TTK
Won't Catch Me Lacking.
(taken over by Megazard)
uploading
[OVERVIEW]
Scyther is a mediocre choice in PU and primarily functions as a pivot capable of checking fairly common Fighting- and Grass-type Pokemon such as Gurdurr and Victreebel. With a bulky Swords Dance set, it is capable of using its bulk to check the aforementioned Pokemon while simultaneously pressuring defensive cores reliant on Pokemon such as Sableye and Lanturn with its ability to pivot out while going for boosted attacks. It can also run a passable Choice Scarf set, being an extremely fast pivot capable of revenge killing and gaining momentum quickly, or manage a Choice Band set that can hit decently hard and be more difficult to handle defensively. Unfortunately, a crippling 4x weakness to Stealth Rock severely limits Scyther's capabilities and mandates good entry hazard removal to make it usable. This also leads to Scyther being easily pressured by Rock-type move users like Lycanroc, Aggron, and Choice Scarf Primeape and by common Ice-, Flying- and Electric-types such as Alolan Sandslash, Dodrio, and Eelektross. Even with a Swords Dance set, Scyther cannot break through common defensive options in the tier such as Regirock and Mudsdale, which leads to Scyther really struggling in a lot of matchups.
[SET]
name: Bulky Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Aerial Ace
move 4: Roost
item: Eviolite
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-turn is Scyther's Bug-type STAB attack and lets it pivot out of poor matchups and keep momentum going. Aerial Ace rounds out Scyther's STAB coverage and allows it to hit Gurdurr super effectively.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs ensure Scyther is as bulky as possible in conjunction with Eviolite, letting it better switch into foes like Hitmonchan. This amount of HP investment also allows Scyther to survive switching into Stealth Rock twice.
Usage Tips
========
Scyther utilizes its bulk and typing to act as a decent check to a number of weaker attackers or Pokemon with a type disadvantage. It is at its best switching into foes such as Lurantis, Claydol, and Clefairy, setting up a Swords Dance, and getting off a boosted hit for free. However, it is not recommended to switch in Scyther when Stealth Rock is present on the field, as losing half of its HP stops it from performing its role effectively. It also places Scyther in situations where it must use Roost to recover its health, which potentially allows opposing Pokemon to gain momentum against Scyther if it cannot safely use U-turn. Scyther will also want to immediately pivot out with U-turn rather than bothering to set up with Swords Dance when facing certain foes such as Regirock and defensive Alolan Sandslash that it won't be doing much damage to regardless. It is not optimal to bring in Scyther against status users like Sableye and Jellicent, whose Will-O-Wisp cripples Scyther and reduces its damage output.
Team Options
========
Scyther is best found on offensive teams that require a fast pivot to gain momentum and appreciate its typing to check Grass- and Fighting-types in the tier. Entry hazard removal is key when using Scyther, and teammates such as Skuntank and Choice Scarf Alolan Sandslash massively help Scyther to improve its longevity while still fitting well on the more offensive teams Scyther tends to find itself on. Fast pivots such as Silvally-Water form a VoltTurn core with Scyther, which also appreciates the Fire resistance Silvally-Water offers. Silvally-Water also pressures common Stealth Rock users like Mudsdale and Regirock and removes their entry hazards. Similarly, Eelektross and Lanturn form solid VoltTurn cores with Scyther and help check Electric- and Flying-types. Scyther also works well with wallbreakers such as Stoutland. Scyther is able to check Fighting-types like Hitmonchan that give Stoutland trouble, and, in return, Stoutland can break through the Steel-types that completely wall Scyther, such as Aggron and Alolan Sandslash. Omastar is another notable offensive partner, as it pressures bulky Rock-, Ground-, and Steel-types quite well and can make good use of Scyther's pivoting abilities to find setup opportunities. On the defensive side, Regirock is a nice partner because it can check Flying- and Rock-types such as Dodrio and Lycanroc, two Pokemon that heavily pressure this Scyther set.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Aerial Ace
move 3: Brick Break
move 4: Knock Off / Toxic
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brick Break enables Scyther to hit Steel-types such as Alolan Sandslash, OHKO Aurorus, and pressure Aggron. Knock Off is a useful move to cripple defensive Pokemon such as Clefairy and Audino. Toxic is another nice utility option that can cripple Scyther's standard checks like Regirock. However, it can be extremely risky to lock Scyther into.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature and Choice Scarf maximizes Scyther's Speed, beating out Modest Ludicolo under rain, Alolan Sandslash under hail, and Choice Scarf Primeape.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Scyther should be primarily used to revenge kill weakened Pokemon or force out Bug-weak threats such as Alolan Raichu and gain momentum for its teammates with U-turn. Be mindful before locking Scyther into any other move. Toxic can easily be played around; Brick Break and Knock Off are fairly weak, with the latter being exploitable by setup sweepers using Z-Moves; and even Aerial Ace provides Rock-types such as Lycanroc and Omastar with a free setup opportunity. Scyther will need good prediction to switch into most attacks safely. For example, while it can pivot into Gurdurr's Drain Punch and Victreebel's Leaf Storm, it will not want to be hit by a Knock Off from the former or Sludge Bomb from the latter. Choice Scarf Scyther is a risky set to utilize on teams due to the fact that all it really does is pivot in and out with a little chip damage and provide setup opportunities for certain sweepers; thus, it needs to be used extremely carefully so as not to give the opponent the upper hand.
