20 Best Steel-Type Pokémon to Catch in Pokémon GO

If you’re looking for Pokémon with great defensive capabilities, then Steel-type Pokémon are your best bet. Pokémon of this type are not always the best when it comes to dealing damage, but they’re highly sought-after for their durability. However, with the best Steel-type Pokémon, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. In this guide, we’re giving you a rundown of the ones you should catch in Pokémon GO. We also provide a strength and weakness chart and a few tips on their best moves, where you’ll usually find them, and how to defeat them in Raid Battles.

Also read: 13 Best Grass-Type Pokémon You Should Bring to Battle

Steel-Type Pokémon: What Are They?

Steel-type Pokémon are one of the rarest kinds of Pokémon. They make up only around 7% of all pocket creatures in the entire franchise. Of the 64 total Steel-type Pokémon, only 48 are currently available in Pokémon GO, although the developers will for sure add more in the years to come.

Introduced in Generation II, Steel-type Pokémon were added to the franchise mainly to balance out the Normal- and Dark-type Pokémon’s offensive prowess. Defense is the strong suit of Steel-type Pokémon, seeing that they’re resistant to ten attack types and immune to one attack type. That doesn’t mean they aren’t reliable attackers, though. Some of them, like Dialga and Metagross, can deal a considerable amount of damage. That said, they’re not the fastest Pokémon around with all that metal weighing them down.

Below is a handy chart that illustrates what Steel-type Pokémon are strong and weak against. However, take note that most Pokémon of this type have dual typing, so what they’re effective against and weak to will vary.

You’ll usually find Steel-type Pokémon lurking around cities, industrial areas, and railway tracks and stations—basically, places with lots of steel and metal. However, not all Pokémon GO players live near these areas. If you’re somewhere rural, you can use a Magnetic Lure Module to catch Steel-type Pokémon.

Just like Pokémon of other types, not all Steel-type Pokémon can be caught in the Wild. Some, like Legendary Steel Pokémon, are only available through Raid Battles and special events.

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Best Steel-type Pokémon to Catch in Pokémon GO

Without further ado, here’s our list of the best Steel-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO. We’ve ranked them from the most powerful down to the least, based on the average of each Pokémon’s max CP and base stats. Also included in this list are Steel-type Pokémon with dual typing and a few Legendary ones as well.

1. Dialga

Dialga entered the franchise in Generation IV and was added to Pokémon GO in March of 2019. It boasts an attack stat of 275, so you can rely on it to eliminate the opposition with ease. Plus, its high defense and stamina stats guarantee that it will stay on the battlefield for long. Since it’s a Steel Pokémon with a Dragon typing, it can learn the charged move Draco Meteor that can be paired with Metal Claw for the maximum of damage. It’s doubly resistant to Grass- and Poison-type attacks but is weak against Ground- and Fighting-type attacks.

Like every other Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO, Dialga can be hard to defeat in Raid Battles but it is possible. When going into a Dialga Raid Battle, keep in mind its two weaknesses: Ground- and Fighting-type attacks. Some of the best Pokémon to match up against Dialga are Poliwrath, Machamp, Lucario, and Hariyama. If you have the Shadow versions of any of these Pokémon, then all the better. Remember as well to choose your most powerful Pokémon and to team up with as many players as you can. That way, you earn more Premier Balls and get more chances of catching Dialga.

Possible Locations: Since Dialga is a Legendary Pokémon, you won’t be able to catch it in the Wild. You can only obtain one during special events or after defeating it in a Raid Battle.

2. Metagross

Coming in at second place is Metagross, a dual Steel and Psychic-type from Generation III. Metagross became available in the game in October 2018. Even then, it was already a highly sought-after Steel-type Pokémon owing to its high max CP and well-rounded overall stats. Plus, it also comes in Shadow form, which means it can dish out even more damage than it already does as a regular Pokémon.

You’ll be able to maximize Metagross’s offensive capabilities by pairing Bullet Punch, a Steel-type fast attack, with Meteor Mash, a Legacy charged move (also Steel-type). It’s resistant to ten types of attacks, including Poison, Psychic, Dragon, and Fairy. However, try not to match it up against Pokémon that know Dark-, Fire-, Ghost-, and Ground-type moves.

