NU Scyther

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asa

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[QC Checks: quziel / Stan Soojung / PursuitOfHappiny]
[GP Checks: The Dutch Plumberjack / Fireflame479]

[OVERVIEW]

Scyther sits at an exceptional Speed tier, which allows it to naturally outspeed a lot of the NU tier. With a Choice Scarf, Scyther is capable of outspeeding the entire unboosted metagame as well as certain boosted threats like Z-Celebrate Venusaur, meaning that it can serve as a solid revenge killer and late-game cleaner. Due to Scyther's decently high Attack, it is capable of hitting fairly hard and forcing many switches, on which it can capitalize because of its access to U-turn. Additionally, Scyther's offensive typing allows it to prey on some of the tier's most common threats in Hariyama, Venusaur, and Slowking. Unfortunately, Scyther's typing also burdens it with a crippling 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, which limits its pivoting potential and the number of times it can switch in, as well as with weaknesses to common attacking types in Electric, Fire, and Ice. Scyther's average bulk prevents it from stomaching stronger neutral attacks well, which doesn't pair well with its Stealth Rock weakness. Finally, Scyther finds itself struggling to break through many of the tier's physical walls such as Steelix, Diancie, and Druddigon.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Aerial Ace
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Pursuit / Bug Bite
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

U-turn is Scyther's main Bug-type STAB move due to it hitting fairly hard and allowing Scyther to pivot out of unfavorable matchups while generating momentum for a teammate. Aerial Ace is Scyther's strongest and most reliable Flying-type STAB move and is a great tool for cleaning late-game due to its relatively high power. Knock Off cripples defensive Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon by removing their item, thus stinting their longevity and leaving them unable to check Scyther as consistently. Pursuit allows Scyther to trap and remove Ghost- and Psychic-types that it outspeeds such as Haunter, Mismagius, and Delphox, which can potentially open the door for a Fighting-type teammate. Alternatively, Bug Bite can be used to give Scyther a stronger Bug-type attack that threatens to 2HKO Slowbro after Stealth Rock while not forcing it to switch out.

Set Details
========

Maximum investment in Speed in tandem with a Jolly nature and Choice Scarf makes Scyther as fast as possible, allowing it to outpace some of the fastest Pokemon in the tier such as Whimsicott, Sneasel, Heliolisk, and Choice Scarf Delphox, with the investment in Attack maximizing Scyther's offensive presence. Technician is the best ability for Scyther, as it increases the power of Aerial Ace and Bug Bite, which is really important for securing certain 2HKOs such as on Delphox with Aerial Ace and Slowbro with Bug Bite.

Usage Tips
========

U-turn is the main move Scyther should be using earlier on, as it chips away at Scyther's switch-ins and allows it to safely bring in a teammate to KO them, like Venusaur against Rhydon. Using Knock Off early-game is also smart, since a lot of Scyther's checks and counters loathe having their item removed. Think twice before using Aerial Ace and Bug Bite early-game, since being locked into either allows Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon to switch in with no problems. Once Scyther's checks are weakened mid- or late-game, it will be more free to use Aerial Ace and Bug Bite. Avoid switching Scyther in if Stealth Rock is up, as this causes it to lose 50% of its health upon entry and makes it more susceptible to priority from Pokemon like Sneasel and Toxicroak. Scyther should avoid taking as much damage as possible, as its bulk isn't the best and it needs to be as healthy as possible to better stomach neutral attacks.

Team Options
========

Scyther's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock mandates entry hazard control and removal, making Pokemon such as Xatu, Rotom, Silvally-Steel, and Blastoise ideal teammates. Entry hazards pressure a lot of Scyther's switch-ins and make it more annoying for teams to switch into U-turn, meaning Pokemon that can set them such as Steelix, Rhydon, and Garbodor are appreciated. Wallbreakers such as Magmortar, Venusaur, Heliolisk, and Sceptile can heavily damage the physically bulky Pokemon that Scyther struggles with, and they appreciate Scyther getting them in safely with U-turn and crippling their switch-ins with Knock Off. Fighting-types such as Medicham, Passimian, and Hariyama are good partners, since they are capable of breaking through Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon for Scyther. In return, Scyther outspeeds and almost KOes Pokemon like Choice Scarf Delphox and Rotom in addition to also checking other Fighting-type switch-ins like Venusaur and Vileplume. Pokemon that also have U-turn or Volt Switch in their movesets like Passimian, Xatu, Heliolisk, and Rotom can also make for good partners, completing a VoltTurn core and helping to keep the momentum going throughout a battle.

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

A Swords Dance set with maximum investment in HP and Speed using Eviolite can be used to turn Scyther into a more bulky setup sweeper that can capitalize on the switches it can force by setting up. Scyther also boasts reliable recovery in Roost, but it has issues setting up and isn't very strong before setting up. A Choice Band set makes Scyther's moves harder to be brought in on, which is good for netting certain KOs the Choice Scarf set cannot such as the OHKO after Stealth Rock damage on Delphox with Aerial Ace, but this means that Scyther is losing out on a valuable Speed tier. Brick Break is Scyther's most consistent coverage option against the likes of Klinklang and Steelix, but it isn't strong or boosted in power by Technician, and Scyther would rather its teammates handle these Pokemon. Reversal seems appealing due to it hitting the aforementioned bulky Steel-types for up to 200 Base Power, but this requires Scyther to take a lot of damage to reach that power, making it inconsistent and generally not worth it. Tailwind can be used to double the Speed of Scyther's team right before it is KOed, making normally slower Pokemon like Hariyama far more menacing, but being locked into it is far from ideal otherwise, and Scyther has trouble dropping a move for it.

