Is Skarmory viable in Gen 3 OU?

Skarmory is ranked #3 in Gen 3 OU with 36.74% usage according to Smogon Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 data.

What beats Skarmory in Gen 3 OU?

Gengar has the strongest conservative score in this observed Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 79.4% of 75.60497161934846 relevant encounters. Standard error is 4.7 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 · Smogon source period Jul 2026 - Sep 2026

#0227 Skarmory

SteelFlying

USAGE 36.7% #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 97.9% Drill Peck 66.1% Toxic 50.5% Protect 41.6% Taunt 18.1% Thief 11.9% Hidden Power Steel 4.7%

Items

Leftovers 88.0% Chesto Berry 0.3% Salac Berry 0.2% Soft Sand 0.1% Lum Berry 0.1% Choice Band 0.0% Sharp Beak 0.0%

Abilities

Keen Eye98.6%Sturdy1.4%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 3 OU teams using Skarmory →

Explore Skarmory + Gengar teams 61 score Explore Skarmory + Jirachi teams 59 score Explore Skarmory + Tyranitar teams 57 score Explore Skarmory + Zapdos teams 56 score Explore Skarmory + Starmie teams 55 score Explore Skarmory + Salamence teams 46 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 67.5% 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

Gengar

GhostPoison OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

75.605

60.7

79.4% Standard error 4.66 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 →

Jirachi

SteelPsychic DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

55.114

59.4

80.7% Standard error 5.32 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 →

Tyranitar

RockDark OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

196.515

56.9

69.9% Standard error 3.27 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 →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

133.584

56.3

71.9% Standard error 3.89 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

135.164

54.6

70.3% Standard error 3.93 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 →

Salamence

DragonFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

84.916

46.1

66.6% Standard error 5.12 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 →

Suicune

Water DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

41.541

44.7

72.4% Standard error 6.94 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 →

Forretress

BugSteel DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

113.126

40.4

58.9% Standard error 4.63 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 →

Blissey

Normal SOFT CHECK View matchup

195.249

39.0

53.3% Standard error 3.57 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Blissey Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 88-104 (26.3 - 31.1%) -- 12.2% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Blissey counters → Teams with Blissey →

Registeel

Steel DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

27.454

31.3

67.2% Standard error 8.96 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Drill Peck vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Registeel: 28-33 (7.6 - 9%)

View Registeel counters → Teams with Registeel →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

182.012

31.1

45.9% Standard error 3.69 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 →

Swampert

WaterGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

163.69

26.1

41.5% Standard error 3.85 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 →

Aerodactyl

RockFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

64.301

22.0

46.9% Standard error 6.22 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

85.907

18.9

40.0% Standard error 5.29 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

79.189

17.5

39.4% Standard error 5.49 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 →

Claydol

GroundPsychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

87.031

1.9

18.6% Standard error 4.17 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 →

Dugtrio

Ground SOFT CHECK View matchup

46.618

-7.9

6.0% Standard error 3.49 points

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 #3 with 36.74% usage. Sorted by conservative score.