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Iron Defense allows Skarmory to better check Pokemon such as Azumarill, Mamoswine, and Scizor by boosting its Defense, and it increasing Body Press's damage makes Skarmory more threatening in front of foes such as Hippowdon and Mandibuzz. Roost maintains Skarmory's health and keeps it steadfast against strong attackers like Conkeldurr and Zygarde-10%. Spikes allows Skarmory to support its team, easily setting them up against common Pokemon such as Amoonguss, and the additional chip damage is helpful against Pokemon like Keldeo. Alternatively, since Skarmory has great matchups against entry hazard setters like Excadrill and Hippowdon, Defog is useful to consistently remove their hazards while forcing them out. Rocky Helmet is helpful to punish Excadrill's Rapid Spin and other physical attackers like Zarude and Diggersby. Safety Goggles is an alternative option to allow Skarmory to fully counter Amoonguss, setting up Iron Defense or Spikes without needing to use a teammate as sleep fodder. However, this forces Skarmory to avoid taking Knock Off from foes like Mamoswine and Scizor in order to ignore Spore. 96 Speed EVs allow Skarmory to outspeed Azumarill. Iron Defense Skarmory fits on bulky offense, balance, and stall teams for handling physical threats such as Scizor while either setting Spikes to wear down foes for its teammates or reliably negating common entry hazard setters like Hippowdon and Swampert. Spikes Skarmory complements other hazard setters like Nihilego and Hippowdon excellently. Both teammates check dangerous threats like Thundurus-T and Moltres, and they also help maintain hazards against hazard removers Skarmory cannot handle, like Salamence. Teammates such as Slowking and Chansey form excellent defensive cores with Skarmory thanks to their ability to check dangerous special attackers like Keldeo and Hydreigon. Slowking can act as a wincon on stall teams with Calm Mind, while Chansey can act as a cleric. Tangrowth provides additional support for Skarmory to ensure Zygarde-10% or Rotom-W does not overwhelm it. Tangrowth also absorbs Knock Off so Skarmory does not have to risk its own Rocky Helmet or Safety Goggles. Articuno can be paired with Skarmory on hazard stacking semi-stall teams to bleed the PP of hazard removers such as Salamence and Mandibuzz. Alternatively, Articuno can pair up with Defog Skarmory in a double Defog core, keeping entry hazards off almost indefinitely. Quagsire can check Rotom-H while providing backup against Dragon Dance Salamence. In return, Skarmory helps Quagsire against the Grass-types in the tier and threats like Gyarados. Hatterene enjoys Spikes pressure chipping Pokemon like Excadrill and Skarmory being a reliable check to Scizor. Hatterene's Magic Bounce also helps Skarmory avoid being worn down by opposing entry hazards. Other offensive teammates include Calm Mind Slowking and Galarian Slowbro, which enjoy Spikes support wearing down threats like Amoonguss and Hippowdon while checking foes like Zarude and Diggersby.

Body Press utilizes Skarmory's amazing Defense to hit many opposing Pokemon hard, devastating the likes of Excadrill, Mamoswine, and Zarude. It also keeps Hydreigon from coming in freely. Alternatively, Brave Bird lets Skarmory hit Conkeldurr, Keldeo, and Amoonguss super effectively and deal solid damage to Azumarill and Gyarados. Spikes wears down common defensive Pokemon like Chansey, Amoonguss, and Hippowdon. Skarmory has plenty of opportunities to set Spikes up against Pokemon that typically cannot threaten it, like Jirachi and Tangrowth. Toxic cripples threats like Moltres and Thundurus-T that typically have free entry on it, and hinders Defoggers like Salamence and Mandibuzz from removing Spikes in the long run. Alternatively, Whirlwind can be used due to its great synergy with Spikes, forcing chip damage on switch-ins like Primarina. It also prevents setup sweepers like Gyarados and Belly Drum Azumarill from setting up. Skarmory can run Defog on stall teams thanks to its ability to handle entry hazard setters like Hippowdon, Excadrill, and Swampert. Rocky Helmet allows Skarmory to punish pivoting attempts from Swampert, Diggersby, and Zarude, prevent Excadrill from freely using Rapid Spin, and wear down threats like Azumarill and Gyarados quickly. The given Speed EVs allow Skarmory to outspeed Azumarill and Conkeldurr. Skarmory best fits on bulky offense, balance, and stall teams that appreciate its Spikes support and walling capabilities. Chansey makes an excellent partner for Skarmory, taking on dangerous special attackers like Hydreigon, Moltres, and Thundurus-T, while Skarmory handles physical attackers like Excadrill and Diggersby. Slowking similarly checks Moltres and special Salamence, and it also acts as a secondary check to Conkeldurr and Mamoswine with Colbur Berry. Additionally, its Future Sight alongside Skarmory's Whirlwind can hinder offensive Pokemon like Thundurus-T. Stealth Rock setters like Hippowdon, Nihilego, and Excadrill form great entry-hazard stacking cores with Skarmory. Nihilego beats Moltres and Thundurus-T and can hinder Scizor with Knock Off to make it vulnerable to Spikes, while Excadrill can pressure Hatterene and remove opposing entry hazards without compromising Skarmory's own Spikes. Bulky Grass-types like Amoonguss and Tangrowth make good secondary checks to Tapu Bulu and Conkeldurr so Skarmory doesn't get overwhelmed checking them. They also can absorb Knock Off for the team, allowing Skarmory to preserve Rocky Helmet and chip down Diggersby. Zarude and the aformentioned Grass-types can help take on strong Electric- and Water-types like Rotom-W and Primarina as well. Powerful wallbreakers like Keldeo, Thundurus-T, and Zygarde-10% all appreciate Skarmory's Spikes wearing down checks like Tangrowth and Chansey. On stall teams, Quagsire can provide an Electric immunity to block Volt Switch and check Thundurus-T. It also can handle setup sweepers that can bypass Skarmory like Belly Drum Azumarill and Swords Dance Scizor. Umbreon acts as a primary check to Dragon Dance Salamence and Gyarados, secondary check to Mamoswine, and way to beat Chandelure.

Roost provides reliable recovery to Skarmory, allowing it to consistently check physical attackers. Whirlwind phazes physical setup sweepers, even if they're behind a Substitute. Swords Dance users such as Groudon and Necrozma-DM are prime targets for Whirlwind. Combined with Spikes, it can rack up damage on grounded foes lacking Heavy-Duty Boots. Toxic lets Skarmory punish entry hazard removers such as Yveltal. It also damages common offensive switch-ins such as Ho-Oh and Kyogre. Body Press uses Skarmory's enormous Defense stat, nailing the likes of Yveltal after it uses Roost and Ferrothorn for significant damage. It also is useful in not making Skarmory complete fodder after Taunt. Rocky Helmet provides some much appreciated damage to most physical attackers and helps with Skarmory's passivity. Skarmory struggles with special attackers like Kyogre and Calyrex-S, so teammates such as Eternatus and Blissey are very appreciated. Stealth Rock setters form an entry hazard setting core with Skarmory. Tyranitar can set Stealth Rock and switch into Ho-Oh and Calyrex-S. Tangrowth and Groudon also pair up nicely, being able to take on some of the physical attackers that Skarmory cannot handle, namely Zygarde and Zekrom. Knock Off users such as Yveltal and Necrozma-DM can remove Heavy-Duty Boots, allowing Skarmory's Spikes to put in more work. Despite being a Steel-type, Skarmory can lose to Geomancy Xerneas. Bulky Ho-Oh and other Steel-types such as Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn can effectively deal with Xerneas. Xerneas itself can either run a Geomancy set to beat Zygarde and Zekrom and benefit from Spikes or a defensive set with Aromatherapy in case Skarmory gets statused.

The basis for this set is fairly straightforward: set up as many entry hazards as possible before Skarmory gets KOed. Taunt helps prevent opposing entry hazards from going up and stops slower Defog users like Scizor and Gliscor from removing Skarmory's own entry hazards. Brave Bird is a particularly helpful tool for generating momentum; if the opponent lets Skarmory set up all of its entry hazards, Skarmory can simply KO itself with Brave Bird recoil to safely get in a teammate. A Custap Berry, in conjunction with Sturdy, ensures that Skarmory can usually get up at least two layers of entry hazards before getting KOed. Suicide lead Skarmory fits best on hyper offense teams that appreciate it getting up entry hazards early while preventing foes from doing the same. Setup sweepers like Lucario, Feraligatr, and Breloom appreciate Skarmory's entry hazards chipping foes into range of their boosted attacks. Lucario, in particular, needs Stealth Rock up to OHKO Latias with +2 Extreme Speed and Tangrowth and Skarmory with +2 Close Combat, while Skarmory's ability to deny opposing entry hazards benefits Breloom by keeping its Focus Sash intact. Focus Sash Alakazam can be troublesome, as Magic Guard preserves its Focus Sash; accordingly, teammates like Choice Scarf Garchomp and Weavile are excellent choices for pressuring it. Skarmory is unable to block faser foes like Azelf and Roserade from setting up entry hazards, so Rapid Spin support from Starmie can be potentially helpful if denying opposing entry hazards is key, such as when using Dragonite and Focus Sash Breloom.

Skarmory can use its impressive physical bulk to set up Spikes in the face of common Defoggers like Scizor and Gliscor. Despite incurring recoil, Brave Bird is Skarmory's best option for pressuring Tangrowth and Breloom. Whirlwind is incredibly helpful at preventing common physical setup sweepers like Feraligatr, Cloyster, Dragonite, and Lucario from boosting past Skarmory; it also racks up chip damage from Spikes. Shed Shell is the preferred item, as it lets Skarmory escape Magnezone's Magnet Pull, which many teams rely on to handle Skarmory. However, if Magnezone is not a concern, Leftovers improves Skarmory's matchup into hard-hitting physical attackers like Lucario. Sturdy importantly lets Skarmory always live one hit from full, ensuring that it can always revenge kill or phaze a sweeper that has gotten out of hand if Skarmory is healthy. Skarmory fits best on balance or stall teams that appreciate its ability to wall a number of common physical Pokemon. Stacking Stealth Rock with Skarmory's Spikes is an effective strategy to whittle way the health of Pokemon like Heatran that threaten Skarmory. Blissey and Gliscor can both set Stealth Rock; Blissey can easily switch into the special attacks that forces Skarmory out, while Gliscor can deal with Fire- and Electric-types like Infernape and Heatran that pressure Skarmory. Gliscor, along with Tangrowth, are excellent Knock Off absorbers, a quality that Skarmory greatly appreciates, as losing its Shed Shell leaves it completely helpless against Magnezone. Tangrowth can also effectively switch into Crawdaunt, which is one of the rare physical attackers with enough strength to overpower Skarmory. Skarmory is especially devastating when paired with a VoltTurn core, which forces Spikes damage onto foes repeatedly by pivoting, making teammates like Rotom-W and Scizor are great options. Clefable is a good partner for dealing with special setup sweepers like Alakazam and Latias that Skarmory cannot effectively phaze. Similarly, on stall teams, Quagsire is a good option for dealing with the few physical setup sweepers, namely Lucario and Dragonite, that are capable of powering through Skarmory. Starmie is an excellent partner for removing just the opponent's entry hazards with Rapid Spin and switching into Heatran; Starmie is particularly valuable in mirror matchups, allowing Skarmory to trade Spikes with opposing Skarmory without seriously hindering its own team.

