Skarmory is a silver-gray, avianPokémon with a long, metallic blue neck, legs, and tail. It has yellow eyes, a pointed beak with several pointed teeth, and a triangular crest on its head. Skarmory's entire body is coated in an extremely sturdy steel armor. There are red feathers under the sheaths that cover its sharp wings, and each feather can be moved independently. Its wings are actually hollow, allowing it to travel up to 185 mph (300 km/h). Its feet have three toes on them, two in front and one in back, and its tail has hooked ends.
Its steel wings become tattered and bashed in from repeated battles, but once a year the battered wings grow back completely. This process restores the cutting edges of its feathers, which are sharper than any human-crafted sword. Its skin and feathers are solid due to being raised in very harsh conditions. Its nests are usually found in thorn bushes, where continual scratching of a young individual's skin will eventually harden it into the strong, armor-like state associated with its adult stage. However, water can cause Skarmory's hard body to rust easily, so it stays in its nest on rainy days. In ancient regions where these Pokémon are common, warriors would use the sharp feathers that fell off Skarmory to craft swords. It is a popular Pokémon that is used for heraldic designs, and in Galar, it has violent territorial clashes with Corviknight. In Blueberry Academy, Skarmory is used for the school's Flying Taxi service.
Mega Skarmory changes Skarmory into a bright gold color. Its talons become enormous and armored; the actual foot is dark blue and each of its three individual talons is covered by a golden sheath. It holds these massive talons behind its body as it flies. Additionally, its wings become larger and spikier; its red feathers turn dark blue and the sheaths covering them turn the same shade of gold. The first of these blue feathers is the longest, shortening with each subsequent feather. Skarmory's eyes become narrow and red, and its tail becomes three-pronged. Two additional dark blue feathers grow behind the triangular crest on its head. Its neck feathers become spikier as well, forming V-shapes pointing downward from the sides of its neck.
Mega Skarmory can fly faster than the speed of sound. It conjures shock waves to send its opponents flying, then finishes them off with its large, sharp talons.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Skarmory resides at the top of Mt. Steel where it does not like being disturbed. Skarmory holds a Diglett captive and attacks the player. After being defeated, it flies away and doesn't return.
Pokémon Ranger: Skarmory is Elita's partner Pokémon. The player also sees it at the Grassland Challenge.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
Its sturdy wings look heavy, but they are actually hollow and light, allowing it to fly freely in the sky. (Pokémon Red, Silver, or Crystal inserted) After nesting in bramble bushes, the wings of its chicks grow hard from scratches by thorns. (Pokémon Blue, Gold, or Yellow inserted)
Skarmory is entirely encased in hard, protective armor. This Pokémon flies at close to 190 mph. It slashes foes with its wings that possess swordlike cutting edges.
Skarmory's steel wings become tattered and bashed in from repeated battles. Once a year, the battered wings grow back completely, restoring the cutting edges to their pristine state.
Skarmory is entirely encased in hard, protective armor. This Pokémon flies at close to 190 mph. It slashes foes with its wings that possess swordlike cutting edges.
Skarmory's steel wings become tattered and bashed in from repeated battles. Once a year, the battered wings grow back completely, restoring the cutting edges to their pristine state.
Skarmory flew with such acrobatic skill over the snowfields. Its steel body is hard and sturdy, but because of its hollow bones, it’s actually very lightweight.
Skarmory debuted in Hot Matches!, under the ownership of Miki. It was used to battle Brock's Vulpix, which it defeated with Steel Wing. It then battled Ash's Cyndaquil, but the battle was interrupted by Team Rocket. After Team Rocket was sent blasting off, Skarmory and Cyndaquil resumed their battle the next day, during which Skarmory was defeated by Cyndaquil's Flamethrower.
In the Hoopa's Surprise Ring Adventures short Flying in the Air, Hoopa summoned a Skarmory and other Flying-type Pokémon to create wind for Ash and Pikachu, but their combined Gust was too much for them and sent them blasting off.
In Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, multiple Skarmory were part of the feuding armies that were eventually placated by Sir Aaron in the past. Three of them attacked him and his Pidgeot just before.
Four Skarmory appeared in PT17, one of which was during a flashback. This Skarmory tried attacking Hiro and a Murkrow, but they managed to escape by entering a small cave.
Falkner's father, Walker, owns a Skarmory. In Scrappy Skarmory, he rode it to visit Chuck in Cianwood City. He was attacked by Suicune on the way, so he teamed up with Chuck in an attempt to capture it, but failed.
In the Pokémon Stadium 2, a Skarmory can be seen flying on the Flying Terrain. Other guest Pokémon found in the Flying Terrain include a Drifloon and a Hoppip drifting in the distance.
Trophy information
"An Armor Bird Pokémon with a steel-hard body and wings. It flies at speeds up to 186 miles per hour and slices enemies with sharp steel wings that grow dull over time. It grows new wings once a year, which regain their original sharpness. It's said that people used to use fallen wings for swords and knives. It can fly so quickly and freely because it has light, hollow bones."
Skarmory's sprites in Gold and Silver featured a second tail above the first. This extra tail is not featured in any artwork, and was removed in Crystal.
Skarmory has much in common with the Andean condor and cranes, birds that are held in high esteem in Japan. It is also similar to many mythological, metallic birds such as the Stymphalian birds, the Gagana, and the Alicanto. In addition, its design resembles a wyvern.
Its concept could also be a pun on 鶴 tsuru (crane), referencing a paper crane, and 剣 tsurugi (sword). Its wings also resemble a Japanese paper hand fan.
Mega Skarmory's color change to gold might be a reference to Skarmory's origin games, Gold and Silver.
Name origin
Skarmory may be a combination of sky and armory or armor. It may also involve scar.
Airmd may be a combination of エアair and アームドarmed, which are gairaigo.
Yoroidori is the combination of 鎧yoroi, "armor", and 鳥tori, "bird" (with its phonetic shift to dori).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.