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

**Stealth Rock**: Scyther loses 50% of its HP upon entry if Stealth Rock is up, which prevents it from freely pivoting in and out with U-turn.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Steelix, Rhydon, Omastar, and Palossand either resist or take very little damage from Scyther's STAB moves and are all capable of taking advantage of it being locked into the wrong move in one way or another. Omastar also receives a +2 boost in Speed if Scyther attacks it courtesy of Weak Armor, which can be problematic.

**Rock- and Steel-types**: Scyther struggles immensely with Pokemon such as Steelix, Rhydon, Gigalith, Diancie, Omastar, and Klinklang due to their collective resilience to its STAB moves. None of them face any issues with KOing Scyther, or even setting up on it in the case of the latter two, though the former two in particular don't appreciate taking a Knock Off.
 
Last edited:
Not QC but I'll say a few things, comments in bold
[OVERVIEW]
  • Scyther sits at an exceptional Speed tier, capable of naturally outpacing a decent amount of the tier, and with a Choice Scarf, outspeeding the entire unboosted, and even some of the boosted, metagame, and can act as a solid revenge killer and late-game cleaner because of it.
  • Because of its high Attack, Scyther is capable of hitting fairly hard and forcing switches.
  • Access to U-turn allows Scyther to take advantage of the switches it forces by generating momentum and pressuring the physically defensive Pokemon it baits in.
  • Scyther struggles with breaking several physically defensive Pokemon in the tier such as Druddigon, Palossand, Rhydon, and Seismitoad. seis is gone
  • Its typing unfortunately burdens it with a crippling 4x weakness to Stealth Rock.
  • On top of this, its bulk is only average, which keeps it from switching on non-resisted attacks very well, especially if Stealth Rock is up on its side of the field.
Talk about how Scyther's offensive typing makes it great at taking out top tier threats like Venusaur, Whimsicott, Virizion (if you have Scarf), and Slowking to name a few

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Aerial Ace
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Pursuit / Bug Bite
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • Aerial Ace is Scyther's strongest and most reliable Flying-type STAB, and a great tool for cleaning up later on.
  • U-turn is its main form of Bug-type STAB, and it's useful for generating momentum and keeping pressure up on the opposing team.
  • Knock Off cripples defensive Pokemon by removing their item, preventing them from checking Scyther as well and as consistently.
  • Pursuit can be opted for to trap Pokemon like Delphox, Mismagius, and Haunter, which can open up the door for Fighting-types to have an easier time.
  • Bug Bite can be used as a secondary Bug-type STAB that doesn't force Scyther out, but it doesn't have the advantage of keeping the momentum going that U-turn has. Mention how it has the ability to remove berries from certain mons, such as BD Zangoose's Sitrus Berry
Set Details
========
  • Maximum investment in both Speed, in tandem with a Jolly Nature, and Attack allow for Scyther to be as fast and hit as hard it can.
  • A Choice Scarf is used to further increase Scyther's Speed, making it able to outspeed Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Delphox, Sneasel and Whimsicott.
  • Technician is the best ability for Scyther, as it increases the power of Aerial Ace, Bug Bite and Pursuit, which is really important for securing KOs.
Usage Tips
========
  • U-turn is the main move Scyther should be using earlier on, as it's really good at slowly but surely wearing down its checks and counters. This is more a complaint than a suggestion but, it doesn't really wear down most check and counters as they usually resist U-Turn, It is really only good for getting Scyther out of most bad situations freely.
  • It isn't very ideal for Scyther to be locked into either Aerial Ace or Bug Bite given how easy they are to take advantage of, so refrain using either until its checks and counters have been removed.
  • Avoid switching Scyther in if Stealth Rock is up, as this causes it to lose 50% of its health upon entry, and makes it more susceptible to priority from Pokemon like Samurott and Sneasel.
  • Scyther should avoid taking as much damage as possible, as its bulk isn't the best, and it needs to be as healthy as possible to better stomach neutral attacks.
Team Options
========
  • Hazard removal is a must because of Scyther's glaring weakness to Stealth Rock, so Pokemon like Hitmonlee, Whimsicott, and Silvally-Steel pair well with Scyther.
  • Hazard setters such as Garbodor, Steelix, and Qwilfish that can get up hazards on the opposing side and pressure Scyther's switch-ins are important, too.
  • Pokemon that are capable of breaking through physically bulky Pokemon that Scyther struggles with like Magmortar, Heliolisk, Samurott, and Vanilluxe make for good partners. In return, Scyther offers them U-turn support, getting them in for free most of the time against the aforementioned physically bulky Pokemon.
  • Fighting-types that take advantage of Ghost- and Psychic-types being taken out of the picture by Pursuit such as Emboar, Passimian, and Sawk make for good partners. They too come to Scyther's aid against physically defensive Pokemon, either softening them up or KOing them with their strong STAB moves. They also take out Rock, Ice, and Steel Types for Scyther
  • Pokemon that also have U-turn or Volt Switch in their movesets like Heliolisk, Passimian, and Togedemaru can also make for good partners, completing a VoltTurn core and helping to keep the momentum going throughout a battle.
  • (Healing) Wish support can keep Scyther healthy and alive in matches for longer in the event that Scyther takes too much damage too soon, so Pokemon like Audino-Mega, Togedemaru, and Mesprit pair well with it. Audino can also function as a good Knock Off absorber for Scyther, and provide Heal Bell support should it get inflicted with status, while Mesprit can more offensively check Fighting-types, as well as provide Stealth Rock support, chipping away at Scyther's switch-ins.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
  • A Choice Band set makes Scyther's moves harder to be brought in on, which is good for netting certain KOs the Choice Scarf set cannot such as the OHKO after Stealth Rock damage on Delphox with Aerial Ace. Talk about what Scyther loses by using Band over Scarf
  • A more bulky Swords Dance set with Eviolite is an option, capitalizing on the switches it can force by setting up. Scyther even boasts reliable recovery in Roost.This should be its own set, not in OO
  • Brick Break is Scyther's most consistent coverage option against the likes of Ferroseed, Klinklang and Steelix, but it isn't either strong or boosted in power by Technician, and Scyther would rather its teammates handle these Pokemon. Mention Heliolisk and Sneasel (It can OHKO them both) over Ferroseed.
  • Reversal seems appealing due to it hitting the aforementioned bulky Steel-types for up to 200 Base Power, but this requires Scyther to take a lot of damage to reach that power, making it inconsistent and generally not worth it.
  • Tailwind can be used to double your team's speed right before Scyther is KOd, making normally slow Pokemon like Emboar far more menacing, but being locked into it is far from ideal otherwise, and Scyther has trouble dropping a move for it.
Checks and Counters
===================

