========
* Skarmory's excellent natural bulk, access to reliable recovery in Roost, a great ability in Sturdy, and great defensive typing make it a prime pick for any Flying team.
* Its fantastic natural bulk allows it to take on a plethora of physical wallbreakers such as Dragonite and Excadrill. It also is one of the few Pokemon that can successfully tank a hit from Mega Medicham, making it an invaluable Pokemon in the Fighting and Psychic matchup.
* Thanks to Roost it can stay healthy through the match, making it one of the most reliable Stealth Rock setter the type has access to. Thanks to this it can also switch in multiple times through the match and phase out setup sweepers with Whirlwind.
* Its part Steel typing allows it to act as a check to act as a blanket to a plethora of Ice- and Rock-type threats such as Weavile, Mamoswine, Terrakion, and Mega Diancie for Flying teams.
* However even with these rather great qualities Skarmory is held back by a few negative attributes. Such as its rather mediocre special defense stat allowing many special attackers like Kyurem-B and Landorus to muscle through it easily.
* While its part Steel typing does add a plethora of fantastic defensive niches it only makes Flying teams weaker to Electric- and Fire-type Pokemon such as Zapdos and Mega Charizard Y.
* Finally, its rather slow speed stat means it can be quickly shut down by faster Taunt users such as Mew and Gliscor, preventing it from doing its primary job and recovering health. However, don't let this stop you from using Skarmory as it is a staple pick on Flying teams and has far more pros than cons.
Steel
========
* Skarmory's excellent natural bulk, access to a great defensive typing, and access to reliable recovery make it a staple pick on every balanced Steel team.
* Thanks to its great defensive typing, which grants it an immunity to Ground-type attacks and neutrality to Fighting-type attacks, it can take on threats such as Excadrill, Terrakion, and Mega Gallade for the type.
* Skarmory is the most solid wall and hazard setter the type has access to, thanks to Roost, which enables it to stay healthy through the entire match and allows its to set hazards through the match.
* Skarmory is capable of running a more offensive suicide lead role, where it is used as a lead to get up as many hazards as possible for dying. This enables Steel teams to run hyper offensive variants successfully.
* However with all these benefits it still stacks Steel's weakness to Fire-type attacks. However, it is almost always able to set up Stealth Rock once in this matchup.
* Skarmory's moveset is additionally shallow, making it reasonably predictable on what it runs based off its teammates, a defensive Pokemon on more balanced teams, and a suicide lead on hyper offensive teams.
* Skarmory is especially vulnerable to Taunt as it can shut down both of its roles on Steel teams being a physically defensive wall and or hazard stack suicide lead.
[SET]
name: Defensive (Flying)
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Roost
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Stealth Rock / Defog
item: Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Iron Head is its only attack and allows Skarmory to deal with Rock- and Ice-type threats to the team such as Mega Diancie and Weavile.
* Roost allows Skarmory to stay healthy through the match and constantly reset Stealth Rock and phase out setup sweepers.
* Whirlwind allows Skarmory to check setup sweepers such as Mega Pinsir and Dragonite by forcing them out.
* Stealth Rock chips foes upon switch in and allows its teammates such as Dragonite and Landorus-T to clean easier late-game.
* Defog is an option over Stealth Rock if teammates such as Gliscor or Landorus decide to run Stealth Rock.
Set Details
========
* Max HP and Max Defense investment alongside an Impish nature maximize Skarmory's ability to tank physical attacks allowing it to switch into threats such as Weavile and Terrakion comfortably.
* Leftovers provides Skarmory with a form of residual recovery giving it more longevity through the match.
* Sturdy allows Skarmory to almost always get up Stealth Rock in matchups such as Fire and Electric, where it is useless and can act as an emergency check to setup sweepers such as Volcarona by phasing it out with Whirlwind.
Usage Tips
========
* Since Skamory is the teams main physical wall and provides neutrality to Ice- and Rock-type attacks it should be kept healthy through the game. It is especially crucial to Roost before switching out so it can switch into attacks without worry later in the game.
* Skarmory should try to set up Stealth Rock as in early in the match as possible. However, you should prioritize Skarmory's health over having Stealth Rock set. In matchups where Skarmory has little to no use, like Electric it should lead and set up Stealth Rock since it at least guaranteed one move thanks to Sturdy.
