Ultimate List of the 12 best Steroids for Effective Bulking and Cutting

Anabolic best steroids have surged in popularity in recent times, especially among the current generation, as their desire to build muscle and achieve their fitness goals grows stronger compared to previous generations.

Determining the most effective steroids is a crucial decision, ensuring optimal results and avoiding wastage of time and financial resources on ineffective compounds.

The selection of the best steroids largely hinges on individual fitness objectives.

For instance, individuals seeking substantial muscle gain, such as 30lbs, would benefit from a distinct cycle compared to those aiming to shed 5lbs of fat and chisel a six-pack.

To attain significant muscle growth, individuals can fulfill their objectives by incorporating potent bulking steroids into their regimen. Conversely, those pursuing fat loss and a defined physique may find success with the use of Anavar.

Within this article, we explore the most suitable steroids for individuals tailored to their specific fitness aims.

Optimal Steroids for Bulking

Bulking steroids are primarily responsible for facilitating substantial muscle development by elevating free testosterone levels, promoting protein synthesis, and enhancing nitrogen retention. They also prove highly effective in bolstering strength, courtesy of the increased weight and muscle gains.

Ideally, bulking steroids should be combined with a high-calorie diet to complement a user’s gains, fostering an amplified anabolic environment in the body.

The best steroids for bulking include:

Dianabol
Testosterone
Anadrol
Trenbolone
Deca Durabolin
Turinabol

Dianabol

Dianabol, or methandrostenolone, holds the distinction of being the most sought-after bulking steroid on the market due to several reasons:

Available in an oral (tablet) format
Recognized as one of the premier steroids for bulking purposes
Known for its relatively mild side effects

Despite the availability of injectable Dianabol, the pill form is more prevalent, particularly among bodybuilders averse to needles due to discomfort or potential injection-related repercussions.

Many bodybuilders extol the muscle-building prowess of Dianabol, while others may advocate for the efficacy of Anadrol, with individual responses to specific compounds influencing these preferences.

Renowned figures in bodybuilding, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, purportedly utilized Dbol in the 1970s, contributing to his conquest of 7 Mr. Olympia titles. Notably, Dianabol remains a staple in the stacks of numerous professional bodybuilders even five decades later, often yielding 30lbs of mass and strength increases of 70lbs or more in novice users.

Testosterone

Testosterone serves as a foundational bulking steroid, featured in nearly every steroid stack, and its attributes closely mirror those of Dianabol. However, testosterone is predominantly available in injectable form, exhibiting a less anabolic and more androgenic profile.

In terms of gains, the disparity between the two compounds concerning anabolism is minimal. Anecdotal evidence suggests that users commonly garner 25lbs from their first testosterone cycle. Beginners are advised to commence with low testosterone doses (200-300mg/week) due to its relatively gentle nature and robust muscle-building properties.

Additionally, testosterone exerts effective fat-burning capabilities, concurrently diminishing body fat percentage while fostering lean muscle growth. Compared to Dianabol or Anadrol, testosterone is generally associated with lesser water retention and bloating, albeit some fluid gain remains typical.

Anadrol

Anadrol (Oxymetholone) is a notably potent bulking steroid, touted as the premier choice for achieving substantial muscle and mass gains. However, it ranks below Dianabol in this list due to a comparison of benefits versus drawbacks. While Anadrol outstrips Dianabol in potency, its adverse effects are perceived as more severe, rendering it a less favored and riskier steroid.

Anadrol facilitates the most pronounced weight gain, often exceeding 30lbs in a single cycle. This heightened weight gain is attributed to the notable water retention induced by Anadrol, which tends to recede post-cycle.

Elevated testosterone levels, a surge in strength, and intense, if not painful, muscle pumps are common amid Anadrol usage. Notably, the most severe side effect of Anadrol is a surge in blood pressure, attributable to the steroid’s significant impact on HDL levels and hepatotoxicity, as evidenced by liver function tests.

Trenbolone

Trenbolone is an exceptionally potent anabolic steroid suitable for both bulking and cutting. When used for bulking, it is highly effective for building lean muscle mass.

