Scyther Movesets & Competitive Sets

Set Details 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 Xatu 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.

Moves Brick Break provides coverage against Steel-types like Aggron, which wall Scyther otherwise. Knock Off cripples defensive answers to Scyther like Ferroseed 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.

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 Choice Scarf allows Scyther to beat 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.

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.

Moves U-turn is the most spammable move on the set, providing momentum throughout the battle while also weakening Scyther's checks and counters such as Rhydon and Steelix. Aerial Ace provides good neutral coverage alongside U-turn and doesn't force Scyther to switch out. Knock Off hits most Pokemon that resist Scyther's STAB combination like Steelix, Rotom, and Klinklang hard, and it also has general utility in removing items and shortening bulkier Pokemon's longevity. Pursuit can be used over Knock Off if trapping Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Mesprit and Mismagius is more beneficial for the team. Quick Attack is a priority move boosted by Technician, and with a Choice Band it hits fairly hard. It is particularly useful for picking off faster weakened threats such as Pyroar, Floatzel, and Swellow. Set Details Maximum Attack and Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Scyther to hit as hard and fast as possible, while the remaining 4 EVs are put into Defense instead of HP to allow Scyther to switch in on Stealth Rock at least twice. Technician powers up Aerial Ace while also making Pursuit fairly powerful, allowing Scyther to notably OHKO Rotom after Stealth Rock. Choice Band is used to maximize Scyther's immediate power and has terrific synergy with U-turn. Usage Tips U-turn is the move you want to click most often, especially early-and mid-game, as it not only weakens Scyther's check and counters but also provides momentum. Scyther does not have access to reliable recovery in Roost and has only average bulk, so avoid switching it into anything other than resisted attacks such as Primeape's Close Combat and Lilligant's Giga Drain. Beware of crippling status moves such as Thunder Wave from Pokemon Scyther usually has little trouble switching in on, such as Xatu, Musharna, and Mesprit. Be very cautious when clicking Quick Attack, as being locked into it can often leave you at a disadvantage. It is best to use Pursuit when the opposing Pokemon doesn't threaten to either status or KO Scyther. For example, using Pursuit on a Rotom locked into Shadow Ball is usually safe, but clicking Pursuit versus a Rotom with Colbur Berry that can still burn or use Thunderbolt on Scyther is often suboptimal. Team Options Entry hazard removal support is necessary for Scyther, as it is 4x weak to Stealth Rock and has no means of recovery, so Pokemon that can remove hazards such as Claydol, Mantine, Hitmonchan, and Prinplup are solid partners. Each of these hazard removers provides different alternate uses for Scyther, as Claydol can switch in on Rhydon, Garbodor and Weezing; Mantine and Prinplup have good defensive synergy with Scyther, and Hitmonchan breaks down bulky Rock- and Steel-types for Scyther. Scyther greatly appreciates having hazards on the opponent's side of the field, so hazard setters like Ferroseed, Steelix, and Garbodor work well. Volt Switch and U-turn users such as Rotom, Lanturn, and Swellow can form terrifying VoltTurn cores alongside Scyther that keep momentum up throughout a battle. Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan, Primeape, and Hariyama are all fantastic partners alongside Scyther, as they can break through the Rock- and Steel-types that plague Scyther and appreciate the free switches it provides with U-turn. Since Choice Band Scyther is a solid wallbreaker in its own right, late-game cleaners such as Klinklang, Barbaracle, and Lilligant make for quality partners.

