QC:
GP:
[OVERVIEW]
**Flying**:
– Finds its way onto almost every Flying-type team as a physically defensive wall
– It does have other niches, such as a suicide lead on hyper offense.
– Amazing support movepool. Moves such as Stealth Rocks, Spikes, Defog, Whirlwind, Roost, and Taunt.
– Excellent typing for a Flying-type team, granting a neutrality to Rock- and Ice-type attacks, while only adding a weakness to Fire-type attacks.
– Flying-type team's primary switch in to Rock-type attacks, almost always able to take advantage of them by setting/removing hazards or chipping away at the opponent with an attack.
– Amazing movepool is a double edged sword—it has a severe case of 4MSS
– Sturdy is a useful ability, but doesn't always come into play on defensive sets
– Has an exploitable Special Defense stat, making it an unreliable answer to mixed attackers that can threaten the rest of a Flying-type team, such as Rock Slide Landorus or Garchomp.
**Steel**:
– Staple of almost every Steel-type team: most reliable Ground-type attack switch in while also fulfilling a variety of support roles for the team.
– Amazing support movepool. Moves such as Stealth Rocks, Spikes, Defog, Whirlwind, Roost, and Taunt.
– An excellent hazard stacking lead on offensive Steel-type teams
– Sturdy is put to good use on lead sets. Guarantees at least one hazard unless against an opposing lead with Taunt or Magic Bounce.
– Reliable physical wall for balanced Steel-type builds
– Excellent typing for a Steel-type team. Allows it to take the Ground- and Fighting-type attacks aimed at teammates.
– Amazing movepool is a double edged sword—it has a severe case of 4MSS.
– Compounds a Steel-type team's weakness to Fire-type attacks while adding a weakness to Electric.
– Poor Special Defense stat
[SET]
name: Defensive (Flying)
move 1: Roost
move 2: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Brave Bird / Iron Head
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 224 HP / 252 Def / 32 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
– Roost is used so Skarmory can recover its health
– Roost can also be used to get rid of Skarmory's Flying typing to take Ice and Electric type attacks although it makes Skarmory weak to Fighting and Ground
– Spikes or Stealth Rock are used so Skarmory's teammates can pick up necessary KOs and punish the opponent's switches.
– Spikes are often preferred on Steel-type teams because there are many other Steel types to reliably set Stealth Rock, such as Heatran, Empoleon, or Ferrothorn.
– Flying-type teams generally prefer Stealth Rock over Spikes stacking because they are routinely required to Defog away their own hazards to remove Stealth Rock from their side of the field
– Defog is an option over hazards for Flying-type teams. Defog on both Skarmory and Zapdos enables the team to reliably remove hazards in almost all matchups in the Monotype metagame.
– Steel teams generally don't make use of Defog because they employ hazard stacking strategies.
– Whirlwind is used to force out set up sweepers that try to set up on Skarmory
– Whirlwind also enables Skarmory to rack up hazard damage on opponents
– Skarmory picks its attacking coverage based on what the team needs it to hit.
– Brave Bird is used so Skarmory can damage Fighting types such as Infernape and Breloom, which is useful on Steel-type teams.
– Iron Head is primarily used on Flying-type teams as it allows Skarmory to damage opposing Fairy- and Rock-types, most notably it OHKOs Mega-Diancie.
Set Details
========
– 252 Defense and an Impish nature are used so Skarmory has highest defense possible
– Skarmory has two equally viable options for its Item: Leftovers or Rocky Helmet. The preferred EV spread depends on the Item.
– Leftovers is used to recover health each turn
– On Leftovers sets, 224 HP is used so Skarmory takes less damage from Stealth Rock and can recover that damage off after two rounds of Leftovers.
– The remaining EVs are dumped into Special Defense or Speed. For example, Skarmory may run a few EVs in Speed in an effort to speed creep Azumarill with 164 Speed EVs.
– Rocky Helmet is used to damage Pokemon using contact moves—Pokemon that Skarmory routinely switches in on.
– On Rocky Helmet sets, Skarmory prefers an EV spread of 168 HP / 252 Def / 88 SpD. The Special Defense EVs enable Skarmory to take two Ice Beams from Choice Scarf Kyurem-Black, while retaining most of its physical bulk.
Usage Tips
========
– Utilize Skarmory's excellent physical bulk to switch in on opposing physical attackers that threaten a Flying-type team, such as Terrakion, Weavile, and Mamoswine.
