STEEL TYPE • FULL DRAWING • FULL GRID

Explanation: 

[LEFT] Steel reaches out in combinations where it is the primary type. The tendrils inside of Steel’s circle are combinations where Steel is the secondary type. 

[RIGHT] These are mutual combinations. IE: There’s a steel/fighting and a fighting/steel pokémon. This graphic shows all mutual relationships with steel.

The question I ask here is why does GameFreak label pokémon with primary and secondary types, and is there any significance to that? Obviously as far as gameplay is concerned there is no significance to it at all, but I think there’s some significance in the nomenclature. First:

What makes a steel type pokémon?

Steel type pokémon are usually made of metal or boast overwhelming features as hard as steel. In many, many cases, steel type pokémon are related to man made motifs; be that buildings, mechanics, or thematics. Steel in and of itself is actually an alloy not normally found in nature. I would say, in most cases, steel type is the “anti-nature type”.

Cobalion / Lucario

These pokémon share their type combinations, Cobalion being primary steel and Lucario being primary fighting. Lucario boasts a bipedal stance, a trait very common for fighting type pokémon, while Cobalion is on all fours. We will examine more about Lucario’s typing when we reach the fighting bubble. Cobalion is part of the legendary trio (quartet when Keldeo is accounted for) The Swords of Justice, who’s sole purpose is to protect pokémon. The Swords’ typing each fit in with different terrains pokémon inhabit. Virizion, grass type, (forest/grasslands), Terrakion, rock type,(mountains/deserts/caves), and Cobalion, steel type, (cities/urban settlements). The idea that Cobalion is a steel type pokémon makes most sense when put in this wording: Cobalion is a steel type pokémon that fights for pokémon.

Magearna / Zacian, Crowned Sword

It is worth noting that Magearna is one of 4 total steel/fairy type pokémon. I chose Magearna because the argument is most interesting. Magearna is a very interesting pokémon in general- an artificial body harnessing a “soul-heart”. The “soul-heart” is the purest of magical energy, reinforcing the fairy typing, however, Magearna is completely man-made. It is steel type at its roots- entirely unnatural. Its flipped counterpart, the only one, is Zacian, Crowned Sword. Zacian, Hero of Many Battles, is simply fairy type, but when donning the rusted sword, it gains the steel typing. Both Zacian and Zamazenta gain the steel typing, protecting them from the Darkest Day’s poison. They are, however, neither artificial, nor man-made, only the rusted sword and shield are. One interesting point I want to hit before I move on is Mawile. Mawile is a unique case, where, were it created now, it would be a fairy/steel as opposed to a steel fairy. It is a sprite, boasting steel features in its teeth. The fact that it is a steel/fairy pokémon is very interesting to me.

Bronzong / Solgaleo

The psychic type is an interesting type, and this example, unfortunately, does not have a good matchup. All of the steel/psychic type pokémon are made of metal or based on things made of metal. Solgaleo, however, is not “made” of psychic energy. Inversely, actually, Solgaleo’s steel typing could come from the sun being made up of iron (after hydrogen and helium)- even so, most of the sun’s heavy metals are thought to have come from asteroids, so that’s a bust. I’ve seen arguments linking the alchemical lion to steel, so its tie is most likely from that. Regardless, Bronzor and Bronzong both are not only metal in makeup, but are actually based on man-made objects- a mirror and a bell respectively. Additionally they come from a Japanese folk tale, another human creation. This means their primary steel typing is well earned.

Skarmory / Corviknight

Well... this is easily the blurriest line of them all. I have only one main argument as to why, in lore™, it makes sense for Corviknight to be primary flying. My reasoning is: Corviknight is THE flying pokémon of Gen VIII. It flies you everywhere you need to go. It’s used in Galar as a taxi, for god’s sake. It is also made of a sleek black metal, so steel is more of an afterthought. Skarmory is basically the same pokémon, but its use of flight is a bit more limited and its steel theme is more overt. Now, of course, the reason that Corviknight is primary flying type is because GameFreak finally realized that making pokémon primary flying is totally fine and nothing bad will happen if you do. The same thing happened with Cramorant. 

Aggron / Bastiodon

Oftentimes in these comparisons you’ll notice that it will boil down to theme. Aggron’s overall theme more closely resembles the steel typing than Bastiodon’s. However, in this specific case, there’s a bit of a better argument. The Aggron line consumes iron ore found in mountainsides. It is an inorganic pokémon, in most aspects, losing even its rock typing upon mega evolving. Bastiodon, however, is a living fossil. All but 7 of the 25? fossil pokémon are primary rock type- so its steel typing comes second. 

Steelix / Excadrill

All existing type combinations in the pokémon franchise (artsy version!)

All existing type combinations in the pokémon franchise.

Click image to see higher res on flickr.