Moves U-turn provides momentum and weakens Scyther's checks and counters for later in the game. Choice Scarf Scyther has the quickest U-turn in the tier, which makes it a very reliable hit-and-run revenge killer. Aerial Ace is best used late-game once the opponent's team has been sufficiently weakened and when Scyther wants to attack without being forced to switch. Knock Off is useful for removing items, especially on bulkier Pokemon such as Rhydon and Steelix, allowing Scyther to easier combat them late-game. Knock Off also has utility in revenge killing non-Colbur Berry variants of Rotom. Bug Bite is a stronger alternative to U-turn that doesn't force Scyther to switch out but can often result in a loss in momentum. Tailwind can also be used as a last-ditch utility move to speed up your team for four turns, but beware of mindlessly clicking Tailwind, as it is not a move you want to be locked into. Set Details Maximum Attack and Speed are used to hit as hard and fast as possible, while the remaining 4 EVs are placed in Defense over HP to ensure Scyther can switch into Stealth Rock at least twice throughout a battle. Technician provides a power boost to Scyther's strongest STAB moves, Aerial Ace and Bug Bite. A Jolly nature allows Choice Scarf Scyther to outpace common threats such as Choice Scarf Rotom, Choice Scarf Jynx, and +1 Lilligant. Choice Scarf lets Scyther outspeed almost the entire metagame and has solid synergy with U-turn. Usage Tips Because it lacks Eviolite and recovery, Choice Scarf Scyther can only rely on its average bulk to tank attacks, so avoid switching it in on strong neutral attacks when possible. U-turn is the move you should be clicking the most, especially early- and mid-game, as it provides momentum for the rest of the team and gets chip damage off on Scyther's checks. Beware of clicking Aerial Ace and Bug Bite early on in a battle, as it can result in a loss of momentum that your opponent can easily capitalize on. Late-game, once the opposing team has been weakened, is where Scyther shines, as it can use Aerial Ace or Bug Bite more freely and clean up teams. Avoid switching Scyther into Knock Off from Fighting-types such as Hariyama and Throh if revenge killing Floatzel, Swellow, and opposing Choice Scarf Pokemon is important. Tailwind is best used as a last-ditch effort once Scyther proves to no longer be useful, although you should beware of clicking Tailwind because being locked into it is very easy for an opponent to take advantage of. Team Options Wallbreakers that can punch through defensive cores, such as Choice Band Primeape, Samurott, and Magmortar, are amazing partners for Scyther, as they clear the way for it to sweep late-game. Primeape in particular forms an effective U-turn core with Scyther, allowing them to threaten each other's checks and counters. Entry hazard removal is key to Scyther's success, so Pokemon such as Pelipper, Xatu, and Hitmonchan are all good partners alongside Scyther. Scyther appreciates the chip damage that comes with having hazards on the opponent's side of the field, so Pokemon that can set them up like Omastar, Rhydon, and Cacturne work well. Pokemon with Volt Switch or U-turn such as Xatu and Lanturn make for excellent partners, as they keep momentum up throughout a battle. Choice Scarf Scyther sits in a terrific Speed tier, so Pokemon that appreciate faster threats such as Swellow, Floatzel, and weather abusers being removed, like Aurorus and Choice Band Primeape, make for quality partners.

