Sky Attack (move)

Sky Attack ゴッドバード God Bird

File:Sky Attack.png

Battles Type  Flying Category  Physical PP  5 (max. 8) Power  140 Accuracy  90% Priority  0 Does not make contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Normal: May affect anyone but the user (long-range)

Availability Introduced  Generation I TM43 in Generation I Move Tutor in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness Move Tutor in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Move Tutor in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Contests Condition  Cool Appeal  3 ♥♥♥ Jam  0   Affected by how well the appeal in front goes.

Super Contests Condition  Cool Appeal  1 ♥ Earn +3 if no other Pokémon has chosen the same Judge.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Cool Appeal  0   Jamming  0

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

Sky Attack (Japanese: ゴッドバード God Bird) is a damage-dealing Flying-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM43 in Generation I. Prior to Generation III, it was signature move of Moltres.

Effect

Generation I-II

Sky Attack does nothing on the turn it is selected, other than say that the user is glowing. On the following turn, Sky Attack will deal damage, PP will be deducted from it, and it will count as the last move used. Once Sky Attack is selected, the user won't be able to switch out until it is disrupted or fully executed.

If Sky Attack is not fully executed, PP will not be deducted from it, and it will not count as the last move used. If the target uses Mirror Move during the turn that the user is glowing, Mirror Move will copy the move that the user executed immediately before using Sky Attack (or fail if it can't).

Sleep, freeze, partial trapping, and flinching will pause but not disrupt the duration of Sky Attack.

In Stadium, Mirror Move will copy Sky Attack on either of the turns it takes to execute.

Generation III

Sky Attack now has a 30% chance of causing the target to flinch. Otherwise, it is exactly the same as before.

Generation IV

Sky Attack now displays "<name> became cloaked in a harsh light!" instead of "<name> is glowing!". Otherwise, it is exactly the same as Generation III. If the user is holding a Power Herb, there will be no charge turn.

Generation V

Sky Attack can hit non-adjacent opponents in Triple Battles.

Description

Games Description The strongest Flying-type attack. Energy is stored in the first turn, then fired the next turn. Strongest Flying-type attack. Stores energy in the first turn, then fires in the next. 1st turn: Prepare 2nd turn: Attack RSE Searches out weak spots, then strikes the next turn. FRLG A 2nd-turn attack move with a high critical-hit ratio. The foe may flinch. A second-turn attack move with a high critical-hit ratio. It may also make the target flinch. A second-turn attack move where critical hits land more easily. It may also make the target flinch.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Type		Level
					I		II		III		IV		V		VI
146		Moltres	Fire	Flying	60			73			85			78				78			'
164		Noctowl	Normal	Flying										--				--			'
249		Lugia	Psychic	Flying										99				99			'
250		Ho-Oh	Fire	Flying										99				99			'
334		Altaria	Dragon	Flying							59			70				77	64	'
468		Togekiss	Normal	Flying										--				--			'
519		Pidove	Normal	Flying														50			'
520		Tranquill	Normal	Flying														59			'
521		Unfezant	Normal	Flying														66			'
561		Sigilyph	Psychic	Flying														51			'
717		Yveltal	Dark	Flying																	93
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Type		Father
					II		III		IV		V		VI
021		Spearow	Normal	Flying
163		Hoothoot*	Normal	Flying
198		Murkrow*	Dark	Flying
227		Skarmory*	Steel	Flying
276		Taillow	Normal	Flying
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By TM

#	Pokémon		Type		Machine
					I TM43		II --		III --		IV --		V --		VI --
016		Pidgey	Normal	Flying	✔															✔
017		Pidgeotto	Normal	Flying	✔															✔
018		Pidgeot	Normal	Flying	✔															✔
021		Spearow	Normal	Flying	✔															✔
022		Fearow	Normal	Flying	✔															✔
084		Doduo	Normal	Flying	✔															✔
085		Dodrio	Normal	Flying	✔															✔
142		Aerodactyl	Rock	Flying	✔															✔
144		Articuno	Ice	Flying	✔															✔
145		Zapdos	Electric	Flying	✔															✔
146		Moltres	Fire	Flying	✔															✔
151		Mew	Psychic		Psychic	✔															✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By Move Tutor