Team Options
========
This Scyther set fits on VoltTurn offense teams that appreciate a fast pivot to bring in slower wallbreakers. Pairing it with other pivots such as Rotom-F is a must. Entry hazard removal is vital when utilizing Scyther. Lurantis provides Defog support and is a good check against Mudsdale and Regirock, which heavily pressure Scyther. Hitmonchan is also a good hazard remover to pair with Scyther, as it can take the brunt of attacks from special attackers like Simisear and Aurorus and threaten them out. Conversely, Scyther also appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Torterra, as the chip damage makes its pivoting noticeably more effective. Special wallbreakers like Drampa are good teammates, as they heavily pressure physical walls like Tangela and Sableye, which Scyther has trouble breaking through. Additionally, Scyther offers a Fighting-type resistance to Drampa, while Drampa resists both Fire- and Electric-type attacks for Scyther.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Aerial Ace
move 3: Brick Break
move 4: Knock Off / Pursuit
item: Choice Band
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brick Break provides coverage against Steel-types like Aggron, which wall Scyther otherwise. Knock Off cripples defensive answers to Scyther like Tangela and Mudsdale, removing vital items from each of them. Pursuit can also be used to trap and KO weakened or Dark-weak Pokemon, allowing Scyther to support its teammates at the cost of not being able to cripple its checks as well.
Set Details
========
Technician is the ability of choice to boost the damage output of Aerial Ace as well as of Pursuit if the opponent does not switch.
Usage Tips
========
Scyther should be used early- to mid-game to chip away at opposing defensive Pokemon like Qwilfish and ease the job of its teammates. However, since Scyther lacks Roost on this set, it is prone to getting worn down quite easily, so it is ideal to avoid switching Scyther into direct attacks whenever possible and never bring it in when Stealth Rock is up. Scyther should mostly be brought in versus physically frail or Bug-weak Pokemon and pivot out with powerful U-turns to rack up as much chip damage as possible early on. Knock Off can be extremely rewarding to surprise opponents with, as it can destroy the passive recovery of Pokemon like Regirock and Mudsdale and make them significantly easier to wear down. Choice Band Scyther relies on good prediction and surprise factor. Predicting a Steel-type like Alolan Sandslash to come in on an expected U-turn or Aerial Ace and KOing it with Brick Break is the best way to get maximum mileage out of its power. However, despite its boosted power, Choice Band Scyther is still very easy to exploit if it locks itself into the wrong attack.
Team Options
========
Scyther pairs well with other pivots like Lanturn and Silvally-Dragon, which are able to pressure its defensive checks like Regirock and Sableye. Entry hazard removal is a necessity on any team with Scyther; Claydol can be a decent partner due to its ability to check most Rock-types and use Rapid Spin versus Regirock and Mudsdale. Thanks to Scyther's good damage output with a Choice Band, it supports physical setup sweepers quite nicely; Lycanroc is a good example, with Scyther punching holes into Gurdurr and chipping down Tangela with U-turn. Scyther also welcomes Fighting-type Pokemon like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan as teammates, since they are able to break past Steel- and Rock-types like Alolan Sandslash and Carracosta without having Scyther locking itself into Brick Break. Gurdurr can also act as a bulky setup sweeper and become a wincon thanks to Scyther chipping down defensive Pokemon like Mudsdale. Furthermore, Hitmonchan can use Rapid Spin to help out with Scyther's Stealth Rock weakness. Victreebel is a notable offensive partner for its ability to pressure nearly all of Scyther's offensive and defensive checks such as Choice Scarf Primeape and Jellicent.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bug Bite is another option as a last move on both the Choice Band and Choice Scarf sets as a secondary Bug-type STAB attack that doesn't force Scyther out, but it is rarely worthwhile. Scyther can afford to go a fully offensive Swords Dance set with an EV spread of 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe with a Jolly nature and either Buginium Z or Fightinium Z to lure in traditional checks like Carracosta and Regirock and remove them with a boosted Z-Move. However, since Scyther loses much of its bulk when not running Eviolite or HP investment and becomes more vulnerable to the Pokemon it's supposed to be checking like Hitmonchan, a bulky Swords Dance set is preferred. Utilizing Technician Quick Attack as a fourth move gives Scyther a revenge killing tool to dispatch weakened faster threats such as Dodrio. However, it is still very weak and exploitable. Tailwind can give the Choice Scarf set more utility in order for Scyther's teammates to sweep, and it should be used on the same turn Scyther is KOed. However, locking Scyther into a status move makes it very exploitable, and it automatically leaves the player one Pokemon down.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Scyther loses half its health upon switching into Stealth Rock. This is a huge detriment for Scyther, as it cannot perform its roles consistently and makes it a liability on teams.
