Sky Battle

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

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

Ineligible Flying or Levitating Pokémon

#	Pokémon		Types
0016		Pidgey	Normal	Flying
0021		Spearow	Normal	Flying
0083		Farfetch'd	Normal	Flying
0084		Doduo	Normal	Flying
0085		Dodrio	Normal	Flying
0094		Gengar	Ghost	Poison
0127		Mega Pinsir	Bug	Flying
0163		Hoothoot	Normal	Flying
0177		Natu	Psychic	Flying
0198		Murkrow	Dark	Flying
0225		Delibird	Ice	Flying
0276		Taillow	Normal	Flying
0396		Starly	Normal	Flying
0441		Chatot	Normal	Flying
0492		Shaymin Sky Forme	Grass	Flying
0566		Archen	Rock	Flying
0580		Ducklett	Water	Flying
0627		Rufflet	Normal	Flying
0629		Vullaby	Dark	Flying
0661		Fletchling	Normal	Flying
0701		Hawlucha	Fighting	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 Elata 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

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 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.