[OVERVIEW]
Between its excellent physical bulk, great defensive typing, and access to reliable recovery, Skarmory is one of the best physically defensive blanket checks in the game, being able to consistently check a variety of dangerous physical attackers such as Landorus-T and Tapu Bulu; furthermore, it is extremely hard to wear down with passive damage due to its immunity to Spikes and Toxic. This, combined with its access to good utility options in Whirlwind, Defog, and Spikes, makes Skarmory a stellar pick for balance and stall teams. That said, it faces heavy competition from Celesteela, which makes up for a lack of Spikes and Roost with significantly higher special bulk and access to Leech Seed, and Skarmory's low HP and Special Defense stats make it easy for special attackers to take advantage of and unable to take resisted special attacks repeatedly. Furthermore, Skarmory is heavily strapped for moveslots and immensely passive, often having to rely on Counter to exert any real offensive presence; this results in it being complete Taunt bait.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Defog / Whirlwind
move 3: Spikes / Toxic
move 4: Counter / Brave Bird
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Bold / Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost allows Skarmory to restore its HP in order to check threats repeatedly throughout the match. Defog enables Skarmory to remove entry hazards, which is important for easing off entry hazard pressure if any manage to slip past Mega Sableye's Magic Bounce. Whirlwind is also an option because it allows Skarmory to phaze Pokemon that attempt to set up on it; the most notable example of where it would be used is versus Toxic variants of SubCoil Zygarde, which otherwise give stall teams a massive headache. It can also be used to shuffle Pokemon around to rack up entry hazard damage or disrupt switching attempts. Spikes can be used to punish switching, which is useful for applying pressure during late-game switch wars and helping attackers break through bulkier answers; the move has a high level of utility due to the generally underwhelming selection of Rapid Spin and Defog users in the OU metagame. Toxic can be used to help rack up damage on Pokemon over time and stall them out, being notable for its ability to ease Counter mind games with Pokemon like Landorus-T. Counter can be used to deal heavy damage to physical attackers that Skarmory checks, although this requires prediction versus Pokemon with setup moves and leaves Skarmory with no way to deal direct damage to special attackers. Brave Bird hits Tapu Bulu hard, easing the pressure that it puts onto stall teams if Skarmory can play around All-Out Pummeling, and it also allows Skarmory to directly damage Pokemon that aren't affected by Counter.
Set Details
========
Sharmory's HP and Defense stats are maximized to ensure that it is as physically bulky as possible, which is important for checking physical attackers on a consistent basis. Shed Shell is important for ensuring that Magnezone doesn't warp your game plan, allowing Skarmory to escape it and even potentially trap it with Dugtrio, removing the threat of being trapped if Skarmory's Shed Shell is removed by Knock Off later in the match. That said, Leftovers is an option that provides passive turn-by-turn recovery, which is useful for checking physical attackers on a consistent basis and results in a large net amount of healing over the course of a long match. Rocky Helmet is also an option that allows Skarmory to punish contact moves, namely U-turn, by taking advantage of Skarmory's high Defense stat. Sturdy is the ability of choice, letting Skarmory take one hit from full health to fire off a Whirlwind or Counter, although it will usually require well-played Wish support to get Skarmory healthy again afterwards.
Usage Tips
========
Do not be afraid to fall back on Skarmory to check physical attackers such as Landorus-T, Tapu Bulu, Mamoswine, and Kartana as long as you ensure that Skarmory is always healthy enough to check these; that said, you need to be careful of Z-Moves that they may carry, such as Landorus-T's Continental Crush and All-Out Pummeling from Tapu Bulu or Kartana, as well as Fire- and Electric-type coverage moves such as Garchomp's Fire Fang or Fire Blast, making careful scouting for things like this a priority. Avoid switching Skarmory into special attacks unless you absolutely need to due to its low special bulk. Use Spikes and Defog against Pokemon that Skarmory walls because these make for the best opportunities to do so, and not many other chances appear due to Skarmory's passiveness and easily-exploited special bulk. If Skarmory is holding Leftovers, be careful of opposing Magnezone due to their ability to trap and eliminate Skarmory if given an opportunity; that said, if holding Shed Shell, it is also important to scout for Knock Off on Pokemon like Landorus-T and Mamoswine if there is a Magnezone on your opponent's team.
