[OVERVIEW]
Skarmory is a solid physical wall in the metagame, with its great typing allowing it to check dangerous threats such as Kartana, Excadrill, Garchomp, and Mega Scizor. Its good bulk alongside the combination of Whirlwind and Counter deters their attempts to setup and break past Skarmory, while also letting it act as a stopgap to other sweepers such as Dragon Dance variants of Mega Tyranitar and Kommo-o. It is also one of the tier's best users of Spikes, gaining entry on the aforementioned Pokemon alongside the likes of Landorus-Therian, Gliscor, and Chansey. However, its poor special bulk means that, despite its typing, it cannot check the likes of Mega Alakazam and Tapu Lele and gives the likes of Heatran and Rotom-W free switchins to setup Stealth Rock or clear Skarmory's Spikes with Defog respectively. Moreover, Counter variants of Skarmory lacks a way to reliably deal damage, leaving it completely shut down by Taunt users like the aforementioned Serperior alongside Tornadus-T and Mega Gyarados. While Skarmory can use Brave Bird or Toxic to alleviate this issue, this leaves it with only Whirlwind against the aforementioned physical attackers, giving them opportunties to break past Skarmory, especially with Z-Moves.
[SET]
name: Physically Defense
move 1: Roost
move 2: Spikes
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Counter / Toxic / Brave Bird / Defog
item: Rocky Helmet / Shed Shell
ability: Sturdy
nature: Bold / Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Roost is crucial in giving Skarmory reliable recovery, allowing it to sustain itself in front of the attackers it is tasked with checking. Spikes is Skarmory's main way of making progress, capitalizing on Skarmory's ability to handle common Pokemon like Landorus-Therian, Choiced Kartana, and Mega Scizor to wear down the opponent. Whirlwind synergizes naturally with Spikes, accruing passive damage and forcing out Pokemon that attempt to threaten Skarmory. It also allows Skarmory to phaze setup sweepers like Swords Dance Gliscor, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Scizor. Counter is Skarmory's best fourth option, OHKOing boosted attackers like Garchomp and Kartana who would be inclined to attack Skarmory to avoid being neutralized by Whirlwind. Alternatively, Toxic cripples common switchins to Skarmory, such as the Mega Charizard formes, Mega Latias, and Zapdos. Brave Bird provides an instant form of damage, most notably heavily damaging Taunt Serperior, which otherwise shuts down Skarmory, but also hitting the likes of Tornadus-Therian and Mega Alakazam hard. Finally, on certain structures which appreciate Skarmory's defensive qualities and access to Spikes but can be potentially vulnerable to hazards themselves, most notably on hard stall teams, Skarmory can run Defog as its final move, using its own immunity to Spikes to remove multiple layers of entry hazards on its side.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread maximizes Skarmory's physical bulk; An Impish nature should be used if Skarmory is running Brave Bird to not lose power, a Bold nature and 0 attack IVs should be used otherwise to minimize damage from Foul Play and confusion. Rocky Helmet punishes contact moves such as U-Turn from Landorus-Therian and Mega Scizor, Mega Lopunny's High Jump Kick, and Mega Swampert's Waterfall. Shed Shell is a niche option on stall teams, which often require all its defensive pieces intact, to prevent Skarmory from being trapped by Magnezone. However, Pokemon that Skarmory checks like Kartana and Mega Scizor commonly carry Knock Off, making Rocky Helmet generally preferred. Sturdy allows Skarmory at full hp to survive a hit in a pinch and retaliate with one of its utility options, most notably Counter.
Usage Tips
========
Generally, using Skarmory is simple: Switch into physical attackers and avoid special attackers, as almost all of the latter threaten Skarmory with heavy damage. Pokemon that do not threaten Skarmory whatsoever, like Choice locked Kartana, Mega Scizor, and Landorus-T, should be its cue to setup spikes provided it is healthy enough. It can also come in on Ferrothorn and opposing Skarmory and mirror their Spikes with its own and setup on other defensive Pokemon like Chansey and Clefable, but unscouted variants of these can retaliate with Thunder Wave, or Flamethrower in the latter's case, potentially crippling Skarmory. Skarmory should be kept healthy if it is required to check the likes of Kartana and Garchomp, as even slight chip damage can put it in range of +2 All-Out Pummeling and +2 Continential Crush respectively. Skarmory's Rocky Helmet can be incredibly helpful to punish attacks like Mega Swampert's rain boosted Waterfall and Mega Tyranitar's Fire Punch, preventing them from otherwise fishing for flinches and burns, and prevents Excadrill from using Rapid Spin freely against it. However, Pokemon it switches into like Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor commonly carry Knock Off, making parting ways with its item often necessary. The second layer of Spikes only provides slightly more damage than the first, making it generally less worth it unless Skarmory can also safely setup the third, such as against teams without hazard removal. Instead, Skarmory should heal or use a utility move, such as Whirlwind to accrue more chip damage or Toxic to catch the likes of Tapu Koko and Zapdos on the switch. Skarmory lacking Shed Shell should be wary of Magnezone, which threatens to trap and remove it. While it will inevitably faint, since using Roost to offset damage it takes will give Magnezone a free opportunity to switch in, it can generate momentum beforehand by using Whirlwind and double switching before sacrificing itself in exchange for Spikes.
