And risk losing your Steelix to Fainting Spell, it's best to stick to using Skuntank.
Steelix Article
- Thread starter patthemanvan
- Start date
And risk losing your Steelix to Fainting Spell, it's best to stick to using Skuntank.
Volt
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Yup, noone's playing Vileplume with Gengar anyway
...or are you trying to pull it active with Reversal? :lol:
I like the article. You could've gone something more indepth about the matchups since LuxChomp can play Blaziken and Drifblim which will hurt. Gyarados can grab alot of cheap prizes and you discard his BTS. I also don't know about the GenPlume matchup since nowadays all kind of techs are played in it which could really destroy your easy 100+poison strategy (Nidoqueen, Blaziken, etc).
Judge should be included as well, at least in the alternative tech section.
And Warp Energy.
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i completely disagree with the gyarados matchup... even if you can OHKO a gyarados it will come right back and KO you. belts and crobats are a staple in most gyarados lists and will be used to always 2KO steelix and recovery is unbelievably slow with steelix. however with gyarados it takes a single turn
I've never lost to a Gyarados with Steelix. Of course, my list is different than the one here, but the matchup is quite easy. Judge + Gaia Crush to take away your Broken Time-Space is the nail in the coffin.
It's an option, but he already has many other options for discarding and the draw backs are often game losing:
- Regice Start
- Luxray X
- Drag Off
- Wasted bench space late game
- Pokemon Reversal/ Blower +
This isn't a bad article at all. I think Life Herb/Moo MooMilk/Judge should always be in the list in multiples of 4...and I almost think the Quagsire mentioned earlier is an essential.
A few comments though, 1. For the Drifblim guy and the person who asked if it's even been pulled off against him, I had it done to my Steelix in the Georgia Marathon against a LuxChomp deck and lost because of it, haha.
2. And Will, concerning the Gyarados matchup, you do have to factor in an average of 2 Spec. Metals, so average the damage output of Gyarados at 70...unless you play E-Belt...but I think that wouldn't be worth it...since most of the time Gyarados will take a quick prize lead you might get hurt by Blackbelt... Anyway, whether or not Gyarados is doing 90 or 70, Steelix should be doing 120 (perhaps 130 with Skunktank or Crobat G) and discarding the BTS while healing 20 with Blissey and an average of 30-60 with Life Herb and Moo Moo Milk leaving it with somewhere between 10-40 damage on it going into your turn. Gyarados hits for 70-90, Steelix heals off about 60 on average, leaving it with about 30 damage on it...and KO's Gyarados....It really isn't a good matchup at all. I agree with Erik, at the Marathon Steelix was 4-0 vs Gyarados. But dude message me when you're going to the Anderson league again and I'll go to and we can play the matchup for a 2/3 if you want (and we can find a secluded area, I know you're guarding of your G-Dos list, and I don't blame you). But anything can happen, so I'd like to see how the match would go, especially against your unorthodox list. I think your G-Dos would give this article's list a tough match, I'll say that...
3. One more thing I want to add to the general discussion....If a LuxChomp build that does not play Blaziken of Drifblim does not get the donk or an early win due to lack of pokemon on the field for Steelix, it's almost auto win for Steelix...however, vs DialgaChomp...the match is about 70-30 or higher in favor of DialgaChomp
4. Gengar really isn't as easy for Steelix as the article makes it seem. The idea is to place Ruins of Alph in play, drop Skunktank, poison structure, and Gaia Crush (discarding the stadium if you have a ton of trainers in your hand) for the KO. However, Skunktank can get sniped and can be early Hurl into Darkness bait. Crobat helps the matchup tremendously as they rarely see it coming. I was 5-2 vs Gengar in the marathon and EVERY game came down to 1 prize and basically a fainting spell flip at some random point of the game, and in Swiss they all went to the 3rd turn of the +3. VileGar just has too many gimmicks to say it's a 70-30 matchup. Of course if you HAVE to you can retreat (blah) the Steelix and then Psychic Restore with Uxie to avoid fainting spell, since you can just (in theory) energy stream back to Steelix. I'd say it's about 50-50 or maybe 55-45 Steelix.