* It should use Whirlwind to check setup sweepers such as Mega Pinsir and Dragonite. In matchups such as Bug, Fire, Ice, and Flying, where they are weak to Stealth Rock it should abuse Whirlwind to rack up chip damage.
* Skarmory should be used to check physical threats and switch into physical attacks such as Terrakion's Stone Edge and Weavile's Icicle Crash, thanks to its great defensive stat. On the same note, since it can easily tank Ice- and Rock-type attacks it should take advantage of Iron Head to take on threats such as Mamoswine and Mega Diancie.
* Skarmory should avoid being crippled by a burn, as it weakens the power of Iron Head, and makes it harder to act as a solid wall.
* On the same note, due to Skarmory's rather average special defense it should switch out of special attackers into another teammate that can handle them such as Zapdos.
Team Options
========
* All of Skarmory's teammates appreciate its ability to take on Ice- and Rock-type physical attackers, and act as a blanket check to a range of physical attackers such as Mega Pinsir, Terrakion, and Weavile.
* Landorus in return can take care of threats to Skarmory with its excellent coverage and STAB such as Kyurem-B with Focus Blast. It also appreciates the hazard support Skarmory provides as it allows it to clean through teams with ease while breaking Focus Sash and Multiscale on Pokemon such as Breloom and Dragonite for it.
* Mega Gyarados provides a Fire-type resistance for Skarmory and can act as a countermeasure against other walls such as Chansey by preventing them from using their utility with Taunt. It also is a fearsome setup sweeper being able to clean through a variety of types and threats to Skarmory after a single Dragon Dance such as Victini and Mega Charizard Y.
* Zapdos provides Skarmory with a switch into Electric-type attacks, together the two of them form a solid defensive core being able to take hits from Flying teams natural weaknesses. Zapdos also provides Defog support, allowing Skarmory to free up a slot and keep its Sturdy intact. Also, it is also able to pivot Skarmory in safely with Volt Switch.
* Dragonite appreciates Skarmory's ability to act as a Fairy-type resistance and the Stealth Rock support it provides allowing it to pick up some OHKOs such as against Weavile with Extreme Speed.
* Thundurus is a phenomenal setup sweeper being able to set up Nasty Plot and threaten just about every balanced and defensive team. It can run Thunderbolt and Grass Knot, which single-handedly lets it tackle Water by itself, and by running Hidden Power Ice it can pose a significant threat to other Flying teams. It also provides an emergency check to fast threats such as Kyurem-B through Prankster Thunder Wave.
* Landorus-T and Gliscor provide Skarmory with an Electric-type immunity. Landorus-T can provide speed control for Skarmory being able to outspeed threats such as Raikou with a Choice Scarf and pivot Skarmory in safely with U-turn. Gliscor, on the other hand, is a sturdy wall that can take on attackers such as Mega Diancie for Skarmory, while also being able to shut down walls such as Chansey with Taunt.
* Togekiss is a great late-game cleaner, it can clean through a plethora of teams by flinching them down with Choice Scarf. It also can take on threats such as Kyurem-B with Choice Scarf Dazzling Gleam, which otherwise easily rips through Skarmory.
[SET]
name: Defensive (Steel)
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Roost
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Stealth Rock / Defog
item: Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Brave Bird is Skarmory's STAB and allows it to threaten Fighting-type Pokemon that threaten the team such as Mega Medicham.
* Roost allows Skarmory to stay healthy through the match, allowing it to more easily phase out setup sweepers and set up Stealth Rock through the game.
* Whirlwind allows Skarmory to phase out setup sweepers such as Garchomp and Volcarona.
* Stealth Rock chips foes upon switch in and allows its teammates such as Mega Scizor and Bisharp to clean easier late-game.
* Defog is an option over Stealth Rock that allows Skarmory to clear hazards. However, Skarmory prefers to have Stealth Rock as it is one of the best setters available to the type.
Set Details
========
* Max HP and Max Defense investment alongside an Impish nature maximize Skarmory's ability to tank physical attacks allowing it to switch into threats such as Terrakion and Excadrill comfortably.
* Leftovers provides Skarmory with a form of residual recovery giving it more longevity through the match.
* Sturdy allows Skarmory to act as a check to pretty much any threat at full health such as Volcarona and Thundurus by phasing them out with Whirlwind or attacking threats such as Keldeo with Brave Bird.
