Monotype Scizor (Bug)

[twinkay]

[OVERVIEW]

Bug
========
Scizor is an essential sweeper for Bug teams due to its solid bulk, Steel typing, and access to recovery in Roost giving it ample setup opportunities with Swords Dance. With a spammable Technician-boosted STAB move in Bullet Punch and useful coverage in Knock Off and Superpower, Scizor is able to greatly threaten common types such as Fairy, Ice, Flying, and Dragon. Scizor's typing and access to reliable recovery in Roost allow it to check Psychic-, Fairy-, and Poison-types that Bug teams can often struggle against, such as Tapu Lele and Nihilego. However, Scizor's coverage is very one-dimensional, causing it to struggle in other matchups such as Water, Electric, and Fire. Furthermore, it is reliant on Bullet Punch for its damage output against faster targets, meaning that it can be easily revenge killed by Pokemon that resist Steel such as Heatran and Urshifu-R. Scizor's exploitable 4x weakness to Fire also limits its ability to switch into defensive Pokemon carrying Fire coverage such as Celesteela and Galarian Slowking.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Bug)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Roost / Superpower
item: Metal Coat
ability: Technician
nature: Adamant
evs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance boosts Scizor's attack, enabling it to OHKO offensive threats like Dragapult and Tapu Koko with Bullet Punch. Knock Off is a utility move that hits Steel- and Psychic-types such as Aegislash, Celesteela, and Slowbro. Roost keeps Scizor healthy, allowing it to set up with Swords Dance and attack multiple times. Superpower is a useful coverage option that hits Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Excadrill. Metal Coat provides the most damage on Bullet Punch without drawbacks. 216 Speed EVs allow Scizor to outspeed Jolly Azumarill, as well as Adamant Bewear and Aegislash.

All Pokemon on Bug teams appreciate Scizor's wallbreaking capability and defensive utility. Volcarona is the primary partner for Scizor, as it can help deal with Steel-types such as Skarmory while also being able to sweep most types, including Poison and Electric, after Scizor breaks through them. In return, Scizor can handle Rock-types such as Tyranitar and Nihilego. Sticky Web support from Araquanid and Shuckle can help make up for Scizor's middling Speed, and Araquanid also provides a switch-in to Fire-types. Stealth Rock and Spikes support from Shuckle, Armaldo, and Golisopod can ease Scizor's wallbreaking by spreading chip damage, and Golisopod additionally provides utility against defensive teams through Knock Off and Taunt. Galvantula and Vikavolt can break Water-types that Scizor struggles against such as Toxapex and Gastrodon. Guts Heracross can threaten Steel-types such as Heatran and Celesteela for Scizor while also threatening Rotom-W. Buzzwole is another cleaner that appreciates Scizor's wallbreaking that can sweep against types like Steel and Fire, matchups where Scizor is less useful.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Bug
--------
Life Orb can be used over Metal Coat for more damage at the cost of longevity. Dual Wingbeat is an option that does more neutral damage than Bullet Punch thanks to Technician and hits Amoonguss, Urshifu-R, and Substitute users like Kyurem, while Psycho Cut can cover Poison-types like Toxapex. However, these are usually less useful than Roost or Superpower. A Choice Band set can be used for more initial power, but it makes Scizor much easier to play around once the set is known.


Checks and Counters
===================

Bug
--------

**Walls**: Physical walls such as Hippowdon, Skarmory, and Toxapex take negligible damage from Scizor's boosted attacks and can get rid of its boosts through phazing moves or Haze.

**Steel-resistant Pokemon**: Water-, Fire-, Electric-, and Steel-types, including Urshifu-R, Volcanion, Zapdos, and Celesteela, do not fear Scizor's Bullet Punch and threaten Scizor with their powerful attacks or super effective coverage.

