[OVERVIEW]
Skarmory has a defined niche in the Anything Goes metagame as the best Extreme Killer counter there is and one of the best physical walls in general. It has great support options, such as Spikes, Stealth Rock, Whirlwind, Toxic, and especially Defog, as this move removes the need to rely on a defensive Arceus forme or Giratina. Unfortunately, Skarmory is Taunt and Magic Bounce bait, has mediocre Special Defense, and has a general lack of offensive presence.
[SET]
name: Bulky Support
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Whirlwind
move 3: Roost
move 4: Defog / Spikes / Stealth Rock
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Toxic is useful to wear down walls and give Skarmory a way to damage opposing Pokemon. Whirlwind is useful for both phazing foes to prevent them from setting up on Skarmory and racking up passive damage from entry hazards. Roost allows Skarmory to remain healthy for the duration of the match. Defog is useful for removing hazards in the free turns Skarmory gets. If your team isn't weak to hazards and already has a Stealth Rock setter, Spikes is an option over Defog, as is Stealth Rock, and Iron Head is an option that deals with Mega Diancie and is a way to deal more damage to Xerneas.
Set Details
========
Sturdy guarantees Skarmory can at least survive one hit and either phaze a boosted threat or get a Toxic off, provided it can enter without taking entry hazard damage. Rocky Helmet is useful for getting extra damage off on physical attackers and wears them down much quicker. Leftovers is also an option in order to give Skarmory some additional recovery. Shed Shell is a usable item on teams weak to Mega Gengar to prevent Skarmory from being trapped; however, it is often not worth it because of how uncommon Mega Gengar is. The EVs and a Bold nature give Skarmory the most physical bulk possible while hitting a Stealth Rock number.
Usage Tips
========
You should generally switch Skarmory into physical attackers and should switch it out of special ones. Be wary of letting an Arceus or Mega Rayquaza set up too much, because if they break Skarmory and are boosted, they can often sweep your team. Don't let Skarmory get weakened too much if your opponent still has an Arceus or Mega Rayquaza, because otherwise it can't switch in safely, and don't be afraid to sacrifice Skarmory if your opponent doesn't have any physical attackers left, as it is often dead weight in that situation. Keeping Sturdy intact can ensure Shadow Force Ghost Arceus cannot pick up an OHKO even at +6; this would be achieved by constantly Roosting while Ghost Arceus is badly poisoned. Skarmory can be 2HKOed by neither a +6 Jolly Arceus's Extreme Speed nor a +2 Jolly Mega Rayquaza's Dragon Ascent. Stacking entry hazards and shuffling your opponent's team with Whirlwind is a very effective strategy if running Spikes due to how bulky Skarmory is and how many switches it forces. Try to scout for Magic Coat and Overheat on Arceus, because if they happen to have it, Skarmory just gets destroyed. Try not to switch in Skarmory unless necessary while Mega Gengar and Darkrai are still alive, as they only need to come in on it once.
Team Options
========
Specially bulky Pokemon such as Kyogre and Blissey can work well with Skarmory, as they are able to take special hits for Skarmory; such a pair functions well together on semi-stall and balance teams. Darkrai and Xerneas both appreciate having Skarmory, as they are very potent setup sweepers that are both weak to revenge killing by Arceus's and Mega Rayquaza's Extreme Speed. Dragon-types such as Dragon Arceus and Mega Rayquaza work well as teammates for Skarmory because they resist both Fire- and Electric-type attacks for Skarmory. Pokemon that appreciate Spikes, such as Genesect and Ho-Oh, are solid team options because entry hazards help them clean up more easily. Fairy Arceus and Xerneas are good team options, as they handle the Magic Bounce users that trouble Skarmory; in addition, Xerneas not only appreciates Skarmory taking Extreme Speeds for it but also counters Yveltal in turn for Skarmory.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Taunt is an option that allows Skarmory to deal with walls more efficiently, most notably Chansey and Blissey. Counter is an option to surprise powerful physical attackers that otherwise can beat Skarmory, such as Ho-Oh. A specially defensive spread can work on Skarmory to better check weaker special attackers; however, it is generally mediocre and not very effective. Occa Berry can be used to scout out a potential V-create Mega Rayquaza without sacrificing your Extreme Killer Arceus check. A Custap Berry + Sturdy lead set can be used to take out foes with Counter and set up Stealth Rock, although it is outclassed by Focus Sash Excadrill and Scolipede.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Skarmory despises special attackers in general because they have no issue breaking through it and sometimes use it as setup bait. In particular, Darkrai is a big problem because Dark Void breaks Sturdy and it usually runs Substitute to avoid Toxic damage.
**Reflection**: Magic Bounce renders Skarmory completely useless, reflecting all of its moves except for Iron Head and preventing it from doing much of anything. Magic Coat users such as Arceus are also very bothersome for Skarmory, as it can win 50/50s to set up and potentially beat Skarmory, or just PP stall it.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh's main STAB move, Sacred Fire, is super effective on Skarmory and has a 50% chance to burn it, breaking its Sturdy.
**Yveltal**: Both the bulky Yveltal sets with Taunt and the offensive sets destroy all Skarmory variants.
**Taunt**: Taunt cripples Skarmory and prevents it from doing anything. Yveltal is the most common Taunt user, but it can be seen on numerous other Pokemon randomly.
**Mega Gengar**: Mega Gengar's access to Taunt and Disable and its trapping capabilities severely damage Skarmory, usually disabling it completely.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Random super effective coverage such as Thunder on Xerneas and Lava Plume on Primal Groudon is terrible for Skarmory, because you think you can safely beat the opponent but you end up losing.
