Is Skarmory viable in Gen 3 OU?

Skarmory is ranked #2 in Gen 3 OU with 42.24% usage according to Smogon Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 data.

What beats Skarmory in Gen 3 OU?

The best counter for Skarmory in Gen 3 OU is Jolteon with a 86.7% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Skarmory include Jolteon, Jirachi, Zapdos, Starmie, Gengar.

What is the best counter for Skarmory in Gen 3 OU?

Jolteon is the best counter for Skarmory in Gen 3 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 86.7% of their encounters.

Skarmory counters

Gen 3 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

#0227 Skarmory

SteelFlying

USAGE 42.2% #2

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 99.9% Roar 98.6% Drill Peck 64.7% Toxic 60.3% Protect 35.4% Taunt 24.0% Thief 6.5% Hidden Power Steel 3.5%

Items

Leftovers 93.4% nothing 5.9% Salac Berry 0.4% Chesto Berry 0.2% Soft Sand 0.0% Liechi Berry 0.0% Choice Band 0.0% Lum Berry 0.0%

Abilities

Keen Eye99.4%Sturdy0.6%

Common Teammates

Checks & Counters

Ranked by reliability — blends KO rate with how often each Pokémon is matched up.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Jolteon

Electric OFFENSIVE CHECK

21.802

86.7% dies 7.28%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Jolteon Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 275-324 (82.3 - 97%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Jolteon counters → Teams with Jolteon →

Jirachi

SteelPsychic DEFENSIVE COUNTER

66.701

85.7% dies 7.40%

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 →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

151.463

81.0% dies 5.51%

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

141.731

81.0% dies 5.69%

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Starmie Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 112-132 (33.5 - 39.5%) -- 22.5% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Starmie counters → Teams with Starmie →

Gengar

GhostPoison OFFENSIVE CHECK

83.194

76.6% dies 7.93%

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

175.286

71.1% dies 5.91%

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 COUNTER

98.523

69.7% dies 7.89%

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 →

Suicune

Water DEFENSIVE COUNTER

95.642

69.0% dies 8.08%

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 →

Salamence

DragonFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

112.834

68.3% dies 7.50%

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 COUNTER

234.444

58.5% dies 5.55%

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

147.066

54.6% dies 7.06%

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 →

Celebi

PsychicGrass SOFT CHECK

105.939

49.5% dies 8.24%

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 →

Aerodactyl

RockFlying SOFT CHECK

79.457

47.7% dies 9.64%

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 →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK

178.102

46.5% dies 6.45%

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 →

Metagross

SteelPsychic SOFT CHECK

108.668

42.7% dies 8.18%

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 →

Snorlax

Normal SOFT CHECK

90.782

30.9% dies 8.32%

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

130.709

23.8% dies 6.24%

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 →

Dugtrio

Ground SOFT CHECK

73.57

2.8% dies 3.31%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Dugtrio Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 73-86 (21.8 - 25.7%) -- possible 5HKO

View Dugtrio counters → Teams with Dugtrio →

Ranked #2 with 42.24% usage. Sorted by reliability score.