Team Options
========
Chansey is the ultimate partner for Skarmory; the two easily cover each other's exploitable defensive stat. Calm Mind Blissey forms a very similar core with Skarmory, exchanging a little bulk and utility options for the ability to counter all Manaphy variants and act as a decent wincon for stall teams, especially on those utilizing Pyukumuku. While Skarmory is immune to Toxic, clerics like Chansey and Unaware Clefable are still appreciated to relieve pressure from burns. Wish users such as those clerics and Alomomola are useful for ensuring Skarmory is healthy enough to check what it needs to repeatedly. Mega Sableye shuts down attempts to set up Stealth Rock and Spikes, which is useful for keeping Skarmory healthy enough to take hits throughout the match and reducing the pressure put onto it to use Defog repeatedly. Dugtrio traps and eliminates a wide range of stallbreakers and otherwise dangerous Pokemon, most notably including Heatran, Hoopa-U, and non-Shed Shell Tapu Lele; it also takes advantage of Skarmory's Shed Shell to trap and eliminate Magnezone, removing the need to keep an eye out for Knock Off later in the match. Stealth Rock users such as Chansey, Clefable, and Heatran are capable of stacking entry hazards alongside Skarmory, as are Toxapex and the niche Tentacruel with Toxic Spikes.
Toxapex's ability to also provide Haze support is extremely useful because it reduces the pressure put onto Skarmory to use Whirlwind to deal with setup Pokemon; similarly, Unaware users are able to achieve this consistently without needing to spend a turn doing so, and each user also provides utility that Skarmory appreciates: Quagsire shuts down Mega Charizard X and, if it is still healthy, Alolan Marowak, which are otherwise extremely huge thorns in Skarmory's side, while also acting as backup for Magnezone and Tapu Koko if Dugtrio isn't able to remove them. Clefable shuts down non-Hydro Vortex Manaphy if it utilizes Calm Mind or a specially defensive EV spread, whereas more physically defensive variants provide backup cover versus Landorus-T by making it pick between Clefable and Skarmory when choosing what to burn its Z-move on; furthermore, it provides useful support to Skarmory in the form of Wish and potentially Heal Bell.
Pokemon that can take on Fire-types, such as Heatran, Slowbro, Alomomola, Toxapex, and Tyranitar, make for excellent partners on type synergy grounds; similarly, Pokemon that cover Electric-types like Tapu Koko, such as Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, Assault Vest Tangrowth, Hippowdon, and Lightning Rod Alolan Marowak, also make for good partners. Other Pokemon that are able to take on special attackers like Tapu Lele, Gengar, and Ash-Greninja, such as specially defensive Heatran, Toxapex, Slowking, Tapu Fini, and Mantine, are excellent partners for their ability to cover for Skarmory's pitiful special bulk; Alolan Muk gets a special mention for its ability to shut down Tapu Lele and Gengar without trouble while checking Volcarona consistently.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
A specially defensive set is an option for a Spikes user on balance, but it faces heavy competiton from Ferrothorn as a Spikes user and from Celesteela as a specially bulky Steel / Flying type. Taunt shuts down Pokemon like Clefable and Chansey, preventing them from using moves like Soft-Boiled, Calm Mind, Heal Bell, and Stealth Rock, but Skarmory has a lot of difficulty fitting such a move onto its already crowded moveset. Stealth Rock is an alternative to Spikes, but there are plenty of better Stealth Rock users to choose from, with Skarmory's niche in the role of an entry hazard setter coming from its access to Spikes. Drill Peck can be used in place of Brave Bird due to its lack of recoil, but it is very weak, missing out on a range of important KOs such as the 2HKO against uninvested Tapu Bulu. A moveset of Stealth Rock / Spikes / Taunt / Brave Bird can be used alongside Sturdy and either Flyinium Z or Salac Berry to allow Skarmory to function as a suicide lead on hyper offense, but it faces competition from Pokemon like Azelf and Smeargle and lacks any means of setting hazards up versus Mega Sableye.