Toxic allows Skarmory to punish opposing Defoggers such as Rotom-W and Heavy-Duty Boots Zapdos as they try to switch into it. Whirlwind can be used over it to phaze opposing setup sweepers such as Bisharp and Dragon Dance Dragapult. In conjunction with Skarmory's bulk it can be used to shuffle opposing teams, slowly damaging them via Spikes. Body Press uses Skarmory's enormous Defense stat to hit threats such as Galarian Darmanitan and Tyranitar. Roost provides Skarmory with reliable recovery, allowing it to preserve Sturdy as well as consistently providing an answer to foes such as Cloyster and Excadrill. Rocky Helmet punishes physical attackers as well as pivots that use Flip Turn and U-turn by taking a chunk of their HP. Leftovers allows Skarmory to gain passive recovery, which it in turn gives it more chances to use its ability Sturdy. Sturdy is Skarmory's best ability, as it can allow Skarmory to survive attacks from foes such as Heliolisk and Volcarona when at full HP, and it can proceed to OHKO the former with Body Press. Maximum HP and Defense investment with a Bold nature allows Skarmory to be as bulky as possible, as well as boosting the power of Body Press. Mantine is an excellent teammate for Skarmory, as its superb Special Defense allows it to wall special attackers such as Volcarona, Choice Scarf Blacephalon, and Hydreigon. In return, Skarmory is able to handle foes like Dragonite and Dragapult. Skarmory appreciates the presence of Landorus-T to OHKO threats such as Tapu Koko and Zapdos. Landorus-T can also switch in on foes such as Zapdos after it has been Choice-locked into Thunderbolt. Skarmory then reciprocates this by acting as a switch-in to physical attackers such as Mamoswine that would otherwise OHKO Landorus-T with Icicle Crash. Defensive Zapdos can provide a key neutrality to Electric-type attacks as well as act as a special wall, taking attacks from foes such as Tapu Koko under Electric Terrain. Moreover, it can run a Toxic + Substitute set to wear down opposing walls such as Mandibuzz that Skarmory would find hard to deal with. Skarmory can then assist Zapdos by taking on potent physical attackers such as Swords Dance Terrakion that Zapdos would otherwise fall to. Zapdos can also run a Choice Specs set that appreciates Skarmory's ability to wear down foes such as Slowking with Spikes. Teammates such as Choice Band Galarian Zapdos and Galarian Moltres appreciate the presence of Spikes on the field, with the former potentially OHKOing foes such as Slowbro, Slowking, and Mew and the latter becoming a much more potent sweeper, being able to guarantee an OHKO on foes such as Slowking. In return, Galarian Zapdos is able to prevent foes from removing Spikes via Defog carelessly due to Defiant. Galarian Moltres is able to check the fearsome Spectrier that would otherwise OHKO Skarmory after it has been inflicted with a status condition. Thundurus-T and Dragonite are also good teammates for Skarmory, as both are helped by Spikes chipping away at their respective checks, and the former can absorb Electric-type attacks for it. Knock Off users such as Tornadus-T allow teammates to take advantage of Skarmory's entry hazards, as it can force foes that normally run Heavy-Duty Boots such as Victini and Cinderace to switchin less often. Moreover, Tornadus-T can use Taunt on opposing Defog users such as Mantine and Corviknight to prevent them from ridding the field of Skarmory's Spikes.

Skarmory serves as the primary Spikes setter for its team, allowing offensive teammates such as Bisharp and Excadrill to wallbreak more consistently throughout the game. Body Press synergizes well with Skarmory's bulk and is especially helpful in the mirror matchup against Pokemon such as Bisharp, Ferrothorn, Melmetal, and Heatran on the switch, as well against Dark-types such as Weavile, Tyranitar, and Hydreigon. Roost helps Skarmory to stay healthy throughout the match against foes such as Urshifu-R, Excadrill, and Tyranitar. Whirlwind is used to prevent setup from Pokemon such as Garchomp and Dragapult while also generating passive chip damage if Spikes were set beforehand. Toxic can be used over Whirlwind to cripple Pokemon such as Mandibuzz and Mantine. Rocky Helmet complements Skarmory's physical bulk and typing excellently, as contact move users such as Urshifu-R and Weavile as well as U-turn and Flip Turn users such as Landorus-T, Scizor, Swampert, and Barraskewda will all be worn down by it. Sturdy allows Skarmory to set Spikes or use Toxic on a foe that can knock it out from full health if necessary. Furthermore, Sturdy allows Skarmory to deal damage against troublesome Pokemon that threaten Steel teams, such as Hydreigon. An Impish nature and maximum HP and Defense investment make Skarmory as tanky as possible against the aforementioned physical threats such as Urshifu-R, Excadrill, and Landorus-T. Having access to Spikes makes Skarmory a valuable teammate, as it allows its offensive teammates such as Excadrill, Aegislash, Melmetal, and Bisharp to have an easier time against common walls such as Toxapex, Porygon2, and Ferrothorn. Ferrothorn is one of the best teammates for Skarmory, as the duo form an effective entry hazard-stacking core with Ferrothorn's Stealth Rock. Furthermore, Skarmory can make up for Ferrothorn's weakness to Fighting, while Ferrothorn takes care of Electric-types such as Tapu Koko and Rotom-W for Skarmory and provides a resistance to Water. Heatran provides the much-needed Fire immunity against Pokemon like Blacephalon and Hydreigon, while Skarmory can take on Ground-type attacks such as Earthquake from Garchomp and Excadrill. Furthermore, Heatran's common moves in Toxic and Magma Storm can deal immense chip damage when combined with Skarmory's Spikes. Excadrill takes care of Electric-types such as Tapu Koko and Zeraora if it is holding a Choice Scarf and can remove Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin to preserve Skarmory's Sturdy. Aegislash makes a good partner for Skarmory, as it relieves the pressure from Skarmory to handle Fighting-type attacks. This is especially important against Choice-locked foes such as Urshifu-R, which will have to avoid being heavily punished by Skarmory's Rocky Helmet. Furthermore, Aegislash helps greatly against Psychic-types such as Hatterene and Tapu Lele, which Skarmory generally struggle against. Bisharp's ability in Defiant also deters Defog from Pokemon such as Mantine and Zapdos, and its typing allows it to shine against Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Galarian Slowking, Slowking, Galarian Corsola, and Spectrier.

Skarmory is the most reliable Spiker in the metagame and one of the sturdiest physical walls. With its amazing defensive typing, access to reliable recovery, and sky-high Defense, it is the perfect candidate for the HP teamslot. Skarmory is able to comfortably wall most physical threats, including Dhelmise, Bisharp, Excadrill, and Weavile. Body Press works off of its high Defense stat and threatens many of the Pokemon it walls, like Excadrill, but Brave Bird is an option for better neutral coverage and the ability to hit Ghost-types, especially Dhelmise, at the cost of taking recoil. Spikes punishes switch-ins and takes advantage of the free turns Skarmory generates. Iron Defense allows Skarmory to check setup sweepers as well, boosting alongside them while also powering up Body Press; Whirlwind is another option in the last moveslot to phaze set-up foes that Skarmory cannot KO. Rocky Helmet lets Skarmory punish physical attackers even more heavily, especially pivots that can otherwise wear down Skarmory, while Leftovers provides extra recovery. Maximum Defense investment is required to check the high-powered attackers common in Godly Gift and has the nice side effect of also powering up Body Press. Skarmory is a good option for stall and balance teams looking for a catch-all physical wall. Since most Uber Pokemon have a high base HP, Skarmory can work with a wide range of Gods, but some of the best fits are Giratina, Yveltal, and Kyurem-W. Wallbreakers like Victini and Zeraora appreciate Skarmory's Spikes, which help wear down their checks, and its ability to switch into would-be revenge killers that force them out, such as Landorus-T. Since Skarmory's Special Defense is poor, it appreciates bulky teammates like RegenVest Tangrowth and Gastrodon to sponge special hits aimed at it. Due to its Electric and Fire weaknesses, Skarmory is unable to wall Victini, Zeraora, and Dracozolt; reliable switch-ins to these foes like Hippowdown and Quagsire make good partners, especially since Skarmory covers their Grass weaknesses.

With its sky-high Defense, solid defensive typing, and ability to lay Spikes, Skarmory makes a fantastic fit on balance and stall teams. Iron Defense allows Skarmory to handle Swords Dance Mega Mawile, Garchomp, Mega Garchomp, and Rillaboom better, and it makes Body Press hit harder. Spikes helps wear down the opposing team and makes it easier for Skarmory’s teammates to sweep. Rocky Helmet is used to get off damage against physical attackers like Mega Lopunny, Mega Mawile, Rillaboom, and Mega Swampert. Leftovers can be used over Rocky Helmet to give Skarmory passive recovery. 96 Speed EVs allow Skarmory to outpace Mega Mawile, allowing it to use Roost before the latter can hit it with Thunder Punch. Skarmory best fits on stall and balance teams. All teammates love Skarmory coming in on strong physical attacks from Weavile and Mega Lopunny and providing Spikes to wear down the opposing team. Chansey and Blissey are solid teammates for Skarmory, as they can come in on strong special attacks from Magnezone, Greninja, and Tapu Koko that Skarmory cannot tank, and in return, Skarmory can come in on Mega Lopunny and Mega Mawile's attacks for them. Clefable can check dangerous setup sweepers that threaten Skarmory like Mega Heracross and Mega Latias thanks to Unaware. Mega Sableye is great to pair with Skarmory due to Magic Bounce preventing Stealth Rock from wearing it down and Will-O-Wisp making physical attackers like Garchomp, Mega Scizor, and Kartana easier to handle. Alomomola can provide Wish support while also coming in on attacks from Mega Scizor, Mega Charizard X, and Victini that Skarmory struggles with, while in return Skarmory can come in on strong attacks from Rillaboom and Garchomp for it. Gastrodon is great to have a Manaphy check for the team, and it can also take care of Heatran, Magnezone, Manaphy, and Tapu Koko for Skarmory. Both Calm Mind Clefable and Reuniclus on balance teams love Skarmory for its Spikes support, which makes it easier for these two to set up and sweep. Ditto can revenge kill setup sweepers that Skamory cannot handle, such as Mega Heracross and Mega Charizard X, and trap and OHKO Magnezone with Hidden Power Ground.