Moves Swords Dance allows Scyther to boost its Attack to extremely high levels. U-turn is used over a stronger alternative in Bug Bite, as it allows Scyther to weaken its checks such as Rhydon and Steelix so that it can break through more easily in the late-game. U-turn is Scyther's most spammable move early- and mid-game, and it is also useful for stopping bulky Psychic- and Dark-types such as boosted Musharna and Malamar once Scyther has a Swords Dance under its belt. Aerial Ace is the best cleaning tool Scyther has access to, and its impressive mono-attacking coverage makes it a consistent sweeping tool. Lastly, Roost lets Scyther stay healthy throughout a battle and increases its longevity. Set Details 248 HP EVs provide Scyther with as much mixed bulk as possible while also ensuring that it can switch into Stealth Rock at least twice. Maximum Speed with a Jolly nature is crucial to make sure Scyther outspeeds everything it can to U-turn out or sweep late-game. Eviolite is used to increase Scyther's already impressive bulk. Technician boosts Scyther's main cleaning tool, Aerial Ace, to an impressive 90 Base Power. Alternatively, a spread of 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe can be used, but this greatly decreases Scyther's bulk. Usage Tips Swords Dance Scyther is best used as a late-game sweeper once its checks and counters have been weakened or eliminated, but setting up early-game and weakening your opponent's check with U-turn is also a viable option. Scyther does have a strong early- and mid-game presence, though, as U-turn allows it to keep up momentum even before an Attack boost. Try to avoid sending out Scyther when Stealth Rock is up on your side of the field, as losing 50% of its HP often means Scyther is forced to use Roost instead of U-turn or Swords Dance, losing momentum. It is usually best to click Roost when Scyther is low on health, when you are attempting to dodge a Sucker Punch, or when removing Scyther's Flying typing is beneficial. An example of this situation would be Roosting to make Scyther neutral to a Lanturn's or Rotom's Volt Switch. Roost can also be used to stall out foes inflicted with burn or toxic if this is preferable to outright attacking them, such as when facing a burned Garbodor or Skuntank to avoid Aftermath recoil. Team Options Volt Switch users such as Lanturn and Rotom make for excellent partners alongside Scyther, as they help each other grab momentum and form a potent VoltTurn core. Rotom in particular deserves a mention, as it can burn bulky Rock- and Steel-types that give Scyther trouble, such as Rhydon and Steelix. Lanturn has terrific defensive synergy with Scyther and also tends to bait in Grass-types, which Scyther can capitalize on. Shiftry provides Defog support and takes down Rhydon and Steelix, as well as removing Garbodor's and Weezing's items, which makes the former no longer able to punish Scyther for spamming U-turn and the latter easier to wear down throughout the battle. Fighting-types such as Primeape and Hitmonchan work well with Scyther, as they can break through the bulky Rock- and Steel-types that Scyther despises. Hitmonchan in particular works well with Scyther, as it can also Rapid Spin away Stealth Rock, which is a nuisance to Scyther. Powerful wallbreakers such as Swellow, Samurott, and Abomasnow are good partners for Scyther, as they appreciate the free switches that Scyther provides for them with U-turn. Spinners and Defoggers such as Kabutops, Mantine, Pelipper, and Prinplup are necessary partners alongside Scyther, as Scyther's crippling weakness to Stealth Rock hinders it greatly. Conversely, Scyther really appreciates entry hazards, in particular Spikes, as they wear down bulky Rock- and Steel-types with ease, especially in conjunction with U-turn. Hazard setters such as Omastar, Crustle, and Garbodor are all viable partners.

Like its elder brethren Scizor, Scyther makes use of its excellent Attack and access to STAB U-turn to act as a fantastic scout. U-turn builds momentum, and can bail Scyther out of unfavorable matchups. Scyther's ninja-esque Speed gives it an advantage over Scizor in some instances, as Scyther can force opponents into a no-win situation: either stay in and die, or switch out and lose momentum. Technician-boosted Aerial Ace is a great complementary STAB for hitting Fighting-types, whereas Technician-boosted Bug Bite hits harder than U-turn and is more reliable when going for a late game sweep. Quick Attack is an excellent option over Bug Bite if running Choice Band, as it allows Scyther to pick off frail but potentially dangerous sweepers. Brick Break is the coverage move of choice, as it allows Scyther to hit Steel types, such as Steelix and Aggron, that resist its dual STAB combination. The choice between a Band and a Scarf (pun not intended) depends on what you want Scyther to accomplish; the former packs significantly more power and dents opposing walls, potentially opening up a sweep for a teammate, whereas the latter allows Scyther to troll faster Pokemon such as Galvantula, Sceptile, and Accelgor, while simultaneously fulfilling the role of revenge killer. While Choice Scarf variants are more reliable for a late game sweep and more difficult to revenge kill, Choice Band variants grab significantly more KOs and can attempt a sweep much earlier. Technician-boosted Pursuit gives Scyther the ever so handy U-turn + Pursuit combination, made famous by none other than the crimson mantis itself. With so many RU teams reliant on Uxie and Tangrowth to wall threats, Scyther can throw a wrench into the opponent's plans by playing mind games with this dangerous combination of attacks. Quick Attack is a viable move on the Choice Scarf set--just kidding, anyone who tries this should feel ashamed. Obviously, U-turn spamming will not work if Scyther is losing 50% of its health every time it switches in. As a result, Rapid Spin support is an absolute necessity; Cryogonal, Kabutops, and Hitmonchan are some of the most reliable spinners in RU. Furthermore, because Rapid Spin is so crucial for this set to function properly, it is important to eliminate all potential spinblockers. Scyther itself is not the bug for the job, since most bulky Ghost-types will stay in as it Pursuits and cripple it with Will-O-Wisp. It is therefore advisable to run a Dark-type, such as Absol or Drapion, to eliminate bulky Ghost-types, and ensure you don't run into problems when attempting to pull off a spin.

