How to beat Steelix
Steelix has 1 version in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 200 HP as a Metal Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 200
- Weakness
- Fire
- Resistance
- Grass
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 144
- Fastest KO
- 1 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Steelix is weak to Fire, so those attacks do double damage. 58 Standard cards can Knock it Out in one hit that way — the fastest needs just 1 Energy.
- Don't over-invest. It only gives up 1 Prize card, so avoid spending a big two-Prize attacker on it if a cheaper Pokémon can do the job.
- Avoid Grass attacks. Steelix resists them, so they do less damage.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Skull Bash for 140 (4 Energy). 329 Standard cards have enough HP to survive one hit — before any Weakness, + or × effects.
- Watch the Retreat Cost. It costs 4 Energy to retreat. If it gets stuck in the Active Spot, that's your chance.
One-hit Knock Outs using Weakness
These Fire attacks do at least 200 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Steelix | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceruledge Phantasmal Flames | Fire | Infernal Slash R | 220 | 440 | 140 | 1 |
| Centiskorch Surging Sparks | Fire | Billowing Heat Wave R | 130 | 260 | 130 | 1 |
| Camerupt Ascended Heroes | Fire | Roasting Burn R | 110 | 220 | 140 | 1 |
| Blaziken ex Journey Together | Fire | Smolder-sault RC | 200 | 400 | 320 | 2 |
| Centiskorch Temporal Forces | Fire | Charring Breath RR | 180 | 360 | 140 | 1 |
| Chandelure White Flare | Fire | Burn It All Up RR | 180 | 360 | 150 | 1 |
| Flareon ex Prismatic Evolutions | Fire | Burning Charge RC | 130 | 260 | 270 | 2 |
| Rapidash Temporal Forces | Fire | Inferno Onrush RC | 120 | 240 | 110 | 1 |
| Team Rocket's Houndoom Destined Rivals | Fire | Scorching Fire RC | 120 | 240 | 130 | 1 |
| Victini White Flare | Fire | V-Force RR | 120 | 240 | 80 | 1 |
| Talonflame Perfect Order | Fire | Fire Wing RR | 110 | 220 | 150 | 1 |
| Salazzle ex Perfect Order | Fire | Dire Nails RR | 100 | 200 | 260 | 2 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 200+ damage (after Resistance).
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Steelix | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palafin ex Prismatic Evolutions | Water | Giga Impact W | 250 | 250 | 340 | 2 |
| Tinkaton Mega Evolution | Metal | Windup Swing M | 240- | 240 | 160 | 1 |
| Slaking ex Surging Sparks | Colorless | Great Swing CC | 280 | 280 | 340 | 2 |
| Mega Lucario ex Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Mega Brave FF | 270 | 270 | 340 | 3 |
| Vikavolt Pitch Black | Lightning | Giga Railgun LL | 260 | 260 | 160 | 1 |
| Cynthia's Garchomp ex Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Draconic Buster FF | 260 | 260 | 330 | 2 |
| Luxray ex Twilight Masquerade | Lightning | Volt Strike LL | 250 | 250 | 310 | 2 |
| Salamence ex 30th Celebration | Dragon | Dragon Pulse RW | 240 | 240 | 330 | 2 |
| Haxorus Shrouded Fable | Dragon | Dragon Pulse FM | 230 | 230 | 170 | 1 |
| Mega Gengar ex Ascended Heroes | Darkness | Void Gale DD | 230 | 230 | 350 | 3 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 140 from Skull Bash and stay in play (Weakness included). Single-Prize Pokémon first.
| Pokémon | Type | Stage | HP | Weakness | Retreat | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wailord Journey Together | Water | Stage 1 | 240 | Lightning ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Shrouded Fable | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Rhyperior Stellar Crown | Fighting | Stage 2 | 200 | Grass ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Journey Together | Metal | Stage 1 | 190 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Tyranitar Journey Together | Darkness | Stage 2 | 190 | Grass ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Aggron Twilight Masquerade | Metal | Stage 2 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Stage 2 | 180 | Fighting ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Archaludon Phantasmal Flames | Metal | Stage 1 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 2 | 1 |
Every Standard Steelix card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelix 93/132 | Mega Evolution I | 200 | Stage 1 | Welcoming Tail CC 40+ Skull Bash MMCC 140 | 4 | Fire ×2 |
Damage is the number printed on the card. Attacks marked + or × can do more, and Abilities, Tools and Stadiums can change the maths — always read the card. Energy letters: G Grass, R Fire, W Water, L Lightning, P Psychic, F Fighting, D Darkness, M Metal, N Dragon, C Colorless (any Energy).
Related: all Steelix cards in Standard · how to knock out a 200 HP Pokémon · Fire vs Metal · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Steelix weak to?
Steelix is weak to Fire, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Steelix have?
Up to 200 HP in Standard.
How many Prize cards does Steelix give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Steelix?
144 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Ceruledge's Infernal Slash (1 Energy, 440 damage); Centiskorch's Billowing Heat Wave (1 Energy, 260 damage); Palafin ex's Giga Impact (1 Energy, 250 damage).
What is Steelix's strongest attack?
Skull Bash, which prints 140 damage for 4 Energy.
What does Steelix resist?
Grass — those attacks do less damage to it.
Pully Play is an independent fan guide. It isn't run by The Pokémon Company. Format facts are checked against official announcements; always confirm card legality with the official rules before a tournament.