Is Skarmory viable in Gen 6 OU?

Skarmory is ranked #20 in Gen 6 OU with 10.81% usage according to Smogon Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 data.

What beats Skarmory in Gen 6 OU?

Heatran has the strongest conservative score in this observed Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 90.8% of 22.505326066430435 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 · Smogon source period Jul 2026 - Sep 2026

#0227 Skarmory

SteelFlying

USAGE 10.8% #20

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 93.9% Roost 90.5% Whirlwind 56.2% Defog 32.1% Iron Head 30.7% Counter 26.8% Brave Bird 26.4% Roar 16.9%

Items

Rocky Helmet 80.7% Custap Berry 9.8% Leftovers 5.6% Shed Shell 3.3% Mental Herb 0.4% Smooth Rock 0.1% Sitrus Berry 0.1% Expert Belt 0.0%

Abilities

Sturdy99.4%Keen Eye0.6%Weak Armor0.0%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 6 OU teams using Skarmory →

Explore Skarmory + Heatran teams 66 score Explore Skarmory + Zapdos teams 35 score Explore Skarmory + Clefable teams 16 score Explore Skarmory + Excadrill teams 10 score Explore Skarmory + Rotom-Wash teams 7 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 66.7% 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

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

22.505

66.4

90.8% Standard error 6.09 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 →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

50.8

34.8

62.1% Standard error 6.81 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 →

Clefable

Fairy DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

21.728

15.7

58.1% Standard error 10.59 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 →

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 →

Excadrill

GroundSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

135.601

9.9

24.7% Standard error 3.70 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 →

Rotom-Wash

ElectricWater SOFT CHECK View matchup

22.099

6.8

49.4% Standard error 10.64 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 →

Garchomp

DragonGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

50.181

3.9

29.7% Standard error 6.45 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 →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

24.618

-13.0

5.7% Standard error 4.66 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 #20 with 10.81% usage. Sorted by conservative score.