5. There's no way Machamp is a 50-50. If they don't get the donk, it's about 75-25 in Steelix's favor. Machamp's damage output is too low, I mean you're never going to hit a Machamp with 4 energy on it with Gaia Crush, since you know it's going to rage you back...so you just Energy stream and then Crush...Otherwise it's not hard at all with Crobat and Skunktank to OHKO a SF Machamp, so I don't forsee a Machamp getting enough energy on it anyway. The Champ prime might make a little difference...but even doing 100-120 with Champ Buster will leave Steelix with an average of 60 hp left....then you heal a lot of that damage off (unless you just can't flip heads), and 2HKO the Champ. Even if you DONT flip heads to heal the Steelix...you'll hit the champ for 120 (factoring e belt or a stadium and skunktank after their turn) and if Steelix is KO'd then Psychic restore for the KO... Besides, an e-belted Steelix with a Skunktank G and a Crobat drop will KO a damageless Machamp Prime after their turn (or a blackbelt on Steelix's turn with any combo of the e-belt, skunktank, or crobat shenanigans wil OHKO it before it can even attack the Steelix since Machamp will take a prize lead). Unless of course they run the Seeker Fighting Tag combo...which I haven't personally seen played to any success anyway...
that's just my 2 cents worth tho!
A few comments though, 1. For the Drifblim guy and the person who asked if it's even been pulled off against him, I had it done to my Steelix in the Georgia Marathon against a LuxChomp deck and lost because of it, haha.
2. And Will, concerning the Gyarados matchup, you do have to factor in an average of 2 Spec. Metals, so average the damage output of Gyarados at 70...unless you play E-Belt...but I think that wouldn't be worth it...since most of the time Gyarados will take a quick prize lead you might get hurt by Blackbelt... Anyway, whether or not Gyarados is doing 90 or 70, Steelix should be doing 120 (perhaps 130 with Skunktank or Crobat G) and discarding the BTS while healing 20 with Blissey and an average of 30-60 with Life Herb and Moo Moo Milk leaving it with somewhere between 10-40 damage on it going into your turn. Gyarados hits for 70-90, Steelix heals off about 60 on average, leaving it with about 30 damage on it...and KO's Gyarados....It really isn't a good matchup at all. I agree with Erik, at the Marathon Steelix was 4-0 vs Gyarados. But dude message me when you're going to the Anderson league again and I'll go to and we can play the matchup for a 2/3 if you want (and we can find a secluded area, I know you're guarding of your G-Dos list, and I don't blame you). But anything can happen, so I'd like to see how the match would go, especially against your unorthodox list. I think your G-Dos would give this article's list a tough match, I'll say that...
3. One more thing I want to add to the general discussion....If a LuxChomp build that does not play Blaziken of Drifblim does not get the donk or an early win due to lack of pokemon on the field for Steelix, it's almost auto win for Steelix...however, vs DialgaChomp...the match is about 70-30 or higher in favor of DialgaChomp
4. Gengar really isn't as easy for Steelix as the article makes it seem. The idea is to place Ruins of Alph in play, drop Skunktank, poison structure, and Gaia Crush (discarding the stadium if you have a ton of trainers in your hand) for the KO. However, Skunktank can get sniped and can be early Hurl into Darkness bait. Crobat helps the matchup tremendously as they rarely see it coming. I was 5-2 vs Gengar in the marathon and EVERY game came down to 1 prize and basically a fainting spell flip at some random point of the game, and in Swiss they all went to the 3rd turn of the +3. VileGar just has too many gimmicks to say it's a 70-30 matchup. Of course if you HAVE to you can retreat (blah) the Steelix and then Psychic Restore with Uxie to avoid fainting spell, since you can just (in theory) energy stream back to Steelix. I'd say it's about 50-50 or maybe 55-45 Steelix.
5. There's no way Machamp is a 50-50. If they don't get the donk, it's about 75-25 in Steelix's favor. Machamp's damage output is too low, I mean you're never going to hit a Machamp with 4 energy on it with Gaia Crush, since you know it's going to rage you back...so you just Energy stream and then Crush...Otherwise it's not hard at all with Crobat and Skunktank to OHKO a SF Machamp, so I don't forsee a Machamp getting enough energy on it anyway. The Champ prime might make a little difference...but even doing 100-120 with Champ Buster will leave Steelix with an average of 60 hp left....then you heal a lot of that damage off (unless you just can't flip heads), and 2HKO the Champ. Even if you DONT flip heads to heal the Steelix...you'll hit the champ for 120 (factoring e belt or a stadium and skunktank after their turn) and if Steelix is KO'd then Psychic restore for the KO... Besides, an e-belted Steelix with a Skunktank G and a Crobat drop will KO a damageless Machamp Prime after their turn (or a blackbelt on Steelix's turn with any combo of the e-belt, skunktank, or crobat shenanigans wil OHKO it before it can even attack the Steelix since Machamp will take a prize lead). Unless of course they run the Seeker Fighting Tag combo...which I haven't personally seen played to any success anyway...
that's just my 2 cents worth tho!
