The left one
[OVERVIEW]
* Skarmory's very high Defense stat coupled with a good defensive typing and reliable recovery allows it to check dangerous Pokemon like Tapu Bulu and Excadrill.
* It has a good range of supportive options, including Whirlwind, Spikes, Taunt, and Defog.
* Immunity to Toxic and Spikes combined with a Stealth Rock neutrality and the nerf to burns makes Skarmory very difficult to wear down passively.
* Its low HP and Special Defense make it susceptible to special attackers.
* It's weak to common offensive types in Fire and Electric.
* It faces competition from Celesteela as a defensive Steel / Flying type on balance teams and from Ferrothorn as a Spikes user on said archetype.
* It is very passive, making it very susceptible to Taunt.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Whirlwind
move 3: Spikes / Defog
move 4: Brave Bird / Counter
item: Leftovers / Shed Shell
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish / Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Roost gives Skarmory reliable recovery, which is one of the things it has over other Steel-types and is important for retaining longevity.
* Whirlwind is important so that Skarmory can't be used as setup fodder; it also works alongside Spikes to help rack up damage.
* Spikes is good for punishing switches, dealing increasing damage as more layers are set up.
* Defog lets Skarmory clear entry hazards, which pressure the types of teams that this set is used on.
* Brave Bird prevents Skarmory from being completely shut down by Taunt and threatens Pokemon that it often switches in on, hitting Pokemon weak to Flying such as Pheromosa, Buzzwole, Mega Venusaur, and Tapu Bulu for respectable damage.
* Counter allows Skarmory to severely dent Pokemon that attack it physically.
* Toxic is an option over an attacking move to help stall foes out, but it leaves Skarmory as complete Taunt bait.
* Taunt is an option to shut down bulky Pokemon like Hippowdon, Ferrothorn, and opposing Skarmory. It also shuts down slower setup sweepers and entry hazard setters, but Skarmory's low Speed combined with the fact that its most notable target (Clefable) is a special attacker makes it inconsistent, and Whirlwind is generally a better fit for the types of teams that this set is run on.
Set Details
========
* Maximum HP and Defense investment with an Impish nature allows Skarmory to take on physical attackers to the best of its ability. If using Counter or Toxic over Brave Bird, Bold is preferred.
* Leftovers allows Skarmory to heal a little each turn, improving its longevity and giving it a high net recovery throughout longer games.
* Shed Shell allows it to escape from Magnet Pull users such as Magnezone.
* Rocky Helmet helps wear down users of contact moves that Skarmory switches into, taking advantage of its very high physical bulk. Leftovers and Shed Shell are generally more useful and relevant in the current metagame, however.
* Sturdy allows Skarmory to take any one hit from full health, and it comes in useful more often than its other abilities do.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch Skarmory in on physical attacks, and avoid letting Skarmory take special attacks whenever possible.
* Use Skarmory to take on very powerful physical attackers such as Landorus-T, Excadrill, (comma) and Tapu Bulu.
* Use Spikes or Defog against Pokemon that Skarmory walls, but be careful of opposing Mega Sableye.
* Be aware of the common Fire-type luring options when switching Skarmory into Pokemon with access to them, and ensure that extensive scouting is done to reduce the risk of nasty surprises.
* Ensure that Skarmory is as healthy as possible at all times to check things consistently.
* Be cautious when playing against a Magnezone user if running Leftovers, and try to avoid letting your Shed Shell get knocked off if carrying it.
Team Options
========
* This set is pretty much only viable on stall, so teammates should be chosen as such.
* Chansey is the classic partner for Skarmory for its ability to cover the special attacks that give Skarmory a massive headache.
* Heal Bell users such as Unaware Clefable and the aforementioned Chansey remove potential burns.
* Dugtrio is a great trapper that can eliminate key threats such as Magnezone, Heatran, and Hoopa-U that otherwise put Skarmory and its teammates under a large amount of pressure. Dugtrio is particularly nice alongside Shed Shell variants due to Skarmory baiting in Magnezone to be trapped by Dugtrio.
* Quagsire can utilise its typing and Unaware to deal with Mega Charizard X, which uses Skarmory as setup fodder.
* Mega Sableye can prevent opposing entry hazards from going up, reducing the pressure on Skarmory to use Defog.
* Secondary defensive Defog users such as Zapdos or Mantine can form a double Defog core with Skarmory. This is useful because stall teams are very reliant on being able to switch in order to ensure they constantly have a good matchup and to win PP wars with opposing stall, making keeping entry hazards off of the field something of utmost priority.
* Stealth Rock users such as Chansey can help Skarmory stack entry hazards.
* Unaware Clefable fits well onto the stall teams that you use this set on and has a very good matchup versus Mega Sableye.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Roost
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Whirlwind / Taunt
item: Leftovers / Shed Shell
ability: Sturdy
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Spikes helps to chip away at the opposing team as they switch, with Skarmory being a consistent setter due to its typing and good bulk. Skarmory's access to the move is its key niche over Celesteela on balance teams.
* Roost provides reliable recovery, which is one of the things Skarmory has over Celesteela and Ferrothorn.
