#0208 · Johto · Generation 2

Steelix

Iron Snake Pokémon · Steel/Ground-type

Steelix is a Steel/Ground-type Pokémon, the Iron Snake Pokémon, number 208 (#0208) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 2 and comes from the Johto region. It is 9.2 m tall and weighs 400 kg.

Steelix is the Iron Snake Pokémon, an Onix that has spent so long under heat and pressure that the Pokédex calls its body harder than diamond. It digs towards the planet's core, and it can Mega Evolve into an even longer, heavier giant.

How to pronounce Steelix

Steelix is pronounced STEE-liks. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Steelix said out loud:

In Japanese it is ハガネール (Haganeil).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Steelix has a silvery-grey body of chipped, scraped rock-like segments, three of them carrying long spikes, and a huge jaw lined with square teeth. It is 9.2 m (30'02") long and weighs 400 kg (881.8 lbs). Males have two pairs of ridges on the lower jaw and females one. The Pokédex says it was tempered underground by high pressure and heat, and that not even diamond can scratch its steel-powder coat.

Behaviour

Steelix lives even deeper than Onix; the Pokédex records one reaching over 1 km (six-tenths of a mile) down, and says it digs towards the earth's core. Its jaws chew through boulders and its eyes see in the dark. Bulbapedia says it sleeps standing upright without toppling over.

Habitat

The Pokédex places it deep underground. It is not available in Scarlet and Violet. In Legends: Z-A a single Steelix appears in Wild Zone 3 as part of the story, and more live in the Mega Dimension DLC's Hyperspace Lumiose.

Diet

The Pokédex says the iron it swallows along with the soil is what transformed its body.

Powers

Rock Head stops recoil, Sturdy lets it survive a hit from full health, and the hidden Sheer Force boosts moves with extra effects. It hits with Iron Head, Earthquake and Crunch and sets up Stealth Rock. Its 200 base Defense is among the highest of any Pokémon, but its base Speed is only 30. Mega Steelix, new in Generation VI, gains Sand Force, a longer body and crystalline spikes, and the Pokédex says it uses magnetism to steer loose shell fragments in front of attacks.

Name origin

Steelix may combine steel, helix and Onix or onyx. Its Japanese name is Haganeil (ハガネール), which may blend hagane ('steel') with 'nail' or 'tail'.

Design inspiration

Like Onix, Steelix may mix a snake and an earthworm, and it may nod to the bergstutz or stollwurm, burrowing dragons of Alpine legend. Its silver colouring and gold Shiny may reference Gold and Silver. Mega Steelix's crystalline body may allude to graphite compressing into diamond. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Steelix evolves from Onix when traded holding a Metal Coat; in FireRed and LeafGreen this is blocked until the player has the National Pokédex.

In the games

Steelix rampages through Panula Cave as a boss in Pokémon Ranger after the Go-Rock Squad enrage it, and in New Pokémon Snap it counts among the Illumina Pokémon, found at Durice Island's Illumina Spot. The species first appeared in Gold and Silver.

In the anime

Steelix debuted in 'Nerves of Steelix!' as Jasmine's partner; its defeat by Ash's Cyndaquil won him the Mineral Badge. Brock's Steelix is his old Onix, which grew up while his brother Forrest trained it, and 'When Regions Collide!' revealed that it can Mega Evolve.

Fun facts

• In the Spaceworld '97 demo, Bulbapedia says an early Steelix evolved from Onix at level 38 rather than by trade.
• Bulbapedia calls Steelix a parallel to Scizor: each is a Generation II evolution of a Generation I Pokémon, swaps one of its types for Steel, and loses 40 base Speed.
• Mega Steelix's 230 base Defense ties Shuckle and Mega Aggron for the highest of any obtainable Pokémon.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Steelix (Pokémon) · Serebii: Steelix (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 75
• Attack: 85
• Defense: 200
• Sp. Atk: 55
• Sp. Def: 65
• Speed: 30

Steelix’s base stat total is 510. Its highest stat is Defense.

Type matchups

What is Steelix weak to?

Steelix takes extra damage from Fire (2×), Water (2×), Fighting (2×), Ground (2×) moves.

It resists Rock (¼×), Normal (½×), Flying (½×), Psychic (½×), Bug (½×), Dragon (½×), Steel (½×), Fairy (½×).

It is immune to Electric, Poison moves.

Evolution

What does Steelix evolve from?

Steelix evolves from Onix (Trade holding Metal Coat).

