As the list of Pokémon grows, and the number of Pokémon types with it, keeping up with how each type interacts with one another can be challenging. While type interactions are the same between mainline installments like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and Pokémon GO, their strengths and weaknesses are utilized differently, especially when it comes to which Pokémon you want to use to be the very best. The good news is we’re here to help with our handy Pokémon-type guides focusing on strengths, weaknesses, and counters. In this guide we’re going to take a look at the Steel-type specifically.
If you’re looking for a complete Pokémon type chart, we have that as well, just head to the link below!
More Pokemon:
- Pokemon Fairy Type Guide - Best Moves, Trainers, How Many Are There?
- Pokemon Resistance Chart - Damage Type Resistance Table (2023)
- Pokemon Bug Type Guide - Weaknesses, Strengths, Counters
Pokémon Steel Type Weaknesses & Counters
Steel type Pokémon have three weaknesses: Fighting, Fire, and Ground. You’ll want to use one of these if you’re trying to deal with any Steel-type Pokémon.
That means you’ll want to use strong Pokémon of those types.
- Fighting: If you want to go toe-to-toe with Steel-types with Fighting-type Pokémon, you have a few options. Fighting-types with high Attack and Special Attack stats like Hitmonlee, Heracross, Gallade, Conkeldurr, Sneasler, or Iron Hands will hit hard. If you want to double up on Steel’s weakness to both Fighting and Fire, Infernape has both types covered, while Great Tusk will cover both the Fighting and Ground weakness.
- Fire: The most effective Fire-type picks to combat the Steel-type will be Flareon, Chandelure, Volcarona, Armarouge, Ceruledge, or Iron Moth. Both Blaziken and Emboar will punish Steel-types effectively as well, as they’re both dual-type, covering Fire and Fighting.
- Ground: Finally, the Ground-type offers plenty of options to take down Steel-types, including Golem, Garchomp, Rhyperior, Excadrill, Ursaluna, and more. You may be tempted to bring Camerupt due to its Fire/Ground typing making it resistant to Steel moves and doubly effective when attacking, but be aware that its low Defense and Special Defense could still leave it in a tight spot against a strong Steel-type
Pokémon Steel Type Strengths
The good news, if you’re the one on the attack, is Steel-type Pokémon have a lot of strengths against some prevalent Pokémon types, and as an added bonus, they only take half damage from 10 of the 18 total Pokémon types, and are completely immune to Poison-type attacks. In addition, Steel-types are immune to the Poisoned status condition as well, unless the opposing Pokémon has the Corrosion Ability.
Steel-type moves do double damage to any Fairy, Ice, or Rock Pokémon
These strengths make Steel-type Pokémon an excellent counter to some fearsome foes:
- Fairy: Granbull, Gardevoir, Primarina, Hatterene, Flutter Mane, etc.
- Ice: Weavile, Glaceon, Beartic, Frosmoth, Cetitan, etc.
- Rock: Golem, Tyranitar, Rampardos, Stonjourner, Iron Thorns, etc.
Want your Steel-type Pokémon to do even more damage against your opponent? The following Pokémon take 4x damage from Steel-type attacks thanks to their dual-typing: Alolan Ninetails, Carbink, Diancie, and Hisuian Avalugg,
Best Steel Type Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet
The best Steel-type Pokémon you can use in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet depends on how you judge them. If you’re doing comparing highest Attack/Special Attack base stats, the top five are:
- Dialga (150 base Special Attack)
- Zacian (Crowned Sword Form) (150 base Attack)
- Solgaleo (137 base Attack)
- Kingambit (135 base Attack)
- Metagross (135 base Attack)
Best Steel Type Pokémon in Pokémon GO
The best Steel type creatures in Pokémon GO depend on how you judge them. If you’re doing a straight up maximum CP comparison the top five are:
- Solgaleo (4,570)
- Dialga (4,565)
- Metagross (4,286)
- Heatran (4,244)
- Kartana (4,156)
The judgments change a bit when you’re actually battling, however. Shadow Metagross is by far the best Steel-type attacker in Pokémon GO, as long as it’s equipped with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash. Other strong Steel-type fighters are Metagross, Shadow Excadrill, Melmetal, and Jirachi.
We know that in Pokémon there is no singular right answer for every situation, do you have your own recommendations? Let your fellow trainers know in the comments below.