– Skarmory is an effective pivot and finds many opportunities to switch in throughout a match.
– Set Stealth Rock or Defog away hazards as Skarmory pivots in and out.
– If Stealth Rock are on your side of the field, Skarmory shouldn't prioritize setting its own Stealth Rock as you're likely to just Defog them away as soon as possible.
– Skarmory should frequently use Roost to keep its health topped off. This ensures it checks physical attackers, such as Weavile or Azumarill.
– Skarmory can spam Roost against many opponents to chip away with Rocky Helmet.
– Roost removes Skarmory's Flying typing, reducing damage from Ice- and Electric-type attacks, but leaving it weak to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks from slower opponents.
– This enables Skarmory to Roost stall paralyzed opponents with BoltBeam coverage, such Kyurem-Black.
– However, it also causes Skarmory struggle against Pokemon like Rhyperior or Hippowdon.
– Skarmory should switch in on physical setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Gyarados or Swords Dance Mega-Scizor to Whirlwind them out
– Whirlwind is also effective against opposing Pokemon that struggle to damage Skarmory, such as Armaldo or Excadrill, as it racks up hazard damage and prevents the opponent from reliably switching into a check.
– If Skarmory has Rocky Helmet, switch it in on predicted U-turns from Pokemon such as Scizor and Landorus-Therian and on a predicted Rapid Spin from Pokemon like Excadrill or Armaldo.
– Play Skarmory carefully when the opponent has a trapper, such as Magnezone or Gothitelle
– Skarmory should avoid burns as it negates Sturdy and leaves it a less reliable check to opposing attackers.
Team Options
========
**Flying**:
– Specially Defensive Zapdos is the perfect partner for Skarmory. It takes the special attacks that threaten Skarmory, serves a switch in for Electric-type type attacks, and reliably Defogs away hazards. Skarmory, in turn, takes physical attacks and easily switches in on the Rock-type attacks that threaten Zapdos.
- Physically Defensive Landorus-Therion is a good partner for Skarmory as it frees up a moveslot for Skarmory by using Stealth Rock, allowing Skarmory free reign to run a 4th move of its choice, often either Defog or Spikes, depending on the team make up. Landorus also has the benefit of a Ground typing, allowing it to take Electric-type attacks that Skarmory cannot. It also helps in checking certain threats Skarmory cannot, namely Adamant Mega Heracross.
- Gyarados (-mega) partners well for Skarmory both offensively and defensively; it is part Water-type, meaning it can switch into the Fire-types Skarmory cannot wall, e.g. Charizard-Mega-Y, Darmanitan, or Torkoal. Gyarados can also help take some of the pressure off Skarmory by running a defensive set. This helps Skarmory because it means Gyarados can switch into and reliably beat Ice-types, such as Weavile, Mamoswine, or even special attackers such as Lapras or Walrein, meaning Skarmory is not the only Ice-type switchin on your team, and as such is less likely to be overwhelmed. It is a strong offensive partner because Skarmory can set Stealth Rocks for it and then Gyarados can set up a Dragon Dance and perform a sweep. (Is this worth mentioning in the analysis? This is more saying Skarmory is a good partner for gyara, not vice versa.)
- Gliscor provides a good partner for Skarmory because it is able to take Electric-type attacks that would otherwise threaten Skarmory, and it is able to use Stealth Rock to allow Skarmory to run either Spikes or Defog in its 4th moveslot. It can also use a combination of Taunt and Toxic, or either of the two, to act as a stallbreaker to remove troublesome Pokemon such as Chansey that otherwise beat Skarmory every time.
- Thundurus-Therian is an option as a more offensive partner, as, by virtue of its ability - Volt Absorb - it is able to switch into and absorb Electric-type attacks for Skarmory. It is also a check to Water-types, which threaten Skarmory as they can Scald it, threatening a burn, or simply wall it by virtue of good natural bulk and their typing resisting Iron Head.
[SET]
name: Defensive (Steel)
move 1: Roost
move 2: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Brave Bird
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 224 HP / 252 Def / 32 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
– Roost is used so Skarmory can recover its health
– Roost can also be used to get rid of Skarmory's Flying typing to take Ice and Electric type attacks although it makes Skarmory weak to Fighting and Ground
– Spikes or Stealth Rock are used so Skarmory's teammates can pick up necessary KOs and punish the opponent's switches.
– Spikes are often preferred on Steel-type teams because there are many other Steel types to reliably set Stealth Rock, such as Heatran, Empoleon, or Ferrothorn.