Skarmory sets itself apart from Corviknight thanks to its access to utility moves like Whirlwind, Toxic and especially Spikes. Body Press takes advantage of its high Defense stat, which is notably higher than Corviknight's, and can 2HKO Heatran and Zarude as well as OHKO Terrakion. Brave Bird is an alternative that hits foes such as Dhelmise, Tapu Bulu, and Galarian Zapdos harder. Skarmory usually finds ample opportunities to set multiple layers of Spikes throughout a game to wear down the opposing team. Roost helps Skarmory stay healthy to continuously check threats like Zarude and Garchomp. Whirlwind prevents setup sweepers from exploiting Skarmory's passivity and also synergizes well with Spikes. Iron Defense is an option on Body Press sets that still checks setup sweepers and also makes Skarmory less passive. Another option is Toxic, which helps wear down both passive foes like Mandibuzz and setup sweepers like Dhelmise. Leftovers gives Skarmory extra recovery, while Rocky Helmet is an option that punishes contact moves. Skarmory can run several different abilities. Dauntless Shield maximizes Skarmory's defensive capabilities and Body Press damage. Wandering Spirit, especially combined with Rocky Helmet, deters U-turn and Flip Turn from Regenerator pivots such as Swampert and Landorus-T, and also lets Skarmory serve as an emergency check to sweepers that heavily rely on their ability such Magic Guard Talonflame and Triage Tapu Lele. Flash Fire negates one of its weakness and allows it to surprise dangerous Fire-type such as Volcarona and Desolate Land Heatran with Brave Bird and Body Press, respectively. It also allows Skarmory to check the plethora of physical Fire-types like Talonflame and Cinderace that can be hard to account for otherwise. Skarmory's ability to set Spikes make it a better fit on stall teams compared to Corviknight, in particular entry hazard stack teams. Powerful offensive threats like Tapu Lele and Terrakion appreciate Spikes to nab more KOs. Offensive threats with a pivot move like Tapu Koko and Barraskewda can also rack up Spikes damage while still keeping offensive momentum by forcing additional switches. Heatran can set entry hazards alongside Skarmory, threaten to eliminate entry hazard removers with Magma Storm and Taunt. In return, Skarmory can cover for Heatran's weakness to Ground, and Dauntless Shield variants can also handle dangerous Fighting-types like Terrakion. Many Ground-type Pokemon also make for good partners, as they can take on Electric attacks and set Stealth Rock. Swampert and Garchomp are notable partners thanks to their resistance to Fire. Special walls are needed, as Skarmory invites many special attackers in when it set Spikes. Blissey forms the famous SkarmBliss core, taking on dangerous special threats like Zapdos and Sheer Force Tapu Lele while regaining momentum with Teleport while Skarmory handles strong physical attacks that Blissey struggles against. Pixilate Tapu Koko is one of the most dangerous physical threats that Skarmory can't properly handle regardless of its ability choice, so it's vital to have a teammate that answers it such as Ferrothorn or Nidoqueen. Without Dauntless Shield, strong physical wallbreakers like Terrakion can 2HKO Skarmory, which partners like Mew and Palossand can deal with. Physical Fire-types such as Cinderace and Talonflame also pose a threat should it forgo Flash Fire, making Zapdos and the aforementioned Swampert great teammates.

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Moves Roost allows Skarmory to remain healthy and consistently blanket check physical attackers. Whirlwind forcefully removes setup sweepers such as Necrozma-DM, Mega Salamence, Arceus-Ground, and Arceus from the field. The move also has benefits of bypassing Substitute as well as racking up damage on foes if entry hazards are up. Spikes leaves Skarmory with something very valuable to do after switching into a threat it walls. The hazard generally is helpful with wearing down foes and notably punishes most Toxic-immune Pokemon every time they switch into Skarmory. Skarmory can act as a Defog user, proving to be useful especially against defensive variants of Necrozma-DM and Arceus-Fairy. Toxic punishes Skarmory's offensive checks such as Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and most special attackers by putting them on a timer. Skarmory's tendency to draw in Defog users due to Spikes makes this move a great option to use on them as well. Stealth Rock can be run instead of Spikes if the rest of Skarmory's team is not carrying it, but Skarmory's tendency to draw in Ho-Oh and unfavorable matchups against other Stealth Rock setters such as Primal Groudon, Deoxys-S, and Dialga makes this inferior option in general. Set Details Maximum investment in Defense with a Bold nature allows Skarmory to be a great physical wall that avoids 2HKOs from Mega Salamence's +1 Double-Edge and Arceus-Ground's +2 Stone Edge after Stealth Rock damage. A more specially defensive EV spread of 248 HP / 16 Def / 244 SpD with a Calm nature is a viable option when Skarmory is opting for Defog so it could have a better matchup against support Arceus formes such as Arceus-Fairy and Arceus-Ground at the cost of worsening Skarmory's ability to handle Necrozma-DM and Mega Salamence. Shed Shell allows Skarmory to escape from Mega Gengar and Gothitelle, which would otherwise trap and remove it. Rocky Helmet punishes physical attackers such as Necrozma-DM, Mega Salamence, Marshadow, and Arceus that attempt to inflict damage on Skarmory with contact moves. The item is especially useful against the former, which Skarmory would otherwise solely rely on Spikes damage and teammates to wear down. Leftovers provide Skarmory with passive recovery and notably lets it narrowly avoid the 2HKO from Life Orb Marshadow's Close Combat. Sturdy allows Skarmory to survive a hit from full HP and do something worthwhile the same turn if desperately needed. Usage Tips Skarmory can switch into a plethora of physically offensive threats thanks to its bulk and typing. Feel free to switch in Skarmory against Necrozma-DM, Mega Salamence, Arceus-Ground, and Arceus and proceed to use Toxic to punish a switch-in or set Spikes. Setting up Spikes is usually more preferable than using Toxic because Skarmory will naturally draw in Defog users like support Arceus formes and Giratina-O, all of which are vulnerable to Toxic. That way, Skarmory can outlast them and start pressuring the opposing team with multiple layers of Spikes. If said threats set up on the switch, Whirlwind should be used to phaze them before they are able to overwhelm Skarmory with excessive boosts. Whirlwind can also be used to phaze opposing switch-ins to inflict damage if Spikes are up. Although Skarmory can generally feel free to use utility moves after switching in and walling a foe, it must not act recklessly when Mega Sableye or Shadow Tag users are present on the other team. However, Shed Shell lets Skarmory escape from the latter. Sets with Defog can take advantage of the typing to take on Stealth Rock users like Arceus-Fairy and Necrozma-DM and consistently remove entry hazards or spread Toxic. Roost should be used often, since some threats that Skarmory checks, such as Necrozma-DM and Dragon Dance Rayquaza, can surprise Skarmory with a powerful Z-Move; therefore, Skarmory should stay as healthy as possible. Staying healthy also lets Skarmory utilize Sturdy against its offensive checks by surviving a potential OHKO from full health. It is highly advised to switch Skarmory out against special attackers, as they will mostly end up severely damaging it. Skarmory should be wary of Fire-type coverage moves, as Skarmory is reliant on its typing to handle foes it usually switches into and finds itself getting overwhelmed if such coverage moves were not properly scouted beforehand. Examples of these include Fire Blast from Arceus formes, V-create from Rayquaza, and the rare Heat Wave from Ultra Necrozma. Team Options Stealth Rock users complete a hazard stacking core with Skarmory. Tyranitar is a solid Stealth Rock user on defensive teams and traps Mega Gengar, which is greatly appreciated, especially if Skarmory lacks Shed Shell. Tyranitar is also a solid check to Yveltal and Ho-Oh, with the former overwhelming Skarmory with strong special attacks and Taunt and the latter having a way to hit Skarmory super effectively. Primal Groudon makes up Skarmory's passivity a lot as an alternative Stealth Rock user and checks Xerneas and Primal Kyogre. Blissey is one of the most reliable special walls in the tier that handles essentially all special attackers that Skarmory struggles against, with the exceptions of Yveltal and Mewtwo. In return, Skarmory checks the majority of the physical attackers that take advantage of Blissey, especially the likes of Substitute variants of Mega Salamence and Arceus assuming they aren't the last Pokemon. Chansey can be used instead if a more durable special wall is desired, but this leaves Skarmory's team more vulnerable against Shadow Tag users, which isn't too ideal. A number of common offensive threats appreciate Skarmory's Spikes support, as the entry hazard helps wear down their checks. Spikes support is extremely helpful, if not mandatory, for setup sweepers like Dragon Dance variants of Zygarde-C, Mega Salamence, and Rayquaza to successfully bypass their conventional checks like support Arceus formes. Zygarde-C in particular can take advantage of Spikes to facilitate its sweep by wearing down foes with Dragon Tail and Spikes on the field. As other threats like Xerneas and Calm Mind Arceus formes tend to draw in their checks, and as most of them are vulnerable to Spikes, Skarmory can be a considerable teammate for them as well. Various support Arceus formes pair with Skarmory. Arceus-Ground, Arceus-Water, and Arceus-Dragon all check Primal Groudon and provide Defog support. They also check offensive Zygarde-C, a threat that Skarmory cannot handle due to Thousand Arrows. Arceus-Ground in particular is a great check to Mega Lucario and can pick off Necrozma-DM in an event where Skarmory is KOed by boosted Searing Sunraze Smash. Arceus-Water and Arceus-Dragon are also good checks to Ho-Oh. Lugia is a good blanket check to Primal Groudon, Zygarde-C, and Mega Lucario. It can use Ice Beam to take care of Substitute variants of Zygarde-C and Mega Salamence if they are the last Pokemon left and cannot be phazed by Whirlwind. Lugia can also take advantage of Skarmory's Spikes support to wear down foes with Whirlwind. Ho-Oh and Toxapex are good checks to Mega Lucario as well. Ho-Oh checks Xerneas and spreads burn with Sacred Fire to make physical attackers almost useless against Skarmory, while Toxapex also spreads burn with Scald and provides Toxic Spikes support. Toxapex in particular can be helpful against the last foe behind Substitute, as it can prevent their setup with Haze. Giratina takes on most physical attackers that can overwhelm Skarmory such as Primal Groudon, Mega Lucario, and Ho-Oh. It also stands as a solid Defog user that can handle Primal Groudon. Mega Sableye shuts down passive walls that are immune or resilient to Toxic, such as Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Chansey, and defensive variants of Necrozma-DM. It also can take a more offensive approach to check Extreme Killer Arceus. Magic Bounce allows Skarmory's team to have the upper hand in hazard control. Defensive variants of Primal Kyogre provide a Fire-type immunity to the team with Primordial Sea and deal with support Arceus formes well thanks to massive special bulk and Rest. Defensive Kyogre sets can also use Scald to cripple physical attackers. In return, Skarmory puts Primal Kyogre's checks on timer with Toxic and wears down Primal Groudon and Ferrothorn with Spikes. Skarmory can also switch into Toxic for offensive variants of Primal Kyogre.

