Skarmory (Update)

http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/skarmory

I revamped all of the sets and removed the Torment Spiker set. Overview + Optional Changes as well. Everything else is the same.

[Overview]

<p>Skarmory is one of the best physical walls in the game. He is able to switch into many physical attackers and stop them from breaking through a team. Coupled with instant recovery and the ability to Spike-stack and phaze, Skarmory can be tough to take out. Although Skarmory has his problems, namely being weak to common special attacks and not having the ability to stand up to boosted physical attacks, he is a highly recommended Pokemon for any team.</p>

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Skarmory's trademark set, known for providing excellent support and walling an astounding number of physical sweepers, such as Gyarados and Metagross. With Brave Bird, Skarmory can take a decent chunk out of anyone who doesn't resist it, although one can use Drill Peck if the recoil from Brave Bird is unappealing. Roost removes any damage Skarmory may have taken. As a bonus, it also removes Skarmory's Flying-type for the turn so he takes less damage from Rock- and Electric-type attacks. Spikes causes trouble for any grounded Pokemon, as they lose 25% of their health every switch-in with three layers; however, Stealth Rock is an alternative if you don't have another Stealth Rock user on your team. However, keep in mind that there are many Pokemon who can use Stealth Rock, while there aren't as many Spikes users. Whirlwind removes any stat boosts the opponent may have obtained, and forces in another Pokemon to take damage from Spikes and other entry hazards.</p>

<p>In terms of items, both Shed Shell and Leftovers are good options. Shed Shell lets Skarmory switch out of Magnezone, who can otherwise switch in on Skarmory and OHKO with Thunderbolt. Leftovers, on the other hand, helps Skarmory's tanking ability and heals Brave Bird recoil.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Skarmory has a severe lack of Special Defense, taking plenty of damage from neutral special attacks and almost never surviving super effective special ones. Therefore, it is advisable to pack Pokemon who can easily take special attacks. Pairing Blissey with Skarmory forms the infamous "SkarmBliss" combo. Blissey can handle any special attack thrown at Skarmory, while Skarmory can come in on physical attacks targeted at Blissey. Pokemon who resist Skarmory's main weaknesses also do well alongside him. Swampert, for example, resists Fire-type attacks and is immune to Electric-type attacks, and can provide Stealth Rock support, allowing Skarmory to use Whirlwind more effectively.</p>

<p>The EVs maximise Skarmory's defensive capabilities so it can more effectively set up Spikes and phaze. 16 Speed EVs will let Skarmory outspeed Adamant Rhyperior, but this can be increased if you wish.</p>

<p>Skarmory benefits from sandstorm, Toxic Spikes, and Stealth Rock in order to shuffle through teams more effectively. A Ghost-type Spinblocker like Rotom-A or Spiritomb is highly recommended on any team using Skarmory to prevent the opposing team from removing your entry hazards with Rapid Spin.</p>


[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Careful / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 240 SpD / 16 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Giving Skarmory Special Defense EVs may seem odd considering Skarmory's low Special Defense. However, this allows Skarmory to take full advantage of his resistances to Dragon-, Ghost-, and Grass-type attacks and his neutrality to most other special attacks to wall any special attacker who can't hit Skarmory for super effective damage. Just to get an idea of Skarmory's special bulk, Rotom-A and Magnezone, assuming they do not have a boosting nature or a boosting item, cannot guarantee a OHKO on Skarmory. Timid Life Orb Starmie can't OHKO Skarmory either. Even with an EV spread focused more on Special Defense, Skarmory can still effectively block physical attacks. Skarmory can effectively set up Spikes against foes who run few Special Attack EVs, such as Vaporeon, Suicune, and some variants of Flygon. Skarmory can also switch in on special attackers who don't run Fire Blast or Thunderbolt, such as some variants of Togekiss, and Roost off the damage. Skarmory's Dragon-type resistance is another excellent asset for this set, as Skarmory is able to take Draco Meteors and Outrages from Dragonite and either set up Spikes or Roost off the damage, as Dragonite can't do much damage back at -2 Special Attack or locked into Outrage. Another great thing Skarmory has going for it is the Grass resist, so Celebi, Shaymin and Roserade provide Skarmory some excellent oppurtunites to get Spikes up. The moveset is mostly the same as the Physically Defensive set. Brave Bird is Skarmory's offensive move, Roost provides valuable healing, Spikes supports the team, and Whirlwind shuffles the opponent's team, adding Spikes damage and removing stat boosts.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>By running Stealth Rock over Brave Bird or Whirlwind, Skarmory can make a decent lead. He can easily get both Stealth Rock and / or Spikes up against slower, bulkier leads who can't hurt Skarmory, such as Metagross, Swampert, Tyranitar, and Hippowdon. If Skarmory has Brave Bird, he can also easily take out Machamp. This is mostly recommended for teams that like having Spikes up early on in the match.</p>

<p>The EVs are very similar to the Physically Defensive set, just with Special Defense EVs instead of Defense EVs to take hits from Pokemon that typically use special attacks.</p>

<p>Despite higher Special Defense, Skarmory still falls to special attackers who can hit Skarmory for super effective damage. Pokemon such as Heatran, Rotom-A, and Magnezone, as well as any other special attacker who runs Fire Blast or Thunderbolt, can easily switch in on Skarmory and force him out or set up. This variant of Skarmory likes to switch in and out based on resistances. Swampert is an excellent partner for Skarmory to have, as he resists Fire-type attacks, is immune to Electric-type attacks, and can set up Stealth Rock to complement Skarmory's Spikes. In return, Skarmory packs a 4x resistance to Grass-type attacks. Rotom-A doesn't resist Fire-type attacks, but it has an Electric-type resistance and Skarmory resists both of Rotom-A's weaknesses. Rotom-A also blocks Rapid Spin, which could otherwise eliminate the Spikes that Skarmory set up. Blissey is still a useful partner for Skarmory to have, as she can take the special attacks that Skarmory cannot handle.</p>

[SET]
name: Taunt
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind / Brave Bird
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Careful / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 164 SpD / 92 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Taunt is an interesting move for Skarmory to use. Although you are forced to give up both a moveslot and some bulk to utilize it to its full potential, Taunt gives Skarmory some nice new qualities. The main benefit is effectively dealing with opposing stall teams. Skarmory can easily outspeed and throw out a Taunt against other Skarmory, Blissey, Swampert, Hippowdon, and Celebi, and proceed to use Spikes. This is helpful for more offensive teams that like entry hazards up against stall teams as soon as possible. Another great technique that Skarmory can use with Taunt in his arsenal is stopping slow set-up sweepers. Although Skarmory can phaze away some set-up sweepers, late-game sweepers such as Calm Mind Suicune and Curse Snorlax can easily use Skarmory as set-up bait. With Taunt, however, they are unable to boost or recover and you can proceed to finish them off. Whirlwind has the benefit of phazing, but Brave Bird is useful if you don't want to be crippled by faster Taunt users.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Much like the Specially Defensive set, this Skarmory set can function as a lead, getting early hazards in a similar manner to the Specially Defensive set whilst preventing Stealth Rock from being set up by slower leads. If you are using Taunt Skarmory as a lead, it is recommended that you use Lum Berry as his item. This allows Skarmory to take a Spore or Sleep Powder from Smeargle or Roserade, Taunt them to prevent them from using their sleeping move again, and prevent entry hazards from being set up.</p>

<p>The EVs let Skarmory outrun min Speed Gyarados and Taunt him before he can Sleep Talk. HP is then maximized, and the rest is put into Special Defense, though one can use a physically defensive spread if desired.</p>

<p>The partners for the above two sets work well with this set as well. This Skarmory can work on more offensive teams that need entry hazards up before stall teams do. It is recommended that you run some good Spikes abusers with Skarmory. Tyranitar is usually countered by grounded Ground- and Fighting-type Pokemon, meaning that he is quite capable of barrelling right through his counters with some Spikes support. Offensive Rotom-A can hurt the Flying-types immune to Spikes with STAB Thunderbolt while Spikes takes care of its grounded checks; it also blocks Rapid Spin. Dragonite is another good Spikes abuser due to his ability to cause switches and the number of grounded Steel-types who are Dragonite's main switch-ins.</p>

[Team Options]

<p>Skarmory can't be placed on any team; he needs proper support for his use to be completely worthwhile. This will usually come in two forms: extra residual damage like entry hazards and damaging weather, and resistances. Tentacruel is one of the most effective users of Toxic Spikes in OU, so he naturally pairs well with Skarmory. Roserade is another good Toxic Spikes users, though she is preferred on offensively-inclined teams. Hippowdon can provide a safeguard against physical attackers too powerful for Skarmory to handle, sandstorm support, and Stealth Rock, should Skarmory be lacking it himself. In general, you'll want strong defensive Pokemon who can set up health-chipping effects of their own, or who can simply take advantage of the ones Skarmory sets up with Roar or Whirlwind. In terms of resistances, Swampert is a great partner to Skarmory, as he is immune to Electric-type moves and is resistant to Fire-type attacks, both of which Skarmory fear. Lanturn resists these types similarly, but has the added advantage of actually benefiting from switching in on Electric-type moves thanks to Volt Absorb. Blissey, Cresselia, and other sturdy specially-based defenders work tremendously well alongside Skarmory, as they sponge normally fatal special hits directed at him.</p>

<p>If you are using an all-out offensive team, Skarmory may not be a suitable team member due to his lack of offensive presence. If you are using a team that isn't as fast-paced, Skarmory can be a valuable addition thanks to his ability to set up Spikes. If you are using a Pokemon who is usually countered by Pokemon who are grounded, setting up Spikes can allow said Pokemon to overpower his counters and proceed to sweep. The best choice for a Spikes-abusing sweeper is a Pokemon who carries moves that are capable of KOing Flying-types immune to Spikes. Tyranitar's powerful Stone Edge often scares out Flying-types, and Spikes harms Hippowdon and Swampert, who can wall Tyranitar. Rotom-A not only blocks Rapid Spin, but can wipe out Flying-types with Thunderbolt and can get past Heatran and Tyranitar with some assistance from Spikes. Jolteon packs a very powerful Thunderbolt to eliminate Flying-types and can use Spikes support to overpower Swampert and Tyranitar.</p>

[Optional Changes]

<p>Skarmory's more viable options have already been mentioned, but there are a few semi-usable moves available. Agility, Curse, and Swords Dance are available as boosting moves, but an offensive Skarmory is usually not worthwhile compared to stronger attackers like Metagross and Lucario. Roar is available as an alternative to Whirlwind should breeding be a problem, but it is usually not recommended, as Soundproof Pokemon like Mr. Mime will succeed in Baton Passing. Skarmory can run a set with Torment and Protect to get Spikes up easily on Heatran and stall teams, but he is very vulnerable to being set up on and is generally outclassed by the Taunt set against stall teams. In a similar vein, Steel Wing is an alternative move choice to nail Tyranitar and Rhyperior; however, it makes it even easier for Pokemon like Lucario, Heatran, and Infernape to switch in (not to mention its low Base Power). Rest is not recommended on any defensive set lacking Sleep Talk, since Skarmory will essentially be dead weight on your team for two turns.</p>

<p>If Skarmory is faster than the opposing Pokemon, it can use Roost to remove its Flying type for the turn and potentially make an attack aimed at Skarmory weaker. Therefore, you always have the option of increasing Skarmory's Speed so he can outspeed certain foes and Roost to soften their attacks. How much Speed Skarmory should run mainly depends on what your team struggles against and what is popular in the metagame at the moment. You should not go overboard with the amount of Speed however, because that will take too much out of Skarmory's defensive capabilities to be worth it.</p>

<p>Always use Keen Eye on Skarmory over Sturdy if used in competitive play, because OHKO moves are banned, but Sand-Attack is not.</p>

[Counters]

<p>Skarmory will most likely lose to unresisted special attacks, unless he is specially defensive, and will take a particularly large amount of damage from those that are super effective. Electric- and Fire-type special attackers with a super effective STAB move can usually 2HKO, or even OHKO, depending on EV investment. Heatran in particular gets a safe switch-in because of his resistance to Skarmory's STAB attacks, and can threaten him with with a Fire-type move of his own.</p>

<p>Strong stat-uppers with neutral STAB attacks like Lucario, Gyarados, Rhyperior, and Tyranitar will usually come out on top against Skarmory, provided he doesn't just Whirlwind them away before they have a chance to attack.</p>

<p>Magnezone is the bane of Skarmory's existence; with its Magnet Pull ability, Magnezone prohibits Skarmory from switching out (unless Skarmory is holding Shed Shell), and can proceed to KO Skarmory with Thunderbolt.</p>

Surely if there was a torment spiker in the analysis before, it is at least worth a mention in Optional Changes?

Taunt is an interesting move for Skarmory to use. Although you are forced to give up both a moveslot and some bulk to utilize it to its full potential, Taunt gives Skarmory some nice new qualities. The main benefit is effectively dealing with opposing stall teams. Skarmory can easily outspeed and throw out a Taunt against other Skarmory, Blissey, Swampert, Hippowdon and Celebi and proceed to Spike in their faces while they can't do anything about it. This is helpful for more offensive teams that like entry hazards up against stall teams ASAP. Another great technique that Skarmory can use with Taunt in its arsenal is stopping slow set-up sweepers. Although Skarmory can phaze away some set-up sweepers, last Pokemon sweepers such as Suicune and Snorlax can easily use Skarmory as set-up bait to sweep your team. With Taunt however, they are unable to boost and you can then proceed to finish them off. The EVs let Skarmory outrun RestTalk Gyarados and Taunt it before it can Sleep Talk. Then HP is maxed and the rest is put into Special Defense, though one can use a physically defensive spread if desired. Whirlwind has the benefit of phazing, but Brave Bird is useful if you don't want to be crippled by faster Taunters.</p>

Click to expand...

proceeding to KO Skarmory with their STAB attacks or with Taunt.

Click to expand...

Taunt doesn't KO, though recoil does.

I haven't had time to look over the whole analysis, but on the Taunt set you could advocate Skarmory's use as an effective lead; in this case, the item equipped would be Lum Berry in a lot of cases. Just a thought.

I believe I did Skarmory a while back and I found my topic on the very last page of Concise: http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62494.

I really think that you may want to make this a bit longer. I know that this is the concise forum, but Skarmory is a pretty important Pokemon, and I don't feel like you have expanded on it enough. I also suggest that you add the Torment Spiker set currently in the analysis, as it is actually pretty good in my experience.

[Overview]

<p>Skarmory is one of the best physical walls in the game, being able to switch in on many physical attackers and stop them from breaking through a team. Coupled with instant recovery and the ability to Spike-stack and phaze, Skarmory can be tough to take out. Although Skarmory has its problems, namely being weak to common special attacks and not being to stand up to boosted physical attacks, Skarmory is a highly recommended Pokemon for any defensive team.</p>

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Skarmory's trademark set, known for walling an astounding number of physical sweepers such as Gyarados and Metagross. With Brave Bird, Skarmory can take a decent chuck out of anything that doesn't resist it, although one can use Drill Peck if the recoil from Brave Bird is unappealing. Roost removes any damage Skarmory may have taken. As a bonus, it also removes Skarmory's Flying typing for the turn, thus taking less damage from Rock- and Electric-type attacks. Spikes causes trouble for any grounded Pokemon, losing up to 25% every switch-in with three layers; however, Stealth Rock is an alternative if you don't have another Stealth Rock user. Whirlwind removes any stat boosts the opponent may have, and brings in another Pokemon to take Spikes damage.</p>