**Status**: Burn from Pokemon like Galarian Corsola and Sableye is crippling for Scizor because it forces it to have multiple Swords Dance boosts to deal significant damage. While Scizor is not reliant on its Speed, paralysis annoys it because it prevents it from safely healing with Roost or getting guaranteed damage versus offensive threats.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Felines, 290520]]
- Bug analysis by: [[Felines, 290520]]
- Quality checked by: [[DugZa, 473171], [roxiee, 481576]]
- Grammar checked by: [[dex, 277988], [Estronic, 240732]]

 

[Neko]

Btw, shouldn't Sciz run more speed? If you are max speed, you'll be able to outspeed base 100's (eg. Band Vict, Specs Rachi) after the sticky webs drop, which could be situationally useful (you outspeed most of Ground, Psychic, Steel)... and the added HP doesn't matter (I think) since its still a 2HKO to most CCs (you get OHKO'ed by Shifu tho but like you have Araq anyway...), Corvi BB still 3HKOs, etc...tho if you want to minmax there's 32 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 220 Spe (Hits 221 speed, lets you outspeed up to 328 speed mons, and will not get OHKOed by Specs Lele (which you outspeed with if ur using that investment)
Add Remove Comments

AM Check, apply only what you want

[OVERVIEW]
Bug
========
Scizor is an essential sweeper for Bug teams due to its solid bulk, part-Steel typing, and access to recovery in Roost giving it ample setup opportunities with Swords Dance. With a spammable Techinician-boosted STAB move in Bullet Punch and useful coverage in Knock Off and Superpower, Scizor is able to greatly threaten common types such as Fairy, Ice, Flying, and Dragon. Scizor's Bug / Steel typing allows it to check Psychic-, Fairy-, and Poison-types (Add hyphen, Also wouldnt adding Rock be nicer here, Sciz checks Ttar after all...and is also scary for bug D:) that Bug teams can often struggle against, such as Tapu Lele and Nihilego, while also staying healthy through Roost. However, Scizor's coverage is very one-dimensional, causing it to struggle in other matchups such as Water, Electric, and Fire (I dont think you need to mention Fire, because its a weakness mu anyway?). Furthermore, it is also reliant on Bullet Punch for its damage output against faster targets, meaning that it can be easily revenge killed by Steel-resistant threats such as Heatran and Urshifu-R. (Heatran can't outspeed you under webs [unless scarf], and you OHKO it with Super Power)

[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Bug)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Knock Off / Superpower
move 4: Roost / Superpower
item: Metal Coat
ability: Technician
nature: Adamant
evs: 220 HP / 252 Atk / 36 Spe (Might be changed if you want to apply the spread I proposed)

[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance boosts Scizor's attack, enabling it to OHKO offensive threats like Dragapult and Tapu Koko. Knock Off hits Ghost- (Hyphen) and Psychic-types such as Aegislash and Tapu Lele, and also provides general utility. Roost keeps Scizor healthy, allowing it to and allows it to set up Swords Dance and wallbreak attack multiple times throughout the match (?). Supepower allows Scizor to threaten is a useful coverage option that hits Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Excadrill (Note that Exca kinda drops to +2 BP tho...so something like Tran might be better). Metal Coat provides the most maximizes damage on Bullet Punch without drawbacks. Maximum Attack with an Adamant nature maximizes Scizor's damage outspeed, while 36 speed outspeeds uninvested Corviknight.

All Pokemon on Bug teams appreciate Scizor's wallbreaking capability and defensive utility. Volcarona is the primary partner for Scizor, as it can help deal with Steel-types such as Skarmory, while also being able to sweep most types after Scizor's breaking has punched holes on the opposing team. Araquanid can switch into Fire-type attacks from the likes of Cinderace and Heatran for Scizor, while also providing Sticky Web to make up for Scizor's middling speed (iirc Araq can remove Fires by trapping them, but Idt they would stay in anyway...). Shuckle can also set Sticky Web and additional hazard support in Stealth Rock to aid Scizor in sweeping the opposing team to punish Scizor's switch-ins (I dont think SR punishes anything tho...). Galvantula and Vikavolt can break Water-types that Scizor struggles to break such as Toxapex and Gastrodon (should it be Hippo over Gastro tho, I think Gastro is spdef....?). Guts Heracross can threaten Steel-types such as Heatran and Celesteela for Scizor while also threatening Rotom-W (Mention it also breaks Pex/Poison?). Choice Scarf Buzzwole is another cleaner that appreciates Scizor's wallbreaking that , and can clean types like Electric and Fire, matchups where Scizor is less useful.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Bug
--------
Life Orb can be used over Metal Coat for more damage at the cost of longevity. Dual Wingbeat is an option that actually does more neutral damage than Bullet Punch thanks to Technician, but it is generally more useful to have coverage options (Rather, its Fighting-Dark-Steel coverage is already a bit hard to answer over Flying-Steel-Dark/Fighting). A Choice Band set can be used for more initial power, but it makes Scizor much easier to play around once the set is known.