Moves Brave Bird hits Fighting-types for super effective damage and prevents Skarmory from being complete Taunt bait. Spikes wears down grounded Pokemon when they switch in and outdamages Stealth Rock against Fighting- and Ground-types in particular. If no other teammate can provide Stealth Rock, Skarmory should use it instead of Spikes. However, it prefers to use Spikes in most cases for the greater utility and exclusivity. Roost provides reliable recovery, which allows Skarmory to effectively serve as a wall and Ground-immune Pokemon. Whirlwind prevents setup sweepers from easily setting up on Skarmory. Set Details Leftovers is the preferred item for the minor healing every turn helping keep Skarmory healthy. However, Rocky Helmet is an option in order to suicide check physical threats like Mega Charizard X or punish the likes of Choice Scarf Terrakion. 224 HP EVs allow Skarmory to restore Sturdy after taking Stealth Rock damage by healing over two turns with Leftovers. If using Rocky Helmet, though, maximum HP investment should be used instead. 32 Special Defense EVs combine with the HP investment to prevent Choice Scarf Kyurem-B's Ice Beam from 2HKOing Skarmory and allow Skarmory to take some weaker special attacks more easily. Maximum Defense EVs are used to make Skarmory one of the bulkiest physical walls in the metagame. Sturdy guarantees Skarmory can use Whirlwind or Brave Bird to check most setup sweepers like Porygon-Z and Volcarona. Usage Tips Skarmory should pivot into physical attackers whenever possible to get opportunities to set up entry hazards. Make sure to use Roost as often as is needed after switching in to keep it healthy enough to switch in over and over, as that is its most important role. Do be careful of attackers like Garchomp, which often carry Fire Blast specifically to nail Skarmory on the switch, though. Against setup sweepers, Skarmory should try to switch in immediately to use Whirlwind, but if they can take Skarmory on, it may be better to preserve Sturdy by getting it in safely. While Skarmory has almost no way to touch opposing walls directly, it can set up all three layers of Spikes against them with almost no fear. As a result, Skarmory should look to switch into passive Pokemon like Chansey in order to use Spikes freely. After setting up hazards, Whirlwind is most useful to rack up damage as the opponent tries to send in a check. Whirlwind should also be used whenever you predict a trapper to switch in to rack up crucial damage, as Skarmory cannot beat any trapper one-on-one. Be careful of Taunt users; while Skarmory's Attack is not bad, Brave Bird fails to do much to most stallbreakers, and it should often switch out to a check when against them. In a similar fashion, Taunt Gyarados can potentially set up on a weakened Skarmory. Roost temporarily removes Skarmory's Flying typing, so watch out for slow Ground- and Fighting-types that can take advantage of this property such as Hippowdon and Bewear. Team Options Steel-types in general almost always need Skarmory's help to take Ground-type attacks and check Fighting-types safely. Heatran is a mandatory teammate for Skarmory, as it is immune to the Fire-type attacks that Skarmory is so fearful of. It carries Stealth Rock most of the time, which makes it easier for Skarmory to use Spikes. Ferrothorn supports Skarmory along with Heatran by covering both Water- and Electric-types such as Kingdra and Tapu Koko, forming a powerful Steel-type defensive core. If Skarmory carries Spikes, Ferrothorn can freely use more useful utility moves. Celesteela can be used as a supplementary Ground-immune Pokemon that takes on Landorus and Nidoking to some extent in support of Skarmory for balance- and stall-like teams. Mega Scizor's great physical bulk and neutrality to both Ground and Fighting mean it can take on some of Skarmory's burdens. Thanks to the threat of Swords Dance and the power of U-turn, Mega Scizor is also very capable of forcing switches and making the most out of Skarmory's Spikes. Choice Scarf Excadrill pressures Fire teams with its EdgeQuake coverage and breaks Electric teams with Mold Breaker Earthquake. It can also use Toxic to beat Mega Sableye.

Moves Brave Bird is used to hit Fighting-, Bug-, and Grass-types such as Keldeo, Heracross, and Breloom while also giving Skarmory an offensive presence. Iron Head allows Skarmory to hit Ice-, Fairy-, and Rock-types such as Weavile, Clefable, and Tyranitar. Roost allows Skarmory to recover its HP, giving it sustainability. Whirlwind allows Skarmory to phaze setup sweepers such as Salamence and Landorus-T. Defog enables Skarmory to remove Stealth Rock for Flying-type teams, forming an excellent hazard control core with Mantine. Stealth Rock is an option to pressure Flying-, Fire-, and Ice-types that threaten Flying-type teams, but Skarmory is outclassed by other Stealth Rock users such as Gliscor, Landorus, and Landorus-T, and opting for Stealth Rock over Defog in the last slot forces teammate Zapdos to run Defog. Set Details 224 HP EVs allow Skarmory to always be at full HP after two turns of Leftovers recovery after Stealth Rock damage. Maximum Defense investment along with an Impish nature ensures that Skarmory is as physically bulky as possible. Sturdy allows Skarmory to survive any hit if it is at full health. Leftovers allows Skarmory to recover a bit of its HP each turn. Alternatively, Rocky Helmet can be used to punish users of contact attacks such as U-turn Landorus-T and Mega Beedrill. Usage Tips If Skarmory is running Defog and Stealth Rock is up on your side, it is usually best to use Defog to remove it as soon possible so that Skarmory's teammates don't take unnecessary damage. It is usually best to set up Stealth Rock as early as possible to pressure Fire-, Flying-, and Ice-types. Preserve Skarmory's HP because it needs to be at full HP to check powerful physical attackers such as Mamoswine and Garchomp. If Skarmory is using Rocky Helmet, it is a great idea to switch it in against U-turn users such as Landorus-T and Jirachi to rack up residual damage. Skarmory should avoid getting burned, as burn halves Skarmory's average Attack stat and leaves it with no offensive presence while also negating its Leftovers recovery. If Stealth Rock is up on the opponent's side, it is typically a good idea to spam Whirlwind to potentially force in a Pokemon that is weak to Stealth Rock. Be extremely careful against trappers such as Magnezone because they can easily trap and KO Skarmory. Skarmory should be careful against Pokemon that tend to carry special Fire-type coverage such as Garchomp and Tyranitar. It should also be kept away from special attackers such as Mega Charizard Y and Zapdos because of its poor Special Defense stat. Skarmory should immediately phaze setup sweepers such as Salamence and Scizor, as they can KO Skarmory if they acquire multiple boosts. Use pivots such as Volt Switch Zapdos and U-turn Landorus-T to allow Skarmory to use Defog safely. Skarmory should switch into physical attackers such as Mamoswine and Heracross because it can easily set up hazards or use Defog on them while also beating them one-on-one. Team Options Mantine can take special Fire- and Ice-type attacks for Skarmory while also being a reliable Defog user, forming a hazard control core. Zapdos can take Electric-type attacks for Skarmory and run a Substitute + Toxic set to cripple bulky Pokemon that wall Skarmory such as Chansey and Porygon2. Zapdos and Mantine can also take special attacks for Skarmory, while Skarmory can take physical attacks for them. Stealth Rock users such as Gliscor, Landorus, and Landorus-T allow Skarmory to run Defog. Landorus and Mega Charizard Y appreciate Stealth Rock from Skarmory because it allows them to net certain KOs, and the latter also appreciates Defog support. However, Mega Charizard Y sets up sun with Drought, meaning that Skarmory can be KOed by Fire Punch Dragonite and Fire Blast Garchomp. Landorus-T can use U-turn to bring in Skarmory safely and is immune to Electric-type attacks. Gliscor has an Electric-type immunity while also being able an effective stallbreaker because of Taunt. Skarmory can take Ice-type attacks for Gliscor in return. Salamence and Gyarados appreciate Stealth Rock from Skarmory because it enables them to sweep with ease. Togekiss can revenge kill threats such as Greninja and Infernape, while Skarmory can set up Stealth Rock to make it much easier for Togekiss to sweep late-game. Dragonite appreciates Stealth Rock from Skarmory because it lets it pick off threats such as Greninja with Extreme Speed. Dragonite also appreciates Defog support because it preserves Dragonite's Multiscale.

Moves As a suicide lead that can reliably set multiple layers of entry hazards, Skarmory should use both Stealth Rock and Spikes. Taunt stops Defoggers and prevents other leads from setting their own hazards. Brave Bird deals considerable damage and allows Skarmory to cause itself to faint, blocking spinners from erasing its hard work. Set Details Sturdy lets Skarmory survive any one attack to set up extra entry hazards. Salac Berry allows Skarmory to outspeed many leads that would otherwise be faster in order to get off a surprise second move. Maximum Speed investment and a Speed-boosting nature make Skarmory as fast as possible and allow it to use Taunt on Pokemon as fast as defensive Zapdos. A Hasty nature is used along with 0 IVs in the defensive stats in order to activate Sturdy as reliably as possible to eat Salac Berry and suicide with Brave Bird. The rest of the EVs are put in Attack to make Skarmory's Brave Bird deal as much damage as possible. Usage Tips Skarmory should be used as a lead in almost every situation. However, against Mega Sableye and defensive spinners, Skarmory should be saved for later in the battle instead, as it cannot reliably set entry hazards against them. Unless the opposing team resists Rock, Stealth Rock is often the better entry hazard to use first. Additional layers of Spikes have diminishing returns, so it's best to have one of each in most cases over two layers of Spikes. While it is nice to have many layers, make absolutely sure to use Taunt on opposing hazard users and Defoggers. Brave Bird should only be used when Skarmory is ready to suicide in almost every situation, as it otherwise breaks Sturdy and makes the defenseless Skarmory vulnerable to being KOed. If the opposing team has very reliable hazard control, it may be better to keep Skarmory around to set hazards again later instead of suiciding early. Team Options Suicide lead Skarmory should only be used on hyper offense teams that appreciate the entry hazards it can set. Taunt Heatran is useful for keeping the hazards on the opponent's side of the field. It also takes out most Defoggers and spinners with Magma Storm and Earth Power. Because Skarmory intends to suicide in most cases, Air Balloon Heatran is very useful for a temporary Ground-immune Pokemon. Mold Breaker + Toxic Excadrill is almost necessary for its ability to beat Mega Sableye, which counters this set. Bisharp can use Defiant to discourage Defoggers from removing Skarmory's hazards. Similarly, Doublade spinblocks and sets up on most spinners. Both are great setup sweepers that can take advantage of free turns. Assault Vest Celesteela is a reliable Ground-immune option that can support the team after Skarmory faints.

Skarmory's access to Roost and great Defense make it a significant option to consider over Celesteela for stall teams. It also has a much wider variety of support options to consider over Celesteela, such as Stealth Rock, Whirlwind, and Taunt. However, Skarmory's specially defensive capabilities are pitiful compared to Celesteela's, so teaming it up with strong special walls such as Chansey is a must.

Moves Iron Head's main selling point is to deal damage against Fairy-type foes such as Mega Diancie, and it also prevents Skarmory from being shut down by faster Taunt users. Roost allows for instant recovery and gives Skarmory the potential to be used throughout the match. Spikes is generally Skarmory's preferred entry hazard, since Stealth Rock is more common and can be used by a teammate. However, both moves provide entry hazard support and can weaken the opposing team to allow Skarmory's teammates to sweep more easily. Whirlwind allows Skarmory to phaze threats that have set up and rack up entry hazard damage. Taunt can prevent slower foes from using support moves, allowing Skarmory to stop threats such as Ferrothorn and Trick Room Fidgit. Defog has the risk of blowing away Skarmory's own entry hazards, but it can be useful to rid the foe's entry hazards if they prove to be too much for Skarmory's team to handle. Set Details 252 HP and Special Defense EVs and a Careful nature are used to maximize Skarmory's special bulk and allow it to take on powerful Fairies such as Sylveon and Mega Diancie. Sturdy allows Skarmory to take any hit at full health and still be able to get up at least one layer of entry hazards. Leftovers grants Skarmory passive recovery, which can be useful to keep Sturdy intact. Usage Tips This set allows Skarmory to serve as a counter or check to the various Fairy-types in the metagame, such as Sylveon, Mega Gardevoir, and Mega Diancie. Thanks to its invested Special Defense, Skarmory can survive the 2HKO from Mega Gardevoir's or Mega Diancie's Hidden Power Fire. However, Skarmory still should not be expected to tank powerful Electric- or Fire-type moves. Against less offensive threats, Skarmory can reliably set up entry hazards. If running Whirlwind, Skarmory can be used to phaze setup sweepers, but if the opposing Pokemon has already accumulated multiple boosts, it likely needs to have Sturdy intact in order to survive. Due to it being slower than many offensive Ground-types, Skarmory is often able to use Roost without worry of being hit by Earthquake or Earth Power. Even without much Defense investment, Skarmory can still check some prominent physical attackers such as Colossoil, but it will not appreciate switching into multiple powerful hits. Team Options Skarmory is a great choice on stall and balanced teams, since it can reliably set and remove entry hazard moves. Bulky Dragon-types such as Cyclohm and Latias work very well with Skarmory, since they can help take the powerful Electric- or Fire-type attacks that Skarmory struggles to switch into. Physically defensive Cyclohm can provide extra physical insurance for the team as well, which Skarmory appreciates, since it cannot switch into every physical attack with impunity. However, Fairy-types that use Flamethrower or Fire Blast, such as Clefable, can pose a threat to a Cyclohm + Skarmory core. Mega Venusaur can take Electric-type attacks that might be aimed at Skarmory from Krilowatt and Mega Manectric. Together, Mega Venusaur and Skarmory create a solid defensive core, specifically against Fairy-type threats; Skarmory assists Mega Venusaur with its Mega Gardevoir weakness, while Mega Venusaur can ease Skarmory's burden to take heavy hits from Azumarill. Heatran can be a great partner to take special attacks, particularly Fire-type moves, and Chansey can sponge special attacks. Rapid Spin users such as Colossoil can be helpful as well to aid Skarmory in entry hazard removal without the risk of removing Skarmory's own hazards that might have been set earlier in the match. Offensive partners such as Mega Charizard X and Mega Altaria greatly appreciate Skarmory removing Stealth Rock from the field, and they can take Electric- and Fire-type moves aimed at Skarmory; if played correctly, Skarmory can serve as a lure that lets these offensive partners set up.