**Stealth Rock**: Scyther's typing leaves it 4x weak to Stealth Rock, and since it typically doesn't run Roost, this gives it a much harder both time with both continuously pivoting in and out and remaining around as a whole. This should be Rock Types in general

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Druddigon, Ferroseed, Palossand, Steelix, and Regirock either resist or take very little from Scyther's STAB moves and all can take advantage of it being locked into the wrong move in one way or another, whether it be by setting up hazards, inflicting it with status, or recovering off the lost health.

**Knock Off**: While it is naturally fast, without its Choice Scarf, opposing Choice Scarf users like Delphox, Emboar and Vanilluxe and naturally faster Pokemon like Whimsicott and Sneasel have a much easier time against Scyther. It is also very bad if Scyther loses its Eviolite

Mention Steel Types here, they are just Rock Types but don't have super effective damage
Also mention resisting types like Fire and Electric.
 

quziel

I am the Scientist now
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[OVERVIEW]
  • Scyther sits at an exceptional Speed tier, which allows it to naturally outspeed a lot of the NU tier. With a Choice Scarf, Scyther is capable of outspeeding the entire unboosted, and even some of the boosted, meta, and can serve as an effective revenge killer and late-game sweeper because of this. Would like at least 1 example, especially noting scarfers you outrun, and setup (read, Celebrate Venusaur).
  • Due to Scyther's decently high Attack, it is capable of hitting fairly hard and forcing many switches, on which it can capitalize because of its access to U-turn.
  • Scyther's offensive typing allows it to prey on some of the tier's most common threats in Hariyama, Venusaur, and Slowking.
  • Unfortunately, Scyther's good offensive typing burdens it with a crippling 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, limiting its pivoting potential.
  • Scyther's average bulk prevents it from stomaching stronger neutral attacks well, which doesn't pair well with its Stealth Rock weakness.
  • Scyther finds itself struggling to break through many of the tier's physical walls such as Druddigon and Steelix.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Aerial Ace
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Pursuit / Bug Bite
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • U-turn is Scyther's main Bug-type STAB move due to it hitting fairly hard and allowing Scyther to pivot out of unfavorable matchups while generating momentum for a teammate.
  • Aerial Ace is Scyther's strongest and most reliable Flying-type STAB move, and it is a great tool for sweeping late-game due to its relatively high power. Would prefer to say Clean late game, rather than sweep.
  • Knock Off cripples defensive Pokemon like Rhydon that attempt to switch into Scyther and prevents them from checking Scyther as consistently. It also removes Steelix's Leftovers.
  • Pursuit allows Scyther to trap and remove Ghost- and Psychic-types that it outspeeds such as Haunter, Mismagius, Delphox, and Slowking, which can potentially open the door for a Fighting-type teammate.
  • Alternatively, Bug Bite can be opted for to give Scyther a Bug-type attack that doesn't force it to pivot out. However, it is much easier to take advantage of than U-turn. Given an example where this is useful (see. letting you 2hko slowbro with rocks)
Set Details
========
  • Maximum investment in both Speed, in tandem with a Jolly Nature, and Attack allow for Scyther to be as fast and hit as hard it can.
  • A Choice Scarf is used to further increase Scyther's Speed, making it able to outspeed Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Delphox, Sneasel, and Whimsicott.
  • Technician is the best ability for Scyther, as it increases the power of Aerial Ace, Bug Bite, and Pursuit, which is really important for securing certain KOs; for example, Pursuit OHKOs Delphox as it switches out if it has taken Stealth Rock damage beforehand. Technician doesn't boost pursuit if they switch out.)
Usage Tips
========
  • U-turn is the main move Scyther should be using earlier on, as it chips away at Scyther's switch-ins and consistently gets Scyther out of unfavorable matchups. This also lets you bring in teammates on Scyther's Answers, ex. bringing in Venuaur on Rhydon, or something like that
  • It isn't very ideal for Scyther to be locked into either Aerial Ace or Bug Bite given how easy they are to take advantage of, so refrain using either until its checks and counters have been removed.
  • Avoid switching Scyther in if Stealth Rock is up, as this causes it to lose 50% of its health upon entry, and makes it more susceptible to priority from Pokemon like Samurott and Sneasel.