Checks and Counters
========
**Magnezone**: Magnezone traps Skarmory with Magnet Pull and OHKOes with Thunderbolt or Volt Switch. That said, it needs to have a teammate remove Skarmory's Shed Shell off first if it wants to trap variants with said item.
**Fire-types**: Mega Charizard Y is faster than Skarmory and OHKOes with Fire Blast. Mega Charizard X OHKOes after Stealth Rock damage, although it needs to be careful of the immense amount of recoil it takes from Flare Blitz. Volcarona sets up on sets lacking Brave Bird or Whirlwind, is faster, and OHKOes Skarmory with Fire Blast. Fast Alolan Marowak variants outpace Skarmory and OHKO it with Flare Blitz or Fire Punch, fearing nothing from Counter even if Sturdy activates, whereas bulkier variants have little to fear regardless.
**Electric-types**: Tapu Koko fears nothing from Skarmory and OHKOes with Thunderbolt or Volt Switch. Thundurus and Thundurus-T force Skarmory out with the threat of an OHKO from Thunderbolt, with Defiant variants of the former being capable of attaining Attack boosts from Skarmory's Defog and both formes being capable of setting up against it with Nasty Plot. Zapdos either OHKOes or 2HKOes Skarmory with its Electric-type STAB move depending on its Special Attack investment.
**Special Attackers**: Keldeo, Greninja, and Ash-Greninja all nail Skarmory with STAB Hydro Pump, although the former needs to be careful of Brave Bird. Gengar dents Skarmory heavily with Shadow Ball or Never-Ending Nightmare and shuts Skarmory's teammates down with Taunt or Trick; it can also threaten it with Thunderbolt, Thunder, or Gigavolt Havoc.
**Fire- and Electric-type Coverage**: Latios and Tapu Lele are capable of luring and KOing Skarmory with Hidden Power Fire, Thunderbolt, or Gigavolt Havoc; Garchomp sets up Swords Dance as Skarmory comes in and proceeds to KO it with Fire Fang, and other variants can also deal heavy damage with Fire Blast; Celesteela nails Skarmory with Flamethrower or Fire Blast.
**Taunt**: Shutting down Spikes, Roost, Defog, and Whirlwind is completely detrimental to the way that Skarmory functions, meaning that Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Mega Alakazam are capable of severely restricting Skarmory's functionality. Taunt + Dragon Dance Gyarados gets a special mention because it can use Skarmory for setup fodder by shutting down Whirlwind attempts.
**Physically Offensive Pressure**: Checking a lot of Pokemon at once takes its toll on Skarmory, and as such, it can find itself overwhelmed when faced with lots of physical attackers at once. Also, Pokemon that carry moves that can surprise Skarmory, such as Continental Crush Landorus-T, All-Out Pummeling Tapu Bulu, and Garchomp with Fire Blast or Fire Fang, can leave it in a tough spot.
[OVERVIEW]
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Defog / Whirlwind
move 3: Spikes / Toxic
move 4: Counter / Brave Bird
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
Other Options
========
Checks and Counters
========
**Magnezone**: This traps Skarmory with Magnet Pull and OHKOs with Thunderbolt or Volt Switch. That said, it needs to have a teammate knock its Shed Shell off first if it wants to trap variants with said item.
**Fire-types**: Mega Charizard Y hits like a ton of bricks, OHKOing with Fire Blast. Mega Charizard X OHKOes after Stealth Rock, although it needs to be careful of the immense amount of recoil it takes from it's own Flare Blitz. Volcarona outruns and OHKOes with Fire Blast, although it can't switch in directly on Brave Bird. Fast Alolan Marowak variants outpace and OHKOes with Flare Blitz or Fire Punch, whereas bulkier variants still have little to fear regardless.