Black and White brought Scyther a very useful gift in the form of Eviolite, which allows Scyther to perform the role of a bulky Swords Dance sweeper. While this set lacks the sheer power and immediate sweeping potential of the standard Swords Dance set, it does alleviate Scyther's below average bulk and enables it to accumulate multiple boosts. As always, Aerial Ace provides a powerful, reliable STAB, and allows Scyther to dispose of troublesome phazers such as Hariyama. Roost maintains Scyther's survivability, and potentially allows it to stall out weaker Electric- and Ice-type attacks; an added bonus is the ability to Roost off Stealth Rock damage should your Rapid Spinner go down early. Your choice for the final moveslot depends on what role you want Scyther to fill. If all you're looking for is a bulky sweeper, Brick Break provides the best possible coverage alongside Aerial Ace. However, Scyther is capable of passing Attack boosts via Baton Pass. Speed is maximized to ensure a Speed tie with opposing Scyther, and 248 HP EVs ensure Scyther can switch into Stealth Rock at least twice without fainting. Bug Bite can be used as an alternative STAB if running Baton Pass. As a stand-alone STAB move, Bug Bite is more useful on some occasions. However, if using Brick Break, Aerial Ace is the preferred STAB move due to the superior coverage of Fighting- and Flying-type moves. Scyther also has the option of running Safeguard to protect itself against status. Unfortunately, this is very situational, as it only allows Scyther to bypass bulky Ghost-types attempting to Will-O-Wisp, and sacrifices coverage as well as Baton Pass. As with any Scyther set, Rapid Spin support is an absolute must. Hitmonlee in particular has great synergy with this set; not only can Hitmonlee guarantee a spin with Foresight, it can also dispatch Steelix with High Jump Kick, making Scyther's life that much easier. Hitmonlee is also a great recipient for Swords Dance passes. Bulky Ghost-types such as Rotom and Misdreavus are huge nuisances to the duo, however, so a strong Dark-type, such as Spiritomb or Drapion, makes a great partner. This set absolutely loathes status of all kinds, so a reliable status absorber such as Clefable or a cleric such as Heal Bell Uxie would work well too.