Moves Brave Bird deals respectable damage to foes weak to it such as Malaconda, Mega Venusaur, and Mega Pinsir. It also has the benefit of making sure Skarmory isn't forced out if crippled by Taunt. Alternatively, Counter works well with Sturdy and allows Skarmory to deal greater damage to hard-hitting physical attackers such as Colossoil, Cawmodore, and Mega Crucibelle. Roost is Skarmory's source of reliable recovery, and fortunately, it can be used against the faster Ground-types such as Colossoil. The last two moveslots are largely dependent on the needs of Skarmory's team. Spikes is the entry hazard with lower distribution, and Skarmory can use it to great effect to slowly chip away at the foe. Stealth Rock, however, is still a very viable option if Skarmory's team lacks a user of this move in order to weaken opposing Flying-, Fire-, Bug-, or Ice-types. Whirlwind is excellent for phazing setup sweepers such as Cawmodore and Gyarados. Defog can clear opposing entry hazards but runs the risk of making Skarmory have to reset its own. Lastly, Taunt is an option that lets Skarmory stop slower support Pokemon such as Chansey and Sylveon. Set Details 252 HP and Defense EVs and an Impish nature maximize Skarmory's physical bulk. However, if Counter is used over Brave Bird, a Bold nature is preferable, since Counter doesn't deal damage based off of Skarmory's Attack stat and the decreased Attack means Skarmory will take less damage from Foul Play and confusion. Sturdy allows Skarmory to survive any attack from full health and respond with the appropriate move. Sturdy is particularly useful when using Counter or Whirlwind against an opposing Pokemon that has set up. For its item, Skarmory can use Rocky Helmet to discourage opposing physical attacks. Leftovers, however, can help keep Skarmory healthy and allows Sturdy to be intact more often. Usage Tips Skarmory's main roles are to set up entry hazards to support its team and to act as a physical check to attackers such as Colossoil, Mega Pinsir, and Gyarados. It can reliably set up entry hazards against either opposing physical attackers such as Landorus-T and Arghonaut or supporters such as Chansey. Skarmory should be kept at full health if planning to use Counter or Whirlwind against a foe that has set up so that Sturdy will remain intact. However, note that Mega Gyarados can negate Sturdy with Mold Breaker and KO Skarmory if it accumulates enough boosts. Due to it being slower than many offensive Ground-types, Skarmory is often able to use Roost without worry of being hit by Earthquake or Earth Power. If running Defog, Skarmory usually has the longevity to set up its own entry hazards after clearing the field, but the use of Defog should be determined on a case-by-case basis if it removes Skarmory's own hazards. Team Options Bulky Dragon-types such as Cyclohm and Latias work very well with Skarmory, as they cover its Fire- and Electric-type weaknesses. Specially bulky Pokemon such as Chansey, Heatran, and Clefable can take the special attacks aimed at Skarmory. Even if running Defog, Skarmory usually appreciates a teammate that can use Rapid Spin or otherwise keep opposing entry hazards off the field; this eases the burden for Skarmory to use Defog and potentially clear the hazards that it set earlier. In general, Skarmory prefers to be used on stall or balanced teams, as it can potentially stop the momentum of teammates if used on offensive builds. However, a few good offensive partners include Mega Charizard X and Mega Altaria, as they can come in against a Fire- or Electric-type move aimed at Skarmory and potentially set up. Skarmory, in turn, can help remove Stealth Rock, which would significantly reduce their potential to set up effectively.

Moves Roost is a necessary move to provide Skarmory with reliable recovery. Spikes specifically punishes Latias, Latios, and support Arceus formes, which Skarmory can beat with Toxic. Toxic's primary purpose is pressuring Defog users, especially the aforementioned Arceus, Latias, and Latios. Whirlwind allows Skarmory to phaze setup sweepers in a pinch, such as Mega Salamence, Calm Mind Latias and Latios, and Calm Mind Arceus. Set Details 252 HP and 252 Special Defense EVs with a Calm nature are necessary to best take on Latias, Latios, and Arceus, as Skarmory's base Special Defense stat is low. Leftovers is an important item for passive recovery that allows Skarmory to escape certain 2HKOs, so no other item should be used on specially defensive Skarmory. The main niche of the specially defensive Skarmory set is that it functions as a Spiker that can beat common Defog users Latias, Latios, and support Arceus with Toxic and Roost, enabling it to very reliably set up Spikes. Usage Tips Switch Skarmory into support Arceus, Latias, and Latios, Toxic them, and set Spikes. Keep in mind that Skarmory will have to use Roost often to keep healthy, as the Pokemon it checks wear it down more easily than physical threats wear down the physical set. Do not switch into Calm Mind Arceus-Dark and Arceus-Ghost because those will overwhelm Skarmory. Additionally, play carefully around Mega Gengar, because it will trap, Taunt, and remove Skarmory with ease. Team Options Pursuit users, such as Tyranitar, are very important to deal with Mega Gengar. Arceus-Water is a good teammate that checks Groudon and Ho-Oh. Kyogre checks such as Primal Groudon, Latias, and Latios are useful; the former also checks Xerneas and Zekrom, while the latter two also check Groudon. Giratina-O is a good Groudon check that also spinblocks. Xerneas, Diancie, Blissey, and Clefable offer cleric support, which Skarmory appreciates. Skarmory also likes reliable Stealth Rock setters, such as Primal Groudon, to supplement its Spikes.

Moves Roost is a mandatory move that offers reliable recovery. Spikes, a move that few Pokemon have access to in Ubers, punishes the Pokemon that Skarmory walls. Toxic allows Skarmory to put a timer on the Pokemon it checks, such as Primal Groudon, and is especially useful in a scenario where phazing is not possible because the opposing Pokemon is the last one left. Whirlwind phazes setup sweepers, namely Mega Salamence, Extreme Killer Arceus, Swords Dance Arceus-Ground, and some Rock Polish Primal Groudon. Stealth Rock can be used if no other teammate can use it, but Skarmory strongly prefers running the more exclusive Spikes. Set Details Maximum EV investment in HP and Defense allows Skarmory to better take on the physical attackers it needs to stop. Leftovers is the item of choice, as its passive recovery increases Skarmory's longevity. Shed Shell is another viable item, allowing Skarmory to escape from Mega Gengar and other Shadow Tag users. Rocky Helmet is a possible item that gets nice chip damage on foes such as Extreme Killer Arceus, but this is generally not as helpful as Leftovers recovery. Running a physically defensive spread enables Skarmory to primarily check strong physical attackers, such as Swords Dance Arceus, Mega Salamence, and some Primal Groudon, by means of phazing and Toxic stall, as well as to set up Spikes against these Pokemon and punish switches accordingly. Usage Tips Switch Skarmory into foes it walls, and if the opposing Pokemon is directly threatening via setup, phaze it with Whirlwind. However, if a foe is not setting up or does not pose an immediate threat, Skarmory can take this as an opportunity to spread Toxic and set up Spikes. It should also try to keep healthy with Roost, as if it is too worn down, it can be overwhelmed. Team Options Primal Groudon is a good teammate for Skarmory, as it checks Xerneas, Kyogre, and Zekrom, all of which threaten Skarmory. Skarmory also appreciates Pokemon that can deal with Ho-Oh, so Arceus-Rock, Arceus-Water, and Mega Diancie make for good teammates; Arceus-Water also helps checks Primal Groudon. Tyranitar checks Ho-Oh to an extent as well while also checking Latias and Latios without stacking Steel-types. Latias and Latios are good partners themselves, as they check Kyogre and Primal Groudon. Giratina-O also checks Primal Groudon and can block Rapid Spin users thanks to its Ghost typing. Finally, Skarmory dislikes being burned, so clerics such as Xerneas, Diancie, Blissey, and Clefable make for good partners.

Brave Bird deals noticeable damage to most offensive threats, especially Fighting-types such as Heracross and Mega Gallade. Spikes allows Skarmory to chip away grounded Pokemon. Whirlwind forces out setup sweepers such as Dragonite and Mega Tyranitar, and it can also help rack up residual damage on the enemy team. Sturdy provides Skarmory with a way to guarantee an attack or status move against threats such as Victini and Volcarona. All teammates on Steel, particularly offensive ones, appreciate Skarmory's Spikes support and defensive utility. Heatran can switch into Fire-type moves, exert pressure against Bug and opposing Steel teams, and check Fire-types like Victini, Mega Charizard Y, and Volcarona with Earth Power + Stone Edge. Ferrothorn can take care of bulky Ground / Water types like Gastrodon and Swampert and switch into Electric- and Water-type attacks from threatening special attackers such as Thundurus and Kingdra. Both Heatran and Ferrothorn are alternative Stealth Rock setters that allow Skarmory to run Spikes. Choice Scarf Magnezone can provide pivot support and help eliminate Water- and Flying-types like Slowbro, Landorus, and Mega Charizard Y. Choice Scarf Excadrill is a spinner that pressures Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y and Choice Band Victini, as well as switching into Electric-types such as Mega Manectric and Thundurus. Mega Scizor is a setup sweeper that benefits from Skarmory's Spikes support and provides defensive utility with its Bug typing and access to Roost and U-turn. Bisharp provides utility with Knock Off, takes advantage of Defoggers with Defiant, and wears down offensive threats on types like Flying and Psychic with Sucker Punch. Choice Band Durant is another wallbreaker that can take advantage of Skarmory's Spikes, particularly to wear down Psychic teams. Bronzong is a special tank that can set Stealth Rock and help relieve some pressure from Skarmory by wearing down Fighting- and Ground-types like Landorus. Other Options Steel A lead set with Stealth Rock / Spikes / Taunt / Brave Bird and Custap Berry can be used on hyper offense teams; however, it is not a good option for balance teams. Checks and Counters Steel Magnezone: Magnezone can freely switch into Skarmory, trap it with Magnet Pull, and OHKO it with its STAB Electric-type attacks. Special Attackers: Because of Skarmory's poor special bulk, powerful special attackers such as Kingdra, Landorus, and Kyurem-B threaten it. Super Effective Coverage: Pokemon with super effective coverage such as Hydreigon, Deoxys-S, and Dragonite threaten Skarmory. Stallbreakers: Pokemon with Taunt such as Mew, Thundurus, Gliscor, and Gyarados force Skarmory to use Brave Bird, which puts it into a bad position against bulky or Flying-resistant Pokemon. Flying Skarmory's sky-high physical bulk that allows it to wall threats such as Excadrill and reliable recovery cement it as a staple on Flying teams. Sturdy allows it to survive any attack from full health, allowing it to clear entry hazards with Defog and phaze threats with Whirlwind. Its Steel typing provides Flying teams with a neutrality to Ice- and Rock-type attacks and lets Skarmory check threats in Weavile and Terrakion. Its neutrality to Rock also allows it to take minimal damage from Stealth Rock and act as a reliable Defogger for Flying teams. However, Skarmory's downfall is its poor special bulk and low Speed, which allow a myriad of special attackers such as Latios, Zapdos, Volcarona, and Gengar to easily beat it. Skarmory is also reliant on its utility moves to succeed in battle, meaning Taunt users such as Mega Gyarados completely shut it down and prevent it from making any progress for Flying teams.