Metagross is available in the Wild, but coming across and catching one has proven to be quite challenging. If you haven’t had much luck finding a Metagross in the Wild, you can try getting one by evolving either a Beldum, its basic form, or a Metang. Although both of these Pokémon are also rare, they’re a bit easier to find in the Wild. To evolve Metagross from Beldum, you’ll need to feed Beldum 25 Candy to turn it into Metang. From there, you’ll need to give it 100 Candy to evolve into Metagross.

Possible Locations: You can find a Metagross in the Wild, particularly in cities and near railway stations. You can also catch one after defeating it in a Raid Battle.

3. Heatran

Generation IV’s Heatran isn’t as memorable as its other Steel-type peers, but this is one Pokémon you shouldn’t pass up in the game. It’s a solid attacker with reliable defense and stamina stats. And unlike other Steel-type Pokémon, it isn’t weak to Fire-type attacks. Once it masters the fast move Fire Spin and the charged move Flamethrower, it’s basically unstoppable, especially against Bug-, Grass-, Ice-, and Steel-type attacks. What also makes Heatran a valuable companion is that it’s resistant to Pokémon that most players use as go-to attackers, such as Dragonite, Rayquaza, Metagross, and Mewtwo.

Heatran can be a hard-to-beat Pokémon in Raids, so it’s best to come prepared when battling one. The best Pokémon to use against Heatran are those that know Fighting-, Water-, and (most especially) Ground-type attacks. Some of the most effective Ground types you can match up against Heatran are Groudon, Rhyperior, and Golem. Alolan Dugtrio and Flygon are also good options if you don’t have any of these other Pokémon. If it’s cloudy, take advantage of the weather boost and use your best Fighting-type Pokémon, like Machamp, Blaziken, and Hariyama. If it’s raining, go for Water-type Pokémon, like Kyogre, Gyarados, and Starmie.

Possible Locations: Heatran isn’t obtainable in the Wild. You can only catch one after defeating it in a Raid Battle or during special events.

4. Melmetal

If you’re looking for a Steel-type Pokémon with an impressive stamina stat, then look no further than Generation VII’s Melmetal. It’s a Mythical Pokémon, so it isn’t exactly the easiest to add to your Pokédex, but you’ll find just how useful it is once you have it. It’s a solid attacker with an Attack stat of 226. Its defense capabilities are reliable as well. You’ll be able to deal the most damage with Melmetal when you pair the fast-move Thunder Shock with the charged move Hyper Beam.

It’s resistant to 11 attack types, including Bug, Dragon, and (most especially) Poison. However, just like with other pure Steel-type Pokémon, be wary of matching it up against Fighting, Fire, and Ground types.

Possible Locations: Melmetal isn’t available in the Wild, and the only way to acquire one is by evolving a Meltan using 400 candies. You can obtain a Meltan through Mystery Boxes or by accomplishing Special Research tasks.

5. Jirachi

Like Melmetal, Generation III’s Jirachi is a Mythical Steel-type Pokémon. It may look small and harmless, but Jirachi’s high stamina stat means it can deal damage quickly and last long during battles. Plus, its attack and defense stats are impressive as well.

While it isn’t the best Pokémon to use during Raid Battles, it is reliable for PvPs. With Jirachi, the best moves you can use are Confusion (a Psychic-type fast attack) and Doom Desire (a Steel-type charged attack). It’s doubly resistant to Poison- and Psychic-type attackers and receives only 62.5% of damage from Dragon, Fairy, Ice, Normal, Grass, Rock, Steel, and Flying-type Pokémon. However, avoid using it against Dark, Fire, Ghost, and Ground types.

Possible Locations: Mythical Pokémon can’t be caught in the Wild and are only available through special means. In the case of Jirachi, you can only catch one by accomplishing Special Research tasks.

6. Excadrill

Excadrill from Generation V is a great Steel-type Pokémon for its high attack and stamina stats. You’ll be able to maximize its strength by pairing the fast move Mud-Slap with the charged move Earthquake, which are both Ground-type attacks. However, its defense stat isn’t all that impressive, so try to eliminate your opponents as quickly as possible when using this Pokémon.

One of the ways you can acquire an Excadrill is by evolving Drilbur with 50 Candy. If you encounter it in a Raid Battle, make sure to use Pokémon that know Fighting-, Fire-, Water-, and Ground-type attacks. Some of the best counters for Excadrill are Kyogre, Lucario, Reshiram, and Machamp. It is possible to go into Excadrill Raids alone and come out victorious, but make sure you’re a high-level trainer and that you’re using the best possible Pokémon. Otherwise, it’s best to enter the Raid with other players.

