Steelix
QC: [Oglemi] [Honko] [PK Gaming]
GP: [sirndpt] [Komodo]
[Overview]
<p>Due to the slew of powerful physical attackers that dominate the RU tier, it is not uncommon for players to search for a 'sturdy' Steel-type to fall back on; of these, Steelix is one of the most reliable and easy-to-use in the tier. With its tremendously high Defense stat, it can tank nearly any physical attack in the game, even super effective ones from the common Fighting-types that litter the tier. With some Special Defense investment, Steelix isn't even 2HKOed by most neutral special attacks. Steelix also has an expansive support movepool, including Stealth Rock, Roar, and even Dragon Tail, which allows it to both set up entry hazards for the team and rack up residual damage by phazing with Roar or Dragon Tail. Lastly, don't forget Steelix's handy Sturdy ability, which prevents it from ever being OHKOed from full health; it is a very useful tool for any support Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Gyro Ball
move 4: Dragon Tail / Roar / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Steelix is best used as a support Pokemon thanks to its enormous Defense, ability to set up Stealth Rock, and access to phazing moves such as Dragon Tail and Roar. Stealth Rock is the most important move on this set, especially as Steelix has the bulk to set it up multiple times, should it get spun away by opposing Rapid Spin users. Earthquake and Gyro Ball are great STAB moves with decent coverage; Earthquake hits the numerous Fire-, Electric-, and Rock-type foes, such as Typhlosion, Manectric, and Omastar, for super effective damage. Gyro Ball is an excellent secondary STAB that hits most Pokemon in the tier for heavy damage due to Steelix's low Speed. The only Pokemon that resist the combo are Fire / Flying-types such as Moltres and Charizard, the latter of which is rarely seen, and Rotom. The last move is highly dependent on your team's needs. Dragon Tail is an excellent phazing move that does damage and is not stopped by Taunt, and Roar makes it much harder for sweepers utilizing Substitute to set up by phazing through their Substitutes. Finally, Toxic is a great utility move that cripples most opposing walls.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>As per usual, Leftovers is a must for a defensively oriented Pokemon such as Steelix. Sturdy is the preferred ability, as it prevents Steelix from being OHKOed at full health. Although the EV spread may seem somewhat random, it actually prevents Choice Scarf Primeape's Close Combat from ever 2HKOing; however, the EV spread is flexible, and can be tailored to your specific needs. A Speed-hindering nature should always be used, however, as a lower Speed stat powers up Gyro Ball. If, for whatever reason, a phazing move or Toxic is not needed, Stone Edge can go in the last slot to hit Charizard and Moltres on the switch, but Steelix usually loses to both of them anyway. Payback can be used to hit Rotom, but Rotom can just burn Steelix with Will-O-Wisp or simply switch out. If all else fails, Explosion can be used as a last-ditch option to dent the opponent, but it won't do much damage with no Attack investment. Because Steelix is naturally physically defensive, it appreciates teammates such as Slowking who can sponge strong special attacks. Slowking has remarkably good synergy with Steelix, as it sports resistances to Fire-, Water-, and Fighting-type attacks, while Steelix boasts a useful immunity to Electric-type moves, and handy resistances to Bug-, Ghost-, and Dark-type attacks.</p>
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Gyro Ball
move 4: Stone Edge / Explosion
item: Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Although Steelix is more often seen utilizing its ridiculous Defense stat, it can easily go on the offensive by using Curse. Curse works quite well in tandem with Steelix's high Defense and average Attack; in fact, the Speed drop from Curse actually benefits Steelix by powering up Gyro Ball. Earthquake is a useful and powerful STAB move, and along with Stone Edge, creates the famous EdgeQuake attacking combination that provides excellent coverage. If Stone Edge is not needed to hit Levitators and Fire / Flying Pokemon, namely Moltres and Charizard, Explosion can be used to go out with a bang, and will hit anything that is not a Ghost-, Steel-, or Rock-type for a lot of damage, especially after a few Curses.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Leftovers is the only item Steelix should use, even though this set is more offensively oriented. Leftovers is Steelix's only form of healing, and will benefit Steelix more in the long run. A Sassy nature along with full investment in both HP and Special Defense allows Steelix to tank many special attacks while using Curse to boost its Attack and Defense. Although this set needs a considerable amount of support in order to be successful, it can easily sweep late game once opposing special attackers are eliminated. As previously mentioned, Slowking shares great synergy with Steelix, and is quite possibly the best teammate for it. Pokemon such as Uxie or Claydol can set up Stealth Rock and dual screens in order to give Steelix an easier time setting up.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Steelix actually has quite a few other options at its disposal, though none are very good. A Choice Band set is viable, but with Steelix's underwhelming Attack, it won't be doing much damage. A specially defensive set can be used, but Steelix's Defense is what sets it apart from other bulky Pokemon, and you should thus capitalize on it. Many coverage moves, such as the elemental fangs and Crunch, are available to Steelix, but generally don't offer better coverage, and are considerably weaker than Steelix's STAB attacks and Stone Edge. Taunt is an option to stop slower walls from setting up on Steelix, but in general, there isn't much that is slower than Steelix, so Taunt will more often than not be a waste of a moveslot. In addition to Curse, Steelix has access to other boosting moves such as Rock Polish and Autotomize. Unfortunately, due to Steelix's abysmal Speed, such a set won't be very effective, especially as Steelix's Attack is only average at best.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Because of its low Speed, susceptibility to Taunt, its average Attack, and poor Special Defense, it's relatively easy to stop Steelix. Any powerful special attack will do a number on Steelix, and super effective attacks from the likes of Moltres and Entei will outright destroy it. However, if Sturdy is active, Steelix has a chance to strike back with Earthquake or Stone Edge. In general, bulky Water-types such as Slowking and Poliwrath, can easily wall Steelix and threaten it with super effective STAB moves. Other defensive behemoths, including Ferroseed and Gligar, can tank all of Steelix's attacks and proceed to set up on it should it lack Taunt or a phazing move. Claydol is immune to Earthquake, resists Stone Edge, takes little damage from Gyro Ball, and can hit Steelix hard with STAB Earth Power, or set up Stealth Rock and spin away hazards that Steelix might have previously set up. Tangrowth resists Earthquake and takes a pittance from all of Steelix's other moves thanks to its excellent Defense, and has a whole host of ways to take Steelix down.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Steelix gets Sheer Force from the Dream World, and actually has a decent movepool with which to abuse it. However, Sturdy is usually the superior ability, especially on defensive variants, as it guarantees that Steelix will never be OHKOed.</p>