Iron Head allows Skarmory to target Ice- and Rock-types such as Weavile, Mamoswine, Mega Diancie, and Terrakion for Flying teams. Brave Bird OHKOes threats such as Mega Gallade and Mega Lopunny. Whirlwind prevents setup sweepers such as Bisharp and Mega Scizor from using it as setup bait. Toxic allows Skarmory to cripple other walls such as Porygon2, Mandibuzz, Cradily, and Hippowdon and lets its teammates such as Landorus more readily break through them. Rocky Helmet allows Skarmory to punish important contact moves such as Chansey's Seismic Toss, Mega Lopunny's High Jump Kick, and Mega Swampert's Waterfall. Maximum HP and Defense investment alongside an Impish nature allows Skarmory to take on physical threats such as Bisharp, Mega Gallade, and Choice Band Dragonite. All of Skarmory's teammates appreciate its ability to act as a physical sponge and tank attacks from Dragon-, Rock-, and Ice-types such as Choice Scarf Latias, Mega Diancie, and Mamoswine. Zapdos can form a Defog core with Skarmory and provide a switch-in to Electric-types such as Mega Manectric and Magnezone. Assault Tornadus-T can cover Skarmory's allergy to special attackers by tanking hits from powerful wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Latios while removing items from other walls with Knock Off and taking out special attacking threats. Landorus can take on Life Orb Kyurem-B and Victini as well as Steel-types such as Heatran, Empoleon, Ferrothorn, and Bronzong. Mega Charizard Y can break through common Stealth Rock setters such as Hippowdon and Swampert with Fire Blast and Solar Beam, respectively. Mega Charizard Y is also able to take on Volcarona and unboosted Deoxys-S for Skarmory. Mega Gyarados can act as a wincon in the Psychic matchup with Substitute + Dragon Dance + Crunch. It can also take on Ground teams single-handedly after two Dragon Dances, prevent walls such as Chansey from recovering HP with Taunt, and prevent phazers such as Swampert and Hippowdon from forcing it out. Thundurus is a great teammate in the Flying and Water matchup, hitting every single Pokemon for super effective damage with Thunderbolt, Grass Knot, and Hidden Power Ice. Additionally, it can act as an emergency check to faster threats such as Deoxys-S thanks to Prankster Thunder Wave. Dragonite can break through Dragon- and Steel-types Pokemon with STAB Outrage and coverage in Superpower and Fire Punch. It can also clean up weakened threats such as Volcarona, Deoxys-S, and Kyurem-B with Extreme Speed.

Moves Toxic is useful to wear down walls and give Skarmory a way to damage opposing Pokemon. Whirlwind is useful for both phazing foes to prevent them from setting up on Skarmory and racking up passive damage from entry hazards. Roost allows Skarmory to remain healthy for the duration of the match. Defog is useful for removing hazards in the free turns Skarmory gets. If your team isn't weak to hazards and already has a Stealth Rock setter, Spikes is an option over Defog, as is Stealth Rock, and Iron Head is an option that deals with Mega Diancie and is a way to deal more damage to Xerneas. Set Details Sturdy guarantees Skarmory can at least survive one hit and either phaze a boosted threat or get a Toxic off, provided it can enter without taking entry hazard damage. Rocky Helmet is useful for getting extra damage off on physical attackers and wears them down much quicker. Leftovers is also an option in order to give Skarmory some additional recovery. Shed Shell is a usable item on teams weak to Mega Gengar to prevent Skarmory from being trapped; however, it is often not worth it because of how uncommon Mega Gengar is. The EVs and a Bold nature give Skarmory the most physical bulk possible while hitting a Stealth Rock number. Usage Tips You should generally switch Skarmory into physical attackers and should switch it out of special ones. Be wary of letting an Arceus or Mega Rayquaza set up too much, because if they break Skarmory and are boosted, they can often sweep your team. Don't let Skarmory get weakened too much if your opponent still has an Arceus or Mega Rayquaza, because otherwise it can't switch in safely, and don't be afraid to sacrifice Skarmory if your opponent doesn't have any physical attackers left, as it is often dead weight in that situation. Keeping Sturdy intact can ensure Shadow Force Arceus-Ghost cannot pick up an OHKO even at +6; this would be achieved by constantly Roosting while Arceus-Ghost is badly poisoned. Skarmory can be 2HKOed by neither a +6 Jolly Arceus's Extreme Speed nor a +2 Jolly Mega Rayquaza's Dragon Ascent. Stacking entry hazards and shuffling your opponent's team with Whirlwind is a very effective strategy if running Spikes due to how bulky Skarmory is and how many switches it forces. Try to scout for Magic Coat and Overheat on Arceus, because if they happen to have it, Skarmory just gets destroyed. Try not to switch in Skarmory unless necessary while Mega Gengar and Darkrai are still alive, as they only need to come in on it once. Team Options Specially bulky Pokemon such as Kyogre and Blissey can work well with Skarmory, as they are able to take special hits for Skarmory; such a pair functions well together on semi-stall and balance teams. Darkrai and Xerneas both appreciate having Skarmory, as they are very potent setup sweepers that are both weak to revenge killing by Arceus's and Mega Rayquaza's Extreme Speed. Dragon-types such as Arceus-Dragon and Mega Rayquaza work well as teammates for Skarmory because they resist both Fire- and Electric-type attacks for Skarmory. Pokemon that appreciate Spikes, such as Genesect and Ho-Oh, are solid team options because entry hazards help them clean up more easily. Arceus-Fairy and Xerneas are good team options, as they handle the Magic Bounce users that trouble Skarmory; in addition, Xerneas not only appreciates Skarmory taking Extreme Speeds for it but also counters Yveltal in turn for Skarmory.

Moves Roost provides Skarmory with reliable recovery and helps it prolong its stint on the battlefield. Whirlwind allows Skarmory to phaze otherwise problematic sweepers and accumulate entry hazard damage if used alongside Spikes or Stealth Rock. Defog allows Skarmory to support the team with valuable entry hazard removal, though if it is not needed, Spikes lets Skarmory set entry hazards of its own and complements Whirlwind fairly nicely. Stealth Rock can also be used in this slot if your team lacks a Stealth Rock user, but it has a more widespread pool of users than Spikes does. Brave Bird means Skarmory can both act under Taunt and threaten Magic Bounce users, and it deals quite a bit of damage despite Skarmory's low Attack stat thanks to its high Base Power. Counter is an alternative to Brave Bird that gives Skarmory the ability to deal massive damage to physical attackers with correct prediction, but Skarmory is completely shut down by Taunt and Magic Bounce when using the move. Should Counter be run, Taunt is an option in the second slot to force physical attackers to attack Skarmory and shut down defensive Pokemon. Set Details Skarmory's EV spread and nature maximize its physical bulk, making it as sturdy of a physical wall as possible. A Bold nature is preferred over an Impish one when using Counter, however, as it minimizes damage from confusion and Foul Play. Intimidate increases Skarmory's physical bulk even further against Pokemon it switches into, making it that much more difficult to breach with physical attacks and allowing it to take on Pokemon it otherwise would not be able to wall such as Tough Claws Dragonite. Flash Fire is another viable ability that removes Skarmory's weakness to Fire, leaving it with a sole weakness to Electric-type moves and letting it handle attackers it otherwise would not be able to counter, such as Heatran, Entei, and Garchomp. Unaware on the other hand allows Skarmory to counter most physical sweepers, Swords Dance Doublade and Sneasel being common examples. Shed Shell removes Skarmory's Magnet Pull weakness, making it a more consistent wall overall despite losing out on an item slot against teams lacking Magnet Pull. For this reason, it is the recommended item on stall teams. Rocky Helmet accumulates considerable damage on physical attackers and U-turn Pokemon without Skarmory needing to devote any time to dishing it out, while Leftovers prolongs Skarmory's longevity and makes it more difficult to wear down. Usage Tips This variant of Skarmory functions as a physical wall for stall and balanced teams, shutting down some of the metagame's most prominent physical attackers. Watch out for Knock Off users if you're using Shed Shell and you know the opponent has a Pokemon with Magnet Pull, as without its Shed Shell, Skarmory will not be able to get into play without risking getting trapped and KOed. Try to keep Skarmory alive as long as the opponent has a Pokemon that can lay down entry hazards, as if Skarmory faints, said Pokemon will be able to set up its entry hazards for the remainder of the match. Finally, watch out for Magic Bounce Pokemon when using Spikes or Stealth Rock, as the opponent getting free entry hazards on your side of the field can be catastrophic. Team Options Special walls such as Chansey, Goodra, and Meloetta perform excellently with Skarmory, as they can absorb special attacks targeted at Skarmory while Skarmory can take physical attacks aimed at them. If Skarmory is not using Flash Fire, other Pokemon resistant or immune to Fire such as Poison Heal Suicune and Flash Fire Doublade are ideal partners to take on Fire-type attackers that Skarmory cannot wall, such as Victini. Pokemon that benefit from entry hazard removal such as Victini and Braviary appreciate Skarmory's Defog support.

