Community POTW #20

[Serebii]

Reno's busy writing the last one so here's the next one



This week we'll be doing Steelix, a classic Generation II Pokémon

http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/208.shtml

Steelix hasn't had much new, but it does have Sheer Force as its Hidden Ability and we all know how brutal that can be.

Go nuts.

[SomeoneIGuess]

Steelix @ Leftovers
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 244 HP / 248 Atk / 16 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk) | Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Dragon Tail
- Earthquake

Rest-Talk is your only recovery outside of Leftovers. Dragon Tail works in your sleep, and has no Negative Priority, but Steelix is so slow it can only hope to Phaze Ferrothorn. Earthquake is it's most reliable STAB, and gets coverage with D-Tail.

Impish is an option for those wanting more defense, but Steelix is already bulky enough alone.

Steelix @ Leftovers / Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Autotomize / Rock Polish
- Earthquake / Bulldoze
- Fire Fang
- Rock Slide / Ice Fang

Sheer Force Abuse. Autotomize increases your speed, outrunning base 95s after one use, and Scarfed 95s after 2 uses. Earthquake is your primary STAB, and Bulldoze works with Life Orb since it has a side effect, thus no recoil. Fire Fang because we hate Ferrothorns, and it gets the Sheer Force boost too, and Rock Slide because it gets coverage with Earthquake and it also gets the Sheer Force boost. Ice Fang hits Dragons.

Rock Polish is an alternative, since both Autotomize and Rock Polish are the same.

Jolly and an EV spread of 4 HP / 252 Atk / 28 Def / 224 Spd outspeeds Garchomp and base 100s after Rock Polish, which is alot.

[Serebii]

Oh yeah, Onix with Eviolite has a ridiculous defence. It's up to Reno but if you can note anything, it'd be cool

[Djqubi]

Nice pokemon. Steelix is a tank of defense and it can wall very well. Anyways I have good set for Steelix

Curselix
-Curse
-Thunder Fang
-Gyro Ball/Iron Tail
-Earthquake
Item Attached:Leftovers/Expert Belt
Ability:Sheer Force
EVs and Nature:
EVs:252 Atk/252 Def/4 HP
Brave Nature(+Atk, -Spd) / Relaxed Nature(+Def, - Spd)

Curse boosts Attack and Defense at cost of Speed which doesn't matter and recuded Speed makes Gyro Ball even more powerful. Thunder Fang makes Water Types go down because of Sheer Force ability. Iron tail is risky but if hits, its power will be enough to knock out most Pokemons. Earthquake is for STAB.

[Lucario At Service]

Here is my attempt on its set,

Steelix

Ability: Sturdy
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Relaxed/Sassy
EV's: 180 Atk / 252 Def / 76 SDef

- Curse
- Gyro Ball/Heavy Slam
- Payback
- Dragon Tail/Earthquake/Stone Edge

===================================

Ability: Sheer Force
Item: Life Orb

Nature: Impish/Careful
EV's: 180 Atk / 252 Def / 76 SDef

- Iron Tail
- Earthquake/Bulldoze
- Crunch/Rock Slide
- Ice Fang/Fire Fang

[Jeggyg]

WOOOOT
Steelix is like on of my favorite pokemon, apart from scizor... I have a thing for steels ok?
But I digress...

Go away you annoying big metal worm!
Item: Air Ballon/ Float stone.
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Sturdy
Moves:
Stealth Rock
Dragon Tail
Iron Tail/ Head
Stone Edge/ Earthquake/ Elemental Fang/ Curse/ Sandstorm/ Crunch

Ok, first, the name, it's what my brother shouted when he first went against this bad guy in Heart Gold... made me lol...
OK, First you use stealth rock, and really that's all that's here to do, hence sturdy, if you survive then use dragon tail to make them switch, or you can use [insert move here] also...
The Iron Tail. Head thing is really up to you, Iron head had 100 accuracy, in exchange for 20 less power and Iron Tail has 100 power but 75 accuracy
As for the last moveset it's really mup to you, if you want you can have Stone edge to handle fires and flying types... which shouldn't give you too much trouble, but still, earthquake, for a nice bit of STAB and electric/ fire/ rock coverage, the eleemental fang is a nice idea too because thunder and Ice fang both handle a weakness of his, water and ground respectively. Curse to boost your already beastly defence and okish attack, whilst sacrificing your really bad speed. Sandstorm if you want that kinda thing... but if you want that Tyranitar does it better... Crunch... for coverage if you want it but... it's nothing special...
Item wise, it's up to you, i chose those two particularly because steelix is large chap, so moves like grass knot and Low kick will do ALOT of damage to him, or air ballon so he can be immune to ground type moves...
You'll want to be staying alive for as long as possible, so IV's in Hp, then Sp def, then attack.