– Steel teams generally don't make use of Defog because they employ hazard stacking strategies.
– Whirlwind is used to force out set up sweepers that try to set up on Skarmory
– Whirlwind also enables Skarmory to rack up hazard damage on opponents
– Brave Bird is used so Skarmory can damage Fighting types such as Infernape, Medicham-Mega, and Breloom, which is useful on Steel-type teams.
Set Details
========
– 252 Defense and an Impish nature are used so Skarmory has highest defense possible
– Skarmory has two equally viable options for its Item: Leftovers or Rocky Helmet. The preferred EV spread depends on the Item.
– Leftovers is used to recover health each turn
– On Leftovers sets, 224 HP is used so Skarmory takes less damage from Stealth Rock and can recover that damage off after two rounds of Leftovers.
– The remaining EVs are dumped into Special Defense or Speed. For example, Skarmory may run a few EVs in Speed in an effort to speed creep Azumarill with 164 Speed EVs.
– Rocky Helmet is used to damage Pokemon using contact moves—Pokemon that Skarmory routinely switches in on.
– On Rocky Helmet sets, Skarmory prefers an EV spread of 168 HP / 252 Def / 88 SpD. The Special Defense EVs enable Skarmory to take two Ice Beams from Choice Scarf Kyurem-Black, while retaining most of its physical bulk.
Usage Tips
========
– Utilize Skarmory's excellent physical bulk to switch in on opposing physical attackers that threaten a Steel-type team, such as Landorus-Therian, Excadrill, or Terrakion.
– Preserve Skarmory against Ground-type teams as it's Ground immunity is vital
– Skarmory is an effective pivot and finds many opportunities to switch in throughout a match.
– Stack Spikes or set Stealth Rock as Skarmory pivots in and out, especially in the early game.
– Skarmory should frequently use Roost to keep its health topped off. This ensures it checks physical attackers, such as Terrakion or Mega-Gyarados.
– Skarmory can spam Roost against many opponents to chip away with Rocky Helmet.
– However, Roost removes Skarmory's Flying typing, leaving it weak to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks from slower opponents. For instance, Skarmory struggles to Roost against Pokemon like Rhyperior or Hippowdon.
– Skarmory should switch in on physical setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Gyarados or Swords Dance Mega-Scizor to Whirlwind them out
– Whirlwind is also effective against opposing Pokemon that struggle to damage Skarmory, such as Armaldo or Excadrill, as it racks up hazard damage and prevents the opponent from reliably switching into a check.
– If Skarmory has Rocky Helmet, switch it in on predicted U-turns from Pokemon such as Scizor and Landorus-Therian and on a predicted Rapid Spin from Pokemon like Excadrill or Armaldo.
– Use Skarmory as a pivot to bring in checks against mixed attackers that threaten Steel-type cores, such as Mega Garchomp, Infernape or Landorus.
– Play Skarmory carefully when the opponent has a trapper, such as Magnezone or Gothitelle
– Skarmory should avoid burns as it negates Sturdy and leaves it a less reliable check to opposing attackers.
Team Options
========
– Heatran is a great partner as it is immune to Fire moves with Flash Fire ability
– Heatran has access to Stealth Rocks
– Doublade has Fighting immunity and it appreciates hazards for late game sweeps
– Ferrothorn takes on Water types that Skarmory doesn't like and takes pressure of Skarmory in Ground matchup
– Mega Scizor appreciates hazards for late game sweeps and it also takes neutral damage from Ground and Fighting type moves taking pressure of Skarmory in those matchups
– Bisharp discourages use of Defog because of the threat of Defiant raising Bisharp's attack 2 stages
– Bisharp also appreciates hazard to possibly pick up certain KOs such as Slowbro and Mew
– Jirachi with a Choice Scarf can act as a check to Fighting types
– Jirachi has access to Healing Wish which can recover status and health from a weakened Skarmory
– Jirachi has access to U-turns which can provides Skarmory with a hazard setting opportunity on physical walls such as Hippowdon and Ferrothorn
– Magnezone has access to Volt Switch which provides Skarmory with hazard setting
opportunities
– Magnezone also checks water types such as Keldeo, Manaphy, and Starmie that threaten Skarmory with a Choice Scarf set
[SET]
name: Suicide Lead (Steel)
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Spikes
item: Custap Berry
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