Possible Locations: Excadrill used to be obtainable in the Wild, but only for a limited time. Now, you can only catch one after defeating it in a Raid Battle or by evolving Drilbur.

7. Magnezone

Generation IV’s Magnezone is another solid Steel-type attacker with an impressive defense stat. It’s effective against a total of 12 attack types, including Electric, Flying, Poison, Steel, and Bug, but do look out for Pokémon that know Ground-, Fighting-, and Fire-type moves. With Magnezone, you’ll be able to deal the most damage when you pair up Spark and Wild Charge, which are both super effective against Water- and Flying-type attacks. If you want to shake things up a bit, you can substitute Wild Charge with the Steel-type move Flash Cannon, although this alternative pairing wouldn’t be as effective.

You’ll need either a Magnemite or a Magneton before you can get a Magnezone. If you’re starting with Magnemite, the basic form, feed it 25 Candy first to evolve it into Magneton. From there, it’ll cost you 100 Candy to evolve Magneton into Magnezone. Make sure that you’re also near a PokéStop and that you have the Magnetic Lure Module activated.

Possible Locations: You can only acquire a Magnezone by evolving either a Magnemite or a Magneton. Both Magnemite and Magneton are obtainable in the Wild, particularly in and around universities, schools, shopping centers, and industrial areas. In addition, you can catch these Pokémon after defeating them in Raid Battles or accomplishing Special Research tasks. Magnemite is also obtainable from the Eggs.

8. Cobalion

Cobalion offers much in the way of versatility, with the Steel-type attack Metal Claw and Fighting-type attack Sacred Sword as its best moves. This fifth-gen Pokémon is resistant to nine attack types, including Dark, Dragon, Bug, and Rock. But like most Steel-type Pokémon, try not to match it up against Fire-, Fighting-, and Ground-type Pokémon.

Cobalion is a Legendary Pokémon, so defeating it in Raid Battles will not be a breeze. Arm yourself with the best Fighting-, Fire-, and Ground-type attackers you have in your Pokédex. Pokémon like Chandelure, Blaziken, Breloom, and the ever-reliable Machamp are your best bet at defeating Cobalion. Flareon, Excadrill, and Hariyama are also great backup options. Remember to also take advantage of weather boosts when choosing your Raid Battle lineup. Fire-type Pokémon deal the most damage when the weather’s clear, while Fighting-type Pokémon are at their best in cloudy weather.

Possible Locations: Cobalion isn’t obtainable in the Wild. You can only catch one after defeating it in a Raid Battle or during special events.

9. Aggron

Generation III’s Aggron is a bit lacking in both the attack and stamina departments, but it makes up for these deficiencies with an impressive defense stat of 257. This Steel-type Pokémon is the best match against Poison-types since it only receives 24% of damage from them. You also won’t go wrong matching it up against Fairy, Ice, and Rock Pokémon, especially when you use Iron Tail and Heavy Slam as your offense moves.

One of the ways you can acquire Aggron is through evolution. To do so, you’ll need either an Aron or a Lairon. First, feed Aron 25 Candy to turn it into Lairon. Then, feed Lairon 100 Candy to get Aggron, its final form.

Possible Locations: You can find an Aggron in the Wild, particularly in parking lots, industrial areas, and hiking trails. You can also catch one after defeating it in a Raid Battle.

10. Scizor

Scizor’s stamina and defense stats are decent, but its attack stat is where it really packs a punch. This second-gen Steel-type Pokémon is at its best with Fury Cutter and Iron Head as its moves. But if you want an all-Steel moveset, you can also use Bullet Punch instead of Fury Cutter. It’s resistant to nine attack types and is only weak to Fire-type attacks. However, it does receive 256% of damage from them, so matching it up against Fire Pokémon wouldn’t get you very far.

To acquire Scizor through evolution, you’ll need a Scyther first. Once you’ve acquired a Scyther, give it 50 Candy and a Metal Coat to turn it into Scizor.

Possible Locations: Scizor isn’t obtainable in the Wild or in Raid Battles. You can only get one by accomplishing Special Research tasks or evolving a Scyther. You’ll find a Scyther in grassy locations, like parks, farmlands, fields, and gardens. It’s also obtainable through Raid Battles, by hatching Eggs, or by accomplishing Special Research tasks.

