Sky Attack (move)

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. In Generation II, it was the signature move of Moltres.

Sky Attack
ゴッドバード God Bird

Battles

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

Target

Foe	Foe	Foe
Self	Ally	Ally
May affect anyone but the user

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 Move Tutor in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Move Tutor in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

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	3 ♥♥♥
Jamming	0
Affected by how well the previous Pokémon's move went.

On Smogon's Movedex:

Effect

Generations I and 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 will not 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 cannot).

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.

Sky Attack has 140 base power.

Generation III

Sky Attack now has a 30% chance of causing the target to flinch. It also now has an increased critical hit ratio.

Generation IV to VI

Sky Attack now displays "<Pokémon> became cloaked in a harsh light!" instead of "<Pokémon> is glowing!" If the user is holding a Power Herb, there will be no charge turn.

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

Generation VII

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Sky Attack's power was increased from 140 to 200.

Generation VIII

Sky Attack's power was changed back to 140.

Description

Games	Description
Stad	The strongest Flying-type attack. Energy is stored in the first turn, then fired the next turn.
Stad2	Strongest Flying-type attack. Stores energy in the first turn, then fires in the next.
GS C	1st turn: Prepare 2nd turn: Attack
RS EColo.XD	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.
DP Pt HGSSPBR	A second-turn attack move with a high critical-hit ratio. It may also make the target flinch.
BW B2W2	A second-turn attack move where critical hits land more easily. It may also make the target flinch.
XY ORAS SM USUM PE SwSh	A second-turn attack move where critical hits land more easily. This may also make the target flinch.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII
018		Pidgeot		Flying		Flying							1^PE
022		Fearow		Flying		Flying							1^PE
083		Farfetch'd		Field	Flying							40^PE
144		Articuno		Undiscovered		Undiscovered							72^PE
145		Zapdos		Undiscovered		Undiscovered							72^PE
146		Moltres		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	60	73	85	78	78	1, 78	78^SMUSUM 72^PE	70
146		Moltres Galarian Form		Undiscovered		Undiscovered								70
164		Noctowl		Flying		Flying				1	1	1	1	1
249		Lugia		Undiscovered		Undiscovered				99	99	99	99	90
250		Ho-Oh		Undiscovered		Undiscovered				99	99	99	99	90
334		Altaria		Flying	Dragon			59	70	77^BW 64^B2W2	1, 64^XY 1, 59^ORAS	1, 59	56
468		Togekiss		Flying	Fairy				1	1	1	1	1
519		Pidove		Flying		Flying					50	50	50	44^SwSh
520		Tranquill		Flying		Flying					59	59	59	56^SwSh
521		Unfezant		Flying		Flying					66	66	66	66^SwSh
561		Sigilyph		Flying		Flying					51	50	50	55^SwSh
628		Braviary		Flying		Flying								1^SwSh
630		Mandibuzz		Flying		Flying								1^SwSh
701		Hawlucha		Flying	Human-Like						48	48	56^SwSh
717		Yveltal		Undiscovered		Undiscovered						93	93	80^SwSh
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By TM

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups	Machine
#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups	I TM43	II --	III --	IV --	V --	VI --	VII --	VIII --
016		Pidgey		Flying	Flying	✔
017		Pidgeotto		Flying	Flying	✔
018		Pidgeot		Flying	Flying	✔
021		Spearow		Flying	Flying	✔
022		Fearow		Flying	Flying	✔
084		Doduo		Flying	Flying	✔
085		Dodrio		Flying	Flying	✔
142		Aerodactyl		Flying	Flying	✔
144		Articuno		Undiscovered	Undiscovered	✔
145		Zapdos		Undiscovered	Undiscovered	✔
146		Moltres		Undiscovered	Undiscovered	✔
151		Mew		Undiscovered	Undiscovered	✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		Egg Move
#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII
021		Spearow		Flying		Flying		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔^BDSP
083		Farfetch'd		Flying	Field							✔
083		Farfetch'd Galarian Form		Flying	Field							✔^SwSh
163		Hoothoot		Flying		Flying	✔^C	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔^BDSP
198		Murkrow		Flying		Flying	✔^C	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔^BDSP
227		Skarmory		Flying		Flying	✔^C	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
276		Taillow		Flying		Flying		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔^BDSP
821		Rookidee		Flying		Flying							✔^SwSh
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By Move Tutor

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Game
#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		FRLG	E	XD	DP	Pt	HGSS	BW	B2W2	XY	ORAS	SM	USUM	PE
016		Pidgey		Flying		Flying	✔			✔	✔
017		Pidgeotto		Flying		Flying	✔			✔	✔
018		Pidgeot		Flying		Flying	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
021		Spearow		Flying		Flying	✔		✔	✔	✔
022		Fearow		Flying		Flying	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
083		Farfetch'd		Flying	Field			✔	✔	✔
084		Doduo		Flying		Flying	✔
085		Dodrio		Flying		Flying	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
142		Aerodactyl		Flying		Flying	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
144		Articuno		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
145		Zapdos		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
146		Moltres		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
151		Mew		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
163		Hoothoot		Flying		Flying	✔		✔	✔	✔
164		Noctowl		Flying		Flying	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
169		Crobat		Flying		Flying		✔	✔	✔	✔
176		Togetic		Flying	Fairy	✔
177		Natu		Flying		Flying	✔			✔	✔
178		Xatu		Flying		Flying	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
198		Murkrow		Flying		Flying	✔		✔	✔	✔
225		Delibird		Water 1	Field	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
227		Skarmory		Flying		Flying	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
249		Lugia		Undiscovered		Undiscovered		✔	✔	✔	✔
250		Ho-Oh		Undiscovered		Undiscovered	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
276		Taillow		Flying		Flying	✔			✔	✔
277		Swellow		Flying		Flying	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
278		Wingull		Water 1	Flying	✔			✔	✔
279		Pelipper		Water 1	Flying	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
333		Swablu		Flying	Dragon	✔			✔	✔
334		Altaria		Flying	Dragon	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
398		Staraptor		Flying		Flying		✔	✔	✔	✔
430		Honchkrow		Flying		Flying		✔	✔	✔	✔
441		Chatot		Flying		Flying		✔	✔	✔	✔
468		Togekiss		Flying	Fairy		✔	✔	✔	✔
472		Gliscor		Bug		Bug		✔	✔	✔	✔
519		Pidove		Flying		Flying			✔	✔	✔
520		Tranquill		Flying		Flying			✔	✔	✔
521		Unfezant		Flying		Flying			✔	✔	✔
528		Swoobat		Field	Flying			✔	✔	✔
561		Sigilyph		Flying		Flying			✔	✔	✔
567		Archeops		Flying	Water 3			✔	✔	✔
581		Swanna		Water 1	Flying			✔	✔	✔
628		Braviary		Flying		Flying			✔	✔	✔
630		Mandibuzz		Flying		Flying			✔	✔	✔
701		Hawlucha		Flying	Human-Like				✔	✔
714		Noibat		Flying	Dragon				✔	✔
715		Noivern		Flying	Dragon				✔	✔
717		Yveltal		Undiscovered		Undiscovered				✔	✔
722		Rowlet		Flying		Flying					✔
723		Dartrix		Flying		Flying					✔
724		Decidueye		Flying		Flying					✔
731		Pikipek		Flying		Flying					✔
732		Trumbeak		Flying		Flying					✔
733		Toucannon		Flying		Flying					✔
741		Oricorio		Flying		Flying					✔
785		Tapu Koko		Undiscovered		Undiscovered					✔
792		Lunala		Undiscovered		Undiscovered					✔
804		Naganadel		Undiscovered		Undiscovered					✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

Generation III

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
277		Swellow		Flying		Flying	Purified Shadow Pokémon^XD
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

Generation V

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
018		Pidgeot		Flying		Flying	Pokémon Game Show Blue's Pidgeot^BW
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, Sky Attack is a move with 30 base power, 90% accuracy, and 9 PP. This attack hits enemy in the front, cutting corners, possibly flinching the enemy. This move's damage is doubled at the end of damage calculation. Being a two-turn move, this move cannot be linked.

In Explorers of Time and Darkness and Sky, the move's PP is decreased to 6 and its power increased to 50.

Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, Sky Attack is a Charged Attack that has been available since February 16, 2017.

Sky Attack

Charged Attack

Gyms & Raids
Power	80
Energy cost	50
Duration	2 seconds
Damage window	1.5 - 1.7 seconds

Trainer Battles
Power	75
Energy cost	45
Secondary effect	?
Effect chance	?%

Eligible Pokémon:

Standard eligibility

By Elite Charged TM

By GO Snapshot

Updates

Gyms & Raids

March 16, 2018
- Power: 70 → 80

Trainer Battles

January 11, 2021
- Power: 80 → 75

Description

This article has information requiring translation. If you are able to translate Japanese and would like to help, please add the English translation to the section or sections in Japanese.

Games	Description
MDRB	The user gains the Sky Attack status, and it attacks strongly on the next turn. It is not possible to link this move.
MDTD S	Gives the user a Sky Attack status, which causes the Pokémon to charge power for 1 turn, then try a powerful attack on the next turn. The attack may afflict the targeted enemy with a Cringe status. You can't link this move.
BSL	ゴッドバードじょうたいとなってちからをためつぎのこうどうでいりょくのたかいこうげきをくりだすしかもいっていのかくりつでひるみじょうたいにするこのわざはポケモンタワーではくりだせない
MDGtI	UNUSED
SMD	It damages an enemy on the next turn and could make it flinch. It has a high critical-hit rate.* You'll get the Sky Attack status, which lets you charge power to try a powerful attack on the next turn. It could also make the enemy flinch. It has a high critical-hit rate.*

In the anime

Pokémon	Method

Unfezant	Noctowl	Tranquill	Decidueye
The user becomes surrounded by an aura and it flies into the opponent at top speed.
User	First Used In		Notes
Skarmory	Skarmory's body glows white or orange and it flies into the opponent at top speed.
Attila's Skarmory	The Legend of Thunder!		Debut
A wild Skarmory	All Torkoal, No Play		None
Altaria	Altaria's body becomes surrounded in red flames and it flies into the opponent at top speed.
Drake's Altaria	Vanity Affair		None
Murkrow	Murkrow's body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent at top speed.
Paul's Murkrow	Top-Down Training!		None
Honchkrow	Honchkrow's body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent at top speed.
Paul's Honchkrow	Lost Leader Strategy!		None
Togekiss	Togekiss's body becomes surrounded by a white aura and it flies into the opponent at top speed. As it flies, a white trail of energy is left behind it.
Dawn's Togekiss	Dawn of a Royal Day!		None
Noctowl	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 at top speed.
Ash's Noctowl	Working on a Right Move!		None
Tranquill	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
Unfezant	Unfezant's body becomes surrounded in an orange and gold sparkling aura and then it flies into the opponent at top speed.
Alain's Unfezant	Finals Not for the Faint-Hearted!		None
Decidueye	Decidueye's body becomes surrounded by a gradually intensifying light blue aura. Once the aura flares up, Decidueye flies into the opponent at top speed. The longer Decidueye charges, the more damage it does.
Hau's Decidueye	Battling on the Wing!		None
Hawlucha	Hawlucha's body becomes surrounded by a gradually intensifying light blue aura. Once the aura flares up, Hawlucha flies into the opponent at top speed.
Bea's Hawlucha	Battle Three With Bea!		None

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Unfezant	Thu-Fi-Zer	Braviary

The user flies at high speeds and slams into the target with great force.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
Thu-Fi-Zer	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	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
Unfezant	Unfezant flies high into the air, then dives down and slams into the opponent with great force.
Cheren's Unfezant	The Tournament Continues	None
Braviary	Braviary slams into the opponent with great force.
Black's Brav	True Friends	None

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

	Togekiss

The user skydives into the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
Togekiss	Togekiss skydives into the opponent.
A Rich Boy's Togekiss	PMDP58	Debut

In other generations

Core series games

Generation I	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Side series games

Generation I	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Spin-off series games

Generation I	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	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 all Flying-type moves, excluding Z-Moves, Max Moves, and G-Max Moves.
- Sky Attack also has the highest base power of all moves capable of causing flinching.
- A Supersonic Skystrike based on Sky Attack has the highest base power of all Flying-type moves.
Sky Attack and Brave Bird share similar in-game animations in Generation IV and V; the only major difference is that the former has a blue aura, the latter has a red aura. This was reversed in the anime (Hoenn saga's portrayal of Sky Attack showed a red aura, whereas Sinnoh saga's portrayal switched it to white).
In Generation I, Sky Attack was the only Flying-type move that could be taught via TM.

In other languages

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	神鳥猛擊 Sàhnníuh Máahnggīk * 高空攻擊 Gōuhung Gūnggīk *
Chinese	Mandarin	神鳥猛擊 / 神鸟猛击 Shénniǎo Měngjí / Shénniǎo Měngjī * 高空攻擊 / 高空攻击 Gāokōng Gōngjí / Gāokōng Gōngjī *
Czech		Vzdušný útok
Danish		Himmelangreb
Dutch		Luchtaanval
Finnish		Taivashyökkäys
French		Piqué* Pique*
German		Himmelsfeger
Greek		Ουράνια Επίθεση
Hindi		आसमानी हमला Aasmani Hamla
Indonesian		Burung Dewa Serangan Udara
Italian		Aeroattacco
Korean		불새 Bulsae
Polish		Podniebny Atak
Portuguese	Brazil	Ataque do Céu (games, anime, TCG, manga) Ataque no Céu (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
Portuguese	Portugal	Ataque Aéreo
Romanian		Atacul Ceresc
Serbian		Vazdušni Napad
Spanish	Latin America	Ataque de Cielo (TLoT, AG101) Ataque Celestial (DP040-DP131, BW039) Ataque Aéreo (DP171-DP185)
Spanish	Spain	Ataque Aéreo
Thai		ก็อดเบิร์ด
Vietnamese		Tấn Công Trên Không* Thần Điểu*

Variations of the move Sky Attack

	Sky Attack • Freeze Shock
	Ice Burn

Generation I TMs
01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06 • 07 • 08 • 09 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25
26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50
Generation I HMs
01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05

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.

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