[Final] Steelix

Discussion in 'Gen 5 LU Analyses' started by Xdevo, Jun 10, 2013.

  1. Xdevo

    Xdevo Phrasing Super Moderator Tour Director Super Moderator Tour Director

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    [​IMG]

    Its Uploaded

    ==Overview==
    The most noticeable thing about Steelix is its huge 200 Defense stat. This, when combined with the amazing typing of Steel- and Ground-typing, makes Steelix one of LU's premier physical pivots. Steelix finds a great niche in setting up Stealth Rock while being a pivot against some of LU's powerful physical attackers. Thanks to its huge Defense, Steelix can use a mixed defensive set with great success, becoming a great mixed tank. Steelix also has enough attack to threaten Pokemon, especially with Gyro Ball having great power thanks to Steelix's piss poor speed.

    All is not good for the iron snake; Steelix lacks reliable healing, which is a must have for any wall. This lack of healing, is Steelix's biggest weakness, as the snake can be worn down by moves fairly quickly. This fact is what degraded Steelix from a wall to a pivot or tank. Steelix's Ground typing, while beneficial in that it give Steelix and immunity to Electric, removes some of Steelix's resistance and adds a weakness to Water, which really hurts Steelix in a tier littered with Water- and Grass-type Pokemon.

    ==Sets==

    ===Steel Wall===
    {{set|name=Steel Wall
    |pkmn=Steelix
    |nature=Sassy
    |item=Leftovers
    |ability=Sturdy
    |ev=252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
    |move1=Stealth Rock
    |move2=Gyro Ball
    |move3=Earthquake
    |move4=Roar|move41=Dragon Tail}}

    This set is Steelix's main one; allowing Steelix to switch into one of the many resists that Steelix has and then use either Stealth Rock or threaten with an Earthquake or Gyro Ball. Roar can be used to rack up extra damage with Stealth Rocks (or potential Spikes), and scout any potential switches. The choice of Dragon Tail or Roar is a difficult one, Roar doesn't inflict damage, but can phaze subs, while Dragon Tail does extra damage and has a chance to miss.

    This set is fantastic for a defensive core. Slowking makes a great partner as it resists Fire-, Water-, and Fighting-type attacks that plague Steelix, while Steelix is immune to Electric, and can deal with the various physical threats that give Slowking trouble. Other Water-types like Lanturn or bulky pivots like Gardevoir can work, but not many things can synergize as well as Steelix and Slowking. This set also loves hazards, so Spikes users are definitely wanted.

    The EVs for this set are very flexible. Steelix has amazing physical bulk, even without investment, so Special Defense can be invested in to allow Steelix to use some of its many resists. This set should always run 0 Speed IVs to give Gyro Ball the highest chance of having its maximum power, and to also make Steelix a check against frail Trick Room sweepers. This set can be run more twoards the Physical Defensive side, with 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 SpDef EVs and a Relaxed nature. This set is only 3HKO'd by Scarf Primeape's Close Combat and Scarf Archeop's Earthquake and can take a lot of other random Earthquakes from various Pokemon throughout the tier.

    ===Curse===
    {{set|name=
    |pkmn=Steelix
    |nature=Sassy
    |item=Leftovers
    |ability=Sturdy
    |ev=252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
    |move1=Curse
    |move2=Gyro Ball |move21=Iron Head
    |move3=Earthquake |move31=Rest
    |move4=Sleep Talk |move41=Rest |move42=Taunt

    This set makes use of Steelix's bulk to become a threatening late game sweeper or a last man game changer. Curse boosts Steelix's respectable Attack and gargantuan Defenses higher, while lowering Steelix's useless speed. Gryo Ball will almost always have the maximum power after a Curse, but because of the extremely low PP, may not be a reliable option for any sweeping attempts. This is why Iron Head is a decent option in replacement. If Iron Head is used, Sheer Force should used alongside it as it can boost the move's power while removing the entirely useless Flinch chance. Earthquake is a good secondary STAB move, but can be forgone for the ability to use Rest and Sleep Talk to make a CroCune-esque set. Taunt can be used to prevent any unwanted phazing from Roar or Whirlwind, even with the reduced Speed, due to the lower priority of these moves.

