So you want to know about **all steel type Pokemon**, huh? Maybe you're building a competitive team, filling out your Pokedex, or just love that metallic clang sound when they enter battle. I get it. Trying to track down details on *every* single one can feel like hunting for a shiny – time-consuming and frustrating when info is scattered. I remember spending ages cross-referencing forums and bulbapedia pages before tournaments. Annoying.
Let's cut straight to it. This guide covers absolutely **all steel type Pokemon** across every generation, no fluff, just the stuff you actually need. Stats, movepools, hidden abilities, even the weird lore bits most articles skip. Why does Bronzong have Levitate? What makes Melmetal busted? We’ll get into that.
Honestly, some steel types are pure brilliance (looking at you, Ferrothorn). Others? Well, Probopass exists. We’ll cover the good, the bad, and the weirdly magnetic.
Every Steel Type Pokemon Organized by Generation
First things first. How many steel types are there actually? As of Generation IX (Scarlet & Violet), there are officially **over 70 distinct Pokemon** with the steel typing, either pure steel or as a secondary type. That’s a lot of metal. Finding a definitive list of **all steel type Pokemon** in one place? Almost impossible. Until now.
Here's the complete roster, broken down by when they first appeared. This is your master checklist:
| Generation | Pokemon | Type | Base Stat Total (BST) | Evolution Method / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen II (Introduced Steel) | Magnemite, Magneton | Electric/Steel | 325, 465 | Magneton evolves into Magnezone via Thunder Stone or Level Up in Magnetic Field areas (Gen IV+) |
| Gen II | Forretress | Bug/Steel | 465 | Evolves from Pineco (Level 31) |
| Gen II | Steelix | Ground/Steel | 510 | Evolves from Onix via Trade holding Metal Coat |
| Gen II | Scizor | Bug/Steel | 500 | Evolves from Scyther via Trade holding Metal Coat |
| Gen II | Skarmory | Steel/Flying | 465 | No evolution |
| Gen III | Mawile | Steel/Fairy (Gen VI+) | 380 (480 Mega) | Mega Evolution introduced Gen VI |
| Gen III | Aron, Lairon, Aggron | Rock/Steel | 330, 430, 530 (630 Mega) | Aron > Lairon (Level 32), Lairon > Aggron (Level 42) |
| Gen III | Beldum, Metang, Metagross | Steel/Psychic | 300, 420, 600 (700 Mega) | Beldum > Metang (Level 20), Metang > Metagross (Level 45) |
| Gen IV | Empoleon | Water/Steel | 530 | Piplup > Prinplup (Level 16), Prinplup > Empoleon (Level 36) |
| Gen IV | Shieldon, Bastiodon | Rock/Steel | 350, 495 | Shieldon > Bastiodon (Level 30, only from Fossils) |
| Gen IV | Lucario | Fighting/Steel | 525 (625 Mega) | Riolu evolves via Friendship during Daytime |
| Gen IV | Magnezone | Electric/Steel | 535 | Evolves from Magneton (See Gen II) |
| Gen IV | Probopass | Rock/Steel | 525 | Evolves from Nosepass in Magnetic Field areas |
| Gen IV | Dialga | Steel/Dragon | 680 | Legendary Pokemon (Creation Trio) |
| Gen IV | Heatran | Fire/Steel | 600 | Legendary Pokemon |
| Gen V | Excadrill | Ground/Steel | 508 | Drilbur > Excadrill (Level 31) |
| Gen V | Escavalier | Bug/Steel | 495 | Evolves from Karrablast when traded for Shelmet |
| Gen V | Ferroseed, Ferrothorn | Grass/Steel | 305, 489 | Ferroseed > Ferrothorn (Level 40) |
| Gen V | Klink, Klang, Klinklang | Steel | 300, 440, 520 | Klink > Klang (Level 38), Klang > Klinklang (Level 49) |
| Gen V | Tepig, Pignite, Emboar | Fire/Fighting, Fire/Fighting, Fire/Fighting | 308, 405, 528 | *Not Steel. Included here to prevent confusion as its final form looks metallic. |
| Gen VI | Honedge, Doublade, Aegislash | Steel/Ghost | 325, 448, 520 | Honedge > Doublade (Level 35), Doublade > Aegislash (Dusk Stone) |
| Gen VI | Klefki | Steel/Fairy | 470 | No evolution |
| Gen VII | Togedemaru | Electric/Steel | 435 | No evolution |
| Gen VII | Solgaleo | Psychic/Steel | 680 | Legendary Pokemon (Cosmoem Evolution) |
| Gen VII | Kartana | Grass/Steel | 570 (Beast) | Ultra Beast |
| Gen VII | Celesteela | Steel/Flying | 570 (Beast) | Ultra Beast |
| Gen VIII | Perrserker | Steel | 440 | Evolves from Galarian Meowth (Level 28) |
| Gen VIII | Stonjourner | Rock | 470 | *Not Steel. Included due to rock/metal confusion. |
