Skarmory is a silver-gray, avian Pokémon with a long, metallic blue neck, legs, and tail. It has yellow eyes, a pointed beak with several pointed teeth, and a triangular crest on its head. There are red feathers under the sheaths that cover its sharp wings, and each feather can be moved independently. Its wings are actually hollow, allowing it to travel up to 185 mph (300 km/h). Its feet have three toes on them, two in front and one in back, and its tail has hooked ends.
Its steel wings become tattered and bashed in from repeated battles, but once a year the battered wings grow back completely. This process restores the cutting edges of its feathers, which are sharp enough to be used as blades and sharper than any man-made sword. In Generation V, Steel Wing was its signature move. Its skin and feathers are solid due to being raised in very harsh conditions. Its nests are usually found in thorn bushes, where continual scratching of a young individual's skin will eventually harden it into an iron-like state. However, water can cause Skarmory's hard body to rust easily, so it stays in its nest on rainy days. In ancient regions where these Pokémon are common, warriors would use the sharp feathers that fell off Skarmory as swords. It is a popular Pokémon that is used for heraldic designs, and in Galar, it has violent territorial clashes with Corviknight.
Major appearances
Skarmory debuted in Hot Matches!, under the ownership of Miki. It was used to battle Brock's Vulpix, which it defeated with Steel Wing. It then battled Ash's Cyndaquil, but the battle was interrupted by Team Rocket. After Team Rocket was sent blasting off, Skarmory and Cyndaquil resumed their battle the next day, during which Skarmory was defeated by Cyndaquil's Flamethrower.
In The Legend of Thunder!, Attila's Skarmory was his main battling Pokémon.
In All Torkoal, No Play!, a Skarmory bullied a wild Torkoal in the Valley of Steel.
In Grass Hysteria!, a Skarmory kidnapped May and dumped her in the Forbidden Forest.
In Who's Flying Now?, Winona would let people ride on her giant Skarmory during the Feather Festival.
In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!, a Skarmory kidnapped Pikachu and Pichu. Team Go-Getters battled it to save the two Electric rodents. After the battle, the Skarmory claimed to have no memory of the event, although the reason for this is unknown.
In Pikachu's Summer Festival, a Skarmory kidnapped an Azumarill and later battled May's Combusken.
In Casting a Paul on Barry!, Barry used a Skarmory in his Lily of the Valley Conference match against Paul. It was able to use Spikes but was still easily defeated by Magmortar.
In Battles in the Sky!, a Sky Trainer used a Skarmory to battle Moria and her Talonflame, but it was eventually defeated by a super-effective Fire Blast.
In the Hoopa's Surprise Ring Adventures short Flying in the Air, Hoopa summoned a Skarmory and other Flying-type Pokémon to create wind for Ash and Pikachu, but their combined Gust was too much for them and sent them blasting off.
In The Legend of the Ninja Hero!, the ninja army used six Skarmory in the attack on Ninja Village. In the next episode, they managed to pop Team Rocket's balloon, sending them blasting off.
In Dreams Are Made of These!, Jessie pulled a Skarmory from the Rocket Prize Master. It was used to battle Ash and Goh after the trio's attempts to catch Pikachu, Raboot, and Yamper failed. However, it was soon defeated.
Minor appearances
In Delibird's Dilemma, a Skarmory sent Meowth and Wobbuffet blasting off after being hit by a snowball thrown by Ash's Totodile.
In Camp Pikachu, a Skarmory stole Meowth and Wobbuffet's food.
A Skarmory appeared in Around the Whirlpool.
A Skarmory appeared in A Six Pack Attack!.
In That's Just Swellow, a Skarmory competed in the Crossgate PokéRinger.
A Skarmory appeared in PK13.
A Coordinator's Skarmory appeared in Deceit and Assist.
In Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, multiple Skarmory were part of the feuding armies that were eventually placated by Sir Aaron in the past. Three of them attacked him and his Pidgeot just before.
In Spontaneous Combusken!, a Coordinator's Skarmory competed in the Chrysanthemum Contest.
In Going for Choke!, May's Squirtle defeated a Skarmory during the Battle Stage of the Mulberry Contest.
A Skarmory appeared in The Ole' Berate and Switch!, under the ownership of a Team Rocket Grunt.
A Skarmory appeared in Not on MY Watch Ya Don't!.
In Steeling Peace of Mind! and Saving the World From Ruins!, multiple Skarmory were affected by Team Galactic's meddling on Iron Island.
In Pursuing a Lofty Goal!, Taylor's Skarmory competed in the Squallville PokéRinger.
In Pillars of Friendship!, J's henchmen used multiple Skarmory to attack the Battle Pyramid. They were eventually defeated by Pikachu's Thunderbolt.
A Skarmory appeared in the opening sequence of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
A Skarmory appeared in a flashback in BWS02.
In A Relay in the Sky!, a Trainer's Skarmory competed in the Pokémon Sky Relay.
In Battle Royal 151!, a Trainer's Skarmory competed in the Battle Royal preliminary round of the Manalo Conference but was defeated by Pikachu.
In JN133, multiple Skarmory was seen on Faraway Island.
A Skarmory appeared in JN136.
Pokédex entries
| Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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| EP152
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Skarmory
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Ash's Pokédex
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Skarmory, the Armor Bird Pokémon. Because Skarmory nests in briars and is constantly scratched by thorns, its wings become razor-sharp.
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| Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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| DP184
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Skarmory
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Dawn's Pokédex
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Skarmory, the Armor Bird Pokémon. Skarmory's body is covered with a steel-like armor, and can fly at speeds of over one hundred miles per hour.
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Pokémon Adventures
Gold helped Falkner catch a Skarmory in Sunkern Treasure by using his newly caught Sunkern to leap near it to let Exbo attack it with its Ember. Falkner then passed the Gym Leader test using it, becoming the new Gym Leader of Violet City.
Falkner's father, Walker, owns a Skarmory. In Scrappy Skarmory, he rode it to visit Chuck in Cianwood City. He was attacked by Suicune on the way, so he teamed up with Chuck in an attempt to capture it, but failed.
A Skarmory appeared in The Last Battle XIII as one of the Pokémon sent to participate in the fight in Ilex Forest.
Winona was seen with a Skarmory in Bravo, Vibrava, which she used to battle Team Aqua.
Carr used a Skarmory to escape from Team Rocket's airship in Start the Countdown, Starmie.
In Interesting Interactions Involving Illumise, Skarmory was the first rental Pokémon used by Emerald in his Battle Factory team.
The Battle Factory rented a Skarmory, which was stolen by Guile Hideout in Skirting Around Surskit I.
The Battle Factory rented another Skarmory, which was also stolen by Guile Hideout in Lemme at 'Em, Lapras!.
The Battle Tower rented a Skarmory, which was stolen by Guile Hideout in The Final Battle VII.
A Skarmory appeared in The Wild Full-Power Pose of Fire, under the ownership of Kahili.
Pokédex entries
| Manga
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Chapter
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Entry
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| Pokémon Adventures
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PS138
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Feathers from its wings are thin and hard. They can also be used as blades or knives.*
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Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All
Shu owns a Skarmory, as seen in GDZ62.
Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission
Much like the games, Skarmory is Elita's Partner Pokémon in Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission.
Sharp Beak (100%)
Metal Coat (5%)
For other sprites and images, please see Skarmory images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