11. Empoleon

Empoleon, a.k.a. the Emperor Pokémon, is a standout since it’s currently the only Water- and Steel-type in the entire franchise. Thanks to its Water typing, it isn’t weak against Fire-type attacks, unlike most Steel-type Pokémon. You’ll increase your chances of defeating your enemies if you teach Empoleon Metal Claw and Hydro Cannon.

Getting an Empoleon through evolution requires a total of 125 Candy if you’re starting with its basic form Piplup. To evolve Piplup into Prinplup, you’ll need to give it 25 Candy. Then, feed Prinplup 100 Candy to evolve it into Empoleon.

Possible Locations: You’ll find both Piplup and Prinplup in the Wild, particularly near bodies of water, like beaches, canals, docks, and reservoirs. They’re also available through Raid Battles and Special Research tasks. As for Piplup, you can also get one from the Eggs.

12. Bisharp

Bisharp, a fifth-gen Steel-type Pokémon, is a great option for those looking for a solid attacker. However, try to eliminate your opponent as quickly as possible since Bisharp isn’t really for the long haul. You’ll get the most out of Bisharp when you use Snarl and Iron head, but if you want to stick to Steel-type attacks, you can replace Snarl with Metal Claw.

This Pokémon is resistant to 11 attack types, including Psychic, Poison, and Normal. However, steer clear of Fighting-type Pokémon as Bisharp receives 256% of damage from them.

Possible Locations: You can only get a Bisharp by evolving a Pawniard, which you can obtain by hatching Eggs.

13. Lucario

Lucario’s defense stat is abysmal—at least when compared to its Steel-type peers. That said, the attack is its strong suit, so you can rely on it to win battles quickly. This fourth-gen Pokémon is at its most powerful when it uses Counter and Aura Sphere, which are both Fighting-type attacks. But if you want a Steel-type fast attack, you can go for Bullet Punch instead of Counter.

Possible Locations: Adding a Lucario to your Pokédex requires a Riolu, which you can obtain from the Eggs. To evolve a Riolu into a Lucario, you’ll need 50 Candy.

14. Durant

Durant, an insectoid Pokémon from Generation V, is a valuable companion for its attack capabilities. It has access to three types of attacks—Steel, Bug, and Rock—and is resistant to a wide range of Pokémon types. Durant deals the most damage when you pair Metal Claw with Iron Head, but you can also replace Metal Claw with Bug Bite and/or Iron Head with X-Scissor if you need to use Bug-type attacks.

Defeating Durant in a Raid Battle can be pretty tricky, but you can increase your chances by using the best Pokémon possible. Keep in mind that although Durant is only weak to Fire-type attacks, it does receive 256% damage from them. The best counters for Durant are Mega Charizard X and Y, Reshiram, and Mega Houndoom. If you don’t have these Pokémon on your roster, Darmanitan, Blaziken, and Chandelure are also solid options.

Possible Locations: Durant is only available in Africa and North and South America, but players in other countries can also catch one during special events. It’s available in the Wild, through Raid Battles, by hatching Eggs, and by accomplishing Special Research tasks.

15. Registeel

Generation III’s Registeel isn’t the best at dealing damage, but it is durable during battles. It has critical resistance to Poison-type attacks and receives only 64% of damage from ten other attack types, including Bug, Fairy, and Rock. However, avoid matching it up against the usual Steel-type weaknesses (Fighting, Fire, and Ground).

Being a Legendary Titan, Registeel is a tough Pokémon to catch. It’s very durable, but you can increase your chances of defeating it if you use Pokémon that know Fighting-, Fire-, or Ground-type attacks. Charizard (especially one that knows Blast Burn) and Moltres are the top counters against Registeel. Machamp, Breloom, and Groudon are also viable options, but they aren’t as good at resisting Registeel’s attacks as Fire-type Pokémon.

Possible Locations: Registeel isn’t available in the Wild. You can only catch one after defeating it in a Raid Battle or by accomplishing Special Research tasks.