| Gen VIII | Corviknight | Flying/Steel | 495 (Gigantamax) | Rookidee > Corvisquire (Level 18), Corvisquire > Corviknight (Level 38) |
| Gen VIII | Duraludon | Steel/Dragon | 535 (Gigantamax) | No evolution (Evolves into Archaludon via item in Gen IX) |
| Gen VIII | Melmetal | Steel | 600 (Gigantamax) | Evolves from Meltan in Pokemon GO (400 Candy) |
| Gen IX | Orthworm | Steel | 485 | No evolution |
| Gen IX | Revavroom | Steel/Poison | 500 | Varoom > Revavroom (Level 40) |
| Gen IX | Gholdengo | Steel/Ghost | 550 | Evolves from Gimmighoul after collecting 999 Gimmighoul Coins |
| Gen IX | Tinkatink, Tinkatuff, Tinkaton | Fairy/Steel | 297, 380, 506 | Tinkatink > Tinkatuff (Level 24), Tinkatuff > Tinkaton (Level 38) |
| Gen IX | Kingambit | Dark/Steel | 550 | Bisharp > Kingambit (Defeat 3 Bisharp Leaders while holding Leader's Crest, then Level Up) |
| Gen IX | Archaludon | Steel/Dragon | 600 | Evolves from Duraludon via Metal Alloy item |
Wait, What About Mega Evolutions and Regional Forms? Good catch. Megas like Mega Aggron (Pure Steel!), Mega Lucario, Mega Metagross, and Mega Scizor are distinct forms with significant stat and sometimes type changes. Hisuian Goodra (Steel/Dragon) and Galarian Stunfisk (Ground/Steel) add even more steel options. They count as part of the **all steel type Pokemon** lineup when discussing forms.
That's the core list. Over 70 entries once you factor in different forms and megas. More than I thought when I started compiling this! Makes you realize how much Game Freak loves this type.
Why Steel Types Rule (And Sometimes Don't): Key Strengths & Weaknesses
Steel types are famous for their defensive prowess. It's not hype. They genuinely have the best defensive type combination in the game, resisting a whopping **10 types**:
- Normal
- Grass
- Ice
- Flying
- Psychic
- Bug
- Rock
- Dragon
- Fairy (Added in Gen VI, huge buff!)
- Other Steel types (Steel vs Steel is neutral in Gen II-V, resisted from Gen VI onward)
Plus, they have complete immunity to Poison moves and the badly poisoned status. Toxic Spikes? Doesn't bother them.
But here's the catch. Steel isn't invincible. They crumple against three specific types:
- Fighting (Super Effective)
- Fire (Super Effective)
- Ground (Super Effective)
These weaknesses are common in competitive play. You see Earthquake everywhere. Fire moves are common coverage. Fighting STAB is standard on many sweepers. This is the **biggest challenge** when using **all steel type Pokemon**. You *have* to cover these weaknesses on your team.
Offensively? Steel is... okay. It hits Rock, Ice, and Fairy super effectively. But it's resisted by Fire, Water, Electric, and other Steel types. Not amazing coverage by itself. That's why many steel attackers rely on strong secondary STAB (like Metagross's Psychic or Excadrill's Ground) or coverage moves.
Ever sent out your shiny Aggron feeling invincible, only to get OHKO'd by a random Fighting move your opponent had tucked away? Yeah, me too. Feels bad. This vulnerability is why abilities like Levitate (Bronzong) or Flash Fire (Heatran) are absolute gold on steel types. Heatran laughs at Fire moves. Bronzong doesn't care about Earthquakes. Finding **all steel type Pokemon** with these ability hax is crucial for competitive builds.
The Steel Type Hall of Fame & Shame
Not all steel types are created equal. Some dominate the meta year after year. Others struggle to find a niche. Let's rank them based on overall utility across Singles and Doubles formats (Smogon / VGC):
S-Tier (Meta Defining): These are the kings and queens. You see them constantly. Ferrothorn (the ultimate hazard setter and tank), Heatran (amazing typing, traps opponents), Corviknight (defogging, pivoting beast), Aegislash (unique stance change mechanic), Excadrill (sand rush sweeper), Magearna (when not banned, ridiculous versatility), Gholdengo (makes hazard removal impossible).
A-Tier (Consistently Strong): Very reliable choices. Scizor (Bullet Punch Technician hurts), Skarmory (original physical wall), Metagross (powerful attacker), Celesteela (defensive beast in VGC), Jirachi (flinch hax!), Empoleon (defensive utility), Melmetal (raw power), Kingambit (Supreme Overlord is scary later in battles).
