why use a spread made for bw2 ru i dont get it, the spread is used for surviving 3 eq from band archeops, which is uncommon on archeops (i've never actually seen it) and 3 close combat from scarf primeape, which is rather uncommon and steelix generally has partners to beat primeape anyways. steelix has great physical bulk and really doesn't need any investment, as it is still countering/checking pokemon with or without significant defensive investment (archeops, swellow, klinklang, slurpluff, liepard, etc, golem and zangoose may be the only pokemon in which phys def is more effective, and spiritomb which is a great partner to steelix checks both of them effectively). the special bulk helps steelix take on some mixed attackers and some special attackers better, the evs you provided has a decent chance of being 2hko'd by mixed shiftry, a specially defensively steelix is not 3hko'd by mixed shiftry, piling that up with life orb damage, stealth rock damage, and a gyro ball from steelix takes shiftry down to very low hp with a low chance of koing it, and shiftry may not be able to get off a defog due to this, it seems rather hypothetical but i've had the situation occur to me a few times. specs gothorita also cant 2hko steelix, while steelix has a solid chance to 2hko with earthquake if goth is running no hp investment. other stuff which the special defense investment is useful for are cryogonal, mismagius, and some calm mind setters to an extent, taking less damage from them before phazing them out