Checks and Counters
===================

Bug
--------
**Water-types**: Water-types like Rotom-W, Pelipper, and Volcanion do not fear Bullet Punch and can threaten to burn or weaken Scizor. Toxapex in particular is one the best defensive switch-ins to Scizor because it does not fear Bullet Punch or any coverage and can Haze away Scizor's boosts.

**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Skarmory and Celesteela can safely switch into Scizor and can mitigate its boosts. Skamory can take Scizor's attacks even after a boost and phaze it, while Celesteela can threaten it out with Flamethower. through phasing or threatening it with Flamethrower in Celesteela's case. (You can add Corv, Ig, because BU/ID sets "beat" Scizor) Other Steel-types such as Ferrothorn (I think Ferro can't, as Power Whip does negligible damage, you just roost and setup more there) and Heatran can check Scizor, but must be wary of switching into Superpower.

**Fire-type Coverage**: Because of Scizor's exploitable Fire weakness, it fears common Fire coverage from Pokemon such as Garchomp, Hydreigon, and Zapdos.

**Status**: Burn from Pokemon like Galarian Corsola and Sableye is crippling for Scizor because it forces Scizor to have multiple Swords Dance boosts to deal significant damage. While Scizor is not reliant on its speed, Paralysis annoys Scizor because it prevents it from safely healing with Roost or getting guaranteed damage off versus offensive threats.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Felines, 290520]]
- Bug analysis by: [[Felines, 290520]]
- Quality checked by: [[<username1>, <userid1>], [<username2>, <userid2>]]
- Grammar checked by: [[<username1>, <userid1>], [<username2>, <userid2>]]

 

[twinkay]

i’ll look at this later but just to respond to your question we decided on this spread because you don’t really need speed for anything and in a lot of cases it’s actually beneficial to move slower so you can come in weakened vs something that can only do 40% or so to you, roost off damage, end the turn at high hp, and then ko with bullet punch so you end up with the highest hp possible for example. hp evs are always going to be useful on a mon with roost because you’re going to be taking random attacks all game

 

[Neko]

i’ll look at this later but just to respond to your question we decided on this spread because you don’t really need speed for anything and in a lot of cases it’s actually beneficial to move slower so you can come in weakened vs something that can only do 40% or so to you, roost off damage, end the turn at high hp, and then ko with bullet punch so you end up with the highest hp possible for example. hp evs are always going to be useful on a mon with roost because you’re going to be taking random attacks all game

oh oki, noted, ty for clarification

 

[kiru]

216 is for azu mainly so u aren’t bd swept as it’s the wincon vs fairy with the rest in bulk to just maximize longevity while checking it, other spreads are an option but bug’s composition can leave it very reliant on scizor especially when facing such builds. Overall it seems pretty customizable in terms of what you need it to do but I’d stick with the azu creep since that benchmark is used by the likes of decem/harpp/ and me personally for bug. Mention that scizor is customizable in terms of ev spreads most definitely tho

 

[Neko]

(also btw 216 still outspeeds base 100's [220 was a proof I dont know math], which would be really cute to write in too, as you kill Band Vict, Specs Rachi, and arent screwed w/ Twave of Psy's Rachi)
also a calc for LO Sciz (for OO)

Slowbro

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scizor Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro: 408-481 (103.5 - 122%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252+ Atk Scizor Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro: 314-370 (79.6 - 93.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Metal Birb that isnt Skarm