* Iron Head allows Skarmory to deal respectable damage to Fairy-types such as Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Clefable.
* Taunt prevents Clefable from using Stealth Rock, Thunder Wave or, most importantly, Calm Mind, making Skarmory a consistent stop to it. Taunt also shuts down Pokemon like Chansey and Hippowdon, preventing them from using Stealth Rock or Heal Bell against it, as well as preventing Spikes wars with Ferrothorn.
* Whirlwind is also an option to prevent opposing Pokemon from setting up on Skamory, racking up Spikes damage in the process.
* Toxic helps wear down opposing Pokemon and takes advantage of both Roost and Iron Head's flinch chance, but Skarmory has a hard time fitting it onto its moveset.
Set Details
========
* Maximum HP and Special Defense investment with a Careful nature allows Skarmory to take resisted special attacks as well as possible, allowing it to check Pokemon like Latios, Tapu Lele, and Clefable on a consistent basis.
* Leftovers heals Skarmory a little every turn, improving the consistency with which it can check what it's meant to.
* Shed Shell is also an option to escape from Magnet Pull users such as Magnezone.
* Sturdy is more consistently useful than Skarmory's other two abilities, allowing it to take any one hit from full health.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch Skarmory in on physical attacks and weak or resisted special attacks.
* Do not let Skarmory take strong special attacks wherever possible.
* Be aware of the risk of luring moves like Hidden Power Fire and Thunderbolt when checking Pokemon like Latios.
* Set up Spikes versus Pokemon that Skarmory walls, but be aware of opposing Mega Sableye.
* Ensure that Skarmory is as healthy as possible at all times so that it can switch in on what it beats consistently.
* Due to this set's lower physical bulk, it gets worn down more easily; be aware of this at all times when using Skarmory to check things, and make sure you are constantly doing damage calculations to ensure that you aren't switching into attacks you cannot take.
* Be cautious if there is a Magnezone on the opposing team, and ensure that you avoid potential Knock Offs when carrying Shed Shell.
Team Options
========
* This set fits best on defensively inclined balance teams that aim to stack hazards.
* Heatran and Rotom-W cover Fire-type attacks that give Skarmory a headache.
* Mantine and Chansey cover special attackers in general.
* Hippowdon, specially defensive Excadrill, and Alolan Marowak cover Electric-type attacks.
* Mega Charizard X covers both of Skarmory's weaknesses and appreciates its Spikes and ability to shut down sand teams.
* Dugtrio can be used to trap and eliminate powerful attackers like Heatran, Hoopa-U, and Choice Band Tyranitar, three Pokemon that put a large amount of pressure on bulky teams with their strong attacks, as well as Magnezone, which is capable of trapping and eliminating Skarmory. It is particularly effective when ran alongside Shed Shell variants, because Skarmory can escape Magnezone and Dugtrio is immune to Magnezone's Electric-type STAB attacks, allowing it to come in and OHKO Magnezone with Earthquake.
* Stealth Rock users like Hippowdon, Clefable, and Chansey help stack entry hazards.
* Mega Sableye can prevent Stealth Rock from going up, whereas specially defensive Excadrill can remove them without also clearing Skarmory's Spikes.
* Chansey can act as a cleric to remove burns.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Stealth Rock is an option over Spikes, but generally you are better off using a different Pokemon in this role.
* Drill Peck is an option over Brave Bird to avoid recoil, but it is irritatingly weak in comparison.
* A lead set with Salac Berry, Stealth Rock, Spikes, Taunt, and Brave Bird could be used on hyper offense teams. Note that it has no way of threatening Mega Sableye, however.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Magnezone**: Magnezone can trap Skarmory with Magnet Pull and OHKOes it with a STAB super effective Thunderbolt or Volt Switch. That said, it cannot trap Shed Shell variants without Knock Off support.
**Special Attacks**: Pokemon that can hit Skarmory hard on its lower defensive stat, such as Heatran, Thundurus, Xurkitree, Tapu Koko, Volcanion, and Mega Charizard Y, are all able to come in on Skarmory and force it out with STAB super effective attacks. Keldeo, Gengar, and Hoopa-U all carry very powerful neutral STAB special attacks that easily break through Skarmory, whereas Latios and Tapu Lele are able to lure it with Hidden Power Fire or Thunderbolt. A handful of physical attackers such as Garchomp and Tyranitar can also carry luring moves like Fire Blast to break through Skarmory.
**Fire- and Electric-type Attacks**: Mega Charizard X forces Skarmory out and uses it as Dragon Dance fodder. Mega Metagross can carry Thunder Punch, which severely dents Skarmory. Clefable commonly carries Flamethrower or Fire Blast, which both dent Skarmory, and Life Orb Garchomp will often carry either Fire Blast or Fire Fang to cut into its health.
**Taunt**: This move shuts down Roost, Spikes, and Whirlwind, which makes Skarmory much easier to wear down and turns it into setup fodder. This makes Pokemon like Taunt Gyarados, Taunt Mega Gyarados, and Taunt Alakazam threats to Skarmory, with the former two being capable of shutting Skarmory down and using it for free Dragon Dances.
Last edited:
