Steelix
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Steelix | |
|---|---|
 National Pokédex Gligar - Steelix (#208) - Snubbull Johto Pokédex Onix - Steelix (#063) - Bellsprout Sinnoh Pokédex Onix - Steelix (#035) - Cranidos |
|
| Japanese name | Haganeil |
| Evolves from | Onix |
| Evolves into | None |
| Generation | Second |
| Species | Iron Snake Pokémon |
| Type | Steel / Ground |
| Height | 30 ft 2 in (9.2 m) |
| Weight | 881.8 lb (400.0 kg) |
| Ability | Rock Head / Sturdy |
Steelix (ハガネール Haganēru?, Haganeil in original Japanese language versions) is one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri.
The name Steelix comes from its Steel type and from its pre-evolved form, Onix, whose name is derived from onyx and oni.
Its Japanese name is a pun on the Japanese 鋼 hagane (steel) and the English "nail". It could also be derived from 鋼 hagane (steel) plus the English "eel", indicating its long body structure.
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[edit] Biological characteristics
Steelix's appearance is highly similar to that of its pre-evolved form, Onix. However, it is around two feet longer (in the generation of the Gold and Siver versions, Steelix was the longest measuring Pokémon at over 30 feet long, but it lost that honor to Wailord of the Ruby and Sapphire versions, at 47+ feet long), its body or at least its surface is comprised of steel, some of the boulder formations that make up its body have spikes growing out of them, its tail ends in a sharp point, and it has a large and prominent jaw. Although within the games Steelix is normally acquired only by trading Onix (see below) the Pokédex suggests that an Onix can essentially evolve into Steelix if it lives long enough and digs deep enough.
According to the theory, as an Onix grows older, it burrows deeper underground. Around the age of 100, the pressures exercised on its stone body become so high that it is compressed into a much harder, diamond-like composition, although it is closer to metal in nature. Steelix's multi-faceted body reflects bright light very well, giving it a shiny, glittery appearance.
Steelix continues to burrow underground like it did as an Onix, but it reaches far greater depths, reaching records of up to 0.6 miles (900 metres) while heading for the earth's core.
A male Steelix will have four teeth on its lower jaw (two on each side), whereas a female will only have two.
[edit] In the video games
Steelix is not available in the wild until Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. There it is encountered quite rarely on Steel Island and Victory Road (though they are more common than Onix in Victory Road. It is evolved from Onix when it is traded to another game cart holding the Metal Coat item. Therefore, the availability of Steelix depends on the availability of Onix, the Metal Coat and another person to trade Onix to momentarily. Steelix was rumoured to exist long before it was actually available in the games, and was supposedly called Baryonix, Diamonix, or something along those lines, even though Baryonyx is a species of British Dinosaur. The prefix "Baryon", however, simply means "heavy".
Steelix can be found in the wild in Diamond and Pearl, though only in three places including Victory Road, giving the player a chance to not have to deal with trading an Onix. Wild Steelix have all the moves an Onix would at the level they're encountered at, including Steelix-exclusive moves.
Steelix has average Hit Points and good Attack, but by far its most noteworthy attribute is its extremely high Defense, which is second only to Shuckle. Due to this it is common for a Steelix's moveset to have Toxic. Its Attack stat can be taken advantage of with moves such as Earthquake, Iron Tail, Rock Slide and Double-Edge (a Steelix with the "Rock Head" trait will not receive recoil damage from Double-Edge). Unfortunately, it is simultaneously plagued by mediocre Special Defense and very low Speed (but this now can be remedied with the new Rock move called Rock Cart which raises its speed 2 levels). Its Steel type grants it a host of elemental resistances, but its Ground subtype makes it vulnerable against Water-type attacks. Steelix can also learn the Dark-type move Crunch at level 49 but this otherwise powerful attack relies on its low Special Attack stat, considerably lessening its power/offensive capabilities. NOTE: in the fourth generation Crunch, as well as most Dark attacks, are now Physical instead of Special, meaning it is now powered by Steelix's Attack. Also Steelix can learn the moves Fire Fang, Ice Fang and Thunder Fang, which have a chance to burn/freeze/paralyze and cause the target to flinch (they are all Physical attacks), giving Steelix even more versatility.
[edit] In the anime
Steelix first appeared in episode #226 (Nerves of Steelix) under the control of Jasmine, the Olivine City Gym Leader, who used it in her badge battle against Ash. Steelix was also used by a Team Rocket member against the protagonists of the Raikou-Legend of Thunder special, as well as by Harrison against Ash in the Silver Conference. Another one appeared in episode #334 (All Torkoal, No Play) antagonizing a Torkoal that went on to join Ash's team. Morrison, one of Ash's rivals in the Hoenn League, owns a Steelix. Later in the series Brock's Onix has evolved into a Steelix. In #491 (Roaring Steelix! Protect Bidoof Village!), Ash and co. are chased by a giant, rampaging Steelix.
[edit] In the trading card game
Steelix has appeared on a good number of Pokémon cards throughout the game’s history. Each card is Stage 1 and Steel-type unless otherwise noted:
- Neo Genesis
- Neo Destiny (as Shining Steelix, Basic-class)
- Aquapolis
- Skyridge
- EX Sandstorm
- EX Team Rocket Returns (as Dark Steelix, as a Dark/Steel dual type)
- EX Unseen Forces (as Steelix EX)
Shining Steelix is considered useless and downright dubious in its battling structure because it has an extremely expensive attack (two metal energies and two ground energies) that, though it can do 80 damage and 10 damage to benched Pokémon to both sides, both depends on a coin flip and cannot be used twice in a row, whether or not the coin flip landed heads. In the views of card game players, this means that the damage is averaged down to 20 damage per turn.
Dark Steelix is the first Pokémon card to be both Dark and Steel-type, although Dark Scizor, of Neo Destiny, was a metal type with "Dark" in its name, meaning it, too, is able to gain the extra abilities of the Dark Energy Cards.
Many gamers, however, still question the fact that Steelix is not the heaviest Pokémon. Another steel-type Pokémon called Metagross is significantly heavier than Steelix, according to the Pokédex. Oddly enough, Metagross is just over one-fifth of Steelix's size. However, this is prevalent across the entire range of species, as the 47-foot Wailord weighs merely 880 pounds while the 6-foot Snorlax is half a ton in weight. The current record is held by Groudon, who weighs just over 2,000 pounds.
Steelix EX, like many of the EX cards now a days, has 2Weaknesses, 2Retreat Cost. One of the unique features, however, is its high retreat of 5.
[edit] References
- The following games and their instruction manuals: Pokémon Red and Blue; Pokémon Yellow; Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2; Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal; Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald; Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen; Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
- Publications
- Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
- Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed Version & Pokémon LeafGreen Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
- Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
[edit] External links
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Steelix as a species
- Steelix’s fourth-generation Pokédex entry on Serebii.net
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke Pokédex entry
- Smogon Pokédex entry
- WikiKnowledge.net’s entry for Steelix Previously hosted by Wikibooks
