http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/steelix
[Overview]
<p>Steelix has come a long way from the titan it once was back in GSC. Huge physical defense and 11 resistances, including immunities to Poison and Electric, make Steelix a safe user of Stealth Rock in UU. Its rivals, Regirock and Registeel, have better support options, but Steelix makes up for what lacks in support with brute force. It has great typing both offensively and defensively, and just enough attack to make its counters think twice about coming in. It is also one of the handful of Pokémon who are immune to both poison and paralysis, meaning it doesn't need to worry about whether Chansey is running Thunder Wave or Toxic.</p>
<p>Steelix's shortcomings are its low Special Defense and Speed. Steelix has little to defend itself with once its counters have made it into the fray, and Taunt removes any meaningful support it can lend to the team by preying on how slow it is. However, its attacks are good enough for stopping the things it resists: fast frail sweepers who usually can't afford to set up more than once, like Mismagius, Drapion, Scyther, and Ambipom. Steelix does a great job at countering these Pokemon, as it has the right moves to put them in their place. With STAB Earthquake and a powerful Explosion on its side, one should not underestimate a well-placed Steelix on a team.</p>
[SET]
name: Physical Wall
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Gyro Ball / Stone Edge
move 4: Toxic / Explosion / Roar
item: Leftovers
nature: Relaxed / Careful
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
IVs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Steelix’s basic walling set returns for another round in the UU tier. Its great resistances can cause many switches to occur, all of which it can exploit by laying down Stealth Rock. With a low 206 Attack stat, the indirect damage will probably do more harm than any direct physical attack Steelix can dish out, so you'll want them set up as soon as possible.</p>
<p>STAB Earthquake deals respectable damage, and no Steelix should walk out the door without it. The third slot depends on whether you want coverage with Stone Edge, or STAB and accuracy in Gyro Ball. Both hit Flying-types and frail Ghosts, while Stone Edge does better against Moltres; Gyro Ball does better against Mismagius. Stone Edge should be used with a Careful nature, and Gyro Ball with a Relaxed nature and 0 Speed IVs. The fourth slot provides additional support. Toxic can wear down Steelix's usual counters indirectly, making it harder to start any stalling strategies. Explosion can leave a lasting dent on its counters or even OHKO them outright, but Steelix can then no longer supply its resistances to the team. Roar works well after you've eliminated the opponent's Taunt user, as it scouts switches and racks up Stealth Rock damage.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Slowking makes an excellent partner for Steelix in many aspects. While Slowbro provides the same Water-, Fire-, and Fighting-type resistances that Slowking does, Slowking is better suited as a partner since it has higher Special Defense, meaning it makes up for Steelix's lower defensive stat much better. Slowking provides a great check for the varied threats who like to switch into Steelix - anything from Moltres and Milotic to Hitmontop and Hariyama - and can support Steelix with paralysis to make up for its low Speed. It's worth noting that running Thunder Wave on Slowking and Gyro Ball on Steelix is a conflicting strategy; it is better to run a neutral Speed nature on Steelix and use Iron Head to make the most of its flinch chance.</p>
<p>Steelix's resistances help keep a team together, especially those that rely on a powerful special attacker to clean up. With Stealth Rock weakening the opponent's team and priority sweepers kept at bay, Pokémon such as Ludicolo and Ninetales can breathe easier and do their job more reliably. As one of only two really useable Steel-types in UU, Steelix fills an important niche in the tier.</p>
[SET]
name: BaitLix
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Explosion
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Stone Edge / Iron Head / Roar
item: Passho Berry / Occa Berry
nature: Adamant
EVs: 100 HP / 164 Atk / 244 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Fire-types rising in dominance, Steelix's role as a Normal-type resist is constantly put into question. This offensive set will help mitigate its inherent weaknesses, so that you're not using an inferior Registeel. It takes advantage of the two things Registeel doesn't have: a superior Attack stat, and STAB Earthquake.</p>
<p>The purpose of this set is to lure in some of its usual counters - bulky Waters like Milotic and Slowbro, or Fire-types like Houndoom - and use Explosion or Earthquake to clear the path for a sweeper, such as Dragon Dance Feraligatr or Swords Dance Venusaur. Stealth Rock is viable during the early-game while your opponent is still playing conservatively with weak attacks such as Fake Out and U-turn. The last slot is up to preference; Stone Edge hits Flying-types the hardest and allows you to check Moltres and Charizard, but Iron Head is more reliable and does decent damage to anything who would resist Earthquake, including Ghost- and mono-Grass-types. Roar can scout for counters so you can better assess what you need to eliminate.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>The EVs are geared to give Steelix a good amount of Special Defense, while also giving its Explosion the power to significantly damage or take out most foes. Steelix can survive a Life Orb Milotic's Hydro Pump or a Blaziken's Fire Blast with the EV investment, provided it's holding the correct resist Berry, and then Explode or use Earthquake to take the foe out.</p>
