0.1% of the meta · Updated July 25, 2026
Signature card
Skarmory ex
Special Art Rare
#9 — BALD bbchillen
Lagoon Serenity Format (Any FA or RR Paradox) · 7W-1L
#2 — hextor
Lagoon Serenity Format (FA Choice Prize) · 8W-2L
#5 — hextor
KnowticeTkO x The Breakfast Club - $5 Rank Relief · 5W-2L
During your opponent's next turn, this Pokémon takes −20 damage from attacks.
Skarmory ex uses Steel Wing to hit for 70 damage and reduce incoming damage by 20 the following turn, building a durable defensive loop that forces opponents to need multiple hits for a KO. The win condition is outlasting aggressive attackers through layered damage reduction while scoring consistent 2-energy knockouts.
Open with Skarmory ex in the Active Spot and use Professor's Research to build your hand. Steel Wing fires on turn 2 and immediately grants -20 incoming damage for the opponent's response turn. Mid-game, Metal Core Barrier and Steel Apron stack additional damage reduction on top of Steel Wing's passive, and Jasmine can grant an additional -50 reduction to Skarmory ex during the opponent's next turn. Cyrus locks damaged targets Active, Sabrina redirects threats, and Lucky Ice Pop heals chip damage. Guzma and Mars provide additional disruption to slow opposing setup.
Opponent's Active Pokemon
Steel Wing base 70 damage
No scaling buff; consistent 70 every turn with 2 Metal Energy
Skarmory ex incoming damage after Steel Wing
Steel Wing -20 damage reduction on next opponent's attack
Stacks with Metal Core Barrier; can significantly reduce or negate moderate-damage attacks
Steel Wing's -20 is active the turn after you attack. Equip Metal Core Barrier or Steel Apron before the opponent's response for maximum reduction. Play Jasmine to add a further -50 reduction on Skarmory ex during the opponent's next turn. This forces opponents to dedicate more attacks to KO Skarmory ex than expected for a 140 HP target.
Cyrus traps a damaged opponent Active, forcing repeated attacks into Skarmory ex's reduction. Sabrina redirects an opponent's key attacker to the bench, buying turns. Guzma strips all tools from opposing Pokemon, removing protective equipment. This control suite lets Skarmory ex dictate which opposing Pokemon attacks into it, maximizing the defensive loop's value.
Steel Wing reduces incoming damage by 20 per turn. Metal Core Barrier adds further reduction. High-burst attackers with single-turn damage well above 140 can KO Skarmory ex through the reduction — especially if the tool stack is incomplete. Saving a high-damage turn for when tools are not yet equipped is the most efficient counter.
Steel Wing's -20 reduction only protects Skarmory ex while it is Active. Bench attacks bypass this entirely. Cards that hit the bench exploit the unprotected targets behind Skarmory ex, forcing the opponent to choose between keeping Skarmory ex Active for reduction or retreating to protect the bench.
Skarmory ex is metal type and weak to fire. Fire attacks deal increased damage that the Steel Wing reduction does not fully offset. Even with the -20 reduction active, a fire attacker hitting for 90+ effectively exceeds Skarmory ex's baseline defense. Fire-type decks are the primary type counter to this archetype.
Hand disruption support
Damage reduction tools
Threats — Weak Against
Based on type weakness analysis of core cards. View full matchup matrix →
