Steel-typePokémonare one of the lesser-known types, but they still pack a punch, withSteel’mons proving to be some of the most offensively capablePokémonavailable. SteelPokémonusually havePhysicalmoves, but they may also beSpecialin more recent generations as the type has seen more development and expansion. There are barely anyanimals that don’t havePokémonbased on them, but as the franchise continues this is likely to change.
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Players like to add a secondary type to their ‘mons for added versatility, more available moves, and narrowly organizing and structuring aPokémonteam. There are many types that can work withSteel, with some obviously proving to be better than others. Whenever adding a secondary type, players should consider the benefits and drawbacks before applying the change.
8Ghost
Ghostis a useful secondary-type for players who are usingSteel-type Pokémon defensively.Ghostmakes otherwise super-effectiveFighting-type moves ineffectual, which is very handy for ensuring thatfighting-type Pokémon don’t wipe out theSteel-type.
The pairing ofGhostandSteelworks the other way, withSteelbeing agreat secondary typing for GhostPokemon.Steelis a great type due to its vast list of resistances, but players wanting to further improve the defensive capabilities ofSteel-type Pokémon should look to addGhostas a secondary typing.
7Psychic
Psychicis a great secondary type to add forSteel-type Pokémon becauseFightingis no longer super-effective againstSteel. However, players now add the weaknesses ofDarkandGhost-types. WhereBugwould usually be super-effective onPsychic,Steelbalances this out because it resists it.
Psychicis more of a special attacking type whereasSteelis physical, so players will need to ensure they have a balance while accepting that they won’t have particularly strong stats in either Attack or Defense as a result of this type of pairing. Thebest Psychic-typePokemonfrom each generationhave given players plenty of memorable ‘mons to choose from for their parties, and this type is not to be ignored.
6Flying
Flying is great for adding defense toGround-type moves, which usually can affectSteel-type Pokémon. It will also make otherwise super-effective fighting moves do normal damage, which can make all the difference when fighting in a tough match that is very close. Thebest flying-type movespack a punch and can be a great addition to a player’s arsenal.
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AddingFlyingas a secondary typing toSteel-type also has the bonus of having super-effective Same-Type-Attack-Bonus flying moves againstFightingtypes. Great examples are Skarmory and Corviknight. It’s worth mentioning thatFlyingas a secondary typing will add a weakness toElectricthatSteelpreviously didn’t have.
5Fairy
Fairyis an often overlooked Pokémon type, but it can be a useful secondary typing forSteel-types. When addingFairyas a secondary typing, these Pokémon will be unaffected byPoisonandDragon-type moves, making for a decent defense if a player’s opponent typically usesDragonandPoisonPokémon. Thecutest FairyPokémonhave helped elevate the franchise’s success over the years, but they’re also pretty useful in battle.
While this isn’t the most useful advantage, addingFairymoves to aSteel-type means thatSteelmoves from opponents won’t be super effective, asSteelresists against itself. By addingFairyas a secondary typing, players don’t have to worry about opponents’Steelmoves being super effective, simply gaining extra attacking options with no defensive drawbacks.
4Ground
Groundis a great pairing forSteel-type Pokémon as between the two of them, players will have nice type coverage. It is worth mentioning that addingGroundwill add an extra weakness toWater. However,Groundattacks counterFiretypes which tend to be a popular choice amongst Pokémon battlers.
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A good example of this is Excadrill, an impressive Pokémon that is useful in battles. Having extraGroundmoves to use forSteel-type Pokémon works offensively even if it’s not the most defensive pairing players can make.
2Water
Wateris a great offensive choice to add as a secondary typing toSteel-types. By addingWater, players will lose the weaknessSteelhas toFire-types andWaterwill lose the weakness it has toGrasstypes. Weaknesses added areElectric,Ground, andFightingbut players gain moves famous from thebest WaterPokémonavailable.
The true benefit of this type of pairing is thatWaterandSteelalso have good type coverage meaning if players come across aGround-type, they will have a super-effectiveWatermove to counter it. A great example Pokémon of this is Empoleon.
1Dragon
The best secondary typing forSteel-types, addingDragonmakes otherwise super-effectiveFiremoves do normal damage. It also works both ways asIce,Fairy, andDragonwhich would normally do super-effective damage againstDragon-types only do normal damage because of the primarySteel-type. Great examples of this are Dialga and Duraludon who have some of thebest Dragon-typePokémonmovesavailable.
Steel has a vast list of resistances, such asNormal,Water,Grass,Electric,Flying,Psychic,Bug, andRockandPoisonhas no effect. Adding inDragonimproves this list of resistances meaning Pokémon types like this have unmatched defensive capabilities that can give players the edge in a battle.
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