Havens
WGI World Champion
[OVERVIEW]
Ground
========
Mega Steelix is used on Ground teams without sand as a powerful setup sweeper through Curse and helps to turn the tide against problematic matchups such as Dragon, Fairy, and Normal. Mega Steelix's insane physical bulk allows it to tank hits such as Adamant Azumarill's +6 Aqua Jet and a Swords Dance-boosted Close Combat from Mega Gallade, the latter after a Curse boost. Its secondary Steel typing allows Mega Steelix to providea critical Grass-type neutrality for Ground teams, considering that it's one of the few good checks to all of Tapu Bulu's possible sets, and grants it the ability to check Ice-types such as Kyurem-B and Alolan Ninetales. However, because it only carries one attack, it can be detrimental in other matchups such as Steel and Water. While Mega Steelix's physical bulk is incredible, its special bulk can be easily taken advantage of by special sweepers such as Keldeo and Volcarona. Mega Steelix also relies on Rest as its form of recovery, which can leave it vulnerable to powerful special attackers such as Landorus and Nidoking.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Heavy Slam
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Steelixite
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Curse boosts Mega Steelix's Attack and Defense stats to high levels. With one boost, Mega Steelix can survive powerful attacks such as a Swords Dance-boosted Close Combat from Mega Gallade. Heavy Slam is Mega Steelix's only attack but is incredibly strong, with Mega Steelix's incredible weight and the STAB boost to back up its power, allowing it to KO walls such as Curse Alolan Muk and Porygon2 with prior boosting. Rest grants Mega Steelix the opportunity to set up on foes like Mew and Mega Sableye that rely on burns in order to check it whilst restoring its health and status. Sleep Talk is used in tandem with Rest to grant Mega Steelix the opportunity to boost itself with Curse further as well as fire off powerful Heavy Slams while asleep.
Set Details
========
Mega Steelix has nearly unparalleled physical bulk, so it invests EVs into HP and Special Defense to become as specially bulky as possible. An Impish nature magnifies Mega Steelix's already amazing Defense, making its Curse boosts much more effective.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Steelix acts as a very bulky late-game sweeper thanks to Curse boosting its already powerful Heavy Slam, but it can only do so when its checks such as Keldeo and Nidoking are removed. It must be preserved as much as possible against Fairy teams, as foes such as Azumarill and Tapu Bulu can outright sweep Ground teams if Mega Steelix is KOed. Mega Steelix should also be preserved against Kyurem-B, as it is an incredible threat that can singlehandedly dismantle entire Ground teams. Because Mega Steelix only carries Heavy Slam as its attack, it can be useless in many matchups such as against Steel and Water teams. In situations like these, it can be used as a status absorber for its teammates or as a sacrifice to bring them in. Mega Steelix should avoid bulky Taunt users such as Gliscor and Mew at all costs, as Taunt essentially invalidates its forms of setup and recovery. It can also utilize Rest as a PP stalling tool, which may be necessary and is especially good against teams that often rely on wearing down the opponent with residual damage such as Normal and Dark. Mega Steelix can also determine what it should do with its remaining sleep turns; it can either utilize Sleep Talk to damage foes or gain a Curse boost or remain asleep and not waste any PP.
Team Options
========
Landorus utilizes its incredible wallbreaking power attained from Sheer Force and a Life Orb to threaten various enemies to Mega Steelix such as Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Toxapex. Gastrodon provides a critical Water-type immunity for Mega Steelix, being able to comfortably handle problematic foes such as Greninja, Mantine, and Suicune thanks to its good bulk and reliable recovery. Garchomp's greater Speed and immediate power make it a better check to threatening Dragon-types such as Kyurem-B and Hydreigon, and it also breaks down bulky presences such as Mantine and Swampert through the combination of Swords Dance and a Z-Move. Mamoswine can check problematic Dragon- and Flying-types such as Kommo-o and Zapdos with its Ice-type STAB moves for Mega Steelix. Additionally, it can use Ice Shard to pick off fast foes such as Mega Gallade and Mega Lopunny that otherwise pose a danger to Mega Steelix. Gliscor has various utility options, ranging from Defog to remove entry hazards and Knock Off to hamper recovery, all of which are functions that Mega Steelix appreciates. Choice Scarf Excadrill can be used to revenge kill foes that threaten Mega Steelix, such as Mega Charizard Y and Nidoking. Its access to Rapid Spin also comes in handy for extending Mega Steelix's longevity slightly. Nidoking serves as a means of checking various threats for Mega Steelix with ts Sheer Force-boosted attacks, such as Celesteela, Ferrothorn, Gliscor, and Heatran. Dugtrio assists Mega Steelix by being able to trap and remove problematic foes such as Nidoking and Toxapex that it would otherwise struggle with.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ground
--------
A Careful nature can be used over Impish in order for Mega Steelix to tank special hits from foes such as Kyurem-B better, though it comes at the cost of the massive Defense boost that an Impish nature provides.
