Steelix

Steelix in the games: Onix reforged in steel

Steelix evolves from Onix when Onix is traded while holding a Metal Coat, trading Onix's Rock and Ground typing for Steel and Ground. It is 9.2 meters long and weighs 400 kilograms. Its regular abilities are Rock Head, which prevents recoil damage, and Sturdy, which stops it from being knocked out in one hit from full HP; its hidden ability, Sheer Force, powers up moves with added effects at the cost of those effects.

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire introduced Mega Steelix, reached with the Steelixite. The Mega form keeps the Steel and Ground typing but grows longer and nearly doubles in mass.

Steelix in the anime: Brock's first partner, evolved

Brock's Onix, his first Pokémon, stayed at the Pewter City Gym with his brother Forrest while Brock traveled Hoenn. When Brock came home in "Grating Spaces," it had evolved into Steelix under Forrest's care and learned Iron Tail and Dragon Breath. Years later, in the Sun and Moon series episode "When Regions Collide!", Brock revealed a Key Stone and Mega Evolved Steelix in a battle with Kiawe's Turtonator.

Steelix on cards: Neo holo, Shining Steelix, M Steelix EX and Radiant Steelix

Steelix's first card is Neo Genesis #15 from December 2000, a holo illustrated by Ken Sugimori. Neo Destiny followed with Shining Steelix, one of the set's Shining Pokémon: shiny-colored cards numbered beyond the 105-card set list. Aquapolis and Skyridge each carried a holo and a non-holo Steelix, and Unseen Forces added Steelix ex in the EX era.

Unleashed's 2010 Rare PRIME by Wataru Kawahara gave it a HeartGold & SoulSilver highlight, and Steam Siege (2016) brought both Steelix-EX and M Steelix-EX, each with a full-art version. Cosmic Eclipse's Secret Rare by Avec Yoko (2019) and Vivid Voltage's Steelix V followed. Lost Origin's Radiant Steelix (2022) used the Sword & Shield era's Radiant Rare treatment, and Paradox Rift (2023) and the Mega Evolution set (2025) each gave it an Illustration rare, by nisimono and Tonji Matsuno.

Collecting Steelix

Steelix is a good Pokémon for tracking the card game's special treatments one species at a time: a Neo Shining card, an EX-era ex, a Rare PRIME, a Mega EX, a V, a Radiant Rare and modern illustration rares. Brock's long anime history with it adds fans who follow Brock's team as well.

Cards to know

• Steelix (Neo Genesis #15)

  Steelix's first card, a 2000 holo illustrated by Ken Sugimori.

• Shining Steelix (Neo Destiny #112)

  One of Neo Destiny's Shining Pokémon, printed in shiny colors and numbered beyond the main set.

• Steelix (Unleashed #87)

  A 2010 Rare PRIME illustrated by Wataru Kawahara.

• Steelix (Cosmic Eclipse #247)

  A 2019 Secret Rare illustrated by Avec Yoko.

• Radiant Steelix (Lost Origin #124)

  A 2022 Radiant Rare illustrated by Sanosuke Sakuma.

• Steelix (Mega Evolution #150)

  A 2025 Illustration rare illustrated by Tonji Matsuno.