If Tyranitar can do it, I can do it too!
Ok it's best not to think of him as an inferior tyranitar... but he can still pull of his moves...
Item: Choice Band
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Sheer Force
Moves:
Crunch
Stone Edge/Iron Tail
Earthquake
Elemental Fang/ Double Edge/ Explosion
Ok, so it's pretty much similar to the choice band tyranitar, except without persuit...
Um... Crunch Deals with ghosts, and psychics,but won't lower theiir defence cus of sheer force, Stone Edge and Iron Tail are your preference, same sttack similar accuracy except Iron tail gets STAB, which is nice, Earthquake is just a nice Bit of STAB and deals with pesky rock types, and fire types, and to a lesser extent electric types. With the fangs it's your choice, or you can choose double edge, or earthquake if you have little faith in life.
Evs: 180 HP, 252 Atk, 76 Spd.

Steelix basically has many options, but due to his shoddy special defence he won't be sttaying for long... if at all...

Pre EVo Corner!
Onix!
I Like Onix, Mainly because it's actually quite fast, for a rock type
Mini-leadix
Item: Eviolite
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Sturdy/ Weak Armour
Moves:
Stone Edge
Stealth Rock
Dragon Tail/ Roar
Earthquake
I like this set, and even though this guy won't be used in the little cup etc but it's still a nice idead, especiall for the Eviolite, which gives him WAY more defences that steelix
Stealthrock force a switch, repeat, or just smoosh them.
EVs: Both defences then HP

[SomeoneIGuess]

Eviolite Onix? Same Arguement as Eviolite Scyther. Stat-wise is great, Type-wise not so great.

Notable Usable moves, Notable Italisised:

Body Slam, Paralysis is useful but not in conjuction with Sheer Force
Curse, Ups Attack and Defense in exchange for lowering Steelix's speed- no one cares about it
Dragon Tail, Phazes
Explosion, it got nerfed but it works on a lead
Fire Fang, Ferrothorn
Gyro Ball, it works with Steelix's horrible speed and works even better with Curse. Ferrothorn does this better.
Ice Fang, kills dragons.
Iron Head hits a little softer than Gyro Ball but is more reliable, expecially with Sheer Force
Payback works better than Crunch, but you need to be slow to use it. But it's still better than Crunch.
Rest, is the only recovery this guy gets.
Rock Slide forms the Quake-Edge combo with Earthquake and gets the Sheer Force boost
Screech makes Steelix hit hard(er)
Sleep Talk works with Rest
Stealth Rock is if you need support.
Stone Edge if you are not utilising Sheer Force, like on a Sleep Talk set (Illegal)
Thunder Fang kills bulky waters and Gyarados, but which Steelix stays in on bulky waters like Suicune?
Toxic makes Steelix actually do reasonable damage.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autotomize, boosts speed, even if it is pathetic.
Block, trap an opponent who thinks they can handle Steelix and Curse freely
Bulldoze, Life Orb recoil-less Earthquake. Also good for support in doubles.
Crunch, for Levitating Ghosts
Double-edge, works with Rock Head but you lose Sheer Force. No coverage.
Heavy Slam, might work but there are too many heavy things in OU
Magnet Rise protects you from ground type moves
Psych Up is a cool move, and can potentially copy some useful boosts. Situational, though
Roar is like Dragon Tail, except it doesn't get walled by subs.
Rock Polish is another Autotomize
Substitute protects you from status, but you're immune to two kinds of status, so probably not. Works against other Dragon Tailers, though.
Taunt shuts down Whimsicott and other walls, but Steelix is kinda slow for this.