Checks and Counters
===================
Ground
--------
**Steel-type Switch-ins**: Because Heavy Slam is Mega Steelix's only attack, various Steel-type switch-ins such as Celesteela, Ferrothorn, Mega Slowbro, and Torkoal can take advantage of Mega Steelix with ease.
**Water-types**: Various Water-types such as Keldeo and Suicune can force Mega Steelix out, as they take advantage of it only having Heavy Slam by setting up on it easily.
**Taunt**: Bulky Taunt users such as Gliscor and Mew prevent Mega Steelix from setting up Curse boosts and recovering its health.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Despite Mega Steelix being heavily invested in Special Defense, powerful special attackers such as Hydreigon, Landorus, and Volcarona have the capacity to OHKO or 2HKO Mega Steelix with their powerful special attacks.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Physically bulky foes such as Celesteela, Hippowdon, and Porygon2 can stomach Mega Steelix's Heavy Slam and recover off any damage taken.
**Haze and Phazers**: Common Haze users such as Mantine and Toxapex as well as phazers such as Hippowdon and Skarmory can force Mega Steelix out, eliminating any Curse boosts attained as a result.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Havens, 391540]]
- Ground analysis by: [[Havens, 391540]]
- Quality checked by: [[Decem, 362454], [maroon, 305839], [Eien, 100418]
- Grammar checked by: [[<username1>, <userid1>], [<username2>, <username2>]]
Ground
========
Mega Steelix is used on Ground teams without sand as a powerful setup sweeper through Curse and helps to turn the tide against problematic matchups such as Dragon, Fairy, and Normal. Mega Steelix's insane physical bulk allows it to tank hits such as Adamant Azumarill's +6 Aqua Jet and a Swords Dance-boosted Close Combat from Mega Gallade, the latter after a Curse boost. Its secondary Steel typing allows Mega Steelix to providea critical Grass-type neutrality for Ground teams, considering that it's one of the few good checks to all of Tapu Bulu's possible sets, and grants it the ability to check Ice-types such as Kyurem-B and Alolan Ninetales. However, because it only carries one attack, it can be detrimental in other matchups such as Steel and Water. While Mega Steelix's physical bulk is incredible, its special bulk can be easily taken advantage of by special sweepers such as Keldeo and Volcarona. Mega Steelix also relies on Rest as its form of recovery, which can leave it vulnerable to powerful special attackers such as Landorus and Nidoking.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Heavy Slam
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Steelixite
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Curse boosts Mega Steelix's Attack and Defense stats to high levels. With one boost, Mega Steelix can survive powerful attacks such as a Swords Dance-boosted Close Combat from Mega Gallade. Heavy Slam is Mega Steelix's only attack but is incredibly strong, with Mega Steelix's incredible weight and the STAB boost to back up its power, allowing it to KO walls such as Curse Alolan Muk and Porygon2 with prior boosting. Rest grants Mega Steelix the opportunity to set up on foes like Mew and Mega Sableye that rely on burns in order to check it whilst restoring its health and status. Sleep Talk is used in tandem with Rest to grant Mega Steelix the opportunity to boost itself with Curse further as well as fire off powerful Heavy Slams while asleep.