**Electric-types**: Tapu Koko fears nothing from Skarmory and OHKOes with Thunderbolt or Volt Switch, and stallbreaker variants have a very good matchup versus the types of teams that you run Skarmory on. Thundurus and Thundurus-T force Skarmory out with the threat of an OHKO from Thunderbolt. Zapdos either OHKOes or 2HKOws Skarmory with it's choice of Electric-type STAB, depending on it's Special Attack investment.
**Special attackers**: Keldeo, Greninja, and Ash Greninja all heavily dent Skarmory with STAB Hydro Pump, although the former needs to be careful of Brave Bird. Gengar dents Skarmory heavily with Shadow Ball or Neverending Nightmare whilst shutting down Skarmory's teammates with Taunt or Trick; it can also threaten it with Thunderbolt, Thunder, or Gigavolt Havoc.
**Fire- and Electric-type coverage**: Latios and Tapu Lele are capable of luring and KOing Skarmory with Hidden Power Fire, Thunderbolt, or Gigavolt Havoc; Life Orb Garchomp sets up Swords Dance as it comes in KOs with Fire Fang whereas other variants can deal heavy damage with Fire Blast. Celesteela can deal heavy damage with either Flamethrower or Fire Blast.
**Taunt**: Being capable of shutting down attempts to use Spikes, Roost, Defog, or Whirlwind is completely detrimental to the way that Skarmory functions, meaning that Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Mega Alakazam are capable of severely restricting Skarmory's functionality. Taunt+Dragon Dance Gyarados gets a special mention because it can use Skarmory for setup fodder by shutting down Whirlwind attempts.
**Physical overloading**: Checking a lot of Pokemon at once takes its toll on Skarmory, and as such it can find itself overwhelmed when faced with lots of physical attackers at once. Also, Pokemon which carry moves that can lure and defeat Skarmory, such as Continental Crush Landorus-T, All-Out Pummeling Tapu Bulu, or Garchomp with Fire Blast or Fire Fang, can also leave the it in a tough spot.
- Very physically fat, has great defensive typing, and has access to reliable recovery--allowing it to easily check a wide range of dangerous Pokemon like Landorus-T. One of the best physical blankets checks in the game.
- Access to useful utility options like Whirlwind, Defog, and Spikes makes it an important Pokemon for stall teams
- Its immunity to Spikes and Toxic means that it can be difficult to wear down through indirect methods.
- Faces heavy competition for a team slot from Celesteela, which trades Spikes and Roost for Leech Seed and significantly better special bulk.
- Low HP and SpD results in it struggling vs. special attackers, which blows when trying to check special attackers which it resists the STABs of, such as Latios.
- It's immensely passive and heavily strapped for moveslots, often having to fall back on Counter to have any real offensive pressure. This results in it being Taunt bait.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Defog / Whirlwind
move 3: Spikes / Toxic
move 4: Counter / Brave Bird
item: Shed Shell / Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Roost is necessary for recovery, which allows it to check things throughout the match.
- Defog clears hazards, which is important for stall 'cause otherwise it loses to hazard pressure if any slip past Mega Sableye.
- Whirlwind stops Skarmory being setup bait; stops Sub+Coil+Toxic Zygarde 6:0ing stall.
- Spikes can be used to punish switching--which is useful for applying pressure during late-game switch wars and benefits from how shitty hazard control is in this meta.
- Toxic can be used to get damage racking up over time on them, which is useful for stalling things out. Also nice for easing Counter mindgames versus Pokemon like Landorus-T.
- Counter deals heavy damage to physical attackers you check, although it requires prediction vs. stuff like setup sweepers.
- Brave Bird hits Bulu etc. hard, allowing it to ease off pressure from it if All-Out Pummelling is played around successfully.
