Sky Battle

A Sky Battle (Japanese: スカイバトル Sky Battle) is a type of Pokémon battle introduced in 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

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. They do not lose eligibility even if they become grounded due to any in-battle effect, such as Mega Evolution, a move like Roost or Gastro Acid, or an item like the Iron Ball or Air Balloon. Pokémon that must first Mega Evolve to become Flying-type or have Levitate are not eligible. 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 applies only to Duskull, Bronzor and Bronzong however.

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
006Fire Flying
012Bug Flying
017Normal Flying
018Normal Flying
022Normal Flying
041Poison Flying
042Poison Flying
092Ghost Poison
093Ghost Poison
109Poison
110Poison
123Bug Flying
130Water Flying
142Rock Flying
144Ice Flying
145Electric Flying
146Fire Flying
149Dragon Flying
164Normal Flying
165Bug Flying
166Bug Flying
169Poison Flying
176Fairy Flying
178Psychic Flying
187Grass Flying
188Grass Flying
189Grass Flying
193Bug Flying
200Ghost
201Psychic
207Ground Flying
226Water Flying
227Steel Flying
249Psychic Flying
250Fire Flying
267Bug Flying
277Normal Flying
278Water Flying
279Water Flying
284Bug Flying
291Bug Flying
329Ground Dragon
330Ground Dragon
333Normal Flying
334Dragon Flying
337Rock Psychic
338Rock Psychic
343Ground Psychic
344Ground Psychic
355Ghost
357Grass Flying
358Psychic
373Dragon Flying
380Dragon Psychic
381Dragon Psychic
384Dragon Flying
397Normal Flying
398Normal Flying
414Bug Flying
415Bug Flying
416Bug Flying
425Ghost Flying
426Ghost Flying
429Ghost
430Dark Flying
433Psychic
436Steel Psychic
437Steel Psychic
455Grass
458Water Flying
468Fairy Flying
469Bug Flying
472Ground Flying
479Electric Ghost
479Electric Fire
479Electric Grass
479Electric Flying
479Electric Ice
479Electric Water
480Psychic
481Psychic
482Psychic
487Ghost Dragon
488Psychic
493Flying
520Normal Flying
521Normal Flying
527Psychic Flying
528Psychic Flying
561Psychic Flying
567Rock Flying
581Water Flying
587Electric Flying
602Electric
603Electric
604Electric
615Ice
628Normal Flying
630Dark Flying
635Dark Dragon
641Flying
641Flying
642Electric Flying
642Electric Flying
645Ground Flying
645Ground Flying
662Fire Flying
663Fire Flying
666Bug Flying
714Flying Dragon
715Flying Dragon
717Dark Flying

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 Elatal
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

X & Y chapter

Sky Battles first appeared in PS571. 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

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 Battle • Multi Battle • Triple Battle • Rotation Battle • Horde Encounter • SOS Battle • Support Play • Max Raid Battle
Full Battle • Contest Battle • Launcher Battle • Sky Battle • Inverse Battle • Battle Royal • Dynamax Adventure
Battle modes


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