Skarmory has a defined niche in the Anything Goes metagame as the best Extreme Killer counter there is and one of the best physical walls in general. It has great support options, such as Spikes, Stealth Rock, Whirlwind, Toxic, and especially Defog, as this move removes the need to rely on a defensive Arceus forme or Giratina. Unfortunately, Skarmory is Taunt and Magic Bounce bait, has mediocre Special Defense, and has a general lack of offensive presence.
[SET]
name: Bulky Support
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Whirlwind
move 3: Roost
move 4: Defog / Spikes / Stealth Rock
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Toxic is useful to wear down walls and give Skarmory a way to damage opposing Pokemon. Whirlwind is useful for both phazing foes to prevent them from setting up on Skarmory and racking up passive damage from entry hazards. Roost allows Skarmory to remain healthy for the duration of the match. Defog is useful for removing hazards in the free turns Skarmory gets. If your team isn't weak to hazards and already has a Stealth Rock setter, Spikes is an option over Defog, as is Stealth Rock, and Iron Head is an option that deals with Mega Diancie and is a way to deal more damage to Xerneas.
Set Details
========
Sturdy guarantees Skarmory can at least survive one hit and either phaze a boosted threat or get a Toxic off, provided it can enter without taking entry hazard damage. Rocky Helmet is useful for getting extra damage off on physical attackers and wears them down much quicker. Leftovers is also an option in order to give Skarmory some additional recovery. Shed Shell is a usable item on teams weak to Mega Gengar to prevent Skarmory from being trapped; however, it is often not worth it because of how uncommon Mega Gengar is. The EVs and a Bold nature give Skarmory the most physical bulk possible while hitting a Stealth Rock number.
Usage Tips
========
You should generally switch Skarmory into physical attackers and should switch it out of special ones. Be wary of letting an Arceus or Mega Rayquaza set up too much, because if they break Skarmory and are boosted, they can often sweep your team. Don't let Skarmory get weakened too much if your opponent still has an Arceus or Mega Rayquaza, because otherwise it can't switch in safely, and don't be afraid to sacrifice Skarmory if your opponent doesn't have any physical attackers left, as it is often dead weight in that situation. Keeping Sturdy intact can ensure Shadow Force Ghost Arceus cannot pick up an OHKO even at +6; this would be achieved by constantly Roosting while Ghost Arceus is badly poisoned. Skarmory can be 2HKOed by neither a +6 Jolly Arceus's Extreme Speed nor a +2 Jolly Mega Rayquaza's Dragon Ascent. Stacking entry hazards and shuffling your opponent's team with Whirlwind is a very effective strategy if running Spikes due to how bulky Skarmory is and how many switches it forces. Try to scout for Magic Coat and Overheat on Arceus, because if they happen to have it, Skarmory just gets destroyed. Try not to switch in Skarmory unless necessary while Mega Gengar and Darkrai are still alive, as they only need to come in on it once.
Team Options
========
Specially bulky Pokemon such as Kyogre and Blissey can work well with Skarmory, as they are able to take special hits for Skarmory; such a pair functions well together on semi-stall and balance teams. Darkrai and Xerneas both appreciate having Skarmory, as they are very potent setup sweepers that are both weak to revenge killing by Arceus's and Mega Rayquaza's Extreme Speed. Dragon-types such as Dragon Arceus and Mega Rayquaza work well as teammates for Skarmory because they resist both Fire- and Electric-type attacks for Skarmory. Pokemon that appreciate Spikes, such as Genesect and Ho-Oh, are solid team options because entry hazards help them clean up more easily. Fairy Arceus and Xerneas are good team options, as they handle the Magic Bounce users that trouble Skarmory; in addition, Xerneas not only appreciates Skarmory taking Extreme Speeds for it but also counters Yveltal in turn for Skarmory.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Taunt is an option that allows Skarmory to deal with walls more efficiently, most notably Chansey and Blissey. Counter is an option to surprise powerful physical attackers that otherwise can beat Skarmory, such as Ho-Oh. A specially defensive spread can work on Skarmory to better check weaker special attackers; however, it is generally mediocre and not very effective. Occa Berry can be used to scout out a potential V-create Mega Rayquaza without sacrificing your Extreme Killer Arceus check. A Custap Berry + Sturdy lead set can be used to take out foes with Counter and set up Stealth Rock, although it is outclassed by Focus Sash Excadrill and Scolipede.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Skarmory despises special attackers in general because they have no issue breaking through it and sometimes use it as setup bait. In particular, Darkrai is a big problem because Dark Void breaks Sturdy and it usually runs Substitute to avoid Toxic damage.
**Reflection**: Magic Bounce renders Skarmory completely useless, reflecting all of its moves except for Iron Head and preventing it from doing much of anything. Magic Coat users such as Arceus are also very bothersome for Skarmory, as it can win 50/50s to set up and potentially beat Skarmory, or just PP stall it.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh's main STAB move, Sacred Fire, is super effective on Skarmory and has a 50% chance to burn it, breaking its Sturdy.
**Yveltal**: Both the bulky Yveltal sets with Taunt and the offensive sets destroy all Skarmory variants.
**Taunt**: Taunt cripples Skarmory and prevents it from doing anything. Yveltal is the most common Taunt user, but it can be seen on numerous other Pokemon randomly.
**Mega Gengar**: Mega Gengar's access to Taunt and Disable and its trapping capabilities severely damage Skarmory, usually disabling it completely.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Random super effective coverage such as Thunder on Xerneas and Lava Plume on Primal Groudon is terrible for Skarmory, because you think you can safely beat the opponent but you end up losing.
Last edited:
