Steelix like to burrow underground and prefer to live inside mountains or on mountains, or even caves. They are long, large and their body is harder than any other Pokémon's.
Physiology
Steelix resemble giant iron snakes. They are a reflective, silvery gray, which reflects the sunlight making them shine slightly. They are about 30 feet long. Their body is made up of rock-like sections, some of which have massive rock spikes coming out of them. They have a massive head mainly made up of their jaw. The jaw is large and wide with sets of large square teeth inside. Along their bottom jaw are a pair of ridges (varies with gender). Their eye sockets are slightly set in, giving them good eye protection. Underneath their bottom jaw and chin, on the underside of the jaw, there are small square domes. Their heads have two long ridges going from the eyes up to the top of their heads. Their jaws also have massive ridges where they meet their skull.
The rock portions on their body start at the back of their head. There are three slightly larger sections that have the massive rock-like spikes coming out of them. The tail ends in a long sharp point, but with a blunt tip. Steelix's rock-like sections don't look perfect and can easily be mistaken for rocks, for they have many chips and scrapes all along them from fights and tunneling.
Gender differences
A male Steelix has two pairs of sharp ridges on each side of its bottom jaw, one big one and one slightly smaller one. A female Steelix has only larger pair of the two ridges on either side of its bottom jaw.
Special abilities
Steelix are harder than any other Pokémon. They can create Template:M2 by spinning their body round and round and they can tighten and Template:M2 so they can attack.
Behavior
Steelix are rather rash and often charge into situations without thinking about the consequences of their actions. Often if they are disturbed they will attack anyone rather than the actual person responsible for disturbing them. They also often prone to being a bit vain and in some cases a bully to other Pokémon that happen to live in the area they are living in. This could be from evolving from Onix and realizing how powerful they have become and letting this knowledge go to their heads, as Onix are usually more peaceful than Steelix. Steelix don't give up until they are beaten. Often they are adamant about their choice of action.
Steelix live far underground, miles from the surface. They don't often surface above ground unless provoked. They can be found roaming around in deep caverns and tunnels. It is said that when an earthquake happens, multiple Steelix are battling far below the surface.
Steelix first appeared as one of Jasmine's Pokémon in Nerves of Steelix. Jasmine first used Steelix to help Ash stop Team Rocket from stealing Pikachu. Then, during the gym battle, Ash's Cyndaquil managed to defeat it, winning Ash the Mineral Badge.
Team Rocket accidentally stuck three shovels into the head of an underground Steelix while digging a pitfall trap in Faced with Steelix Determination. It went on to terrorize a village of Bidoof until the shovels were removed through the combined efforts of multiple Bidoof, Ash's Staravia, and his Pikachu.
In Pokémon Special, Jasmine used a Steelix disguised as an Onix in the Gym Leader's Tournament and another was on Iron Island and was used for training with Riley.
A combination of Steel- and Ground-types, Steelix are the longest Pokémon yet to be discovered, reaching over 30 feet in length. Since they live so deep under the surface of the earth, the intense pressure has made their bodies stronger than diamonds. Evolved from Onix, Steelix is every bit as intimidating as its relative.
Game data
NPC appearances
Pokémon Ranger
Steelix is a boss in Pokémon Ranger. After being enraged by the Go-Rock Squad, it rampages through Panula Cave until the player captures it with their Styler.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
Steelix lives even further underground than Onix. This Pokémon is known to dig towards the earth's core. There are records of this Pokémon reaching a depth of over six-tenths of a mile underground.
Steelix lives even further underground than Onix. This Pokémon is known to dig towards the earth's core. There are records of this Pokémon reaching a depth of over six-tenths of a mile underground.
Steelix live even further underground than Onix. This Pokémon is known to dig toward the earth's core, reaching a depth of over six-tenths of a mile underground.
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Steelix is the second longest known Pokémon, surpassed in length only by Wailord.
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Steelix is the only Pokémon normally obtainable through trade evolution while holding an item that can also be captured in the wild, as well as one of the very few evolved Pokémon not evolved by level available in the wild without the use of a cheating device (others being Raichu and Wigglytuff in Pokémon Red and Blue and Gengar in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl).
Steelix's base Defense stat is the second highest of all Pokémon, tying with Regirock at 200, and only surpassed by Shuckle at 230.
Steelix, like Onix, may be based on a mythical wyrm.
Name origin
Steelix's name is likely a combination of steel and onyx or Onix. Its Japanese name is based on 鋼 hagane, steel, possibly combined with the English word nail which, in romaji, comes out 'neiru'.
In other languages
German: Stahlos - from Stahl (steel) and possibly Koloss.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
For other sprites and images, please see Steelix images on Bulbagarden Archives.
