There is no question that anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) work, and they work incredibly well. For decades athletes around the world have been exploiting the power of these drugs to enhance their performance and build muscle mass whether it be in competitive sports or just general weight training.
What makes AAS such a desirable option is that they are able to produce profound effects at extremely low doses with incredible tolerability, few adverse effects, and major advantages over traditional bulking strategies which include limited returns on investment, extended recovery time between workouts, increased injury risk due to overtraining and associated stress response elevations. The real question then becomes: Which steroid is best and how can we maximize the benefits gained while minimizing the impact of some of the more negative side effects?
Much like traditional bulking strategies, there is no one steroid that we can point to as being "the best" for gaining muscle mass. But when assessing all steroids collectively it becomes possible to create a short list of possibilities demonstrating superior efficacy compared to most others. Regardless of which you choose, they will all produce great results especially if combined with hard training and calorie surpluses.
It's also important to understand that different steroids work better at different times and can be cycled over multiple mesocycles depending on your end goals and the time frame in which you need them. Naturally this article will generate plenty of controversy, but its important to understand that these selections are based on our personal experiences and the collective anecdotal evidence of many others.
In addition, it's important to note that despite their incredible effectiveness for muscle building, all steroids have other effects which can limit their benefits. These must be considered as part of your overall plan and may include a litany of negative side effects such as sexual dysfunction, estrogenic activity (including gyno), hair loss, metabolic issues, cardiovascular problems and more.
In no particular order let's take a look at some steroids that we believe can produce great gains in lean muscle mass:
Nandrolone (Deca Durabolin)
Nandrolone is by far the king of bulking steroids. Its also an excellent choice for cutting but it can be difficult to maintain lean tissue when you're dieting because estrogen converts to its metabolite estradiol which has an affinity for alpha receptors in muscle tissue thereby reducing protein synthesis, increasing fat storage and promoting water retention.
The result is that much like testosterone, Deca does a poor job of creating aesthetically pleasing cuts with deep striations, fullness and vascularity often giving way to softness and increased body fat levels. It maintains high receptor affinity throughout the body making it ideal for strength promotion as well as joint relief which is why many powerlifters love using it.
Its half life is approximately three weeks which makes it an ideal choice for 16 week steroid cycles but its generally preferred to run it over shorter 8 week periods because estrogenic activity can accumulate after excessively long periods of use, making further growth harder to attain. Dose: 200-400mg/week (men); 50-100mg/week (women)
Trenbolone (Finaplix, Parabolan)
Trenbolone is a powerful fat burner and while some AAS cause insulin resistance, tren has the opposite effect in that it increases glucose uptake into muscle tissues resulting in a higher volume and fuller look which creates a more competitive physique. This means that you will get that tight skin look even if you're carrying a lot of body fat and as such, tren is also an excellent choice for contest prep because it reduces the accumulation of subcutaneous water which could otherwise impede definition.
Like Deca Durabolin, trenbolone is well known for its joint relief properties and has been shown to significantly increase collagen synthesis in osteoblast cells (bone formation) and differentiation/proliferation in chondrocyte cells (cartilage formation). Because it's receptor mediated there are no nasty estrogenic side effects from using trenbolone although progesterone does have some affinity for the progesterone receptor which can cause prolactin issues over time. Dose: 50-100mg every other day
Masteron (Drostanolone)
Masteron is a dihydrotestosterone (DHT) derived compound and like the other DHT compounds, its anabolic and androgenic ratio of 100:100 which makes it very well suited for cutting because it won't cause much if any water retention. It also binds very tightly to the AR which means that estrogen related side effects such as gynecomastia are virtually non existent making masteron a good choice for those who get gyno from other steroids or just prone genetically speaking.
We've found that short 8-12 week periods can give great results while minimizing suppression which is why we recommend this steroid for shorter term use, but again, negative side effects don't occur with its use. Many people report that they can't lose the dry look after discontinuing masteron despite being on other steroids so it's also believed to have lipolytic properties which facilitate fat loss. Dose: 400-600mg/week
Masteron Propionate (Propadrol)
Similar to trenbolone acetate, masteron propionate is technically a faster acting version of masteron although again this comes at a price which in this case is potency. The half life of propadrol isn't as short as trenbolone though so its more suitable for smaller dosing requirements but many athletes still prefer to split the dose into two equal halves because its a good idea to keep the total dose under 800mg a week. Dose: 200-400mg every other day
Winstrol (Stanozolol)
Winstrol is an oral steroid produced by the pharmaceutical company, Winthrop which was popular with bodybuilders back in the 60's and 70s as well as today where it remains a staple in cutting plans as well as plans for those looking to retain lean mass during bulking phases.
It does this via blocking glucocorticoid receptors known more commonly as cortisol but it also has some estrogenic effects that can cause water retention if not run properly. It also helps increase appetite especially when dieting and this can equate to a lot of extra food which is definitely a good thing for many users. Dose: 50-100mg/day
Trenbolone Acetate (Finaject, Finajet)
Although its not nearly as popular with bodybuilders today because it's short acting, trenbolone acetate was the most popular form of this drug back in the 60's and 70s when people were more concerned about getting big than staying lean so they preferred drugs which gave them size without aromatizing too much into estrogenic compounds. Athletes still use trenbolone acetate today but usually in bulking phases where they're looking to get bigger without worrying about water retention or exposure to aromatizing compounds.
On a milligram for milligram basis, trenbolone is more potent than testosterone and its also a c17 alpha alkylated compound which means that its toxic to the liver in high dosages so it needs to be run with the proper supplements and the total cycle should not go beyond 6 weeks of use. Dose: 200-400mg every other day
Trenbolone Enanthate (Enanject)
Another slow acting form of this drug, Trenbolone Enanthate was designed to provide a more steady release into the bloodstream over time but many athletes find that it's actually more uncomfortable than its acetate counterpart because it has an oily consistency which can cause pain at injection sites.
It's also very potent like acetate and is structurally similar to nandrolone which means it has a high risk for side effects especially in sensitive people so its use should be monitored closely. Dose: 100-200mg every other day
Trenbolone Hexahydrobenzylcarbonate (Parabolan)
By far the most powerful form of this drug, Parabolan was introduced in the late 70s and was a favorite of many top athletes back in the day because it gave them rapid size and strength, plus it had all the same positive traits as trenbolone but with an extended half life which made it better suited for oral administration.
In fact, many users preferred parabolan to the oral form of trenbolone simply because it was less toxic and more effective even though they were chemically identical. In fact, this oil based compound is so potent that Brazilian researchers had to increase their dosages when working with it in lab animals. Dose: 200-400mg/week
Summary:
The best steroids for gaining muscle generally fall into two categories – those that provide mass and strength gains and those that provide a significant boost in the level of the hormone testosterone.
The first group greatly enhances protein synthesis and nutrient delivery to muscles by increasing cell volume which is why water retention usually occurs along with solid gains, the second group increases the production of free testosterone at such a rate that other steroids can't keep up plus it boosts LH levels as well thus creating an environment where even natural bodybuilders will experience positive results.
Of course there are lots of other options available like human growth hormone (HGH) and insulin but both these compounds don't directly influence hormonal production so they're not really considered "steroids" although they do have many anabolic qualities.