-Brave Bird is used so Skarmory has an offensive presence and it also allows Skarmory to OHKO certain Fighting types such as Infernape and Keldeo
-Taunt is used to prevent hazards from being setup and it also prevents Defog
-Stealth Rock is used to help Skarmory's teammates pick up essential kills
-Spikes are used to punish switches and help Skarmory's teammates pick up certain kills
Set Details
========
-Sturdy is used so Skarmory can always set up hazards
-Custap Berry is used so Skarmory can always set up two layers of spikes or a layer of Spikes and Stealth Rock
-Max Speed is used so Skarmory can be as fast as possible so it can set up hazards
-Max Attack is used instead of Max HP so Skarmory can get into custap range
-Jolly is used so Skarmory is fast as possible
Usage Tips
========
-Lead with Skarmory and proceed to set up hazards
-Do not Lead with Skarmory if a magic bounce user or fast/prankster Taunt user is on opponents team
-Taunt common defensive Defogers such as Mandibuzz, Skarmory, and Zapdos
-Avoid switching Skarmory in on unnecessary attacks as it prevents Skarmory from setting up hazards
-switch Skarmory into Pokemon locked into ground type moves such as Choice Banded Excadrill and Choice Scarfed Landorus-Therian so Skarmory can set up hazards
-Avoid setting up hazards on Mold Breaker users such as Mega Ampharos as Mold Breaker ignores Sturdy
-Prioritize most effective hazard for example Stealth Rock would be more useful against a Fire team while Spikes wouldn't be as useful
-Only use Brave Bird if it picks up an important OHKOs such as Infernape and Keldeo
Team Options
========
-Mega Scizor takes advantage of hazards and serves as a win condition against Fighting and Ground teams
-Examples include plus 2 Mega Scizor's Bullet Punch on Landorus-I after Stealth Rocks
-Doublade is a good teammate as it is a spinblocker and is immune to Fighting type attacks
-Bisharp takes advantage of Defoger with its ability Defiant giving it an attack boost
-Bisharp also takes advantage of hazards by picking up certain OHKOs such as Slowbro and Mew
-Heatran is immune to Fire type moves with Flash Fire ability
-Heatran can also trap threats with Magma Storm trapping bulky Defogers
-Magnezone can trap Steel types with Magnet Pull
-Magnezone also has access to Volt Switch allowing Magnezone to gain momentum
-Magnezone can switch into Electric type moves although it doesn't do much to them in return
-Magnezone checks water types that often beat Skarmory or force it into a tough predicment
-Excadrill gets rid of hazards with Rapid Spin without getting rid of Skarmory's hazards
-Excadrill is immune to Electric Type moves Skarmory is weak to
-Excadrill checks Electric and Fire types that Skarmory is weak to
-Jirachi checks Fighting types with Choice Scarf set and has Healing Wish which can bring Skarmory back to set up more hazards
-Jirachi has access to U-turn which punishes switches in Rapid Spin and Defog users
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
– Tailwind can be used over Taunt on Suicide Lead Skarmory for extra speed although the utility of Taunt preventing Defog makes Tailwind an inferior option
– Shed Shell can be used so Pokemon such as Magnezone and Gothitelle don't trap Skarmory. Although Shed Shell can be good it is very situational and Skarmory often doesn't want to lose out on Leftovers recovery or the chip damage Rocky Helmet does to physical attackers
– Toxic can be used to cripple bulkier Pokemon such as Zapdos, Hippowdon, and Slowbro
– Toxic is often hard to fit on Skarmory's moveset. Replacing Whirlwind makes set up sweepers such as Bisharp, Mega Scizor, and Mega Gyarados a major threat, while removing Skarmory's attacking coverage leaves it unable to threaten opponents with Taunt or Magic Bounce.
– Counter can be used to punish physical attackers but it also struggles to fit into Skarmory's moveset.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric Types** Electric Types such as Zapdos, Mega Ampharos, and Rotom-W all bring Skarmory down to sturdy and minimize the amount of hazards Skarmory can set up. Mega Ampharos deserves a special mention since it has Mold Breaker which negates sturdy and allows it to OHKO Skarmory
**Fire Types** Fire types such as Mega Charizard-Y, Victini, Heatran and Infernape all threaten Skarmory with their STAB Fire type moves and outspeed OHKO Skarmory in return. Magma Storm Heatran and Taunt Infenrape as they minimize that amount of hazards Skarmory can set even if it's at full health.