[stenli]

Anti-Lead
Steelix @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
Nature: Careful (+SpD, -SpA)
EVs: 252 HP / 220 SpD / 36 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Dragon Tail
- Taunt
- Earthquake / Fire Fang / Ice Fang

Lolwut Speed EV on Steelix!?!?1? Yes. The unique EV spread makes the Iron Snake pokemon able to outspeed and Taunt 0 IV Forretress. Dragon Tail send Taunt user (Deoxys-S) back to its ball. While the last slot is optional: Earthquake for the power, Fire Fang for Ferro & Forry, and Ice Fang for the Dragons.

[The White Wailord]

Pretty much the most annoying battle of your/their life
Steelix @ Life Orb
Nature:Adamant
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs:210 HP/220 SpD/80 Att
Stealth Rock
Earthquake
Fire Fang
Thunder Fang

You got some pretty good coverage with this.

[SomeoneIGuess]

@^ EVs?

Anti-Lead
Steelix @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
Nature: Careful (+SpD, -SpA)
EVs: 252 HP / 220 SpD / 36 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Dragon Tail
- Taunt
- Earthquake / Fire Fang / Ice Fang

Lolwut Speed EV on Steelix!?!?1? Yes. The unique EV spread makes the Iron Snake pokemon able to outspeed and Taunt 0 IV Forretress. Dragon Tail send Taunt user (Deoxys-S) back to its ball. While the last slot is optional: Earthquake for the power, Fire Fang for Ferro & Forry, and Ice Fang for the Dragons.

All you need to outrun is 0 IV Relaxed / Sassy / Brave Ferrothorn, since Forry doesn't see much use anymore. You can lose some HP for Attack to hit harder, too.

@Below: Eh whatever.

[stenli]

In case of some random player uses Forry (including me ), I'll stick with 36 Speed EV.

[Pokeman Man]

Classic CurseLix
- Curse
- Gyro Ball / Ice Fang
- Earthquake
- Rest / Fire Fang / Rock Slide
Item Attached: Chesto Berry / Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy / Sheer Force
Evs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 SpD / 252 Def
Sassy nature [ +SpD, -Spe ]

Classic. Since Steelix is already hard as hell to take down, Curse with max SpD EVs does well. Curse on this set is obvious, Attack up, Defense up, and Speed down. Gyro Ball hits 225 base power after some Curses. Earthquake is a great move on any Pokemon. Rock Slide is more reliable than Stone Edge, and gets the Sheer Force boost. Ice Fang hits Gliscor and the Dragons, and Fire Fang hits Forretress and Ferrothorn, both of the fangs benefiting from Sheer Force. Rest and Chesto Berry can go for a one-off recovery, especially since Steelix is already hard as hell to take down, try going through it a second time.

Choice Band
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide / Gyro Ball
- Ice Fang / Gyro Ball
- Fire Fang / Gyro Ball
Item attached: Choice Band
Ability: Sheer Force
Evs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave nature [ +Atk, -SpD ]

Earthquake is a great move. Rock Slide gets great coverage with Earthquake, and gets off Sheer Force. Ice Fang hits Dragons and Gliscor, Fire Fang hits Forretress and Ferrothorn, both fangs benefit from Sheer Force. Gyro Ball hits crazy hard.

[TimmahX]

Traits

Rock Head: Prevents recoil damage from Double-Edge... and Steelix has much more powerful attacks than that, so this ability is borderline useless.
Sturdy: Immunity to One Hit KO attacks (Which nobody uses), but also comes with a built in Endure effect, stopping it from being 1hkoed by most Water Types. This is a big boost for Steelix this generation, because it makes leading with him more viable, and makes one of my favorite Steelix gimmicks more viable.
Sheer Force: Boosts the power of the Fang Trio and Rock Slide, but sacrifices their side effects. This ability makes Rock Slide more viable than Stone Edge.

