What weather boosts Steel-type moves?

Snowy weather boosts Steel-type moves by 1.2× alongside Ice moves. Snowy windows are the optimal time to grind Beldum, Aron, Honedge, and Klink Community Days, and to run Mega Metagross, Mega Aggron, and Crowned Zacian in raids.

Best Steel Type Attackers in Pokemon GO

Tier S

Best in class

S

1

Shadow Metagross Bullet PunchMeteor Mash 18.9DPS 379TDO 40.0eDPS 2

Mega Lucario Bullet PunchMeteor Mash 18.9DPS 341TDO 39.0eDPS 3

Mega Metagross Bullet PunchMeteor Mash 17.9DPS 357TDO 37.8eDPS

Tier A

Top picks

A

4

Shadow Kingler Metal ClawCrabhammer 17.6DPS 269TDO 34.8eDPS 5

Shadow Dragonite Steel WingDraco Meteor 17.2DPS 379TDO 37.3eDPS 6

Shadow Dialga Metal ClawIron Head 17.0DPS 367TDO 36.6eDPS 7

Shadow Dialga (Origin) Metal ClawIron Head 16.9DPS 364TDO 36.3eDPS 8

Kyurem (White) Steel WingFusion Flare 16.7DPS 431TDO 37.7eDPS 9

Mega Dragonite Steel WingDraco Meteor 16.7DPS 368TDO 36.2eDPS 10

Zacian (Crowned sword) Metal ClawClose Combat 16.6DPS 333TDO 35.1eDPS 11

Shadow Excadrill Metal ClawIron Head 16.4DPS 418TDO 36.9eDPS 12

Tinkaton Fairy WindGigaton Hammer 16.2DPS 337TDO 34.6eDPS 13

Shadow Ursaring Metal ClawHyper Beam 16.1DPS 351TDO 34.9eDPS

Tier B

Solid options

B

14

Shadow Archeops Steel WingDragon Claw 16.0DPS 305TDO 33.4eDPS 15

Mega Pidgeot Steel WingBrave Bird 15.9DPS 326TDO 33.8eDPS 16

Metagross Bullet PunchMeteor Mash 15.6DPS 312TDO 33.0eDPS 17

Mega Skarmory Steel WingFlash Cannon 15.3DPS 261TDO 31.1eDPS 18

Kyurem (Black) Dragon TailIron Head 15.2DPS 392TDO 34.3eDPS 19

Kyurem Steel WingGlaciate 15.1DPS 388TDO 34.0eDPS 20

Shadow Hydreigon BiteFlash Cannon 15.1DPS 333TDO 32.7eDPS 21

Shadow Unfezant Steel WingSky Attack 15.0DPS 300TDO 31.7eDPS 22

Dragonite Steel WingDraco Meteor 15.0DPS 329TDO 32.4eDPS 23

Mega Tyranitar Iron TailStone Edge 14.6DPS 344TDO 32.1eDPS 24

Kingler Metal ClawCrabhammer 14.4DPS 221TDO 28.6eDPS 25

Shadow Tyranitar Iron TailStone Edge 14.4DPS 340TDO 31.8eDPS 26

Necrozma (Dusk mane) Metal ClawIron Head 14.3DPS 301TDO 30.6eDPS 27

Zamazenta (Crowned shield) Metal ClawClose Combat 14.2DPS 287TDO 30.2eDPS

Tier C

Usable

C

28

Genesect Metal ClawMagnet Bomb 14.2DPS 259TDO 29.3eDPS 29

Genesect (Burn) Metal ClawMagnet Bomb 14.2DPS 259TDO 29.3eDPS 30

Genesect (Chill) Metal ClawMagnet Bomb 14.2DPS 259TDO 29.3eDPS

Editor's verdict

Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash is the best non-Mega, non-legendary Steel attacker and it's been elite for years — build two, no hesitation. Mega Metagross is the natural upgrade once you have the energy. Excadrill is the accessible everyman pick that also raids as a Ground attacker, so it rarely sits idle.

Toni Ramón

Founder & lead editor · 2026-08-30

Methodology

Every fast + charged move combination is simulated at level 40 (CPM 0.7903) against a generic Tier 5 boss with 160 effective Defense. At least one move must be Steel-type. Only the best moveset per Pokemon is listed.

DPS: Damage per second over one full attack cycle.
TDO: Total damage dealt before fainting — rewards bulk.
eDPS: Composite score: (DPS³ × TDO)^0.25.
STAB: 1.2× when the move type matches the Pokemon type.
Shadow: +20% Attack, −17% Defense.
Mega: Ranked with boosted base stats.

Tier cut-offs

Tier S: Top 5% or top 3
Tier A: Top 15% or top 8
Tier B: Top 25% or top 15
Tier C: Top 35% or top 22
Tier D: Everything else

Editor's notes

Steel offense, where it matters and what to build.

Steel type in Pokemon GO

Steel-type Pokemon GO is the king of defensive typings. Steel resists 11 different types — including Dragon, Fairy, Psychic, Ice, Rock, Normal, Flying, Bug, Grass, Steel, and Poison — and is immune to Poison entirely. This makes Steel attackers the universal pivot in PvP and the preferred raid attacker against Fairy raid bosses. Top Steel attackers include Mega Metagross, Excadrill (Ground/Steel), Crowned Zacian (Fairy/Steel), Mega Aggron, and Mega Lucario (Fighting/Steel). Signature Steel moves include Meteor Mash (Metagross signature CD move), Iron Head, Behemoth Blade (Crowned Zacian signature), Behemoth Bash (Crowned Zamazenta signature), Bullet Punch, and Magnet Bomb. Steel types are weak to Fire, Fighting, and Ground.

