[OVERVIEW]
Scyther is a solid addition for momentum-focused teams due to its STAB U-turn and great Speed and Attack. Scyther's Technician-boosted Dual Wingbeats and Knock Off make it powerful in its own right, and its Flying typing and serviceable bulk let it pivot into many common threats. Knock Off cripples the longevity of many of its common checks such as Mudsdale, Diancie, and Talonflame, but Scyther itself is vulnerable to losing its item, which exposes its terrible Stealth Rock weakness and average bulk. Scyther is also weak to many Pokemon faster than it, such as Aerodactyl, Salazzle, and Choice Scarf Rotom-C.
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Dual Wingbeat
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Roost
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
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Scyther's STAB moves cover a large portion of the metagame, and most resistant foes and physical walls are severely crippled by Knock Off, reliant on Leftovers to give them improved longetivity. Along with U-turn, Roost punishes the many switches Scyther forces, ensuring it can continually come in and provide support.
Scyther's common teammates are typical to VoltTurn teams. Rotom-C can threaten Diancie, Mudsdale, and Talonflame, and in return, Scyther can threaten Grass-types that check Rotom-C. Other pivots such as Dragalge and Passimian can pair well with Scyther as well. Clerics such as Vaporeon and Diancie can help Scyther recover from contact deterrents such as Talonflame's Flame Body and Vileplume's Effect Spore, which can punish all of Scyther's moves. Coincidentally, Vaporeon and Diancie both check Fire-types as well. Copperajah is a great recipient of Scyther's U-turn momentum, as it can set Stealth Rock against and force out many common Scyther checks that have longevity beyond Leftovers such as Vaporeon and Sylveon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Scyther could use Swords Dance over Roost to become a fearsome sweeper, but its main role as a pivot makes setting up counterintuitive. Swords Dance with Eviolite makes Scyther a bulky setup Pokemon, although it will require heavy entry hazard removal support—for example, Rapid Spin Starmie or Dhelmise alongside Magic Bounce Xatu. Brick Break or Steel Wing could let Scyther lure in and heavily damage Rock-type Pokemon like Stakataka and Diancie, respectively, although sacrificing any listed move is very detrimental.
Checks and Counters
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**Rock-type Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Diancie, Aerodactyl, Rhydon, and Stakataka can comfortably take any of Scyther's attacks and retaliate with a crippling status effect or even OHKO it. U-turn lets Scyther pivot into a Pokemon that can take them on, but Scyther will practically never beat a Rock-type one-on-one.
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: While there aren't many NU Pokemon faster than Scyther, the ones that are also happen to threaten it offensively: Ice Beam Starmie, Talonflame, and Choice Scarf users such as Rotom-C and Rock Slide Passimian.
**Item Removal**: Scyther can offensively check Pokemon such as Passimian, Tsareena, Vileplume, or even Rotom-C by coming in on a resisted hit, but taking a Knock Off, Corrosive Gas, or Trick can be brutal for a pivot so reliant on its item.
**Adverse Contact Effects* Rocky Helmet Weezing, Flame Body Talonflame, and Effect Spore Vileplume can completely cripple Scyther, especially since all its attacks make contact.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Togkey, 400664]]
- Quality checked by: [[poh, 298730]], [Rabia, 336073]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Rabia, 336073] ]
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