  • Scyther should avoid taking as much damage as possible, as its bulk isn't the best, and it needs to be as healthy as possible to better stomach neutral attacks.
  • Note that Knock off Should often be used early game as a lot of its answers are crippled without an item.
Team Options
========
  • Hazard removal is a must because of Scyther's glaring weakness to Stealth Rock, so Pokemon like Hitmonlee, Whimsicott, and Silvally-Steel pair well with Scyther. Also Rotom and Xatu
  • Hazard setters such as Garbodor, Steelix, and Qwilfish that can get up hazards on the opposing side and pressure Scyther's switch-ins are important, too.
  • Pokemon that are capable of breaking through physically bulky Pokemon that Scyther struggles with like Magmortar, Heliolisk, Samurott, and Vanilluxe make for good partners. In return, Scyther offers them U-turn support, getting them in for free most of the time against the aforementioned physically bulky Pokemon.
  • Fighting-types that take advantage of Ghost- and Psychic-types being taken out of the picture by Pursuit such as Medicham, Passimian, and Sawk make for good partners. They too come to Scyther's aid against Rock- and Steel-types, either softening them up or KOing them with their strong STAB moves.
  • Pokemon that also have U-turn or Volt Switch in their movesets like Heliolisk, Passimian, and Togedemaru can also make for good partners, completing a VoltTurn core and helping to keep the momentum going throughout a battle. Xatu
  • (Healing) Wish support can keep Scyther healthy and alive in matches for longer in the event that Scyther takes too much damage too soon, so Pokemon like Mega Audino, Togedemaru, and Mesprit pair well with it. Audino can also function as a good Knock Off absorber for Scyther, and provide Heal Bell support should it get inflicted with status, while Mesprit can more offensively check Fighting-types, as well as provide Stealth Rock support, chipping away at Scyther's switch-ins. I'm not 100% sure this is needed here, as its not necessarily something unique to scyther.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
  • A Choice Band set makes Scyther's moves harder to be brought in on, which is good for netting certain KOs the Choice Scarf set cannot such as the OHKO after Stealth Rock damage on Delphox with Aerial Ace, but this means that Scyther is losing out on a valuable Speed tier.
  • A more bulky Swords Dance set with Eviolite is an option, capitalizing on the switches it can force by setting up. Scyther even boasts reliable recovery in Roost, but it has issues setting up and isn't very strong before setting up. Mention some Evs
  • Brick Break is Scyther's most consistent coverage option against the likes of Klinklang and Steelix, but it isn't either strong or boosted in power by Technician, and Scyther would rather its teammates handle these Pokemon.
  • Reversal seems appealing due to it hitting the aforementioned bulky Steel-types for up to 200 Base Power, but this requires Scyther to take a lot of damage to reach that power, making it inconsistent and generally not worth it.
  • Tailwind can be used to double the Speed of Scyther's time right before it is KOed, making normally slower Pokemon like Hariyama far more menacing, but being locked into it is far from ideal otherwise, and Scyther has trouble dropping a move for it.
Checks and Counters
===================

**Stealth Rock**: Scyther's typing leaves it 4x weak to Stealth Rock, and since it typically doesn't run Roost, this gives it a much harder both time with both continuously pivoting in and out and remaining around as a whole. Reword this, place more emphasis on the fact that scyther is clicking u-turn for legit 80% of the game, and SR stops that, atm it almost reads more like an endorsement of roost.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Druddigon, Ferroseed, Palossand, Steelix, and Regirock either resist or take very little from Scyther's STAB moves and all can take advantage of it being locked into the wrong move in one way or another, whether it be by setting up hazards, inflicting it with status, or recovering off the lost health.

**Knock Off**: While it is naturally fast, without its Choice Scarf, opposing Choice Scarf users like Delphox and Vanilluxe and naturally faster Pokemon like Whimsicott and Sneasel have a much easier time against Scyther. Honestly, this isn't really that true for scyther more than any other scyther answer, and honestly doesnt' really need to be here.
Man, this has been sitting for a while.

I'm unsure about this, but I sorta want a bullet for Rock and Steel types, as I want to mention Klinklang, as you know, it means you can never click anything but u-turn without being setup bait, and its not really a physically defensive mon, and then a seperate bullet for Physically Defensive mons.