**Rock-type Pokemon**: Bulky Rock-type Pokemon such as Regirock and Carracosta easily switch into Scyther's attacks and threaten it out with super effective STAB attacks. Lycanroc and Choice Scarf Kabutops can outspeed non-Choice Scarf Scyther and threaten it with Stone Edge, and Lycanroc can pressure Choice Scarf variants with Accelerock.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash and Aggron resist Scyther's STAB combination, and the latter scares Scyther with its strong 4x super effective Head Smash. However, both of the aforementioned Pokemon can be caught off guard by Brick Break. While rare, Mawile completely walls everything Scyther has to offer.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Mudsdale, Jellicent, and Sableye are all capable of eating at least one attack from any Scyther set and crippling it with status.
**Faster Pokemon**: Alolan Raichu and Choice Scarf Abomasnow, among others, are capable of outspeeding and OHKOing non-Choice Scarf Scyther. Choice Scarf Dodrio can outspeed and KO all Scyther sets.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Toy Time King, 307004], [Megazard, 202117]]
- Quality checked by: [[Megazard, 202117], [yogi, 252106], [tondas, 442732]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Rabia, 336073]]
uploading
[OVERVIEW]
Scyther is a mediocre choice in PU and primarily functions as a pivot capable of checking fairly common Fighting- and Grass-type Pokemon such as Gurdurr and Victreebel. With a bulky Swords Dance set, it is capable of using its bulk to check the aforementioned Pokemon while simultaneously pressuring defensive cores reliant on Pokemon such as Sableye and Lanturn with its ability to pivot out while going for boosted attacks. It can also run a passable Choice Scarf set, being an extremely fast pivot capable of revenge killing and gaining momentum quickly, or manage a Choice Band set that can hit decently hard and be more difficult to handle defensively. Unfortunately, a crippling 4x weakness to Stealth Rock severely limits Scyther's capabilities and mandates good entry hazard removal to make it usable. This also leads to Scyther being easily pressured by Rock-type move users like Lycanroc, Aggron, and Choice Scarf Primeape and by common Ice-, Flying- and Electric-types such as Alolan Sandslash, Dodrio, and Eelektross. Even with a Swords Dance set, Scyther cannot break through common defensive options in the tier such as Regirock and Mudsdale, which leads to Scyther really struggling in a lot of matchups.
[SET]
name: Bulky Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Aerial Ace
move 4: Roost
item: Eviolite
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-turn is Scyther's Bug-type STAB attack and lets it pivot out of poor matchups and keep momentum going. Aerial Ace rounds out Scyther's STAB coverage and allows it to hit Gurdurr super effectively.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs ensure Scyther is as bulky as possible in conjunction with Eviolite, letting it better switch into foes like Hitmonchan. This amount of HP investment also allows Scyther to survive switching into Stealth Rock twice.
Usage Tips
========
Scyther utilizes its bulk and typing to act as a decent check to a number of weaker attackers or Pokemon with a type disadvantage. It is at its best switching into foes such as Lurantis, Claydol, and Clefairy, setting up a Swords Dance, and getting off a boosted hit for free. However, it is not recommended to switch in Scyther when Stealth Rock is present on the field, as losing half of its HP stops it from performing its role effectively. It also places Scyther in situations where it must use Roost to recover its health, which potentially allows opposing Pokemon to gain momentum against Scyther if it cannot safely use U-turn. Scyther will also want to immediately pivot out with U-turn rather than bothering to set up with Swords Dance when facing certain foes such as Regirock and defensive Alolan Sandslash that it won't be doing much damage to regardless. It is not optimal to bring in Scyther against status users like Sableye and Jellicent, whose Will-O-Wisp cripples Scyther and reduces its damage output.