Scyther's stat spread--specifically its monstrous base 110 Attack and base 105 Speed--is perfect for a Swords Dance sweeper. After one boost, Scyther's Attack stat reaches a frightening 638, enough to slice through all but the bulkiest of walls. Its movepool, while shallow, is tailor-made for this set, as Technician turns the normally weak Aerial Ace and Bug Bite into deadly STABs. In a tier bereft of Steel-types, Bug and Flying are both extremely potent offensive types. Brick Break rounds off this set, allowing Scyther to hit Pokemon that resist its STAB combination, namely Steelix and Aggron. The EV spread is standard, taking advantage of Scyther's excellent Speed and Attack. A Jolly nature is an absolute necessity, as it allows Scyther to outspeed the base 95 Speed tier, and proceed to raze the likes of Uxie and Primeape with its boosted STAB moves. Life Orb gets the best mileage out of any setup sweeper, and Scyther is no exception. However, because of its crippling Stealth Rock weakness, Scyther often gets only one chance to set up and sweep. Lum Berry is therefore a viable alternative; it not only prevents Scyther from being shut down by a rogue Thunder Wave or Toxic, but also ensures that Scyther is not a ticking time bomb. Although Scyther can comfortably outspeed most of RU, there are still troublesome Pokemon, such as Galvantula, who can outspeed and cause headaches. Many Choice Scarf users can also exploit Scyther's sub-par bulk. Therefore, Quick Attack is a viable option to make Scyther less prone to revenge killers. Bolstered by Technician and a Swords Dance boost, Quick Attack drastically diminishes the number of Pokemon who can reliably revenge kill Scyther. Unfortunately, should Scyther choose to run Quick Attack, it sacrifices a great deal of coverage, and Uxie and Steelix can comfortably wall Scyther should it lack the appropriate move. As mentioned before, Scyther suffers from a crippling Stealth Rock weakness. Rapid Spin support is therefore a must, with Cryogonal, Hitmonchan, and Kabutops being the best options in RU. Sandslash also provides Stealth Rock support, which allows Scyther to nab a number of OHKOs and 2HKOs it wouldn't otherwise get. Moltres and Charizard absolutely have their way with Scyther, making Slowking an ideal teammate. Scyther returns the favor by taking out powerful Bug- and Dark-types, such as Crawdaunt and Accelgor, who would otherwise be absolute nightmares for Slowking.

This set's main goal is to rely on Scyther's good bulk to pass Swords Dance boosts to a dangerous sweeper, and its effectiveness is thanks mostly to the great success of the Swords Dance set; many opponents will switch their walls into Scyther, not expecting it to be bulky enough to set up on them or pass its boost to something else. Swords Dance and Baton Pass are the most important moves as they allow Scyther to set up and pass the boosts to a sweeper. Aerial Ace is the third move to avoid being shut down by fast Taunt users such as Mismagius and Ambipom, and is a powerful STAB move with good coverage. When taking into account the Attack boosts Scyther will grab, it will dent everything that doesn't resist it, being able to grab a few KOs should the opportunity arise. The last slot offers a choice between two moves, but Substitute is often the preferred option as it protects Scyther from status moves, as well as Trick, and allows the recipient of the boosts to switch in unscratched. Leftovers is the superior item for the extra setup turn it may grant Scyther with. A Jolly nature with 216 Speed EVs lets Scyther outspeed base 100 Speed Pokemon such as Charizard and Entei. The 224 HP EVs provide Scyther with more bulk while minimizing the damage it suffers from Stealth Rock, and the rest goes to Defense to let it take physical hits better. Agility can be used instead of Swords Dance to help slower hard-hitters. Roost is an alternative over Substitute and it helps Scyther with its 4x Stealth Rock weakness, as well as setting up on weak offensive Pokemon. Salac Berry is an alternative item and, if the plan works, Scyther will find itself passing +2 Attack / +1 Speed, which is often enough for any sweeper to destroy the opponent's team. However, this is a very risky situation because in order to activate Salac Berry, Scyther will have to be at less than 25% health and, at that point, any attack will KO it. The best teammates are Pokemon that benefit from the boosts Scyther will be grabbing. Tauros, Sceptile (even though Sceptile and Scyther have very poor synergy), and Azumarill are examples of Pokemon that can destroy unprepared teams when armed with a Swords Dance boost: the former two have great Speed and therefore become nearly unstoppable, while the latter possesses good bulk and a very strong priority attack. On the other hand, Rhyperior, Octillery, and Blaziken are perhaps the three most prominent Pokemon that, with an Agility boost, can wreak havoc thanks to very high-powered STAB moves and adequate coverage. Finally, Scyther appreciates Rapid Spin support, so Pokemon such as Hitmontop and Donphan are also good teammates thanks to great bulk and good synergy.