Set Details
========
- HP and Defense are maximised to make Skarmory as physically bulky as possible, allowing it to take hits as well as possible
- Shed Shell means that an opposing Magnezone doesn't warp your game plan by preventing it trapping Skarmory and even working alongside Dugtrio for an easy kill
- Leftovers provides passive turn-by-turn recovery, which is useful for relieving offensive pressure and negating burns; Results in a large net healing over the course of a long match.
- Sturdy lets you live one hit from full health, which is helpful in a pinch for allowing Skarmory to take a hit and fire off a Whirlwind, although it will usually need well-played Wish support to get healthy again afterwards. Also nice alongside Counter.
- Rocky Helmet can be used to punish contact moves, taking advantage of Skarm's tendency to come in on contact moves.
Usage Tips
========
- Use Skarmory to check physical attackers such as Landorus-T, Tapu Bulu, Mega Metagross, and Kartana; avoid switching into special attacks unless 100% necessary due to Skarmory's frailty; ensure Skarmory is healthy at all times to ensure it can consistently check these.
- Don't be afraid to fall back on Skarmory to deal with very powerful physical attackers like Landorus-T and Tapu Bulu; be aware of Z moves they carry, however.
- Be careful of Fire- or Electric-type coverage moves and ensure you scout them thoroughly.
- Use Spikes and Defog against Pokemon that Skarmory walls 'cause those are the best opportunities you will get to use them.
- If carrying Leftovers, be careful of opposing Magnezone 'cause they can trap Skarmory; if carrying Shed Shell, avoid taking Knock Off if you see a Magnezone on the opposing team to ensure that Magnezone can be circumvented without affecting your game plan.
Team Options
========
- Chansey is the ultimate partner, covering all the special attackers that give Skarmory a headache. Similarly, while much more niche, Calm Mind Blissey is able do the same thing whilst also shutting down Manaphy--which gives the types of teams you are running Skarmory on a huge headache.
- Clerics like Chansey and Unaware Clefable are nice for their ability to clear burns which either cease Leftovers recovery or slowly chip away at Skarmory.
- Mega Sableye shuts down Stealth Rock attempts, which is useful for keeping Skarmory healthy enough to take hits and leaving its Sturdy un-broken. It also reduces the pressure put onto Skarmory to use Defog repeatedly.
- Dugtrio traps a large number of stallbreakers or otherwise dangerous Pokemon, most notably including Heatran and Hoopa-U. It also takes advantage of Shed Shell by using Skarmory to bait out Magnezone for it to trap.
- Stealth Rock users like Chansey and Clefable can stack hazards alongside Skarmory, as does Toxapex with Toxic Spikes.
- Haze from Toxapex is useful for reducing the pressure put onto Skarmory to use Whirlwind.
- Unaware users globally reduce its pressure to use Whirlwind for setup control, and they achieve a number more user-specific of goals which Skarmory appreciates:
- Quagsire shuts down Mega Charizard X and Alolan Marowak, which are otherwise massive thorns in Skarmory's side.
- Clefable shuts down non-Hydro Vortex Manaphy with a specially-oriented EV spread, helps with Landorus-T by making it pick what it burns its Z move on with a more physically oriented spread, and is capable of providing Wish and Heal Bell support.
- Pyukumuku also shuts down Mega Charizard X and Alolan Marowak whilst exchanging the ability to deal direct damage for the ability to create momentum or pass Curses with Baton Pass and the ability to hard counter all Landorus-T variants--reducing the number of things Skarmory needs to keep in check.
- Pokemon which can take on Fire-types (e.g. Heatran, Slowbro, Alomomola, and Toxapex) make for generally nice partners on type synergy grounds.
- Pokemon which can cover Electric-types like Tapu Koko for Skarmory, such as Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, Assault Vest Tangrowth, Lightning Rod Alolan Marowak, and Hippowdon are also nice partners for the same reason.
