). It can take hits and hit back, and it's commonly used because its steel/ground typing resists 8 attack types but you'll need to play around 4 weaknesses."
✅ Strong against
Resisted or immune to these attack types
⚠️ Watch out for
These attack types deal extra damage
How to actually play it
- 1
Switch Steelix in on attacks it resists to stall the opponent's tempo.
- 2
Use status moves or recovery to outlast threats, not to deal big damage.
- 3
Keep teammates alive — your job is to absorb hits for them.
What new players get wrong
- ✕
Switching Steelix into fire and water attacks — it's a fast way to lose half your team's plan.
- ✕
Trying to outspeed faster threats. Pair it with a slow pivot or speed control instead.
- ✕
Expecting it to OHKO things — its job is usually role compression, not raw damage.
Why we rate Steelix the way we do
- Bulky enough to survive mistakes
- Slow — needs support to come in safely
- Dual typing — more weaknesses to track
- Multiple abilities to choose between
Base Stats
Total: 510Use EVs to amplify the highest two — that's usually where this Pokémon's job lives.
Mega Evolutions
Steelix transforms mid-battle when holding the right Mega Stone. Each form has its own stats, typing and ability.
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| Move | Type | Cat | Pwr | Acc | PP | How |
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Where Steelix shows up
#185
Usage ~1.17% · Win rate ~50.38%
Steelix FAQ
- What are Steelix's abilities in Pokémon Champions?
- Steelix can run rock-head, sturdy, sheer-force. The competitive default is usually rock-head — see the abilities section above for the trade-offs.
- What is Steelix weak to in Pokémon Champions?
- Steelix takes extra damage from fire, water, fighting, ground. The full weakness breakdown is in the Weaknesses section, including any 4× type matchups.
- What is the best moveset for Steelix?
- The best moveset for Steelix depends on whether you're running it in Singles or Doubles. The Best Moveset section above lists the standard competitive set used at the top of the Pokémon Champions ladder.
- What counters Steelix in Pokémon Champions?
- The most reliable counters to Steelix are Pokémon with strong fire, water, fighting, ground attacks that outspeed it. See the Best Counters section for specific picks.
- Is Steelix good in the current Pokémon Champions meta?
- Steelix's usage and win rate in M-B Singles and Doubles are shown in the Format Snapshot section. Cross-reference with the Champions Lab tier list for full context.