B-Tier (Solid Niche Picks): Good, but often outshone or require specific support. Magnezone (traps and kills other steels), Lucario (versatile attacker), Bisharp (pre-evo Kingambit still decent), Klefki (Prankster screens/thunder wave), Tinkaton (unique support/offense hybrid), Archaludon (Stamina ability + Stamina makes it a wall).
C-Tier (Situational / Outclassed): Harder to justify on most teams. Aggron (4x weak to Fighting/Ground hurts), Steelix (similar issues), Bronzong (slow, passive), Klinklang (setup sweeper but frail), Duraludon (decent but often overshadowed now), Copperajah (strong but slow).
D-Tier (Rarely Used): Struggles significantly. Bastiodon (poor defensive typing), Probopass (see Bastiodon), Forretress (largely outclassed by Ferrothorn), Perrserker (Steely Spirit is neat but stats low).
Mawile? Mega Mawile was S-Tier, absolutely monstrous. Without the mega... it falls hard. Sad times. Probably C-Tier now.
This tier list changes with each generation. New Pokemon like Gholdengo shake things up. New moves. New abilities. But the core strengths of the top tiers remain.
Building Your Steel Core: Competitive Strategies
Throwing random **all steel type Pokemon** onto a team doesn't work. You need synergy. Steel shines as a defensive backbone. Here's how to build around them:
1. The Defensive Pillar: This is the classic role. Use Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Skarmory, or Corviknight to soak up physical hits, set hazards (Stealth Rock, Spikes), or remove them (Defog). Pair them with partners that cover their Fighting/Fire/Ground weaknesses. Think bulky Water types (Rotom-Wash, Toxapex), Flying types (Landorus-Therian intimidate helps!), or Fire resists like Gastrodon.
2. The Steel Trapper: Magnezone is unique. Its Magnet Pull ability prevents Steel types from escaping. Why is this huge? Because it lets you trap and eliminate the opponent's steel type that might be walling your sweeper. Pair Magnezone with something like Weavile or a Dragon that hates Fairies – removing their steel check opens the door.
3. The Setup Sweeper: Many steel types can become terrifying sweepers. Scizor with Swords Dance and Bullet Punch. Excadrill with Swords Dance and Sand Rush support. Klinklang with Shift Gear (though risky). They need the right team support to set up safely – screens, redirection (Follow Me/Rage Powder), or eliminating their counters first.
4. The Utility Disruptor: Klefki is the poster child here. Prankster lets it get off Thunder Wave, Spikes, or Light Screen before the opponent moves. Tinkaton has access to great utility like Knock Off and Encore. Bronzong can set Trick Room. They disrupt the opponent's strategy while supporting your team.
Essential Moveset Archetypes for Steel Types
What moves make **all steel type Pokemon** tick? Depends on their role:
- Tanks/Walls: Stealth Rock, Spikes, Leech Seed (Ferrothorn), Roost (Skarmory/Corviknight), Body Press (uses Defense stat for damage), Toxic, Protect, Iron Defense. Recovery moves are vital.
- Physical Attackers: Iron Head (reliable STAB), Bullet Punch (priority STAB, Scizor), Earthquake (coverage), Close Combat (coverage), Swords Dance, Rock Slide (coverage).
- Special Attackers: Flash Cannon (reliable STAB), Steel Beam (nuke, but halves HP!), Thunderbolt (Magnezone), Flamethrower/Fire Blast (Heatran), Earth Power (Heatran), Calm Mind.
- Utility: Defog (Corviknight/Skarmory), Thunder Wave (Klefki), Spikes (Klefki), Screens (Light Screen/Reflect - Klefki), Trick, Knock Off (Tinkaton).
Watch That Terastallization! Gen IX changed the game. Turning your Steel type into a pure Steel type (Tera Steel) boosts their STAB damage massively. Or, you could Tera away from Steel to shed those Fighting/Fire/Ground weaknesses entirely – imagine a Tera Flying Heatran suddenly immune to Ground! It adds a crazy layer when planning around **all steel type Pokemon**.
Beyond the Stats: The Lore and Design of Steel Pokemon
It's not all about numbers. The designs and concepts behind **all steel type Pokemon** are fascinating. What objects or ideas did they draw from?
Living Weapons & Armor: Aegislash is quite literally a possessed sword and shield. Escavalier is a knightly lancer. Bisharp and Kingambit embody samurai warlords. Corviknight is a knightly raven taxi service in Galar. There's a strong medieval combat theme.
Industrial & Mechanical: Klinklang are literal gears, Magnemite are magnets and screws, Revavroom is a car engine. They represent technology and machinery. Melmetal is liquid metal (Mercury) given life. Duraludon and Archaludon evoke skyscrapers.