<p>In terms of items, both Shed Shell and Leftovers are good options. Shed Shell lets Skarmory switch out of Magnezone, who can otherwise easily come in on Skarmory and OHKO with Thunderbolt. Leftovers, on the other hand, helps Skarmory's tanking ability, and heals Brave Bird recoil. 28 Speed EVs let Skarmory outspeed most Choice Band Tyranitar and use Roost before they attack to weaken Stone Edge.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Skarmory has a severe lack of Special Defense, taking plenty of damage from neutral special attacks, and almost never surviving super-effective special attacks. Therefore, it is advisable to be packing Pokemon that can easily take special attacks. Blissey pairs with Skarmory to form the infamous "SkarmBliss" combo. Blissey can handle any special attack thrown at Skarmory, while Skarmory can come in on physical attacks targeted at Blissey. Latias can also take special attacks, and it has the additional bonus of resisting Skarmory's weaknesses, whilst Skarmory resists Bug-, Ghost-, Dark-, and Dragon-type attacks, all of which hurt Latias. Latias also handles mixed sweepers that the "SkarmBliss" combo can't handle well, such as Infernape and Salamence.</p>

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Giving Skarmory Special Defense EVs may seem odd considering Skarmory's low Special Defense. However, this allows Skarmory to fully take advantage of its resistances to Dragon-, Ghost-, and Grass-type attacks, and its neutrality to most other special attacks to wall any special attacker that can't hit Skarmory for super effective damage. Skarmory can also still effectively block physical attacks like it always has. Skarmory can effectively set up Spikes against foes that run little Special Attack EVs, such as Vaporeon, Suicune, and some Flygon. Skarmory can also come in on special attackers that don't run Fire Blast or Thunderbolt, such as some Togekiss and Latias, and Roost off the damage. Skarmory's Dragon-type resistance is another excellent asset for this set, being able to take Draco Meteors and Outrages from Salamence and either setting up Spikes or Roosting, as Salamence can't do much damage back. The moveset is mostly the same as the Physically Defensive set. Brave Bird is Skarmory's offensive move, Roost provides valuable healing, Spikes supports the team, and Whirlwind shuffles Spikes damage and removes stat boosts.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>By running Stealth Rock over Brave Bird, Skarmory can make for a decent lead. It can easily get both Stealth Rock and / or Spikes up against slower, bulkier leads that can't hurt Skarmory, such as Metagross, Swampert, Tyranitar, and Hippowdon. This is mostly recommended for teams that like having Spikes up early on in the match.</p>

<p>Despite higher Special Defense, Skarmory still falls to special attackers that can hit Skarmory for super-effective damage. Pokemon such as Heatran, Rotom-A, and Magnezone, as well as any other special attacker that runs Fire Blast or Thunderbolt, can easily switch in on Skarmory and force it out or set up a boost or Substitute. This variant of Skarmory likes to switch in and out based on resistances. Swampert is an excellent partner for Skarmory to have. Swampert resists Fire-type attacks, is immune to Electric-type attacks, and can set up Stealth Rock to complement Skarmory's Spikes. In return, Skarmory packs a 4x resist to Grass-type attacks. Latias resists all of Skarmory's weaknesses and vice-versa, and most of Latias' switch-ins are vulnerable to Skarmory's Spikes. Rotom-A doesn't resist Fire-type attacks, but it has an Electric-type resistance, and Skarmory resists both of Rotom-A's weaknesses. Rotom-A also blocks Rapid Spin, which could otherwise eliminate the Spikes that Skarmory took a bit of effort to set up.</p>

[SET]
name: Taunt
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind / Brave Bird
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 152 SpD / 104 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Taunt is an interesting move for Skarmory to use. Although you are forced to give up both a moveslot and some bulk to utilize it to its full potential, Taunt gives Skarmory some nice new qualities. The main benefit is effectively dealing with opposing stall teams. Skarmory can easily outspeed and throw out a Taunt against other Skarmory, Blissey, Swampert, Hippowdon, and Celebi, and proceed to use Spikes. This is helpful for more offensive teams that like entry hazards up against stall teams as soon as possible. Another great technique that Skarmory can use with Taunt in its arsenal is stopping slow set up sweepers. Although Skarmory can phaze away some set up sweepers, last Pokemon sweepers such as Suicune and Snorlax can easily use Skarmory as set up bait to sweep your team. With Taunt, however, they are unable to boost, and you can then proceed to finish them off. The EVs let Skarmory outrun RestTalk Gyarados and Taunt it before it can Sleep Talk. HP is then maximized, and the rest is put in Special Defense, though one can use a physically defensive spread if desired. Whirlwind has the benefit of phazing, but Brave Bird is useful if you don't want to be crippled by faster Taunters.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The partners for the above two sets work well with this set as well. This Skarmory can work on more offensive teams that need entry hazards up before stall teams do. It is recommended that you run some good Spikes abusers with Skarmory. Tyranitar is usually countered by grounded Ground- and Fighting-type Pokemon, meaning that Tyranitar is quite capable of barrelling right through its counters with some Spikes support. Salamence is another good Spikes abuser, due to its ability to cause switches and the number of grounded Steel-types that are Salamence's main switch-ins.</p>

[Team Options]

<p>Skarmory can't be placed on any team; it needs the proper support for its use to be completely worthwhile. This will usually come in two forms: extra residual damage like entry hazards and damaging weather, or resistances. Tentacruel is probably the most effective user of Toxic Spikes in OU, so it pairs naturally well with Skarmory. Hippowdon can provide a safeguard against physical attackers too powerful for Skarmory to handle, Sandstorm support, and Stealth Rock, should Skarmory be lacking it itself. In general, you'll want strong defensive Pokemon who can set up health-chipping effects of their own, or who can simply take advantage of the ones Skarmory sets up with Roar or Whirlwind. In terms of resistances, Swampert is a great partner to Skarmory, as it is immune to Electric- and is resistant to Fire-type attacks, both of which Skarmory fear. Lanturn resists these types similarly, but has the added advantage of actually benefiting from switching in on Electric-type moves thanks to Volt Absorb. Blissey, Cresselia, Latias, and other sturdy specially-based defenders work tremendously well alongside Skarmory, as they sponge normally fatal special hits. Due to Skarmory's nonexistent offensive presence, it is suggested to avoid using it on offensive teams, as it will generally mark a slow pace upon entrance.</p>

[Optional Changes]

<p>Skarmory's more viable options have already been mentioned, but there are a few semi-usable other moves available. Agility, Curse, and Swords Dance are available as boosting moves, but an offensive Skarmory is usually not worthwhile compared to stronger attackers like Metagross and Staraptor. Roar is available as an alternative to Whirlwind should breeding be a problem, but it is usually not recommended, as Soundproof Pokemon like Mr. Mime will succeed in Baton Passing. In a similar vein, Steel Wing is an alternate move choice to nail Tyranitar and Rhyperior, but it makes it even easier for Pokemon like Lucario, Heatran, and Infernape to switch in (not to mention its low Base Power). Rest is not recommended on any defensive set not carrying Sleep Talk, since Skarmory will essentially be dead weight on your team for two turns. Skarmory can also set up Sunny Day should there be a need, but this just capitalizes on its Fire-type weakness.</p>

<p>Always use Keen Eye on Skarmory over Sturdy if used in competitive play, because OHKO moves are banned, but Sand-Attack is not.</p>

[Counters]

<p>Skarmory will always lose to unresisted special attacks, especially those that are super effective. Electric- and Fire-type special attackers with a super effective STAB move can usually 2HKO, or even OHKO, depending on EV investment. Heatran in particular gets a safe switch in because of its resistance to Skarmory's STAB attacks, and can threaten it out with a Fire-type move of its own.</p>

<p>Strong stat-uppers with neutral STAB attacks like Lucario, Gyarados, Rhyperior, and Tyranitar will usually come out on top against Skarmory, provided it doesn't just Whirlwind them away before they have a chance to attack.</p>

<p>Magnezone and Probopass are the bane of Skarmory's existence; with their Magnet Pull ability, they prohibit it from switching out (unless Skarmory is holding Shed Shell), and proceed to KO Skarmory with their Thunderbolts.</p>

@jc104 Thanks for the grammar check. I've decided to test the Torment set and decide whether or not it deserves its own set or be regulated to Optional Changes.

