Steel Type Editorial Analysis
Coverage Score
-1
TypeMatchup score: super-effective targets minus resisted and immune targets.
Defensive Burden
-6
low defensive burden based on weaknesses, resistances, and immunities.
Role Fit
Steel is the premier defensive compression type, resisting ten attack types and ignoring Poison damage through immunity.
Original TypeMatchup judgment
Use Steel when a team needs a durable answer to Dragon, Fairy, Ice, Rock, Psychic, and repeated neutral pressure. Its Fire, Fighting, and Ground weaknesses must be actively covered.
Team partners and coverage
Flying or Levitate users cover Ground, Water partners cover Fire, and Fairy or Psychic partners can help reduce Fighting pressure depending on the format.
Data check: Steel attacks are resisted or blocked by Fire, Water, Electric, Steel. Candidate partner attack types that pressure at least one of those answers include Fire, Water, Electric, Grass, Fighting, Ground.
Best use case
Steel is strongest as a defensive anchor, hazard setter, pivot, or Fairy check that gives frailer teammates room to operate.
On defense, Steel is threatened by Fire, Fighting, Ground. Teammate types that can resist or blank at least one of those threats include Fire, Water, Grass, Poison, Flying, Psychic.
Important exception
Do not stack Steel blindly. Many teams already prepare Fire, Fighting, and Ground coverage; a second Steel can make those coverage moves too efficient unless the pair covers each other.