Scyther frequently won't have time to Swords Dance and doesn't particularly appreciate Life Orb's recoil in tandem with Stealth Rock damage, so using a Choice Band is a logical alternative. The goal of this set is to chip away at the other team with repeated fast U-turns while simultaneously threatening to sweep with its powerful Aerial Ace. This means that while Rapid Spin support is appreciated by Scyther's other sets, it is absolutely vital to the success of this set. Aerial Ace and Bug Bite are still Scyther's strongest STAB attacks, but U-turn is preferred over Bug Bite despite its inferior Base Power due to its wonderful ability to scout. Quick Attack is useful for picking off weakened sweepers who have a Speed boost under their belts. Pursuit can trap the Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon who frequently flee from Scyther's STAB attacks. Finally, Brick Break remains a perfect auxiliary attack for combating Steel- and Rock-types like Registeel, Steelix, and Rhyperior. Donphan is a choice with great offensive synergy with Scyther since it can come into Steel- and Rock-types with the aid of Scyther's U-turn and use Rapid Spin to clear the field for Scyther; in return, Scyther is an excellent check to Venusaur (watch out for Sleep Powder, however). Hitmontop has similarly useful synergy with Scyther's U-turn, but is usually more effective on defensive teams. Cloyster doesn't have much defensive synergy with Scyther, but has enormous physical bulk and can set up Spikes to make Scyther's U-turns much more deadly.

Scyther has naturally high Attack and Speed, and Swords Dance and Life Orb complement its stats to make it an extremely vicious physical sweeper in UU. Scyther packs resistances to Fighting- and Grass-type moves along with an immunity to Ground-type moves, which gives it setup opportunities on quite a few popular Pokemon. However, due to its relative frailty, Scyther shines most when brought out in the late-game after its counters have been weakened and the other team has been scouted. Aerial Ace is chosen as Scyther's STAB move of choice over Bug Bite due to its superior neutral coverage; Electric-type Pokemon aren't very common apart from Rotom (who also resists Bug Bite); most Rock-type Pokemon take more damage from Brick Break than they would from a neutral Bug Bite; finally, Steel-type Pokemon resist both Flying and Bug. Brick Break ensures Scyther isn't walled by Steelix, Registeel, and Rhyperior, and in conjunction with Aerial Ace provides perfect neutral coverage in UU with the exception of Rotom. In the last slot, Quick Attack ensures quick but frail sweepers such as Alakazam or Dugtrio won't end your sweep, and is a great way to pick off weakened set-up sweepers. Bug Bite can be used over either of the last two attacks depending on what the rest of your team looks like--Brick Break isn't as useful if Scyther has Rhyperior or Torterra at its side, ready to take advantage of Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon; on the other hand, Quick Attack may be dropped if you feel that you're safe against speedy but frail sweepers. There is a multitude of options Scyther can use instead of the moves on this set. In terms of attacking moves, Reversal can be used over Brick Break if you don't have Rapid Spin support, because its Base Power varies and it becomes more powerful when Scyther is under 34.4% HP. Night Slash is usable to hit defensive Rotom (Aerial Ace does a minimum of 87% to offensive Rotom after a Swords Dance anyway), but loses a huge amount of power against neutral targets. Baton Pass is also viable, especially if one intends to use this Scyther early in the game and has other Pokemon who would benefit greatly from a Swords Dance. Potential Baton Pass recipients should be adept at taking on Scyther's common counters, so using a Fighting-type like Hitmonlee or Hitmontop or a Ground-type like Rhyperior or Torterra is recommended.