Team Options
========
Scyther is best found on offensive teams that require a fast pivot to gain momentum and appreciate its typing to check Grass- and Fighting-types in the tier. Entry hazard removal is key when using Scyther, and teammates such as Skuntank and Choice Scarf Alolan Sandslash massively help Scyther to improve its longevity while still fitting well on the more offensive teams Scyther tends to find itself on. Fast pivots such as Silvally-Water form a VoltTurn core with Scyther, which also appreciates the Fire resistance Silvally-Water offers. Silvally-Water also pressures common Stealth Rock users like Mudsdale and Regirock and removes their entry hazards. Similarly, Eelektross and Lanturn form solid VoltTurn cores with Scyther and help check Electric- and Flying-types. Scyther also works well with wallbreakers such as Stoutland. Scyther is able to check Fighting-types like Hitmonchan that give Stoutland trouble, and, in return, Stoutland can break through the Steel-types that completely wall Scyther, such as Aggron and Alolan Sandslash. Omastar is another notable offensive partner, as it pressures bulky Rock-, Ground-, and Steel-types quite well and can make good use of Scyther's pivoting abilities to find setup opportunities. On the defensive side, Regirock is a nice partner because it can check Flying- and Rock-types such as Dodrio and Lycanroc, two Pokemon that heavily pressure this Scyther set.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Aerial Ace
move 3: Brick Break
move 4: Knock Off / Toxic
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brick Break enables Scyther to hit Steel-types such as Alolan Sandslash, OHKO Aurorus, and pressure Aggron. Knock Off is a useful move to cripple defensive Pokemon such as Clefairy and Audino. Toxic is another nice utility option that can cripple Scyther's standard checks like Regirock. However, it can be extremely risky to lock Scyther into.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature and Choice Scarf maximizes Scyther's Speed, beating out Modest Ludicolo under rain, Alolan Sandslash under hail, and Choice Scarf Primeape.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Scyther should be primarily used to revenge kill weakened Pokemon or force out Bug-weak threats such as Alolan Raichu and gain momentum for its teammates with U-turn. Be mindful before locking Scyther into any other move. Toxic can easily be played around; Brick Break and Knock Off are fairly weak, with the latter being exploitable by setup sweepers using Z-Moves; and even Aerial Ace provides Rock-types such as Lycanroc and Omastar with a free setup opportunity. Scyther will need good prediction to switch into most attacks safely. For example, while it can pivot into Gurdurr's Drain Punch and Victreebel's Leaf Storm, it will not want to be hit by a Knock Off from the former or Sludge Bomb from the latter. Choice Scarf Scyther is a risky set to utilize on teams due to the fact that all it really does is pivot in and out with a little chip damage and provide setup opportunities for certain sweepers; thus, it needs to be used extremely carefully so as not to give the opponent the upper hand.
Team Options
========
This Scyther set fits on VoltTurn offense teams that appreciate a fast pivot to bring in slower wallbreakers. Pairing it with other pivots such as Rotom-F is a must. Entry hazard removal is vital when utilizing Scyther. Lurantis provides Defog support and is a good check against Mudsdale and Regirock, which heavily pressure Scyther. Hitmonchan is also a good hazard remover to pair with Scyther, as it can take the brunt of attacks from special attackers like Simisear and Aurorus and threaten them out. Conversely, Scyther also appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Torterra, as the chip damage makes its pivoting noticeably more effective. Special wallbreakers like Drampa are good teammates, as they heavily pressure physical walls like Tangela and Sableye, which Scyther has trouble breaking through. Additionally, Scyther offers a Fighting-type resistance to Drampa, while Drampa resists both Fire- and Electric-type attacks for Scyther.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Aerial Ace
move 3: Brick Break
move 4: Knock Off / Pursuit
item: Choice Band
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brick Break provides coverage against Steel-types like Aggron, which wall Scyther otherwise. Knock Off cripples defensive answers to Scyther like Tangela and Mudsdale, removing vital items from each of them. Pursuit can also be used to trap and KO weakened or Dark-weak Pokemon, allowing Scyther to support its teammates at the cost of not being able to cripple its checks as well.
