Sky Attack (move)

Sky Attack
ゴッドバード God Bird
Sky Attack VII.png
Sky Attack VII 2.png
Type  Flying
Category  Physical
PP  5 (max. 8)
Power  200
Accuracy  90%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
May affect anyone but the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Cool
Appeal  3 ♥♥♥
Jam  0  
Affected by how well the appeal in front goes.
Condition  Cool
Appeal  1
Earn +3 if no other Pokémon has chosen the same Judge.
Condition  Cool
Appeal  3 ♥♥♥
Jamming  0  
Affected by how well the previous Pokémon's move went.

Sky Attack (Japanese: ゴッドバード God Bird) is a damage-dealing Flying-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM43 in Generation I. In Generation II, it was the signature move of Moltres.

Effect

Generations I and II

Sky Attack does nothing on the turn it is selected, other than saying that the user is glowing. On the following turn, Sky Attack will deal damage, PP will be deducted from it, and it will count as the last move used. Once Sky Attack is selected, the user will not be able to switch out until it is disrupted or fully executed.

If Sky Attack is not fully executed, PP will not be deducted from it, and it will not count as the last move used. If the target uses Mirror Move during the turn that the user is glowing, Mirror Move will copy the move that the user executed immediately before using Sky Attack (or fail if it cannot).

Sleep, freeze, partial trapping, and flinching will pause but not disrupt the duration of Sky Attack.

In Stadium, Mirror Move will copy Sky Attack on either of the turns it takes to execute.

Sky Attack has 140 base power.

Generation III

Sky Attack now has a 30% chance of causing the target to flinch. It also now has an increased critical hit ratio by +1 out of the maximum of +3.

Generation IV

Sky Attack now displays "<Pokémon> became cloaked in a harsh light!" instead of "<Pokémon> is glowing!" If the user is holding a Power Herb, there will be no charge turn.

Generation V onwards

Sky Attack can hit non-adjacent opponents in Triple Battles.

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Sky Attack's power was increased from 140 to 200.

Description

Games Description
Stad The strongest Flying-type attack. Energy is stored in the first turn, then fired the next turn.
Stad2 Strongest Flying-type attack. Stores energy in the first turn, then fires in the next.
GSC 1st turn: Prepare
2nd turn: Attack
RSEColoXD Searches out weak spots, then strikes the next turn.
FRLG A 2nd-turn attack move with a high critical-hit ratio. The foe may flinch.
DPPtHGSSPBR A second-turn attack move with a high critical-hit ratio. It may also make the target flinch.
BWB2W2 A second-turn attack move where critical hits land more easily. It may also make the target flinch.
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
A second-turn attack move where critical hits land more easily. This may also make the target flinch.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
0018    
 
Flying Flying 1PE
0022    
 
Flying Flying 1PE
0083    
 
Field Flying 40PE
0144    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered 72PE
0145    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered 72PE
0146    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered 60 73 85 78 78 1, 78 78SMUSUM
72PE
0164    
 
Flying Flying 1 1 1 1
0249    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered 99 99 99 99
0250    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered 99 99 99 99
0334    
 
Flying Dragon 59 70 77BW
64B2W2
1, 64XY
1, 59ORAS
1, 59
0468    
 
Flying Fairy 1 1 1 1
0519    
 
Flying Flying 50 50 50
0520    
 
Flying Flying 59 59 59
0521    
 
Flying Flying 66 66 66
0561    
 
Flying Flying 51 50 50
0701    
 
Human-Like Human-Like 48 48
0717    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered 93 93
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By breeding

# Pokémon Types Parent
Egg Groups
Egg Move
II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
0021    
 
Flying Flying
0163    
 
Flying Flying C
0198    
 
Flying Flying C
0227    
 
Flying Flying C
0276    
 
Flying Flying
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By TM

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Machine
I
TM43
II
--
III
--
IV
--
V
--
VI
--
VII
--
VIII
--
IX
--
0016    
 
Flying Flying
0017    
 
Flying Flying
0018    
 
Flying Flying
0021    
 
Flying Flying
0022    
 
Flying Flying
0084    
 
Flying Flying
0085    
 
Flying Flying
0142    
 
Flying Flying
0144    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
0145    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
0146    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
0151     style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By Move Tutor

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Game
FRLG E XD DP Pt HGSS BW B2W2 XY ORAS SM USUM PE
0016    
 
Flying Flying
0017    
 
Flying Flying
0018    
 
Flying Flying
0021    
 
Flying Flying
0022    
 
Flying Flying
0083    
 
Flying Field
0084    
 
Flying Flying
0085    
 
Flying Flying
0142    
 
Flying Flying
0144    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
0145    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
0146    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
0151     style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
0163    
 
Flying Flying
0164    
 
Flying Flying
0169    
 
Flying Flying
0176    
 
Flying Fairy
0177    
 
Flying Flying
0178    
 
Flying Flying
0198    
 
Flying Flying
0225    
 
Water 1 Field
0227    
 
Flying Flying
0249    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
0250    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
0276    
 