**Trappers**
**Taunt**
**Mixed Wallbreakers**
GP:
**Flying**:
– Finds its way onto almost every Flying-type team as a physically defensive wall
– It does have other niches, such as a suicide lead on hyper offense.
– Amazing support movepool. Moves such as Stealth Rocks, Spikes, Defog, Whirlwind, Roost, and Taunt.
– Excellent typing for a Flying-type team, granting a neutrality to Rock- and Ice-type attacks, while only adding a weakness to Fire-type attacks.
– Flying-type team's primary switch in to Rock-type attacks, almost always able to take advantage of them by setting/removing hazards or chipping away at the opponent with an attack.
– Amazing movepool is a double edged sword—it has a severe case of 4MSS
– Sturdy is a useful ability, but doesn't always come into play on defensive sets
– Has an exploitable Special Defense stat, making it an unreliable answer to mixed attackers that can threaten the rest of a Flying-type team, such as Rock Slide Landorus or Garchomp.
**Steel**:
– Staple of almost every Steel-type team: most reliable Ground-type attack switch in while also fulfilling a variety of support roles for the team.
– Amazing support movepool. Moves such as Stealth Rocks, Spikes, Defog, Whirlwind, Roost, and Taunt.
– An excellent hazard stacking lead on offensive Steel-type teams
– Sturdy is put to good use on lead sets. Guarantees at least one hazard unless against an opposing lead with Taunt or Magic Bounce.
– Reliable physical wall for balanced Steel-type builds
– Excellent typing for a Steel-type team. Allows it to take the Ground- and Fighting-type attacks aimed at teammates.
– Amazing movepool is a double edged sword—it has a severe case of 4MSS.
– Compounds a Steel-type team's weakness to Fire-type attacks while adding a weakness to Electric.
– Poor Special Defense stat
[SET]
name: Defensive (Flying)
move 1: Roost
move 2: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Brave Bird / Iron Head
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 224 HP / 252 Def / 32 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
– Roost is used so Skarmory can recover its health
– Roost can also be used to get rid of Skarmory's Flying typing to take Ice and Electric type attacks although it makes Skarmory weak to Fighting and Ground
– Spikes or Stealth Rock are used so Skarmory's teammates can pick up necessary KOs and punish the opponent's switches.
– Spikes are often preferred on Steel-type teams because there are many other Steel types to reliably set Stealth Rock, such as Heatran, Empoleon, or Ferrothorn.
– Flying-type teams generally prefer Stealth Rock over Spikes stacking because they are routinely required to Defog away their own hazards to remove Stealth Rock from their side of the field
– Defog is an option over hazards for Flying-type teams. Defog on both Skarmory and Zapdos enables the team to reliably remove hazards in almost all matchups in the Monotype metagame.
– Steel teams generally don't make use of Defog because they employ hazard stacking strategies.
– Whirlwind is used to force out set up sweepers that try to set up on Skarmory
– Whirlwind also enables Skarmory to rack up hazard damage on opponents
– Skarmory picks its attacking coverage based on what the team needs it to hit.
– Brave Bird is used so Skarmory can damage Fighting types such as Infernape and Breloom, which is useful on Steel-type teams.
– Iron Head is primarily used on Flying-type teams as it allows Skarmory to damage opposing Fairy- and Rock-types, most notably it OHKOs Mega-Diancie.
Set Details
========
– 252 Defense and an Impish nature are used so Skarmory has highest defense possible
– Skarmory has two equally viable options for its Item: Leftovers or Rocky Helmet. The preferred EV spread depends on the Item.
– Leftovers is used to recover health each turn
– On Leftovers sets, 224 HP is used so Skarmory takes less damage from Stealth Rock and can recover that damage off after two rounds of Leftovers.
– The remaining EVs are dumped into Special Defense or Speed. For example, Skarmory may run a few EVs in Speed in an effort to speed creep Azumarill with 164 Speed EVs.
– Rocky Helmet is used to damage Pokemon using contact moves—Pokemon that Skarmory routinely switches in on.
– On Rocky Helmet sets, Skarmory prefers an EV spread of 168 HP / 252 Def / 88 SpD. The Special Defense EVs enable Skarmory to take two Ice Beams from Choice Scarf Kyurem-Black, while retaining most of its physical bulk.
Usage Tips
========
– Utilize Skarmory's excellent physical bulk to switch in on opposing physical attackers that threaten a Flying-type team, such as Terrakion, Weavile, and Mamoswine.