- Pokemon which can take on special attackers, such as SpD Heatran, Toxapex, Slowking, and Mega Venusaur make for nice partners for their ability to help versus strong special attackers like Keldeo, Ash Gren, Latios, and Lele. AV Muk also gets a mention 'cause Gengar is gay.
Other Options
========
- Specially Defensive as a Spikes user on balance; faces heavy competition from Ferrothorn and Celesteela for a team slot, however.
- Taunt shuts down Clef, Chansey etc. which is useful to stop the former using SR/CM and to stop the latter using SR/Heal Bell/Softboiled/CM/whatever. Struggles to fit it onto the set though, with it typically needing to sacrifice Whirlwind for it.
- Stealth Rock is an alternative to Spikes, but there are plenty of better SR users to pick from on Stall, namely Chansey (or Clef if u wanna swap the SR/Heal Bell roles around)
- Drill Peck has no recoil but is weak as shit, missing out on the 2HKO vs. uninvested Bulu--among other things.
- Suicide lead w/ SR+Spikes+Taunt+Brave Bird and Salac is an option for HO, but it's shut down HARD by Mega Sableye, and Spikes isn't generally enough to justify using it over stuff like Azelf a lot of the time.
Checks and Counters
========
**Magnezone**: This traps Skarmory with Magnet Pull and OHKOs with Thunderbolt or Volt Switch. That said, it needs to have a teammate knock its Shed Shell off first if it wants to trap variants with said item.
**Fire-types**: Mega Charizard Y hits like a ton of bricks, OHKOing with Fire Blast. Mega Charizard X OHKOes after Stealth Rock, although it needs to be careful of the immense amount of recoil it takes from it's own Flare Blitz. Volcarona outruns and OHKOes with Fire Blast, although it can't switch in directly on Brave Bird. Fast Alolan Marowak variants outpace and OHKOes with Flare Blitz or Fire Punch, whereas bulkier variants still have little to fear regardless.
**Electric-types**: Tapu Koko fears nothing from Skarmory and OHKOes with Thunderbolt or Volt Switch, and stallbreaker variants have a very good matchup versus the types of teams that you run Skarmory on. Thundurus and Thundurus-T force Skarmory out with the threat of an OHKO from Thunderbolt. Zapdos either OHKOes or 2HKOws Skarmory with it's choice of Electric-type STAB, depending on it's Special Attack investment.
**Special attackers**: Keldeo, Greninja, and Ash Greninja all heavily dent Skarmory with STAB Hydro Pump, although the former needs to be careful of Brave Bird. Gengar dents Skarmory heavily with Shadow Ball or Neverending Nightmare whilst shutting down Skarmory's teammates with Taunt or Trick; it can also threaten it with Thunderbolt, Thunder, or Gigavolt Havoc.
**Fire- and Electric-type coverage**: Latios and Tapu Lele are capable of luring and KOing Skarmory with Hidden Power Fire, Thunderbolt, or Gigavolt Havoc; Life Orb Garchomp sets up Swords Dance as it comes in KOs with Fire Fang whereas other variants can deal heavy damage with Fire Blast. Celesteela can deal heavy damage with either Flamethrower or Fire Blast.
**Taunt**: Being capable of shutting down attempts to use Spikes, Roost, Defog, or Whirlwind is completely detrimental to the way that Skarmory functions, meaning that Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Mega Alakazam are capable of severely restricting Skarmory's functionality. Taunt+Dragon Dance Gyarados gets a special mention because it can use Skarmory for setup fodder by shutting down Whirlwind attempts.
**Physical overloading**: Checking a lot of Pokemon at once takes its toll on Skarmory, and as such it can find itself overwhelmed when faced with lots of physical attackers at once. Also, Pokemon which carry moves that can lure and defeat Skarmory, such as Continental Crush Landorus-T, All-Out Pummeling Tapu Bulu, or Garchomp with Fire Blast or Fire Fang, can also leave the it in a tough spot.
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