Scyther @ Eviolite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 216 HP / 252 Spd / 40 Atk
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Aerial Ace
- Baton Pass / Brick Break
- Roost
This is the set that I find most suited to the current RU meta, and the one that I have been using the most. Scyther has an incredible amount of setup opportunities with this set. It can realistically setup on more than half of the S/A ranks 1v1. If the opponent is coming on on a switch/on the revenge, it can tank an even more impressive quantity.
252 SpA
Delphox Fire Blast vs. 216 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Scyther: 264-312 (78.8 - 93.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA
Moltres Fire Blast vs. 216 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Scyther: 282-332 (84.1 - 99.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb
Yanmega Air Slash vs. 216 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Scyther: 260-307 (77.6 - 91.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb
Jolteon Thunderbolt vs. 216 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Scyther: 273-322 (81.4 - 96.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
And let's keep in mind that these are some of the strongest common STAB Supereffective attacks in RU. In terms of general tankiness:
252+ SpA Life Orb
Reuniclus Psyshock vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Scyther: 146-173 (43.5 - 51.6%) -- 9.4% chance to 2HKO
252+ Atk Life Orb
Sharpedo Crunch vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Scyther: 142-169 (42.3 - 50.4%) -- 1.6% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb
Zoroark Flamethrower vs. 216 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Scyther: 192-229 (57.3 - 68.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Hustle
Durant Iron Head vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Scyther: 181-214 (54 - 63.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs
Exploud Boomburst vs. 216 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Scyther: 237-279 (70.7 - 83.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
This, backed by STAB Technician Aerial Ace off of a likely +2 attack makes Scyther very threatening to common mons. Perhaps the most interesting part of this set is the third moveslot with Baton Pass / Brick Break. Scyther can choose Brick Break to take on a more traditional bulky sweeping role. It allows it to better handle Registeel, Electric Types, and Rhyperior (good luck with most of those). The almost universally greater option is to forego this coverage in favor of
Baton Pass. With this move, Scyther's utility goes through the roof. It can not only support its teammates with a +2 attack pass, it also increases its sweeping potential exponentially by allowing it to essentially tap out when faced with something that resists flying/can threaten a 2hko. This is where those previous calcs come into play. If something like Jolteon comes in to revenge Scyther, it can tank a hit if it is healthy and pass to another mon who can continue the sweep, likely with a free turn. This process is even more dangerous when Scyther is faced with a mon that it can outspeed (ie. almost the entire tier). It can pass out of something like Moltres into, say, Sharpedo or Rhyperior. The opponent must now sack either Moltres, likely one of their few Scyther checks, or probably get nearly swept. If the former occurs, than Scyther is still healthy and ready to repeat. In the event that Scyther is slower than the opposing threat, Scyther itself will be crippled, but a gain is made in that the pass recipient will come in unscathed and ready to sweep.
As evidenced by the popularity of Vivillion as a point of interest, mono-flying coverage is pretty great in RU. Frequently, Scyther will be able to do quite a bit of work on its own simply with a boosted Aerial Ace.
Scyther @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Jolly Nature
- U-turn / Swords Dance
- Knock Off / Brick Break
- Aerial Ace
- Quick Attack / Brick Break
It can also take a more active role as an offensive pivot. This set takes greater advantage of that beautiful base 105 speed by using Scyther as a nightmare to many offensive teams, Sticky Web included. This set is more self-explanatory than the first, so I will keep things brief, but Scyther threatens generally the same things as before, except it has a far greater emphasis on individualized sweeping. It is perhaps more threatening to Sticky Web Offense than the first set, but it doesn't fare as well as the bulky varients in the typical metagame.
Scyther also has a number of other cool options. It does have access to defog, though it does not mesh well with its SR weakness. It could possibly run a full-on defensive set with its fighting resistance, high speed, and natural bulk doing wonders for stallish teams. Even Endure-Reversal is a possibility. The fact that it is unaffected by Sticky Webs, in a similar vein to Yanmega, makes it incredibly valuable in the current meta. Pairing it up with mons like Cobalion can allow for either a cool volt-turn core, or a devestating SD-Pass core, as Cobalion can easily tank any of the physical attacks, particularly rock moves, that are being used against a weakened Scyther.