Set Details
========
Technician is the ability of choice to boost the damage output of Aerial Ace as well as of Pursuit if the opponent does not switch.
Usage Tips
========
Scyther should be used early- to mid-game to chip away at opposing defensive Pokemon like Qwilfish and ease the job of its teammates. However, since Scyther lacks Roost on this set, it is prone to getting worn down quite easily, so it is ideal to avoid switching Scyther into direct attacks whenever possible and never bring it in when Stealth Rock is up. Scyther should mostly be brought in versus physically frail or Bug-weak Pokemon and pivot out with powerful U-turns to rack up as much chip damage as possible early on. Knock Off can be extremely rewarding to surprise opponents with, as it can destroy the passive recovery of Pokemon like Regirock and Mudsdale and make them significantly easier to wear down. Choice Band Scyther relies on good prediction and surprise factor. Predicting a Steel-type like Alolan Sandslash to come in on an expected U-turn or Aerial Ace and KOing it with Brick Break is the best way to get maximum mileage out of its power. However, despite its boosted power, Choice Band Scyther is still very easy to exploit if it locks itself into the wrong attack.
Team Options
========
Scyther pairs well with other pivots like Lanturn and Silvally-Dragon, which are able to pressure its defensive checks like Regirock and Sableye. Entry hazard removal is a necessity on any team with Scyther; Claydol can be a decent partner due to its ability to check most Rock-types and use Rapid Spin versus Regirock and Mudsdale. Thanks to Scyther's good damage output with a Choice Band, it supports physical setup sweepers quite nicely; Lycanroc is a good example, with Scyther punching holes into Gurdurr and chipping down Tangela with U-turn. Scyther also welcomes Fighting-type Pokemon like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan as teammates, since they are able to break past Steel- and Rock-types like Alolan Sandslash and Carracosta without having Scyther locking itself into Brick Break. Gurdurr can also act as a bulky setup sweeper and become a wincon thanks to Scyther chipping down defensive Pokemon like Mudsdale. Furthermore, Hitmonchan can use Rapid Spin to help out with Scyther's Stealth Rock weakness. Victreebel is a notable offensive partner for its ability to pressure nearly all of Scyther's offensive and defensive checks such as Choice Scarf Primeape and Jellicent.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bug Bite is another option as a last move on both the Choice Band and Choice Scarf sets as a secondary Bug-type STAB attack that doesn't force Scyther out, but it is rarely worthwhile. Scyther can afford to go a fully offensive Swords Dance set with an EV spread of 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe with a Jolly nature and either Buginium Z or Fightinium Z to lure in traditional checks like Carracosta and Regirock and remove them with a boosted Z-Move. However, since Scyther loses much of its bulk when not running Eviolite or HP investment and becomes more vulnerable to the Pokemon it's supposed to be checking like Hitmonchan, a bulky Swords Dance set is preferred. Utilizing Technician Quick Attack as a fourth move gives Scyther a revenge killing tool to dispatch weakened faster threats such as Dodrio. However, it is still very weak and exploitable. Tailwind can give the Choice Scarf set more utility in order for Scyther's teammates to sweep, and it should be used on the same turn Scyther is KOed. However, locking Scyther into a status move makes it very exploitable, and it automatically leaves the player one Pokemon down.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Scyther loses half its health upon switching into Stealth Rock. This is a huge detriment for Scyther, as it cannot perform its roles consistently and makes it a liability on teams.
**Rock-type Pokemon**: Bulky Rock-type Pokemon such as Regirock and Carracosta easily switch into Scyther's attacks and threaten it out with super effective STAB attacks. Lycanroc and Choice Scarf Kabutops can outspeed non-Choice Scarf Scyther and threaten it with Stone Edge, and Lycanroc can pressure Choice Scarf variants with Accelerock.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash and Aggron resist Scyther's STAB combination, and the latter scares Scyther with its strong 4x super effective Head Smash. However, both of the aforementioned Pokemon can be caught off guard by Brick Break. While rare, Mawile completely walls everything Scyther has to offer.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Mudsdale, Jellicent, and Sableye are all capable of eating at least one attack from any Scyther set and crippling it with status.
**Faster Pokemon**: Alolan Raichu and Choice Scarf Abomasnow, among others, are capable of outspeeding and OHKOing non-Choice Scarf Scyther. Choice Scarf Dodrio can outspeed and KO all Scyther sets.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Toy Time King, 307004], [Megazard, 202117]]
- Quality checked by: [[Megazard, 202117], [yogi, 252106], [tondas, 442732]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Rabia, 336073]]
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