Scizor
QC: Bouff / dodmen / Amaroq
GP: P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
* Scizor is a great offensive and defensive Pokemon.
* Its typing has eight resistances and an immunity, while its only weakness is Fire.
* Its movepool is varied, as it boasts support moves and recovery as well as offensive coverage.
* 70 / 100 / 80 bulk lets it take on many threats.
* Base 130 Attack and Technician allow it to hit decently hard.
* Due to its 4x weakness to Fire, Hidden Power Fire is commonly seen on lures to surprise Scizor.
* Even though Bullet Punch is a great priority move, Scizor's Speed leaves much to be desired.
[SET]
name: Bulky Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: U-turn / Bug Bite
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
ability: Technician
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 124 Def / 136 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Swords Dance boosts Scizor's Attack for more damage.
* Bullet Punch is priority and is useful for cleaning late-game, and it also helps check Pokemon such as Mega Aerodactyl.
* U-turn can be used to wear down checks and gain momentum.
* Bug Bite gives Scizor more staying power and is a stronger Bug-type STAB move due to Technician.
* Roost allows Scizor to keep itself healthy and win many one-on-one situations.
Set Details
========
* The given spread guarantees Scizor will survive two Stone Edges from Mega Aerodactyl after Stealth Rock, while the rest is dumped into Special Defense to take on Psychic-types like Alakazam better.
* Technician is used to boost the power of Bullet Punch and Bug Bite.
* Leftovers grants passive recovery, which lets Scizor live longer and take on threats more easily.
* An alternate spread of 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD with a Careful nature can be used to take on special attackers better; in particular, it almost always survives a Hidden Power Fire from Life Orb Latias after Stealth Rock and has a good chance to survive a Hidden Power Fire from Focus Sash Alakazam after switching in on a Psychic and taking Stealth Rock damage.
* Another good spread is 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD with an Impish nature. This allows Scizor to take on threats like Mega Aerodactyl, Krookodile and Haxorus more easily.
* Bulky Scizor's EV spread is very customizable and can be molded to take on specific threats for any given team better.
Usage Tips
========
* Use U-turn early-game to lure in and weaken Scizor's checks.
* Roost when necessary to keep Scizor healthy, as you will be pivoting it into many strong wallbreakers.
* Use Bullet Punch as a revenge killing tool when necessary.
* Only use Swords Dance when you are ready to clean, or when it is necessary to break a certain Pokemon.
Team Options
========
* Flying-types like Crobat and Gliscor are good partners, as they take care of Fighting-types that do not mind Scizor such as Conkeldurr and Cobalion, while Scizor takes on Ice-types like Kyurem and Alolan Ninetales for them.
* Water-types like Keldeo and Starmie beat Fire-types like Chandelure and Infernape for Scizor.
* Grass-types like Celebi and Amoonguss can absorb Scald and beat threats like Keldeo and Empoleon.
* Dragon-types like Hydreigon benefit from Scizor taking on Fairy-types and Ice-types, while they resist Fire, which in turn helps Scizor.
* Ground-types like Hippowdon and Nidoqueen can take on Raikou for Scizor, and Scizor takes on Grass-types like Celebi and Tsareena as well as Ice-types for them.
* Dark-types like Krookodile and Mandibuzz appreciate Scizor taking on Fairy-types like Clefable.
* Fighting-types like Conkeldurr benefit from Scizor's ability to check Psychic- and Fairy-types, while they can absorb Knock Off from Pokemon such as Bisharp in return.
* Pokemon that can take on Volcanion such as Mantine and Latias are important.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Bullet Punch
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Pursuit / Knock Off / Bug Bite
item: Choice Band
ability: Technician
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Bullet Punch is a strong priority attack used to revenge kill threats or clean late-game.
* U-turn grabs momentum and dents most of its checks.
* Superpower hits some of the usual checks like Cobalion hard.
* Pursuit can remove threats such as Latias and Celebi for Scizor's partners.
* Knock Off allows Scizor to remove the item of switch-ins such as Volcanion, making them easier to handle for the rest of the team.
* Bug Bite can be used as an additional, stronger Bug-type STAB move that does not force Scizor to switch out.
Set Details
========
* The spread aims to maximize power and speed.
* A Choice Band is used to boost Scizor's power further.
* Adamant is the nature of choice, as it boosts the power of Scizor's priority move.
* A Jolly nature can be used to outpace Adamant Bisharp and avoid a Speed tie with Jolly Crawdaunt.