    This set really appreciates having any powerful special sweepers out of play before it can set-up. Slowking is especially dangerous with both extreme power and a STAB Surf. Other major threats include Moltres, Specs Tangrowth, Lanturn, Omastar, Magmortar, Typhlosion, Sceptile, and Lilligant. There are a few physical threats to Steelix, but mostly only those with boosting moves, such as Gallade, Medicham, or Feraligatr. Other major threats like Trick and Taunt are very dangerous to this Steelix. Attempting to check all of these threats is a huge task to force on a team, which is the main reason that this set isn't very common. Toxic Spikes can go a long way to stopping some of these sets. A few other things that can go a long way to stopping these weaknesses are powerful walls and revenge killers or Pursuit users.


    ==Other Options==

    Steelix can also run a generic RestTalk set with Roar and a STAB move to help wall more things, but has the major problem with being both Taunt bait, and the poor Sleep Mechanics of this generation. Steelix can go more offensive with a set making use of Sheer Force wit Iron Head, Earthquake, Crunch, and another coverage move, but has fairly poor coverage and good make better use with another offensive Pokemon. Explosion can be used to pound a switch, but without the extra Defense drop that Explosion used to have, it isn't terribly viable. Toxic makes a good option to wear down common switches. Steelix is the heaviest thing in LU, so Heavy Slam is a great option, but it lacks the PP of Iron Head and will rarely hit for more than Gyro Ball.

    ==Checks & Counters==

    Steelix has major issues with anything that can hit it with a Fire or Water attack. Moltres is immune to one of Steelix's STAB moves, and can take a Gyro Ball, but with Stealth Rock up, it will be worn down quickly. Slowking can take every move that Steelix will throw at it, and retaliate with a STAB Surf or Scald. Tangrowth can do the same, but with Sleep Powder, Giga Drain, or Focus Blast. Overall, Steelix isn't very hard to switch into as it doesn't commonly run a lot of Attack and isn't powerful. One thing to note, Steelix can use Roar to prevent a switch into things that would normally switch into it.[/HIDE]
     
    Last edited: Jun 18, 2013
  2. Spoovo The Pirate

    Spoovo The Pirate Meep! Article Contributor Article Contributor

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    Is Heavy Slam worth mentioning instead of Iron Head? Apart from Aggron, Steelix is practically the heaviest thing in the tier (that I can think of), and Aggron's not dumb enough to switch into a Steelix anyways.

    I totally agree on the Sheer Force thing. Its usable movepool would pretty much be Iron Head, Crunch, Rock Slide and Bulldoze. ._.

    Does that special bulk do anything specific? Either way, it's an inefficient spread. 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 SDef Relaxed gives you the same special bulk, but with 24 more Defence points. However, if the special bulk doesn't survive a specific KO or something, I'd recommend 252 HP / 56 Def / 200 SDef, as that hits a useful jump point on the Defence.

    That's all I got though. ^-^
     
  3. Tyki

    Tyki Change

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    Nothing really that I can see wrong with this, simple poke, simply analysis. Talk about walling Volt Switch or something. No Toxic is also cool.
     
  4. Xdevo

    Xdevo Phrasing Super Moderator Tour Director Super Moderator Tour Director

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    I'll just change it to 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpDef Sassy. The Mixed Defenses were just a stab at a mixed defensive set.
     
  5. Dr. Fuji

    Dr. Fuji Active Member

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    Probably want Sheer Force as your ability if you're using Iron Head on the Curse see particularly if you're using Sleep Talk over Earthquake.
     
  6. Xdevo

    Xdevo Phrasing Super Moderator Tour Director Super Moderator Tour Director

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    Forgot to say this; I'll be mentioning Heavy Slam in OO; it has less PP than Iron Head (which is the general idea of using on the curse set), and will usually have less power than Gyro Ball (also Steelix is actually the heaviest thing in LU, and anything with that weighs less than 100 kg will be hit for 100 damage or more, which is a good amount of LU, but good number of things are only hit for 80 or less).

    I'll mention Sheer Force on the Curse set.


    This is just about done, but I'd like another look over it since something kinda felt off while writing this up.
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2013
  7. New Breed

    New Breed ka$h

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    Yeah this looks fine, I generally prefer to run the 252/220/36 spread but at least it's mentioned.

    Approved
     
  8. Tyki

    Tyki Change

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    Approved.
     
  9. Scene

    Scene reverie

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    looks perfect

    Approved
     
  10. Spoovo The Pirate

    Spoovo The Pirate Meep! Article Contributor Article Contributor

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