Best Steroid Bulking Cycles in 2025

When it comes to choosing the best steroids for a bulking cycle ― it’s not about how popular the protocol is or how famous the bodybuilder who has used it is. It’s about a perfect fit for YOU. 

Suppose you don’t have any experience with steroids. In that case, you want to start with safe, single-compound cycles and gradually introduce anabolic steroids: you can check best steroid cycles for beginners here.

The best bulking cycles in 2025 are here just to give you an idea of what a safe and effective protocol might look like. You can try to go on one of these cycles to:

• Explore your options;
• Test your body’s limits and break through plateaus;
• Find the protocol to hit the spot (gains- and well-being-wise).

At the end of the day, as long as the cycle works for you, you’re staying in a calorie surplus and have the energy to train 6-7 days a week ― there will be progress. The rest is details.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the athlete’s favorite bulking cycles in 2025.

Build your custom bulking cycles: anabolic steroids for bulking

First what steroids are even OK for a bulking phase? All of them? Not really.

Of course, you can use any kind of gear, and as long as you sweat your fair share of tears in the gym, you’ll still get gains (even with Winstrol or Anavar, assuming your diet is in order). But you won’t hit PEAK bulking this way ―, you’ll end up losing money, time, and your body’s resources. 

Here’s the list of the approved best anabolic steroids for bulking:

• Testosterone ― single-ester solutions, blends;
• Deca Durabolin and NPP ― classic bulking agents;
• Dianabol and Anadrol ― oral compounds for bulking;
• Trenbolone, Masteron, or Boldenone ― three of the most versatile options;
• Winstrol or Anavar ― can be added for cosmetic effects at the end of the cycle.

All of these steroids can increase your protein synthesis, glycogen, and nitrogen retention, resulting in muscle and strength gains, accelerated recovery, and endurance. That’s exactly what you need during a bulk ― the chance to boost your performance, break through strength plateaus to stimulate muscle growth further, and increase training volume.

NOTE: Some steroids on the list are for advanced users only ― specifically, Anadrol, Trenbolone, Masteron, and EQ. If you’re a total beginner, you shouldn’t try to go for a massive multi-compound cycle. For now, you can start with a Testosterone solo-cycle or stack Test with Deca. You’ll still get bigger. 

The safest bulking cycle in 2025: Testosterone, Deca, and Dianabol

Even though there are a TON of protocols for bulking, most of them are variations of this old-school protocol that stems from the 197070s. At the time, there weren’t any PCT drugs, so the bodybuilders would ramp up the dosage at the beginning of the cycle and lower it at the end.

Nowadays — we have aromatase inhibitors and SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators) available, and it’s wise to add them to the protocol. With SERMs on PCT, you’ll get your testosterone levels back on track way faster, and won’t struggle with any estrogenic side effects (aka — you’ll prevent gyno and won’t have to deal with it).

Other than that, this trio was used by the legends ― Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman, and Arnold Schwarzenegger (with some modifications). It’s a safe and effective option for an off-season bulking cycle:

NOTE: You can switch out Testosterone Enanthate for Testosterone Cypionate, Sustanon, or Test 400, the injection frequency will be 2-3 times per week (depends on the chosen solution). As for Deca, you can split the weekly dosage and perform two injections per week, or stick to once-a-week administration ― there’s not much difference.

You should divide the daily dosage of Dianabol into 2-3 parts and take them throughout the day. The half-life of Dianabol is only 4 hours, so you’ll need to take half a dose in the morning and the second half — in the evening (at least!).

Testosterone and NPP bulking cycle

One of the most popular stacks for a bulking cycle is a Testosterone, NPP (Nandrolone Phenylpropionate), and Masteron (or EQ) stack. 

Here’s the protocol for bulking with Testosterone Cypionate, NPP, and Masteron:

If you ever had a negative experience with Masteron, you can add Boldenone to the cycle (the compounds share quite a few similarities):

The main difference between these protocols and other bulking cycles is a much leaner physique in the end. You won’t struggle with water retention as much, and your muscles will look more defined.

