What is a good moveset for Steelix?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Steelix, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Steelix Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Gen 8 ZU Suicide Sun Setter for Onix (If you want to use it in ZU for some reason)

Onix @ Heat Rock
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Sunny Day
- Explosion

Stealth Rock is to setup an entry hazard. Taunt stops other leads from using moves like Stealth Rock. Sunny Day is to setup the sun to support teammates that abuse the harsh sunlight. Explosion is to be used after you setup Sunny Day.

Answer 2

National Dex UU / National Dex Monotype (Ground)

Steelix-Mega @ Steelixite
Ability: Sand Force
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Heavy Slam
- Body Press
- Curse

Earthquake is STAB. Heavy Slam is also STAB. Body Press is to attack using your defense. Curse is to boos your attack and defense.

Answer 3

I thought on 2 great sets for the Iron Snake Pokémon

Gen VIII
Steelix @ Life Orb
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Curse
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake
- Head Smash

This thing getting both Curse and Gyro Ball is INCREDIBLE: the first lowers your already bad speed, and raises Attack and Defense; the second is a STAB Steel move that does more damage depending on how slow you are compared to the target.
EQ is its Ground STAB move, powerful, but risky in double battles
Head Smash has INSANE power and there is no recoil thanks to Rock Head

Now the second

Gen VIII
Steelix @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force / Sturdy
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Curse
- Gyro Ball / Iron Tail
- Earthquake
- Payback

Payback also pairs really well with Curse, since it does more damage if it was hit that turn
The Steel move depends on the chosen Ability: Gyro Ball with Sturdy, Iron Tail with Sheer Force.

Comments

Please post 2 separate movesets next time

> Post one moveset per answer, so that others can vote on them separately. If you have multiple movesets, you can post more than one answer

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oops, i thought that was against the rules

Answer 4

Steelix @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Iron Tail
- Earthquake
- Crunch
- Ice Fang

Explanation: Iron Tail is STAB and despite its lower accuracy, has high power which is boosted by Sheer Force. Earthquake is a powerful STAB even without the boost from Sheer Force and Crunch provides coverage against Ghost and Psychic while Ice Fang covers its weakness to Ground type amongst others.

Answer 5

Normie Steelix
Steelix @ Leftovers
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Curse
- Earthquake
- Gyro Ball
- Thunder Fang

Curse +1 Atk, +1 Def, - 1 Spe
Earthquake Stab 150 and covers Fire weakness.
Gyro Ball After 2 Curse uses, deals more damage than Heavy Slam
Thunder Fang 84.5 BP due to Sheer Force and covers Water weakness.

It's a snake, and it's made of steel. Can be really annoying at times, due to its bulk.
Happy slaying!

Answer 6

Mega Steelix
Steelix @ Steelixite
Ability: Sand Force
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Curse
- Earthquake
- Gyro Ball
- Rest

Curse +1 Atk, +1 Def, - 1 Spe
Earthquake Stab 150 and covers Fire weakness. Fire on average deals more damage to it than its other weaknesses.
Gyro Ball After 2 Curse uses, deals more damage than Heavy Slam
Rest Cuz I hate no having any recovery. It's just like you're watching your Pokémon go down.

It's a snake, and it's made of steel. Can be really annoying at times, due to its bulk.
Happy slaying!

Answer 7

Gen 8 SS Monotype (Ground)

Steelix @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Spe
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Heavy Slam / Earthquake

A Substitute + IronPress set. With this set, Steelix is able to beat Grass- and help beat Dark-type teams with this set. Substitute allows you to take advantage of passive Pokemon such as Ferrothorn. Iron Defense is to make your defense higher so you can take physical hits better. Body Press takes advantage from Iron Defense boosts along with Steelix's naturally high defense. Heavy Slam is used for Steel STAB for good coverage alongside Body Press, while Earthquake can be used for Ground STAB to hit Pokemon like Toxapex and Galarian Slowking super effectively.

Answer 8

(bulky wall)
Steelix @ Assualt Vest
Ability: Rock Head / Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD or 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Impish / Adamant Nature
- Head Smash / Rock Slide / Stone Edge
- Body press
- High Horsepower / Earthquake
- Iron Head

This set is for a bulky doubles/singles set.
Head smash for big damage and paired with rock head, no recoil, stone edge/rock slide is for sheer force boosted moves singles or doubles, body press because of Steelix’s insane base defense of 200! High horsepower/earthquake/bulldoze, high horsepower for doubles, earthquake for singles, bulldoze for sheer force and all for stab, iron head also for stab and sheer force, this set is to get a bulky wall onto the field and since you have assailant vest+max sp def ev investment, you get a wall that can also do quite a bit of damage as well