Cursed Steel
Sturdy / Sheer Force, Life Orb, Adamant, 252 Atk, 252 HP, 4 SpDef
- Earthquake
- Gyro Ball
- Rock Slide / Thunder Fang / Payback / Explosion
- Curse

This is a pretty standard affair for Steelix, but that's not a bad thing at all. If you do something right, go all in with it. Earthquake and Gyro Ball pick up STAB and have huge base damage. Curse is your main boosting move, giving you +1 Attack and Defense in exchange for -1 Speed. But at base 30 Speed, nobody cares about that (Plus you're running Gyro Ball anyway, and anything that uses that is slow by rule of thumb). Your last move slot has a few options. Rock Slide and Thunder Fang are both nice coverage moves that are boosted by Sheer Force. Payback rolls with Steelix's low speed and has respectable coverage. Explosion is a last ditch attack, if you can predict Steelix's impending demise. Depending on which move you take, pick Sheer Force or Sturdy to accommodate your decision.

Slow Choice
Sturdy, Choice Band, Brave, 252 Atk, 252 HP, 4 SpDef
- Earthquake
- Gyro Ball
- Payback
- Stone Edge / Explosion

Oh look, the first of my many Steelix gimmick sets. With a built in Focus Sash and the ability to carry a Choice Item, Steelix can use Gyro Ball and Payback like a champion. You still have your alternative attacks on deck should you need them though, Earthquake, Stone Edge, and Explosion.

Polished Sweeper
Sturdy / Sheer Force, Choice Band, Jolly, 252 Atk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
- Earthquake
- Heavy Slam / Stone Edge / Rock Slide / Thunder Fang
- Heavy Slam / Stone Edge / Rock Slide / Thunder Fang
- Rock Polish

Steelix can cap off at 348 Speed after one Rock Polish. That can actually outrun a solid amount of stuff, so this move set has some merit to it, and makes this whole option a lot more viable than most gimmicks. Earthquake has STAB, and is your standard attack. Since you're running with speed natures and EVs, Gyro Ball won't cut it here. Heavy Slam is a viable alternative in the UU, since things there are fairly lightweight compared to Steelix, who is pretty heavy (Under the taking 100 Base Damage from Grass Knot table). If you're running Sturdy, another option is Stone Edge. Like the first set though, you can run Rock Slide and / or Thunder Fang with Sheer Force. I prefer Sturdy though, since it guarantees at least one boost can be pulled off.

As to why Autotomize isn't used here, it has 5 less PP and reduces weight, thus weakening Heavy Slam if it is used. You can run it on Sheer Force variations if you want to weaken Grass Knot and Low Kick.

Sneaky Lead / Anti Lead
Sturdy, Leftovers / Balloon / Shed Skin, Adamant, 252 Atk, 252 HP, 4 SpDef
- Earthquake
- Dragon Tail
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt / Toxic / Explosion

Personally, I wouldn't trust Steelix as a lead because there are a lot of more viable options, but that doesn't mean he's a bad one... it's just that with Froslass, Ferrothorn, Whimsicott, Aerodactyl and other superior leads running around, Steelix has lots of superior options as a lead. That doesn't mean it's a bad anti lead though, or a combination of the two.

Earthquake is your main STAB, which ironically has no coverage on any of the pokemon I just mentioned, but covers some other ones. Dragon Tail is an attack that forces a switch, meaning other leads cannot disable it with Taunt, and it breaks through Focus Sashes. Stealth Rock is a great entry hazard to have, and can be set up if Steelix has not been Taunted. The last slot is a toss up. Taunt is very good, but Steelix is too slow to carry it. Toxic works well on bulky Grass and Water types, but Steelix may be Taunted before it can use that too. Explosion is a great last ditch for once Steelix has done his job, and helps draw the comparisons to Froslass and Aerodactyl as suicide leads.

As far as hold items are concerned, you have a few options, though Leftovers is generally the best one since you have a built in Focus Sash with Sturdy. Balloon gives Steelix another immunity, and to a move that Aerodactyl will typically use on it (As do the Water/Ground types), making it considerable. Shed Skin stops Magnet Pull from Magnezone, but, Steelix can typically 1HKO Magnezone unless it carries Magnet Rise. I'll make a mention of Probopass, but he's too rare of an occurrence, and he's x4 weak to Earthquake too.

