Stats & Training
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.
Its sturdy wings look heavy, but they are actually hollow and light, allowing it to fly freely in the sky.
After nesting in bramble bushes, the wings of its chicks grow hard from scratches by thorns.
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 9 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, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Poison, Ground |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Plusle Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Plusle builds →Thunder 2x110-131%KO Thunderbolt 2x90-106%KO Spark 2x32-39% Charge Beam 2x53-63% | ||
 Minun Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Minun builds →Thunder 2x102-121%KO Thunderbolt 2x82-97% Spark 2x27-34% Charge Beam 2x48-58% | ||
 Mareep Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Mareep builds →Thunder 2x90-106%KO Thunderbolt 2x77-92% Charge Beam 2x45-53% Thunder Shock 2x35-44% | ||
 Shinx Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Shinx builds →Thunder 2x69-82% Thunderbolt 2x56-68% Spark 2x35-44% Charge Beam 2x32-39% | ||
 Pichu Electric | D | |
Obtain MethodIlex Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Pichu builds →Thunder 2x65-77% Thunderbolt 2x53-63% Charge Beam 2x32-39% Thunder Shock 2x27-34% | ||
Plusle Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Plusle builds →Thunder 2x108-128%KO Thunderbolt 2x91-108%KO Spark 2x29-36% Charge Beam 2x53-64% | ||
Minun Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Minun builds →Thunder 2x101-120%KO Thunderbolt 2x81-96% Spark 2x27-32% Charge Beam 2x47-56% | ||
 Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x119-140%KO Thunderbolt 2x97-116%KO Spark 2x23-28% Charge Beam 2x57-68% | ||
Mareep Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Mareep builds →Thunder 2x91-108%KO Thunderbolt 2x75-88% Charge Beam 2x44-52% Thunder Shock 2x37-44% | ||
Shinx Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Shinx builds →Thunder 2x64-76% Thunderbolt 2x53-64% Spark 2x33-40% Charge Beam 2x33-40% | ||
Plusle Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Plusle builds →Thunder 2x104-123%KO Thunderbolt 2x88-103%KO Spark 2x28-33% Charge Beam 2x50-60% | ||
Minun Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Minun builds →Thunder 2x96-113%KO Thunderbolt 2x79-93% Spark 2x24-30% Charge Beam 2x44-53% | ||
 Flaaffy Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Flaaffy builds →Thunder 2x99-117%KO Thunderbolt 2x81-97% Discharge 2x73-87% Charge Beam 2x48-57% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x113-133%KO Thunderbolt 2x93-110%KO Spark 2x22-27% Charge Beam 2x53-63% | ||
Shinx Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Shinx builds →Thunder 2x62-73% Thunderbolt 2x50-60% Spark 2x31-37% Thunder Fang 2x31-37% | ||
Plusle Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Plusle builds →Thunder 2x108-128%KO Thunderbolt 2x88-104%KO Spark 2x28-33% Charge Beam 2x50-59% | ||
Minun Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Minun builds →Thunder 2x98-116%KO Thunderbolt 2x80-95% Spark 2x22-27% Charge Beam 2x48-56% | ||
Flaaffy Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Flaaffy builds →Thunder 2x103-122%KO Thunderbolt 2x83-98% Discharge 2x75-89% Charge Beam 2x48-56% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x118-140%KO Thunderbolt 2x95-113%KO Spark 2x22-27% Charge Beam 2x55-65% | ||
Shinx Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Shinx builds →Thunder 2x62-74% Thunderbolt 2x52-62% Spark 2x33-39% Thunder Fang 2x33-39% | ||
 Electrode Electric | C | |
Obtain MethodTeam Rocket Hq Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Electrode builds →Thunder 2x98-116%KO Thunderbolt 2x81-95% Spark 2x26-31% Charge Beam 2x46-55% | ||
Plusle Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Plusle builds →Thunder 2x104-122%KO Thunderbolt 2x86-101%KO Spark 2x26-31% Charge Beam 2x49-58% | ||
Minun Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Minun builds →Thunder 2x93-110%KO Thunderbolt 2x78-92% Spark 2x22-28% Charge Beam 2x44-52% | ||
Flaaffy Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Flaaffy builds →Thunder 2x98-116%KO Thunderbolt 2x81-95% Discharge 2x72-86% Charge Beam 2x46-55% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x111-132%KO Thunderbolt 2x93-110%KO Spark 2x20-24% Charge Beam 2x54-64% | ||
Electrode Electric | C | |
Obtain MethodTeam Rocket Hq Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Electrode builds →Thunder 2x100-118%KO Thunderbolt 2x82-97% Spark 2x26-32% Charge Beam 2x46-55% | ||
Plusle Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Plusle builds →Thunder 2x107-126%KO Thunderbolt 2x87-103%KO Spark 2x26-32% Charge Beam 2x49-58% | ||
Minun Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Minun builds →Thunder 2x96-113%KO Thunderbolt 2x80-95% Spark 2x22-26% Charge Beam 2x45-53% | ||
Flaaffy Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Flaaffy builds →Thunder 2x100-118%KO Thunderbolt 2x82-97% Discharge 2x74-87% Charge Beam 2x46-55% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x116-137%KO Thunderbolt 2x96-113%KO Discharge 2x84-100%KO Spark 2x22-26% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureBrave Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Bronzong builds →Explosion19-23% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Hippowdon builds →
| ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTruant ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Slaking builds →Sucker Punch11-13% Double Edge29-34% | ||
 | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Ambipom builds →U Turn4-4% | ||
 Torterra GrassGround | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityOvergrow ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Skarmory View Torterra builds →Wood Hammer6-7% Stone Edge13-16% | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution
Skarmory is what you get. No evolutions, but it breeds through one egg group with a decent partner pool. Hatching is average hatch time. It's got 8 egg moves worth looking into. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Skarmory easily with 31 breeding partners from the Flying egg group. Pass egg moves like Assurance, Brave Bird, Curse and 5 more to offspring.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Skarmory Best Moveset
Spikes is the priority every time Skarmory comes in. Impish nature and max HP and Defense EVs keep it alive long enough to get layers down, while Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn. Keeneye rounds it out. Roost keeps it healthy between hits.
Best Build
Skarmory best EVs are HP and Defense
Wall Moveset
- Spikes
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
Recommended Teammates
Moves
You'll want to breed for Assurance and Brave Bird on Skarmory. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Sky Attack and Brave Bird, they expand what Skarmory can actually threaten in practice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
HeartGold & SoulSilver Skarmory Locations
Skarmory tops out at moderate rates across 1 locations in mid-game routes. The encounters below are sorted by rate so you can see exactly what you're working with.
Best Locations to Catch Skarmory in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Skarmory Guide
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Skarmory works as a hazard setter with 465 BST behind it. B-Tier on our list: a solid option in HeartGold & SoulSilver for the right team. Spikes with Leftovers is the standard set.
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 leaning toward the physical side (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.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, run Spikes, Roost, Whirlwind, and Bravebird on Skarmory. Spikes is the most common pick at 23% 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 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves