Brock's Steelix

**Brock's Steelix** (Japanese: **タケシのハガネール** *Takeshi's Haganeil*) was the first Pokémon acquired by Brock in the anime, and is his main battling Pokémon in both the anime and games. It was given to Brock by his father, Flint.

## History

### Original series

#### Kanto

Brock received Steelix as an Onix from his father, Flint, on his tenth birthday, as seen in a flashback in *Having a Wailord of a Time*. Onix was Brock's first Pokémon and has consistently been his strongest.

Onix was first seen in *Showdown in Pewter City* during Brock's Gym battle with Ash at the Pewter Gym, where it was used against Pikachu. Onix wasn't fazed by Pikachu's Thunder Shocks because of its secondary Ground type, and was easily able to subdue Pikachu with a Bind. Ash decided to forfeit the match because he couldn't stand to see Pikachu in pain. Onix was also used in Brock's rematch with Ash where it battled Pikachu once again. This time Pikachu's newly learned Thunderbolt attack was actually able to cause damage to Onix, though it was still not enough to defeat it. Onix once again had Pikachu in a Bind until Brock told it to stop because Brock didn't want to hurt Pikachu. Eventually Pikachu's Thunderbolt set off the sprinklers, severely damaging Onix because of its weakness to water. Pikachu took Onix down with one final Thunderbolt, but Ash chose to forfeit. Brock decided to give Ash the Boulder Badge anyway, and then joined him on his journey, bringing Onix with him.

Like most of Brock's Pokémon, Onix received very little screen time in comparison to the Pokémon of the other main characters. This may have been due to its massive size.

Onix was sent out in an attempt to prevent Team Rocket from escaping with a Moon Stone in *Clefairy and the Moon Stone*. It tunneled through the ground and burst up to disrupt the escaping Team Rocket, and although it fought to a stalemate with Koffing, it held them up long enough for Ash and the others to arrive and save the day. In *Pokémon Shipwreck*, the trio were trapped in the upside down sunken St. Anne. Onix was used as a bridge and ladder to allow the group to reach lower levels of the ship.

Onix was used as Brock's steed in *The Flame Pokémon-athon!*, during the big race. It managed to maintain second behind Dario and just ahead of a farmhand on a Rhyhorn. However, the race involved crossing a body of water, which the two Rock-type Pokémon were unable to cross, and Onix had to withdraw. Onix was noticeably upset by this and even wept.

In *Who Gets To Keep Togepi?*, Brock used Onix in the four-way tournament, where it went up against Meowth. It seemed to outclass the tiny Normal-type Pokémon with Rock Throw, but Meowth was extremely determined after seeing Togepi, and managed to defeat Onix by splashing it with two buckets of water, and then using Fury Swipes.

In *Volcanic Panic*, it helped stop the erupting volcano by helping Geodude, Blaine's Magmar, Ash's Charizard and Ash's Pikachu clog the lava flow with boulders. Misty's Staryu and Ash's Squirtle bathed Onix in water to help keep it from overheating.

Brock used it in *To Master the Onixpected!* in an attempt to restrain a giant Onix, and in *The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis*, in an attempt to restrain a giant Gengar. It was absorbed into the ancient Pokémon just like Team Rocket, the scientists, and Pidgeotto, but reappeared at the end of the episode.

In *Fire and Ice*, Brock called out Onix to rescue Ash's Pokémon from Team Rocket, who tried to steal them under the ploy of healing them at a fake Pokémon Center. It quickly caught their balloon in its jaws and, after the group had retrieved Ash's Pokémon, sent them blasting off by bursting said balloon.

#### Orange Islands

In *Poké Ball Peril*, when Brock decided to stay with Professor Ivy while Ash and Misty explored the Orange Islands, Onix remained with him. It was seen, along with Geodude, Zubat, and Vulpix, bidding goodbye to Ash and Misty as they parted ways with Brock. However, it returned with him to Pallet Town when he decided to leave Ivy.

#### Johto

When Brock returned to the group in *A Tent Situation*, he brought Onix with him, as revealed in *Roll On, Pokémon!*, where it lost a battle with a powerful Donphan.

In *Spell of the Unown: Entei*, Onix was called up against Molly Hale. It battled Phanpy and was defeated by Rollout.

In *Mewtwo Returns*, Onix was sent out alongside Brock and Misty's Pokémon to stop Giovanni and the rest of Team Rocket from recapturing Mewtwo. Their distraction gave Ash the time he needed to take Mewtwo to the top of Mount Quena so it could be healed.

In *Sick Daze*, it was revealed that Brock usually polished his Geodude and Onix as part of his Breeder duties. The dubious task of polishing Brock's Onix fell to Ash, who attempted to shorten his chore through use of his Totodile's Water Gun, which caused Onix to panic and earned Ash a reprimand from Misty. It was captured by Team Rocket, but was rescued by the arrival of Brock, Golbat, and Pineco and used Rock Throw to send Team Rocket blasting off.