Seems Good QC 1/3
 

[OVERVIEW]
  • Scyther sits at an exceptional Speed tier, which allows it to naturally outspeed a lot of the NU tier. With a Choice Scarf, Scyther is capable of outspeeding the entire unboosted meta as well as certain boosted threats like Z-Celebrate Venusaur, meaning that it can serve as a solid revenge killer and late-game cleaner.
  • Due to Scyther's decently high Attack, it is capable of hitting fairly hard and forcing many switches, on which it can capitalize because of its access to U-turn.
  • Scyther's offensive typing allows it to prey on some of the tier's most common threats in Hariyama, Venusaur, and Slowking.
  • Unfortunately, Scyther's good offensive typing burdens it with a crippling 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, limiting its pivoting potential.
  • Scyther's average bulk prevents it from stomaching stronger neutral attacks well, which doesn't pair well with its Stealth Rock weakness.
  • Scyther finds itself struggling to break through many of the tier's physical walls such as Druddigon and Steelix.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Aerial Ace
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Pursuit / Bug Bite
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • U-turn is Scyther's main Bug-type STAB move due to it hitting fairly hard and allowing Scyther to pivot out of unfavorable matchups while generating momentum for a teammate.
  • Aerial Ace is Scyther's strongest and most reliable Flying-type STAB move, and it is a great tool for cleaning late-game due to its relatively high power.
  • Knock Off cripples defensive Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon by removing their item, thus stinting their longevity and leaving them unable to check Scyther as consistently.
  • Pursuit allows Scyther to trap and remove Ghost- and Psychic-types that it outspeeds such as Haunter, Mismagius, and Delphox, which can potentially open the door for a Fighting-type teammate.
  • Alternatively, Bug Bite can be used to give Scyther a stronger Bug-type attack that threatens to 2HKO Slowbro after Stealth Rock while not forcing it to switch out.
Set Details
========
  • Maximum investment in both Speed, in tandem with a Jolly Nature, and Attack allow for Scyther to be as fast and hit as hard it can.
  • A Choice Scarf is used to further increase Scyther's Speed, making it able to outspeed Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Delphox, Sneasel, and Whimsicott.
  • Technician is the best ability for Scyther, as it increases the power of Aerial Ace and Bug Bite, which is really important for securing certain 2HKOs such as on Delphox with Aerial Ace and Slowbro with Bug Bite.
Usage Tips
========
  • U-turn is the main move Scyther should be using earlier on, as it chips away at Scyther's switch-ins and allows it to safely bring in a teammate to KO them, like Venusaur against Rhydon.
  • Using Knock Off early-game is also smart, since a lot of Scyther's checks and counters loathe having their item removed.
  • It isn't very ideal for Scyther to be locked into either Aerial Ace or Bug Bite given how easy they are to take advantage of, so refrain using either until its checks and counters have been removed. this is a bit vague but i can understand where ur coming from w this, i'd try and rephrase it a bit by saying "locking into aerial ace or bug bite can be costly for the player as it may let in threats like steelix or rhdyon for free, so think twice before locking into these moves over uturn" rather than jus straight up 'not ideal'
  • Avoid switching Scyther in if Stealth Rock is up, as this causes it to lose 50% of its health upon entry, and makes it more susceptible to priority from Pokemon like Samurott and Sneasel.
  • Scyther should avoid taking as much damage as possible, as its bulk isn't the best and it needs to be as healthy as possible to better stomach neutral attacks.
Team Options
========
  • Scyther's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock mandates entry hazard removal, making Pokemon such as Xatu, Rotom, Silvally-Steel, and Hitmonlee ideal teammates. this is petty but name some better examples than hitmonlee, it's not great rn and mons like cryogonal, blastoise, altaria, golbat, whimsicott, also mention that xatu is hazard control, not removal, to new readers it might come across as if u shud run defog on xatu (which u shouldnt)
  • Entry hazards pressure a lot of Scyther's switch-ins and make it more annoying for teams to switch into U-turn, meaning that Pokemon that can set them such as Steelix, Rhydon, and Garbodor are appreciated.
  • Wallbreakers such as Magmortar, Venusaur, Heliolisk, and Vanilluxe can heavily damage the physically bulky Pokemon that Scyther struggles with, and they appreciate Scyther getting them in safely with U-turn and crippling their switch-ins with Knock Off. i'd honestly mention sceptile here as it breaks basically any rocker and annoys stuff like garb w mixed sets as well
  • Fighting-types that take advantage of Ghost- and Psychic-types being taken out of the picture by Pursuit such as Medicham, Passimian, and Sawk make for good partners. Scyther also checks other Fighting-type switch-ins like Venusaur and Vileplume, and the Fighting-types can remove Rock- and Steel-types for Scyther in return.
  • Pokemon that also have U-turn or Volt Switch in their movesets like Heliolisk, Passimian, Xatu, and can also make for good partners, completing a VoltTurn core and helping to keep the momentum going throughout a battle.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
  • A Choice Band set makes Scyther's moves harder to be brought in on, which is good for netting certain KOs the Choice Scarf set cannot such as the OHKO after Stealth Rock damage on Delphox with Aerial Ace, but this means that Scyther is losing out on a valuable Speed tier.
  • A Swords Dance set with maximum investment in HP and Speed using Eviolite can be used to turn Scyther into a more bulky setup sweeper that can capitalize on the switches it can force by setting up. Scyther also boasts reliable recovery in Roost, but it has issues setting up and isn't very strong before setting up. make this the first point in oo, best set besides scarf
  • Brick Break is Scyther's most consistent coverage option against the likes of Klinklang and Steelix, but it isn't either strong or boosted in power by Technician, and Scyther would rather its teammates handle these Pokemon.
  • Reversal seems appealing due to it hitting the aforementioned bulky Steel-types for up to 200 Base Power, but this requires Scyther to take a lot of damage to reach that power, making it inconsistent and generally not worth it.
  • Tailwind can be used to double the Speed of Scyther's time right before it is KOed, making normally slower Pokemon like Hariyama far more menacing, but being locked into it is far from ideal otherwise, and Scyther has trouble dropping a move for it.
Checks and Counters
===================

