Understanding what is the evolution of onix is essential for anyone interested in Pokemon card collecting and pricing. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know, from basic concepts to advanced strategies. By the end of this article, you’ll have the knowledge to make informed decisions and take effective action.
Table of Contents
- How Does Onix Evolve Into Steelix?
- Understanding Steelix’s Stats and Abilities
- Where to Find the Metal Coat Item
- Mega Steelix: The Ultimate Evolution
- Trade Evolution Challenges and Workarounds
- Onix and Steelix Card Values for Collectors
- The Future of the Onix Evolution Line
- Conclusion
How Does Onix Evolve Into Steelix?
The traditional method for evolving Onix into Steelix requires two components: a Metal Coat held item and a trade with another player. When Onix is traded while holding the Metal Coat, it immediately evolves into Steelix upon arriving in the receiving player’s game. This mechanic has remained consistent from Pokémon Gold and Silver through most subsequent main series entries. However, the trade requirement has frustrated solo players for years.
Game Freak addressed this in Pokémon Legends: Arceus and the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A by allowing players to use the Metal Coat directly on Onix without needing a trade partner. This represents a significant quality-of-life improvement for players who prefer to complete their Pokédex independently or lack access to trading. Pokémon GO uses a different system entirely, requiring 50 Onix Candy plus a Metal Coat item to trigger the evolution. The Metal Coat in GO is obtained through PokéStop spins, weekly research breakthroughs, or special research tasks, making it a grind-based evolution rather than a social one.
Understanding Steelix’s Stats and Abilities
Steelix emerges from this evolution as a defensive powerhouse with three possible abilities. Rock Head prevents recoil damage from moves like Double-Edge, while Sturdy guarantees survival from any single attack at full HP. Its Hidden Ability, Sheer Force, boosts the power of moves with secondary effects while removing those effects entirely”a strategic tradeoff that can significantly increase damage output. The type change from Rock/Ground to Steel/Ground represents a substantial defensive shift.
Steelix gains resistances to Normal, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Dragon, Steel, and Fairy types, plus immunities to Electric and Poison. However, it trades away Rock’s resistance to Fire and becomes vulnerable to Fighting, Ground, Fire, and Water moves. Players building competitive teams need to weigh these defensive changes carefully. If your primary concern is physical defense, Steelix delivers. But the typing change means Water-type moves that Onix could survive may now deal super-effective damage to Steelix, since it loses the Ground type’s neutral matchup with Water that Rock possessed.
Where to Find the Metal Coat Item
Locating a Metal Coat varies significantly by game, and some titles make it considerably easier than others. In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, you can obtain one from Byron in Riley’s House on Iron Island after acquiring the National Pokédex”a post-game reward that requires substantial progress. In the original Gold, Silver, and Crystal versions, the Metal Coat is found aboard the S.S. Aqua docked in Vermilion City.
Many games also allow players to find Metal Coats on wild Pokémon that naturally carry steel items, such as Magnemite and its evolutions. Using moves like Thief or abilities like Frisk can help identify and acquire these items without trade. The Pickup ability occasionally yields Metal Coats as well, though the odds are generally low. For collectors tracking down specific Steelix cards, knowing which games featured accessible Metal Coats helps contextualize when Steelix became more prominent in players’ collections. Games with post-game-only Metal Coats made Steelix rarer in casual playthroughs, while titles offering earlier access increased its presence.
Mega Steelix: The Ultimate Evolution
Steelix gained access to Mega Evolution in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire through the Steelixite Mega Stone. Mega Steelix’s base Defense stat ties with Mega Aggron for the highest among all Steel-type Pokémon, making it a nearly impenetrable physical wall. Its appearance changes dramatically, with crystalline protrusions and a more angular, fortified design. The tradeoff for this defensive ceiling is the Mega Evolution slot itself.
A team can only Mega Evolve one Pokémon per battle, so committing that resource to Steelix means foregoing potentially more offensive Mega options. Mega Steelix excels in specific defensive roles but lacks the versatility or offensive presence of alternatives like Mega Charizard or Mega Metagross. For card collectors, Mega Steelix EX cards from the XY era represent this evolutionary peak. These cards often feature higher HP values and powerful attacks that reflect the in-game power spike, making them desirable additions to Steel-type or evolution-focused collections.
Trade Evolution Challenges and Workarounds
The trade requirement for Steelix has historically created barriers for players without friends who own compatible games or reliable internet connections. Before online trading became standard, evolving Onix required physical proximity to another player with a link cable and compatible hardware. Many players from the Game Boy era never completed this evolution during their original playthroughs.
Online trading through systems like the Global Trade Station and later Pokémon HOME simplified the process considerably, though it still requires trusting strangers or coordinating with online communities. The risk of a trading partner keeping your Pokémon instead of trading back existed before safeguards were implemented, and some unscrupulous traders exploited newer players. The removal of the trade requirement in Pokémon Legends: Arceus signals a potential shift in Game Freak’s approach to trade evolutions. Whether future main series titles will adopt similar mechanics remains uncertain, but solo players have reason to hope for continued accessibility improvements.
Onix and Steelix Card Values for Collectors
The Onix-to-Steelix evolution line has appeared across numerous Pokémon Trading Card Game sets since the franchise began. Base Set Onix cards from 1999 remain sought after for nostalgia and historical significance, while Steelix cards first appeared in Neo Genesis alongside its game debut. First edition and holographic variants of both command premium prices among serious collectors.
Mega Steelix EX from XY”Steam Siege represents the evolution line’s peak in terms of raw gameplay power on cardboard. These full-art and secret rare variants attract collectors who appreciate both competitive viability and artistic presentation. Condition remains critical for all vintage Onix and Steelix cards, with even minor edge wear significantly impacting market value.
The Future of the Onix Evolution Line
With Pokémon Legends: Z-A confirmed to feature the trade-free Metal Coat evolution method, accessibility for Steelix will likely continue improving in future titles. The franchise has shown willingness to modernize outdated mechanics while preserving the spirit of evolution requirements, suggesting Steelix will remain obtainable without mandatory social play.
Whether Steelix receives additional forms, regional variants, or further evolution options in future generations remains speculative. The precedent set by other classic Pokémon receiving new attention”such as regional evolutions for Pokémon like Farfetch’d”keeps possibilities open for the Iron Snake Pokémon to gain renewed competitive and collector relevance.
Conclusion
Onix evolves into Steelix through a Metal Coat trade evolution in most Pokémon games, transforming from a Rock/Ground type into a Steel/Ground defensive specialist. This evolution grants access to abilities like Rock Head, Sturdy, and Sheer Force, plus the potential for Mega Evolution into one of the most defensively capable Pokémon in the franchise.
The trade requirement has softened in recent titles, with Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Z-A offering direct item-based evolution. For collectors, understanding this evolution line helps contextualize card releases from Base Set Onix through Mega Steelix EX and beyond. Whether you are completing a Pokédex, building a competitive team, or curating a card collection, the Onix-to-Steelix evolution remains one of the franchise’s most distinctive and rewarding transformations to pursue.