* Technician is used to boost Bullet Punch, Pursuit in case the foe stays in on it, and Bug Bite if running it.
* A bulkier spread of 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe is an option to take hits better, but it loses out on outspeeding bulkier wallbreakers such as Bewear and Crawdaunt.
Usage Tips
========
* Use U-turn in the early-game to lure in and weaken Scizor checks while gaining momentum.
* Bullet Punch is a potent tool for revenge killing and cleaning.
* Superpower can be used to heavily dent standard checks like Keldeo on the switch in while removing Cobalion.
* If you are running Pursuit, try to switch Scizor in on Psychic-types like Latias to trap and remove them.
* Knock Off can be used to remove the item of checks such as a Volcanion's potential Choice Specs or Infernape's Choice item.
* Use Bug Bite to break through slower teams once they have been sufficiently weakened.
Team Options
========
* Water-types like Mantine and Starmie can take on the multitude of Fire-types that threaten Scizor like Infernape and Volcanion.
* Dragon-types benefit from Scizor's ability to check Ice- and Fairy-types like Kyurem and Alolan Ninetales while offering another Fire-type switch-in.
* Fairy-types can be used as partners, as they benefit from Choice Band Scizor's use of Superpower to dispatch Steel-types like Cobalion and Empoleon.
* Grass-types like Tsareena and Celebi benefit from Scizor's ability to take on Ice-types and Pursuit trap Gengar.
* Fighting-types like Cobalion and Keldeo greatly benefit from the removal of Psychic-types like Latias via Pursuit.
* Dark-types such as Mega Sharpedo and Krookodile benefit from Scizor's ability to check Fairy-types and surprise Cobalion.
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Bug Bite
move 4: Superpower / Knock Off / Roost
item: Life Orb / Leftovers / Iron Plate
ability: Technician
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Swords Dance boosts Scizor's Attack.
* Bullet Punch is used to defeat most faster threats and act as a revenge killing tool.
* Bug Bite is the Bug-type STAB move of choice here, as it maximizes this set's wallbreaking capabilities.
* Superpower hits common checks like Empoleon and Cobalion and breaks fat Normal-types like Blissey and Porygon2 reliably.
* Knock Off can remove the item of common switch-ins such as Keldeo and Volcanion.
* Roost can be used to give more longevity to Scizor.
Set Details
========
* The spread maximizes damage output and allows Scizor to outspeed slower wallbreakers like Crawdaunt and common walls such as Necrozma and Tsareena.
* An Adamant nature is used to further boost damage output.
* A Jolly nature can be used to outpace Adamant Bisharp and avoid a Speed tie with Jolly Crawdaunt.
* Technician adds to the power of Bullet Punch and Bug Bite.
* Life Orb gives a power boost to all attacking moves.
* Leftovers can give Scizor a bit of passive recovery at the cost of power.
* An Iron Plate can be used to fake a Choice Band.
Usage Tips
========
* Try not to use this version of Scizor early on against offense, as it makes for a potent wincon late-game.
* Bullet Punch can be used as a revenge killing tool.
* Later on in the game, find an opportune time to set up Swords Dance on a forced switch or a Pokemon that Scizor walls and attempt to clean.
* Against balanced and stall teams, try to get Scizor in against a Psychic-type like Necrozma or a passive Pokemon like Tsareena; you can then have it set up Swords Dance or attack to wallbreak.
Team Options
========
* Water-types like Swampert and Starmie can take on Fire-types like Entei and Infernape that threaten Scizor.
* Dragon-types like Latias can also check Fire-types while profiting from Scizor's ability to check Fairy- and Ice-types like Alolan Ninetales.
* Ground-types can take on Raikou for Scizor while benefiting from Scizor's ability to take on Grass-types like Celebi and Ice-types.
* Dark-types like Hydreigon and Mandibuzz appreciate Scizor's ability to check Fairy-types while taking on threatening Pokemon like Chandelure.
* Grass-types such as Amoonguss and Celebi appreciate Scizor checking Ice-types for them while taking on Scalds from Pokemon like Keldeo and Mega Blastoise in return.
* Fighting-types like Conkeldurr and Keldeo appreciate Scizor's ability to deal with Psychic-types like Latias and Celebi.
* Pokemon like Mega Sharpedo and Primarina profit from Scizor's ability to lure their checks such as Cobalion and Empoleon for them.
[SET]
name: Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Roost
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Bullet Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Technician
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 124 Def / 136 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Defog is used to remove hazards and support teammates.