Steelix is the final stage of its evolution family.

The whole family: Onix, Steelix.

Forms

• Mega Steelix (Mega): Steel/Ground-type, base stat total 610 (HP 75, Attack 125, Defense 230, Sp. Atk 55, Sp. Def 95, Speed 30). Ability: Sand Force.

Abilities

• Rock Head: Protects against recoil damage.
• Sturdy: Prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.
• Sheer Force (hidden ability): Strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.

Moves

Moves Steelix learns by level up in Sword / Shield

TM moves (49)

Steelix can learn 49 moves from TMs in Sword / Shield: Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Dig, Screech, Self-Destruct, Rest, Rock Slide, Snore, Protect, Scary Face, Attract, Sandstorm, Sunny Day, Facade, Rock Tomb, Sand Tomb, Rock Blast, Payback, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Round, Bulldoze, Brutal Swing, Stomping Tantrum, Breaking Swipe, Body Slam, Earthquake, Substitute, Endure, Sleep Talk, Iron Tail, Crunch, Taunt, Iron Defense, Dragon Dance, Gyro Ball, Dark Pulse, Dragon Pulse, Earth Power, Flash Cannon, Iron Head, Stone Edge, Stealth Rock, Heavy Slam, Drill Run, High Horsepower, Psychic Fangs, Body Press.

Egg moves (7), which Onix can hatch knowing:Block, Defense Curl, Dragon Tail, Flail, Head Smash, Rollout, Wide Guard.

Move tutor moves (4): Meteor Beam, Scorching Sands, Steel Beam, Steel Roller.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Mineral.
• Egg cycles: 25 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 3,200).
• Catch rate: 25 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium (1,000,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 2 Defense effort values.
• Base experience yield: 179.

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon evolved through use of a strange item. Its body is coated with steel powder and notably hard—not even diamond can leave so much as a scratch. (Legends: Arceus)

It is thought its body transformed as a result of iron accumulating internally from swallowing soil. (Platinum, Black, White, Shield)

It is said that if an Onix lives for over 100 years, its composition changes to become diamond-like. (Silver, FireRed, Sword)

Steelix lives even further underground than Onix. This Pokémon is known to dig toward the earth's core. There are records of this Pokémon reaching a depth of over six-tenths of a mile underground. (Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)

It chews its way through boulders with its sturdy jaws. Its eyes can see in the darkness underground. (Pearl, Y)

Tempered underground under high pressure and heat, its body is harder than any metal. (Diamond, X)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Tallest Ground type: 9.2 m.
• Highest Defense among Ground types: 200.
• Tallest Steel type: 9.2 m, shared with 1 other.
• Heaviest Pokémon in Gen 2: 400 kg.
• Tallest Pokémon in Gen 2: 9.2 m.
• Heaviest Ground type in Gen 2: 400 kg.
• Tallest Ground type in Gen 2: 9.2 m.
• Highest Defense among Ground types in Gen 2: 200.
• Highest base stat total among Ground types in Gen 2: 510.
• Heaviest Steel type in Gen 2: 400 kg.
• Tallest Steel type in Gen 2: 9.2 m.
• Slowest Steel type in Gen 2: 30 Speed.
• Highest HP among Steel types in Gen 2: 75, shared with 1 other.
• Highest Defense among Steel types in Gen 2: 200.
• Highest base stat total among Steel types in Gen 2: 510.
• Taller than 100% of all Pokémon (9.2 m).
• Heavier than 98% of all Pokémon (400 kg).
• Base stat total 510, ranked #237 of 1,025.
• Its best stat is Defense, ranked #3 of 1,025.
• One of 3 Pokémon that are both Steel and Ground.
• One of 107 gray Pokémon.
• Number 57 of 100 Pokémon introduced in Generation 2 (Johto).
• Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
• Can learn 72 different moves in Sword / Shield.
• Catch rate 25: about 3.3% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Has 1 alternate form.
• Appears in 13 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Steelix (Pokémon), Serebii: Steelix (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (STEE-liks): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Steel-type Pokémon · Ground-type Pokémon · Steel/Ground weaknesses and matchups · Johto region guide · Rock Head ability · Sturdy ability · Sheer Force ability · Compare Steelix · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

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Gen 2 Steel-type Pokémon · Gen 2 Ground-type Pokémon · Gen 2 Pokémon list · Gray Pokémon list · Mineral egg group · Pokémon that start with S · Snake Pokémon

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