@vashta I've put a mention of lead Taunt Skarmory in Additional Comments, thanks.

@j. franky Your concising appears to be from the first part of Project Concise, where the paragraphs were just shortened and not put into a new format. Still, if it's alright with you, I might add some of the sentences and information from that concising into this concising.

@Snorlaxe Thanks for the grammar check. Short write-ups are kind of a habit of mine >_>. I'll be sure to beef up this analysis in the near future though!

its all yours, you can pick up some of my info if you'd like for reference or ctrl + c. its your choice.

Ok, update. I've added some extra things on a couple of the sets. I've also added an extra paragraph in Team Options. I've decided not to include the Torment set. It was too easy to be set up upon by offensive teams and was outclassed by the Taunt set against stall teams. I've made a mention of Torment in Other Options though!

Small nitpicks.

In return, Skarmory packs a 4x resist to Grass-type attacks. Latias resists all of Skarmory's weaknesses and vice-versa (Skarmory is neutral to Ice because of Flying type), and most of Latias' switch-ins are vulnerable to Skarmory's Spikes.

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name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Careful / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

Click to expand...

Someone mentioned that running Impish Nature on Skarmory is worth a shot, as with Careful Nature DD Boosted Outrage from Salamence 2OHKO it with SR up. Just for this reason it's worth a shot to slash it in the set.

I guess that's it ;).

"a)Skarmory will always lose to unresisted special attacks, b)Magnezone and Probopass are the bane of Skarmory's existence"

Specially defensive skarmory lives a ton of unresisted special attacks.....
Probopass (neglecting the fact that it's hardly ever seen) doesn't even 2HKO special defensive skarmory (going off person experience here, not damage calcs).

Special defensive skarmory is way more common then defensive skarmory so that should be the first set listed (that's how it works isn't it?)
Those sentences just seemed weird to me.

Ok, I fixed up those two sentences. Regarding the order of the sets, physically defensive Skarmory is actually the most common Skarmory set as you can see here:

| Skarmory | Nature | Impish | 76.7 |
| Skarmory | Nature | Careful | 15.0 |

| Skarmory | Defense EV | High (150-200) | 35.9 |
| Skarmory | SpDefense EV | Max | 11.1 |

As you can see, physically defensive is the dominant set.

If the author is still planning on continuing with this update, vital QC information can be consulted on this thread within some days.

Alright, thanks Setsuna. I've already got the pre-testing changes in the analysis already, and I'll be watching that thread for anything notable.

EDIT: I removed all mentions of Latias, and added some stuff on lead Skarmory vs. Machamp.

Ugh, I hate this sentence:

"Offensive teams won't particularly like Skarmory's presense, as it has a rather slow style of play and little offensive presense."

I use Skarmory in offensive teams all of the time with great success. Many offensive teams like more secure OHKOs. For example, I often fail to OHKO Hippowdon with a +2 Close Combat from Swords Dance Lucario, but my odds of OHKOing it are much higher with stealth rock and a layer of spikes down.

Noted, and reworded. Thanks.

Looks like you fixed all the QC suggestions, which I like. GP checks please!

On the Physically Defensive set, why not use 32 Speed EVs to outspeed Vaporeon who try to outspeed you (ones with 68 EVs)?

Of course, this is only tentative, as the Vaporeon update will hopefully be published soon on site.

That doesn't sound too bad, but I'll wait until final QC notes arrive.

[Overview]

<p>Skarmory is one of the best physical walls in the game, being able to switch in on many physical attackers and stop them from breaking through a team. Coupled with instant recovery and the ability to Spike-stack and phaze, Skarmory can be tough to take out. Although Skarmory has his problems, namely being weak to common special attacks and not having the ability to stand up to boosted physical attacks, Skarmory is a highly recommended Pokemon for any defensive team.</p>

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Skarmory's trademark set, known for walling an astounding number of physical sweepers such as Gyarados and Metagross, and providing excellent support for a team. With Brave Bird, Skarmory can take a decent chuck out of anyone who doesn't resist it, although one can use Drill Peck if the recoil from Brave Bird is unappealing. Roost removes any damage Skarmory may have taken. As a bonus, it also removes Skarmory's Flying typing for the turn, so he takes less damage from Rock- and Electric-type attacks. Spikes causes trouble for any grounded Pokemon, as they lose up to 25% of their health every switch-in with three layers; (spacing) however, Stealth Rock is an alternative if you don't have another Stealth Rock user. Keep in mind that there are many Pokemon who can use Stealth Rock, while there aren't as many Spikes users. Whirlwind removes any stat boosts the opponent may have, and brings in another Pokemon to take damage from Spikes and other entry hazards.</p>

<p>In terms of items, both Shed Shell and Leftovers are good options. Shed Shell lets Skarmory switch out of Magnezone, who can otherwise come in on Skarmory and OHKO with Thunderbolt. Leftovers, on the other hand, helps Skarmory's tanking ability, and heals Brave Bird recoil. 28 Speed EVs let Skarmory outspeed most Choice Band Tyranitar and use Roost before they attack to weaken Stone Edge.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Skarmory has a severe lack of Special Defense, taking plenty of damage from neutral special attacks, and almost never surviving super-effective special attacks. Therefore, it is advisable to pack Pokemon who can easily take special attacks. Blissey pairs with Skarmory to form the infamous "SkarmBliss" combo. Blissey can handle any special attack thrown at Skarmory, while Skarmory can come in on physical attacks targeted at Blissey. Pokemon who resist Skarmory's main weaknesses also do well alongside it. Swampert, for example, resists Fire-type attacks and is immune to Electric-type attacks, and can provide Stealth Rock support which allows useful in allowing Skarmory to use Whirlwind all the more effectively.</p>

<p>Skarmory benefits from sandstorm, Toxic Spikes, and Stealth Rock in order to shuffle through teams more effectively. A Ghost-type spin blocker like Rotom-A or Spiritomb is highly recommended on any team using Skarmory to prevent entry hazard removal.</p>
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Careful / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Giving Skarmory Special Defense EVs may seem odd considering Skarmory's low Special Defense. However, this allows Skarmory to fully take advantage of his resistances to Dragon-, Ghost-, and Grass-type attacks and his neutrality to most other special attacks to wall any special attacker who can’t hit Skarmory for super effective damage. Skarmory can also still effectively block physical attacks like he always has. Skarmory can effectively set up Spikes against foes who run few Special Attack EVs, such as Vaporeon, Suicune, and some Flygon. Skarmory can also come in on special attackers Pokemon who don't run Fire Blast or Thunderbolt, such as some Togekiss, and Roost off the damage. Skarmory's Dragon-type resistance is another excellent asset for this set, as Skarmory is able to take Draco Meteors and Outrages from Salamence and either set up Spikes or Roost off the damage, as Salamence can't do much damage back. The moveset is mostly the same as the Physically Defensive set. Brave Bird is Skarmory's offensive move, Roost provides valuable healing, Spikes supports the team, and Whirlwind shuffles the opponent adding Spikes damage and removes stat boosts.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>By running Stealth Rock over Brave Bird or Whirlwind, Skarmory can make for a decent lead. He can easily get both Stealth Rock and / or Spikes up against slower, bulkier leads who can't hurt Skarmory, such as Metagross, Swampert, Tyranitar, and Hippowdon. If Skarmory has Brave Bird, he can also easily take out Machamp. This is mostly recommended for teams that like having Spikes up early on in the match.</p>

