Is Skarmory viable in Gen 5 OU?

Skarmory is ranked #18 in Gen 5 OU with 12.65% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Skarmory in Gen 5 OU?

Latios has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 64.6% of 21.062462551356475 relevant encounters. Standard error is 10.4 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Skarmory matchup checks ranked in Gen 5 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 5 OU · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0227 Skarmory

SteelFlying

USAGE 12.7% #18

ABILITYSturdy

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 99.5% Brave Bird 87.5% Roost 75.3% Whirlwind 73.2% Taunt 28.1% Stealth Rock 26.8% Drill Peck 5.4% Counter 2.7%

Items

Rocky Helmet 50.0% Leftovers 21.9% Custap Berry 18.8% Red Card 3.0% Shed Shell 2.7% Salac Berry 2.6% Mental Herb 1.0% Sitrus Berry 0.0%

Abilities

Sturdy99.9%Keen Eye0.1%Weak Armor0.0%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 5 OU teams using Skarmory →

Explore Skarmory + Latios teams 23 score Explore Skarmory + Excadrill teams 11 score Explore Skarmory + Landorus-Therian teams -9 score Explore Skarmory + Ferrothorn teams -14 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 + Alakazam 46.7% 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

Latios

DragonPsychic OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

21.062

22.9

64.6% Standard error 10.42 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Latios Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 152-180 (45.5 - 53.8%) -- 44.9% chance to 2HKO

View Latios counters → Teams with Latios →

Excadrill

GroundSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

45.555

10.7

52.6% Standard error 10.46 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Excadrill Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 69-82 (20.6 - 24.5%) -- guaranteed 5HKO

View Excadrill counters → Teams with Excadrill →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.004

-9.1

28.5% Standard error 9.41 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 121-142 (36.2 - 42.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Landorus-Therian counters → Teams with Landorus-Therian →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.076

-13.8

18.5% Standard error 8.08 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ferrothorn Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 89-105 (26.6 - 31.4%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Ferrothorn counters → Teams with Ferrothorn →

Ranked #18 with 12.65% usage. Sorted by conservative score.