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scizor Superpower vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Corviknight: 356-420 (89 - 105%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ Atk Scizor Superpower vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Corviknight: 274-323 (68.5 - 80.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Skarm is always a 2HKO

Band Victini

252+ Atk Scizor Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Victini: 234-276 (68.6 - 80.9%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Life Orb Scizor Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Victini: 304-359 (89.1 - 105.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

 

[DugZa]

Add Remove Comment

Scizor (Bug)

[OVERVIEW]

Bug
========
Scizor is an essential sweeper for Bug teams due to its solid bulk, part-Steel typing, and access to recovery in Roost giving it ample setup opportunities with Swords Dance. With a spammable Techinician-boosted STAB move in Bullet Punch and useful coverage in Knock Off and Superpower, Scizor is able to greatly threaten common types such as Fairy, Ice, Flying, and Dragon. Scizor's Bug / Steel typing allows it to check Psychic, Fairy, and Poison types that Bug teams can often struggle against, such as Tapu Lele and Nihilego, while also staying healthy through Roost. However, Scizor's coverage is very one-dimensional, causing it to struggle in other matchups such as Water, Electric, and Fire. Furthermore, it is also reliant on Bullet Punch for its damage output against faster targets, meaning that it can be easily revenge killed by Steel-resistant threats such as Heatran and Urshifu-R. [Make a mention about the x4 Fire weakness as well.]

[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Bug)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Knock Off / Superpower
move 4: Roost / Superpower
item: Metal Coat
ability: Technician
nature: Adamant
evs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance boosts Scizor's attack, enabling it to OHKO offensive threats like Dragapult and Tapu Koko with Bullet Punch. Knock Off hits Ghost and Psychic-types such as Aegislash, Slowbro, and Tapu Lele, and also provides general utility. Roost keeps Scizor healthy, allowing it to set up Swords Dance and attack multiple times. Supepower Superpower is a useful coverage option that hits Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Excadrill. Metal Coat provides the most damage on Bullet Punch without drawbacks. Maximum Attack with an Adamant nature maximizes Scizor's damage outspeed, while 216 speed outspeeds Jolly Azumarill. 216 Speed EVs allow Scizor to outspeed Jolly Azumarill.

All Pokemon on Bug teams appreciate Scizor's wallbreaking capability and defensive utility. Volcarona is the primary partner for Scizor, as it can help deal with Steel-types such as Skarmory, while also being able to sweep most types [Like?] after Scizor's breaking. [Add that Scizor also bops Rock-types for Volcarona.] Araquanid can switch into Fire-type attacks from the likes of Cinderace and Heatran for Scizor, while also providing Sticky Web to make up for Scizor's middling speed. Shuckle can also set Sticky Web and additional hazard support in Stealth Rock to punish Scizor's switch-ins. Galvantula and Vikavolt can break Water-types that Scizor struggles to break such as Toxapex and Gastrodon. Guts Heracross can threaten Steel-types such as Heatran and Celesteela for Scizor while also threatening Rotom-W. Buzzwole is another cleaner that appreciates Scizor's wallbreaking that can clean types like Electric [Is Buzzwole really that great in Electric? Eh, use a different example maybe?] and Fire, matchups where Scizor is less useful.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Bug
--------
Life Orb can be used over Metal Coat for more damage at the cost of longevity. Dual Wingbeat is an option that actually does more neutral damage than Bullet Punch thanks to Technician, but it is generally more useful to have coverage options. A Choice Band set can be used for more initial power, but it makes Scizor much easier to play around once the set is known.


Checks and Counters
===================

Bug
--------
**Water-types**: Water-types like Rotom-W, Pelipper, and Volcanion do not fear Bullet Punch and can threaten to burn or weaken Scizor. Toxapex in particular is one the best defensive switch-ins to Scizor because it does not fear Bullet Punch or any coverage and can Haze away Scizor's boosts.

**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Skarmory and Celesteela can safely switch into Scizor and can mitigate its boosts through phasing or threatening it with Flamethrower in Celesteela's case. Other Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Heatran can check Scizor, but must be wary of switching into Superpower.