Usage Tips
========
* Since Skarmory is the teams Ground immunity and hazard setter it is essential to keep it healthy through the battle. This allows it to switch into other attackers such as Terrakion easier, later in the game.
* On the note of keeping it healthy, Skarmory should also avoid being burnt, as it severely limits its ability to stay healthy and reduces the power of Brave Bird, making checking threatening Fighting-type Pokemon such as Keldeo and Mega Medicham harder.
* Skarmory should try to set Stealth Rock as early in the game as possible and should try to keep them up through the match. When a Defog or Rapid Spin user clears hazards, it should wait for another safe opportunity to set them. However, in matchups such as Fire, where it will most likely not see much use, it is best to set Stealth Rock as early in the match as possible.
* Skarmory should be used to switch into physical attackers such as Terrakion and Landorus-T since it can quickly recover off the damage.
* Skarmory should phase out setup sweepers such as Mega Pinsir, Garchomp, and Mega Gallade with Whirlwind. It can also take advantage of Steel teams natural ability to hazard stack by shuffling around its foes when hazards are stacked, allowing it to chip them.
Team Options
========
* Heatran can switch into Fire-type attacks for Skarmory and formes Steel immunity core with it. Thanks to Magma Storm and Taunt, Heatran is also capable of taking on walls such as Chansey and Mew, which otherwise wall Skarmory.
* Mega Scizor appreciates the Stealth Rock support Skarmory provides as it allows it to clean easier late-game and take on threats such as Dragonite with much more ease.
* Excadrill provides an Electric immunity for Skarmory and can revenge kill Electric- and Fire-type Pokemon such as Raikou, Rotom-W, and Mega Charizard Y for it with Choice Scarf. In return Skarmory provides a switch into Fighting- and Ground-type attacks for Excadrill.
* Ferrothorn provides a switch into Water-type attacks for Skarmory such as Manaphy's Scald while also forming a hazard stacking core with Skarmory, providing the Spikes. Ferrothorn also can provide Skarmory with Leech Seed support allowing it to switch into attacks easier. In return, Skarmory can check setup sweepers such as Mega Pinsir for Ferrothorn, which would otherwise easily set up on it.
* Magnezone can trap and remove other Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Heatran for Skarmory. In return, it provides a much-needed Ground immunity for Magnezone and provides Stealth Rock support.
[SET]
name: Suicide Lead (Steel)
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Taunt
item: Custap Berry
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Brave Bird allows Skarmory to efficiently act as a suicide lead and self KO as well as hit Fighting-type Pokemon such as Keldeo and Infernape for supereffective damage.
* Stealth Rock and Spikes are Skarmory's hazards, these moves enable it to act as a hazard suicide lead.
* Taunt allows Skarmory to prevent slower Defog users such as Mandibuzz from clearing hazards.
Set Details
========
* Max Speed and Attack investment alongside a Jolly nature allow Skarmory
* Sturdy and Custap Berry go hand in hand, as Sturdy allows it to survive almost any attack and then move first within its priority bracket, allowing it to effectively suicide with Brave Bird to prevent Defog or to stack one last layer of hazards.
Usage Tips
========
* As the name of the set says, Skarmory should always act as a suicide lead. It should set down Stealth Rock first, then proceed to get up as many Spikes as it can. It should also use its role as a lead to prevent slower hazard setters such as Swampert and Tyranitar from setting Stealth Rock.
* Try to get Skarmory into the range of Custap Berry as this will allow it to get up one more layer of hazards, prevent Defog, and/or pick up a last minute kill against threats such as Mega Medicham and Keldeo with Brave Bird.
* Since Skarmory's main job is to stack hazards it should avoid faster Taunt users such as Cobalion, as it will prevent it from getting up hazards. Skarmory should also switch into teammates that punish hazard removal such as Bisharp on Defog users such as Staraptor and Latios, and switch into Doublade on Rapid Spin users such as Starmie and Armaldo.
* Against slower Defog users Skarmory can utilize Taunt, to prevent them from getting off a Defog such as Mandibuzz, but in all other scenario's it is best to switch into Bisharp.
Team Options
========
* Heatran just like balanced Steel teams, Heatran is also a must on Hyper Offense. It provides the same Fire-type immunity while also being able to take on Pokemon such as Gliscor with Hidden Power Ice and Mega Charizard Y with Stone Edge.