Alternative Attacks

Rock Blast: Annihilates Substitutes and inflicts damage, but Steelix lacks STAB boosts on it.
Ice Fang: Can be used to catch Dragons in the higher tiers.
Fire Fang: Decimates the Steel/Bugs and Ferrothorn.
Crunch: Can replace Payback in the Rock Polish set, but the coverage isn't stellar enough to mandate a slot, and it is outpowered by every other move in most circumstances (Can vary with Heavy Slam).
Block / Sand Tomb: Stops escaping, which can be nice with Sand Tomb, which also catches a STAB boost. But it's still very weak and is inaccurate.

Countering Steelix

Bulky Water types that can handle Earthquake are fine, and they can pretty much all sponge Gyro Balls. Blastoise, Vaporeon, Quagasire, Swampert, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad are all good choices. Blastoise and Vaporeon carry Thunder Fang weaknesses though, while the latter options have immunities and carry STAB Surf, Waterfall, Earthquakes or Earth Powers every time. Gliscor is a nice choice for it's dual immunities to Earthquake and Thunder Fang.

[SomeoneIGuess]

@^ Use Sheer Force and Rock Slide on the CB Set. It doesn't remove Payback's side effect so it's OK.

Heavy Slam doesn't hit a whole lotta stuff, since Steelix weighs 400kg and that's not too heavy in terms of OU. Use Sheer Force Iron Head.

[algae5]

to add to counters, air balloon heatran can switch in on an earth % 0and ohko it with fire blast and not really be frightened by anything else.

[UsernameSayWha?]

This could be a good Swords Dance Baton Pass reciever.
Onix @ Eviolite/Life Orb/Muscle Band/Expert Belt
Sheer Force
252 Atk/252 Spd/4 SDef
Jolly
- Rock Polish
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Thunder Fang
Baton Pass him in on a check, let the opponent laugh at you and send in their strongest Pokemon, use Rock Polish and "Sweep". Sheer Force so Rock Slide is stronger and more accurate than Stone Edge, Max Atk and Spd, so Atk boosts and Rock Polish are put to full effect. Earthquake and Rock Slide for STAB, Thunder Fang for coverage against Bulky Waters. Jolly because Onix needs to outspeed something. Onix over Steelix because of the speed on Onix that Steelix doesn't have. Eviolite can be used if you don't think you will survive the first hit without it. Life Orb for the boost of power, but recoil. Muscle Band for a little bit of extra damage. Expert Belt for again a little bit more power with no recoil, but only on Super Effective hits. Counters to this set would be any Swampert, Ferrothorn, Forretress, and Skarmory, as well as any thing that outspeeds it that can hit it with a special attack.

[Hoppip2]

StallLix
- Rock Polish
- Block
- Toxic
- Rest / Substitute / Protect / Gyro Ball / Earthquake / Sandstorm
Item Attached: Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Evs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 SpD / 252 Def
Sassy nature [ +SpD, -Spe ]

This is a nice little trap and toxic stall set. Block, Toxic, stall. Rock Polish is to speed up while stalling so you may out speed the next opponent that comes in. The final move is just either to help your survivability or so you are not blatant taunt bait. Also if your run gyro ball you may want to throw one of the other bottom moves up and replace rock polish.

[Nightlingbolt]

I just want to say, Autotomize > Rock Polish, since it halves Steelix's weight at the same time, thereby nerfing Low Kick and Grass Knot.

[Ignika]

Wallnix @ Eviolite
Sturdy
252 Def/252 Sp. Def/4 HP
Sassy nature (-Spd, +Sp.Def) or Relaxed nature (-Spd, +Def)
-Block
-Toxic
-Curse
-Heavy Slam

Not too good, but I've been using it awhile. With Eviolite, Onix has huge Defenses, Special and Physical. Block prevents the opponent from switching, so Toxic can do it's damage. Curse, when used the full six times, raises your ridiculously high Defense to AMAZING levels, 2760 or something if you have Relaxed nature, but Sassy is preferable to get the Sp. Def up. Heavy Slam so you're not Taunt bait.

[stargod13]

Steelix @ lifeorb
252 Attack 252 Defence
Automize
Thunder Fang
Fire Fang
Earthquake

Different than other sets because instead of carrying ice fang to take out dragons it carrys thunder to take out a random water or flying type that s being annoying. Automize is helpful because of the speed boost and allows you to start going with your attacks. you could possibly change earthquake for ice fang for full coverage.