**Fire-type Coverage**: Because of Scizor's exploitable Fire weakness, it fears common Fire coverage from Pokemon such as Garchomp, Hydreigon, and Zapdos.

**Walls**:

**Steel-resistant Pokemon**:

**Status**: Burn from Pokemon like Galarian Corsola and Sableye is crippling for Scizor because it forces Scizor to have multiple Swords Dance boosts to deal significant damage. While Scizor is not reliant on its speed, Paralysis annoys Scizor because it prevents it from safely healing with Roost or getting guaranteed damage off versus offensive threats.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Felines, 290520]]
- Bug analysis by: [[Felines, 290520]]
- Quality checked by: [[DugZa, 473171], [<username2>, <userid2>]]
- Grammar checked by: [[<username1>, <userid1>], [<username2>, <userid2>]]

QC 1/2

 

[kiru]

[Overview+Set]
Scizor's exploitable 4x weakness to Fire also limits its switch-ins into defensive Pokemon carrying Fire coverage such as Celesteela and Galarian Slowking. [This categorizes the defensive pokemon i think? I think its implied but defensive pokemon could also be like pex/skarm/w.e so directly stating it seems like nice clarification]

216 Speed EVs allow Scizor to outspeed Jolly Azumarill. [This also benchmarks full speed neutral bewear/aegis at 220 but mention them (after) azumarill for emphasis purposes]

Knock Off hits Ghost and Psychic-types such as Aegislash, Slowbro, and Tapu Lele, and also provides general utility. ["Knock Off is a utility move that hits x and y"? I'd also squeeze in that it hits steel-resistance pokemon: celes/aegis/exca]

move 3: Knock Off / Superpower [idt you'd ever want to be walled by aegis/pex/slowbro etc]

[Teammates]

In return, Scizor can handle Rock-types such as Tyranitar and Cradily. [Replace Cradily with smthn else like nihi/terrak (smthn more impactful)]

I'd categorize the sticky web setters in one sentence and then introduce their individual roles in sequence. I feel like Bug should just use a more offensive setter rather than Shuckle in this metagame. After this id generalize stealth rockers: armaldo and shuckle and give armaldo its own line aftwards. That way you really don't need a line for shuckle and you also cover other options on bug. Golisopod can be mentioned after this as spiker (it helps scizor wear down threats like celes/ferrothorn and provides general utility in taunt+knock+spikes.

[OO]

Dual Wingbeat is an option that does more neutral damage than Bullet Punch thanks to Technician, but it is generally more useful to have coverage options. [I'd mention directly what this is used for. "DWB hits Amoonguss and Kyurem's Sub"]

- Mention psycho cut for pex/amoon?

2/2

 

[dex]

AM GP Check
Blue = Add
Red = Delete
Green = Comments
AC = Add Comma, AA = Add Apostrophe, AP = Add Period, AH = Add Hyphen

AM GP Check

[OVERVIEW]

Bug
========
Scizor is an essential sweeper for Bug teams due to its solid bulk, part-Steel typing Steel typing, and access to recovery in Roost giving it ample setup opportunities with Swords Dance. With a spammable Techinician-boosted STAB move in Bullet Punch and useful coverage in Knock Off and Superpower, Scizor is able to greatly threaten common types such as Fairy, Ice, Flying, and Dragon. Scizor's Bug / Steel typing allows it to check Psychic-, Fairy-, and Poison-types (AH on all three) that Bug teams can often struggle against, such as Tapu Lele and Nihilego, while also staying healthy through Roost (Scizor's typing doesn't really have anything to do with Roost. If you want to mention something relating to how Roost allows it to stay healthy vs. Tapu Lele and Nihilego, you should say something like "Scizor's typing and access to Roost allows it to check..."). However, Scizor's coverage is very one-dimensional, causing it to struggle in other matchups such as Water, Electric, and Fire. Furthermore, it is also reliant on Bullet Punch for its damage output against faster targets, meaning that it can be easily revenge killed by Steel-resistant threats Pokemon that resist Steel such as Heatran and Urshifu-R. Scizor's exploitable 4x weakness to Fire also limits its switch-ins ability to switch into defensive Pokemon carrying Fire coverage such as Celesteela and Galarian Slowking.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Bug)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Roost / Superpower
item: Metal Coat
ability: Technician
nature: Adamant
evs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance boosts Scizor's attack, enabling it to OHKO offensive threats like Dragapult and Tapu Koko with Bullet Punch. Knock Off is a general utility move that hits Steel and Psychic-types such as Aegislash, Celesteela, and Slowbro. Roost keeps Scizor healthy, allowing it to set up Swords Dance and attack multiple times. Superpower is a useful coverage option that hits Fighting-weak (no need to really mention this, the average reader knows how types work) Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Excadrill. Metal Coat provides the most damage on Bullet Punch without drawbacks. 216 Speed EVs allow Scizor to outspeed Jolly Azumarill, as well as Adamant Bewear and Aegislash.

