Skarmory


Type: Steel / Flying
Base Stats-
65 HP / 80 Atk / 140 Def / 70 Spd / 40 SAtk / 70 SDef

Weaknesses: Electric, Fire
Resistances: Bug (x4), Grass (x4), Normal, Dragon, Dark, Flying, Ghost, Psychic, Steel
Immunities: Ground, Poison

Abilities-
Sturdy: OHKO moves do not work on Skarmory.
Keen Eye: Skarmory’s accuracy cannot be lowered by the opponent.

Standard Spiker

Skarmory @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Drill Peck / Brave Bird
- Spikes
- Roost
- Whirlwind

The standard Spike set that has been used since Advance, with a couple new things.

Spikes + Whirlwind creates the classic combination that forces continuous damage on the opponents team. Set up spikes, the use whirlwind to force the Spikes damage upon them.

Roost is excellent not only for recovering HP, but for temporarily taking away Skarmory's secondary flying type, letting it take Electric, Ice, and Rock moves even better. Just watch out for a predicted Earthquake.

Drill Peck or Brave Bird is here for when Skarmory needs to attack. Brave Bird hits a lot harder, but has recoil damage. However, with Leftovers and Roost, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Swords Dance

Skarmory @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 68 HP / 252 Atk / 188 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -Satk)
- Drill Peck / Brave Bird
- Roost / Rock Smash / Rock Slide
- Steel Wing / Rock Slide
- Swords Dance

This is similar to the Choice Band set that was popular in Advance, but has the potential for more power and less prediction. The idea is this: switch in, Swords Dance, and attack. How surprising! !

Drill Peck and Brave Bird are your STAB choices again. If using Brave Bird, you should probably choose Roost for your next move, which will let you survive longer. Rock Smash is an option to hit Magnezone, though you should really take care of him before sending Skarmory out. Rock Slide lets it hit things like Zapdos who will try to switch in to counter you. Steel Wing is here as a secondary STAB move and to hit things like Tyranitar.

Restalk & Whirlwind

Skarmory @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Rest
- Spikes
- Sleep Talk
- Whirlwind

With this set, you are able to block status, regain health AND annoy the opponent with Whirlwind! So the idea is pretty simple. After setting up Spikes and taking some damage, use Rest. Then use Sleep Talk, and hope that it chooses Whirlwind most of the time. Another advantage is that a Sleep Talk-ed Whirlwind doesn't always go last, so you might actually be able to outspeed some things!

Other Options:
Stealth Rock is an option over Spikes, but every Pokemon and their brother learn that move, so you might want to take advantage of Spikes.

Toxic is another great move to steadily cause damage.

Taunt can be used to stop things like Gyarados from setting up on you.

I suppose Shed Shell can be used for escaping Magnezone, but I don't recommend it unless there is an Item Clause. Skarmory wants his Leftovers.

EVs / Nature:
You can always use more speed to outrun other Skarmory and Magnezone, about 12 more EVs.

Counters:
Of course, Magnezone, and to a lesser extent Probopass, can use Magnet Pull on Skarmory and Thunderbolt him to death.

Other than that, just use Special Attacks on it. Pretty much any decently powered Special attack that it doesn't resist can take Skarmory out. In particular, a surprise Special attack from a physical Pokemon will destroy him.

Opinion: Although it's usefulness has dropped in the transition to DP, Skarmory still has it's uses. You just have to be more careful when using it now.