#	Pokémon		Type		Game
					FRLG	E	XD	DP	Pt	HGSS	BW	B2W2
016		Pidgey	Normal	Flying						✔
017		Pidgeotto	Normal	Flying						✔
018		Pidgeot	Normal	Flying						✔			✔		✔
021		Spearow	Normal	Flying						✔					✔
022		Fearow	Normal	Flying						✔			✔		✔
083		Farfetch'd	Normal	Flying											✔
084		Doduo	Normal	Flying						✔
085		Dodrio	Normal	Flying						✔			✔		✔
142		Aerodactyl	Rock	Flying						✔			✔		✔
144		Articuno	Ice	Flying						✔			✔		✔
145		Zapdos	Electric	Flying						✔			✔		✔
146		Moltres	Fire	Flying						✔			✔		✔
151		Mew	Psychic		Psychic						✔			✔		✔
163		Hoothoot	Normal	Flying						✔					✔
164		Noctowl	Normal	Flying						✔			✔		✔
169		Crobat	Poison	Flying									✔		✔
176		Togetic	Normal	Flying						✔
177		Natu	Psychic	Flying						✔
178		Xatu	Psychic	Flying						✔			✔		✔
198		Murkrow	Dark	Flying						✔					✔
225		Delibird	Ice	Flying						✔			✔		✔
227		Skarmory	Steel	Flying						✔			✔		✔
249		Lugia	Psychic	Flying									✔		✔
250		Ho-Oh	Fire	Flying						✔			✔		✔
276		Taillow	Normal	Flying						✔
277		Swellow	Normal	Flying						✔			✔		✔
278		Wingull	Water	Flying						✔
279		Pelipper	Water	Flying						✔			✔		✔
333		Swablu	Normal	Flying						✔
334		Altaria	Dragon	Flying						✔			✔		✔
398		Staraptor	Normal	Flying									✔		✔
430		Honchkrow	Dark	Flying									✔		✔
441		Chatot	Normal	Flying									✔		✔
468		Togekiss	Normal	Flying									✔		✔
472		Gliscor	Ground	Flying									✔		✔
519		Pidove	Normal	Flying											✔
520		Tranquill	Normal	Flying											✔
521		Unfezant	Normal	Flying											✔
528		Swoobat	Psychic	Flying											✔
561		Sigilyph	Psychic	Flying											✔
567		Archeops	Rock	Flying											✔
581		Swanna	Water	Flying											✔
628		Braviary	Normal	Flying											✔
630		Mandibuzz	Dark	Flying											✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By event

Generation V

#   Pokémon Type Obtained with 0018 Pidgeot Normal Flying Pokémon Game ShowBW Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

In the anime

Togekiss Noctowl Tranquill Altaria
The user glows silver and attacks the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Skarmory's body glows white or orange and flies into the opponent at top speed.
Attila's Skarmory	The Legend of Thunder!		Debut
A wild Skarmory	All Torkoal, No Play		None
	Altaria's body becomes surrounded in red flames and it flies into the opponent.
Drake's Altaria	Vanity Affair		None
	Murkrow's body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent
Paul's Murkrow	Top-Down Training!		None
	Honchkrow's body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent.
Paul's Honchkrow	Lost Leader Strategy!		None
	Togekiss's body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent. As it flies, a white trail of energy is left behind it.
Dawn's Togekiss	Dawn of a Royal Day!		None
	Noctowl's eyebrow tufts glow white and it flies into the air as it prepares for the attack. Then, its body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent.
Ash's Noctowl	Working on a Right Move!		None
	Tranquill flies up into the air, then turns around and flies straight down at the opponent. Its body then becomes surrounded in a clear aura with white energy around it and it flies into the opponent at top speed.
Antonio's Tranquill	Reunion Battles In Nimbasa!		None

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Thu-Fi-Zer Altaria
The user flaps their wings and creates a powerful gust to blow away the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Thu-Fi-Zer charges at the opponent and its body turns into a powerful tornado that blows the opponent away.
Thu-Fi-Zer	The Winged Legends		Debut
	Altaria flies high into the air, then dives down and slams into the opponent with great force.
Winona's Altaria	I Dare Ya, Altaria... Knock Chic off My Shoulder		None

In other generations

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

• Sky Attack has the highest base power of any Flying-type move.
• Sky Attack and Brave Bird share similar in-game animations; the only major difference is that where the former has a blue aura, the latter's is red. This is reversed in the anime.
  • In the Japanese version, there are even more similarities with Sky Attack being named "God Bird."
  • Despite crashing into the opponent like Brave Bird, this move does not make contact with the opponent.
• Sky Attack's in-game descriptions erroneously state that it has a high critical hit rate.
• In Generation I, Sky Attack was the only Flying-type move that could be taught via TM.
• It is one of the two moves usable by standard form Missingno.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 高空攻擊 Gāokōng Gōngjí Danish Himmelangreb Dutch Luchtaanval Finnish Taivashyökkäys French Piqué German Himmelsfeger Greek Ουράνια Επίθεση Hindi आसमानी हमला Aasmani Hamla Indonesian Burung Dewa Serangan Udara Italian Aeroattacco Korean 불새 Bul Sae Polish Podniebny Atak Brazilian Portuguese Ataque do Céu Romanian Atacul Ceresc Serbian Vazdušni Napad Spanish Latin America Ataque Aèreo Ataque del Cielo Ataque Cielo Ataque Celestial Spain Ataque Aéreo

Variations of the move Sky Attack
Sky Attack • Freeze Shock Ice Burn

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.