The Iron-Clad Insect: Mega Scizor in National Dex OU

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Introduction

National Dex OU's allure as a format comes from its incredibly content-inclusive nature, featuring mechanics lost to time like Z-Moves and Mega Evolution. Mega Evolution in particular does especially well at shining a light on Pokémon that were unable to retain viability otherwise, including current National Dex OU high-tiers like Mega Medicham, Mega Tyranitar, Mega Lopunny, and, of course, Mega Scizor. When it comes to consistency, Mega Scizor is basically a top contender in almost any conversation; this article will expand on its incredibly amazing set of tools that allows it to shine regardless of the environment around it.

Humble Beginnings

From the first month of the tier's inception, Mega Scizor proved itself to be a fine and fairly widely applicable choice for many teams, especially ones in need of a check to dangerous foes in Flutter Mane and Kyurem-B, two extremely powerful threats that many players were struggling to find outs against. It forced out the former with the threat of Bullet Punch and could force the latter to Terastallize to avoid losing the 1v1. All things considered, this was an incredibly good start for Mega Scizor, and in spite of these two offensive behemoths later being banned, Mega Scizor continued to retain a valuable niche on a variety of teams for a multitude of purposes, which will be further explored below.

Weaving the Web: A Lengthier History

Mega Scizor's excellence goes much deeper than checking just two threats early on; it's had a notable niche in almost every iteration of SV National Dex OU, even now. When Chien-Pao was around, it was able to consistently force it out with the looming threat of Technician-boosted Bullet Punch and could attain momentum for its team via U-turn, making it a solid progress maker and consistent performer in-game. Magearna was also a matchup that was in favor of the metal bug, especially KissPower sets, as Mega Scizor's typing and bulk when invested allowed it to set up in front of Magearna and either force it out or more reliably revenge kill it when weakened. Mega Scizor was no slouch against would-be checks like Gholdengo, either; it could brandish Knock Off on any given set and heavily cripple Gholdengo or force it to Terastallize in the process, making it easier to exploit with teammates like Iron Valiant. Mega Scizor also had a positive matchup into Baxcalibur, a wallbreaker and sweeper that was picking up steam on hyper offense teams, taking advantage of Glaive Rush's drawback and forcing it out to quickly grab momentum afterwards. Speaking of hyper offense, it also fared well into common structures consisting of Tapu Koko, Cyclizar, and Espathra, often checking the latter no matter how much support it was given. Following Espathra's ban and the addition of Sneasler and a buffed Baxcalibur, Mega Scizor's viability still held up, as it fared well into Baxcalibur in spite of its new toy in Scale Shot. To go along with all of this, Mega Scizor could even tech the aforementioned Close Combat to improve its matchup against one of the best Pokémon in the tier in Kingambit before it was banned, further solidifying its place in the metagame as one of the best anti-offense measures and pivots around.

Mega Scizor in Present Day National Dex

In today's meta, Mega Scizor acts as a sturdy check to common foes like Tapu Lele and non-Fire Punch Dragonite, with the former being especially important, as it's one of the best forms of speed control in National Dex, meaning any good team should have outs against it. Mega Scizor's neutrality to Fighting also gave it a better matchup against the aforementioned Tapu Lele relative to other Steel-types. Its generally high usage can also be attributed to it consistently forcing in item-reliant walls like Zapdos and Toxapex and making them easier for teammates like Nasty Plot Tornadus-T and Iron Valiant to take advantage of. This alongside its potent pivoting ability makes it a consistent performer in-game and makes teambuilding a whole lot easier. Mega Scizor's good traits also come with a few weaknesses, however, namely its inability to realistically sweep because of how easy it is to check with Pokémon such as Zapdos and Toxapex and its weakness to entry hazards, limiting its potential as a wincon and a pivot. The latter is much easier to circumvent, though, as hazard removers like Tornadus-T, Landorus-T, and Gliscor are common and easy to fit onto teams.

Sets

Bulky Swords Dance

• Scizor @ Scizorite
• Ability: Light Metal
• EVs: 248 HP / 112 Def / 128 SpD / 20 Spe
• Impish Nature
• - Swords Dance
• - Bullet Punch
• - Knock Off / U-turn / Close Combat
• - Roost

This is Mega Scizor's go-to set; it contains a unique blend of pivoting, support through item removal, a check to the ever-present Tapu Lele and other offensive threats like Iron Boulder, and wincon potential, differentiating it from Steel-types like Iron Crown and Heatran. Knock Off cripples walls like Zapdos and Toxapex, paving the way for a teammate to take better advantage of them. U-turn takes this utility in a different direction; instead of making it harder for opposing walls to play the long game, Mega Scizor can provide opportunities for wallbreakers or setup sweepers to wreak havoc, giving it a role on slightly more offensive structures. Close Combat isn't used as much as the other two aforementioned moves, but it is nonetheless a solid choice for teams in need of a better way to dispatch of Steel-types like Heatran and Ferrothorn. With this EV spread, Mega Scizor always survives two Close Combats from Mega Lopunny after Stealth Rock and is able to outrun no Speed Heatran.