Moves Swords Dance doubles Skarmory's Attack stat, turning it into a dangerous offensive threat. Brave Bird gains priority due to Gale Wings, and when backed up by Swords Dance and potentially Sharp Beak, it allows Skarmory to sweep most teams after their answer to Gale Wings users has been taken care of. Roost allows Skarmory, with priority, to heal damage it takes both from the opposing Pokemon and from Brave Bird recoil. Given that due to its priority its secondary effect of removing Skarmory's Flying typing will always activate, it is, however, important to watch out for Ground-type and Fighting-type moves on the turn Roost is used. Priority Defog lets Skarmory remove entry hazards from the field extremely easily, given apart from opposing priority it will be impossible to prevent Skarmory from Defogging once it enters the field of play. It also allows Skarmory to get rid of dual screens. If hazard control is not needed or your own team is hazard centric, Whirlwind can be used over Defog to both accumulate hazard damage on Skarmory's counters and allow Skarmory to beat opposing Gale Wings Skarmory and Snorlax. It also allows Skarmory to defeat opposing Roar or Whirlwind Pokemon, as it's faster than most of them. Taunt shuts down Pokemon that cannot threaten Skarmory outside of status or setup moves, such as Doublade and opposing Skarmory, in addition to making it far more difficult for defensive teams to handle. Iron Head is another possible move in the final slot that allows Skarmory to get through Rock-types, but it does little other than that, making it generally inferior to the utility of the other options. Set Details An Adamant nature with maximum Attack investment ensures Skarmory hits as hard as possible. The remaining EVs are dumped into HP and Defense to increase Skarmory's physical bulk as much as possible in order to take on opposing Gale Wings users better, allow Skarmory to take more recoil, and afford it more setup opportunities. Gale Wings gives priority to Brave Bird, Roost, and Defog, allowing Skarmory to attack, heal, and remove entry hazards with priority. Sharp Beak increases Skarmory's damage output and thus both its sweeping and revenge killing capabilities. Shed Shell removes Skarmory's Magnet Pull weakness but wastes its item slot against teams lacking Magnet Pull. As a final option, Leftovers helps Skarmory with Brave Bird recoil and makes setting up easier. Usage Tips Skarmory is mainly a setup sweeper, but it can function as a revenge killer as well given it is capable of forcing out Pokemon weak to Flying or with little physical bulk, Shaymin-S and Gengar being more popular examples. Weakened Pokemon are also vulnerable to revenge killing. Skarmory's other major role is countering opposing physical Gale Wings Pokemon such as Braviary and Honchkrow. Try to find Skarmory opportunities to set up against physical attackers that cannot threaten it, such as Regirock, or Pokemon that it forces out, such as the aforementioned Shaymin-S and Gengar. Due to its Toxic immunity, Skarmory can also set up on its fair share of walls, such as Chansey, which rely on Toxic to pose a threat. When removing entry hazards, make sure you have a way of dealing with potential Defiant and Competitive users that the opponent may have on their team to take advantage of Defog. Finally, do not let Skarmory get burned or risk taking a burn from moves such as Scald, as the residual damage and Attack drop caused by the status are extremely detrimental to Skarmory's walling and sweeping capabilities. Team Options Ground-types such as Garchomp or Pokemon with Motor Drive such as Manaphy are heavily recommended to help Skarmory deal with Electric-types that come in and force it out with Volt Switch, both countering it and gaining momentum in the process. Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Deoxys-S and Ferrothorn greatly aids Skarmory's task, allowing it to revenge kill a far larger pool of Pokemon. It is, however, recommended to eschew using Defog with such partners, as it is counterproductive. Unaware Pokemon to take on Defiant and Competitive users when using Defog on Skarmory are excellent teammates, as they take almost all of the risk out of using Defog. Magnet Pull Pokemon such as Infernape and Heatran help remove Steel-types for Skarmory and therefore are great partners. Special sponges that can take special attacks aimed at Skarmory, such as Snorlax and Chansey, help alleviate Skarmory's low special bulk. Physical wallbreakers that lure in and KO Skarmory's counters, such as Heracross and Pangoro, work very well alongside Skarmory.

Moves Roost keeps Skarmory healthy throughout the match and prevents Skarmory from being worn down. It also removes Skarmory's Flying type for the turn, giving Skarmory resistances to Rock and Ice while also giving weaknesses to Ground and Fighting. Toxic is Skarmory's main way of dealing damage, allowing it to simply use Roost and stall until the foe faints. Stealth Rock is another option, helping to wear down opposing switch-ins; however, Toxic is better to take down an individual target. Whirlwind combos well with Stealth Rock, as it forces the foe out. It is also useful for removing boosting Pokemon, especially Minimize users, as it ignores evasion boosts, Substitutes, and Protect. Drill Peck is the main STAB attack, and Iron Head is an alternate option that hurts Rock- and Fairy-types more and has a chance to flinch slower attackers. Brave Bird can also be used, as it is more powerful. However, it gives recoil, which can put Skarmory into 2HKO range against certain attackers, and forces Skarmory to use Roost more often. It also prevents Skarmory from keeping Sturdy active. Set Details The EVs are straightforward: maximum HP and maximum Defense help to make Skarmory as bulky as possible. Rocky Helmet is to deal passive damage; as Skarmory is used to check physical attackers, it will be hit with contact moves very often. Leftovers is an alternate option if another Pokemon is already using the team's Rocky Helmet. Sturdy is the best ability, as it makes Skarmory immune to OHKO moves and allows Skarmory to survive any hit from full health and use at least one move. Usage Tips Skarmory is rather straightforward: just bring it in against unboosted physical attackers that are not Fire-types, such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, Kangaskhan, or Tyranitar, or against passive stall Pokemon such as Cresselia or Hippowdon. Toxic is the main move you will want to use most of the time to assure that the opposing Pokemon is taking damage each turn. Once the foe is poisoned, Roost to heal the damage until the opposing Pokemon switches out or faints. If it tries to boost, use Whirlwind to remove it. If you opt to use Stealth Rock over Toxic, use Whirlwind whenever possible to force switches and cause your opponent's Pokemon to take entry hazard damage. Use an attack to finish off a low-HP foe, or if the foe is already poisoned and you do not yet need to Roost. Although Roost is an all-around a good move, in some cases it can make Skarmory more vulnerable. Roost removes Skarmory's Flying type for the remainder of the turn, which gives it resistances to Rock and Ice, but also makes it weak to Ground and Fighting. This means that slower Ground and Fighting attackers such as Rhyperior or Conkeldurr will be able to hit Skarmory with a more powerful attack on the turn it uses Roost. In these cases, using Roost will require some predictions to minimize the damage Skarmory takes. Team Options Skarmory greatly appreciates bulky partner Pokemon that can help it form a stall core. Its most common partner is Chansey, which can take any special attack for Skarmory. Slowbro, Gliscor, and Venusaur are other common stall Pokemon that have good synergy with Skarmory. For more bulky offensive partners, Latias likes having opposing strong physical attackers removed and can also take some special hits for Skarmory. It also greatly appreciates having Tyranitar and Cresselia removed by Skarmory. Tyranitar itself is a good partner as well, as it can also take special hits and has good type synergy with Skarmory. More offensive Pokemon, such as Salamence, Volcarona, or Greninja, benefit from having the opposing team worn down by Toxic or Stealth Rock. However, as Skarmory is a more defensive Pokemon, it can often be a liability to an offensive team's momentum. Other Options Swords Dance is an option to make Skarmory more offensive so it can use its STAB moves such as Iron Head or Brave Bird. Keen Eye might seem like a good option at first to counter evasion strategies, but it is inferior to Sturdy, as Whirlwind already ignores evasion boosts. Spikes is generally inferior to Stealth Rock, as it takes several turns to set up. However, on a full stall team it can sometimes be worth it. Taunt is another option to use against opposing stall teams, along with 132 Speed EVs for Skarmory to outspeed and Taunt Cresselia. Iron Defense is also an option to double Skarmory's Defense, making it even harder to wear down. However, this strategy is susceptible to critical hits and it can be hard to find a moveslot to use for it.

Spikes-stacking is an extremely dangerous playstyle in Ubers because it's very hard to Rapid Spin with bulky Ghost-types lurking everywhere--Arceus-Ghost and the Giratina formes. Skarmory is one of the lucky Pokemon to get access to Spikes, which can easily wear down the opponent, and, thanks to its excellent defensive typing, it can often lay down several layers in one game. With the ability to phaze with Whirlwind, Skarmory can easily stack more and more residual damage on the opposing Pokemon, eventually KOing them unless they have a recovery move. Roost provides reliable recovery, and it grants Skarmory the ability to take on a few, even boosted, physical hits with its base 140 Defense; this also makes it the best Extreme Killer Arceus counter you can find. Toxic is the preferred option in the last slot, as without it, Skarmory will not be able to stop Extreme Killer Arceus one-on-one. Toxic is also a great move against common switch-ins to Skarmory such as Kyogre, Palkia, Reshiram, and setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Arceus, as none of them appreciate Toxic. Taunt stops Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Forretress from freely setting up entry hazards on Skarmory, whereas Brave Bird lets Skarmory attack in case it has been Taunted itself. The EV spread and nature ensure that Skarmory will not be 2HKOed by a +2 Life Orb Extreme Killer Arceus's Brick Break if it hasn't taken Stealth Rock damage, while still retaining great special bulk. Moreover, Dialga with 56 Special Attack EVs has a very small chance of OHKOing Skarmory with Draco Meteor followed by Fire Blast (if both roll max damage, it does 103.91% factoring Stealth Rock damage). Here are a few damage calculations that demonstrate Skarmory's great bulk: +2 Life Orb 252 Atk+ Normal Arceus Brick Break 44.61% - 52.69% 56 SpA Dialga Draco Meteor 36.22% - 42.81 -2 56 SpA Dialga Fire Blast 41.31% - 49.1% 4 Atk Groudon Stone Edge 20.95% - 24.55% 252 Atk Rayquaza Outrage 43.11% - 50.89% 252 Atk Salamence Outrage 30.53% - 36.22% 252 SpA Palkia Draco Meteor 37.72% - 44.31% +1 0 Atk Dialga Outrage 22.75% - 26.94% If you wish to ensure Skarmory's victory against Extreme Killer Arceus, an EV spread of 252 HP / 184 Def / 72 SpD can be used. With this spread, Skarmory will never be 2HKOed by a +2 Life Orb Brick Break from Adamant Arceus with 252 Attack EVs even after Stealth Rock damage. If your team lacks Stealth Rock, it can be used over Spikes, but Spikes is generally a much better option as Skarmory is one of the few Pokemon that learn it, unlike Stealth Rock. Red Card can be used to take advantage of Skarmory's Sturdy ability, as it will allow Skarmory to stack more entry hazard damage on the opponent. Kyogre is a remarkable teammate; the rain it provides thanks to Drizzle nullifies Skarmory's weakness to Fire-type attacks, and the Spikes support Skarmory provides allows Kyogre to get past its usual counters, such as Palkia. Gastrodon synergizes perfectly with Skarmory, as it is immune to Electric-type attacks and resists Fire-type attacks, whereas Skarmory 4x resists Grass-type attacks. Moreover, Gastrodon can easily sponge the special attacks aimed at Skarmory and vice versa. Chansey and Blissey play similar roles to Gastrodon. They do not resist Fire- or Electric-type attacks, but their huge base Special Defense and HP allow them to easily sponge Fire Blasts and Thunders. In addition to this, they can cure Skarmory from status effects with Heal Bell and can pass enormous Wishes to Skarmory and its teammates. The Giratina formes also make fantastic partners, as they too synergize perfectly with Skarmory, and their spinblocking qualities ensure Skarmory's Spikes-stacking won't go to waste. A Ground-type Pokemon to switch into Thunder is advised, making Excadrill, Arceus-Ground, Garchomp, and the aforementioned Gastrodon great teammates. Excadrill can also provide Rapid Spin support, allowing Skarmory to avoid the 2HKO from Extreme Killer Arceus and Dialga.