<p>Passho Berry is specifically for Azumarill and offensive Milotic, common switch-ins to Steelix who can heal any damage dealt and seriously harm their checks with the correct move. Occa Berry allows Steelix to survive Fire Blasts from powerful Fire-types such as Blaziken, Magmortar, and Houndoom, and retaliate with a super effective STAB Earthquake. The resist Berry you choose is specific to your team's needs.</p>
<p>Be wary of trying to use BaitLix as you would a standard Steelix - the relative lack of investment in its Defense can often lead to it not fulfilling its commonly perceived role of physical wall as well as one might expect. It is often a good idea to have some other physically bulky Pokémon in reserve if you're running this Steelix set.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Explosion
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Gyro Ball / Payback
item: Choice Band
nature: Brave
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
IVs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Choice Band resolves some of the issues with Steelix's below average Attack stat, turning it into a decent but limited physical tank. The Physical Wall set tends to create a glaring vulnerability whenever the need arises to lay down Stealth Rock, but this set turns that weakness into its biggest strength. Plenty of Pokémon want to take advantage of Steelix as it tries to support the team, and a good number of them can be OHKOed on the switch by this set, especially Fire-types like Blaziken. As always with Choice sets, prediction is key, but Steelix is in a good position to make a few mistakes thanks to its great resistances.</p>
<p>The dual STABs of Earthquake and Gyro Ball are Steelix’s main attacking options, and show the finer points of this set. Earthquake delivers reliable damage to a large number of targets: a little more than 3/4 of the entire tier. Gyro Ball clears out the remaining selection of threats nicely, and reaches its peak potential (150 Base Power) when fighting opponents with at least 348 Speed, increasing its value against fast but frail sweepers such as Espeon, Mismagius, and Swellow. It OHKOes the lot of them, leaving you with some valuable HP to continue to come in through resistances and take shots at incoming counters.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Moltres and Charizard still pose a considerable threat, since they resist both STAB attacks, so Stone Edge is used to provide further coverage. If you need to hit Claydol, Slowbro, Uxie, and Mesprit harder in particular, then you can replace Gyro Ball with Payback and put the 31 Speed IVs back. Your speed will still be low enough to consistently go second, so the Base Power is a non-issue. It goes without saying that Explosion is at its strongest here; when you know it can't go on much longer, or your teammates have every other threat covered for you, use Explosion to bring Steelix's counter down with it.</p>
<p>With its defensive capabilities reduced and Choice Band limiting its attack choices, this Steelix is more hit-and-run than the other sets and is forced out very easily, although it usually takes a chunk of the opponent's health with it on the way out. It can benefit largely from the same teammates as mentioned in the Physical Wall set; if it can prevent Pokémon from coming in on Earthquake for free, it is a good teammate for Steelix. Altaria gets a mention for potentially checking Fire-, Grass-, and Water-types all on its own, making it a huge help for removing the threats who Steelix doesn't really want to see.</p>
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Gyro Ball
move 4: Explosion / Rest
item: Leftovers / Chesto Berry
nature: Sassy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
IVs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is a lot harder to use than the other sets, as the Pokémon who can interrupt your sweep attempt are numerous. However, the benefits cannot be ignored in comparison to the Choice Band set. By using Curse, you have the advantage of powering up all of your moves, while strengthening your already massive Defense, and after a couple of Curses you can surpass the damage capacity of the Choice Band set easily. Naturally, you'll want to start your sweep during the late-game, when all Fire-, Water-, and Grass-types have been taken care of.</p>
<p>Gyro Ball is the main attack this time, as the synergy between it and Curse is amazing. As your Speed lowers, the number of targets Gyro Ball can hit at peak damage increases. With just two Curses, your Speed becomes 29, and you can hit foes with at least 174 Speed with full-powered Gyro Balls at +2 Attack. Earthquake is still your most reliable STAB, though, and can get rid of some last-minute threats in a pinch. Either of these attacks can be replaced with Stone Edge if you need Steelix to take on Moltres or Charizard, but it may be better for another teammate to handle them so that Steelix has an easier time cleaning up.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Explosion lets you take your hard-earned boosts and go out with a bang, but Chesto Berry and Rest give you greater survivability and prevent status from getting in the way of your sweep. You can also use type-resist Berries, such as a Passho Berry or Occa Berry, to protect yourself against specific threats the rest of your team may not be able to remove. The EVs are designed to reinforce Steelix's vulnerable Special Defense, and work well with Chesto Berry + Rest, or a type-resist Berry in assuring that most non-boosted special attacks won't OHKO you as you Curse up.</p>
