Sky Battle

A Sky Battle (Japanese: スカイバトル Sky Battle) is a type of Pokémon battle exclusive to Pokémon X and Y. Sky Battles consist of two Pokémon battling each other in the air instead of on land or sea. However, because of this, only certain Flying types and certain Pokémon with the Ability Levitate are eligible for Sky Battles.

A Sky Battle between a Haunter and a Talonflame
A Sky Trainer asking to have a Sky Battle with the player

In the games

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Does the player black out normally if they lose when their whole team is eligible?

At certain points in the game, the player can encounter Sky Trainers on top of cliffs or other distant areas who will challenge them to a Sky Battle. All Sky Battles are optional, since the player may not have any eligible Pokémon to use. If all eligible Pokémon in the battle faint, the player will black out, but will resume the game standing where they were before battle. In this event, the Sky Trainer is unable to be re-challenged or even spoken to, even if the player's eligible Pokémon are restored, until the player exits and reenters the area.

Eligible Pokémon

Most Flying-type Pokémon and Pokémon with the Ability Levitate are eligible for Sky Battles. If a Pokémon can have Levitate as one of multiple Abilities and is not Flying-type, it will only be eligible if it has Levitate (this affects only Duskull, Bronzor and Bronzong). Pokémon do not lose eligibility even if they are holding an item like Iron Ball, and cannot gain eligibility by holding an item like Air Balloon. Eligibility is determined before the battle starts, so Pokémon that must first Mega Evolve to become Flying-type or have Levitate are not eligible. Eligibility cannot be changed in-battle, and will be unaffected by a Pokémon becoming grounded due to any in-battle effect, such as Mega Evolution, a held item change, or a move like Roost or Gastro Acid.

Certain Flying types and Pokémon with Levitate are ineligible for Sky Battles, such as Gengar and Hawlucha. These Pokémon are not shown flying or hovering in normal battles.

# Pokémon Type
0006   Charizard Fire Flying
0012   Butterfree Bug Flying
0017   Pidgeotto Normal Flying
0018   Pidgeot Normal Flying
0022   Fearow Normal Flying
0041   Zubat Poison Flying
0042   Golbat Poison Flying
0092   Gastly Ghost Poison
0093   Haunter Ghost Poison
0109   Koffing Poison
0110   Weezing Poison
0123   Scyther Bug Flying
0130   Gyarados Water Flying
0142   Aerodactyl Rock Flying
0144   Articuno Ice Flying
0145   Zapdos Electric Flying
0146   Moltres Fire Flying
0149   Dragonite Dragon Flying
0164   Noctowl Normal Flying
0165   Ledyba Bug Flying
0166   Ledian Bug Flying
0169   Crobat Poison Flying
0176   Togetic Fairy Flying
0178   Xatu Psychic Flying
0187   Hoppip Grass Flying
0188   Skiploom Grass Flying
0189   Jumpluff Grass Flying
0193   Yanma Bug Flying
0200   Misdreavus Ghost
0201   Unown Psychic
0207   Gligar Ground Flying
0226   Mantine Water Flying
0227   Skarmory Steel Flying
0249   Lugia Psychic Flying
0250   Ho-Oh Fire Flying
0267   Beautifly Bug Flying
0277   Swellow Normal Flying
0278   Wingull Water Flying
0279   Pelipper Water Flying
0284   Masquerain Bug Flying
0291   Ninjask Bug Flying
0329   Vibrava Ground Dragon
0330   Flygon Ground Dragon
0333   Swablu Normal Flying
0334   Altaria Dragon Flying
0337   Lunatone Rock Psychic
0338   Solrock Rock Psychic
0343   Baltoy Ground Psychic
0344   Claydol Ground Psychic
0355   Duskull Ghost
0357   Tropius Grass Flying
0358   Chimecho Psychic
0373   Salamence Dragon Flying
0380   Latias Dragon Psychic
0381   Latios Dragon Psychic
0384   Rayquaza Dragon Flying
0397   Staravia Normal Flying
0398   Staraptor Normal Flying
0414   Mothim Bug Flying
0415   Combee Bug Flying
0416   Vespiquen Bug Flying
0425   Drifloon Ghost Flying
0426   Drifblim Ghost Flying
0429   Mismagius Ghost
0430   Honchkrow Dark Flying
0433   Chingling Psychic
0436   Bronzor Steel Psychic
0437   Bronzong Steel Psychic
0455   Carnivine Grass
0458   Mantyke Water Flying
0468   Togekiss Fairy Flying
0469   Yanmega Bug Flying
0472   Gliscor Ground Flying
0479   Rotom Electric Ghost
0479   Heat
Rotom
Electric Fire
0479   Mow
Rotom
Electric Grass
0479   Fan
Rotom
Electric Flying
0479   Frost
Rotom
Electric Ice
0479   Wash
Rotom
Electric Water
0480   Uxie Psychic
0481   Mesprit Psychic
0482   Azelf Psychic
0487   Giratina
Origin Forme
Ghost Dragon
0488   Cresselia Psychic
0493   Arceus Flying
0520   Tranquill Normal Flying
0521   Unfezant Normal Flying
0527   Woobat Psychic Flying
0528   Swoobat Psychic Flying
0561   Sigilyph Psychic Flying
0567   Archeops Rock Flying
0581   Swanna Water Flying
0587   Emolga Electric Flying
0602   Tynamo Electric
0603   Eelektrik Electric
0604   Eelektross Electric
0615   Cryogonal Ice
0628   Braviary Normal Flying
0630   Mandibuzz Dark Flying
0635   Hydreigon Dark Dragon
0641   Tornadus
Incarnate Forme
Flying
0641   Tornadus
Therian Forme
Flying
0642   Thundurus
Incarnate Forme
Electric Flying
0642   Thundurus
Therian Forme
Electric Flying
0645   Landorus
Incarnate Forme
Ground Flying
0645   Landorus
Therian Forme
Ground Flying
0662   Fletchinder Fire Flying
0663   Talonflame Fire Flying
0666   Vivillon Bug Flying
0714   Noibat Flying Dragon
0715   Noivern Flying Dragon
0717   Yveltal Dark Flying

Ineligible Flying or Levitating Pokémon

Prohibited moves

Certain moves are not permitted to be used in Sky Battles. If a Pokémon's only usable moves are prohibited, the Pokémon will use Struggle if it attempts to attack. If one of these moves is called by Metronome or Sleep Talk, a message will appear saying that it won't work well in Sky Battles.

Move Type Cat.
Body Slam  Normal  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Bulldoze  Ground  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Dig  Ground  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Dive  Water  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Earth Power  Ground  Special {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Earthquake  Ground  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Electric Terrain  Electric  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Fire Pledge  Fire  Special {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Fissure  Ground  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Flying Press  Fighting  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Frenzy Plant  Grass  Special {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Geomancy  Fairy  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Grass Knot  Grass  Special {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Grass Pledge  Grass  Special {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Grassy Terrain  Grass  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Gravity  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Heat Crash  Fire  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Heavy Slam  Steel  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Ingrain  Grass  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Land's Wrath  Ground  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Magnitude  Ground  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Mat Block  Fighting  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Misty Terrain  Fairy  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Mud Sport  Ground  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Muddy Water  Water  Special {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Rototiller  Ground  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Seismic Toss  Fighting  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Slam  Normal  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Smack Down  Rock  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Spikes  Ground  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Stomp  Normal  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Substitute  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Surf  Water  Special {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Thousand Arrows  Ground  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Thousand Waves  Ground  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Toxic Spikes  Poison  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Water Pledge  Water  Special {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}
Water Sport  Water  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}


Locations of Sky Battles

Kalos Route 8

Trainer Pokémon
Mountain level
 
Sky Trainer Howe
シュン Shun
Reward: $1,800
  Drifloon Lv.15
No item
  Pidgeotto Lv.18
No item
Coastal level
 
Sky Trainer Aveza
マイ Mai
Reward: $2,200
  Skiploom Lv.19
No item
  Swoobat Lv.22
No item
 
Sky Trainer Colm
ツバサ Tsubasa
Reward: $2,900
  Mantyke Lv.28
No item
  Jumpluff Lv.29
No item


Kalos Route 9

Trainer Pokémon
 
Sky Trainer Orion
マルセル Marcel
Reward: $2,100
  Ledian Lv.21
No item


Kalos Route 11

Trainer Pokémon
 
Sky Trainer Yvette
ミソラ Misora
Reward: $2,400
  Emolga Lv.23
No item
  Wingull Lv.23
No item
  Staravia Lv.24
No item


Azure Bay

Trainer Pokémon
 
Sky Trainer Indra
リュウセイ Ryūsei
Reward: $3,100
  Sigilyph Lv.31
No item
 
Sky Trainer Elata
ミホシ Mihoshi
Reward: $2,900
  Fletchinder Lv.28
No item
  Pelipper Lv.29
No item


Kalos Route 16

Trainer Pokémon
 
Sky Trainer Clara
フウカ Fūka
Reward: $4,000
  Emolga Lv.38
No item
  Swellow Lv.40
No item
 
Sky Trainer Gavin
フィリップ Philip
Reward: $3,900
  Chimecho Lv.37
No item
  Vibrava Lv.37
No item
  Talonflame Lv.39
No item


Frost Cavern

Trainer Pokémon
 
Sky Trainer Celso
タクヤ Takuya
Reward: $4,400
  Carnivine Lv.41
No item
  Swanna Lv.44
No item
 
Sky Trainer Era
ミウ Miu
Reward: $4,500
  Cryogonal Lv.45
No item


Kalos Route 17

Trainer Pokémon
 
Sky Trainer Anila
アマネ Amane
Reward: $4,400
  Rotom Lv.42
No item
  Butterfree Lv.44
No item


Kalos Route 18

Trainer Pokémon
 
Sky Trainer Jeremy
ショウタロウ Shōtarō
Reward: $5,000
  Ninjask Lv.46
No item
  Drifblim Lv.47
No item
  Flygon Lv.50
No item


Kalos Route 19

Trainer Pokémon
 
Sky Trainer Sera
セイラ Sera
Reward: $5,200
  Noctowl Lv.50
No item
  Aerodactyl Lv.52
No item


In the anime

 
A Sky Battle in the anime

Sky Battles first appeared in Battles in the Sky!. An expert Sky Trainer called Moria was seen defeating another Sky Trainer's Skarmory with her Talonflame. Later, Ash challenged Moria to a Sky Battle, wanting to use his Fletchling against Talonflame. Although Moria accepted the offer, Talonflame was shown being unwilling to battle against its pre-evolved form, forcing Ash to use his Hawlucha instead. Even through Hawlucha tried its best, it was defeated rather easily. After that, Team Rocket showed up, trying to steal Talonflame, but were soon defeated. Afterwards, Talonflame, being thankful for Ash's Fletchling for saving it, accepted Fletchling's battle challenge. Even though Fletchling was almost defeated by Talonflame's Fire Blast, it evolved into a Fletchinder and learned Flame Charge partway through the battle, allowing Ash to gain the victory.

During Sky Battles, Trainers take to the air using special suits so they can fly alongside their Pokémon. Unlike the games, in which certain Flying types or Pokémon with Levitate are restricted, Sky Battles appear to be open to any Pokémon which has the ability to fly; both Hawlucha and Fletchling took part in the anime, which cannot participate in the games. Hawlucha also used Flying Press, a move which is prohibited in the games, although it missed.

In the manga

 
The Wing Suit in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

X & Y arc

Sky Battles first appeared in Burning Fletchinder. While flying on a helicopter, X, Y, Trevor, Shauna, Tierno, and Cassius were attacked by a group of Sky Trainers led by Yvette. Commanding a herd of Vivillon, they attacked the helicopter with Hurricane, forcing Y to go out and battle with them. Y flew away from the helicopter to prevent it from being attacked, but Yvette caught up to her and started to bully her, while her Vivillon battled Fletchy. Y finally fought back as Fletchy evolved into Fletchinder, who defeated Vivillon with Flame Charge. At the same time, X and the others saw Celosia's Aegislash, realizing that all the Sky Trainers were under its mind control. After X had Élec defeat it with Discharge, the Sky Trainers were freed from its control.

Trivia

  • 12 of the 18 types lose at least one move in Sky Battles. The only types whose moves are all allowed in Sky Battles are the Bug, Dark, Dragon, Flying, Ghost, and Ice types.
  • Five Pokémon lose their eligibility to participate in Sky Battles by evolution or form change: Gengar, Scizor, Dusclops, Giratina Altered Forme, and Arceus.
  • The only Flying/Levitating Pokémon that does not stand on the ground in battle yet cannot participate in Sky Battles is Mega Pinsir, due to its non-Mega Evolved form needing to be in battle first.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 空中對戰 Hūngjūng Deuijin
Mandarin 空中對戰 / 空中对战 Kōngzhōng Duìzhàn
  Danish Luftkamp
  Dutch Luchtgevecht
  Finnish Ilmaottelu
  French Combat Aérien
  German Himmelskampf
  Italian Lotta Aerea
  Korean 스카이배틀 Sky Battle
  Norwegian Flyvekamp
  Polish Podniebna Bitwa
  Portuguese Batalha Aérea
  Russian Воздушная Битва Vozdushnaya Bitva
  Spanish Combate Aéreo
  Swedish Luftstrid


Pokémon battle variations
Double BattleMulti BattleTriple BattleRotation BattleHorde EncounterSOS BattleSupport PlayMax Raid BattleFull Battle
Contest BattleLauncher BattleSky BattleInverse BattleBattle RoyalDynamax AdventureAuto BattleTera Raid Battle
Battle modes


  This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.