Skeledirge weaknesses, resistances & strengths explained in Pokemon

Skeledirge is the strongest starter Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet, capable of beating some of the most powerful opponents. To ace battles with Skeledirge, here are its weaknesses, resistances, strengths, and best moves to use.

Among the Paldean starters, Skeledirge is the trickiest Pokemon to face in Scarlet and Violet battles, so mastering this Fire/Ghost-type starter can make you a formidable force to be reckoned with.

So, here’s all you need to know about the weaknesses, resistances, strengths, and recommended moveset for Skeledirge to easily win plenty of Pokemon battles.

• Skeledirge weaknesses explained
• Skeledirge resistances explained
• Skeledirge strengths explained
• Best Skeledirge moves

Skeledirge weaknesses explained in Pokemon

Skeledirge is weak to Dark, Ghost, Ground, Rock, and Water-type attacks in Pokemon.

That said, Skeledirge has an excellent HP stat of 104, complemented by a high Defense stat of 100 and a Special Defense stat of 75. So, it can tank super-effective hits from powerful Physical moves like Earthquake, Stone Edge, Crunch, and Surf. While it does take more damage from Special moves, you’ll find that it’s unlikely to get OHKO’d.

Remember that Hazards like Stealth Rock are a concern for Skeledirge, as it takes out 25% of its HP on entering the battlefield. To counter it, you can use the Held Item Heavy-Duty Boots to negate any damage from Hazards. You can also Terastallize to Water or Steel Tera Type to throw your opponents off-guard and rethink their battle strategies.

Skeledirge resistances explained in Pokemon

Skeledirge resists Bug, Fairy, Fire, Grass, Ice, Poison, and Steel-type attacks and is immune to Fighting and Normal-type attacks in Pokemon.

These resistances and immunities are extremely handy in battle, making Skeledirge an ideal teammate to Dragon-type Pokemon, especially Baxcalibur and Roaring Moon.

Skeledirge strengths explained in Pokemon

Skeledirge does super-effective damage to Bug, Dark, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Psychic, and Steel-type Pokemon with its STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) Fire and Ghost-type moves.

You’ll be surprised how Skeledirge can turn into an offensive monster with its impressive 110 Special Attack and its signature move, Torch Song. This 80 base power Fire-type move guarantees an increase to Skeledirge’s Special Attack by one stage each time it is used. Since Skeledirge can take hits, I’ve found Torch Song to be a very reliable move to use multiple times.

Skeledirge’s biggest USP is its fantastic Unaware ability. With this, it ignores any offensive or defensive boosts the opponent might have got, making this starter a perfect check for Pokemon that have used Dragon Dance, Swords Dance, or Nasty Plot. Add the numerous resistances and natural bulk, and you have a major threat on your hands that I’ve used several times to beat OP Legendaries like Zacian-Crowned, Koraidon, and Tera Normal Arceus with Extreme Speed.

Best Skeledirge moves in Pokemon

The best moves for Skeledirge in Pokemon are Torch Song, Will-O-Wisp, Hex, and Slack Off.

• Torch Song is a must-have in Skeldrige’s moveset, and with two or three boosts, it can even take out targets that take neutral damage from Fire-type moves.
• Will-O-Wisp puts a Burn status on the opponent, reducing its HP every turn and also halves the damage output of Physical Attackers. This often halts strategies on some of the best Pokemon in the meta.
• Hex is a partner in crime to Will-O-Wisp as this Ghost-type move turns into a whopping 130 base power if the target has a status condition like Burn, Poison, or Paralysis.
• Slack Off heals Skeledirge by 50% of its max HP, keeping this bulky Pokemon healthy throughout the battle. I’ve observed that this move, along with Will-O-Wisp, makes trainers rage-quit quite often!

This Skeledirge moveset is a headache to deal with and can help you win the most unfavorable Pokemon matchups. If you’re interested in more guides like this, check out the following:

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