Skull Bash

Normal

Skull Bash is a Charged Attack of type Normal in Pokémon GO. In Gym and Raid battles, it deals 130 damage and it costs 100 energy. In GO Battle League, Skull Bash deals 130 damage and costs 75 energy. Explore its damage and energy stats in battles, its effectiveness against various Pokémon types, and see which Pokémon wield it best.

Skull Bash effectiveness against other Pokémon types

NormalFightingFlyingPoisonGroundRockBugGhostSteelFireWaterGrassElectricPsychicIceDragonDarkFairy
Normal×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×0.6×1.0×0.4×0.6×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0

Skull Bash Adventure Effects

Skull Bash has no Adventure Effects.

Skull Bash in Gym and Raid Battles

Gym and Raid Battles Stats

CategoryCharged Attack
TypeNormal
Power130
Energy100
Animation Duration3.0s
Damage Window1.7s - 2.2s
DPS43.33 Damage per second
DPE1.3 Damage per Energy

Similar moves in Gym and Raid Battles

NormalWrap60333.0s20
NormalHyper Beam1501004.0s37.5
NormalVise Grip35332.0s17.5
NormalSwift65503.0s21.67
NormalHorn Attack45332.0s22.5
NormalStomp50501.5s33.33
NormalHyper Fang80502.5s32
NormalBody Slam50332.0s25
NormalRest50332.0s25
NormalStruggle3502.0s17.5

Skull Bash in Trainer Battles

Trainer Battles Stats

CategoryCharged Attack
TypeNormal
Power130
Energy75
DPE1.73 Damage per Energy
TagsNukeBoost

Special effects

Special effectsSpecial

Skull Bash has a 100.0% chance to:

  • Increase User's Defense by 25.0%

Similar moves in Trainer Battles

NormalWrapGeneralDebuff
Special effectsSpecial

Wrap has a 100.0% chance to:

  • Decrease Target's Defense by 20.0%
1.567045
NormalHyper BeamNuke1.8815080
NormalVise GripSpam / Bait1.757040
NormalSwiftSpam / Bait1.575535
NormalHorn AttackSpam / Bait1.144035
NormalStompSpam / Bait1.385540
NormalHyper FangGeneral1.68050
NormalBody SlamSpam / Bait1.636540
NormalRestSpam / Bait1.435035
NormalStruggleHigh Energy0.3535100

Strongest Pokémon with Skull Bash

1.Shadow Rhyperior (Shadow)Shadow RhyperiorRockSmack DownNormalSkull Bash13.2815.21251.631,105s57
2.Mega Raichu Y (Mega Y)Mega Raichu YFairyCharmNormalSkull Bash12.5214.9190.621,176s75
3.Shadow Snorlax (Shadow)Shadow SnorlaxGhostLickNormalSkull Bash11.5512.88267.191,267s54
4.RhyperiorRhyperiorRockSmack DownNormalSkull Bash11.4912.88255.591,275s56
5.Mega Blastoise (Mega)Mega BlastoiseWaterWater GunNormalSkull Bash11.2312.47268.91,304s53
6.Mega Raichu X (Mega X)Mega Raichu XFairyCharmNormalSkull Bash11.0912.74206.671,323s70
7.SnorlaxSnorlaxGhostLickNormalSkull Bash9.9410.9271.21,470s53
8.Shadow Lapras (Shadow)Shadow LaprasIceFrost BreathNormalSkull Bash9.210.53176.341,596s82
9.Shadow Blastoise (Shadow)Shadow BlastoiseWaterWater GunNormalSkull Bash8.449.78150.941,740s95
10.BouffalantBouffalantGroundMud ShotNormalSkull Bash8.429.56170.561,742s84

Best Great League Pokémon with Skull Bash

Great League
58.BlastoiseBlastoise89.2DarkBiteWaterHydro CannonNormalSkull Bash
180.Shadow Blastoise (Shadow)Shadow Blastoise84.1DarkBiteWaterHydro CannonNormalSkull Bash

Best Ultra League Pokémon with Skull Bash

Ultra League
29.BlastoiseBlastoise90DarkBiteWaterHydro CannonNormalSkull Bash
87.Shadow Blastoise (Shadow)Shadow Blastoise86.8DarkBiteWaterHydro CannonNormalSkull Bash

Best Master League Pokémon with Skull Bash

Master League

No Pokémon in our current Master League rankings have Skull Bash in their recommended moveset.