Unlike Anadrol or Dianabol, Trenbolone does not cause substantial fluid retention, so weight gain may not be as pronounced. Additionally, its strong fat-burning properties may not be reflected on the scales, but the lean gains it provides are better maintained post-cycle. Therefore, while it may not lead to significant weight gain, the muscle size and definition achieved with Trenbolone are remarkable, making it a top choice for bodybuilders more concerned with their physical appearance than pure weight gain.

Trenbolone’s transformative power is evident, as it has the potential to dramatically reshape a user’s physique within a single cycle. However, it’s worth noting that Trenbolone is a harsh compound and its use is only well-tolerated by a small number of bodybuilders. Mental side effects like anxiety, paranoia, and depression have been reported, along with potential issues such as testosterone suppression and high blood pressure, making it unsuitable for beginners and those with a lighthearted approach to steroid use.

Deca Durabolin

Deca Durabolin (Nandrolone) is a mild injectable steroid that may not result in substantial muscle gains, but it remains popular in bodybuilding due to its favorable pros.

Compared to other heavy bulking compounds, Deca Durabolin is considered one of the safest steroids and is even FDA-approved for the treatment of osteoporosis and anemia. Consequently, it is associated with minimal side effects, with low endogenous testosterone levels and sexual function being the primary concerns. However, these side effects typically reverse post-cycle within a few weeks or months, especially with an effective PCT.

Deca Durabolin, when used in combination with other bulking steroids, gradually adds significant size and mass. While it may not produce rapid muscle growth, its effectiveness at adding moderate amounts of muscle over an extended cycle and at a moderate dose makes it an underrated bulking steroid.

Turinabol

Turinabol (Tbol), a derivative of Dianabol, offers a stark contrast to its counterpart. Unlike Dianabol, Tbol does not aromatize, leading to no water retention and a decreased risk of gynecomastia.

Tbol users typically experience lean and dry gains, with less fluctuation in weight compared to a Dianabol cycle. In addition, a typical 8-week cycle of Turinabol can result in gains of around 16 lbs (7kg), which can be retained post-cycle with an effective PCT. It is also considered a relatively mild steroid, with minimal noticeable side effects, albeit with an expected level of liver toxicity.

The best steroids for cutting

When it comes to cutting, bodybuilders aiming to burn fat while retaining muscle mass should consider using the following cutting steroids:

Anavar
Winstrol
Primobolan
Masteron
Proviron

Anavar (oxandrolone) is widely regarded as the best cutting steroid due to its anabolic properties, which promote muscle growth during cutting, and its potent fat-burning abilities. It increases lipolysis, leading to the loss of subcutaneous and visceral fat.

Moreover, Anavar helps prevent muscle shrinkage and strength loss by increasing glycogen storage, resulting in exceptionally full muscles and enhanced pumps during workouts.

Anavar

Anavar significantly enhances strength levels in our patients (1), which may come as a surprise to some, considering that it’s typically potent bulking steroids that deliver the greatest strength gains.

Furthermore, Anavar is associated with mild side effects, and therefore, we observe no significant negative reactions when cycling this steroid independently. Testosterone suppression is not severe, with levels typically returning to normal within a few weeks for most users.

Despite being an oral steroid, Anavar also presents minimal risks to the liver, as the kidneys aid in processing it, alleviating strain and workload.

The primary drawback of Anavar as a cutting steroid is its cost and the prevalence of counterfeit products on the black market. A diligent individual may be able to acquire a cycle of Anavar for a couple of hundred dollars. However, pharmaceutical-grade Anavar is likely to cost several hundred dollars, making it an unsuitable choice for a low-budget steroid cycle.

Winstrol

Winstrol (stanozolol) operates similarly to Anavar, promoting muscle growth and fat burning in nearly equal measures. Winstrol also does not aromatize (2), resulting in “dry” and grainy muscle appearance.

Our findings suggest that Winstrol is slightly more effective for novice users in terms of adding muscle compared to Anavar; however, it is accompanied by a higher incidence of side effects.

Individuals using Winstrol may experience elevated blood pressure, more pronounced testosterone suppression, acne, hair loss, and liver toxicity in comparison to Anavar. Additionally, Winstrol does not yield the muscle fullness characteristic of Anavar, often resulting in a “flat” or depleted muscular appearance.

