Sky Battle

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A Sky Battle between a Haunter and a Talonflame

A Sky Battle (Japanese: スカイバトル Sky Battle) is a type of Pokémon battle exclusive to 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.

In the games

050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Does the player black out normally if they lose when their whole team is eligible?
A Pokémon Sky Battle between Red's Pidgeot and Blue's Charizard

Sky Battles were only introduced in Pokémon X and Y; however, there is game artwork from the Pocket Monsters Carddass Trading Cards that features a Pokémon Sky Battle (Japanese: ポケモンスカイバトル Pokémon Sky Battle).

An encounter with a Sky Trainer

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. 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 affects only Duskull, Bronzor and Bronzong). Pokémon do not lose eligibility even if they are holding an item like Iron Ball, and cannot gain eligibility by holding an item like Air Balloon. Eligibility is determined before the battle starts, so Pokémon that must first Mega Evolve to become Flying-type or have Levitate are not eligible. Eligibility cannot be changed in-battle, and will be unaffected by a Pokémon becoming grounded due to any in-battle effect, such as Mega Evolution, a held item change, or a move like Roost or Gastro Acid.

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
0006 Charizard Charizard Fire Flying
0012 Butterfree Butterfree Bug Flying
0017 Pidgeotto Pidgeotto Normal Flying
0018 Pidgeot Pidgeot Normal Flying
0022 Fearow Fearow Normal Flying
0041 Zubat Zubat Poison Flying
0042 Golbat Golbat Poison Flying
0092 Gastly Gastly Ghost Poison
0093 Haunter Haunter Ghost Poison
0109 Koffing Koffing Poison
0110 Weezing Weezing Poison
0123 Scyther Scyther Bug Flying
0130 Gyarados Gyarados Water Flying
0142 Aerodactyl Aerodactyl Rock Flying
0144 Articuno Articuno Ice Flying
0145 Zapdos Zapdos Electric Flying
0146 Moltres Moltres Fire Flying
0149 Dragonite Dragonite Dragon Flying
0164 Noctowl Noctowl Normal Flying
0165 Ledyba Ledyba Bug Flying
0166 Ledian Ledian Bug Flying
0169 Crobat Crobat Poison Flying
0176 Togetic Togetic Fairy Flying
0178 Xatu Xatu Psychic Flying
0187 Hoppip Hoppip Grass Flying
0188 Skiploom Skiploom Grass Flying
0189 Jumpluff Jumpluff Grass Flying
0193 Yanma Yanma Bug Flying
0200 Misdreavus Misdreavus Ghost
0201 Unown Unown Psychic
0207 Gligar Gligar Ground Flying
0226 Mantine Mantine Water Flying
0227 Skarmory Skarmory Steel Flying
0249 Lugia Lugia Psychic Flying
0250 Ho-Oh Ho-Oh Fire Flying
0267 Beautifly Beautifly Bug Flying
0277 Swellow Swellow Normal Flying