**Stealth Rock**: Scyther loses 50% of its HP upon entry if Stealth Rock is up, which prevents it from freely pivoting in and out with U-turn.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Druddigon, Palossand, and Garbodor either resist or take very little from Scyther's STAB moves and all can take advantage of it being locked into the wrong move in one way or another, whether it be by setting up hazards, inflicting it with status, or recovering off the lost health. ordering of mons is slightly off, mention some better examples aka steelix, rhydon, and mention them in order of viability. also, mention omastar here as it easily comes in on any attack from scarf scyther and just get a easy +2 speed boost. even if lix and don are in below point i think u shud still mention them here as theyrre more relevant then the ones listed tbh

**Rock- and Steel-types**: Scyther struggles immensely with Pokemon such as Steelix, Rhydon, and Klinklang due to their collective resilience to its STAB moves. None of them face any issues with KOing Scyther, or even setting up on it in Klinklang's case, though the former two don't appreciate taking a Knock Off. mention omastar here as it easily comes in on any attack from scarf scyther and just get a easy +2 speed boost.
good work, 2/3
 

poh

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Toxicroak is a more relevant prio user, i'd put it over Samurott.

Usage Tips: mention that Aerial Ace and Bug Bite are used best midlate-game, as its checks are going to be much more weakened.
Ghost- and Psychic-types
mention Scarf Scyther outspeeds and almost KOs (252 Atk Scyther Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Rotom: 234-276 (97 - 114.5%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO ) Scarf Rotom (ghost) and (252 Atk Scyther Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Delphox: 248-292 (84.9 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO ) Scarf Delphox (psychic)

QC 3/3
 

Lumari

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remove add / fix (comments); (AC=add comma; RC=remove comma; SC=semicolon)
GP 1/2
[OVERVIEW]

Scyther sits at an exceptional Speed tier, which allows it to naturally outspeed a lot of the NU tier. With a Choice Scarf, Scyther is capable of outspeeding the entire unboosted metagame as well as certain boosted threats like Z-Celebrate Venusaur, meaning that it can serve as a solid revenge killer and late-game cleaner. Due to Scyther's decently high Attack, it is capable of hitting fairly hard and forcing many switches, on which it can capitalize because of its access to U-turn. Additionally, Scyther's offensive typing allows it to prey on some of the tier's most common threats in Hariyama, Venusaur, and Slowking. Unfortunately, Scyther's typing also burdens it with a crippling 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, which limits its pivoting potential and the number of times Scyther it can switch in, as well as with weaknesses to common attacking types in Electric, Fire, and Ice. Scyther's average bulk prevents it from stomaching stronger neutral attacks well, which doesn't pair well with its Stealth Rock weakness. Finally, Scyther finds itself struggling to break through many of the tier's physical walls such as Steelix, Diancie, and Druddigon.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Aerial Ace
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Pursuit / Bug Bite
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

U-turn is Scyther's main Bug-type STAB move due to it hitting fairly hard and allowing Scyther to pivot out of unfavorable matchups while generating momentum for a teammate. Aerial Ace is Scyther's strongest and most reliable Flying-type STAB move and it is a great tool for cleaning late-game due to its relatively high power. Knock Off cripples defensive Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon by removing their item, thus stinting their longevity and leaving them unable to check Scyther as consistently. Pursuit allows Scyther to trap and remove Ghost- and Psychic-types that it outspeeds such as Haunter, Mismagius, and Delphox, which can potentially open the door for a Fighting-type teammate. Alternatively, Bug Bite can be used to give Scyther a stronger Bug-type attack that threatens to 2HKO Slowbro after Stealth Rock while not forcing it to switch out.

Set Details
========

Maximum investment in Speed in tandem with a Jolly nature and Choice Scarf makes Scyther as fast as possible, allowing it to outpace some of the fastest Pokemon in the tier such as Whimsicott, Sneasel, Heliolisk, and Choice Scarf Delphox, with the investment in Attack maximizing Scyther's offensive presence. Technician is the best ability for Scyther, as it increases the power of Aerial Ace and Bug Bite, which is really important for securing certain 2HKOs such as on Delphox with Aerial Ace and Slowbro with Bug Bite.

