Mega Skarmory has arrived in Pokemon Go as a Steel/Flying-type raid boss, and it brings one of the toughest Super Mega Raid challenges yet. With only two exploitable weaknesses and resistance to ten different types, this golden armored bird will punish underprepared trainers fast. This guide covers everything you need to take it down, from the best counters to the optimal moveset once you catch one.
Mega Skarmory Raid Day Hours and Event Bonuses
Mega Skarmory makes its debut on June 27, 2026, during the Skarmory Super Mega Raid Day. Raids run from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time.
Super Mega Raids are more demanding than standard raids. You need a group of at least seven trainers, and every participant must have their own Mega-Evolved Pokemon active. This is not a raid you can solo or duo, even at high levels.
Several bonuses are active during the event window:
- Remote Raid Pass limit increased to 20 (active June 26 to 27)
- Up to six free Raid Passes by spinning Photo Discs at Gyms
- Increased shiny Skarmory encounter rate after completing a raid
Timed Research tasks are also available during the event. Completing them gives you a chance to catch Houndoom, which works well as a Fire-type counter against Mega Skarmory.
Mega Skarmory Weaknesses in Pokemon Go
Mega Skarmory keeps its standard Skarmory typing upon Mega Evolving, so its weakness profile does not change. As a Steel/Flying-type, it is only vulnerable to two attack types:
- Fire (deals super effective damage)
- Electric (deals super effective damage)
Everything else either deals neutral or reduced damage. The table below shows how resistant Mega Skarmory is to most attack types.
| Resistance Level | Types |
|---|---|
| Resistant | Dragon, Fairy, Flying, Ground, Normal, Psychic, Steel |
| Super Resistant | Bug, Grass, Poison |
Ten resistances is an exceptionally high number for a raid boss. Keep your lineup clean: Fire and Electric only.
Best Mega Skarmory Counters in Pokemon Go
Top Mega Counters
Mega Charizard Y leads the field by a wide margin. Most trainers already have one powered up, which makes this raid far more accessible than it might otherwise be.
| Pokemon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Charizard Y | Fire Spin | Blast Burn* |
| Mega Charizard X | Fire Spin | Blast Burn* |
| Mega Blaziken | Fire Spin | Blast Burn* |
| Mega Manectric | Thunder Fang | Wild Charge |
| Mega Ampharos | Volt Switch | Zap Cannon |
| Mega Mewtwo Y | Thunder Shock | Thunderbolt |
*Blast Burn is a legacy move that requires an Elite Charged TM.
Top Non-Mega Fire Counters
| Pokemon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow Reshiram | Fire Fang | Fusion Flare* |
| Shadow Heatran | Fire Spin | Magma Storm* |
| Reshiram | Fire Fang | Fusion Flare* |
| Heatran | Fire Spin | Magma Storm* |
| Entei | Fire Spin | Overheat |
| Blacephalon | Incinerate | Mind Blown |
| Cinderace | Fire Spin | Blast Burn* |
Top Non-Mega Electric Counters
| Pokemon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow Thundurus (Therian) | Volt Switch | Wildbolt Storm* |
| Zeraora | Volt Switch | Plasma Fists |
| Shadow Raikou | Thunder Shock | Wild Charge |
| Regieleki | Lock-On | Thunder Cage* |
| Shadow Magnezone | Volt Switch | Wild Charge |
| Xurkitree | Thunder Shock | Discharge |
| Zekrom | Charge Beam | Fusion Bolt |
| Electivire | Thunder Shock | Wild Charge |
| Raikou | Thunder Shock | Wild Charge |
*Moves marked with an asterisk require an Elite TM or were event-exclusive.
Shadow Therian Thundurus is the strongest non-Mega counter overall. If you have a powered-up Shadow Reshiram or Shadow Heatran with legacy moves, bring both. They deal serious damage.
How to Beat Mega Skarmory
Mega Skarmory sits at 42,590 CP as a raid boss with 9,000 HP, 227 Attack, and 191 Defense. Those numbers are not trivial.