Natural Minerals: Aggron and Steelix are based on iron ore and mining. Bastiodon is a fortified dinosaur. Probopass is, well, a compass nose. Copperajah is inspired by copper elephants.
Mythical & Legendary: Dialga controls time, reflecting the durability and permanence of metal. Solgaleo is the sun lion, its steel body representing cosmic power. Heatran lives in volcanic magma. Kartana is an origami swordsman from another dimension.
Whimsical: Klefki steals keys. Tinkaton builds a hammer from Corviknight parts (that lore is dark!). Mawile has a giant deceptive jaw. Togedemaru is a cute spiky ball.
Game Freak finds inspiration in surprisingly diverse places for these metallic creatures. It’s why the roster of **all steel type Pokemon** feels so varied.
Your Burning Questions About All Steel Type Pokemon Answered (FAQ)
Alright, let's tackle those specific questions people are always asking about **all steel type Pokemon**:
Q: What was the very first Steel type Pokemon?
A: Steel types debuted in Generation II (Gold/Silver/Crystal). The very first Pokemon you could encounter/catch with the Steel type were Magnemite and Magneton (who gained the Steel type in Gen II, previously pure Electric in Gen I), Forretress (evolves from Pineco), and Skarmory. Onix evolved into the new Steelix via trading with a Metal Coat.
Q: Are there any pure Steel type Pokemon?
A: Yes! Several, though many have dual typing. Pure Steel types include: Klink, Klang, Klinklang, Registeel (Legendary), Arceus holding an Iron Plate (or using Judgment while holding it), Meltan, Melmetal, Perrserker, and Orthworm. Mega Aggron also becomes pure Steel.
Q: Which Steel type has the highest Defense?
A: Mega Steelix takes the crown with a monstrous Defense stat of 230. In non-Mega forms, regular Steelix has 200, followed by Bastiodon (168), and Aggron (180). Shuckle has higher defense overall, but it's Bug/Rock, not Steel.
Q: Which Steel type has the highest Attack?
A: Mega Mawile reigns supreme thanks to its Huge Power ability, effectively doubling its base 105 Attack to a functional 210. Among non-Megas, Kingambit has the highest base Attack stat at 135, followed by Metagross at 135 (same base, but Kingambit's Supreme Overlord ability often pushes it higher in battle). Melmetal also boasts a hefty 143 Attack.
Q: Are Steel types immune to Sandstorm damage?
A: Yes! This is a key advantage. All Pokemon with the Steel type (even secondary typing) are completely immune to damage from Sandstorm weather. Rock and Ground types also share this immunity. This makes Steel types excellent partners on Sandstorm teams alongside Tyranitar or Hippowdon.
Q: Why does Bronzong sometimes have Levitate?
A: Bronzong has two possible abilities: Levitate or Heatproof. Levitate makes it immune to Ground-type moves (covering one of Steel's key weaknesses!), which is generally preferred competitively. Heatproof halves Fire damage instead, which is situationally useful but less reliable overall. You gotta check the ability!
Q: Why is Gholdengo so good?
A> Oh man, Gholdengo. Its ability, Good as Gold, is the star. It makes Gholdengo completely immune to all status moves. Thunder Wave? Will-O-Wisp? Taunt? Spore? Toxic? Parting Shot? Defog? All useless against it. This single-handedly shuts down countless support and hazard removal strategies, forcing opponents into awkward positions. Combined with solid stats and decent typing (Steel/Ghost), it's a meta nightmare.
Q: Is Melmetal good in Pokemon GO?
A> Absolutely. It's a top-tier Master League Pokemon. Its immense bulk, powerful moves like Double Iron Bash and Superpower, and the sheer difficulty of obtaining it (400 Meltan Candy!) make it a prized asset. Its typing makes it weak to Fighting, Fire, and Ground there too, so watch out for Machamp or Groudon.
Q: What's the deal with Tinkaton hitting Corviknight?
A> It's purely lore/flavor! Tinkaton's Pokedex entries state it uses its giant hammer (made of rock and metal) to knock rocks at flying Corviknight to down them and scavenge parts for its hammer. It's a darkly humorous ecological relationship reflected in the design. Gameplay-wise, Tinkaton learns Gigaton Hammer, a monstrously powerful Steel move with a cooldown (can't be used consecutively), perfect for smashing things like... Corviknight.
This guide aimed to be the one-stop resource for everything you could possibly want to know about **all steel type Pokemon**. From the complete generational list to competitive tiers, core strategies, lore, and those burning FAQs. Hopefully, it saves you the hours of digging I had to do.
Got a favorite steel type that didn't get enough love here? Maybe you think Registeel deserves more respect? Or maybe you've found a killer niche use for Probopass? Drop a comment below and let's talk metal! I still hold a grudge against that one Heatran that swept my rain team last season...
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