In *Control Freak!*, Jessie, in possession of an ancient Queen's mask and scepter, took control of Onix, along with Geodude and Pikachu. Team Rocket beat a hasty retreat by ordering Onix to carry them out of the underground chambers. When Team Rocket fled, Onix was freed from the influence of the scepter. In *Entei at Your Own Risk*, Onix comically buried Psyduck in hot sand as it collapsed in the bed to relax. It later used its large, dense body to shield the group from the suction of Team Rocket's Twisty Turbo Tempest machine.

In *Right On, Rhydon!*, Brock used Onix in an attempt to impress Pietra, whose Ground-type were struggling to create a tunnel. It smashed its head against the hardened rock several times, but it quickly fled after some water hit its back.

Onix acted as a firefighter once again in *Great Bowls of Fire!*, where it attempted to rescue the Pokémon trapped by a raging fire in the Dragon Holy Land.

### Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire

#### Chronicles

In *A Family That Battles Together Stays Together!*, Onix was used in a battle against Brock's mother Lola and her Mantine in order to decide if the Pewter City Gym will become a Water-type Gym. Despite being at a type disadvantage, Onix was able to defeat Mantine, allowing the Pewter Gym to remain as a Rock-type Gym. Afterwards, Brock ended up lending Onix, Geodude, and Crobat to his eldest sibling, Forrest, who took on the role of Gym Leader at Pewter City while Brock went to Hoenn.

#### Kanto Battle Frontier

When Brock returned to the Gym in *Grating Spaces*, Onix had evolved into a Steelix under Forrest's care. Steelix was revealed to have learned Iron Tail and a powerful Dragon Breath attack during its time at the Gym. It was used in a Tag Battle with Ash and his Donphan against disguised Jessie and James, and their newly obtained Charizard and Aggron. The battle was eventually stopped after Team Rocket was exposed.

### Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl

In DPS02, Steelix was called out by Forrest to have a Gym battle against Nurse Joy. However, at the time Nurse Joy refused to battle anyone but Brock or Flint.

### Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

In *When Regions Collide!*, Steelix battled Kiawe's Turtonator. A while into the battle, Kiawe figured that Steelix was too strong and decided to use a Z-Move to finish the match. In response, Brock surprised everyone by revealing a Key Stone and Mega Evolving his Steelix into Mega Steelix. Turtonator successfully launched an Inferno Overdrive at Steelix, but despite dealing heavy damage, it wasn't able to deal a decisive blow, much to Kiawe's shock. Steelix proceeded to defeat Turtonator with a Stone Edge.

### Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Steelix reappeared in *The Arceus Chronicles (Part 3)*, where it teamed up with Croagunk and Blissey to fight against the Team Galactic Commanders. It fought against Jupiter's Skuntank, striking it with a powerful Stone Edge before being pushed back by Flamethrower. Cynthia eventually showed up, allowing Brock and Steelix to leave and help stop the rampaging Heatran.

In *Must Be Our Heroes and the Witch!*, Brock, hypnotized by a Hatterene, sent Steelix out to battle Ash, Misty, and Cilan.

In *Ash and Latios*, Steelix was used to fight against a Pokémon hunter, who was trying to capture Latios and Latias. Although Steelix was briefly turned to stone by the hunter's device, it was restored when Pikachu destroyed the machine.

## Personality and characteristics

Like many of Brock's Pokémon, Steelix received very little personality development while it was onscreen, which was not often, most likely due to its size. However, it is very loyal to Brock as his starter Pokémon and reflects his personality closely. Like Brock, Steelix was very intimidating and serious in its debut, mercilessly crushing Pikachu in obedience to its commands. It also has a tough exterior that hides a sensitive interior. Just as Brock gets emotional over women, Steelix is morbidly afraid of water. During the Big P Pokémon Race in *The Flame Pokémon-athon!*, Onix kept up a top three position until they hit a body of water and were forced to retire, causing it to cry in disappointment. When necessity forced it to expose itself to water when damming the Cinnabar volcano, it only permitted the tip of its tail to be soaked.

As a Steelix, its personality remains much the same. It was very happy to see Brock again and battled loyally alongside him.

## Moves used

### Moves improvised

 **Description:** Counter Shield was used in *When Regions Collide!*. Steelix uses Gyro Ball while spinning to deflect the opponent's attacks.

## Trivia

* Steelix is the first Pokémon:
	+ Belonging to a main character to not have an evolutionary family at the time of its debut.
	+ Belonging to one of Ash's friends to evolve off-screen.
	+ Belonging to a main character to change one of its types upon evolution.
	+ Belonging to a main character to use a weather-changing move.
	+ Belonging to a main character to Mega Evolve in the anime.
	+ Belonging to one of Ash's friends to use a Steel or Dragon-type move.
* Steelix has used the most moves out of all of Brock's Pokémon, with a total of eleven.
* Steelix is the tallest Pokémon currently owned by a main character.
* In the ending theme Let's Join Hands, Steelix erroneously appears as Onix. This also occurs with Chansey appearing as an Happiny.