<p>These quirks would serve Steelix well in a more supportive role, but unfortunately this set isn't much of a team player, and can use a lot of support itself. Stealth Rock works wonders for its sweeping potential, keeping Moltres and Charizard off its back if you’re not running Stone Edge. Clefable and Chansey can absorb special attacks aimed at Steelix, lay down Stealth Rock, and provide Wish support so that Steelix can attempt multiple sweeps. Claydol and Uxie also partner up well with this Steelix set in numerous ways: they resist or are immune to Steelix's Ground and Fighting weaknesses, can set up Stealth Rock, and can provide Light Screen support to give Steelix a much easier time as it Curses up.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Steelix has trouble with powerful special attacks, as it doesn't have recovery or good Special Defense to constantly come in on them. Ambipom can use U-turn to bring Milotic and Azumarill safely into Gyro Balls, leaving you helpless to stop them. Steelix also hates when its Stealth Rock is Spun away, and when Pokémon use support moves like Substitute, Protect, or Will-O-Wisp to hinder its Explosion.</p>
<p>Bulky Waters such as Milotic and Azumarill can be cleared by a strong Grass-type such as Venusaur. For opposing Fire-types, your own bulky Water helps, although all of them have to be careful about playing around Blaziken and Magmortar. Milotic makes the best choice for addressing most of them, but Azumarill can be used to provide additional assistance with a powerful priority attack. Slowking has slightly lower stats than Milotic in almost every stat, but still serves as an excellent special wall and a valuable Fighting resist for Steelix. For Spin blocking, Rotom has the Special Attack and Speed to stop most Spinners in UU before they can even respond to it, and makes a decent check to Moltres and Charizard. It can also set up Reflect and Light Screen, further aiding Steelix in resisting attacks so it can reliably Explode on its counters.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Thunder Fang and Ice Fang have a chance of causing status effects, but their utility is otherwise limited compared to Stone Edge and even Crunch. Iron Tail is stronger than Iron Head and can lower Defense, but is less accurate. Steelix gets Taunted often, so using Chesto Berry + Rest outside of the Cursing set is not a good idea. Steelix’s low attacking stats and Speed also make Rock Polish and Screech ineffective.</p>
<p>You can also put Iron Ball on Steelix; the 50% Speed reduction will give nearly the same attacking potential as the Curse set after 2 Curses, which can be useful for the Physical Wall set. Take caution, though, as the lack of recovery makes it harder to sponge special attacks. Shed Shell allows Steelix to escape trappers such as Magneton and Dugtrio, but is useless against anything else, and you can usually escape using Roar.</p>
<p>Steelix's physical Defense is already impressive, so any defensive set will want to maximize its HP and Special Defense to take advantage of it. You will need as much Special Defense as possible to survive unboosted special attacks without a type-resist Berry; if you want your Steelix to pose a threat offensively, switch the HP EVs with Attack EVs, but still keep a +Special Defense nature. Without it, you're helpless against any special attack you don't resist.</p>
[Counters]
<p>The way to go when handling Steelix is to come in on Stealth Rock and fire off powerful Fire-, Water-, or Fighting-type attacks. Steelix's Explosion and a proper type-resist Berry can reduce the number of effective counters, but even then some Pokémon are just too powerful to be stopped with such a low Special Defense stat. This includes Specs Ninetales, Specs Blaziken, and Houndoom after a Nasty Plot. The offensive sets have to predict perfectly to catch these Pokémon on the switch, or Steelix will be forced out for certain. Milotic and Lapras generally take pitiful damage from Steelix and can break it down with STAB Surf. Defensive Venusaur doesn't fear anything Steelix throws at it, and can KO it with STAB Grass attacks. Moltres and Charizard have been mentioned multiple times, and for good reason: they threaten any Steelix without Stone Edge with strong Fire STABs, and can use this knowledge to start their own devastating sweeps as you switch out.</p>
<p>Spiritomb is immune to Explosion and takes little damage from anything Steelix can dish out; it can also cripple Steelix with Will-O-Wisp or set up Calm Minds in its face and proceed to sweep, provided Steelix doesn't carry Roar. Claydol, Donphan, and Blastoise take very little damage, can remove its Stealth Rock from the field, and threaten it with super effective STAB attacks. Specs Mismagius can surprise Steelix as it comes in and 2HKO with Hidden Power Fighting. Hitmontop reduces Steelix's Attack with Intimidate and can fire powerful super effective STAB Close Combats straight at it; the Attack reduction also gives it a chance at surviving Explosion. Hariyama can Force Palm or just Whirlwind it out if it tries to Curse up. Magneton and Probopass trap Steelix lacking Roar with Magnet Pull, can negate Earthquake with Magnet Rise, and proceed to destroy it with Hidden Power Fire and Earth Power respectively.</p>
<p>Steelix is too slow to retaliate more than once against these threats, so a few special attacks will eventually bring it down. Pack multiple checks in case of Explosion, and you'll be fine.</p>