* Roost lets Scizor stay healthy and take on certain threats like Mega Aerodactyl more easily.
* U-turn is used to gain momentum and chip down checks.
* Bullet Punch is used to revenge kill threats.
Set Details
========
* The proposed spread and nature make sure that Stone Edge from Mega Aerodactyl is a 3HKO after Stealth Rock, while the Special Defense investment helps with taking on Psychic-types like Alakazam and Latias.
* Technician boosts the power of Bullet Punch.
* Leftovers increases Scizor's longevity.
* An alternate spread of 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD with a Careful nature deals with special attackers better. The spread allows Scizor to almost always survive a Life Orb Latias's Hidden Power Fire after Stealth Rock while also sporting a good chance to survive a Psychic followed by a Hidden Power Fire from Focus Sash Alakazam with Stealth Rock up.
* 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD with an Impish nature is also viable, giving Scizor an easier time against Mega Aerodactyl, Haxorus, and Krookodile.
* Scizor's EV spread can be tweaked to take on specific threats for a team better.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch Scizor into Pokemon like Latias and Klefki to pivot with U-turn or Defog away hazards, but be wary of Hidden Power Fire.
* Keep Scizor healthy with Roost!
* Use Bullet Punch to revenge kill threats like Mega Aerodactyl and weakened Gengar.
Team Options
========
* Water-types like Starmie and Keldeo can take care of Fire-types like Infernape and Chandelure for Scizor.
* Dragon-types such as Hydreigon appreciate Scizor's ability to check Fairy-types and Ice-types like Togekiss and Alolan Ninetales while also resisting Fire.
* Grass-types like Celebi and Amoonguss can check Scald-using Water-types like Keldeo and Empoleon.
* Mega Aerodactyl can take care of Fire-types that threaten Scizor while offering Pursuit support to remove Chandelure.
* Raikou can pressure Water-types like Mantine and Empoleon seeking to take advantage of Scizor.
* Ground-types like Hippowdon can take on Raikou for Scizor, while Scizor offers them an Ice- and Grass-resistant teammate.
* Flying-types like Togekiss and Gliscor offer a way of beating Fighting-types like Conkeldurr and Infernape while appreciating Scizor's ability to remove hazards.
* Fighting-types like Conkeldurr and Infernape benefit from Scizor's ability to take on Psychic-types like Alakazam.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A Choice Scarf set can be run to lure Hidden Power Fire variants of Latias and lure some of the usual checks such as Cobalion, Infernape, (AC) and Keldeo.
* In general, Aerial Ace can be used to surprise a lot of Fighting-type checks.
* Hidden Power Fire can be used on defensive sets to hit opposing Scizor and Forretress, as well as deal heavy damage to Cobalion.
* A Technician-boosted Brutal Swing hits Z-Crystal holders harder than Knock Off, and it can be used over Knock Off on certain sets.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire is the only type Scizor is weak to and also resists its priority attack, so Pokemon such as Infernape, Chandelure, Entei, Arcanine, and Volcanion beat Scizor handily.
**Steel-types**: Lucario and Cobalion can easily set up on bulky variants of Scizor and turn into serious threats. While Bisharp prefers not to switch into Scizor, it can pressure it well. Offensive variants of Scizor in particular do not like dealing with Bisharp. Empoleon and Hidden Power Fire Klefki can also take on Scizor with ease, although Empoleon has to be wary of Superpower.
**Fire-type Coverage**: Scizor's 4x weakness to Fire is often exploited by Pokemon such as Klefki, Latias, and Alakazam running Hidden Power Fire to surprise it. Pokemon such as Clefable, Togekiss, Hydreigon, and Mega Absol can use either Flamethrower or Fire Blast to remove Scizor, while Krookodile and Mega Aerodcatyl are able to run Fire Fang to accomplish the same.
**Fighting-types**: Even though Fighting-types do not resist Bullet Punch, they usually possess either the bulk or the secondary typing to easily deal with many variants of Scizor; Pokemon such as Cobalion and Keldeo can be hard for Scizor to deal with.
**Scald Users**: Scizor does not deal well with a burn, and most Scald users resist Bullet Punch, so many Water-types such as Mantine can attempt to check Scizor.
**Raikou**: Raikou resists Bullet Punch and can fire back with strong Thunderbolts to defeat Scizor.
**Magneton**: Magneton can trap and remove Scizor with ease.
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