All Pokemon on Bug teams appreciate Scizor's wallbreaking capability and defensive utility. Volcarona is the primary partner for Scizor, as it can help deal with Steel-types, (AC) such as Skarmory, while also being able to sweep most types, including types like Poison and Electric, after Scizor's breaking. In return, Scizor can handle Rock-types such as Tyranitar and Nihilego. Sticky Web support from Araquanid and Shuckle can help make up for Scizor's middling speed, and Araquanid also provides a switch-in to Fire-types for it. Stealth Rock and Spikes support from Shuckle, Armaldo, (AC) and Golisopod can ease Scizor's wallbreaking by spreading chip damage, and Golisopod can provide general provides utility against defensive teams through Knock Off and Taunt. Galvantula and Vikavolt can break Water-types that Scizor struggles to break against such as Toxapex and Gastrodon. Guts Heracross can threaten Steel-types such as Heatran and Celesteela for Scizor while also threatening Rotom-W. Buzzwole is another cleaner that appreciates Scizor's wallbreaking that can clean sweep against types like Steel and Fire, matchups where Scizor is less useful.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Bug
--------
Life Orb can be used over Metal Coat for more damage at the cost of longevity. Dual Wingbeat is an option that does more neutral damage than Bullet Punch thanks to Technician and hits Amoonguss, Urshifu-R, and Substitute users like Kyurem, while Psycho Cut can cover Poison-types like Toxapex. However, these are usually less useful than Roost or Superpower. A Choice Band set can be used for more initial power, but it makes Scizor much easier to play around once the set is known.


Checks and Counters
===================

Bug
--------

**Walls**: Physical walls such as Hippodown, Skarmory, and Toxapex take negligible damage from Scizor's boosted attacks and can get rid of its boosts through phasing moves or Haze.

**Steel-resistant Pokemon**: Water, Fire, Electric, and Steel-types, (AC) including Urshifu-R, Volcanion, Zapdos, and Celesteela, (AC) do not fear Scizor's Bullet Punch and can threaten Scizor with their powerful attacks or super-effective coverage.

**Status**: Burn from Pokemon like Galarian Corsola and Sableye is crippling for Scizor because it forces Scizor to have multiple Swords Dance boosts to deal significant damage. While Scizor is not reliant on its speed, Paralysis annoys Scizor because it prevents it from safely healing with Roost or getting guaranteed damage off versus offensive threats.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Felines, 290520]]
- Bug analysis by: [[Felines, 290520]]
- Quality checked by: [[DugZa, 473171], [roxiee, 481576]]
- Grammar checked by: [[<username1>, <userid1>], [<username2>, <userid2>]]

 

[Astra]

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[OVERVIEW]