16. Steelix

Steelix’s attack stat is average, but you’ll want this Steel-type Pokémon on your team for its impressive defense prowess. Just like Registeel, it’s especially resistant to Poison-type attacks. Plus, it doesn’t receive much damage from nine other attack types, including Electric, Rock, and Flying. Steelix also has access to a wide range of moves (Ground, Steel, Electric, Dark, Dragon, and Normal), so you can match it up against a variety of Pokémon.

One of the ways you can get a Steelix is by evolving an Onix. This process requires 50 Candy and a Metal Coat. Take note as well that Onix is classified as a very rare Pokémon in Pokémon GO, so be on the lookout for it.

Possible Locations: Steelix isn’t available in the Wild. You can only obtain it by accomplishing Special Research tasks or by evolving an Onix. This Pokémon usually lurks in cities, farmlands, golf courses, and similar locations. You can also catch one through Raid Battles.

17. Alolan Sandslash

Like its fellow Steel-type Pokémon, Alolan Sandslash boasts a wide range of resistances. It’s at its most powerful when you use Metal Claw (a Steel-type fast attack) with Blizzard (an Ice-type charged attack) as its offensive moves. You can also replace Blizzard with Bulldoze if you need a Ground-type charged move. However, whatever you do, do not use it against Fire- and Fighting-type Pokémon as these deal 256% of damage to an Alolan Sandslash.

To get an Alolan Sandslash, you’ll need to evolve an Alolan Sandshrew, which requires 50 Candy.

Possible Locations: You can only acquire an Alolan Sandslash by evolving an Alolan Sandshrew. You won’t normally find an Alolan Sandshrew in the Wild, but you can sometimes catch one in grassy areas and near bodies of water. It’s also obtainable through the Eggs, Raid Battles, and Special Research tasks.

18. Perrserker

Despite its base stats being on the low side, Generation VIII’s Perrserker is still a good Pokémon to have since it’s capable of performing a variety of attacks. On top of that, it’s also resistant to 12 attack types. With Perrserker, pairing up Metal Claw and Iron Head will yield the best results. You can also use Shadow Claw instead of Metal Claw, but doing so will do less damage.

Possible Locations: You can only obtain a Perrserker by evolving a Galarian Meowth, which you can acquire from the Eggs or by accomplishing Special Research tasks.

19. Ferrothorn

Ferrothorn is another viable option if you’re looking for Pokémon with great defense stats. Besides being durable, Ferrothorn also has access to four attack types: Steel, Grass, Electric, and Poison. It has critical resistance to Grass-type attacks and receives only 62.5% of damage from nine other types.

Possible Locations: Ferrothorn used to be available in the Wild, but only for a limited period. Now, you can only get one by evolving a Ferroseed with 50 Candy. Ferroseed usually lurks in grassy and industrial areas. You can also obtain one by going to Raid Battles or accomplishing Special Research tasks.

20. Skarmory

Staying true to the Steel-type promise of durability, Generation II’s Skarmory offers great defense capabilities that kind of make up for its average-at-best attack and stamina stats. Thanks to its Flying-type quality, it has resistance to the Ground-type attacks that so many Steel-type Pokémon are critically weak against. On top of that, it’s resistant to nine other attack types, including Bug, Poison, and Grass.

Taking on a Skarmory in a Raid Battle can be a challenge, but it isn’t as hard as trying to defeat Legendary Pokémon in tier 5 Raids. When picking Pokémon for your lineup, keep in mind Skarmory’s weaknesses: Electric- and Fire-type attacks. Thus, the best counters for this Steel-type Pokémon are Moltres, Electivire, and Raikou. If you don’t have these in your Pokédex, you can also go for Blaziken, Charizard, and Luxray. You can go into a Skarmory Raid Battle alone but only do so if you’re a high-level trainer and if you have the top three Skarmory counters in your roster. Otherwise, it’s best to bring a few other players with you.

Possible Locations: You can find a Skarmory in the Wild, particularly in parks, gardens, farmlands, and near bodies of water. You can also get one after defeating it in a Raid Battle, by hatching Eggs, or by accomplishing Special Research tasks.

Battle It Out with the Best Steel-type Pokémon

Steel-type Pokémon aren’t always the easiest to find, but you’ll see just how valuable they are once you have them on your roster. You can rely on them to last long during battles, thanks to their usually exceptional defensive stats. But they can be formidable attackers as well, especially since a lot of them have dual typing.

Looking for adorable Pokémon that can also pack a punch? Check out our list of the best Fairy-type Pokémon.