* Mega Scizor appreciates Skarmory's ability to stack hazards allowing it to clean easier late-game. Mega Scizor is capable of taking on bulky Psychic- and Steel-type Pokemon such as Mew and Ferrothorn in return for Skarmory, thanks to Bug Bite and Superpower respectively.
* Doublade is the teams Fighting-type immunity. It also appreciates Skarmory's hazard stacking ability as it can become a very threatening setup sweeper and clean late-game. In return, Doublade can block Rapid Spin users such as Starmie and Armaldo by preventing them from clearing hazards.
* Bisharp is yet another Swords Dance sweeper hyper offensive Steel teams have access to once again improving the Psychic- and Ghost-type matchup with powerful priority in Sucker Punch and useful utility in Knock Off. It also can deter Defog users from Defogging because of Defiant, allowing it to punish them.
* Excadrill can take care of Electric-type Pokemon for Skarmory such as Rotom-W and Raikou. It also can remove hazards from the field by providing Rapid Spin support.
* Magnezone can trap other Steel-type Pokemon such as Skarmory, Ferrothorn, and Klefki then proceed to remove them with Thunderbolt and Hidden Power Fire. It also can take on threatening Water-type Pokemon such as Keldeo and Gyarados for the team. In return, Skarmory provides a crucial Ground-immunity for Magnezone.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Flying
--------
* Counter allows Skarmory to take on threatening physical attackers such as Weavile and Mega Medicham for the team. However, this means Skarmory cannot run Stealth Rock, a difficult move to a slot on other Pokemon for Flying teams.
* A more Specially Defensive Skarmory can be run to take on threats such as Choice Scarf Kyurem-B with more ease, however, it loses out on physical bulk allowing Pokemon such as Dragonite to take it on with more ease.
Steel
--------
* Counter allows Skarmory to take on threatening physical attackers such as Terrakion and Dragonite with more ease. However, this prevents Skarmory from running Stealth Rock, which means the team cannot successfully hazard stack, as Ferrothorn will need to run it in return.
* Tailwind can be run on the hyper offensive sets allowing it to outspeed threats such as Breloom and Volcarona for the team, however, this means forgoing on Taunt, which allows slower Defog users such as Mandibuzz to easily clear hazards against it.
Checks and Counters
===================
Flying
--------
**Electric-types**: Electric-type Pokemon such as Thundurus and Mega Manectric can break past Skarmory with their STAB moves. Magnezone especially can prevent Skarmory from switching out because of Magnet Pull and then proceed to OHKO it.
**Fire-types**: Fire-type Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona can easily break past Skarmory. Torkoal also can clear the hazards it sets with Rapid Spin.
**Taunt Users**: Faster Taunt users such as Mew prevent Skarmory from recovering off damage with Roost or stacking hazards allowing it to pretty easily shut down all of its sets.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Special Wallbreakers such as Landorus and Kyurem-B can easily break past Skarmory due to its somewhat lackluster Special Defense.
**Setup Sweepers**: Setup Sweepers such as Mega Gallade and Omastar can easily take advantage of Skarmory's passive nature and use it to setup. However, they need to be careful of Whirlwind as it can phase them out.
Steel
--------
**Fire-types**: Fire-type Pokemon such as Darmanitan and Volcanion can easily break past Skarmory. Torkoal also can clear the hazards it sets with Rapid Spin.
**Electric-types**: Electric-type Pokemon such as Mega Ampharos and Raikou can break past Skarmory with their STAB moves. Magnezone especially can prevent Skarmory from switching out because of Magnet Pull and then proceed to OHKO it.
**Taunt Users**: Faster Taunt users such as Cobalion prevent Skarmory from setting up its hazards and/or recovering off damage. This severely cripples Skarmory because it relies on its utility to be effective.
**Hazard Removal**: Hazard Removal can be troubling for hyper offensive Steel teams as it often is used as a suicide lead, meaning it will only get one chance to setup hazards.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Special Wallbreakers such as Mega Pidgeot and Keldeo can easily muscle through Skarmory with their STAB moves due to its low special defense.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[maroon, 305839]]
- Quality checked by: [[<username1>,<userid1>], [<username2, userid2>], [<username3, userid3>]]
- Grammar checked by: [[<username1>,<userid1>], [<username2, userid2>]]
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