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Wow, this is probably the best article I've read all year (LOL!). No, but seriously this is my favourite article that I've read on the PokeGym. It stays true to Steelix's pros and cons, the only flaws I found was lack of Regice, and that you didn't mention a fire type Pokemon torches you for the uncontrollable loss. It's interesting that you put Machamp down as a 50-50... I'd have to think about it later. Either way, looks great, this inspires me a bit to make another article myself.... 
Maybe in the future. But thanks for the great read, WAY TO GO SCHNITZEL!!! (I've watched Chowder once!!)
Maybe in the future. But thanks for the great read, WAY TO GO SCHNITZEL!!! (I've watched Chowder once!!)
Lol, no you're correct. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant if you think Drifblim is going to win that matchup every time (considering not EVERY list plays it), he had another thing coming. I just hate stupid one line comments like: DRRRRRRIIIIIIIFFFFFFFBBBBBLLLLIMMMMMMM. Yes, all Steelix players no its out there. And, while I've never had it happen to me, I do know it is possible. But, if the person that posted the original comment that I replied to thinks that sways the matchup in EVERY match or in EVERY Luxchomp match, he's wrong. And, if he thinks he can set it up easily EVERY match while I Judge him 6 times, he's in for a rude surprise.
As for Gyarados:
I judged Gyarados 6 times in one match this weekend, to include the first 5 turns of the game. Ever seen a Gyarados swing for 0 because he can't discard his Karps (My first match)? Ever seen a Gyarados swing for 0 because he can only get 2 in there and I have 4 special metals and Blissey (my second match)?
Haha, wow....No I have never seen a Gyarados hit for 0 damage because you judge away his Karps. Too funny! And you're right, the Drifblim tech doesn't equate an auto loss...I lost the match I described because after he Take Away'd my Steelix I sent up another one with a ton of energy, but lacking 1 Metal...and although I had like 4 metal energy in my deck and a few shuffle and draw cards in my hand, I couldn't come across a second Metal energy for like 6 turns which prevented me from gaia crushing. So yeah...Drifblim's good....but anything can happen
ThePokemonRhombus
New Member
Very nice, I've been wanting to try and Build a Steelix deck for a while and now I've gotten some little idea's for it.
Darkwalker
New Member
I'm a little curious why there isn't at least 1 Rescue Energy included. Steelix can Energy Stream it back onto itself continually all game to make KOing one permanently difficult at best.
I also appreciate the Steelix players out there further explaining the way various match-ups tend to go. Incite into how the deck plays is a huge benefit to players not familiar with the deck as well as new players looking for something they might like to try and play. Thanks to those that contributed in that way.
The article itself was a great starting point for he deck, with the basic mechanics in play to illustrate how the deck functions. It should be duly noted that random Fire decks, like Charizard, will simply wreck this as expected, but with Gyrados seeing so much play of late Fire based decks are usually few and far between in most tournament settings outside of tech lines (Blaziken X, ERL, and the occasional Infernape X).
I also appreciate the Steelix players out there further explaining the way various match-ups tend to go. Incite into how the deck plays is a huge benefit to players not familiar with the deck as well as new players looking for something they might like to try and play. Thanks to those that contributed in that way.
The article itself was a great starting point for he deck, with the basic mechanics in play to illustrate how the deck functions. It should be duly noted that random Fire decks, like Charizard, will simply wreck this as expected, but with Gyrados seeing so much play of late Fire based decks are usually few and far between in most tournament settings outside of tech lines (Blaziken X, ERL, and the occasional Infernape X).
pokesam128
New Member
you forgot to add bts on the list
Yeah Steelix NEVER takes the first prize, haha, you're right (I did donk with Chansey twice tho...haha). But the best Onix (IMO) is the Undaunted Onix. For 3 colorless energy it does 20 plus 20 for each heads out of 2 flips. So with either an e-belt and zero heads or no ebelt and 1 heads it will OHKO an Umbreon with a Bat Drop or the Skunktank poison. That's usually how I dealt with Umbreon, although I only faced it 1 or 2 times to the best of my memory.
pokemonmaster50000
New Member
Dude awesome deck i think i might try it
I absolutely love Steelix and this article gives a very nice version of it.
However, I am at a loss as to why you do not even mention Engineer's Adjustments UL. It's a wonderful Supporter that can easily take the place of Sage's Training.
Otherwise, very nice article that takes up a very underrated deck!
However, I am at a loss as to why you do not even mention Engineer's Adjustments UL. It's a wonderful Supporter that can easily take the place of Sage's Training.
Otherwise, very nice article that takes up a very underrated deck!