<p>Despite higher Special Defense, Skarmory still falls to special attackers who can hit Skarmory for super-effective damage. Pokemon such as Heatran, Rotom-A, and Magnezone, as well as any other special attacker who runs Fire Blast or Thunderbolt, can easily switch in on Skarmory and force him out or set up a boost or Substitute. This variant of Skarmory likes to switch in and out based on resistances. Swampert is an excellent partner for Skarmory to have. Swampert resists Fire-type attacks, is immune to Electric-type attacks and can set up Stealth Rock to complement Skarmory's Spikes. In return, Skarmory packs a 4x resist to Grass-type attacks. Rotom-A doesn't resist Fire-type attacks, but it has an Electric-type resistance and Skarmory resists both of Rotom-A's weaknesses. Rotom-A also blocks Rapid Spin, which could otherwise eliminate the Spikes that Skarmory took a bit of effort to set up. Blissey is still a useful partner for Skarmory to have, to handle the special attacks that Skarmory cannot handle.</p>

[SET]
name: Taunt
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind / Brave Bird
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Careful / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 152 SpD / 104 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Taunt is an interesting move for Skarmory to use. Although you are forced to give up both a moveslot and some bulk to utilize it to its full potential, Taunt gives Skarmory some nice new qualities. The main benefit is effectively dealing with opposing stall teams. Skarmory can easily outspeed and throw out a Taunt against other Skarmory, Blissey, Swampert, Hippowdon, and Celebi, and proceed to use Spikes. This is helpful for more offensive teams that like entry hazards up against stall teams as soon as possible. Another great technique that Skarmory can use with Taunt in his arsenal is stopping slow set up sweepers. Although Skarmory can phaze away some set up sweepers, last Pokemon sweepers such as Suicune and Snorlax can easily use Skarmory as set up bait to sweep your team. With Taunt, however, they are unable to boost or recover and you can then proceed to finish them off. The EVs let Skarmory outrun RestTalk Gyarados and Taunt him before he can Sleep Talk. HP is then maximized, and the rest is put into Special Defense, though one can use a physically defensive spread if desired. Whirlwind has the benefit of phazing, but Brave Bird is useful if you don't want to be crippled by faster Taunters.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Much like the Specially Defensive set, this Skarmory set can function as a lead, getting early hazards in a similar manner to the Specially Defensive set whilst preventing Stealth Rock from being set up by slower leads. If you are using Taunt Skarmory as a lead, it is recommended that you use Lum Berry as his item. This allows Skarmory to take a Spore or Sleep Powder from Smeargle or Roserade, then Taunt them to prevent them from using their sleeping move again, and prevent entry hazards from being set up.

<p>The partners for the above two sets work well with this set as well. This Skarmory can work on more offensive teams that need entry hazards up before stall teams do. It is recommended that you run some good Spikes abusers with Skarmory. Tyranitar is usually countered by grounded Ground- and Fighting-type Pokemon, meaning that Tyranitar is quite capable of barrelling right through his counters with some Spikes support. Offensive Rotom-A can hurt the Flying-types immune to Spikes with STAB Thunderbolt while Spikes takes care of its grounded checks. It also blocks Rapid Spin from being used. Salamence is another good Spikes abuser, due to his ability to cause switches by and the number of grounded Steel-types who are Salamence's main switch-ins.</p>
[Team Options]

<p>Skarmory can't be placed on any team; he needs the proper support for his use to be completely worthwhile. This will usually come in two forms: extra residual damage like entry hazards and damaging weather, and resistances. Tentacruel is one of the the most effective users of Toxic Spikes in OU, so he pairs naturally well with Skarmory. Roserade is another good Toxic Spiker, though she is morepreferred on offensively-inclined teams. Hippowdon can provide a safeguard against physical attackers too powerful for Skarmory to handle, Sandstorm support, and Stealth Rock, should Skarmory be lacking it himself. In general, you'll want strong defensive Pokemon who can set up health-chipping effects of their own, or who can simply take advantage of the ones Skarmory sets up with Roar or Whirlwind. In terms of resistances, Swampert is a great partner to Skarmory, as he is immune to Electric-type moves and is resistant to Fire-type attacks, both of which Skarmory fear. Lanturn resists these types similarly, but has the added advantage of actually benefiting from switching in on Electric-type moves thanks to Volt Absorb. Blissey, Cresselia, and other sturdy specially-based defenders work tremendously well alongside Skarmory, as they sponge normally fatal special hits.</p>

<p>If you are using an all-out offensive team, Skarmory may not be a suitable team member, due to his lack of offensive presence. If you are using a team that isn't as fast-paced, Skarmory can be a valuable addition thanks to his ability to set up Spikes. If you are using a Pokemon who is usually countered by Pokemon who are grounded, setting up Spikes can allow said Pokemon to overpower its (his?) counters and proceed to sweep. The best choice for a Spikes-abusing sweeper is a Pokemon who commonly carries moves that can KO the Flying-types who are immune to Spikes. Tyranitar's powerful Stone Edge often scares out Flying-types, and Spikes harms Hippowdon and Swampert, who can wall Tyranitar. Rotom-A not only blocks Rapid Spin, but can wipe out Flying-types (I know this is dumb but I have confirmed that this is the rule) with Thunderbolt and can get past Heatran and Tyranitar with some assistance from Spikes. Jolteon packs a very powerful Thunderbolt to eliminate Flying-types and can use Spikes support to overpower Swampert and Tyranitar.</p>

[Optional Changes]

<p>Skarmory's more viable options have already been mentioned, but there are a few semi-usable other moves available. Agility, Curse, and Swords Dance are available as boosting moves, but an offensive Skarmory is usually not worthwhile compared to stronger attackers like Metagross and Staraptor. Roar is available as an alternative to Whirlwind should breeding be a problem, but it is usually not recommended, as Soundproof Pokemon like Mr. Mime will succeed in Baton Passing. Skarmory can run a set with Torment and Protect to get Spikes up easily on Heatran and stall teams, but he is very vulnerable to being set up upon and is generally outclassed by the Taunt set against stall teams. In a similar vein, Steel Wing is an alternate move choice to nail Tyranitar and Rhyperior; (semicolon) however it makes it even easier for Pokemon like Lucario, Heatran, and Infernape to switch in (not to mention its low Base Power). Rest is not recommended on any defensive set not carrying Sleep Talk, since Skarmory will essentially be dead weight on your team for two turns. Skarmory can also set up Sunny Day should there be a need, but this just capitalizes on his Fire-type weakness.</p>

<p>Always use Keen Eye on Skarmory over Sturdy if used in competitive play, because OHKO moves are banned, but Sand-Attack is not.</p>

[Counters]

<p>Skarmory will most likely lose to unresisted special attacks, unless he is specially defensive, and will take a particularly large amount of damage from those that are super effective. Electric- and Fire-type special attackers with a super effective STAB move can usually 2HKO, or even OHKO, depending on EV investment. Heatran in particular gets a safe switch-in because of his resistance to Skarmory's STAB attacks, and can threaten him out with a Fire-type move of his own.</p>

<p>Strong stat-uppers with neutral STAB attacks like Lucario, Gyarados, Rhyperior, and Tyranitar will usually come out on top against Skarmory, provided he doesn't just Whirlwind them away before they have a chance to attack.</p>

<p>Magnezone is the bane of Skarmory's existence; (spacing) with its Magnet Pull ability, Magnezone prohibits Skarmory from switching out (unless Skarmory is holding Shed Shell), and can proceed to KO Skarmory with Thunderbolt.</p>

Click to expand...

GP Check 1/2



Changes in Bold and removals in red. Nice analysis.

