In-battle formes
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| HP: | 65 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 70 |
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Strategies
- en
Overview
Skarmory is an effective support Pokemon in Ubers, having access to moves such as Spikes, Stealth Rock, Defog, Whirlwind, Taunt, and Toxic. It also has reliable recovery in Roost, which is something that a lot of Steel-types lack. It has an exceptional typing that grants it ten resistances and two immunities, and it has solid physical bulk. Because of all this, Skarmory is able to check many threats, such as Extreme Killer Arceus, Mega Salamence, Primal Groudon without a Fire-type move, Swords Dance Arceus-Ground, Mega Kangaskhan, and Mega Mewtwo X. It can also run a viable specially defensive set that allows it to check Latias, Latios, and support Arceus formes, making it a great Spikes setter. Its ability is not useless either and can allow Skarmory to phaze a threat like Geomancy Xerneas in a pinch. It also benefits from the decline of Electric-types and Palkia. However, it is on the frailer side in terms of special bulk, and it has little offensive presence, making it Taunt bait.
Physically Defensive
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Moves
Roost is a mandatory move that offers reliable recovery. Spikes, a move that few Pokemon have access to in Ubers, punishes the Pokemon that Skarmory walls. Toxic allows Skarmory to put a timer on the Pokemon it checks, such as Primal Groudon, and is especially useful in a scenario where phazing is not possible because the opposing Pokemon is the last one left. Whirlwind phazes setup sweepers, namely Mega Salamence, Extreme Killer Arceus, Swords Dance Arceus-Ground, and some Rock Polish Primal Groudon. Stealth Rock can be used if no other teammate can use it, but Skarmory strongly prefers running the more exclusive Spikes.
Set Details
Maximum EV investment in HP and Defense allows Skarmory to better take on the physical attackers it needs to stop. Leftovers is the item of choice, as its passive recovery increases Skarmory's longevity. Shed Shell is another viable item, allowing Skarmory to escape from Mega Gengar and other Shadow Tag users. Rocky Helmet is a possible item that gets nice chip damage on foes such as Extreme Killer Arceus, but this is generally not as helpful as Leftovers recovery. Running a physically defensive spread enables Skarmory to primarily check strong physical attackers, such as Swords Dance Arceus, Mega Salamence, and some Primal Groudon, by means of phazing and Toxic stall, as well as to set up Spikes against these Pokemon and punish switches accordingly.
Usage Tips
Switch Skarmory into foes it walls, and if the opposing Pokemon is directly threatening via setup, phaze it with Whirlwind. However, if a foe is not setting up or does not pose an immediate threat, Skarmory can take this as an opportunity to spread Toxic and set up Spikes. It should also try to keep healthy with Roost, as if it is too worn down, it can be overwhelmed.
Team Options
Primal Groudon is a good teammate for Skarmory, as it checks Xerneas, Kyogre, and Zekrom, all of which threaten Skarmory. Skarmory also appreciates Pokemon that can deal with Ho-Oh, so Arceus-Rock, Arceus-Water, and Mega Diancie make for good teammates; Arceus-Water also helps checks Primal Groudon. Tyranitar checks Ho-Oh to an extent as well while also checking Latias and Latios without stacking Steel-types. Latias and Latios are good partners themselves, as they check Kyogre and Primal Groudon. Giratina-O also checks Primal Groudon and can block Rapid Spin users thanks to its Ghost typing. Finally, Skarmory dislikes being burned, so clerics such as Xerneas, Diancie, Blissey, and Clefable make for good partners.
Specially Defensive
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| Nature |
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Moves
Roost is a necessary move to provide Skarmory with reliable recovery. Spikes specifically punishes Latias, Latios, and support Arceus formes, which Skarmory can beat with Toxic. Toxic's primary purpose is pressuring Defog users, especially the aforementioned Arceus, Latias, and Latios. Whirlwind allows Skarmory to phaze setup sweepers in a pinch, such as Mega Salamence, Calm Mind Latias and Latios, and Calm Mind Arceus.