Top Steel attackers explained

The top Steel attackers are Mega Metagross, Crowned Zacian, Mega Aggron, Excadrill, and Shadow Metagross. Mega Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash has the highest Steel DPS in the game thanks to its Mega multiplier and signature CD move. Crowned Zacian (Fairy/Steel) with Metal Claw and Behemoth Blade is the top legendary Steel attacker. Excadrill (Ground/Steel) with Mud-Slap and Iron Head is the best budget Steel attacker. Shadow Metagross, Shadow Excadrill, and Shadow Magnezone round out the Shadow tier. Genesect (Bug/Steel) flexes between Bug and Steel raids. Cobalion (Steel/Fighting) and Mega Lucario flex too.

Steel in GO Battle League

Steel types are PvP fixtures. Bastiodon (Rock/Steel), Galarian Stunfisk (Steel/Ground), Skarmory (Steel/Flying), Registeel, and Probopass (Rock/Steel) anchor Great League. In Ultra League, Cobalion, Magnezone, Empoleon (Water/Steel), Steelix-Mega-Y-tier, and Lucario flex into core teams. In Master League, Crowned Zacian, Origin Forme Dialga (Steel/Dragon), Metagross, and Magnezone lead the Steel charge. Galarian Stunfisk with Mud Shot and Rock Slide is one of the top three Great League Pokemon ever. Aggron with Smack Down and Heavy Slam is a Great League cup-restricted favorite. Steel/Fairy duals (Magearna, Klefki) bring anti-Dragon utility.

When to field Steel attackers

Steel attackers shine against Fairy (Xerneas, Crowned Zacian mirror, Togekiss), Ice (Galarian Darmanitan, Mamoswine, Glaceon), and Rock (Tyranitar, Rhyperior, Rampardos). They are 1.6× weak to Fire, Fighting, and Ground — and Bastiodon (Rock/Steel) takes 4× from Fighting and Ground. Snowy weather boosts Steel by 1.2× alongside Ice. Avoid Steel attackers against Reshiram, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Lucario, Conkeldurr, Crowned Zacian (in mirror match), Excadrill, and Therian Landorus. Steel types are most useful in PvP as defensive pivots that absorb resisted hits and counter-attack with super-effective Steel STAB.

Community Day picks & notable investments

Steel Community Days have included Beldum → Metagross with Meteor Mash (one of the most impactful CDs ever), Aron → Aggron with Smack Down, Onix → Steelix with Psychic Fangs, Mawile (Mega Mawile with Iron Head), Klink → Klinklang, Honedge → Aegislash with Gyro Ball, Pawniard → Bisharp, and Cufant → Copperajah. Crowned Zacian and Crowned Zamazenta arrived in 2025 as Fairy/Steel and Fighting/Steel legendaries that shook up the Master League meta. Mega Metagross, Mega Aggron, Mega Steelix, and Mega Lucario rotate through Mega Raids regularly. Origin Forme Dialga (Steel/Dragon) raids in 2025 introduced Roar of Time, instantly making it the top Master League PvP pick.

FAQ

What is the #1 ranked Steel-type attacker right now?

Based on our DPS simulations, Shadow Metagross currently ranks first among Steel-type attackers in Pokemon GO, followed by Shadow Metagross, Mega Lucario, Mega Metagross. The full tier list above shows every viable Steel attacker with its optimal moveset, DPS, TDO, and eDPS values.

Which raid bosses should I use Steel attackers against?

Steel-type attacks deal super-effective damage to Fairy, Ice, Rock-type Pokemon, so use Steel attackers when those types appear in 5-Star, Mega, Elite, or Primal raids. Always weather-check the boss before launching the raid to maximize damage with the appropriate weather boost.

What is the best Steel-type attacker in Pokemon GO?

Mega Metagross is the strongest Steel attacker in the game thanks to its Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash moveset. Crowned Zacian (Fairy/Steel) is the top legendary Steel attacker. Excadrill is the best budget non-Mega option, and Shadow Metagross is the top Shadow Steel pick.

Why is Steel good defensively?

Steel resists 11 different types — including Dragon, Fairy, Psychic, Ice, Rock, Normal, Flying, Bug, Grass, Steel, and Poison — and is immune to Poison entirely. This is the most resistance-rich typing in the game, making Steel the universal defensive pivot in PvP and the preferred raid attacker against Fairy bosses.

What are Steel types weak to?

Steel types take 1.6× damage from Fire, Fighting, and Ground moves. Bastiodon (Rock/Steel) takes 4× from Fighting and Ground. Empoleon (Water/Steel) takes 4× from Electric. Common counters include Reshiram, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Lucario, Conkeldurr, Therian Landorus, Excadrill, and Garchomp.

Is Crowned Zacian the best Master League Pokemon?

Crowned Zacian (Fairy/Steel) with Metal Claw and Behemoth Blade is one of the top three Master League PvP picks alongside Origin Forme Dialga and Mega Rayquaza. Its Fairy/Steel typing resists Dragon and is immune to Dragon STAB, making it the universal counter to Mega Rayquaza, Origin Palkia, and Garchomp.

Explore more

Steel Pokedex Every Steel-type Pokemon with stats and moves Raid bosses Counters for every boss in rotation All attacking types Best attackers for the other 17 types