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.

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, 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.

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
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
018   Pidgeot
 
 
Flying Flying 1PE
022   Fearow
 
 
Flying Flying 1PE
083   Farfetch'd
 
 
Field Flying 40PE
144   Articuno
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 72PE
145   Zapdos
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 72PE
146   Moltres
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 60 73 85 78 78 1, 78 78SMUSUM
72PE
70 70
146   Moltres
Galarian Form
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 70 70
164   Noctowl
 
 
Flying Flying 1 1 1 1 1
249   Lugia
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 99 99 99 99 90
250   Ho-Oh
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 99 99 99 99 90
334   Altaria
 
 
Flying Dragon 59 70 77BW
64B2W2
1, 64XY
1, 59ORAS
1, 59 56 56
468   Togekiss
 
 
Flying Fairy 1 1 1 1 1SwShBDSP
519   Pidove
 
 
Flying Flying 50 50 50 44
520   Tranquill
 
 
Flying Flying 59 59 59 56
521   Unfezant
 
 
Flying Flying 66 66 66 66
561   Sigilyph
 
 
Flying Flying 51 50 50 55
628   Braviary
 
 
Flying Flying 1 1
628   Braviary
Hisuian Form
 
 
Flying Flying 1
630   Mandibuzz
 
 
Flying Flying 1
701   Hawlucha
 
 
Flying Human-Like 48 48 56 56
717   Yveltal
 
 
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.


By breeding

# Pokémon Types Parent
Egg Groups
Egg Move
II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
021   Spearow
 
 
Flying Flying BDSP
083   Farfetch'd
 
 
Flying Field
083   Farfetch'd
Galarian Form
  Flying Field
163   Hoothoot
 
 
Flying Flying C BDSP
198   Murkrow
 
 
Flying Flying C BDSP
227   Skarmory
 
 
Flying Flying C
276   Taillow
 
 
Flying Flying BDSP
821   Rookidee
  Flying Flying
962   Bombirdier
 
 
Flying Flying
973   Flamigo
 
 
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.


By TM

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Machine
I
TM43
II
--
III
--
IV
--
V
--
VI
--
VII
--
VIII
--
IX
--
016   Pidgey
 
 
Flying Flying
017   Pidgeotto
 
 
Flying Flying
018   Pidgeot
 
 
Flying Flying
021   Spearow
 
 
Flying Flying
022   Fearow
 
 
Flying Flying
084   Doduo
 
 
Flying Flying
085   Dodrio
 
 
Flying Flying
142   Aerodactyl
 
 
Flying Flying
144   Articuno
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
145   Zapdos
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
146   Moltres
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
151   Mew
  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.


By Move Tutor

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Game
FRLG E XD DP Pt HGSS BW B2W2 XY ORAS SM USUM PE
016   Pidgey
 
 
Flying Flying
017   Pidgeotto
 
 
Flying Flying
018   Pidgeot
 
 
Flying Flying
021   Spearow
 
 
Flying Flying
022   Fearow
 
 
Flying Flying
083   Farfetch'd
 
 
Flying Field
084   Doduo
 
 
Flying Flying
085   Dodrio
 
 
Flying Flying
142   Aerodactyl
 
 
Flying Flying
144   Articuno
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
145   Zapdos
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
146   Moltres
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
151   Mew
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
163   Hoothoot
 
 
Flying Flying
164   Noctowl
 
 
Flying Flying
169   Crobat
 
 
Flying Flying
176   Togetic
 
 
Flying Fairy
177   Natu
 
 
Flying Flying
178   Xatu
 
 
Flying Flying
198   Murkrow
 
 
Flying Flying
225   Delibird
 
 
Water 1 Field
227   Skarmory
 
 
Flying Flying
249   Lugia
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
250   Ho-Oh
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
276   Taillow
 
 
Flying Flying
277   Swellow
 
 
Flying Flying
278   Wingull
 
 
Water 1 Flying
279   Pelipper
 
 
Water 1 Flying
333   Swablu
 
 
Flying Dragon
334   Altaria
 
 
Flying Dragon
398   Staraptor
 
 
Flying Flying
430   Honchkrow
 
 
Flying Flying
441   Chatot
 
 
Flying Flying
468   Togekiss
 
 
Flying Fairy
472   Gliscor
 
 
Bug Bug
519   Pidove
 
 
Flying Flying
520   Tranquill
 
 
Flying Flying
521   Unfezant
 
 
Flying Flying
528   Swoobat
 
 
Field Flying
561   Sigilyph
 
 
Flying Flying
567   Archeops
 
 
Flying Water 3
581   Swanna
 
 
Water 1 Flying
628   Braviary
 
 
Flying Flying
630   Mandibuzz
 
 
Flying Flying
701   Hawlucha
 
 
Flying Human-Like
714   Noibat
 
 
Flying Dragon
715   Noivern
 
 
Flying Dragon
717   Yveltal
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
722   Rowlet
 
 
Flying Flying
723   Dartrix
 
 
Flying Flying
724   Decidueye
 
 
Flying Flying
731   Pikipek
 
 
Flying Flying
732   Trumbeak
 
 
Flying Flying
733   Toucannon
 
 
Flying Flying
741   Oricorio
 
 
Flying Flying
785   Tapu Koko
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
792   Lunala
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
804   Naganadel
 
 
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.


Special move

Generation III

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
277   Swellow
 
 
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.


By event

Generation V

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
018   Pidgeot
 
 
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.


In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, Sky Attack is a move with 30 base power, 90% accuracy, and 9 PP. This attack hits enemy in the front, cutting corners, possibly flinching the enemy. This move's damage is doubled at the end of damage calculation. Being a two-turn move, this move cannot be linked.

In Explorers of Time and Darkness and Sky, the move's PP is decreased to 6 and its power increased to 50.

Pokémon GO

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 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 Altaria's body becomes surrounded in red flames and it flies into the opponent at top speed.
Drake's Altaria Vanity Affair None
  Murkrow 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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
  Altaria 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.