[OVERVIEW]
Often appearing on balance teams, Skarmory's incredible Defense stat allows it to check many physical attackers such as Melmetal and Bisharp for its teammates. Due to its excellent typing, Skarmory can provide a key neutrality to Ice-type attacks, allowing it to check powerful Ice-types such as Mamoswine and Weavile. Skarmory's access to Spikes, Whirlwind, and Roost allows it to carve out a niche for itself on Flying teams. As a result of its low HP and Special Defense, Skarmory is unable to tank resisted hits from special attackers such as Choice Specs Kyurem and Choice Specs Tapu Lele and can be worn down by walls using special attacking moves like Scald from Toxapex. Skarmory faces competition from Corviknight and Celesteela, as they both share the same typing. Corviknight and Celesteela can tank both physical and special attacks, while Skarmory is relegated to tanking physical attacks.
[SET]
name: Defensive Spikes (Flying)
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Body Press
move 3: Whirlwind / Toxic
move 4: Roost
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Toxic allows Skarmory to punish opposing Defoggers such as Rotom-W and Heavy-Duty Boots Zapdos as they try to switch into it. Whirlwind can be used over it to phaze opposing setup sweepers such as Bisharp and Dragon Dance Dragapult. In conjunction with Skarmory's bulk it can be used to shuffle opposing teams, slowly damaging them via Spikes. Body Press uses Skarmory's enormous Defense stat to hit threats such as Galarian Darmanitan and Tyranitar. Roost provides Skarmory with reliable recovery, allowing it to preserve Sturdy as well as consistently providing an answer to foes such as Cloyster and Excadrill. Rocky Helmet punishes physical attackers as well as pivots that use Flip Turn and U-turn by taking a chunk of their HP. Leftovers allows Skarmory to gain passive recovery, which it in turn gives it more chances to use its ability Sturdy. Sturdy is Skarmory's best ability, as it can allow Skarmory to survive attacks from foes such as Heliolisk and Volcarona when at full HP, and it can proceed to OHKO the former with Body Press. Maximum HP and Defense investment with a Bold nature allows Skarmory to be as bulky as possible, as well as boosting the power of Body Press.
Mantine is an excellent teammate for Skarmory, as its superb Special Defense allows it to wall special attackers such as Volcarona, Choice Scarf Blacephalon, and Hydreigon. In return, Skarmory is able to handle foes like Dragonite and Dragapult. Skarmory appreciates the presence of Landorus-T to OHKO threats such as Tapu Koko and Zapdos. Landorus-T can also switch in on foes such as Zapdos after it has been Choice-locked into Thunderbolt. Skarmory then reciprocates this by acting as a switch-in to physical attackers such as Mamoswine that would otherwise OHKO Landorus-T with Icicle Crash. Defensive Zapdos can provide a key neutrality to Electric-type attacks as well as act as a special wall, taking attacks from foes such as Tapu Koko under Electric Terrain. Moreover, it can run a Toxic + Substitute set to wear down opposing walls such as Mandibuzz that Skarmory would find hard to deal with. Skarmory can then assist Zapdos by taking on potent physical attackers such as Swords Dance Terrakion that Zapdos would otherwise fall to. Zapdos can also run a Choice Specs set that appreciates Skarmory's ability to wear down foes such as Slowking with Spikes. Teammates such as Choice Band Galarian Zapdos and Galarian Moltres appreciate the presence of Spikes on the field, with the former potentially OHKOing foes such as Slowbro, Slowking, and Mew and the latter becoming a much more potent sweeper, being able to guarantee an OHKO on foes such as Slowking. In return, Galarian Zapdos is able to prevent foes from removing Spikes via Defog carelessly due to Defiant. Galarian Moltres is able to check the fearsome Spectrier that would otherwise OHKO Skarmory after it has been inflicted with a status condition. Thundurus-T and Dragonite are also good teammates for Skarmory, as both are helped by Spikes chipping away at their respective checks, and the former can absorb Electric-type attacks for it. Knock Off users such as Tornadus-T allow teammates to take advantage of Skarmory's entry hazards, as it can force foes that normally run Heavy-Duty Boots such as Victini and Cinderace to switchin less often. Moreover, Tornadus-T can use Taunt on opposing Defog users such as Mantine and Corviknight to prevent them from ridding the field of Skarmory's Spikes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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224 HP EVs allow Skarmory to always be at full HP after two turns of Leftovers recovery after Stealth Rock damage, thus enabling it to use Sturdy. However, this spread reduces Skarmory's overall physical bulk and makes it easier to KO.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Hatterene**: While preventing Skarmory from setting Spikes with Magic Bounce, Hatterene can also use Skarmory as setup fodder.
**Special Attackers**: Due to Skarmory's low HP and Special Defense, it is 2HKOed from resisted special attacks from foes such as Choice Specs Tapu Lele.
**Taunt**: Foes such as Mandibuzz and Bulk Up Corviknight are able to inflict Taunt on Skarmory, preventing it from not only setting Spikes but also healing itself via Roost.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Aqua Jet, 531302]]
- Quality checked by: [[Harpp, 320110, ], [roxiee, 481576 ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732]]
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