Set Description Choice Band Scyther is the most common set for its immediate power and ability to revenge kill fast Pokemon like Kangaskhan and Tentacruel. Scyther also has an incredible max Speed of 339, which is only outsped by Electrode and Ninjask, rivaling its Choice Band user competition like Fearow, Nidoking, and Hitmonlee. Hidden Power Bug is Scyther's main STAB attack for hitting neutral targets and is very powerful when Scyther is in Swarm range. It also provides coverage for Psychic-types, like Slowking and Solrock, and it can be used as a way to avoid contact abilities like Static. Double-Edge provides a very powerful neutral hit to most targets, including Flying-types like Gligar and Altaria, and its recoil can be helpful in pushing Scyther into Swarm range for a boosted Hidden Power Bug. Aerial Ace hits opposing Scyther, Vileplume, Ghost-types like Haunter and Misdreavus, and Fighting-types like Hitmontop. Quick Attack provides very useful priority against Reversal sweepers like opposing Scyther, serves as an additional check to chipped weather sweepers like Sunny Day Vileplume and Rain Dance Gorebyss, and helps check other priority from Arcanine. Silver Wind and Hidden Power Flying can be used as alternatives to Hidden Power Bug and Aerial Ace. This gives Scyther less contact moves, a stronger Flying STAB attack, and access to possible omniboosts with Silver Wind. Using both Silver Wind and Aerial Ace allows Scyther to use another Hidden Power over Double-Edge, such as Hidden Power Ground for Arcanine and Electric-, Rock-, and Steel-types that like to come in on Choice Band Scyther. Team Options Choice Band Scyther fits well onto Spikes offense with Omastar and Qwilfish. Spikes help Scyther break through bulky Pokemon more easily and wears down its checks as they switch in. Omastar is also a physical wall that can help to check Kangaskhan, Granbull, and opposing Scyther. Since Scyther is very status-prone, cleric Pokemon like Ampharos, Vileplume, and Altaria can heal off any stray Toxic or paralysis thrown at it. Scyther also appreciates a check to Arcanine, such as Tentacruel or Blastoise. Scyther is less effective at wallbreaking after Intimidate, and these teammates allow for safe switch-ins and can remove Spikes for Scyther's team. Lanturn can resist any BoltBeam coverage thrown Scyther's way from Electric-types, Walrein, offensive Omastar, and special attacking Ghost-types. Pokemon that block Rapid Spin, like Haunter and Misdreavus, help keep Spikes on the opposing side of the field and provide valuable offensive utility, such as Haunter's Thief, Will-O-Wisp, and Destiny Bond and Misdreavus's Thunder Wave.

Set Description Swords Dance Scyther is a fast setup sweeper that can clean up late-game with its STAB moves and Hidden Power Ground as well as break holes in the opposition for teammates to capitalize on and clean up. Scyther prefers dual STAB moves on Swords Dance sets, usually using Silver Wind and Aerial Ace. Silver Wind is its primary STAB move, giving it access to dangerous omniboosts, and it is further boosted when Scyther is in Swarm range. Aerial Ace allows for useful coverage against various Flying-, Fighting-, and Ghost-types like Gligar, Haunter, Misdreavus, and Hitmontop. These options free up a slot for Hidden Power Ground for hitting Poison-, Rock-, and Steel-types like Nidoqueen, Nidoking, Omastar, and Aggron. Alternatively, Quick Attack gives Scyther a priority move if it can forgo the coverage of Hidden Power Ground, allowing access to a Hidden Power with STAB. The item choice can be team-dependent but is mostly up to preference. Leftovers helps Scyther passively heal any damage it takes and have more longevity, while Lum Berry is used when Scyther doesn't have cleric support and lets it set up in the face of Toxic or paralysis that would otherwise shut down any chance Scyther has at sweeping. Team Options Spikes support from Omastar and Qwilfish helps Swords Dance Scyther muscle past bulky Pokemon like Kangaskhan, Ampharos, and Walrein. Thief support from Omastar, Tentacruel, Arcanine, Haunter, and Electabuzz further facilitates the sweep by removing Leftovers from defensive Pokemon that rely on passive recovery, meaning the damage they take from Scyther's boosted moves and Spikes will be permanent. Bulky Water-types like Tentacruel, Walrein, and Lanturn synergize well, as they can threaten Omastar, Arcanine, Altaria, and Walrein, which can otherwise stand in the way of Scyther's sweep, and they are good at making progress for Scyther to take advantage of. Fearow and Gligar make for good partners, as they are fast mid-game wallbreakers that can back up Scyther's general lack of priority and make for a brutal one-two punch of Flying offense.