Team Options
========
Skarmory fits best on defensive teams ranging from balance to full stall which appreciate its defensive attributes and Spikes wearing down offensive threats. Chansey and Toxapex form a fantastic core with it, taking on a myriad of special attackers including Mega Alakazam, Tapu Koko, Mega Charizard Y, and Ash-Greninja while providing Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes to pair with Spikes. In return, Skarmory checks dangerous physical attackers like Kartana, Mega Swampert, and Garchomp that scare the two out. Other defensive Steel-types like Heatran and Magearna make up for Skarmory's low special defensive, checking the likes of Magearna and Tapu Lele. Excadrill is a Steel-type able to check Magearna and Tapu Koko for Skarmory and crucially provides Rapid Spin, being able to remove entry hazards for Skarmory's teammates without clearing its Spikes. However, it stacks Steel-types unable to check Tapu Lele and Mega Alakazam, thus necessitating a teammate like Cresselia or Specially Defensive Slowbro. Skarmory's Spikes enable a variety of bulky winconditions, such as Swords Dance Gliscor and Calm Mind variants of Mega Latias, Reuniclus, and Clefable, who appreciate the chip damage on their checks such as Slowbro, Mega Scizor, and Magearna. In return, these Pokemon take pressure off Skarmory in the early and mid-game, such as Mega Latias's ability to check Kartana and Reuniclus answering Mega Medicham, and are resilient against entry hazards, thus minimizing the need for Defog support and keeping Skarmory's Spikes up.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Iron Head is an option in the fourth moveslot to threaten Fairy-types like Clefable and Mega Diancie, especially the latter since it blocks its utility moves with Magic Bounce. However, Brave Bird is generally preferred as a damage-dealing move and Skarmory's other utility options are already hard to pass up on. Specially Defensive sets appear to have promise to be a more robust switchin to the likes of Mega Alakazam, but Skarmory's Special Defense is lacking even when invested, being outclassed by Celesteela in this regard, and the loss of physical bulk is significant against Pokemon Skarmory intends to check.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Skarmory's low Special Defense means almost every special attacker can threaten it with heavy damage, including Tapu Koko, Ash-Greninja, and Heatran, and even resisted attacks like Tapu Lele and Mega Alakazam's Psychic and Magearna's Fleur Cannon heavily dent it. Despite Skarmory's advantageous typing into Clefable, Serperior, and Tornadus-T, they often carry Fire-type coverage in Flamethrower, Hidden Power Fire, and Heat Wave respectively to bypass it.
**Strong Physical Attackers and those with Super Effective Options**: Although Skarmory has excellent Defense, attackers like Mega Charizard X and Kyurem-B can target its weaknesses with Flare Blitz and Fusion Bolt respectively. It is unable to withstand attacks from extremely strong wallbreakers like Mega Medicham, Swords Dance Mega Mawile, and Choice Band Hoopa-U, and after slight chip damage, Pokemon it checks like Kartana and Garchomp can use Fighinium and Rockium Z respectively after Swords Dance to KO it.
**Taunt**: Skarmory lacking Brave Bird is completely shut down by Taunt from the likes of Serperior, Tornadus-T, and Mega Gyarados, the latter being particularly dangerous as it can use Dragon Dance and bypass Sturdy + Counter attempts with Mold Breaker. Even variants with Brave Bird are heavily irrirated by Taunt leaving it unable to heal with Roost or use Spikes.
**Magnezone**: Skarmory lacking Shed Shell is completely unable to stop Magnezone from trapping and removing it if it switches in, only being able to prolong its death with Sturdy and Whirlwind.
