Skarmory Best Moveset
Steel/Flying at 140 Defense with AbilitySturdy guaranteeing one hit survived from full. Held ItemRocky Helmet punishes physical contact. NatureBold at 80 Attack isn't the focus because the moveset is defensive: set MoveStealth Rock, clear hazards with Defog, and absorb physical damage. Only Fire and Electric hit super-effectively. A-Tier as the premier physical wall.
Steel/Flying with 140 Defense and Spikes in Gen II (Gold & Silver). SkarmBliss became the most famous defensive core in competitive history.
Best Moves
Best Build
Support Moveset
- Drill Peck
- Rest
- Curse
- Whirlwind
Recommended Teammates
Same SkarmBliss formula in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). Spikes, Whirlwind phasing, and walling every physical attacker that couldn't hit with Fire or Electric.
Wall Moveset
- Spikes
- Roar
- Toxic
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Stealth Rock added to its toolkit in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). Spikes, Stealth Rock, Whirlwind, Roost. The complete hazard package on an unkillable physical wall.
Wall Moveset
- Spikes
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
Recommended Teammates
Four straight gens at the top. Sturdy guaranteed survival against surprise special attacks in Gen V (Black & White). Skarmory adapted to every metagame it encountered.
Wall Moveset
- Spikes
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Whirlwind
Recommended Teammates
Defog gave Skarmory hazard removal on top of setting in Gen VI (X & Y). It could do both sides of the hazard game better than almost anything.
Wall Moveset
- Roost
- Spikes
- Whirlwind
- Defog
Recommended Teammates
Six consecutive gens at the highest tier in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). 140 Defense, Steel/Flying, Roost, and full hazard control. The most consistent physical wall in history.
Wall Moveset
- Roost
- Spikes
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
Recommended Teammates
Finally dropped in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield). Corviknight did a similar job with Mirror Armor and better offensive options. The heir apparent arrived.
Wall Moveset
- Roost
- Spikes
- Body Press
- Whirlwind
Recommended Teammates
Corviknight competition continued in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Skarmory was still excellent but no longer the undisputed Steel/Flying wall.
Wall Moveset
- Roost
- Spikes
- Body Press
- Iron Defense
Recommended Teammates
Skarmory Weakness
Skarmory's Steel/Flying typing leaves it vulnerable to Fire and Electric. It shrugs off Poison and Ground-type attacks completely. It resists 8 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Skarmory's physical bulk (base 140 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Electric |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Flying, Psychic, Dragon, Steel, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Poison, Ground |
What is Skarmory Weak Against
FortressBest Pokemon Against Skarmory
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityGrassy Surge ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Rillaboom builds →Knock Off21-25% U Turn5-7% Wood Hammer9-11% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityReckless ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Staraptor builds →Close Combat22-27% U Turn3-4% Double Edge11-13% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves View Clodsire builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Quagsire builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityTintedlens ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Lokix builds →U Turn5-6% Knock Off18-21% | ||
Evolution
Skarmory is what you get. No evolutions, but it breeds through one egg group with plenty of partners. Hatching is average hatch time. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Skarmory easily with 73 breeding partners from the Flying egg group.
Skarmory Locations
A few locations for Skarmory with moderate rates across endgame routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations to Catch Skarmory in Scarlet & Violet
moderate rates across 2 locations for Skarmory in late-game routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.
Best Locations to Catch Skarmory in Legends: Z-A
Skarmory sits at moderate rates across 4 spots in endgame routes. Pick one from the sorted list and commit to it. Jumping between areas wastes more time than waiting in the right location.
Best Locations to Catch Skarmory in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
You'll want early-game access before hunting Skarmory. Moderate rates across 18 encounter spots means the location matters. Sort by Best below and target the top-rated area first.
Best Locations to Catch Skarmory in Sword & Shield
Skarmory's encounter pool splits between Shield and Sword. You've got 18 walking spots at Lv. 10-21 total, but your version determines which ones actually show up.
Base Stats
The stat bars tell the story: Defense carries everything and Sp. Atk's dead weight. But this Armor Bird Pokemon still yields 2 Defense EVs per fight on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
The pointed feathers of these Pokémon are sharper than swords. Skarmory and Corviknight fight viciously over territory.
Skarmory Guide
Skarmory works as a hazard setter with 465 BST behind it. C-Tier on our list: a situational pick that fills a niche. That 140 base Defense does the heavy lifting.
Keen Eye prevents accuracy from being lowered. That's the one you want on Skarmory. Weak Armor is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Sturdy works too if your team needs something different.
Skarmory is a physical attacker with base 80 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 70 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. Fits the hazard setter role.
Run Roost, Spikes, Bodypress, and Iron Defense on Skarmory. Roost is the most common pick at 0% usage. This set covers the hazard setter role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
Debuting in Gold & Silver, Skarmory appears in 18 games across 9 generations. A reliable presence in most mainline games, typically found through wild encounters.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves