Is Skarmory viable in Gen 6 OU?

Skarmory is ranked #24 in Gen 6 OU with 8.76% usage according to Smogon Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 data.

What beats Skarmory in Gen 6 OU?

The best counter for Skarmory in Gen 6 OU is Heatran with a 91.1% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Skarmory include Heatran, Tornadus-Therian, Clefable, Zapdos, Rotom-Wash.

What is the best counter for Skarmory in Gen 6 OU?

Heatran is the best counter for Skarmory in Gen 6 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 91.1% of their encounters.

Skarmory counters

Gen 6 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Apr 2026 - Jun 2026

#0227 Skarmory

SteelFlying

USAGE 8.8% #24

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

Roost 96.4% Spikes 94.8% Whirlwind 72.9% Brave Bird 36.1% Counter 26.7% Iron Head 26.1% Defog 20.4% Roar 10.9%

Items

Rocky Helmet 90.4% Leftovers 5.0% Custap Berry 3.3% Shed Shell 1.1% Mental Herb 0.1% Salac Berry 0.1% Life Orb 0.0% Sitrus Berry 0.0%

Abilities

Sturdy99.2%Keen Eye0.7%Weak Armor0.0%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 6 OU teams using Skarmory →

Teams using Heatran 91% Teams using Tornadus-Therian 70% Teams using Clefable 65% Teams using Zapdos 58% Teams using Rotom-Wash 45% Teams using Ferrothorn 35%

Checks & Counters

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

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

22.076

91.1% dies 6.06%

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 →

Tornadus-Therian

Flying OFFENSIVE CHECK

21.611

70.2% dies 9.83%

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 →

Clefable

Fairy DEFENSIVE COUNTER

33.491

65.1% dies 8.24%

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 →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

27.291

58.0% dies 9.45%

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 →

Rotom-Wash

ElectricWater SOFT CHECK

22.438

45.0% dies 10.50%

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 →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK

28.353

35.0% dies 8.96%

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 →

Gliscor

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

20.849

25.8% dies 9.58%

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 →

Excadrill

GroundSteel SOFT CHECK

91.553

19.6% dies 5.76%

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 →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

21.557

13.1% dies 7.26%

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 #24 with 8.76% usage. Sorted by reliability score.