[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 7-8 points
**Overview**: Despite its cheap cost during the draft, Steelix is a known metagame staple in generation 7 due to its impressive role compression capability and ability to also be used as a reliable defensive check against metagame powerhouses such as Tapu Koko and Zeraora. With its impressive bulk, it can serve as one of the most reliable Stealth Rock setters in the format; however, its poor Special Defense stat combined with lack of longevity can let it get overwhelmed quickly by special attackers, and its middling Attack stat makes it hard to punish them.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Defensive Utility**: Due to having one of the highest Defense stats in the game, in combination with its typing, Steelix can be used to take on a variety of physical attacks and still be a valuable answer to Electric-type special attackers.
**Dedicated Lead**: By making use of its defensive stats, Steelix can be built to guarantee the use of Stealth Rock early-game. It can also make use of its Sturdy ability and access to Explosion to serve as a more offensive lead.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Earthquake, Gyro Ball, Heavy Slam, Iron Head
**Setup Moves**: Curse
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Taunt, Toxic, Dragon Tail, Roar, Rest
**Coverage**: Aqua Tail, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Explosion
Niche Moves
========
**Head Smash**: With the ability Rock Head, Steelix can utilize Head Smash to deal greater damage to Rock-weak foes.
**Autotomize / Rock Polish**: Despite its poor Speed stat, Steelix can sometimes be used more offensively, and the Speed boost from Autotomize or Rock Polish can be used to outspeed some common fast and offensive foes.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: The passive recovery from Leftovers can be used on defensive sets that aim to check multiple foes long-term.
**Pinch Berries**: On more offensive matchups, Steelix can make use of Pinch Berries to recover half of its HP.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky helmet provides extra residual damage against physical attackers that rely on contact moves.
**Resistance Berries**: With some Attack investment, Steelix can use Resistance Berries to lure in Electric- and Fairy-types that have access to super effective coverage and KO back with a STAB move.
Niche Items
========
**Custap Berry**: On a dedicated lead set, Steelix can use Sturdy to reliably enter the Custap Berry range and gain the advantage on the following turn.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest allows Steelix to better take on special wallbreakers and gives the option to be more offensive while keeping the ability to take on special hits.
**Choice Band**: With a Choice Band, Steelix can take advantage of foes with poor resistances and force favorable trades with its strong STAB moves.
Draft Strategy
========
Steelix is a premier role compression option and is greatly appreciated on offensive drafts that have used a large part of their budget on offensive pieces. It is also a great pick to support strong Pokemon that don't fill many traditional roles like Mew and Tornadus-T.
**Specially Defensive Ground- and Steel-resistant Foes**: Steelix greatly appreciates having other defensive pieces present that let it focus on checking physical foes. Pokemon like Tapu Fini, Rotom-W, and Uxie can fill this role while covering some of its weaknesses.
**Strong Attackers**: As a defensive and utility piece, Steelix aims to support strong attackers on offensive drafts such as Latios, Mega Gallade, and Tornadus-T. In addition, Steelix can naturally check Tapu Koko and Zeraora, which these teammates can struggle against.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Water-types**: Pokémon like Tapu Fini, Manaphy, and Rotom-W can often come in on Steelix due to its average Attack stat and take advantage by forcing it out or continuously attacking it.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Even when fully invested in Special Defense, Steelix will struggle against certain strong attackers like Landorus, Nidoking, and Mega Diancie.
**Residual Damage**: Steelix heavily depends on its item slot for longevity, meaning residual damage like Spikes or burn from Will-O-Wisp can reduce its defensive capabilities significantly.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/princess-autumn.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 7-8 points
**Overview**: Despite its cheap cost during the draft, Steelix is a known metagame staple in generation 7 due to its impressive role compression capability and ability to also be used as a reliable defensive check against metagame powerhouses such as Tapu Koko and Zeraora. With its impressive bulk, it can serve as one of the most reliable Stealth Rock setters in the format; however, its poor Special Defense stat combined with lack of longevity can let it get overwhelmed quickly by special attackers, and its middling Attack stat makes it hard to punish them.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Defensive Utility**: Due to having one of the highest Defense stats in the game, in combination with its typing, Steelix can be used to take on a variety of physical attacks and still be a valuable answer to Electric-type special attackers.
**Dedicated Lead**: By making use of its defensive stats, Steelix can be built to guarantee the use of Stealth Rock early-game. It can also make use of its Sturdy ability and access to Explosion to serve as a more offensive lead.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Earthquake, Gyro Ball, Heavy Slam, Iron Head
**Setup Moves**: Curse
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Taunt, Toxic, Dragon Tail, Roar, Rest
**Coverage**: Aqua Tail, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Explosion
Niche Moves
========
**Head Smash**: With the ability Rock Head, Steelix can utilize Head Smash to deal greater damage to Rock-weak foes.
**Autotomize / Rock Polish**: Despite its poor Speed stat, Steelix can sometimes be used more offensively, and the Speed boost from Autotomize or Rock Polish can be used to outspeed some common fast and offensive foes.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: The passive recovery from Leftovers can be used on defensive sets that aim to check multiple foes long-term.
**Pinch Berries**: On more offensive matchups, Steelix can make use of Pinch Berries to recover half of its HP.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky helmet provides extra residual damage against physical attackers that rely on contact moves.
**Resistance Berries**: With some Attack investment, Steelix can use Resistance Berries to lure in Electric- and Fairy-types that have access to super effective coverage and KO back with a STAB move.
Niche Items
========
**Custap Berry**: On a dedicated lead set, Steelix can use Sturdy to reliably enter the Custap Berry range and gain the advantage on the following turn.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest allows Steelix to better take on special wallbreakers and gives the option to be more offensive while keeping the ability to take on special hits.
**Choice Band**: With a Choice Band, Steelix can take advantage of foes with poor resistances and force favorable trades with its strong STAB moves.
Draft Strategy
========
Steelix is a premier role compression option and is greatly appreciated on offensive drafts that have used a large part of their budget on offensive pieces. It is also a great pick to support strong Pokemon that don't fill many traditional roles like Mew and Tornadus-T.
**Specially Defensive Ground- and Steel-resistant Foes**: Steelix greatly appreciates having other defensive pieces present that let it focus on checking physical foes. Pokemon like Tapu Fini, Rotom-W, and Uxie can fill this role while covering some of its weaknesses.
**Strong Attackers**: As a defensive and utility piece, Steelix aims to support strong attackers on offensive drafts such as Latios, Mega Gallade, and Tornadus-T. In addition, Steelix can naturally check Tapu Koko and Zeraora, which these teammates can struggle against.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Water-types**: Pokémon like Tapu Fini, Manaphy, and Rotom-W can often come in on Steelix due to its average Attack stat and take advantage by forcing it out or continuously attacking it.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Even when fully invested in Special Defense, Steelix will struggle against certain strong attackers like Landorus, Nidoking, and Mega Diancie.
**Residual Damage**: Steelix heavily depends on its item slot for longevity, meaning residual damage like Spikes or burn from Will-O-Wisp can reduce its defensive capabilities significantly.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/princess-autumn.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Last edited:
