Skarmory Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Skarmory in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Skarmory
Skarmory is a 3-Star Raids raid boss in Pokemon GO with steel/flying typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 32.600 DPS. Skarmory's shiny form is available from raid encounters.
Skarmory can be defeated by a minimum of 2 trainers using optimal counters at level 40+. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win, especially if your team isn't fully powered up.
Type strategy: Skarmory is weak to Electric, Fire -type attacks. Avoid using Bug, Grass, Poison-type moves as Skarmory resists them. Focus your team on the highest DPS counters from the list below — even budget options without Shadow or Mega forms perform well in larger groups.
Top 3 counters: The strongest lineup against Skarmory is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (32.600 DPS), Mega Blaziken (29.684 DPS), and Blacephalon (29.000 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Skarmory: After defeating Skarmory, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1167 and 1234 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1452-1536 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Skarmory from raids will have exactly 1234 CP — look for that number! Use Golden Razz Berries and Excellent curveball throws to maximize your catch rate.
Quick Stats
Weak To
Best Counters
Budget Counters (No Shadow / No Mega)
Catch CP
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best counters for Skarmory?
The best counter for Skarmory is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 32.600 DPS. Other top options include Mega Blaziken (29.684 DPS) and Blacephalon (29.000 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Skarmory?
Skarmory can be defeated by a minimum of 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win. In public lobbies, 5-6 is a safe number.
What is Skarmory weak to?
Skarmory is weak to Electric, Fire-type attacks. It resists Bug, Grass, Poison, Dragon, Fairy, Flying, Ground, Normal, Psychic, Steel-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Skarmory be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Yes! Skarmory's shiny form is available from raid encounters. The shiny rate for legendary raids is approximately 1 in 20 (5%). Use a Pinap Berry if you already have a shiny and want extra candy.
What CP is a 100% IV Skarmory from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Skarmory from raids will have 1234 CP at level 20, or 1536 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1167. If you see 1234 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Skarmory worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Skarmory is a lower-tier raid boss that can be soloed or defeated easily with 1-2 trainers. It's useful for farming candy, earning XP, and potentially getting a high-IV specimen. Worth doing when convenient, but doesn't require spending Premium Passes.
What is the best moveset for Skarmory?
For the best moveset for Skarmory itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Skarmory stats page which includes optimal fast and charged move combinations for both PvE raids and PvP GO Battle League, along with DPS calculations and PvP rankings.
Can I beat Skarmory without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Skarmory can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (29.000 DPS) and Regieleki (28.706 DPS). You may need 5-6 trainers instead of the minimum 2 when using budget teams. Check the Budget Counters section above for the full F2P-friendly list.
What weather boosts Skarmory in raids?
Skarmory is weather boosted during snow,windy weather. When boosted, Skarmory is harder to defeat (higher CP in the raid) but the catch encounter will be level 25 instead of 20, giving you a higher CP catch (1452-1536 CP) with potentially better IVs. Weather boost is a double-edged sword — harder raid, better reward.