Sky Attack (move)

Sky Attack
ゴッドバード God Bird
Sky Attack IX.png
Sky Attack IX 2.png
Type  Flying
Category  Physical
PP  5 (max. 8)
Power  140
Accuracy  90%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
  • Does not make contact
  • Affected by Protect
  • Not affected by Magic Coat
  • Not affected by Snatch
  • Affected by Mirror Move
  • Not affected by King's Rock
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 is TM43 in Generation I. In Generation II, it was the signature move of Moltres, but other Pokémon could still inherit it via breeding.

Effect

Generations I and II

Sky Attack does nothing on the turn it is selected, other than say 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, binding, 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.

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.

Generations V and VI

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

Sky Attack is no longer affected by King's Rock.

Generation VII

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

Generation VIII onwards

Sky Attack's power was changed back to 140.

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
RSEColo.XD 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
SwShBDSPLA
A second-turn attack move where critical hits land more easily. This may also make the target flinch.
SV The user attacks the turn after using this move. This move has a heightened chance of landing a critical hit and may also make the target flinch.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
0018    
 
Flying Flying 1
0022    
 
Flying Flying 1
0083    
 
Field Flying 40
0144    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 72
0145    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 72
0146    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 60 73 85 78 78 1, 78 78 72 70 70 70
0146  
Moltres
Galarian Form
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 70 70
0164    
 
Flying Flying 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0249    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 99 99 99 99 90 90 90
0250    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 99 99 99 99 90 90 90
0334    
 
Flying Dragon 59 70 77BW
64B2W2
1, 64XY
1, 59ORAS
1, 59 56 56 56
0468    
 
Flying Fairy 1 1 1 1 1 1
0519    
 
Flying Flying 50 50 50 44
0520    
 
Flying Flying 59 59 59 56
0521  
Unfezant
All forms
 
 
Flying Flying 66 66 66 66
0561    
 
Flying Flying 51 50 50 55
0628    
 
Flying Flying 1 1
0628  
Braviary
Hisuian Form
 
 
Flying Flying 1
0630    
 
Flying Flying 1 1
0701    
 
Flying Human-Like 48 48 56 56
0717    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 93 93 80
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 Egg Groups Egg Move
0021    
 
Flying Flying
0083    
 
Flying Field
0083  
Farfetch'd
Galarian Form
  Flying Field
0084    
 
Flying Flying
0163    
 
Flying Flying
0198    
 
Flying Flying
0227    
 
Flying Flying
0276    
 
Flying Flying
0731    
 
Flying Flying
0821     Flying Flying
0962    
 
Flying Flying
0973    
 
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/Move Tutor

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Compatibility
Tutor
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    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0145    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0146    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0151     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
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    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0250    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
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  
Unfezant
All forms
 
 
Flying Flying
0528    
 
Field Flying
0561    
 
Flying Flying
0567    
 
Flying Water 3
0581    
 
Water 1 Flying
0628    
 
Flying Flying
0630    
 
Flying Flying
0701    
 
Flying Human-Like
0714    
 
Flying Dragon
0715    
 
Flying Dragon
0717    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0722    
 
Flying Flying
0723    
 
Flying Flying
0724    
 
Flying Flying
0731    
 
Flying Flying
0732    
 
Flying Flying
0733    
 
Flying Flying
0741  
Oricorio
All forms
 
 
Flying Flying
0785    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0792    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0804    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
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 Mystery Dungeon series

The user gains the Sky Attack status condition on the first turn, and unleashes the move on the next turn. In the Rescue Team and Explorers series, the move's damage is doubled at the end of damage calculation.

Being a two-turn move, this move cannot be linked. Sky Attack cannot be used in a Pokémon Tower in the Adventure Squad series.

Sky Attack has an increased critical hit ratio only since Super Mystery Dungeon.

Game Base
Power
Max
Power
Base
PP
Max
PP
Base
Accuracy
Max
Accuracy
Range Target Cuts
corners
MDRB 30 - 9 - 90% - Front Enemy Yes
MDTDS 50 - 6 - 90% - Front Enemy Yes
BSL 50 - 6 - 90% - Front Enemy Yes
SMD 37 50 12 30 100% - 10 tiles away (piercing) Enemy Yes
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games:

Pokémon GO

  This article contains old or outdated information, or has not been updated in a while.
Please check the content of this article and update it as required.

In Pokémon GO, Sky Attack is a Charged Attack that has been available since February 16, 2017.

  Sky Attack
Charged Attack
Gyms & Raids
Power 80
Energy cost 50
Duration 2 seconds
Damage window 1.5 - 1.7 seconds
 
Trainer Battles
Power 75
Energy cost 45
Secondary effect ?
Effect chance ?%
Eligible Pokémon:
Standard eligibility
              
By Elite Charged TM
 
By GO Snapshot
 
As Shadow Pokémon
As Purified Pokémon
Formerly eligible
None

Updates

Gyms & Raids
  • March 16, 2018
    • Power: 70 → 80
Trainer Battles
  • January 11, 2021
    • Power: 80 → 75

Pokémon Rumble Rush

  Sky Attack
★★★★★
Attack power 27.09824
Charge time 1.22 seconds
Range type Dash
Number of hits 4
Number of projectiles 1
Critical hit rate 3%
Additional effect May flinch the foe

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

 
Unfezant
 
Noctowl
 
Tranquill
 
Decidueye
The user becomes cloaked in a harsh light and it flies into the opponent at top speed.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Skarmory's body glows white or orange and it 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 at top speed.
Drake's Altaria Vanity Affair None
  Murkrow's body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent at top speed.
Paul's Murkrow Top-Down Training! None
  Honchkrow's body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent at top speed.
Paul's Honchkrow Lost Leader Strategy! None
  Togekiss's body becomes surrounded by a white or light blue aura and it flies into the opponent at top speed. As it flies, a white trail of energy is left behind it.
Dawn's Togekiss Dawn of a Royal Day! None
Cynthia's Togekiss Whittle While You Work! None
  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 at top speed.
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 an orange and gold sparkling aura and then it flies into the opponent at top speed.
Alain's Unfezant Finals Not for the Faint-Hearted! None
  Decidueye's body becomes surrounded by a gradually intensifying light blue aura. Once the aura flares up, Decidueye flies into the opponent at top speed. The longer Decidueye charges, the more damage it does.
Hau's Decidueye Battling on the Wing! None
  Hawlucha's body becomes surrounded by a gradually intensifying light blue aura. Once the aura flares up, Hawlucha flies into the opponent at top speed.
Bea's Hawlucha Battle Three With Bea! None
  Mega Altaria's body becomes surrounded by a gradually intensifying light blue aura. Once the aura flares up, Mega Altaria flies into the opponent at top speed.
Drasna's Altaria Taking Two For The Team! None


In the manga

Pokémon Adventures


Pokémon Pocket Monsters


In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Trivia

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 *
  Czech Vzdušný útok
  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
  Thai ก็อดเบิร์ด
  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.