Steelix
| Steelix | |
|---|---|
 National Pokédex Gligar - Steelix (#208) - Snubbull |
|
| Series | Pokémon series |
| First game | Pokémon Gold and Silver |
| Designed by | Ken Sugimori |
| Voiced by | Unshō Ishizuka |
Steelix, known in Japan as ハガネール (Haganēru Haganeil), is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Steelix first appeared in the video games Pokémon Gold and Silver and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise.
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[edit] Concept and characteristics
Steelix is a large serpentine Pokémon that has a steel body with several spikes and a large jaw. The male has two spikes on each side of its jaw while the female only has one spike on each side. It is said that an Onix evolves into Steelix when one lives to be 100 or more,[1] then the pressures exercised on its stone body become so high that it is compressed into a composition harder than diamond.[2] Steelix continues to burrow underground like it did as an Onix, but it reaches far greater depths, reaching records of up to 0.6 miles (900 metres) while heading for the Earth's core.[3]
[edit] Appearances
[edit] In the video games
Steelix first appeared in the video games Pokémon Gold and Silver and in its remakes Pokémon Crystal and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. It evolves from Onix which had no evolution until Gold and Silver by being traded to another copy of the game while holding an item called a "Metal Coat". It has since appeared in every main Pokémon title since, notably Pokémon Diamond and Pearl where it was made available in the wild for the first time. Outside of the main series, Steelix appears in Pokémon Trozei!, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon titles, and Pokémon Ranger.
[edit] In other media
In the anime, Brock owns a Steelix that is kept at the Pewter Gym. Brock first met the newly evolved Pokémon in the season 9 episode Grating Spaces!, when he used it to defend the gym from Team Rocket. In both the games and the anime, the Olivine City Leader Jasmine also owns a Steelix. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Jasmine also owns a Steelix which was disguised as an Onix. When it went up against Brock's Onix, Brock's Onix was defeated. Jasmine explained that she wanted to avoid making it a spectacle since it was a newly discovered Pokémon by hiding it.
[edit] Reception
IGN named Steelix the 80th best Pokémon species by IGN users. IGN's Audrey Blake wrote that while she was skeptical of the idea of Onix having an evolution due to her affinity to it (particularly the character Brock's Onix in the anime) and a worry that she wouldn't like it as well. She eventually found it to be "definitely good enough to accept as a legitimate evolution" though not "quite as classic as good ole Onix".[4] IGN's Pokémon Chick stated that it was a favourite among trainers due to its high defense.[5] She later wrote that it was "horrible-yet-grossly-overused-anyway".[6] Official Nintendo Magazine named Steelix one of the ten best Pokémon in the game as of 2010, stating it "is almost untouchable thanks to its stupidly high Defense stat".[7] Author Ash Dekirk wrote that Steelix resembles a "great wurm" of steel.[8] GamesRadar's Brett Elston wrote that Steelix made up for Onix's low level of usefulness due to its increased attack power and "outrageous defense".[9]
[edit] References
- ^ Pokédex: It is said that if an Onix lives for over 100 years, its composition changes to become diamond-like. Game Freak. Pokémon Silver. (Nintendo). Game Boy. (2000-10-15)
- ^ Pokédex: Its body has been compressed deep under the ground. As a result, it is even harder than a diamond. Game Freak. Pokémon Gold. (Nintendo). Game Boy. (2000-10-15)
- ^ Pokédex: STEELIX lives even further underground than ONIX. This POKéMON is known to dig towards the earth's core. Steelix are also incredibly aggressive pokémon. There are records of this POKéMON reaching a depth of over six-tenths of a mile underground. Steelix are also incredibly aggressive pokémon. Game Freak. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. (Nintendo). Game Boy Advance. (2003-03-17)
- ^ Steelix - #80 Top Pokémon - IGN
- ^ Pokemon Crystal Version Pokemon of the Day: Steelix (#208) - IGN FAQs
- ^ Pokemon Crystal Version Pokemon of the Day: Ampharos (#181) - IGN FAQs
- ^ Chris Scullion (24-Apr-2010). "Nintendo Feature: 10 Best Pokémon - Official Nintendo Magazine". Official Nintendo Magazine. http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=16559. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ Dragonlore: From the Archives of the Grey School of Wizardry - Ash Dekirk - Google Boeken
- ^ The complete Pokemon RBY pokedex, part 9 | GamesRadar