Skarmory is a solid physical wall in the metagame, with its great typing allowing it to check dangerous threats such as Kartana, Excadrill, Garchomp, and Mega Scizor. Its good bulk alongside the combination of Whirlwind and Counter deters their attempts to setup and break past Skarmory, while also letting it act as a stopgap to other sweepers such as Dragon Dance variants of Mega Tyranitar and Kommo-o. It is also one of the tier's best users of Spikes, gaining entry on the aforementioned Pokemon alongside the likes of Landorus-Therian, Gliscor, and Chansey. However, its poor special bulk means that, despite its typing, it cannot check the likes of Mega Alakazam and Tapu Lele and gives the likes of Heatran and Rotom-W free switchins to setup Stealth Rock or clear Skarmory's Spikes with Defog respectively. Moreover, Counter variants of Skarmory lacks a way to reliably deal damage, leaving it completely shut down by Taunt users like the aforementioned Serperior alongside Tornadus-T and Mega Gyarados. While Skarmory can use Brave Bird or Toxic to alleviate this issue, this leaves it with only Whirlwind against the aforementioned physical attackers, giving them opportunties to break past Skarmory, especially with Z-Moves.
[SET]
name: Physically Defense
move 1: Roost
move 2: Spikes
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Counter / Toxic / Brave Bird / Defog
item: Rocky Helmet / Shed Shell
ability: Sturdy
nature: Bold / Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Roost is crucial in giving Skarmory reliable recovery, allowing it to sustain itself in front of the attackers it is tasked with checking. Spikes is Skarmory's main way of making progress, capitalizing on Skarmory's ability to handle common Pokemon like Landorus-Therian, Choiced Kartana, and Mega Scizor to wear down the opponent. Whirlwind synergizes naturally with Spikes, accruing passive damage and forcing out Pokemon that attempt to threaten Skarmory. It also allows Skarmory to phaze setup sweepers like Swords Dance Gliscor, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Scizor. Counter is Skarmory's best fourth option, OHKOing boosted attackers like Garchomp and Kartana who would be inclined to attack Skarmory to avoid being neutralized by Whirlwind. Alternatively, Toxic cripples common switchins to Skarmory, such as the Mega Charizard formes, Mega Latias, and Zapdos. Brave Bird provides an instant form of damage, most notably heavily damaging Taunt Serperior, which otherwise shuts down Skarmory, but also hitting the likes of Tornadus-Therian and Mega Alakazam hard. Finally, on certain structures which appreciate Skarmory's defensive qualities and access to Spikes but can be potentially vulnerable to hazards themselves, most notably on hard stall teams, Skarmory can run Defog as its final move, using its own immunity to Spikes to remove multiple layers of entry hazards on its side.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread maximizes Skarmory's physical bulk; An Impish nature should be used if Skarmory is running Brave Bird to not lose power, a Bold nature and 0 attack IVs should be used otherwise to minimize damage from Foul Play and confusion. Rocky Helmet punishes contact moves such as U-Turn from Landorus-Therian and Mega Scizor, Mega Lopunny's High Jump Kick, and Mega Swampert's Waterfall. Shed Shell is a niche option on stall teams, which often require all its defensive pieces intact, to prevent Skarmory from being trapped by Magnezone. However, Pokemon that Skarmory checks like Kartana and Mega Scizor commonly carry Knock Off, making Rocky Helmet generally preferred. Sturdy allows Skarmory at full hp to survive a hit in a pinch and retaliate with one of its utility options, most notably Counter.
Usage Tips
========
Generally, using Skarmory is simple: Switch into physical attackers and avoid special attackers, as almost all of the latter threaten Skarmory with heavy damage. Pokemon that do not threaten Skarmory whatsoever, like Choice locked Kartana, Mega Scizor, and Landorus-T, should be its cue to setup spikes provided it is healthy enough. It can also come in on Ferrothorn and opposing Skarmory and mirror their Spikes with its own and setup on other defensive Pokemon like Chansey and Clefable, but unscouted variants of these can retaliate with Thunder Wave, or Flamethrower in the latter's case, potentially crippling Skarmory. Skarmory should be kept healthy if it is required to check the likes of Kartana and Garchomp, as even slight chip damage can put it in range of +2 All-Out Pummeling and +2 Continential Crush respectively. Skarmory's Rocky Helmet can be incredibly helpful to punish attacks like Mega Swampert's rain boosted Waterfall and Mega Tyranitar's Fire Punch, preventing them from otherwise fishing for flinches and burns, and prevents Excadrill from using Rapid Spin freely against it. However, Pokemon it switches into like Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor commonly carry Knock Off, making parting ways with its item often necessary. The second layer of Spikes only provides slightly more damage than the first, making it generally less worth it unless Skarmory can also safely setup the third, such as against teams without hazard removal. Instead, Skarmory should heal or use a utility move, such as Whirlwind to accrue more chip damage or Toxic to catch the likes of Tapu Koko and Zapdos on the switch. Skarmory lacking Shed Shell should be wary of Magnezone, which threatens to trap and remove it. While it will inevitably faint, since using Roost to offset damage it takes will give Magnezone a free opportunity to switch in, it can generate momentum beforehand by using Whirlwind and double switching before sacrificing itself in exchange for Spikes.