– Skarmory is an effective pivot and finds many opportunities to switch in throughout a match.
– Set Stealth Rock or Defog away hazards as Skarmory pivots in and out.
– If Stealth Rock are on your side of the field, Skarmory shouldn't prioritize setting its own Stealth Rock as you're likely to just Defog them away as soon as possible.
– Skarmory should frequently use Roost to keep its health topped off. This ensures it checks physical attackers, such as Weavile or Azumarill.
– Skarmory can spam Roost against many opponents to chip away with Rocky Helmet.
– Roost removes Skarmory's Flying typing, reducing damage from Ice- and Electric-type attacks, but leaving it weak to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks from slower opponents.
– This enables Skarmory to Roost stall paralyzed opponents with BoltBeam coverage, such Kyurem-Black.
– However, it also causes Skarmory struggle against Pokemon like Rhyperior or Hippowdon.
– Skarmory should switch in on physical setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Gyarados or Swords Dance Mega-Scizor to Whirlwind them out
– Whirlwind is also effective against opposing Pokemon that struggle to damage Skarmory, such as Armaldo or Excadrill, as it racks up hazard damage and prevents the opponent from reliably switching into a check.
– If Skarmory has Rocky Helmet, switch it in on predicted U-turns from Pokemon such as Scizor and Landorus-Therian and on a predicted Rapid Spin from Pokemon like Excadrill or Armaldo.
– Play Skarmory carefully when the opponent has a trapper, such as Magnezone or Gothitelle
– Skarmory should avoid burns as it negates Sturdy and leaves it a less reliable check to opposing attackers.
Team Options
========
**Flying**:
– Specially Defensive Zapdos is the perfect partner for Skarmory. It takes the special attacks that threaten Skarmory, serves a switch in for Electric-type type attacks, and reliably Defogs away hazards. Skarmory, in turn, takes physical attacks and easily switches in on the Rock-type attacks that threaten Zapdos.
- Physically Defensive Landorus-Therion is a good partner for Skarmory as it frees up a moveslot for Skarmory by using Stealth Rock, allowing Skarmory free reign to run a 4th move of its choice, often either Defog or Spikes, depending on the team make up. Landorus also has the benefit of a Ground typing, allowing it to take Electric-type attacks that Skarmory cannot. It also helps in checking certain threats Skarmory cannot, namely Adamant Mega Heracross.
- Gyarados (-mega) partners well for Skarmory both offensively and defensively; it is part Water-type, meaning it can switch into the Fire-types Skarmory cannot wall, e.g. Charizard-Mega-Y, Darmanitan, or Torkoal. Gyarados can also help take some of the pressure off Skarmory by running a defensive set. This helps Skarmory because it means Gyarados can switch into and reliably beat Ice-types, such as Weavile, Mamoswine, or even special attackers such as Lapras or Walrein, meaning Skarmory is not the only Ice-type switchin on your team, and as such is less likely to be overwhelmed. It is a strong offensive partner because Skarmory can set Stealth Rocks for it and then Gyarados can set up a Dragon Dance and perform a sweep. (Is this worth mentioning in the analysis? This is more saying Skarmory is a good partner for gyara, not vice versa.)
- Gliscor provides a good partner for Skarmory because it is able to take Electric-type attacks that would otherwise threaten Skarmory, and it is able to use Stealth Rock to allow Skarmory to run either Spikes or Defog in its 4th moveslot. It can also use a combination of Taunt and Toxic, or either of the two, to act as a stallbreaker to remove troublesome Pokemon such as Chansey that otherwise beat Skarmory every time.
- Thundurus-Therian is an option as a more offensive partner, as, by virtue of its ability - Volt Absorb - it is able to switch into and absorb Electric-type attacks for Skarmory. It is also a check to Water-types, which threaten Skarmory as they can Scald it, threatening a burn, or simply wall it by virtue of good natural bulk and their typing resisting Iron Head.
[SET]
name: Defensive (Steel)
move 1: Roost
move 2: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Brave Bird
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 224 HP / 252 Def / 32 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
– Roost is used so Skarmory can recover its health
– Roost can also be used to get rid of Skarmory's Flying typing to take Ice and Electric type attacks although it makes Skarmory weak to Fighting and Ground
– Spikes or Stealth Rock are used so Skarmory's teammates can pick up necessary KOs and punish the opponent's switches.
– Spikes are often preferred on Steel-type teams because there are many other Steel types to reliably set Stealth Rock, such as Heatran, Empoleon, or Ferrothorn.