Despite these drawbacks, Winstrol is more economical than Anavar, making it the next best option for individuals unable to afford Anavar. It is sometimes referred to as a “poor man’s Anavar” due to this affordability. Nevertheless, Winstrol remains one of the top steroids for cutting.

Primobolan

Injectable Primobolan (methenolone) is a very mild steroid with minimal side effects, having gained popularity during the golden era of bodybuilding in the 1970s. It was rumored to be Arnold Schwarzenegger’s favorite cutting steroid.

Our assessment of Primobolan reveals a highly positive benefits-to-side effects ratio, leading users to often cycle it for extended periods, up to 10 weeks.

Primobolan does not result in water weight, making it suitable for leaning out and achieving a dry, defined physique. While significant muscle gains are not typically observed, a subtle increase in muscle size is common when using this compound alongside strict dieting. Fat burning is also enhanced, aiding individuals in achieving their desired body fat percentage more rapidly.

Primobolan is frequently stacked with other compounds for enhanced results, commonly in combination with trenbolone or Halotestin when cutting. It should be noted that the cost of Primobolan is very high, similar to Anavar, rendering both compounds the most expensive steroids on the market.

Masteron

Masteron (drostanolone) is an injectable steroid that has been in use since the 1950s, initially intended to assist women with breast cancer. However, its potent anti-estrogen effects (3) led to the discovery of its profound ability to increase lean muscle mass without water retention, establishing it as an excellent cutting steroid.

We regard Masteron as a more powerful version of Proviron (discussed below).

Proviron

Proviron (Mesterolone) is an oral steroid that promotes a dry, shredded, vascular appearance. It elevates metabolism, facilitating increased fat loss while concurrently producing modest muscle gains.

Its effects in terms of enhancing vascularity can be immediate, with Proviron taking effect within a matter of hours. Many of our patients appreciate its rapid impact on vascularity, often using Proviron on the day of a photoshoot or competition to achieve a more defined look.

Proviron also serves as a synergistic agent, enhancing the effects of other steroids when stacked with them. It is often combined with injectable steroids for improved gains, such as trenbolone or testosterone.

In terms of side effects, interactions are generally mild, making it relatively safe compared to other steroids; however, it may elevate cholesterol levels, particularly increasing LDL levels. Nonetheless, Proviron is unlikely to significantly affect blood pressure negatively due to its diuretic properties.

Other Cutting Steroids

There are other non-steroidal drugs that bodybuilders use for cutting and burning fat, such as Clenbuterol and Cytomel (T3). These are typically utilized by our patients prior to competitions to maximize fat burning, as they do not have significant anabolic effects and do not promote muscle gain.

Best Steroids for Increasing Strength

When using Clenbuterol, users experience a dramatic increase in metabolism, leading to a significant spike in calorie expenditure. On the other hand, Cytomel increases t3 levels, a powerful thyroid hormone that directly targets fat stores, resulting in substantial weight loss.

Top Steroids for Boosting Strength

In our experience, the following steroids are highly effective for enhancing raw power and achieving personal records in compound lifts. These compounds are commonly used by strongmen, powerlifters, and bodybuilders.

Superdrol
Anadrol
Halotestin
Trenbolone
Testosterone Suspension
Mibolerone
Anavar
All Bulking Steroids

Superdrol

Superdrol is an oral steroid and a DHT derivative, initially mislabeled as a prohormone before it was revealed to be an anabolic steroid. It is aptly named for its remarkable strength gains, which can at times be so substantial that they pose a risk of injury.

New users have reported gains of over 60lbs in their lifts on Superdrol, while experienced users have seen comparatively lower improvements. This versatile steroid can be used for bulking or cutting, often resulting in an addition of 12-15lbs of lean muscle mass in a single cycle. Superdrol is known for its dry compound properties, significantly increasing energy levels and motivation during a cutting phase.

While Superdrol may be one of the best steroids for strength, its potent side effects necessitate the use of liver support supplements, SERM, and a strong PCT.

Anadrol

Anadrol, often nicknamed ‘A-Bombs’, is renowned for its anabolic effects and impressive strength enhancement, with bodybuilders commonly reporting gains of 60 lbs in their squat, deadlift, or bench press from an Anadrol cycle.

Similar caution should be exercised with Anadrol as with Superdrol, to reduce the risk of injury while lifting heavy weights. However, this may be challenging for strongman competitors.