Grammar-Prose Check 2/2:
orange for prose edits
blue for spelling/grammar edits
comments in green

KnightoftheWind said:

[Overview]

<p>Skarmory is one of the best physical walls in the game, able to switch in on many physical attackers and stop them from breaking through a team. Coupled with instant recovery and the ability to Spike-stack and phaze, Skarmory can be tough to take out. Although Skarmory has his problems, namely being weak to common special attacks and not having the ability to stand up to boosted physical attacks, Skarmory is a highly recommended Pokemon for any defensive team.</p>

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Skarmory's trademark set, known for providing excellent support and walling an astounding number of physical sweepers, such as Gyarados and Metagross. With Brave Bird, Skarmory can take a decent chunk out of anyone who doesn't resist it, although one can use Drill Peck if the recoil from Brave Bird is unappealing. Roost removes any damage Skarmory may have taken. As a bonus, it also removes Skarmory's Flying-type for the turn, so he takes less damage from Rock- and Electric-type attacks. Spikes causes trouble for any grounded Pokemon, as they lose 25% of their health every switch-in with three layers; however, Stealth Rock is an alternative if you don't have another Stealth Rock user. Keep in mind that there are many Pokemon who can use Stealth Rock, while there aren't as many Spikes users. Whirlwind removes any stat boosts the opponent may have, and brings in another Pokemon to take damage from Spikes and other entry hazards.</p>

<p>In terms of items, both Shed Shell and Leftovers are good options. Shed Shell lets Skarmory switch out of Magnezone, who can otherwise come in on Skarmory and OHKO with Thunderbolt. Leftovers, on the other hand, helps Skarmory's tanking ability, and heals Brave Bird recoil. 28 Speed EVs let Skarmory outspeed most Choice Band Tyranitar and use Roost before they attack to weaken Stone Edge.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Skarmory has a severe lack of Special Defense, taking plenty of damage from neutral special attacks, and almost never surviving super effective special attacks. Therefore, it is advisable to pack Pokemon who can easily take special attacks. Blissey pairs with Skarmory to form the infamous "SkarmBliss" combo. Blissey can handle any special attack thrown at Skarmory, while Skarmory can come in on physical attacks targeted at Blissey. Pokemon that resist Skarmory's main weaknesses also do well alongside it. Swampert, for example, resists Fire-type attacks and is immune to Electric-type attacks, and can provide Stealth Rock support, which allows Skarmory to use Whirlwind more effectively.</p>

<p>Skarmory benefits from sandstorm, Toxic Spikes, and Stealth Rock in order to shuffle through teams more effectively. A Ghost-type spin blocker like Rotom-A or Spiritomb is highly recommended on any team using Skarmory, to prevent entry hazard removal.</p>


[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Careful / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Giving Skarmory Special Defense EVs may seem odd considering Skarmory's low Special Defense. However, this allows Skarmory to take full advantage of his resistances to Dragon-, Ghost-, and Grass-type attacks and his neutrality to most other special attacks to wall any special attacker who can't hit Skarmory for super effective damage. Skarmory can still effectively block physical attacks like he always has. Skarmory can effectively set up Spikes against foes who run few Special Attack EVs, such as Vaporeon, Suicune, and some variants of Flygon. Skarmory can also come in on special attackers who don't run Fire Blast or Thunderbolt, such as some variants of Togekiss, and Roost off the damage. Skarmory's Dragon-type resistance is another excellent asset for this set, as Skarmory is able to take Draco Meteors and Outrages from Salamence and either set up Spikes or Roost off the damage, as Salamence can't do much damage back. The moveset is mostly the same as the Physically Defensive set. Brave Bird is Skarmory's offensive move, Roost provides valuable healing, Spikes supports the team, and Whirlwind shuffles the opponent's team, adding Spikes damage and removing stat boosts.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>By running Stealth Rock over Brave Bird or Whirlwind, Skarmory can make a decent lead. He can easily get both Stealth Rock and / or Spikes up against slower, bulkier leads who can't hurt Skarmory, such as Metagross, Swampert, Tyranitar, and Hippowdon. If Skarmory has Brave Bird, he can also easily take out Machamp. This is mostly recommended for teams that like having Spikes up early on in the match.</p>

<p>Despite higher Special Defense, Skarmory still falls to special attackers who can hit Skarmory for super effective damage. Pokemon such as Heatran, Rotom-A, and Magnezone, as well as any other special attacker who runs Fire Blast or Thunderbolt, can easily switch in on Skarmory and force him out or set up. This variant of Skarmory likes to switch in and out based on resistances. Swampert is an excellent partner for Skarmory to have. Swampert resists Fire-type attacks, is immune to Electric-type attacks and can set up Stealth Rock to complement Skarmory's Spikes. In return, Skarmory packs a 4x resistance to Grass-type attacks. Rotom-A doesn't resist Fire-type attacks, but it has an Electric-type resistance, and Skarmory resists both of Rotom-A's weaknesses. Rotom-A also blocks Rapid Spin, which could otherwise eliminate the Spikes that Skarmory set up. Blissey is still a useful partner for Skarmory to have, to take the special attacks that Skarmory cannot handle.</p>

[SET]
name: Taunt
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind / Brave Bird
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Careful / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 152 SpD / 104 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Taunt is an interesting move for Skarmory to use. Although you are forced to give up both a moveslot and some bulk to utilize it to its full potential, Taunt gives Skarmory some nice new qualities. The main benefit is effectively dealing with opposing stall teams. Skarmory can easily outspeed and throw out a Taunt against other Skarmory, Blissey, Swampert, Hippowdon, and Celebi, and proceed to use Spikes. This is helpful for more offensive teams that like entry hazards up against stall teams as soon as possible. Another great technique that Skarmory can use with Taunt in his arsenal is stopping slow set-up sweepers. Although Skarmory can phaze away some set-up sweepers, late-game sweepers such as Suicune and Snorlax can easily use Skarmory as set-up bait to sweep your team. With Taunt, however, they are unable to boost or recover and you can proceed to finish them off. The EVs let Skarmory outrun RestTalk Gyarados and Taunt him before he can Sleep Talk. HP is then maximized, and the rest is put into Special Defense, though one can use a physically defensive spread if desired. Whirlwind has the benefit of phazing, but Brave Bird is useful if you don't want to be crippled by faster Taunters.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Much like the Specially Defensive set, this Skarmory set can function as a lead, getting early hazards in a similar manner to the Specially Defensive set whilst preventing Stealth Rock from being set up by slower leads. If you are using Taunt Skarmory as a lead, it is recommended that you use Lum Berry as his item. This allows Skarmory to take a Spore or Sleep Powder from Smeargle or Roserade, Taunt them to prevent them from using their sleeping move again, and prevent entry hazards from being set up.

<p>The partners for the above two sets work well with this set as well. This Skarmory can work on more offensive teams that need entry hazards up before stall teams do. It is recommended that you run some good Spikes abusers with Skarmory. Tyranitar is usually countered by grounded Ground- and Fighting-type Pokemon, meaning that Tyranitar is quite capable of barrelling right through his counters with some Spikes support. Offensive Rotom-A can hurt the Flying-types immune to Spikes with STAB Thunderbolt, while Spikes takes care of its grounded checks. It also blocks Rapid Spin from being used. Salamence is another good Spikes abuser, due to his ability to cause switches and the number of grounded Steel-types who are Salamence's main switch-ins.</p>

[Team Options]

<p>Skarmory can't be placed on any team; he needs proper support for his use to be completely worthwhile. This will usually come in two forms: extra residual damage like entry hazards and damaging weather, and resistances. Tentacruel is one of the most effective users of Toxic Spikes in OU, so he naturally pairs well with Skarmory. Roserade is another good Toxic Spiker, though she is preferred on offensively-inclined teams. Hippowdon can provide a safeguard against physical attackers too powerful for Skarmory to handle, Sandstorm support, and Stealth Rock, should Skarmory be lacking it himself. In general, you'll want strong defensive Pokemon who can set up health-chipping effects of their own, or who can simply take advantage of the ones Skarmory sets up with Roar or Whirlwind. In terms of resistances, Swampert is a great partner to Skarmory, as he is immune to Electric-type moves and is resistant to Fire-type attacks, both of which Skarmory fear. Lanturn resists these types similarly, but has the added advantage of actually benefiting from switching in on Electric-type moves, thanks to Volt Absorb. Blissey, Cresselia, and other sturdy specially-based defenders work tremendously well alongside Skarmory, as they sponge normally fatal special hits directed at Skarmory.</p>