– Steel teams generally don't make use of Defog because they employ hazard stacking strategies.
– Whirlwind is used to force out set up sweepers that try to set up on Skarmory
– Whirlwind also enables Skarmory to rack up hazard damage on opponents
– Brave Bird is used so Skarmory can damage Fighting types such as Infernape, Medicham-Mega, and Breloom, which is useful on Steel-type teams.
Set Details
========
– 252 Defense and an Impish nature are used so Skarmory has highest defense possible
– Skarmory has two equally viable options for its Item: Leftovers or Rocky Helmet. The preferred EV spread depends on the Item.
– Leftovers is used to recover health each turn
– On Leftovers sets, 224 HP is used so Skarmory takes less damage from Stealth Rock and can recover that damage off after two rounds of Leftovers.
– The remaining EVs are dumped into Special Defense or Speed. For example, Skarmory may run a few EVs in Speed in an effort to speed creep Azumarill with 164 Speed EVs.
– Rocky Helmet is used to damage Pokemon using contact moves—Pokemon that Skarmory routinely switches in on.
– On Rocky Helmet sets, Skarmory prefers an EV spread of 168 HP / 252 Def / 88 SpD. The Special Defense EVs enable Skarmory to take two Ice Beams from Choice Scarf Kyurem-Black, while retaining most of its physical bulk.
Usage Tips
========
– Utilize Skarmory's excellent physical bulk to switch in on opposing physical attackers that threaten a Steel-type team, such as Landorus-Therian, Excadrill, or Terrakion.
– Preserve Skarmory against Ground-type teams as it's Ground immunity is vital
– Skarmory is an effective pivot and finds many opportunities to switch in throughout a match.
– Stack Spikes or set Stealth Rock as Skarmory pivots in and out, especially in the early game.
– Skarmory should frequently use Roost to keep its health topped off. This ensures it checks physical attackers, such as Terrakion or Mega-Gyarados.
– Skarmory can spam Roost against many opponents to chip away with Rocky Helmet.
– However, Roost removes Skarmory's Flying typing, leaving it weak to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks from slower opponents. For instance, Skarmory struggles to Roost against Pokemon like Rhyperior or Hippowdon.
– Skarmory should switch in on physical setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Gyarados or Swords Dance Mega-Scizor to Whirlwind them out
– Whirlwind is also effective against opposing Pokemon that struggle to damage Skarmory, such as Armaldo or Excadrill, as it racks up hazard damage and prevents the opponent from reliably switching into a check.
– If Skarmory has Rocky Helmet, switch it in on predicted U-turns from Pokemon such as Scizor and Landorus-Therian and on a predicted Rapid Spin from Pokemon like Excadrill or Armaldo.
– Use Skarmory as a pivot to bring in checks against mixed attackers that threaten Steel-type cores, such as Mega Garchomp, Infernape or Landorus.
– Play Skarmory carefully when the opponent has a trapper, such as Magnezone or Gothitelle
– Skarmory should avoid burns as it negates Sturdy and leaves it a less reliable check to opposing attackers.
Team Options
========
– Heatran is a great partner as it is immune to Fire moves with Flash Fire ability
– Heatran has access to Stealth Rocks
– Doublade has Fighting immunity and it appreciates hazards for late game sweeps
– Ferrothorn takes on Water types that Skarmory doesn't like and takes pressure of Skarmory in Ground matchup
– Mega Scizor appreciates hazards for late game sweeps and it also takes neutral damage from Ground and Fighting type moves taking pressure of Skarmory in those matchups
– Bisharp discourages use of Defog because of the threat of Defiant raising Bisharp's attack 2 stages
– Bisharp also appreciates hazard to possibly pick up certain KOs such as Slowbro and Mew
– Jirachi with a Choice Scarf can act as a check to Fighting types
– Jirachi has access to Healing Wish which can recover status and health from a weakened Skarmory
– Jirachi has access to U-turns which can provides Skarmory with a hazard setting opportunity on physical walls such as Hippowdon and Ferrothorn
– Magnezone has access to Volt Switch which provides Skarmory with hazard setting
opportunities
– Magnezone also checks water types such as Keldeo, Manaphy, and Starmie that threaten Skarmory with a Choice Scarf set
[SET]
name: Suicide Lead (Steel)
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Spikes
item: Custap Berry
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