Usage Tips
========

U-turn is the main move Scyther should be using earlier on, as it chips away at Scyther's switch-ins and allows it to safely bring in a teammate to KO them, like Venusaur against Rhydon. Using Knock Off early-game is also smart, since a lot of Scyther's checks and counters loathe having their item removed. Think twice before using Aerial Ace or Bug Bite early-game, since being locked into either allows Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon to switch in with no problems. Once Scyther's checks are weakened mid- or -late late-game, it will be more free to use Aerial Ace and Bug Bite. Avoid switching Scyther in if Stealth Rock is up, as this causes it to lose 50% of its health upon entry and makes it more susceptible to priority from Pokemon like Sneasel and Toxicroak. Scyther should avoid taking as much damage as possible, as its bulk isn't the best and it needs to be as healthy as possible to better stomach neutral attacks.

Team Options
========

Scyther's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock mandates entry hazard control and removal, making Pokemon such as Xatu, Rotom, Silvally-Steel, and Blastoise ideal teammates. Entry hazards pressure a lot of Scyther's switch-ins and make it more annoying for teams to switch into U-turn, meaning that Pokemon that can set them such as Steelix, Rhydon, and Garbodor are appreciated. Wallbreakers such as Magmortar, Venusaur, Heliolisk, and Sceptile can heavily damage the physically bulky Pokemon that Scyther struggles with and they appreciate Scyther getting them in safely with U-turn and crippling their switch-ins with Knock Off. Fighting-types such as Medicham, Passimian, and Hariyama are good partners, since they are capable of breaking through Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon for Scyther. In return, Scyther outspeeds and almost KOs KOes Pokemon like Choice Scarf Delphox and Rotom in addition to also checking other Fighting-type switch-ins like Venusaur and Vileplume. Pokemon that also have U-turn or Volt Switch in their movesets like Heliolisk, Passimian, Xatu, Heliolisk, and Rotom can also make for good partners, completing a VoltTurn core and helping to keep the momentum going throughout a battle.

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

A Swords Dance set with maximum investment in HP and Speed using Eviolite can be used to turn Scyther into a more bulky setup sweeper that can capitalize on the switches it can force by setting up. Scyther also boasts reliable recovery in Roost, but it has issues setting up and isn't very strong before setting up. A Choice Band set makes Scyther's moves harder to be brought in on, which is good for netting certain KOs the Choice Scarf set cannot such as the OHKO after Stealth Rock damage on Delphox with Aerial Ace, but this means that Scyther is losing out on a valuable Speed tier. Brick Break is Scyther's most consistent coverage option against the likes of Klinklang and Steelix, but it isn't either strong or boosted in power by Technician, and Scyther would rather its teammates handle these Pokemon. Reversal seems appealing due to it hitting the aforementioned bulky Steel-types for up to 200 Base Power, but this requires Scyther to take a lot of damage to reach that power, making it inconsistent and generally not worth it. Tailwind can be used to double the Speed of Scyther's time right before it is KOed, making normally slower Pokemon like Hariyama far more menacing, but being locked into it is far from ideal otherwise, and Scyther has trouble dropping a move for it.

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

**Stealth Rock**: Scyther loses 50% of its HP upon entry if Stealth Rock is up, which prevents it from freely pivoting in and out with U-turn.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Steelix, Rhydon, Omastar, and Palossand either resist or take very little from Scyther's STAB moves and are all capable of taking advantage of it being locked into the wrong move in one way or another. Omastar also receives a +2 boost in Speed if Scyther attacks it courtesy of Weak Armor, which can be problematic.

**Rock- and Steel-types**: Scyther struggles immensely with Pokemon such as Steelix, Diancie, Gigalith, Rhydon, Omastar, and Klinklang due to their collective resilience to its STAB moves. None of them face any issues with KOing Scyther, or even setting up on it in the case of the latter two, though the former two don't appreciate taking a Knock Off.
 
Last edited:

Fireflame

Silksong when
is a Top Contributoris a Smogon Media Contributoris a Social Media Contributor Alumnus
Remove Add Comments (AC)= add comma (RC)= remove comma (AH)= add hyphen (RH)= remove hyphen
[OVERVIEW]

Scyther sits at an exceptional Speed tier, which allows it to naturally outspeed a lot of the NU tier. With a Choice Scarf, Scyther is capable of outspeeding the entire unboosted metagame as well as certain boosted threats like Z-Celebrate Venusaur, meaning that it can serve as a solid revenge killer and late-game cleaner. Due to Scyther's decently high Attack, it is capable of hitting fairly hard and forcing many switches, on which it can capitalize because of its access to U-turn. Additionally, Scyther's offensive typing allows it to prey on some of the tier's most common threats in Hariyama, Venusaur, and Slowking. Unfortunately, Scyther's typing also burdens it with a crippling 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, which limits its pivoting potential and the number of times it can switch in, as well as with weaknesses to common attacking types in Electric, Fire, and Ice. Scyther's average bulk prevents it from stomaching stronger neutral attacks well, which doesn't pair well with its Stealth Rock weakness. Finally, Scyther finds itself struggling to break through many of the tier's physical walls such as Steelix, Diancie, and Druddigon.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Aerial Ace
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Pursuit / Bug Bite
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

U-turn is Scyther's main Bug-type STAB move due to it hitting fairly hard and allowing Scyther to pivot out of unfavorable matchups while generating momentum for a teammate. Aerial Ace is Scyther's strongest and most reliable Flying-type STAB move and is a great tool for cleaning late-game due to its relatively high power. Knock Off cripples defensive Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon by removing their item, thus stinting their longevity and leaving them unable to check Scyther as consistently. Pursuit allows Scyther to trap and remove Ghost- and Psychic-types that it outspeeds such as Haunter, Mismagius, and Delphox, which can potentially open the door for a Fighting-type teammate. Alternatively, Bug Bite can be used to give Scyther a stronger Bug-type attack that threatens to 2HKO Slowbro after Stealth Rock while not forcing it to switch out.