Testosterone, Deca and Anadrol bulking cycle

The combination of Testosterone, Deca, and Anadrol can help you increase your muscle mass FAST. It’s a great muscle builder ― for advanced users only, though. Anadrol can cause potent side effects, and you need to know how to mitigate them.

Want to know what steroid cycle Paul Dillet and Kevin Levrone ran and how they’ve built their physique? Well, this stack is rumored to be one of their all-time favorites. We’ve slightly adjusted the dosages to make this off-season bulking cycle safer:

Remember, when you implement the cycle that was favored by a famous bodybuilder or an athlete, it doesn’t mean that you’ll achieve the same results. It’s a matter of experience, training, nutrition, and GENETICS. Trying won’t hurt, though.

Anavar bulking cycle for women

The safest bulking cycle for women is 99% has to be based on Anavar. This compound is considered the safest and least virilizing ― meaning the risk of masculinization is lower. 

Anavar bulking cycle is suitable for beginners and advanced users. As long as you’re eating in a calorie surplus, you will increase your muscle mass and strength with this protocol:

If you’re looking for advanced cycles that focus on female athletes, you can check out our article on best steroid cycles for women.

Best steroid blends for a bulking cycle

If you don’t want to pin often, you can opt for bulking steroid blends:

• Bulk Mix by Apoxar ― a great muscle-building cycle in one vial with a testosterone base. Bulk Mix features Testosterone Enanthate, Trenbolone Enanthate and Masteron Enanthate;
• Test 400 by Apoxar ― a blend for bodybuilders who prefer Testosterone-solo cycles. It features the most popular testosterone esters: Testosterone Propionate, Enanthate and Cypionate for rapid muscle growth and stable serum concentration;
• Mass Stack 400 by NovoPharm ― similar to Bulk Mix, this blend consists of Testosterone, Trenbolone and Masteron Enanthate. Great for lean muscle mass gains;
• Tri-Tren by Novopharm ― a Trenbolone blend to boost your muscle growth and strength, as well as enhance muscle definition and vascularity. Should be used with a testosterone base.

We’ve got a wide selection of steroid blends for bulking, cutting, and recomposition cycles: you can check it here.

Pre-packaged bulking cycles

Don’t want to think of the dosages, cycle length, and so on? You skip straight to results with pre-designed bulking cycles by the Muscle Gear team:

• Testosterone Enanthate and Dianabol cycle with free PCT;
• Sustanon and Decabolin cycle;
• Testosterone Cypionate and Winstrol cycle with free PCT;
• A classic Testosterone cycle with free PCT.

By ordering a ready-to-use bulking pack, you get everything you need in pre-calculated dosages. Moreover, with most cycles, you receive PCT compounds for FREE.

What you need to know before your bulking cycle

Choosing the right stack and adhering to dosage or administration guidelines ― that’s not where your actual work ends. The results of your bulking cycle will primarily depend on your nutrition and training. If you push it HARD in the gym — you’ll grow even naturally, and if you BOTH push hard and take the right gear… well, there’s no limit on how huge you can become. Literally. You’ll just have to stop when you won’t fit through standard door frames.

Nutrition on a bulking cycle

Now — let’s talk diet. After all, 90% of your gains are made in the kitchen.

A bulking phase is the time when you boost your muscle growth: you train harder, you create an anabolic environment with steroids. That means you have to eat in a calorie surplus (200-600 calories above maintenance).

If you’re not eating enough on a bulking steroid cycle, you will gain some muscle mass, but it won’t compare to the potential gains you could make with the right nutrition. Your body needs nutrients to build muscle tissue.

If you’d like to preserve your lean muscle mass while improving your muscle-to-fat ratio, you can look into the best cutting cycles instead.

What is a clean bulk?

Here’s a bit of theory and some phrasing you’ll probably hear in talks with other mass monsters: what does clean and dirty bulk mean? Is it the same as natty and not-natty? 

Not really.

During a clean bulking, you’re eating less processed food and sticking to a healthy, protein-rich diet, while eating above your calorie maintenance. 

Let’s put it this way:

• If you need fats, you eat avocados and nuts, not a meal that’s oozing with seed oil or a sweet snack with high-fat content;
• When it comes to protein, you’re not frying a steak on a pan, you roast or stew it, so it would fit into a healthy diet;
• You’ll need carbs ― and you can’t go for pizza or baked goods, you’ll need to get them from fruits, vegetables, and cereals.