Team Options
========
Skarmory fits best on defensive teams ranging from balance to full stall which appreciate its defensive attributes and Spikes wearing down offensive threats. Chansey and Toxapex form a fantastic core with it, taking on a myriad of special attackers including Mega Alakazam, Tapu Koko, Mega Charizard Y, and Ash-Greninja while providing Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes to pair with Spikes. In return, Skarmory checks dangerous physical attackers like Kartana, Mega Swampert, and Garchomp that scare the two out. Other defensive Steel-types like Heatran and Magearna make up for Skarmory's low special defensive, checking the likes of Magearna and Tapu Lele. Excadrill is a Steel-type able to check Magearna and Tapu Koko for Skarmory and crucially provides Rapid Spin, being able to remove entry hazards for Skarmory's teammates without clearing its Spikes. However, it stacks Steel-types unable to check Tapu Lele and Mega Alakazam, thus necessitating a teammate like Cresselia or Specially Defensive Slowbro. Skarmory's Spikes enable a variety of bulky winconditions, such as Swords Dance Gliscor and Calm Mind variants of Mega Latias, Reuniclus, and Clefable, who appreciate the chip damage on their checks such as Slowbro, Mega Scizor, and Magearna. In return, these Pokemon take pressure off Skarmory in the early and mid-game, such as Mega Latias's ability to check Kartana and Reuniclus answering Mega Medicham, and are resilient against entry hazards, thus minimizing the need for Defog support and keeping Skarmory's Spikes up.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Iron Head is an option in the fourth moveslot to threaten Fairy-types like Clefable and Mega Diancie, especially the latter since it blocks its utility moves with Magic Bounce. However, Brave Bird is generally preferred as a damage-dealing move and Skarmory's other utility options are already hard to pass up on. Specially Defensive sets appear to have promise to be a more robust switchin to the likes of Mega Alakazam, but Skarmory's Special Defense is lacking even when invested, being outclassed by Celesteela in this regard, and the loss of physical bulk is significant against Pokemon Skarmory intends to check.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Skarmory's low Special Defense means almost every special attacker can threaten it with heavy damage, including Tapu Koko, Ash-Greninja, and Heatran, and even resisted attacks like Tapu Lele and Mega Alakazam's Psychic and Magearna's Fleur Cannon heavily dent it. Despite Skarmory's advantageous typing into Clefable, Serperior, and Tornadus-T, they often carry Fire-type coverage in Flamethrower, Hidden Power Fire, and Heat Wave respectively to bypass it.
**Strong Physical Attackers and those with Super Effective Options**: Although Skarmory has excellent Defense, attackers like Mega Charizard X and Kyurem-B can target its weaknesses with Flare Blitz and Fusion Bolt respectively. It is unable to withstand attacks from extremely strong wallbreakers like Mega Medicham, Swords Dance Mega Mawile, and Choice Band Hoopa-U, and after slight chip damage, Pokemon it checks like Kartana and Garchomp can use Fighinium and Rockium Z respectively after Swords Dance to KO it.
**Taunt**: Skarmory lacking Brave Bird is completely shut down by Taunt from the likes of Serperior, Tornadus-T, and Mega Gyarados, the latter being particularly dangerous as it can use Dragon Dance and bypass Sturdy + Counter attempts with Mold Breaker. Even variants with Brave Bird are heavily irrirated by Taunt leaving it unable to heal with Roost or use Spikes.
**Magnezone**: Skarmory lacking Shed Shell is completely unable to stop Magnezone from trapping and removing it if it switches in, only being able to prolong its death with Sturdy and Whirlwind.