Offensive Swords Dance

• Scizor @ Scizorite
• Ability: Light Metal
• EVs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 Spe
• Adamant Nature
• - Swords Dance
• - Bullet Punch
• - Close Combat
• - Dual Wingbeat / Knock Off / Roost

This incredibly offensive set takes advantage of Mega Scizor's favorable typing against common metagame threats and finds its home on fast-paced teams as a result. Since this set tends to forgo Roost, Mega Scizor can use other coverage moves to narrow down its usual pool of checks and counters; Technician-boosted Dual Wingbeat provides solid neutral damage against Steel-resistant walls like Toxapex and does even more damage than Bullet Punch against the likes of Gliscor and Landorus-T. Knock Off can be kept to retain item removal in the event its teammates lack such ability, while Roost allows Mega Scizor to act as a much sturdier check to Tapu Lele on offense. The given EV spread allows Mega Scizor to outspeed Landorus-T, although some HP EVs can be dropped in favor of Speed in order to outspeed common Gliscor sets.

Teammates

Knock Off Mega Scizor + Rockium Z Zamazenta

Scizor @ Scizorite Ability: Light Metal Tera Type: Bug EVs: 248 HP / 112 Def / 128 SpD / 20 Spe Impish Nature - Swords Dance - Bullet Punch - Knock Off - Roost	Zamazenta @ Rockium Z Ability: Dauntless Shield Tera Type: Fighting EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe Jolly Nature - Close Combat - Stone Edge - Ice Fang - Heavy Slam

Bulky Swords Dance Mega Scizor appreciates partners that can further debilitate or bait in its checks in order to set up a potential sweep. Zamazenta is able to do this perfectly; with Rockium Z, it's able to dispatch walls like Zapdos and Moltres and pave the way for Mega Scizor to clean up. In return, Mega Scizor can switch in on Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and remove items like Rocky Helmet from Landorus-T and Heavy-Duty Boots from Alomomola, making it easier for Zamazenta to exploit them. This core struggles to break through Toxapex, so a third supporting member like Galarian Slowking can be used for Future Sight support to prevent it from being able to switch in as freely.

Offensive Swords Dance Mega Scizor + Tera Rock Serperior

Scizor @ Scizorite Ability: Light Metal Tera Type: Bug EVs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 Spe Adamant Nature - Swords Dance - Bullet Punch - Close Combat - Dual Wingbeat	Serperior @ Leftovers Ability: Contrary Hidden Power: Fire Tera Type: Rock EVs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe Timid Nature - Tera Blast - Glare - Leaf Storm - Hidden Power [Fire]

On hyper offense teams, Serperior is an excellent partner that can keep up with the faster nature of said teams; it's able to lure Mega Scizor checks in Zapdos and Moltres and chip them with Tera Blast and can paralyze other Pokémon like Iron Moth and Tornadus-T, allowing Mega Scizor to get rid of them after using Swords Dance. Mega Scizor takes care of Galarian Slowking and can wear down Raging Bolt for Serperior, as well, strengthening the core's synergy.

This is a hyper offense team by adem that supports Mega Scizor in various ways; Dragonite commonly invites physical walls like Toxapex and Landorus-T and gets rid of them with a boosted Devastating Drake, and Serperior baits and disposes of checks to Mega Scizor like Zapdos and Heat Wave Tornadus-T, using Coba Berry to take a hit from them and KO with Leaf Storm. Mega Scizor on its own is able to offensively check threats like Tapu Lele, Iron Valiant, and Weavile, with most members of the team appreciating its ability to pivot in against these common revenge killers.

Conclusion

National Dex has gone through some intense stages of tiering and general metagame changes, but in spite of all this, Mega Scizor has remained a constant and really defines "consistency"; it's amazing set of tools has allowed it to shine from the early days consisting of Magearna 6-0ing teams until now. If this article has piqued your interest in National Dex OU, be sure to check out the National Dex OU room on Pokémon Showdown! and the National Dex Discord server, too!

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