Clean bulks are harder, but it pays off. In the end, you won’t gain as much fat: you will have more confidence and energy. Also, you’ll spend less time on losing those extra pounds and focus on increasing muscle definition in your next cutting cycle.

What is a dirty bulk?

A dirty bulk is the exact opposite of a clean bulk. As long as you’re meeting your goals calorie-wise and macronutrient-wise, it doesn’t matter what you eat. 

This is an easy (and damn delicious sometimes) way, but it can negatively impact your cardiovascular system and increase your insulin resistance. 

Training on a bulking cycle

On gear, you don’t have to worry about recovery and rest days as much. On the contrary:

If you’re not training 6-7 days a week on gear, you don’t work to your potential. 

For better results, you can implement a split system: it will allow you to train muscle groups separately and increase the frequency of the gym sessions. You’ll need to adjust the training intensity as well:

• Go for compound exercises ― isolation may be suitable for professional bodybuilders, but it doesn’t increase your strength. Want to be stronger? Do the bench press, overhead press, deadlifts, squats, and rows instead;
• Make sure you do your sets to failure ― this is the best way to grow. If you can do more than 8-10 reps, your working weight is higher than you lift now;
• Don’t rely on steroids to do the work for you ― you have to train hard to get ACTUALLY GREAT gains, you won’t increase your muscle mass on the couch.

NOTE: your joints might need more time for recovery, as they can’t keep up with muscle growth on a steroid bulking cycle (especially if it doesn’t feature Deca). If you feel like your joints could use some help, you can add HGH or other healing peptides to your protocol: here’s how you can do it.

Conclusion

You don’t have to spend a fortune to build a perfect bulking cycle from scratch ― the best cycles tend to be time-tested, and they don’t require the use of multiple steroids in huge dosages. Most athletes — literally 99% — can build unnatural muscle mass even with a simple Testosterone-solo cycle.

We want you to find the cycle that will be a great fit FOR YOU. Not a super-effective or the most popular one, but a cycle that won’t cause any significant side effects, will feel good and provide the results you’re looking for. 

FAQ on bulking cycles

What is the best steroid for bulking?

There is no universal “best” steroid for bulking. The result will depend on the individual's response to the compound. You can use the following steroids for a bulking cycle, and they’re guaranteed to work well if other aspects of your bulk are on point: Testosterone, Deca Durabollin, NPP, Anadrol, Trenbolone, Masteron, Boldenone, and Dianabol. 

If you’re a female athlete, you can safely use Anavar and HGH for a bulking cycle. Other compounds will present a higher risk of virilization.

What is the best bulking cycle for beginners?

The best bulking cycle for complete beginners is a Testosterone-solo cycle. Testosterone also acts as an anabolic base in most of the cycles, to avoid excessive HPTA suppression. 

You should learn how your body reacts to Testosterone before searching for complex stacks. Otherwise, there’s a great chance you won’t be able to cope with the side effects (not even to determine what causes them) and put too much pressure on your body.

How long is a typical bulking cycle?

Most bulking cycles last for 10-12 weeks, 16 weeks max. The only exception are oral compounds ― they are hepatotoxic, so they can’t be used for longer than 4-8 weeks. If you’re looking for a safe and effective protocol, you can opt for our pre-packaged bulking cycles.

Can you stop a steroid cycle early?

Yes, you can cut the steroid cycle short, if the potency of side effects becomes unbearable. In this case, you still have to go through PCT (if your cycle length has exceeded 2-3 weeks, or you’ve used dosage above moderate). 

Remember, you don’t have to push through and feel like shit throughout the cycle. It can do more harm than good. Take time to recover, you’ll have a chance to implement a different protocol next time.

What does HCG do during a steroid cycle?

HCG — aka Human Chorionic Gonadotropin — helps to avoid testicular desensitization to LH during a steroid cycle. You should add it if you run EQ or Masteron for 10+ weeks, or if your off-cycle gap is more than a week. As long as you’re not exceeding the dosage, you can use it during an off-cycle gap with any protocol.