Set Details
========
Mega Steelix has nearly unparalleled physical bulk, so it invests EVs into HP and Special Defense to become as specially bulky as possible. An Impish nature magnifies Mega Steelix's already amazing Defense, making its Curse boosts much more effective.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Steelix acts as a very bulky late-game sweeper thanks to Curse boosting its already powerful Heavy Slam, but it can only do so when its checks such as Keldeo and Nidoking are removed. It must be preserved as much as possible against Fairy teams, as foes such as Azumarill and Tapu Bulu can outright sweep Ground teams if Mega Steelix is KOed. Mega Steelix should also be preserved against Kyurem-B, as it is an incredible threat that can singlehandedly dismantle entire Ground teams. Because Mega Steelix only carries Heavy Slam as its attack, it can be useless in many matchups such as against Steel and Water teams. In situations like these, it can be used as a status absorber for its teammates or as a sacrifice to bring them in. Mega Steelix should avoid bulky Taunt users such as Gliscor and Mew at all costs, as Taunt essentially invalidates its forms of setup and recovery. It can also utilize Rest as a PP stalling tool, which may be necessary and is especially good against teams that often rely on wearing down the opponent with residual damage such as Normal and Dark. Mega Steelix can also determine what it should do with its remaining sleep turns; it can either utilize Sleep Talk to damage foes or gain a Curse boost or remain asleep and not waste any PP.
Team Options
========
Landorus utilizes its incredible wallbreaking power attained from Sheer Force and a Life Orb to threaten various enemies to Mega Steelix such as Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Toxapex. Gastrodon provides a critical Water-type immunity for Mega Steelix, being able to comfortably handle problematic foes such as Greninja, Mantine, and Suicune thanks to its good bulk and reliable recovery. Garchomp's greater Speed and immediate power make it a better check to threatening Dragon-types such as Kyurem-B and Hydreigon, and it also breaks down bulky presences such as Mantine and Swampert through the combination of Swords Dance and a Z-Move. Mamoswine can check problematic Dragon- and Flying-types such as Kommo-o and Zapdos with its Ice-type STAB moves for Mega Steelix. Additionally, it can use Ice Shard to pick off fast foes such as Mega Gallade and Mega Lopunny that otherwise pose a danger to Mega Steelix. Gliscor has various utility options, ranging from Defog to remove entry hazards and Knock Off to hamper recovery, all of which are functions that Mega Steelix appreciates. Choice Scarf Excadrill can be used to revenge kill foes that threaten Mega Steelix, such as Mega Charizard Y and Nidoking. Its access to Rapid Spin also comes in handy for extending Mega Steelix's longevity slightly. Nidoking serves as a means of checking various threats for Mega Steelix with ts Sheer Force-boosted attacks, such as Celesteela, Ferrothorn, Gliscor, and Heatran. Dugtrio assists Mega Steelix by being able to trap and remove problematic foes such as Nidoking and Toxapex that it would otherwise struggle with.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ground
--------
A Careful nature can be used over Impish in order for Mega Steelix to tank special hits from foes such as Kyurem-B better, though it comes at the cost of the massive Defense boost that an Impish nature provides.
Checks and Counters
===================
Ground
--------
**Steel-type Switch-ins**: Because Heavy Slam is Mega Steelix's only attack, various Steel-type switch-ins such as Celesteela, Ferrothorn, Mega Slowbro, and Torkoal can take advantage of Mega Steelix with ease.
**Water-types**: Various Water-types such as Keldeo and Suicune can force Mega Steelix out, as they take advantage of it only having Heavy Slam by setting up on it easily.
**Taunt**: Bulky Taunt users such as Gliscor and Mew prevent Mega Steelix from setting up Curse boosts and recovering its health.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Despite Mega Steelix being heavily invested in Special Defense, powerful special attackers such as Hydreigon, Landorus, and Volcarona have the capacity to OHKO or 2HKO Mega Steelix with their powerful special attacks.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Physically bulky foes such as Celesteela, Hippowdon, and Porygon2 can stomach Mega Steelix's Heavy Slam and recover off any damage taken.
**Haze and Phazers**: Common Haze users such as Mantine and Toxapex as well as phazers such as Hippowdon and Skarmory can force Mega Steelix out, eliminating any Curse boosts attained as a result.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Havens, 391540]]
- Ground analysis by: [[Havens, 391540]]
- Quality checked by: [[Decem, 362454], [maroon, 305839], [Eien, 100418]
- Grammar checked by: [[<username1>, <userid1>], [<username2>, <username2>]]
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