[OVERVIEW]
Mega Scizor possesses an outstanding defensive typing in Bug / Steel, great defensive stats, and Roost to keep itself healthy, which let it handle titans like Zygarde, Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Mamoswine. Mega Scizor holds excellent utility thanks to its access to moves like Bullet Punch, Defog, and Knock Off. Access to a STAB priority move in Bullet Punch, which is also boosted by Technician, lets Mega Scizor threaten a variety of Pokemon like Tapu Bulu, Kyurem-B, and Mega Diancie. Mega Scizor also has access to setup moves in Curse and Swords Dance, which can let it sweep or clean up late-game. Although Mega Scizor may be capable of beating Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Mamoswine on their own, they're often paired with Magnezone, which can trap and remove Mega Scizor from the match if not played around cautiously. While Mega Scizor's typing is very strong defensively, it also comes with a downside: it is very susceptible to the decently common Fire-types, and Pokemon that Mega Scizor is supposed to check, such as Kyurem-B and Mega Diancie, often run Fire-type coverage to beat it.
[SET]
name: Sweeper
move 1: Curse / Swords Dance
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Roost
move 4: Knock Off / U-turn
item: Scizorite
ability: Light Metal
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Curse boosts Mega Scizor's Attack and Defense by one stage, which lets it effectively check Pokemon that can boost their stats as well, like Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Zygarde. Swords Dance is an alternative to Curse that raises Mega Scizor's Attack by two stages but doesn't boost Mega Scizor's Defense, which means that it can be rather inconvenient to check Zygarde. Bullet Punch is Mega Scizor's main STAB move and lets it hit Pokemon like Tapu Bulu, Kyurem-B, and Mega Diancie for super effective damage. It's also boosted by Technician and is a priority move, which makes up for Mega Scizor's lack of Speed. Roost lets Mega Scizor stay healthy throughout the match, allowing it to switch in multiple times. Knock Off lets Mega Scizor remove items from, and potentially break past, defensive stops to it such as Celesteela, Toxapex, and Zapdos. U-turn may be used to generate momentum for Mega Scizor's team.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs, 244 Defense EVs, and an Impish nature allow Mega Scizor to take hits from Pokemon like Zygarde, Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Kyurem-B, giving it an easier time setting up against them. 16 EVs are allocated to Special Defense to avoid a 2HKO from Magearna's +1 Thunderbolt. A spread consisting of 248 HP / 104 Def / 156 SpD and an Impish nature may be used alongside Curse, as it eases the matchup against Mega Alakazam and Tapu Lele quite a lot while maintaining Mega Scizor's ability to check Zygarde. Scizor should immediately Mega Evolve, so forgoing Technician is completely fine because Light Metal has its situational use against Trace users like Mega Alakazam and the rare Low Kick Weavile and Greninja. Scizorite is required for Scizor to Mega Evolve into Mega Scizor.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Scizor should aim to weaken the opposing team before sweeping by forcing switches and using Knock Off or U-turn. It should be used to pivot into threats like Zygarde, Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Mamoswine. Don't use Curse or Swords Dance purely to sweep, as Mega Scizor can also be used to defeat Pokemon like Magearna and Ferrothorn. Mega Scizor can lay pressure on the opponent's team by using Curse or Swords Dance to force a switch so that it can freely use Knock Off or U-turn to weaken the team. Always scout for Fire-type coverage on Pokemon that Mega Scizor is supposed to check, such as Kyurem-B and Mega Diancie. If the opponent has Magnezone, Mega Scizor should be wary of using Curse or Swords Dance and should instead always use U-turn or double switch out. You should also be cautious when knocking out Pokemon, as this can give Magnezone a free switch in and result in a knocked out Mega Scizor.
