pancake
movement and location
qc 3/3: hootie is bootie, - capasbtl md raseri, resident chople berry hater eternally
gp 2/2: kris, tdp
[OVERVIEW]
Steelix is one of the most consistent Stealth Rock setters in the tier due to its combination of titanic bulk, a spectacular defensive typing, and a solid offensive presence, which allow it to check threats like Sneasel, Braviary, and Golbat while retaining power. However, Steelix is easily worn down due to a lack of reliable recovery. Furthermore, Steelix is commonly used because of the amount of role compression that it provides, so it has to switch into many different threats, adding to the speed that it gets worn down at. It is rather exploitable because it is weak to common types, including Fighting, Water, and Fire. Finally, Steelix struggles to get Stealth Rock up against teams with Xatu, which decreases its reliability a lot.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Gyro Ball / Heavy Slam
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Brave / Adamant
evs: 244 HP / 136 Atk / 128 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Steelix's great bulk makes it a very reliable Stealth Rock setter. Gyro Ball is a decent STAB move due to Steelix's low Speed, and it prevents Virizion from using Steelix as setup bait. Heavy Slam is an alternative option that hits Pokemon like Mega Audino, Granbull, and Aromatisse much harder. Earthquake is a more reliable STAB move that hits opposing Steelix, Togedemaru, and Rhydon, as well as hitting Emboar and Houndoom on the switch. Toxic prevents Steelix from being dead weight against Slowbro, Rotom-C, Vikavolt, and Slowking. Meanwhile, Protect gives Steelix one free turn of Leftovers recovery, slowing the pace at which it is worn down at and letting it retain its Sturdy when Stealth Rock is up. Additionally, it lets Steelix scout which move Choice item users like Rotom-C and Sceptile will lock themselves into. Roar is another option that further discourages Pokemon like Virizion and Scrafty from setting up on Steelix. Finally, Curse can be run to improve Steelix's matchup against Bulk Up Braviary, Xatu, and variants of Golbat and allows it to further increase its offensive presence while making it harder to KO.
Set Details
========
Sturdy allows Steelix to get up Stealth Rock almost every game or stop the sweep of Pokemon like Houndoom. Steelix has no reliable recovery, so Leftovers is used in order to prevent it from getting worn down as easily. The given HP and Special Defense EVs are used to avoid the 2HKO from Tauros's Fire Blast, and the remaining EVs go in Attack with a Brave nature to increase Steelix's damage output. A Brave nature and 0 Speed IVs are used to power up Gyro Ball, but if Heavy Slam is being used, an Adamant nature and maximum Speed IVs are better.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Steelix into Pokemon that it checks, such as Sneasel and Druddigon, in order to set up Stealth Rock, usually as soon as possible. However, if the opponent has, for example, an Emboar or Houndoom, sometimes it is preferred to preserve Steelix's Sturdy so it can check them. Steelix also has no reliable recovery, so be careful about what you switch it into, as it may make it difficult to check Pokemon like Sneasel later in the match. Bulky Water-types such as Slowbro will commonly switch into Steelix, so try to use Toxic on the switch to cripple them.
Team Options
========
Steelix is a very reliable Stealth Rock user with a good defensive typing, so it works well with many Pokemon. Pokemon to take on bulky Water-types such as Sceptile, Rotom-C, and Virizion are necessary because the best thing Steelix can do to those Water-types is use Toxic. Similarly, Grass- and Fighting-types are difficult for Steelix to take on, so Drapion, Garbodor, Toxicroak, and Slowbro make good teammates. Drapion and Toxicroak also help with the bulky Water-types. Steelix has very good natural physical bulk, but its special bulk is lacking, so blanket checks to special attackers like Slowking make decent partners. Finally, on more defensively oriented teams, Wish users like Vaporeon and Aromatisse can provide Steelix with the recovery that it typically lacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Chople Berry can be used to help Steelix take on Virizion and Hitmonlee, with Heavy Slam then allowing Steelix to beat Virizion one-on-one. A specially offensive set with Dark Pulse and Earth Power can be used to lure Pokemon like Slowbro, opposing Steelix, and Vileplume. A spread with no Special Defense EVs and simply maximum Attack can be used; it makes Steelix much less passive and the extra Special Defense is not typically needed anyway. A mix between the current spread and this spread could also be used; Steelix's EV spread is very customizable. A set with 164 Speed EVs and Taunt could be used to prevent opposing Steelix and Rhydon from getting up Stealth Rock as well as to prevent Pokemon like Vileplume from using recovery moves. Chesto Berry, when combined with Rest, is similar, as it prevents Steelix from getting worn down as easily but is generally not worth the moveslot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Slowbro, Slowking, Jellicent, Seismitoad, and Vaporeon are only threatened by Toxic and can set up Calm Mind or Stealth Rock or threaten Steelix with Scald.
**Xatu**: Xatu prevents Steelix from accomplishing its main task—setting up Stealth Rock—unless Steelix is using Curse or if Xatu is offensive and Steelix is using Heavy Slam.
**Grass-types**: Rotom-C, Vileplume, and Virizion don't take much from Earthquake and can heavily damage Steelix with their STAB moves. Sceptile can heavily damage Steelix with Leaf Storm or Focus Blast, but it cannot switch into Gyro Ball.