Set Details
========

Maximum investment in Speed in tandem with a Jolly nature and Choice Scarf makes Scyther as fast as possible, allowing it to outpace some of the fastest Pokemon in the tier such as Whimsicott, Sneasel, Heliolisk, and Choice Scarf Delphox, with the investment in Attack maximizing Scyther's offensive presence. Technician is the best ability for Scyther, as it increases the power of Aerial Ace and Bug Bite, which is really important for securing certain 2HKOs such as on Delphox with Aerial Ace and Slowbro with Bug Bite.

Usage Tips
========

U-turn is the main move Scyther should be using earlier on, as it chips away at Scyther's switch-ins and allows it to safely bring in a teammate to KO them, like Venusaur against Rhydon. Using Knock Off early-game is also smart, since a lot of Scyther's checks and counters loathe having their item removed. Think twice before using Aerial Ace or and Bug Bite early-game, since being locked into either allows Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon to switch in with no problems. Once Scyther's checks are weakened mid- or late-game, it will be more free to use Aerial Ace and Bug Bite. Avoid switching Scyther in if Stealth Rock is up, as this causes it to lose 50% of its health upon entry and makes it more susceptible to priority from Pokemon like Sneasel and Toxicroak. Scyther should avoid taking as much damage as possible, as its bulk isn't the best and it needs to be as healthy as possible to better stomach neutral attacks.

Team Options
========

Scyther's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock mandates entry hazard control and removal, making Pokemon such as Xatu, Rotom, Silvally-Steel, and Blastoise ideal teammates. Entry hazards pressure a lot of Scyther's switch-ins and make it more annoying for teams to switch into U-turn, meaning that Pokemon that can set them such as Steelix, Rhydon, and Garbodor are appreciated. Wallbreakers such as Magmortar, Venusaur, Heliolisk, and Sceptile can heavily damage the physically bulky Pokemon that Scyther struggles with,(AC) and they appreciate Scyther getting them in safely with U-turn and crippling their switch-ins with Knock Off. Fighting-types such as Medicham, Passimian, and Hariyama are good partners, since they are capable of breaking through Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon for Scyther. In return, Scyther outspeeds and almost KOes Pokemon like Choice Scarf Delphox and Rotom in addition to also checking other Fighting-type switch-ins like Venusaur and Vileplume. Pokemon that also have U-turn or Volt Switch in their movesets like Passimian, Xatu, Heliolisk, and Rotom can also make for good partners, completing a VoltTurn core and helping to keep the momentum going throughout a battle.

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

A Swords Dance set with maximum investment in HP and Speed using Eviolite can be used to turn Scyther into a more bulky setup sweeper that can capitalize on the switches it can force by setting up. Scyther also boasts reliable recovery in Roost, but it has issues setting up and isn't very strong before setting up. A Choice Band set makes Scyther's moves harder to be brought in on, which is good for netting certain KOs the Choice Scarf set cannot such as the OHKO after Stealth Rock damage on Delphox with Aerial Ace, but this means that Scyther is losing out on a valuable Speed tier. Brick Break is Scyther's most consistent coverage option against the likes of Klinklang and Steelix, but it isn't strong or boosted in power by Technician, and Scyther would rather its teammates handle these Pokemon. Reversal seems appealing due to it hitting the aforementioned bulky Steel-types for up to 200 Base Power, but this requires Scyther to take a lot of damage to reach that power, making it inconsistent and generally not worth it. Tailwind can be used to double the Speed of Scyther's time team right before it is KOed, making normally slower Pokemon like Hariyama far more menacing, but being locked into it is far from ideal otherwise, and Scyther has trouble dropping a move for it.

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

**Stealth Rock**: Scyther loses 50% of its HP upon entry if Stealth Rock is up, which prevents it from freely pivoting in and out with U-turn.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Steelix, Rhydon, Omastar, and Palossand either resist or take very little damage from Scyther's STAB moves and are all capable of taking advantage of it being locked into the wrong move in one way or another. Omastar also receives a +2 boost in Speed if Scyther attacks it courtesy of Weak Armor, which can be problematic.

**Rock- and Steel-types**: Scyther struggles immensely with Pokemon such as Steelix, Rhydon, Gigalith, Diancie, Omastar, and Klinklang due to their collective resilience to its STAB moves. None of them face any issues with KOing Scyther, or even setting up on it in the case of the latter two, though the former two in particular don't appreciate taking a Knock Off.
GP 2/2
 
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