Focus entirely on Fire and Electric attackers. Any fully evolved Legendary or pseudo-Legendary of those types contributes meaningfully. If you lack Shadow or Legendary options, bring your highest-CP Fire and Electric Pokemon with same-type moves to get the STAB damage bonus.
Build two full teams before you enter. If your first lineup faints, you can jump back into the raid immediately with your second without losing momentum. This matters in a Super Mega Raid where every second of DPS counts.
Super Mega Raids require a minimum of seven trainers, each with a Mega-Evolved Pokemon. Aim for nine or more players to clear the raid with time to spare. High-level trainers with optimal teams can manage with five or six, but that setup requires near-perfect counters and solid coordination.
Mega Skarmory Moveset in Pokemon Go
Best Offensive Movesets
As a Flying-type attacker: Air Slash (Fast) and Sky Attack (Charged) give Mega Skarmory a DPS of 15.03 and a TDO of 301.6. These moves get a boost in Windy weather. This is the stronger offensive build and makes Mega Skarmory an A+ Tier Flying attacker, ranking #15 in that category.
As a Steel-type attacker: Steel Wing (Fast) and Flash Cannon (Charged) produce a DPS of 13.97 and a TDO of 280.4. Both moves get a boost in Snowy weather. This build makes Mega Skarmory an A+ Tier Steel attacker at #14.
Full Moveset List
| Move Type | Moves |
|---|---|
| Fast Moves | Air Slash (Flying), Steel Wing (Steel) |
| Charged Moves | Brave Bird (Flying), Sky Attack (Flying), Flash Cannon (Steel) |
Brave Bird hits hard at 130 base power, but its 100 energy cost means you use it less frequently. Sky Attack at 80 power and only 50 energy is far more energy-efficient and works better in most raid scenarios.
How Mega Skarmory Performs as a Raid Attacker
As a Flying-type, Mega Skarmory carves out a practical niche. Its Steel/Flying typing gives it heavy resistance to Bug and Grass, which are two common Raid Boss types that Flying attacks counter. It also boosts the damage of other Flying-type Pokemon on your team while active as a Mega.
As a Steel-type, it performs similarly to a regular Dialga in terms of DPS. Mega Excadrill outclasses it by roughly 16.7% damage in raids, and stronger Steel-type Legendaries pull further ahead. Use it as a budget-friendly option rather than a top-tier Steel attacker.
For budget trainers, Mega Skarmory is worth powering up. It costs significantly less than Shadow Legendaries and holds its own against Bug and Grass raid bosses.
Mega Skarmory CP in Pokemon Go
Raid Boss CP
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Raid Boss CP | 42,590 CP |
Post-Raid Catch CP Range
| Condition | CP Range |
|---|---|
| No weather boost (Level 20) | 1,139 CP to 1,204 CP |
| Windy or Snowy weather (Level 25) | 1,424 CP to 1,506 CP |
| 100% IV (Hundo), no boost | 2,137 CP |
| 100% IV (Hundo), weather boosted | 2,672 CP |
Max CP by Level
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Level 20 | 2,137 CP |
| Level 25 | 2,672 CP |
| Level 30 | 3,206 CP |
| Level 40 | 3,741 CP |
| Level 50 | 4,229 CP |
A Mega Skarmory at Level 50 with perfect IVs tops out at 4,229 CP. Powering it from Level 1 to Level 50 costs 520,000 Stardust, 304 Candy, and 296 Candy XL.
Is Shiny Mega Skarmory Available in Pokemon Go?
Yes, shiny Mega Skarmory is available in Pokemon Go. Shiny Skarmory first appeared in November 2019 during the A Colossal Discovery event, so the shiny form carries over to its Mega Evolution.
Standard shiny odds from a raid sit at 1 in 64. During Mega Skarmory Raid Day on June 27, those odds improve to approximately 1 in 10, making this event the best window to hunt a shiny.
Regular Mega Skarmory takes on golden armor with dark blue trim when it Mega Evolves. The shiny version flips back to the classic silver coloring but keeps the green trim from the base shiny form. It is a clean design that holds up well. Play Now!
