Is Skarmory viable in Gen 3 OU?

Skarmory is ranked #3 in Gen 3 OU with 36.04% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Skarmory in Gen 3 OU?

Jirachi has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 87.0% of 31.82201138579488 relevant encounters. Standard error is 6.0 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Skarmory matchup checks ranked in Gen 3 OU?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Skarmory was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Skarmory counters

Gen 3 OU · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0227 Skarmory

SteelFlying

USAGE 36.0% #3

ABILITYKeen Eye

BASE STATS

HP 65

ATK 80

DEF 140

SPA 40

SPD 70

SPE 70

BST465

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

FireElectric

½×

NormalFlyingPsychicDragonSteelFairy

¼×

GrassBug

0×

PoisonGround

Moves

Spikes 100.0% Roar 98.4% Drill Peck 68.7% Toxic 55.4% Protect 30.5% Taunt 22.2% Thief 11.2% Hidden Power Steel 4.7%

Items

Leftovers 88.8% nothing 10.0% Chesto Berry 0.8% Salac Berry 0.3% Lum Berry 0.1% Soft Sand 0.0% Choice Band 0.0% Apicot Berry 0.0%

Abilities

Keen Eye98.1%Sturdy1.9%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 3 OU teams using Skarmory →

Explore Skarmory + Jirachi teams 63 score Explore Skarmory + Suicune teams 55 score Explore Skarmory + Zapdos teams 49 score Explore Skarmory + Starmie teams 46 score Explore Skarmory + Gengar teams 45 score Explore Skarmory + Tyranitar teams 40 score

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Skarmory + Tyranitar 70.0% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Jirachi

SteelPsychic DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

31.822

63.1

87.0% Standard error 5.97 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Drill Peck vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Jirachi: 38-45 (9.4 - 11.1%)

View Jirachi counters → Teams with Jirachi →

Suicune

Water DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

25.513

54.8

83.9% Standard error 7.27 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Drill Peck vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Suicune: 68-81 (16.8 - 20%) -- possible 7HKO

View Suicune counters → Teams with Suicune →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

79.015

49.0

80.0% Standard error 7.74 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 300-354 (89.8 - 105.9%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Starmie

WaterPsychic OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

26.814

45.7

77.8% Standard error 8.03 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Starmie Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 171-202 (51.1 - 60.4%) -- 91.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Starmie counters → Teams with Starmie →

Gengar

GhostPoison OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

22.535

45.3

79.4% Standard error 8.52 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gengar Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 207-244 (61.9 - 73%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Gengar counters → Teams with Gengar →

Tyranitar

RockDark OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

120.245

40.0

68.9% Standard error 7.22 points

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ Atk Tyranitar Focus Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 137-162 (41 - 48.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Tyranitar counters → Teams with Tyranitar →

Forretress

BugSteel DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

34.837

29.2

62.1% Standard error 8.22 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Drill Peck vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Forretress: 59-70 (16.6 - 19.7%) -- possible 7HKO

View Forretress counters → Teams with Forretress →

Salamence

DragonFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

47.834

25.9

64.1% Standard error 9.56 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Salamence Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 153-180 (45.8 - 53.8%) -- 3.9% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Salamence counters → Teams with Salamence →

Blissey

Normal DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

116.418

24.1

55.7% Standard error 7.89 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Drill Peck vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Blissey: 188-222 (26.3 - 31%) -- 10.9% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Blissey counters → Teams with Blissey →

Swampert

WaterGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

99.823

17.7

52.2% Standard error 8.63 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Swampert Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 146-172 (43.7 - 51.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Swampert counters → Teams with Swampert →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

124.967

16.5

47.1% Standard error 7.64 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Drill Peck vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 39-46 (11.6 - 13.7%)

View Skarmory counters → Teams with Skarmory →

Aerodactyl

RockFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

24.574

15.3

55.4% Standard error 10.03 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Aerodactyl Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 130-154 (38.9 - 46.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Aerodactyl counters → Teams with Aerodactyl →

Metagross

SteelPsychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

33.025

15.3

50.1% Standard error 8.70 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Metagross Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 229-270 (68.5 - 80.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Metagross counters → Teams with Metagross →

Celebi

PsychicGrass SOFT CHECK View matchup

26.354

10.6

49.6% Standard error 9.74 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Celebi Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 127-150 (38 - 44.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Celebi counters → Teams with Celebi →

Snorlax

Normal SOFT CHECK View matchup

31.146

0.6

34.7% Standard error 8.53 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- Atk Snorlax Self-Destruct vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 156-184 (46.7 - 55%) -- 14.1% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Snorlax counters → Teams with Snorlax →

Claydol

GroundPsychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

67.979

-8.6

16.9% Standard error 6.39 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Claydol Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 148-175 (44.3 - 52.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Claydol counters → Teams with Claydol →

Ranked #3 with 36.04% usage. Sorted by conservative score.