-Brave Bird is used so Skarmory has an offensive presence and it also allows Skarmory to OHKO certain Fighting types such as Infernape and Keldeo
-Taunt is used to prevent hazards from being setup and it also prevents Defog
-Stealth Rock is used to help Skarmory's teammates pick up essential kills
-Spikes are used to punish switches and help Skarmory's teammates pick up certain kills
Set Details
========
-Sturdy is used so Skarmory can always set up hazards
-Custap Berry is used so Skarmory can always set up two layers of spikes or a layer of Spikes and Stealth Rock
-Max Speed is used so Skarmory can be as fast as possible so it can set up hazards
-Max Attack is used instead of Max HP so Skarmory can get into custap range
-Jolly is used so Skarmory is fast as possible
Usage Tips
========
-Lead with Skarmory and proceed to set up hazards
-Do not Lead with Skarmory if a magic bounce user or fast/prankster Taunt user is on opponents team
-Taunt common defensive Defogers such as Mandibuzz, Skarmory, and Zapdos
-Avoid switching Skarmory in on unnecessary attacks as it prevents Skarmory from setting up hazards
-switch Skarmory into Pokemon locked into ground type moves such as Choice Banded Excadrill and Choice Scarfed Landorus-Therian so Skarmory can set up hazards
-Avoid setting up hazards on Mold Breaker users such as Mega Ampharos as Mold Breaker ignores Sturdy
-Prioritize most effective hazard for example Stealth Rock would be more useful against a Fire team while Spikes wouldn't be as useful
-Only use Brave Bird if it picks up an important OHKOs such as Infernape and Keldeo
Team Options
========
-Mega Scizor takes advantage of hazards and serves as a win condition against Fighting and Ground teams
-Examples include plus 2 Mega Scizor's Bullet Punch on Landorus-I after Stealth Rocks
-Doublade is a good teammate as it is a spinblocker and is immune to Fighting type attacks
-Bisharp takes advantage of Defoger with its ability Defiant giving it an attack boost
-Bisharp also takes advantage of hazards by picking up certain OHKOs such as Slowbro and Mew
-Heatran is immune to Fire type moves with Flash Fire ability
-Heatran can also trap threats with Magma Storm trapping bulky Defogers
-Magnezone can trap Steel types with Magnet Pull
-Magnezone also has access to Volt Switch allowing Magnezone to gain momentum
-Magnezone can switch into Electric type moves although it doesn't do much to them in return
-Magnezone checks water types that often beat Skarmory or force it into a tough predicment
-Excadrill gets rid of hazards with Rapid Spin without getting rid of Skarmory's hazards
-Excadrill is immune to Electric Type moves Skarmory is weak to
-Excadrill checks Electric and Fire types that Skarmory is weak to
-Jirachi checks Fighting types with Choice Scarf set and has Healing Wish which can bring Skarmory back to set up more hazards
-Jirachi has access to U-turn which punishes switches in Rapid Spin and Defog users
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
– Tailwind can be used over Taunt on Suicide Lead Skarmory for extra speed although the utility of Taunt preventing Defog makes Tailwind an inferior option
– Shed Shell can be used so Pokemon such as Magnezone and Gothitelle don't trap Skarmory. Although Shed Shell can be good it is very situational and Skarmory often doesn't want to lose out on Leftovers recovery or the chip damage Rocky Helmet does to physical attackers
– Toxic can be used to cripple bulkier Pokemon such as Zapdos, Hippowdon, and Slowbro
– Toxic is often hard to fit on Skarmory's moveset. Replacing Whirlwind makes set up sweepers such as Bisharp, Mega Scizor, and Mega Gyarados a major threat, while removing Skarmory's attacking coverage leaves it unable to threaten opponents with Taunt or Magic Bounce.
– Counter can be used to punish physical attackers but it also struggles to fit into Skarmory's moveset.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric Types** Electric Types such as Zapdos, Mega Ampharos, and Rotom-W all bring Skarmory down to sturdy and minimize the amount of hazards Skarmory can set up. Mega Ampharos deserves a special mention since it has Mold Breaker which negates sturdy and allows it to OHKO Skarmory
**Fire Types** Fire types such as Mega Charizard-Y, Victini, Heatran and Infernape all threaten Skarmory with their STAB Fire type moves and outspeed OHKO Skarmory in return. Magma Storm Heatran and Taunt Infenrape as they minimize that amount of hazards Skarmory can set even if it's at full health.
**Trappers**
**Taunt**
**Mixed Wallbreakers**
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