Set Details
252 HP and 252 Special Defense EVs with a Calm nature are necessary to best take on Latias, Latios, and Arceus, as Skarmory's base Special Defense stat is low. Leftovers is an important item for passive recovery that allows Skarmory to escape certain 2HKOs, so no other item should be used on specially defensive Skarmory. The main niche of the specially defensive Skarmory set is that it functions as a Spiker that can beat common Defog users Latias, Latios, and support Arceus with Toxic and Roost, enabling it to very reliably set up Spikes.
Usage Tips
Switch Skarmory into support Arceus, Latias, and Latios, Toxic them, and set Spikes. Keep in mind that Skarmory will have to use Roost often to keep healthy, as the Pokemon it checks wear it down more easily than physical threats wear down the physical set. Do not switch into Calm Mind Arceus-Dark and Arceus-Ghost because those will overwhelm Skarmory. Additionally, play carefully around Mega Gengar, because it will trap, Taunt, and remove Skarmory with ease.
Team Options
Pursuit users, such as Tyranitar, are very important to deal with Mega Gengar. Arceus-Water is a good teammate that checks Groudon and Ho-Oh. Kyogre checks such as Primal Groudon, Latias, and Latios are useful; the former also checks Xerneas and Zekrom, while the latter two also check Groudon. Giratina-O is a good Groudon check that also spinblocks. Xerneas, Diancie, Blissey, and Clefable offer cleric support, which Skarmory appreciates. Skarmory also likes reliable Stealth Rock setters, such as Primal Groudon, to supplement its Spikes.
Other Options
Brave Bird is a viable move that usually 2HKOes Mega Gengar so that Skarmory is not complete Gengar bait; it also hits Mega Mewtwo X and bypasses Taunt. Taunt can be used to shut down opposing entry hazard setters and support Pokemon such as Lugia, in addition to keeping entry hazards up by preventing Defog if Taunt is used as the Defog user switches in. A lead set with Spikes and Custap Berry can set up entry hazards while also providing a check to Mega Salamence and other physical threats for offense, but it struggles to compete with Forretress, which has access to Rapid Spin. Defog can be used on Skarmory, though only if absolutely necessary because it tends to clash with entry hazards. Iron Head can be used to hit Mega Diancie, which will otherwise wall Skarmory. Counter can help Skarmory reliable take out physical attackers but only has situational use.
Checks and Counters
Magic Bounce: Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie are excellent checks to Skarmory, because they both bounce back Spikes, Toxic, Whirlwind, Taunt, and Stealth Rock. Additionally, Mega Sableye can burn it and Mega Diancie can whittle at its HP or set up with Calm Mind. Mega Sableye fears next to nothing, while Mega Diancie only fears the rare Iron Head.
Strong Special Attackers: Because of Skarmory's low Special Defense stat, strong special attackers can overwhelm it. Primal Kyogre can simply hit Skarmory with Origin Pulse or Thunder; Yveltal can do the same with Dark Pulse. Neutral Arceus formes can beat the physically defensive set, though they cannot beat the specially defensive set without Calm Mind.
Fire-types: Ho-Oh switches in on Skarmory with ease and threatens it with Sacred Fire, which can even burn and OHKO through Sturdy. It also doesn't fear Toxic too much, as Regenerator will heal off the damage. Primal Groudon can also beat Skarmory if it is running Fire Punch, Lava Plume, or Overheat, though it does not like Toxic and cannot beat Skarmory if it lacks one of these moves.
Mega Gengar: If Skarmory lacks Brave Bird or Shed Shell, Mega Gengar can trap Skarmory and use Taunt, which will prevent it from doing anything, and proceed to KO with repeated Shadow Balls or other attacks, making it significantly easier for one of Mega Gengar's teammates, such as Swords Dance Arceus, to sweep.
Rapid Spin: Rapid Spin users can remove the entry hazards that Skarmory sets. Forretress, Cloyster, and Excadrill are the primary users of this move. However, these Pokemon do not necessarily beat Skarmory but rather remove its entry hazards.
Turboblaze and Teravolt: By virtue of their abilities, Zekrom, Reshiram, and Kyurem-W can all OHKO Skarmory through Sturdy. They also don't fear much in return from Skarmory.
Taunt: Taunt users can shut down Skarmory, rendering it useless and making it setup fodder for other Pokemon, or simply overpower Skarmory by preventing it from using Roost.