0278 Wingull Wingull Water Flying
0279 Pelipper Pelipper Water Flying
0284 Masquerain Masquerain Bug Flying
0291 Ninjask Ninjask Bug Flying
0329 Vibrava Vibrava Ground Dragon
0330 Flygon Flygon Ground Dragon
0333 Swablu Swablu Normal Flying
0334 Altaria Altaria Dragon Flying
0337 Lunatone Lunatone Rock Psychic
0338 Solrock Solrock Rock Psychic
0343 Baltoy Baltoy Ground Psychic
0344 Claydol Claydol Ground Psychic
0355 Duskull Duskull Ghost
0357 Tropius Tropius Grass Flying
0358 Chimecho Chimecho Psychic
0373 Salamence Salamence Dragon Flying
0380 Latias Latias Dragon Psychic
0381 Latios Latios Dragon Psychic
0384 Rayquaza Rayquaza Dragon Flying
0397 Staravia Staravia Normal Flying
0398 Staraptor Staraptor Normal Flying
0414 Mothim Mothim Bug Flying
0415 Combee Combee Bug Flying
0416 Vespiquen Vespiquen Bug Flying
0425 Drifloon Drifloon Ghost Flying
0426 Drifblim Drifblim Ghost Flying
0429 Mismagius Mismagius Ghost
0430 Honchkrow Honchkrow Dark Flying
0433 Chingling Chingling Psychic
0436 Bronzor Bronzor Steel Psychic
0437 Bronzong Bronzong Steel Psychic
0455 Carnivine Carnivine Grass
0458 Mantyke Mantyke Water Flying
0468 Togekiss Togekiss Fairy Flying
0469 Yanmega Yanmega Bug Flying
0472 Gliscor Gliscor Ground Flying
0479 Rotom Rotom Electric Ghost
0479 Rotom Heat
Rotom
Electric Fire
0479 Rotom Mow
Rotom
Electric Grass
0479 Rotom Fan
Rotom
Electric Flying
0479 Rotom Frost
Rotom
Electric Ice
0479 Rotom Wash
Rotom
Electric Water
0480 Uxie Uxie Psychic
0481 Mesprit Mesprit Psychic
0482 Azelf Azelf Psychic
0487 Giratina Giratina
Origin Forme
Ghost Dragon
0488 Cresselia Cresselia Psychic
0493 Arceus Arceus Flying
0520 Tranquill Tranquill Normal Flying
0521 Unfezant Unfezant Normal Flying
0527 Woobat Woobat Psychic Flying
0528 Swoobat Swoobat Psychic Flying
0561 Sigilyph Sigilyph Psychic Flying
0567 Archeops Archeops Rock Flying
0581 Swanna Swanna Water Flying
0587 Emolga Emolga Electric Flying
0602 Tynamo Tynamo Electric
0603 Eelektrik Eelektrik Electric
0604 Eelektross Eelektross Electric
0615 Cryogonal Cryogonal Ice
0628 Braviary Braviary Normal Flying
0630 Mandibuzz Mandibuzz Dark Flying
0635 Hydreigon Hydreigon Dark Dragon
0641 Tornadus Tornadus
Incarnate Forme
Flying
0641 Tornadus Tornadus
Therian Forme
Flying
0642 Thundurus Thundurus
Incarnate Forme
Electric Flying
0642 Thundurus Thundurus
Therian Forme
Electric Flying
0645 Landorus Landorus
Incarnate Forme
Ground Flying
0645 Landorus Landorus
Therian Forme
Ground Flying
0662 Fletchinder Fletchinder Fire Flying
0663 Talonflame Talonflame Fire Flying
0666 Vivillon Vivillon Bug Flying
0714 Noibat Noibat Flying Dragon
0715 Noivern Noivern Flying Dragon
0717 Yveltal Yveltal Dark Flying

