Is Skarmory viable in Gen 6 OU?

Skarmory is ranked #26 in Gen 6 OU with 8.26% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Skarmory in Gen 6 OU?

Heatran has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 91.1% of 22.07571091979374 relevant encounters. Standard error is 6.1 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Skarmory matchup checks ranked in Gen 6 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 6 OU · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0227 Skarmory

SteelFlying

USAGE 8.3% #26

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 95.4% Roost 93.2% Whirlwind 68.7% Brave Bird 40.3% Iron Head 25.9% Counter 23.7% Defog 19.1% Stealth Rock 10.7%

Items

Rocky Helmet 85.2% Leftovers 7.0% Custap Berry 6.8% Shed Shell 0.8% Mental Herb 0.1% Smooth Rock 0.1% Life Orb 0.0% Focus Sash 0.0%

Abilities

Sturdy99.2%Keen Eye0.8%Weak Armor0.0%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 6 OU teams using Skarmory →

Explore Skarmory + Heatran teams 67 score Explore Skarmory + Clefable teams 32 score Explore Skarmory + Tornadus-Therian teams 31 score Explore Skarmory + Zapdos teams 22 score Explore Skarmory + Rotom-Wash teams 3 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 + Clefable 68.0% 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

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

22.076

66.9

91.1% Standard error 6.06 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 324-384 (97 - 114.9%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO (guaranteed OHKO after trapping damage)

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Clefable

Fairy DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

33.491

32.1

65.1% Standard error 8.24 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Clefable: 182-216 (46.1 - 54.8%) -- 7.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Clefable counters → Teams with Clefable →

Tornadus-Therian

Flying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

21.611

30.9

70.2% Standard error 9.83 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Tornadus-Therian Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 122-144 (36.5 - 43.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Tornadus-Therian counters → Teams with Tornadus-Therian →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

57.056

21.5

58.4% Standard error 9.23 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 284-336 (85 - 100.5%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Metagross-Mega

SteelPsychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

26.725

12.6

51.2% Standard error 9.67 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Tough Claws Metagross-Mega Thunder Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 192-226 (57.4 - 67.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Metagross-Mega counters →

Rotom-Wash

ElectricWater SOFT CHECK View matchup

22.438

3.0

45.0% Standard error 10.50 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Rotom-Wash Volt Switch vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 198-234 (59.2 - 70%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Rotom-Wash counters → Teams with Rotom-Wash →

Excadrill

GroundSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

118.76

1.2

23.1% Standard error 5.46 points

DAMAGE CALC

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

View Excadrill counters → Teams with Excadrill →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

28.353

-0.8

35.0% Standard error 8.96 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ferrothorn Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 70-83 (20.9 - 24.8%) -- guaranteed 5HKO

View Ferrothorn counters → Teams with Ferrothorn →

Garchomp

DragonGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

27.587

-3.9

31.5% Standard error 8.84 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Garchomp Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Skarmory: 108-128 (32.3 - 38.3%) -- 97.2% chance to 3HKO

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Gliscor

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

20.849

-12.5

25.8% Standard error 9.58 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Gliscor Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Skarmory: 70-83 (20.9 - 24.8%) -- guaranteed 5HKO

View Gliscor counters → Teams with Gliscor →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

21.557

-16.0

13.1% Standard error 7.26 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 →

Ranked #26 with 8.26% usage. Sorted by conservative score.