
[SET]
Name: Life Orb + Sheer Force
~ Iron Tail
~ Earthquake
~ Rock Slide
~ Crunch
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Atk, 4 Def
IVs: 0 Spe
Nature: Brave
Why this set deserves to be on site:
- No similar set on site.
- Surprise factor, Steelix is usually seen as defensive and this set will catch them off-guard.
- Hits hard right off the bat unlike the Curse set and has more coverage.
- Has plenty of moves to abuse Sheer Force with.
- Iron Tail has 253.5 base power after Life Orb, Sheer Force and STAB. Ouch.
- With 11 resistances/immunities and 200 base Defense it isn't that hard to find an opportunity to switch in and inflict damage.
- If Nidoking has base 85 Special Attack and abuses Life Orb + Sheer Force, Steelix should be able to do the same since he also has base 85 Attack.
- EVs are pretty straightforward, maximise attack and remaining EVs should go to HP since there is no point in investing speed.
- Iron Tail and Earthquake are standard STAB attacks, with Rock Slide for coverage.
- Crunch is useful for taking down Claydol, Uxie and Rotom, very common Pokemon in the RU metagame (All within the top 10 of RU usage from November statistics)
- Thunder Fang can be used against bulky Water types, Ice Fang can be used for Gligar and Fire Fang can be used for Ferroseed.
- Explosion can also be used to go out with a bang, despite the nerf.
- Screech can be used to sharply lower the defense of Pokemon like Claydol and Uxie and proceed to heavily damage them with Crunch but it's otherwise a gimmicky option.
- This set can work pretty well on Trick Room teams, in which case Slowking makes a great partner, as he can easily take Water, Fire and Fighting type attacks which plague Steelix and can set up Trick Room, while in return Steelix can sponge Electric, Bug, Ghost and Dark type attacks that trouble Slowking, and he can also absorb any Toxic which will cripple Slowking otherwise.
- Gravity support also wouldn't hurt since it gives Iron Tail and Rock Slide perfect accuracy and can nullify Levitate... Ghost types such as Dusknoir are good choices since they are immune to Fighting attacks.
- As mentioned before, Slowking makes a great partner.
- Gravity support can really go the extra mile to help Steelix, and can be provided by Dusknoir who has decent type synergy with Steelix.
- Entry hazard support is mandatory, but that is given for any team.
- Other Trick Room attackers if used in Trick Room, such as Camerupt and/or Emboar who can roast Tangrowth, Ferroseed and Leafeon.
- Alomomola and Poliwrath aren't even 2KOed by Thunder Fang on this set (Assuming they are defensively EVed) and the former can heal itself with Wish and wear Steelix down with Waterfall while the latter can phaze Steelix out with Circle Throw.
- Claydol can switch into Earthquake and force Steelix out with Earth Power, but must watch out for Crunch, which 2KOes it.
- Tangrowth can take just about anything on this set and cripple Steelix with Sleep Powder or just outright attack it with Giga Drain, and can also regain health with Regenrator.
- Leafeon can also take just about anything on this set and recover health with Wish + Protect and proceed to wear Steelix down with Leaf Blade.
- Gligar if Steelix doesn't have Ice Fang.
- Ferroseed if Steelix doesn't have Fire Fang.
- Most powerful special attackers such as Moltres can force Steelix out with their STAB attacks if they manage to avoid getting hit by one of his moves or if Trick Room isn't up.
- Some physical attacks such as Hi Jump Kick from Hitmonlee are capable of forcing Steelix out.