what's good against steelix

3 min read 25-12-2024

Steelix, the Iron Snake Pokémon, is a formidable opponent known for its incredibly high Defense and Steel/Rock typing. Its dual typing grants it impressive resistances, but also leaves it vulnerable to specific moves and Pokémon. This guide will delve into the best strategies and Pokémon to use against Steelix in various battling scenarios.

Steelix's Strengths and Weaknesses

Before diving into counter strategies, let's understand Steelix's strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge is crucial for effective battling.

Strengths:

High Defense: Steelix boasts exceptionally high Defense, making it incredibly difficult to damage with physical attacks.
Steel/Rock Typing: This dual typing provides resistance to many common attack types, including Normal, Flying, Rock, Bug, Steel, and Ice.

Weaknesses:

Fighting: Steelix's biggest weakness is Fighting-type moves, which are super effective against both Steel and Rock.
Ground: Ground-type moves are super effective against Steel.
Water: Water-type moves are super effective against Rock.
Fire: Fire-type moves are effective against Steel.

This means a well-rounded strategy should focus on exploiting these weaknesses.

Best Pokémon to Use Against Steelix

Several Pokémon excel against Steelix, utilizing its weaknesses effectively. Here are some top choices, categorized by type:

Fighting-Type Pokémon:

Lucario: With access to strong Fighting-type moves like Close Combat and powerful other moves, Lucario can quickly break through Steelix's defenses. Its ability, Inner Focus, also prevents flinching from moves like Wake-Up Slap.
Breloom: Breloom's high Attack stat and access to Spore (for sleep) and Mach Punch (priority move) make it a great choice. Its ability, Technician, boosts the power of moves with a base power of 60 or less.
Conkeldurr: This powerful Fighting-type boasts high Attack and access to several strong Fighting-type moves. Its Guts ability further boosts its attack if it's afflicted with a status condition.

Ground-Type Pokémon:

Landorus-Therian: This powerful Ground/Flying-type Pokémon boasts incredible Attack and Speed, making it an excellent choice for quick and decisive attacks. It is immune to Electric attacks.
Excadrill: This Ground/Steel-type boasts exceptional speed, high attack, and Mold Breaker ability, letting it bypass abilities like Sturdy.
Groudon: This legendary Pokémon is a powerhouse, boasting incredibly high attack and access to Earthquake which is devastating to Steelix.

Water-Type Pokémon:

Kyogre: This Legendary Pokémon's immense Special Attack and access to Water-type moves make it a formidable choice. Its ability, Drizzle, can also set up rain which boosts Water-type moves.
Gyarados: With access to powerful Water-type attacks like Waterfall and Earthquake, Gyarados is a good choice.
Blastoise: Its high special attack and access to powerful water-type moves make it a reliable counter.

Fire-Type Pokémon:

Charizard: While not as effective as Fighting or Ground types, Charizard’s high attack and access to Fire Blast can still chip away at Steelix’s health.
Blaziken: Another solid choice with high attack and access to Fire-type moves.

Moves to Use Against Steelix

Regardless of the Pokémon you choose, focus on moves that exploit Steelix’s weaknesses. Here are some top choices:

Earthquake: A powerful Ground-type move that hits incredibly hard.
Close Combat: A high-powered Fighting-type move that hits hard but lowers the user's Defense and Special Defense.
Stone Edge: A Rock-type move which is not super effective, but still hits hard.
Liquidation: A powerful Water-type move.
Fire Blast: A strong Fire-type move.

Strategic Considerations

Abilities: Pay attention to Steelix's ability. Sturdy prevents a one-hit KO from attacks that would normally do so. Consider using moves that bypass Sturdy, like Stealth Rock or moves with priority.
Team Composition: Consider using a combination of Pokémon to exploit different weaknesses and cover potential threats.
Item Usage: Items like Choice Band or Life Orb can significantly boost attack power, increasing the chances of breaking through Steelix's defenses.

By understanding Steelix's weaknesses and utilizing the strategies outlined in this guide, you'll significantly improve your chances of victory against this formidable opponent. Remember to adapt your strategy based on the specific battle scenario and your available Pokémon.