Bug
========
Scizor is an essential sweeper for Bug teams due to its solid bulk, Steel typing, and access to recovery in Roost giving it ample setup opportunities with Swords Dance. With a spammable Techinician-boosted Technician-boosted STAB move in Bullet Punch and useful coverage in Knock Off and Superpower, Scizor is able to greatly threaten common types such as Fairy, Ice, Flying, and Dragon. Scizor's typing and access to reliable recovery in Roost allow it to check Psychic-, Fairy-, and Poison-types that Bug teams can often struggle against, such as Tapu Lele and Nihilego. However, Scizor's coverage is very one-dimensional, causing it to struggle in other matchups such as Water, Electric, and Fire. Furthermore, it is reliant on Bullet Punch for its damage output against faster targets, meaning that it can be easily revenge killed by Pokemon that resist Steel such as Heatran and Urshifu-R. Scizor's exploitable 4x weakness to Fire also limits its ability to switch into defensive Pokemon carrying Fire coverage such as Celesteela and Galarian Slowking.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Bug)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Bullet Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Roost / Superpower
item: Metal Coat
ability: Technician
nature: Adamant
evs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance boosts Scizor's attack, enabling it to OHKO offensive threats like Dragapult and Tapu Koko with Bullet Punch. Knock Off is a utility move that hits Steel- (AH) and Psychic-types such as Aegislash, Celesteela, and Slowbro. Roost keeps Scizor healthy, allowing it to set up with Swords Dance and attack multiple times. Superpower is a useful coverage option that hits Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Excadrill. Metal Coat provides the most damage on Bullet Punch without drawbacks. 216 Speed EVs allow Scizor to outspeed Jolly Azumarill, as well as Adamant Bewear and Aegislash.

All Pokemon on Bug teams appreciate Scizor's wallbreaking capability and defensive utility. Volcarona is the primary partner for Scizor, as it can help deal with Steel-types, (RC) such as Skarmory, (RC) while also being able to sweep most types, including types like Poison and Electric, after Scizor's breaking breaks through them. In return, Scizor can handle Rock-types such as Tyranitar and Nihilego. Sticky Web support from Araquanid and Shuckle can help make up for Scizor's middling Speed, and Araquanid also provides a switch-in to Fire-types. Stealth Rock and Spikes support from Shuckle, Armaldo, and Golisopod can ease Scizor's wallbreaking by spreading chip damage, and Golisopod additionally provides utility against defensive teams through Knock Off and Taunt. Galvantula and Vikavolt can break Water-types that Scizor struggles against such as Toxapex and Gastrodon. Guts Heracross can threaten Steel-types such as Heatran and Celesteela for Scizor while also threatening Rotom-W. Buzzwole is another cleaner that appreciates Scizor's wallbreaking that can sweep against types like Steel and Fire, matchups where Scizor is less useful.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Bug
--------
Life Orb can be used over Metal Coat for more damage at the cost of longevity. Dual Wingbeat is an option that does more neutral damage than Bullet Punch thanks to Technician and hits Amoonguss, Urshifu-R, and Substitute users like Kyurem, while Psycho Cut can cover Poison-types like Toxapex. However, these are usually less useful than Roost or Superpower. A Choice Band set can be used for more initial power, but it makes Scizor much easier to play around once the set is known.


Checks and Counters
===================

Bug
--------

**Walls**: Physical walls such as Hippodown Hippowdon, Skarmory, and Toxapex take negligible damage from Scizor's boosted attacks and can get rid of its boosts through phazing moves or Haze.

**Steel-resistant Pokemon**: Water-, Fire-, Electric-, (AHS) and Steel-types, including Urshifu-R, Volcanion, Zapdos, and Celesteela, do not fear Scizor's Bullet Punch and threaten Scizor with their powerful attacks or super-effective (RH) coverage.

**Status**: Burn from Pokemon like Galarian Corsola and Sableye is crippling for Scizor because it forces Scizor it to have multiple Swords Dance boosts to deal significant damage. While Scizor is not reliant on its Speed, paralysis annoys Scizor it because it prevents it Scizor from safely healing with Roost or getting guaranteed damage versus offensive threats.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Felines, 290520]]
- Bug analysis by: [[Felines, 290520]]
- Quality checked by: [[DugZa, 473171], [roxiee, 481576]]
- Grammar checked by: [[dex, 277988], [<username2>, <userid2>]]

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