With nearly 900 species as of generation eight's Galar region, different moveset and type combinations show themselves in the mainline Pokémon games. Among the most consistent in terms of battle viability are the Steel-type species. As one would expect, they excel in their defensive prowess via base stats as well as their moves.
Likewise, their offensive arsenal of attacks can inflict devastating hits, with their obvious caveat being generally having low speed stats. However, thanks to the type's movepool increasing in depth with each generation over the years, they have some versatility in offensive, defensive, and stat-boosting moves that keep these Pokémon one of the best overall competitively.
10 Iron Tail
Iron Tail is one of the go-to offensive Steel-type moves originating back in generation 2 when the typing was created. It's surely a hard-hitting attack, with stats at a hefty 100 Base Power. But the big tradeoff for being able to pack that kind of a punch is its 75% Accuracy.
Something that can make up for this, though, is that it has a 30% shot at lowering the opponent's Physical Defense if it connects. Considering that package deal, and the move's generous accessibility both in and out of the Steel typing, Iron Tail maintains itself as a fairly reliable move, especially so since its aforementioned accessibility provides coverage opportunities for non-Steel Pokémon.
9 Steel Wing
Another fairly reliable Steel attack is Steel Wing. This was a more restricted move back in the day, as when it was conceived for Pokémon Gold and Silver, it was a signature move for Skarmory. That was a shame, especially since even then there was plenty of bird Pokémon that could've immediately benefited from this in providing Rock-type coverage. Regardless, the passage of time has now made it much more accessible and has a solid 70 Base Power stat along with 90% Accuracy.
Those aren't incredible numbers, but the reliability of connecting hits with respectable strength and the added 10% chance at raising the user's Physical Defense make this an attractive slot into a moveset. As with Iron Tail, it's also a great coverage option for non-Steel types.
8 Bullet Punch
At a glance, Bullet Punch doesn't seem to carry the same weight as other offensive Steel moves, but other factors can supplement this move into being a menace. It only has a Base Power of 40 along with its 100% Accuracy, but one add-on to sweeten the deal is that it's a Priority move, assuring Bullet Punch goes first against non-Priority moves used by the opponent.
Even more so, the Technician ability makes it hit harder, as this makes all attacks with less than 60 BP get a 50% boost. Scizor is famous for a set like this, using an attack with the functionality of Quick Attack have Priority, STAB bonus, and a shot at being Super Effective.
7 Iron Head
As far as Type equivalents go, Iron Head could be the Steel-type Pokémon's version of Crunch in terms of reliability. It could be considered a better tradeoff than Iron Tail purely for its safer balance of Power and Accuracy stats. Iron Head has a BP of 80 with 100% Accuracy; an all-around low-risk attack for those looking to capitalize off sheer, near-guaranteed strength and STAB bonuses.
The move also has an excellent supplementary effect of having a 30% chance at making the opponent flinch. Getting to hit opposition that hard with the raw stats a Steel-type user can give and possibly get another free turn off of it is one of the most reliable deals to get offensively.
6 Autotomize
Taking a break from damage-dealing moves, Automize is a great Steel move that is stat-boosting. The aforementioned weak Speed stats can make it difficult for a lot of these Pokémon to make use of their potential in certain situations, and Automize bumps the user's Speed by two stages.
If the user can bank off of its Defense stats to potentially take a hit before using this, it could prove to be a good way of tilting the odds further in the user's favor. The move can turn some glass cannon Pokémon into genuinely fast and lethal hitters, but definitely will help turn those with particularly abysmal Speed into holding their own long enough for their offenses to finish opposition off in a couple or so hits.
5 Iron Defense
Staying on stat-boosters but shifting over one of the typing's biggest assets, Iron Defense is another powerful move to use despite not dealing damage itself. Steel-types are already widely known for their formidable Physical Defense, but this move bolsters that even further.
Iron Defense raises the user's Defense stat by two whole stages, making them even more of a nightmare for physically offensive opponents to chip away at--and chipping is the best they'll be able to do. A strong offense is a good defense, and this will make a defensive wall a double-layered fortress.
4 Heavy Slam
As expected with low Speed, a lot of these Pokémon are naturally incredibly heavy to boot. That's where Heavy Slam comes in to put that weight to good use, as it's an attack with a Base Power that depends on the weights of the user and opponent. The heavier the user is compared to the enemy, the more damage it deals.
This kind of move is a dream for Pokémon like Steelix and Aggron, as they weigh 881.8 pound./400 kilograms and 797.7 pounds/360 kilograms respectively, and that's when they're not in their Mega Evolutions. The move is also a great counter to Minimize users, as it does double damage if it connects.
3 Gyro Ball
Another move that takes offensive advantage of natural slowness is Gyro Ball. This damage-dealing attack does more damage the slower the user is compared to the opponent, so Pokémon like the aforementioned ones would make great use out of this move also. Though Ferrothron could potentially benefit even more than them, as it has a horrid Base Speed of 20.
The potential is high for BP dealt, as the ceiling is at 150 if the user is around six times slower. It's something else to consider instead of moves like Autotomize that work level the playing field a bit more in terms of Speed stats.
2 Flash Cannon
Steel types aren't known for their prowess in Special Attack, but there are some along with a few moves that fall in this category. Flash Cannon is perhaps one of the most popular Special offensive Steel-type moves, and it's also a low-risk, reliable, and beefy move to have. A BP of 80 and 100% Accuracy is nothing to scoff at, plus a 10% chance of lowering the opponent's Special Defense.
This makes repeated usage of Flash Cannon viable without worry since it can hit harder the next time if the bonus effect succeeds. Lucario is a great candidate for this move, as it's an exceptionally strong mixed attacker with a 110 Base Attack and 115 Base Special Attack, and is a dual Fighting/Steel-type.
1 Meteor Mash
There are other Steel-type attacks with stronger raw damage output, like Sunsteel Strike. However, Sunsteel Strike is locked behind being a "signature" move exclusive to Solgaleo from Pokémon Sun and Moon, and Dusk Mane Necrozma from Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Meteor Mash, while popularized through Metagross, has become a bit more open in terms of accessibility to other species--and still hits like a truck.
It has a BP of 90 with a 90 in Accuracy, too. Like other moves, this one also has a solid 20% chance at raising the user's Physical Attack by a stage, which could allow for reaping bigger rewards on repeated uses of Meteor Mash.
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