**Fighting-types**: Hitmonlee, Emboar, and Hariyama can OHKO Steelix with their very powerful STAB moves if Sturdy is broken. However, Hitmonlee is OHKOed by Gyro Ball and Emboar by Earthquake.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Steelix has amazing physical bulk, but its Special Defense is subpar, so strong special attackers like Vikavolt, Mismagius, Vanilluxe, Delphox, and Sigilyph can all take it on, especially if Sturdy is broken and Steelix is weakened. However, none of them, bar Vikavolt, can switch in.
gp 2/2: kris, tdp
[OVERVIEW]
Steelix is one of the most consistent Stealth Rock setters in the tier due to its combination of titanic bulk, a spectacular defensive typing, and a solid offensive presence, which allow it to check threats like Sneasel, Braviary, and Golbat while retaining power. However, Steelix is easily worn down due to a lack of reliable recovery. Furthermore, Steelix is commonly used because of the amount of role compression that it provides, so it has to switch into many different threats, adding to the speed that it gets worn down at. It is rather exploitable because it is weak to common types, including Fighting, Water, and Fire. Finally, Steelix struggles to get Stealth Rock up against teams with Xatu, which decreases its reliability a lot.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Gyro Ball / Heavy Slam
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Brave / Adamant
evs: 244 HP / 136 Atk / 128 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Steelix's great bulk makes it a very reliable Stealth Rock setter. Gyro Ball is a decent STAB move due to Steelix's low Speed, and it prevents Virizion from using Steelix as setup bait. Heavy Slam is an alternative option that hits Pokemon like Mega Audino, Granbull, and Aromatisse much harder. Earthquake is a more reliable STAB move that hits opposing Steelix, Togedemaru, and Rhydon, as well as hitting Emboar and Houndoom on the switch. Toxic prevents Steelix from being dead weight against Slowbro, Rotom-C, Vikavolt, and Slowking. Meanwhile, Protect gives Steelix one free turn of Leftovers recovery, slowing the pace at which it is worn down at and letting it retain its Sturdy when Stealth Rock is up. Additionally, it lets Steelix scout which move Choice item users like Rotom-C and Sceptile will lock themselves into. Roar is another option that further discourages Pokemon like Virizion and Scrafty from setting up on Steelix. Finally, Curse can be run to improve Steelix's matchup against Bulk Up Braviary, Xatu, and variants of Golbat and allows it to further increase its offensive presence while making it harder to KO.
Set Details
========
Sturdy allows Steelix to get up Stealth Rock almost every game or stop the sweep of Pokemon like Houndoom. Steelix has no reliable recovery, so Leftovers is used in order to prevent it from getting worn down as easily. The given HP and Special Defense EVs are used to avoid the 2HKO from Tauros's Fire Blast, and the remaining EVs go in Attack with a Brave nature to increase Steelix's damage output. A Brave nature and 0 Speed IVs are used to power up Gyro Ball, but if Heavy Slam is being used, an Adamant nature and maximum Speed IVs are better.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Steelix into Pokemon that it checks, such as Sneasel and Druddigon, in order to set up Stealth Rock, usually as soon as possible. However, if the opponent has, for example, an Emboar or Houndoom, sometimes it is preferred to preserve Steelix's Sturdy so it can check them. Steelix also has no reliable recovery, so be careful about what you switch it into, as it may make it difficult to check Pokemon like Sneasel later in the match. Bulky Water-types such as Slowbro will commonly switch into Steelix, so try to use Toxic on the switch to cripple them.
Team Options
========
Steelix is a very reliable Stealth Rock user with a good defensive typing, so it works well with many Pokemon. Pokemon to take on bulky Water-types such as Sceptile, Rotom-C, and Virizion are necessary because the best thing Steelix can do to those Water-types is use Toxic. Similarly, Grass- and Fighting-types are difficult for Steelix to take on, so Drapion, Garbodor, Toxicroak, and Slowbro make good teammates. Drapion and Toxicroak also help with the bulky Water-types. Steelix has very good natural physical bulk, but its special bulk is lacking, so blanket checks to special attackers like Slowking make decent partners. Finally, on more defensively oriented teams, Wish users like Vaporeon and Aromatisse can provide Steelix with the recovery that it typically lacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Chople Berry can be used to help Steelix take on Virizion and Hitmonlee, with Heavy Slam then allowing Steelix to beat Virizion one-on-one. A specially offensive set with Dark Pulse and Earth Power can be used to lure Pokemon like Slowbro, opposing Steelix, and Vileplume. A spread with no Special Defense EVs and simply maximum Attack can be used; it makes Steelix much less passive and the extra Special Defense is not typically needed anyway. A mix between the current spread and this spread could also be used; Steelix's EV spread is very customizable. A set with 164 Speed EVs and Taunt could be used to prevent opposing Steelix and Rhydon from getting up Stealth Rock as well as to prevent Pokemon like Vileplume from using recovery moves. Chesto Berry, when combined with Rest, is similar, as it prevents Steelix from getting worn down as easily but is generally not worth the moveslot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Slowbro, Slowking, Jellicent, Seismitoad, and Vaporeon are only threatened by Toxic and can set up Calm Mind or Stealth Rock or threaten Steelix with Scald.
**Xatu**: Xatu prevents Steelix from accomplishing its main task—setting up Stealth Rock—unless Steelix is using Curse or if Xatu is offensive and Steelix is using Heavy Slam.
**Grass-types**: Rotom-C, Vileplume, and Virizion don't take much from Earthquake and can heavily damage Steelix with their STAB moves. Sceptile can heavily damage Steelix with Leaf Storm or Focus Blast, but it cannot switch into Gyro Ball.
**Fighting-types**: Hitmonlee, Emboar, and Hariyama can OHKO Steelix with their very powerful STAB moves if Sturdy is broken. However, Hitmonlee is OHKOed by Gyro Ball and Emboar by Earthquake.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Steelix has amazing physical bulk, but its Special Defense is subpar, so strong special attackers like Vikavolt, Mismagius, Vanilluxe, Delphox, and Sigilyph can all take it on, especially if Sturdy is broken and Steelix is weakened. However, none of them, bar Vikavolt, can switch in.
Last edited: