Skull Bash

Normal

Skull Bash is a Normal-type physical attack. It has 130 base power, 100% accuracy, 10 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for contact-triggering abilities and items.

Technical data

Type
Normal
Category
physical
Power
130
Accuracy
100
PP
10
Priority
0
Target
adjacent
Contact
Yes
Spread
No
Protect blocks
Yes
Wide Guard blocks
No

Competitive value

A coverage or STAB option worth comparing with alternatives of the same type in the team builder.

How to learn it

Pokémon that can learn or be taught this move, by method.

Level-up18 Pokémon

  • Barbaracle MegaBarbaracle Mega
  • Blastoise MegaBlastoise Mega
  • Sharpedo MegaSharpedo Mega
  • Blastoise GmaxBlastoise Gmax
  • SandacondaSandaconda
  • BlastoiseBlastoise
  • AvaluggAvalugg
  • Avalugg HisuiAvalugg Hisui
  • Sandaconda GmaxSandaconda Gmax
  • BarbaracleBarbaracle
  • SharpedoSharpedo

TM / HM165 Pokémon

  • Gyarados MegaGyarados Mega
  • Slowbro MegaSlowbro Mega
  • Dragonite MegaDragonite Mega
  • Blastoise MegaBlastoise Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Kangaskhan MegaKangaskhan Mega
  • SnorlaxSnorlax
  • Alakazam MegaAlakazam Mega
  • ArcanineArcanine
  • DragoniteDragonite
  • Blastoise GmaxBlastoise Gmax
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • Starmie MegaStarmie Mega
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • MachampMachamp
  • FlareonFlareon
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • BlastoiseBlastoise
  • GengarGengar
  • JolteonJolteon
  • VaporeonVaporeon
  • CharizardCharizard
  • GyaradosGyarados
  • AlakazamAlakazam
  • NinetalesNinetales
  • Tauros Paldea Aqua BreedTauros Paldea Aqua Breed
  • Raichu Mega YRaichu Mega Y
  • Tauros Paldea Blaze BreedTauros Paldea Blaze Breed
  • Tauros Paldea Combat BreedTauros Paldea Combat Breed
  • Raichu Mega XRaichu Mega X
  • Raichu AlolaRaichu Alola
  • KangaskhanKangaskhan
  • Clefable MegaClefable Mega
  • Arcanine HisuiArcanine Hisui
  • Snorlax GmaxSnorlax Gmax
  • Beedrill MegaBeedrill Mega
  • ClefableClefable
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • SlowbroSlowbro
  • TaurosTauros
  • StarmieStarmie
  • Ninetales AlolaNinetales Alola
  • RaichuRaichu
  • ArbokArbok
  • Pikachu StarterPikachu Starter
  • BeedrillBeedrill
  • PikachuPikachu
  • Pikachu Alola CapPikachu Alola Cap
  • Pikachu BellePikachu Belle
  • Pikachu CosplayPikachu Cosplay
  • Pikachu GmaxPikachu Gmax
  • Pikachu Hoenn CapPikachu Hoenn Cap
  • Pikachu Kalos CapPikachu Kalos Cap
  • Pikachu LibrePikachu Libre
  • Pikachu Original CapPikachu Original Cap
  • Pikachu Partner CapPikachu Partner Cap
  • Pikachu PhdPikachu Phd
  • Pikachu Pop StarPikachu Pop Star
  • Pikachu Rock StarPikachu Rock Star
  • Pikachu Sinnoh CapPikachu Sinnoh Cap
  • Pikachu Unova CapPikachu Unova Cap
  • Pikachu World CapPikachu World Cap

Egg move (breeding)13 Pokémon

  • TorkoalTorkoal
  • Pikachu Kalos CapPikachu Kalos Cap

Pokémon that use this move

183 Pokémon, sorted by usage

  • Gyarados MegaGyarados Mega
  • Barbaracle MegaBarbaracle Mega
  • Slowbro MegaSlowbro Mega
  • Dragonite MegaDragonite Mega
  • Blastoise MegaBlastoise Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Kangaskhan MegaKangaskhan Mega
  • Sharpedo MegaSharpedo Mega
  • SnorlaxSnorlax
  • Alakazam MegaAlakazam Mega
  • ArcanineArcanine
  • DragoniteDragonite
  • Blastoise GmaxBlastoise Gmax
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • Starmie MegaStarmie Mega
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • SandacondaSandaconda
  • MachampMachamp
  • FlareonFlareon
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • BlastoiseBlastoise
  • GengarGengar
  • JolteonJolteon
  • VaporeonVaporeon
  • CharizardCharizard
  • GyaradosGyarados
  • AvaluggAvalugg
  • AlakazamAlakazam
  • Avalugg HisuiAvalugg Hisui
  • NinetalesNinetales
  • Tauros Paldea Aqua BreedTauros Paldea Aqua Breed
  • Raichu Mega YRaichu Mega Y
  • Sandaconda GmaxSandaconda Gmax
  • Tauros Paldea Blaze BreedTauros Paldea Blaze Breed
  • Tauros Paldea Combat BreedTauros Paldea Combat Breed
  • Raichu Mega XRaichu Mega X
  • BarbaracleBarbaracle
  • Raichu AlolaRaichu Alola
  • KangaskhanKangaskhan
  • Clefable MegaClefable Mega
  • Arcanine HisuiArcanine Hisui
  • Snorlax GmaxSnorlax Gmax
  • Beedrill MegaBeedrill Mega
  • ClefableClefable
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • TorkoalTorkoal
  • SlowbroSlowbro
  • SharpedoSharpedo
  • TaurosTauros
  • StarmieStarmie
  • Ninetales AlolaNinetales Alola
  • RaichuRaichu
  • ArbokArbok
  • Pikachu StarterPikachu Starter
  • BeedrillBeedrill
  • PikachuPikachu
  • Pikachu Alola CapPikachu Alola Cap
  • Pikachu BellePikachu Belle
  • Pikachu CosplayPikachu Cosplay
  • Pikachu GmaxPikachu Gmax
  • Pikachu Hoenn CapPikachu Hoenn Cap
  • Pikachu Kalos CapPikachu Kalos Cap
  • Pikachu LibrePikachu Libre
  • Pikachu Original CapPikachu Original Cap
  • Pikachu Partner CapPikachu Partner Cap
  • Pikachu PhdPikachu Phd
  • Pikachu Pop StarPikachu Pop Star
  • Pikachu Rock StarPikachu Rock Star
  • Pikachu Sinnoh CapPikachu Sinnoh Cap
  • Pikachu Unova CapPikachu Unova Cap
  • Pikachu World CapPikachu World Cap

What this move does

Skull Bash is a Normal-type physical attack. It has 130 base power, 100% accuracy, 10 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for abilities and items that trigger on contact. Skull Bash is a Normal-type physical attack. It has 130 base power, 100% accuracy, 10 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for contact-triggering abilities and items.

A coverage or STAB option worth comparing with alternatives of the same type in the team builder.

When to consider it

Consider Skull Bash when its type and power cover targets your team otherwise struggles with. Single-target attacks are reliable and do not risk your own partner, but they can be redirected by Follow Me or Rage Powder. Evaluate the move alongside your team's speed tiers and overall coverage.

How to evaluate it in team building

In team building, Skull Bash is usually a coverage or primary STAB option. It shines when your team already has speed control or when it patches a matchup hole. Compare it with alternative moves of the same type and category to decide whether the extra power, accuracy or side effect justifies the slot over a more defensive option.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes with Skull Bash include: Using it without a clear plan for the turns it creates. Forgetting that Protect and Detect can block it, wasting a key turn. Spamming it predictably and letting the opponent switch into a resist. Not considering how redirectors like Follow Me and Rage Powder change targeting.

VGC interactions

Protect and Detect block this move. These interactions are situational, so test them in the team builder and matchup analyzer before committing to the moveslot.

Related tools and guides

Use the tools below to test Skull Bash in a full team context and compare it with alternative options.

VGC interactions

  • Protect / Detect: blocks this move.
  • Wide Guard: does not block this move.
  • Follow Me / Rage Powder: spread moves are not redirected.
  • Quick Guard: no effect (non-priority).

Frequently asked questions

Is Skull Bash good in ChampionsVGC?

A coverage or STAB option worth comparing with alternatives of the same type in the team builder. It is blocked by Protect and Detect, which can waste a key turn if predicted.

Is Skull Bash blocked by Protect?

Yes, Skull Bash is blocked by Protect and Detect.

Last updated: July 2026 · This entry is kept navigable while additional editorial context is being added.
All figures are estimated trends based on available data and do not guarantee competitive results. Matchups are situational. See our methodology for how these figures are calculated.