<p>If you are using an all-out offensive team, Skarmory may not be a suitable team member, due to his lack of offensive presence. If you are using a team that isn't as fast-paced, Skarmory can be a valuable addition, thanks to his ability to set up Spikes. If you are using a Pokemon who is usually countered by Pokemon that are grounded, setting up Spikes can allow said Pokemon to overpower his counters and proceed to sweep. The best choice for a Spikes-abusing sweeper is a Pokemon that carries moves capable of KOing Flying-types immune to Spikes. Tyranitar's powerful Stone Edge often scares out Flying-types, and Spikes harms Hippowdon and Swampert, who can wall Tyranitar. Rotom-A not only blocks Rapid Spin, but can wipe out Flying-types with Thunderbolt and can get past Heatran and Tyranitar with some assistance from Spikes. Jolteon packs a very powerful Thunderbolt to eliminate Flying-types and can use Spikes support to overpower Swampert and Tyranitar.</p>

[Optional Changes]

<p>Skarmory's more viable options have already been mentioned, but there are a few semi-usable moves available. Agility, Curse, and Swords Dance are available as boosting moves, but an offensive Skarmory is usually not worthwhile compared to stronger attackers like Metagross and Staraptor. Roar is available as an alternative to Whirlwind should breeding be a problem, but it is usually not recommended, as Soundproof Pokemon like Mr. Mime will succeed in Baton Passing. Skarmory can run a set with Torment and Protect to get Spikes up easily on Heatran and stall teams, but he is very vulnerable to being set up on and is generally outclassed by the Taunt set against stall teams. In a similar vein, Steel Wing is an alternative move choice to nail Tyranitar and Rhyperior; however, it makes it even easier for Pokemon like Lucario, Heatran, and Infernape to switch in (not to mention its low Base Power). Rest is not recommended on any defensive set lacking Sleep Talk, since Skarmory will essentially be dead weight on your team for two turns. Skarmory can also set up Sunny Day should there be a need, but this just capitalizes on his Fire-type weakness.</p>

<p>Always use Keen Eye on Skarmory over Sturdy if used in competitive play, because OHKO moves are banned, but Sand-Attack is not.</p>

[Counters]

<p>Skarmory will most likely lose to unresisted special attacks, unless he is specially defensive, and will take a particularly large amount of damage from those that are super effective. Electric- and Fire-type special attackers with a super effective STAB move can usually 2HKO, or even OHKO, depending on EV investment. Heatran in particular gets a safe switch-in because of his resistance to Skarmory's STAB attacks, and can threaten him out with a Fire-type move of his own.</p>

<p>Strong stat-uppers with neutral STAB attacks like Lucario, Gyarados, Rhyperior, and Tyranitar will usually come out on top against Skarmory, provided he doesn't just Whirlwind them away before they have a chance to attack.</p>

<p>Magnezone is the bane of Skarmory's existence; with its Magnet Pull ability, Magnezone prohibits Skarmory from switching out (unless Skarmory is holding Shed Shell), and proceed to KO Skarmory with Thunderbolt.</p>

Click to expand...

Nice analysis. Once my changes are implemented and jc104 stamps his check, you can PM a mod to have this uploaded.

Both grammar checks are edited in. Ready for upload!

cleaning up after the GP guys

pink is grammar edits/comments
blue is prose/content edits


[Overview]

<p>Skarmory is one of the best physical walls in the game, able to switch in on many physical attackers and stop them from breaking through a team. Coupled with instant recovery and the ability to Spike-stack and phaze, Skarmory can be tough to take out. Although Skarmory has his problems, namely being weak to common special attacks and not having the ability to stand up to boosted physical attacks, he is a highly recommended Pokemon for any team.</p>

(Skarmory can be used successfully on pretty much any kind of team, so it isnt particularly accurate to say hes a "highly recommended Pokemon for any defensive team", as he works on offense too from my experience. though not hardcore offense -.-)

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Skarmory's trademark set, known for providing excellent support and walling an astounding number of physical sweepers, such as Gyarados and Metagross. With Brave Bird, Skarmory can take a decent chunk out of anyone who doesn't resist it, although one can use Drill Peck if the recoil from Brave Bird is unappealing. Roost removes any damage Skarmory may have taken. As a bonus, it also removes Skarmory's Flying-type for the turn so he takes less damage from Rock- and Electric-type attacks. Spikes causes trouble for any grounded Pokemon, as they lose 25% of their health every switch-in with three layers; however, Stealth Rock is an alternative if you don't have another Stealth Rock user on your team. However, keep in mind that there are many Pokemon who can use Stealth Rock, while there aren't as many Spikes users. Whirlwind removes any stat boosts the opponent may have obtained, and forces in another Pokemon to take damage from Spikes and other entry hazards.</p>

<p>In terms of items, both Shed Shell and Leftovers are good options. Shed Shell lets Skarmory switch out of Magnezone, who can otherwise switch in on Skarmory and OHKO with Thunderbolt. Leftovers, on the other hand, helps Skarmory's tanking ability and heals Brave Bird recoil. 28 Speed EVs let Skarmory outspeed most Choice Band Tyranitar and use Roost before they attack to weaken Stone Edge.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Skarmory has a severe lack of Special Defense, taking plenty of damage from neutral special attacks and almost never surviving super effective ones. Therefore, it is advisable to pack Pokemon who can easily take special attacks. Pairing Blissey with Skarmory forms the infamous "SkarmBliss" combo. Blissey can handle any special attack thrown at Skarmory, while Skarmory can come in on physical attacks targeted at Blissey. Pokemon who resist Skarmory's main weaknesses also do well alongside him. Swampert, for example, resists Fire-type attacks and is immune to Electric-type attacks, and can provide Stealth Rock support, allowing Skarmory to use Whirlwind more effectively.</p>

<p>Skarmory benefits from sandstorm, Toxic Spikes, and Stealth Rock in order to shuffle through teams more effectively. A Ghost-type Spinblocker like Rotom-A or Spiritomb is highly recommended on any team using Skarmory to prevent the opposing team from removing your entry hazards with Rapid Spin.</p>


[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Careful / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Giving Skarmory Special Defense EVs may seem odd considering Skarmory's low Special Defense. However, this allows Skarmory to take full advantage of his resistances to Dragon-, Ghost-, and Grass-type attacks and his neutrality to most other special attacks to wall any special attacker who can't hit Skarmory for super effective damage. Even with an EV spread focused more on Special Defense, Skarmory can still effectively block physical attacks. Skarmory can effectively set up Spikes against foes who run few Special Attack EVs, such as Vaporeon, Suicune, and some variants of Flygon. Skarmory can also switch in on special attackers who don't run Fire Blast or Thunderbolt, such as some variants of Togekiss, and Roost off the damage. Skarmory's Dragon-type resistance is another excellent asset for this set, as Skarmory is able to take Draco Meteors and Outrages from Salamence and either set up Spikes or Roost off the damage, as Salamence can't do much damage back. The moveset is mostly the same as the Physically Defensive set. Brave Bird is Skarmory's offensive move, Roost provides valuable healing, Spikes supports the team, and Whirlwind shuffles the opponent's team, adding Spikes damage and removing stat boosts.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>By running Stealth Rock over Brave Bird or Whirlwind, Skarmory can make a decent lead. He can easily get both Stealth Rock and / or Spikes up against slower, bulkier leads who can't hurt Skarmory, such as Metagross, Swampert, Tyranitar, and Hippowdon. If Skarmory has Brave Bird, he can also easily take out Machamp. This is mostly recommended for teams that like having Spikes up early on in the match.</p>