Ineligible Flying or Levitating Pokémon

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
Sky Trainer Howe
シュン Shun
Reward: $1,800
Drifloon Drifloon Lv.15
No item
Pidgeotto Pidgeotto Lv.18
No item
Coastal level
Sky Trainer Aveza
Sky Trainer Aveza
マイ Mai
Reward: $2,200
Skiploom Skiploom Lv.19
No item
Swoobat Swoobat Lv.22
No item
Sky Trainer Colm
Sky Trainer Colm
ツバサ Tsubasa
Reward: $2,900
Mantyke Mantyke Lv.28
No item
Jumpluff Jumpluff Lv.29
No item


Kalos Route 9

Trainer Pokémon
Sky Trainer Orion
Sky Trainer Orion
マルセル Marcel
Reward: $2,100
Ledian Ledian Lv.21
No item


Kalos Route 11

Trainer Pokémon
Sky Trainer Yvette
Sky Trainer Yvette
ミソラ Misora
Reward: $2,400
Emolga Emolga Lv.23
No item
Wingull Wingull Lv.23
No item
Staravia Staravia Lv.24
No item


Azure Bay

Trainer Pokémon
Sky Trainer Indra
Sky Trainer Indra
リュウセイ Ryūsei
Reward: $3,100
Sigilyph Sigilyph Lv.31
No item
Sky Trainer Elata
Sky Trainer Elata
ミホシ Mihoshi
Reward: $2,900
Fletchinder Fletchinder Lv.28
No item
Pelipper Pelipper Lv.29
No item


Kalos Route 16

Trainer Pokémon
Sky Trainer Clara
Sky Trainer Clara
フウカ Fūka
Reward: $4,000
Emolga Emolga Lv.38
No item
Swellow Swellow Lv.40
No item
Sky Trainer Gavin
Sky Trainer Gavin
フィリップ Philip
Reward: $3,900
Chimecho Chimecho Lv.37
No item
Vibrava Vibrava Lv.37
No item
Talonflame Talonflame Lv.39
No item


Frost Cavern

Trainer Pokémon
Sky Trainer Celso
Sky Trainer Celso
タクヤ Takuya
Reward: $4,400
Carnivine Carnivine Lv.41
No item
Swanna Swanna Lv.44
No item
Sky Trainer Era
Sky Trainer Era
ミウ Miu
Reward: $4,500
Cryogonal Cryogonal Lv.45
No item


Kalos Route 17

Trainer Pokémon
Sky Trainer Anila
Sky Trainer Anila
アマネ Amane
Reward: $4,400
Rotom Rotom Lv.42
No item
Butterfree Butterfree Lv.44
No item


Kalos Route 18

Trainer Pokémon
Sky Trainer Jeremy
Sky Trainer Jeremy
ショウタロウ Shōtarō
Reward: $5,000
Ninjask Ninjask Lv.46
No item
Drifblim Drifblim Lv.47
No item
Flygon Flygon Lv.50
No item


Kalos Route 19

Trainer Pokémon
Sky Trainer Sera
Sky Trainer Sera
セイラ Sera
Reward: $5,200
Noctowl Noctowl Lv.50
No item
Aerodactyl Aerodactyl Lv.52
No item


In the anime

A Sky Battle in the anime

Main series

Pokémon the Series: XY

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

Pokémon Adventures

X & Y arc

Sky Battles first appeared in Burning Fletchinder. 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 and were carried to the ground by the Vivillon.

Trivia

  • 12 of the 18 types lose at least one move in Sky Battles. The only types whose moves are all allowed in Sky Battles are the Bug, Dark, Dragon, Flying, Ghost, and Ice types.
  • Five Pokémon lose their eligibility to participate in Sky Battles by evolution or form change: Gengar, Scizor, Dusclops, Giratina Altered Forme, and Arceus.
  • The only Flying/Levitating Pokémon that does not stand on the ground in battle yet cannot participate in Sky Battles is Mega Pinsir, due to its non-Mega Evolved form needing to be in battle first.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 空中對戰 Hūngjūng Deuijin
Mandarin 空中對戰 / 空中对战 Kōngzhōng Duìzhàn
Denmark Flag.png Danish Luftkamp
The Netherlands Flag.png Dutch Luchtgevecht
Finland Flag.png Finnish Ilmaottelu
France Flag.png French Combat Aérien
Germany Flag.png German Himmelskampf
Italy Flag.png Italian Lotta Aerea
South Korea Flag.png Korean 스카이배틀 Sky Battle
Norway Flag.png Norwegian Flyvekamp
Poland Flag.png Polish Podniebna Bitwa
Portugal Flag.png Portuguese Batalha Aérea
Russia Flag.png Russian Воздушная Битва Vozdushnaya Bitva
Spain Flag.png Spanish Combate Aéreo
Sweden Flag.png Swedish Luftstrid


Pokémon battle variations
Double BattleMulti BattleTriple BattleRotation BattleHorde EncounterSOS BattleSupport PlayMax Raid BattleFull Battle
Contest BattleLauncher BattleSky BattleInverse BattleBattle RoyalDynamax AdventureAuto BattleTera Raid BattleScripted battle
Battle modes
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