Flying Flying
0277    
 
Flying Flying
0278    
 
Water 1 Flying
0279    
 
Water 1 Flying
0333    
 
Flying Dragon
0334    
 
Flying Dragon
0398    
 
Flying Flying
0430    
 
Flying Flying
0441    
 
Flying Flying
0468    
 
Flying Fairy
0472    
 
Bug Bug
0519    
 
Flying Flying
0520    
 
Flying Flying
0521    
 
Flying Flying
0528    
 
Field Flying
0561    
 
Flying Flying
0567    
 
Flying Water 3
0581    
 
Water 1 Flying
0628    
 
Flying Flying
0630    
 
Flying Flying
0701    
 
Human-Like Human-Like
0714    
 
Flying Flying
0715    
 
Flying Flying
0717    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
0722    
 
Flying Flying
0723    
 
Flying Flying
0724    
 
Flying Flying
0731    
 
Flying Flying
0732    
 
Flying Flying
0733    
 
Flying Flying
0741    
 
Flying Flying
0785    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
0792    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
0804    
 
style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


Special move

Generation III

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0277    
 
Flying Flying Purified Shadow PokémonXD
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By event

Generation V

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0018    
 
Flying Flying Pokémon Game Show Blue's PidgeotBW
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


In other games

Pokémon GO

  Sky Attack
Charged Attack
Gyms & Raids
Power 70
Energy cost ?
Duration 2.0 seconds
Damage window ? seconds
 
Trainer Battles
Power ?
Energy cost ?
Secondary effect ?
Effect chance ?%
Eligible Pokémon:
Standard eligibility
      
     
By Elite Charged TM
By GO Snapshot
As Shadow Pokémon
As Purified Pokémon
Formerly eligible
None

Honchkrow could only learn this move from February 1, 2019 onwards.

Description

  This article has information requiring translation. If you are able to translate Japanese and would like to help, please add the English translation to the section or sections in Japanese.
Games Description
MDRB The user gains the Sky Attack status, and it attacks strongly on the next turn. It is not possible to link this move.
MDTDS Gives the user a Sky Attack status, which causes the Pokémon to charge power for 1 turn, then try a powerful attack on the next turn. The attack may afflict the targeted enemy with a Cringe status. You can't link this move.
BSL ゴッドバードじょうたいとなって ちからをため つぎのこうどうで いりょくのたかい こうげきを くりだす しかも いっていのかくりつで ひるみじょうたいにする このわざは ポケモンタワーでは くりだせない
MDGtI  UNUSED
SMD It damages an enemy on the next turn and could make it flinch. It has a high critical-hit rate.*
You'll get the Sky Attack status, which lets you charge power to try a powerful attack on the next turn. It could also make the enemy flinch. It has a high critical-hit rate.*


In the anime

 
Altaria
 
Togekiss
 
Noctowl
 
Tranquill
The user glows silver and attacks the opponent.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Skarmory's body glows white or orange and flies into the opponent at top speed.
Attila's Skarmory The Legend of Thunder! Debut
A wild Skarmory All Torkoal, No Play None
  Altaria's body becomes surrounded in red flames and it flies into the opponent.
Drake's Altaria Vanity Affair None
  Murkrow's body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent
Paul's Murkrow Top-Down Training! None
  Honchkrow's body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent.
Paul's Honchkrow Lost Leader Strategy! None
  Togekiss's body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent. As it flies, a white trail of energy is left behind it.
Dawn's Togekiss Dawn of a Royal Day! None
Noctowl Noctowl's eyebrow tufts glow white and it flies into the air as it prepares for the attack. Then, its body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent.
Ash's Noctowl Working on a Right Move! None
  Tranquill flies up into the air, then turns around and flies straight down at the opponent. Its body then becomes surrounded in a clear aura with white energy around it and it flies into the opponent at top speed.
Antonio's Tranquill Reunion Battles In Nimbasa! None
  Unfezant's body becomes surrounded in a orange and gold sparkling aura and then it flies into the opponent.
Alain's Unfezant Finals Not for the Faint-Hearted! None


In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga


In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga


In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Trivia

  • Sky Attack has the highest base power of any Flying-type move.
  • Sky Attack and Brave Bird share similar in-game animations in Generation IV and V; the only major difference is that the former has a blue aura, the latter has a red aura. This was reversed in the anime (Hoenn saga's portrayal of Sky Attack showed a red aura; Sinnoh saga's portrayal switched it to white).
  • In Generation I, Sky Attack was the only Flying-type move that could be taught via TM.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 神鳥猛擊 Sàhnníuh Máahnggīk *
高空攻擊 Gōuhung Gūnggīk *
Mandarin 神鳥猛擊 / 神鸟猛击 Shénniǎo Měngjí / Shénniǎo Měngjī *
高空攻擊 / 高空攻击 Gāokōng Gōngjí / Gāokōng Gōngjī *
  Danish Himmelangreb
  Dutch Luchtaanval
  Finnish Taivashyökkäys
  French Piqué*
Pique*
  German Himmelsfeger
  Greek Ουράνια Επίθεση
  Hindi आसमानी हमला Aasmani Hamla
  Indonesian Burung Dewa
Serangan Udara
  Italian Aeroattacco
  Korean 불새 Bulsae
  Polish Podniebny Atak
Portuguese   Brazil Ataque do Céu (games, anime, TCG, manga)
Ataque no Céu (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
  Portugal Ataque Aéreo
  Romanian Atacul Ceresc
  Serbian Vazdušni Napad
Spanish   Latin America Ataque de Cielo (TLoT, AG101)
Ataque Celestial (DP040-DP131, BW039)
Ataque Aéreo (DP171-DP185)
  Spain Ataque Aéreo
  Vietnamese Tấn Công Trên Không*
Thần Điểu*



Variations of the move Sky Attack
  Sky AttackFreeze Shock
  Ice Burn


Generation I TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation I HMs
0102030405


  This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.