1. INTRODUCTION

By the time you’re truly intermediate, you’ve done at least 3–4 proper cycles, you have bloodwork before, during, and after every one, you know exactly how tackle potential side-effects before they become problematic, you’ve kept the majority of your gains through PCT (or you cruise intelligently), and you no longer think “more compounds = more gains.”

Intermediate is not “I did one Test-only cycle and now I want Tren.” Intermediate is when mild compounds start to feel like maintenance and you’re ready for tools that deliver a noticeable jump in size, strength, or hardness, while

still respecting your long-term health.

Here are the five classic intermediate compounds that have stood the test of time.

2. THE PROVEN INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL ARSENAL

1. Nandrolone (Decanoate or Phenylpropionate)

The king of joint-friendly, thick, full muscle mass.

How it works: Extremely high anabolic-to-androgenic ratio, increases collagen synthesis, boosts red blood cell count, massive glycogen and nitrogen retention, mild progesterone activity.

Why it’s intermediate: Its unique sides (libido issues, “Deca dick,” prolactin-induced gyno) are very real if you don’t know how to control them. Beginners usually screw this up.

Typical intermediate use:

• 300–600 mg/week (most respond best to 400–500 mg) stacked with 400–600 mg Test for 12 to 16 weeks at a time.
• 1:1 or slightly lower Test:Deca ratio to minimize libido problems.
• Cabergoline 0.25–0.5 mg twice a week if prolactin sides appear.

2. Boldenone Undecylenate (Equipoise / EQ)

The athletic and lean man’s mass builder.

How it works: Slow but steady lean gains, huge appetite increase, elevated RBC count, mild anti-estrogenic effects, vascularity boost.

Why it’s intermediate: Needs 14–20 weeks to really shine and causes anxiety in some users at high doses. Beginners get impatient and quit too early or panic about low estrogen sides if their Test is not high enough.

Typical intermediate use:

• 300–600 mg/week for 16–20 weeks cycles, stacked with Testosterone at a similar dose.
• Note that it’s very long half-life makes it so it takes 1-2 months for it to kick in, and the same amount of time for it to leave your system (don’t start PCT too early - not an issue if cruising).

3. Methandienone (Dianabol / Dbol)

The original mass monster oral.

How it works: Explosive glycogen retention, insane strength and fullness, rapid weight increase (10–20 lbs in 4–5 weeks is normal).

Why it’s intermediate: Estrogenic as hell, liver stress, blood pressure spikes, and a nasty crash when you stop if you don’t taper properly.

Typical intermediate use:

• 30–50 mg/day for 4–6 weeks as a kickstart (never longer).
• Split doses throughout the day, take with food.
• Aggressive liver support (TUDCA 500–1000 mg/day), AI use tends to be a must, and so is close blood pressure monitoring.

4. Stanozolol (Winstrol)

Provides the grainy, separated, dry look we all lust after, but not for the faint of heart.

How it works: Strong SHBG reduction, increases free testosterone, pulls water out, extreme muscle hardness and vascularity when lean.

Why it’s intermediate: Brutal on lipids and liver, painful injections (if using injectable), joint pain, hair loss risk in predisposed users.

Typical intermediate use:

• Oral: 40–60 mg/day for 6 weeks max
• Injectable: 50 mg EOD or 75–100 mg EOD (less liver stress).

Only run when you’re already lean <15% body fat, otherwise it does almost nothing visually.

5. Fluoxymesterone (Halotestin / Halo)

Pure unfiltered aggression and strength in a pill.

How it works: Massive CNS stimulation, huge strength increase, extreme hardness, no aromatization, no water retention.

Why it’s intermediate (actually borderline advanced): Liver toxicity on par with or worse than Anadrol, extreme aggression, hypertension-induced nosebleeds.

Typical intermediate use:

• 20–30 mg/day for 2–4 weeks max (usually pre-contest or pre-powerlifting meet)
• Split doses, take with fatty meals to reduce stomach issues

4. WHEN DO YOU BECOME “ADVANCED”?

You’re not advanced until:

• You’ve run at least 3 of the compounds above multiple times and managed to keep the serious side-effects at bay.
• You can run 19-nor compounds without libido or mood crashes
• You are cruising, PCT is NOT for advanced users, and frankly most intermediate users shouldn’t do PCTs either.
• You’ve kept gains off-cycle for years, not months

Until then, the five compounds above and those we covered in the “Beginner-Friendly AAS” article are your playground. Once you are ready, check out out “Advanced-Level AAS” article here.

5. FINAL NOTES

Intermediate doesn’t mean “throw everything in at once.” It means you finally have the experience to use stronger tools intelligently: One or two new compounds per cycle, proper ancillaries, bloodwork every 4–6 weeks, and the discipline to stop a cycle when you are supposed to.

The guys who jump straight to Tren, high-dose Anadrol, and cheque drops at this stage are the ones who end up regretting their life decisions.

The real intermediates added one compound at a time, respected the drugs, and never forgot that health is the ultimate performance enhancer.