Mega and Primal Pokémon that boost Skull Bash

All Pokémon that can learn Skull Bash

9BlastoiseBlastoiseNormalSkull BashReleasedStandard learnset
9Mega Blastoise (Mega)Mega BlastoiseNormalSkull BashReleasedStandard learnset
9Shadow Blastoise (Shadow)Shadow BlastoiseNormalSkull BashReleasedStandard learnset
26RaichuRaichuNormalSkull BashReleasedStandard learnset
26Mega Raichu X (Mega X)Mega Raichu XNormalSkull BashReleasedStandard learnset
26Mega Raichu Y (Mega Y)Mega Raichu YNormalSkull BashReleasedStandard learnset
131LaprasLaprasNormalSkull BashReleasedStandard learnset
131Shadow Lapras (Shadow)Shadow LaprasNormalSkull BashReleasedStandard learnset
143SnorlaxSnorlaxNormalSkull BashReleasedStandard learnset
143Shadow Snorlax (Shadow)Shadow SnorlaxNormalSkull BashReleasedStandard learnset

Skull Bash FAQ

How does Skull Bash compare with other moves of the same type?

In raids, Skull Bash has lower move-only DPS compared with Crush Grip: 43.33 versus 105. This compares damage during the attack animation, not a Pokémon’s complete moveset.

In Trainer Battles, Skull Bash deals less damage per energy compared with Crush Grip (1.73 versus 2.2 DPE), and costs more energy (75 versus 50). Higher DPE uses energy more efficiently; a lower cost lets you reach the attack sooner.

Alternatives have the same type and attack category and at least one released Pokémon that learns them. The raid comparison uses the alternative with the highest move-only DPS; the PvP comparison uses the highest DPT for Fast Attacks or DPE for Charged Attacks. Stats alone do not account for buffs, debuffs, typing, or the other moves a Pokémon can learn.

How are the best PvP users selected?

These tables show Pokémon whose recommended moveset in our imported PvPoke rankings includes this move as the Fast Attack or either Charged Attack. The rank is their position in the full league ranking, not just among users of this move. Both recommended Charged Attacks are shown. Being able to learn the move does not automatically make a Pokémon a recommended user.

How are the strongest Pokémon with Skull Bash ranked?

Pokémon are ranked by eDPS (effective DPS), which accounts for damage, survivability, and time lost when rejoining. The default ranking uses Level 40 attackers and average raid boss weaknesses. Every moveset includes this attack. TTW estimates the time to win, and faints estimates how many attackers faint during the battle. Changing the settings can change the order.

How are tiers assigned?

Tiers group attackers by similar scores, emphasizing differences near the top. We use eight groups, labelled SS, S, A, B, C, D, E and F, when there are enough distinct scores; otherwise, fewer tiers are used. Group sizes are determined by the scores, not fixed rank cutoffs. Tiers update with the simulation settings and stay the same when you sort or change pages.

How do opponent choice and rejoin time affect the rankings?

Scores attackers against the configured T4+ raid boss pool, including Mega, Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Outgoing damage reflects how effective each move type is against the bosses; incoming damage reflects the attacker’s resistances to their moves. Per-type rankings use bosses weak to that type. Types without super-effective matchups use the full pool. Unavailable Pokémon are excluded from the boss pool.

The dummy boss uses neutral effectiveness (1.0×) for every move, with incoming damage based on Defense alone. This can favor attackers whose moves the raid pool resists, or whose weaknesses make them take more damage in raids. The dummy has a fixed 25,000 HP, regardless of raid tier.

Time to return after a team of six faints. Applies to eDPS and estimated battle time.

How do Mega and Primal Pokémon boost Skull Bash?

The Pokémon in the Mega and Primal section above boost other Trainers’ Skull Bash damage by 30% (1.3×) in Raid Battles. The boost follows the attack’s type, not the attacking Pokémon’s type.

Standard Mega Pokémon must be on the battlefield. Primal Kyogre, Primal Groudon, and Mega Rayquaza provide their boost while in the current battle party, including after fainting. Multiple Mega or Primal boosts do not stack; the strongest applicable boost is used.

Explore all Mega and Primal type boosts

Does the ranking include Mega and Primal boosts to teammates?

No. The Mega Level setting adjusts the attacker’s own bonuses. Damage boosts provided to teammates are not included in this ranking.

What does the complete learnset list include?

It includes all Pokémon and forms that have access to Skull Bash, whether they have been released in Pokémon GO or not.

What do legacy and exclusive moves mean?

Legacy moves were once available to a Pokémon but can no longer be learned through standard methods, such as a regular TM. Legacy and exclusive moves may require an event, an Elite TM, or another special method to obtain. Some legacy moves cannot be taught with an Elite TM.