Sky Battle

A 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.

In the games

A Sky Trainer asking to have a Sky Battle with the player

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.

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
006		Charizard	Fire	Flying
012		Butterfree	Bug	Flying
017		Pidgeotto	Normal	Flying
018		Pidgeot	Normal	Flying
022		Fearow	Normal	Flying
041		Zubat	Poison	Flying
042		Golbat	Poison	Flying
092		Gastly	Ghost	Poison
093		Haunter	Ghost	Poison
109		Koffing	Poison		Poison
110		Weezing	Poison		Poison
123		Scyther	Bug	Flying
130		Gyarados	Water	Flying
142		Aerodactyl	Rock	Flying
144		Articuno	Ice	Flying
145		Zapdos	Electric	Flying
146		Moltres	Fire	Flying
149		Dragonite	Dragon	Flying
164		Noctowl	Normal	Flying
165		Ledyba	Bug	Flying
166		Ledian	Bug	Flying
169		Crobat	Poison	Flying
176		Togetic	Fairy	Flying
178		Xatu	Psychic	Flying
187		Hoppip	Grass	Flying
188		Skiploom	Grass	Flying
189		Jumpluff	Grass	Flying
193		Yanma	Bug	Flying
200		Misdreavus	Ghost		Poison
201		Unown	Psychic		Poison
207		Gligar	Ground	Flying
226		Mantine	Water	Flying
227		Skarmory	Steel	Flying
249		Lugia	Psychic	Flying
250		Ho-Oh	Fire	Flying
267		Beautifly	Bug	Flying
277		Swellow	Normal	Flying
278		Wingull	Water	Flying
279		Pelipper	Water	Flying
284		Masquerain	Bug	Flying
291		Ninjask	Bug	Flying
329		Vibrava	Ground	Dragon
330		Flygon	Ground	Dragon
333		Swablu	Normal	Flying
334		Altaria	Dragon	Flying
337		Lunatone	Rock	Psychic
338		Solrock	Rock	Psychic
343		Baltoy	Ground	Psychic
344		Claydol	Ground	Psychic
355		Duskull	Ghost		Poison
357		Tropius	Grass	Flying
358		Chimecho	Psychic		Poison
373		Salamence	Dragon	Flying
380		Latias	Dragon	Psychic
381		Latios	Dragon	Psychic
384		Rayquaza	Dragon	Flying
397		Staravia	Normal	Flying
398		Staraptor	Normal	Flying
414		Mothim	Bug	Flying
415		Combee	Bug	Flying
416		Vespiquen	Bug	Flying
425		Drifloon	Ghost	Flying
426		Drifblim	Ghost	Flying
429		Mismagius	Ghost		Poison
430		Honchkrow	Dark	Flying
433		Chingling	Psychic		Poison
436		Bronzor	Steel	Psychic
437		Bronzong	Steel	Psychic
455		Carnivine	Grass		Poison
458		Mantyke	Water	Flying
468		Togekiss	Fairy	Flying
469		Yanmega	Bug	Flying
472		Gliscor	Ground	Flying
479		Rotom	Electric	Ghost
479		Rotom Heat Rotom	Electric	Fire
479		Rotom Mow Rotom	Electric	Grass
479		Rotom Fan Rotom	Electric	Flying
479		Rotom Frost Rotom	Electric	Ice
479		Rotom Wash Rotom	Electric	Water
480		Uxie	Psychic		Poison
481		Mesprit	Psychic		Poison
482		Azelf	Psychic		Poison
487		Giratina Origin Forme	Ghost	Dragon
488		Cresselia	Psychic		Poison
493		Arceus	Flying		Poison
520		Tranquill	Normal	Flying
521		Unfezant	Normal	Flying
527		Woobat	Psychic	Flying
528		Swoobat	Psychic	Flying
561		Sigilyph	Psychic	Flying
567		Archeops	Rock	Flying
581		Swanna	Water	Flying
587		Emolga	Electric	Flying
602		Tynamo	Electric		Poison
603		Eelektrik	Electric		Poison
604		Eelektross	Electric		Poison
615		Cryogonal	Ice		Poison
628		Braviary	Normal	Flying
630		Mandibuzz	Dark	Flying
635		Hydreigon	Dark	Dragon
641		Tornadus	Flying		Poison
642		Thundurus	Electric	Flying
645		Landorus	Ground	Flying
662		Fletchinder	Fire	Flying
663		Talonflame	Fire	Flying
666		Vivillon	Bug	Flying
714		Noibat	Flying	Dragon
715		Noivern	Flying	Dragon
717		Yveltal	Dark	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 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 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

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.

In the manga

The Wing Suit in Pokémon Adventures

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In Pokémon Adventures, 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.

Trivia

• The only types whose moves are all allowed in Sky Battles are the Bug, Dark, Dragon, Flying, Ghost, and Ice types.

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

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