Team Options
========
Zygarde can pressure Fire-, Steel-, and Electric-types like Heatran, Celesteela, and Zapdos, all of which Mega Scizor tends to struggle against. Mega Scizor can heavily pressure Fairy-, Ice-, and Grass-types for Zygarde in return. It's also capable of getting Zygarde a free switch in with U-turn. Toxapex and Gastrodon can take on Fire-, Water-, and Steel-types for Mega Scizor. Gastrodon also takes on a majority of Electric-types very well. In return, Mega Scizor lays pressure on Grass-types such as Tapu Bulu and Kartana, which can try to take advantage of Toxapex and Gastrodon. Heatran is an excellent teammate because it has an immunity to Fire and appreciates Mega Scizor's ability to take on Ground-types like Zygarde and Mamoswine. Defoggers such as Tornadus-T and Zapdos are great because Mega Scizor may experience trouble checking Zygarde, Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Mamoswine if entry hazards are on the field. In contrast, Mega Scizor appreciates entry hazards on the opposing side of the field to consistently wear down switch-ins such as Toxapex and Heatran, allowing it to sweep more easily. Entry hazard setters such as Clefable, Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Greninja are notable partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mega Scizor can opt to run a faster spread of 248 HP / 24 Atk / 16 Def / 220 Spe in tandem with Superpower and Swords Dance. The given Speed investment lets it outspeed Timid maximum Speed Magnezone. A utility set consisting of Bullet Punch, Roost, U-turn, and Defog, Pursuit, or Hidden Power Ice in the last slot can be used if Mega Scizor is needed on a team and not for its sweeping capabilities. It should, however, be noted that it's a very poor Defogger, as it doesn't match up well against a majority of the entry hazard setters and other Defoggers. Pursuit can let Mega Scizor trap Mega Alakazam and Mega Latios, as well as Choice-locked Tapu Lele and Hoopa-U, but there's very little reason to use Pursuit outside of that. Hidden Power Ice can be used to hit Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Gliscor for 4x super effective damage because this Mega Scizor set is very weak. Alternatively, Hidden Power Fire can be used against Kartana and opposing Mega Scizor. Toxic may be used on Mega Scizor's utility set to cripple common switch-ins like Zapdos and Landorus-T, but Mega Scizor usually lacks the moveslot to fit it in. You can try to outspeed opposing Mega Scizor with this set to potentially 2HKO it before it can recover back its health with Roost.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Toxapex is by far the best switch-in to Mega Scizor due to its typing, bulk, and access to Haze. Rotom-W and Keldeo can switch into Mega Scizor, as they fear very little from it and can burn it; they are prone to getting worn down, however. Other Water-types such as Greninja, Mega Swampert, and Gyarados can put Mega Scizor in unfavorable positions. Gyarados can easily take any of Mega Scizor's attacks and use it as bait to set up with Dragon Dance, though Mega Gyarados has to be wary of Curse and U-turn.
**Magnezone**: Magnezone can easily trap and eliminate non-U-turn Mega Scizor thanks to Magnet Pull. Thanks to Magnezone's typing, Bullet Punch also won't do much damage to it. Non-Choice Scarf variants should, however, be wary of faster Mega Scizor with Superpower.
**Fire-types and Coverage**: Using Heatran is one of the best ways to beat Mega Scizor, courtesy of its typing and bulk. Volcarona and Mega Charizard X and Y are also good switch-ins, as they can OHKO Mega Scizor with their respective STAB moves. Mega Charizard X and Volcarona can also use Mega Scizor as setup bait. Magearna, Mega Latias, Kyurem-B, and Mega Diancie—Pokemon that Mega Scizor is supposed to check—often run Fire-type coverage moves to defeat it. Tapu Lele deserves a special mention, as it not only tends to run Fire-type coverage but also cancels out Bullet Punch by setting up Psychic Terrain.
**Bulky Steel-types**: Celesteela and Skarmory fear very little from Mega Scizor, except for Knock Off. Celesteela can easily beat Mega Scizor with Flamethrower, while Skarmory takes very little damage from anything Mega Scizor might want to attack it with and can phaze it with Whirlwind.
**Electric-types**: Zapdos and Mega Manectric resist Mega Scizor's Bullet Punch and can retaliate with Heat Wave, Flamethrower, or Overheat. Mega Manectric is prone to being worn down and Zapdos doesn't want to get hit by Knock Off, which makes it undesirable to consistently switch them into Mega Scizor.
**Special Attackers**: Special attackers such as Tapu Koko and Tornadus-T can pressure Mega Scizor due to its rather lacking Special Defense stat. Tapu Koko can deal heavy damage to Mega Scizor with STAB Thunderbolt and can even OHKO it with a special Gigavolt Havoc. Tornadus-T can deal heavy amounts of damage with Supersonic Skystrike to Mega Scizor, and even Hurricane 2HKOes it after Stealth Rock damage. It should, however, be noted that they are prone to getting overwhelmed by Swords Dance Mega Scizor due to their lack of bulk and resistance.