Skarmory is a staple of bulky entry hazard setters. However, when Skarmory takes a more offensive turn by becoming a suicide lead, it performs just as well. It has many qualities that other entry hazard Pokemon lack: great defensive typing, fantastic bulk, and an awesome support arsenal. Even without any investment in physical defense, Skarmory is still as bulky as ever: +0 252+ Life Orb Rayquaza's Outrage and +2 252+ Life Orb Extreme Killer Arceus aren't a 2HKO, allowing you to phaze them away, racking up entry hazard damage. Yet, if someone is trying to overpower Skarmory with special attacks or repeated physical hits, have no fear—the combination of Sturdy and Custap Berry will almost always guarantee you another move. This set is pretty self-explanatory. Stealth Rock and Spikes are a phenomenal way to apply pressure and support your team. Skarmory's base 70 Speed and the Speed EVs allow it to outspeed other common Pokemon such as Groudon and Dialga, which are now prevented from laying their own Stealth Rock by Skarmory's Taunt, which also prevents status inflictions. Whirlwind is a great method of stacking up entry hazard damage, also stopping Pokemon such as Arceus-Ghost, Rayquaza, and Groudon from setting up on Skarmory. The EV spread allows Skarmory to be as fast as possible in order to prevent opposing entry hazards and lay its own while still being somewhat bulky. Lowering HP and Defense IVs and EVs is an option if you wish to get into Custap Berry range much faster. This Skarmory has two advantages over Forretress in Whirlwind and Taunt, which completely stop setup Pokemon from doing their job. This set can use Lum Berry to set up in front of Darkrai and Smeargle, or Mental Herb to mess around with faster Taunt users, such as Deoxys-S. You can also use Brave Bird over Whirlwind as a damage inflicting move, which can also result in a spinblock by fainting to recoil damage or KOing the foe's spinner. Powerful Pokemon that can cause many switches are the best partners for this Skarmory, as they simply enjoy the additional damage caused by entry hazards. Ho-Oh, Palkia, Kyogre, Kyurem-W, Reshiram, Zekrom, and Rayquaza all come into account. Arceus-Ghost and Giratina-O beat Xatu, which walls this set completely and makes it useless, while also spinblocking so Skarmory's work won't go to waste. Faster Taunt Pokemon, such as Prankster Sableye and Tornadus, also render this set useless, unless using Mental Herb. Thus, a Pokemon to deal with those two is advised, such as Ho-Oh or Thundurus. This set cannot stop Rapid Spin users from fulfilling their job, unfortunately. Thus, something to handle those reliably is advised; Giratina-O or Arceus-Ghost come to mind, as they can cause many switches with Dragon Tail or huge force. Both can also beat Deoxys-S, which is troublesome for this set, unless running Mental Herb. Darkrai is also a pain, as Skarmory cannot do much to defeat it. Genesect can leave a huge dent in Darkrai with its STAB U-turn, and Mewtwo, while not a reliable switch-in at all, can OHKO Darkrai with a single Aura Sphere. Do note that Sturdy is a key part of this team's success, and that this set will not do as well against defensive teams as it does against offensive ones. Thus, this set should only be used on offensive teams over other entry hazard setters when looking for an emergency Extreme Killer Arceus check and a Steel-type they could use.

This is a sample set. We aren't working on BW Monotype analyses at the moment, but check out BW Monotype resources for more information about the metagame.

This is a sample set. We aren't working on BW Monotype analyses at the moment, but check out BW Monotype resources for more information about the metagame.

This set is Skarmory's bread and butter. Its stellar defenses and typing make it an exceedingly difficult physical wall to crack, and Skarmory is capable of taking full advantage of this fact. Spikes are Skarmory's primary form of team support and by far the preferred of its two entry hazards. However, if Skarmory's team desperately needs a Stealth Rock user it can fill that role. Roost and Whirlwind make breaking through Skarmory a challenge, with the latter preventing setup and racking up entry hazard damage quite quickly. Brave Bird is Skarmory's STAB move of choice, allowing it to threaten offensive Pokemon who are weak to it, such as Breloom or Serperior. Additionally, if Skarmory is at full health, Sturdy ensures that Skarmory can use Brave Bird to trade its life for that of a rampaging Blaziken or Volcarona. Taunt is also a viable option, shutting down other entry hazard users such as Ferrothorn; however, the lack of a reliable STAB move can be detrimental against Pokemon such as Magic Bounce Espeon. Shed Shell is Skarmory's item of choice, and for very good reason. Without it, Skarmory becomes a sitting duck against Shadow Tag Chandelure, and as such becomes a fairly subpar wall. Shed Shell allows Skarmory to escape Chandelure's shadowy clutches, and Skarmory doesn't mind losing Leftovers recovery too much because of its fantastic bulk and reliable recovery. Bolder users of Skarmory can use Leftovers, as the extra recovery can be useful, but they have to accept that they will eventually lose Skarmory to a Chandelure because of the lack of Shed Shell. In terms of EV spread and nature, both are geared toward maximizing Skarmory's physical bulk. If Taunt is being used, then some EVs can be shifted from Defense to Speed to get the jump on walls and other Skarmory. Skarmory absolutely needs a teammate who can deal with Chandelure, regardless of whether or not Skarmory is using a Shed Shell. Tyranitar is the absolute best option available if Skarmory is not already being used on a different type of weather team. Tyranitar's Sand Stream ability provides extra passive damage, it can always OHKO a fleeing Chandelure with Pursuit, and can set up Stealth Rock, giving Skarmory's Whirlwind a bit of a bite. Skarmory has issues with Volt Switch, which when boosted by STAB can generally OHKO Skarmory if Sturdy is broken. Because of this fact, Skarmory is forced out and its team loses momentum. Ground-type Pokemon, such as Garchomp and Gastrodon, alleviate this issue. Special attackers generally give Skarmory trouble, so a stall team can use Pokemon such as Blissey and Amoonguss to handle them. In return, Skarmory can handle the physical Pokemon who give its teammates trouble. Skarmory is also helpless against last-pokemon Excadrill since Skarmory cannot phaze it out, so a teammate who can deal with it, such as Technician Breloom or Choice Scarf Politoed, is recommended.

While Skarmory seems to be a Pokemon built for tanking physical hits, its resistances give it the ability to be a decent switch-in to Draco Meteors; thus, its subpar Special Defense is invested into so that it can do this. With that in mind, Skarmory is an excellent check to most of the Dragon-types that dominate the Uber tier. Unfortunately, its Speed is mediocre and far below the Ubers standard of 90, limiting its ability to cripple Pokemon with Toxic and set up Spikes, as well as making it much more difficult to stall with Roost. The first decision for this set is choice of entry hazard. Spikes is preferred, as its limited distribution means that you're unlikely to have anything else on your team to set it up. Additionally, it gives Skarmory something to do while it's on the field instead of sitting around as setup fodder. Stealth Rock is also useful, as it severely hurts some popular Uber Pokemon, such as Lugia and Ho-Oh, but usually you will have something else that can set it up. Plus, not using Spikes means losing out on one of Skarmory's main draws. Roost inhabits the second moveslot because it provides recovery for Skarmory, allowing it to take attacks repeatedly. It is also Skarmory's biggest advantage over Forretress. Whirlwind spreads entry hazard damage and prevents Skarmory from being setup bait. Whirlwind also allows Skarmory to check Calm Mind Arceus formes that lack a super effective Judgment and most Swords Dance Arceus formes. Finally, Toxic is preferred as the last move to break down walls such as Lugia and force Giratina to use Rest, but Taunt is also an option to prevent opposing entry hazards and setup. If you are using Skarmory as a lead, Taunt is the better choice for its utility against common leads, including Groudon and Deoxys-S. The given EV spread brings Skarmory's relatively mediocre special bulk up to acceptable levels while also allowing it to take 2 Outrages from +1 Rayquaza. It might be wise to invest some EVs in Speed if using Taunt, such as 88 EVs and a Timid nature to outrun uninvested base 90s. The difference in bulk is significant, but doing so makes Skarmory a much better lead. Alternatively, you can invest maximum EVs in Special Defense with a Careful nature, but there isn't any large difference in special bulk that makes doing so desirable. If using Skarmory, you're going to want a few different things to take the brunt of attacks that would demolish it. Kyogre makes an excellent partner, as it sets up rain, which dampens Skarmory's Fire-type weakness, and is a great switch-in against most Fire-type attacks itself. Kyogre can also switch into rain-boosted Water-type attacks, and Skarmory has a quadruple resistance to Kyogre's Grass weakness. Additionally, Kyogre can take advantage of the Spikes that Skarmory sets up to weaken its switch-ins and sweep more easily with its mono-attacking Calm Mind set. The two do share an Electric weakness, however, so Dialga is also a great partner. Offensive terrors, such as Mewtwo and Extreme Killer Arceus, are even more threatening when Spikes are in play. Overall, Skarmory isn't difficult to support, as setting up Spikes and resisting Dragon-type attacks are qualities that work excellently on their own.

Set Description This set attempts to lure in Magneton and KO it with Hidden Power Ground while also providing Spikes support. Whirlwind stops Skarmory from being complete setup fodder while stacking the damage from Spikes. Toxic can put foes on a timer, being extremely useful to catch a special attacker that wishes to switches into Skarmory like Kyogre or Calm Mind Latios. Taunt stops Forretress and Deoxys-D from setting their own Spikes while also limiting Blissey's utility. Maximum Speed with a Jolly nature ensures that Skarmory at worst Speed ties with opposing Magneton, with maximum Attack allowing for an OHKO on offensive variants and a 2HKO on bulkier ones. As this Skarmory doesn't invest in bulk, it is usually found on more offensive teams. Strong wallbreakers such as Deoxys-A, Calm Mind Latios, Mewtwo, and Choice Band Lugia appreciate their checks being chipped by Spikes and Magneton being gone. Groudon can take on some of the burden of checking physical attackers, as this Skarmory forgoes defensive investment, while also taking Electric-type attacks. Metagross can act as a secondary Steel-type, threatening Latios and Latias while also being able to lure Ho-Oh in and OHKO it with Rock Slide.

Set Description Whirlwind helps rack up damage through Spikes and prevents Skarmory from being setup fodder for Heracross and Calm Mind wallbreakers such as Latias, Latios, and Kyogre. Toxic gives Skarmory another way to pressure its foes and puts the opponent's sweepers like Swords Dance Groudon and Calm Mind Kyogre on a timer. Taunt is an option to stop Forretress from setting Spikes, prevent last Pokemon Snorlax from setting up with Curse, and shut down Blissey's utility. Pursuit allows Skarmory to be an effective answer to Deoxys-A, with 100 Special Attack EVs guaranteeing an OHKO on it switching out after Spikes. Protect allows Skarmory to get more recovery from Leftovers while also letting it scout for a foe's Fire- or Electric-type coverage. A set utilizing Drill Peck with a spread of 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def hits Blissey for a fair bit of a damage and puts Latios in range of +1 Kyogre's Ice Beam. Skarmory can set Spikes so that powerful wallbreakers such as Deoxys-A, Calm Mind Mewtwo, and Latios can run through their checks. Notably, Snorlax is put in 3HKO range by the latter two's unboosted Thunder after just one layer. Skarmory's extremely poor special bulk can be mitigated by walls such as Blissey and Snorlax, both being able to sponge hits from Latios and Latias. Blissey also provides an answer to Kyogre and appreciates how Skarmory can switch into Groudon and Deoxys-A and potentially remove the latter. Magneton and Dugtrio can both trap opposing Magneton, ensuring that Skarmory can check the opponent's physical wallbreakers. Groudon and Ho-Oh together can help Skarmory immensely, as Ho-Oh covers Skarmory's weakness to Fire, while Groudon's sun makes Thunder inaccurate.