<p>Despite higher Special Defense, Skarmory still falls to special attackers who can hit Skarmory for super effective damage. Pokemon such as Heatran, Rotom-A, and Magnezone, as well as any other special attacker who runs Fire Blast or Thunderbolt, can easily switch in on Skarmory and force him out or set up. This variant of Skarmory likes to switch in and out based on resistances. Swampert is an excellent partner for Skarmory to have, as he resists Fire-type attacks, is immune to Electric-type attacks, and can set up Stealth Rock to complement Skarmory's Spikes. In return, Skarmory packs a 4x resistance to Grass-type attacks. Rotom-A doesn't resist Fire-type attacks, but it has an Electric-type resistance and Skarmory resists both of Rotom-A's weaknesses. Rotom-A also blocks Rapid Spin, which could otherwise eliminate the Spikes that Skarmory set up. Blissey is still a useful partner for Skarmory to have, as she can take the special attacks that Skarmory cannot handle.</p>

[SET]
name: Taunt
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Roost
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind / Brave Bird
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
nature: Careful / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 152 SpD / 104 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Taunt is an interesting move for Skarmory to use. Although you are forced to give up both a moveslot and some bulk to utilize it to its full potential, Taunt gives Skarmory some nice new qualities. The main benefit is effectively dealing with opposing stall teams. Skarmory can easily outspeed and throw out a Taunt against other Skarmory, Blissey, Swampert, Hippowdon, and Celebi, and proceed to use Spikes. This is helpful for more offensive teams that like entry hazards up against stall teams as soon as possible. Another great technique that Skarmory can use with Taunt in his arsenal is stopping slow set-up sweepers. Although Skarmory can phaze away some set-up sweepers, late-game sweepers such as Calm Mind Suicune and Curse Snorlax can easily use Skarmory as set-up bait. With Taunt, however, they are unable to boost or recover, and you can proceed to finish them off. The EVs let Skarmory outrun RestTalk Gyarados and Taunt him before he can Sleep Talk. HP is then maximized, and the rest is put into Special Defense, though one can use a physically defensive spread if desired. Whirlwind has the benefit of phazing, but Brave Bird is useful if you don't want to be crippled by faster Taunt users.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Much like the Specially Defensive set, this Skarmory set can function as a lead, getting early hazards in a similar manner to the Specially Defensive set whilst preventing Stealth Rock from being set up by slower leads. If you are using Taunt Skarmory as a lead, it is recommended that you use Lum Berry as his item. This allows Skarmory to take a Spore or Sleep Powder from Smeargle or Roserade, Taunt them to prevent them from using their sleeping move again, and prevent entry hazards from being set up.</p>

<p>The partners for the above two sets work well with this set as well. This Skarmory can work on more offensive teams that need entry hazards up before stall teams do. It is recommended that you run some good Spikes abusers with Skarmory. Tyranitar is usually countered by grounded Ground- and Fighting-type Pokemon, meaning that he is quite capable of barrelling right through his counters with some Spikes support. Offensive Rotom-A can hurt the Flying-types immune to Spikes with STAB Thunderbolt while Spikes takes care of its grounded checks; it also blocks Rapid Spin. Salamence is another good Spikes abuser due to his ability to cause switches and the number of grounded Steel-types who are Salamence's main switch-ins.</p>

[Team Options]

<p>Skarmory can't be placed on any team; he needs proper support for his use to be completely worthwhile. This will usually come in two forms: extra residual damage like entry hazards and damaging weather, and resistances. Tentacruel is one of the most effective users of Toxic Spikes in OU, so he naturally pairs well with Skarmory. Roserade is another good Toxic Spikes user, though she is preferred on offensively-inclined teams. Hippowdon can provide a safeguard against physical attackers too powerful for Skarmory to handle, sandstorm support, and Stealth Rock, should Skarmory be lacking it himself. In general, you'll want strong defensive Pokemon who can set up health-chipping effects of their own, or who can simply take advantage of the ones Skarmory sets up with Roar or Whirlwind. In terms of resistances, Swampert is a great partner to Skarmory, as he is immune to Electric-type moves and is resistant to Fire-type attacks, both of which Skarmory fear. Lanturn resists these types similarly, but has the added advantage of actually benefiting from switching in on Electric-type moves thanks to Volt Absorb. Blissey, Cresselia, and other sturdy specially-based defenders work tremendously well alongside Skarmory, as they sponge normally fatal special hits directed at him.</p>

<p>If you are using an all-out offensive team, Skarmory may not be a suitable team member due to his lack of offensive presence. If you are using a team that isn't as fast-paced, Skarmory can be a valuable addition thanks to his ability to set up Spikes. If you are using a Pokemon who is usually countered by Pokemon who are grounded, setting up Spikes can allow said Pokemon to overpower his counters and proceed to sweep. The best choice for a Spikes-abusing sweeper is a Pokemon who carries moves that are capable of KOing Flying-types immune to Spikes. Tyranitar's powerful Stone Edge often scares out Flying-types, and Spikes harms Hippowdon and Swampert, who can wall Tyranitar. Rotom-A not only blocks Rapid Spin, but can wipe out Flying-types with Thunderbolt and can get past Heatran and Tyranitar with some assistance from Spikes. Jolteon packs a very powerful Thunderbolt to eliminate Flying-types and can use Spikes support to overpower Swampert and Tyranitar.</p>

[Optional Changes]

<p>Skarmory's more viable options have already been mentioned, but there are a few semi-usable moves available. Agility, Curse, and Swords Dance are available as boosting moves, but an offensive Skarmory is usually not worthwhile compared to stronger attackers like Metagross and Lucario. Roar is available as an alternative to Whirlwind should breeding be a problem, but it is usually not recommended, as Soundproof Pokemon like Mr. Mime will succeed in Baton Passing. Skarmory can run a set with Torment and Protect to get Spikes up easily on Heatran and stall teams, but he is very vulnerable to being set up on and is generally outclassed by the Taunt set against stall teams. In a similar vein, Steel Wing is an alternative move choice to nail Tyranitar and Rhyperior; however, it makes it even easier for Pokemon like Lucario, Heatran, and Infernape to switch in (not to mention its low Base Power). Rest is not recommended on any defensive set lacking Sleep Talk, since Skarmory will essentially be dead weight on your team for two turns. Skarmory can also set up Sunny Day should there be a need, but this just capitalizes on his Fire-type weakness.</p>

(Staraptor is a poor example of a "stronger attacker" for set-up moves imo, so I changed it to Lucario. also the Sunny Day mention is extremely random imo, who would use Skarmory to set up Sunny Day ?_?)

<p>Always use Keen Eye on Skarmory over Sturdy if used in competitive play, because OHKO moves are banned, but Sand-Attack is not.</p>

[Counters]

<p>Skarmory will most likely lose to unresisted special attacks, unless he is specially defensive, and will take a particularly large amount of damage from those that are super effective. Electric- and Fire-type special attackers with a super effective STAB move can usually 2HKO, or even OHKO, depending on EV investment. Heatran in particular gets a safe switch-in because of his resistance to Skarmory's STAB attacks, and can threaten him with a Fire-type move of his own.</p>

<p>Strong stat-uppers with neutral STAB attacks like Lucario, Gyarados, Rhyperior, and Tyranitar will usually come out on top against Skarmory, provided he doesn't just Whirlwind them away before they have a chance to attack.</p>

<p>Magnezone is the bane of Skarmory's existence; with its Magnet Pull ability, Magnezone prohibits Skarmory from switching out (unless Skarmory is holding Shed Shell), and can proceed to KO Skarmory with Thunderbolt.</p>


Nice job ^_^ thought I would give this a second proofread cause it looked ready to go!

I've implemented Snorlaxe's grammar checks, thank you.

correct me if I'm wrong but I'm certain the 96 speed EVs for the current CBtar analysis are specifically for outspeeding 20 speed EV skarmory. So if Skarmory starts running 28 speed EVs to outrun cbtar won't that just create an endless speed creep cycle in the analysis? Perhaps you should just change the spread to 252 hp/252 def/6 spe and make a mention of Skarmory's option to run speed EVs to outrun cbtar.

Seeing as this is pretty much ready for upload, you need a quick de-mencing.