Mega Scizor possesses an outstanding defensive typing in Bug / Steel, great defensive stats, and Roost to keep itself healthy, which let it handle titans like Zygarde, Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Mamoswine. Mega Scizor holds excellent utility thanks to its access to moves like Bullet Punch, Defog, and Knock Off. Access to a STAB priority move in Bullet Punch, which is also boosted by Technician, lets Mega Scizor threaten a variety of Pokemon like Tapu Bulu, Kyurem-B, and Mega Diancie. Mega Scizor also has access to setup moves in Curse and Swords Dance, which can let it sweep or clean up late-game. Although Mega Scizor may be capable of beating Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Mamoswine on their own, they're often paired with Magnezone, which can trap and remove Mega Scizor from the match if not played around cautiously. While Mega Scizor's typing is very strong defensively, it also comes with a downside: it is very susceptible to the decently common Fire-types, and Pokemon that Mega Scizor is supposed to check, such as Kyurem-B and Mega Diancie, often run Fire-type coverage to beat it.
[SET]
name: Sweeper
move 1: Curse / Swords Dance
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Roost
move 4: Knock Off / U-turn
item: Scizorite
ability: Light Metal
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Curse boosts Mega Scizor's Attack and Defense by one stage, which lets it effectively check Pokemon that can boost their stats as well, like Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Zygarde. Swords Dance is an alternative to Curse that raises Mega Scizor's Attack by two stages but doesn't boost Mega Scizor's Defense, which means that it can be rather inconvenient to check Zygarde. Bullet Punch is Mega Scizor's main STAB move and lets it hit Pokemon like Tapu Bulu, Kyurem-B, and Mega Diancie for super effective damage. It's also boosted by Technician and is a priority move, which makes up for Mega Scizor's lack of Speed. Roost lets Mega Scizor stay healthy throughout the match, allowing it to switch in multiple times. Knock Off lets Mega Scizor remove items from, and potentially break past, defensive stops to it such as Celesteela, Toxapex, and Zapdos. U-turn may be used to generate momentum for Mega Scizor's team.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs, 244 Defense EVs, and an Impish nature allow Mega Scizor to take hits from Pokemon like Zygarde, Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Kyurem-B, giving it an easier time setting up against them. 16 EVs are allocated to Special Defense to avoid a 2HKO from Magearna's +1 Thunderbolt. A spread consisting of 248 HP / 104 Def / 156 SpD and an Impish nature may be used alongside Curse, as it eases the matchup against Mega Alakazam and Tapu Lele quite a lot while maintaining Mega Scizor's ability to check Zygarde. Scizor should immediately Mega Evolve, so forgoing Technician is completely fine because Light Metal has its situational use against Trace users like Mega Alakazam and the rare Low Kick Weavile and Greninja. Scizorite is required for Scizor to Mega Evolve into Mega Scizor.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Scizor should aim to weaken the opposing team before sweeping by forcing switches and using Knock Off or U-turn. It should be used to pivot into threats like Zygarde, Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Mamoswine. Don't use Curse or Swords Dance purely to sweep, as Mega Scizor can also be used to defeat Pokemon like Magearna and Ferrothorn. Mega Scizor can lay pressure on the opponent's team by using Curse or Swords Dance to force a switch so that it can freely use Knock Off or U-turn to weaken the team. Always scout for Fire-type coverage on Pokemon that Mega Scizor is supposed to check, such as Kyurem-B and Mega Diancie. If the opponent has Magnezone, Mega Scizor should be wary of using Curse or Swords Dance and should instead always use U-turn or double switch out. You should also be cautious when knocking out Pokemon, as this can give Magnezone a free switch in and result in a knocked out Mega Scizor.
Team Options
========
Zygarde can pressure Fire-, Steel-, and Electric-types like Heatran, Celesteela, and Zapdos, all of which Mega Scizor tends to struggle against. Mega Scizor can heavily pressure Fairy-, Ice-, and Grass-types for Zygarde in return. It's also capable of getting Zygarde a free switch in with U-turn. Toxapex and Gastrodon can take on Fire-, Water-, and Steel-types for Mega Scizor. Gastrodon also takes on a majority of Electric-types very well. In return, Mega Scizor lays pressure on Grass-types such as Tapu Bulu and Kartana, which can try to take advantage of Toxapex and Gastrodon. Heatran is an excellent teammate because it has an immunity to Fire and appreciates Mega Scizor's ability to take on Ground-types like Zygarde and Mamoswine. Defoggers such as Tornadus-T and Zapdos are great because Mega Scizor may experience trouble checking Zygarde, Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Mamoswine if entry hazards are on the field. In contrast, Mega Scizor appreciates entry hazards on the opposing side of the field to consistently wear down switch-ins such as Toxapex and Heatran, allowing it to sweep more easily. Entry hazard setters such as Clefable, Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Greninja are notable partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mega Scizor can opt to run a faster spread of 248 HP / 24 Atk / 16 Def / 220 Spe in tandem with Superpower and Swords Dance. The given Speed investment lets it outspeed Timid maximum Speed Magnezone. A utility set consisting of Bullet Punch, Roost, U-turn, and Defog, Pursuit, or Hidden Power Ice in the last slot can be used if Mega Scizor is needed on a team and not for its sweeping capabilities. It should, however, be noted that it's a very poor Defogger, as it doesn't match up well against a majority of the entry hazard setters and other Defoggers. Pursuit can let Mega Scizor trap Mega Alakazam and Mega Latios, as well as Choice-locked Tapu Lele and Hoopa-U, but there's very little reason to use Pursuit outside of that. Hidden Power Ice can be used to hit Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Gliscor for 4x super effective damage because this Mega Scizor set is very weak. Alternatively, Hidden Power Fire can be used against Kartana and opposing Mega Scizor. Toxic may be used on Mega Scizor's utility set to cripple common switch-ins like Zapdos and Landorus-T, but Mega Scizor usually lacks the moveslot to fit it in. You can try to outspeed opposing Mega Scizor with this set to potentially 2HKO it before it can recover back its health with Roost.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Toxapex is by far the best switch-in to Mega Scizor due to its typing, bulk, and access to Haze. Rotom-W and Keldeo can switch into Mega Scizor, as they fear very little from it and can burn it; they are prone to getting worn down, however. Other Water-types such as Greninja, Mega Swampert, and Gyarados can put Mega Scizor in unfavorable positions. Gyarados can easily take any of Mega Scizor's attacks and use it as bait to set up with Dragon Dance, though Mega Gyarados has to be wary of Curse and U-turn.
**Magnezone**: Magnezone can easily trap and eliminate non-U-turn Mega Scizor thanks to Magnet Pull. Thanks to Magnezone's typing, Bullet Punch also won't do much damage to it. Non-Choice Scarf variants should, however, be wary of faster Mega Scizor with Superpower.
**Fire-types and Coverage**: Using Heatran is one of the best ways to beat Mega Scizor, courtesy of its typing and bulk. Volcarona and Mega Charizard X and Y are also good switch-ins, as they can OHKO Mega Scizor with their respective STAB moves. Mega Charizard X and Volcarona can also use Mega Scizor as setup bait. Magearna, Mega Latias, Kyurem-B, and Mega Diancie—Pokemon that Mega Scizor is supposed to check—often run Fire-type coverage moves to defeat it. Tapu Lele deserves a special mention, as it not only tends to run Fire-type coverage but also cancels out Bullet Punch by setting up Psychic Terrain.
**Bulky Steel-types**: Celesteela and Skarmory fear very little from Mega Scizor, except for Knock Off. Celesteela can easily beat Mega Scizor with Flamethrower, while Skarmory takes very little damage from anything Mega Scizor might want to attack it with and can phaze it with Whirlwind.
**Electric-types**: Zapdos and Mega Manectric resist Mega Scizor's Bullet Punch and can retaliate with Heat Wave, Flamethrower, or Overheat. Mega Manectric is prone to being worn down and Zapdos doesn't want to get hit by Knock Off, which makes it undesirable to consistently switch them into Mega Scizor.
**Special Attackers**: Special attackers such as Tapu Koko and Tornadus-T can pressure Mega Scizor due to its rather lacking Special Defense stat. Tapu Koko can deal heavy damage to Mega Scizor with STAB Thunderbolt and can even OHKO it with a special Gigavolt Havoc. Tornadus-T can deal heavy amounts of damage with Supersonic Skystrike to Mega Scizor, and even Hurricane 2HKOes it after Stealth Rock damage. It should, however, be noted that they are prone to getting overwhelmed by Swords Dance Mega Scizor due to their lack of bulk and resistance.
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