Set Description Salac Reversal Scyther is a dangerous late-game sweeper that is nearly impossible to stop without a priority move post-Speed boost. The choice of Hidden Power is mostly up to personal preference; Hidden Power Bug is boosted by Swarm and hits Psychic-types hard, while Hidden Power Flying has better coverage for Poison- and Ghost-types. Substitute is used to bring Scyther's HP down to 1% and capitalize on switches, allowing Scyther to use Swords Dance behind the Substitute. Scyther's HP cannot be divisible by 4 for Substitute sets to activate Salac Berry, so 4 EVs should be put into HP to make four Substitutes and for Reversal to be at maximum power. Endure allows Scyther to reliably get into Salac Berry range even if it took damage prior, lets it take hits from faster Pokemon, and gives it more freedom to set up Swords Dance at least once against most targets, since it is rarely OHKOed. Team Options Salac Reversal Scyther fits very well onto hyper offense teams, as it can outspeed and sweep every Pokemon without priority, and it can force damage onto bulkier targets. It can generally force the removal of at least one Pokemon for sweeper teammates to capitalize on. This Scyther set appreciates Spikes set early in the match for it to sweep more easily, benefitting from leads such as Qwilfish and Glalie that get as many layers of Spikes as possible then use Explosion to keep up momentum. Scyther also loves support that helps it enter freely, such as Yawn Kangaskhan, to force a switch or give Scyther a way to prey on the slept Pokemon. Explosion users, such as Electrode, Solrock, Haunter, and Muk, fit well as teammates, as they can remove key Pokemon for Scyther to make a full sweep or at least provide valuable chip if Explosion fails to KO, as well as giving free entry for Scyther. Since Arcanine and Gligar stand in the way of Reversal Scyther's sweep, it appreciates offensive teammates that force damage onto them early, such as Arcanine, offensive Kangaskhan, and Water-types like Gorebyss, Golduck, and Feraligatr. Ground-types like Nidoqueen, Nidoking, and Sandslash can check opposing Electric-types that threaten Scyther while making significant progress of their own.

Set Description Swords Dance rapidly increases Scyther's already high Attack, transforming it from a relatively weak attacker into a menacing threat. Wing Attack is a low-Base Power but reliable STAB attack that is preferred over other options such as Return due to its ability to land super effective damage on Grass-types like Jumpluff and Bellossom as well as opposing Scyther and Pinsir. Against neutral targets, Wing Attack is marginally weaker than Return, but hitting the aforementioned targets hard is very important. Hidden Power Ground is the preferred coverage move, offering perfect coverage alongside Wing Attack and hitting common Poison-, Electric-, and Rock-types including Nidoqueen, Qwilfish, Haunter, Ampharos, Magneton, Electabuzz, Omastar, and Kabutops for 2HKOs or better after a Swords Dance boost. The alternative is Hidden Power Bug, which can be chosen to deal massive damage to the tier's numerous strong Psychic-type Pokemon, including Slowbro, Hypno, Mr. Mime, and Kadabra, while also offering a small boost in power against neutral targets like Granbull and Piloswine. However, choosing Hidden Power Bug means Scyther will be unable to hit Magneton and will miss out on numerous 2HKOs listed above. When matched up against such foes and in many other cases, Scyther's best choice may be to Baton Pass its boosts to a teammate such as Nidoqueen, Dodrio, Granbull, Gyarados, Quagsire, or Kabutops. These Pokemon can greatly benefit from the additional Attack boost, which may allow them to break past their usual checks. Baton Pass is also great for scouting what Pokemon the opponent might switch into Scyther and reacting accordingly, since it will usually go first due to Scyther's Speed if the foe stays in and will go after the switch if it doesn't. Team Options Nidoqueen makes for a good teammate for Scyther thanks to the pair's good typing synergy—Scyther is immune to Ground and makes for an excellent pivot with Baton Pass, whereas Nidoqueen easily takes any Rock- and Electric-type moves aimed at Scyther. Furthermore, Nidoqueen benefits from being passed one or more Swords Dance boosts, which can allow it to get past its usual checks like Granbull and Slowbro. Many Pokemon will try to make Scyther easier to handle by paralyzing it with Thunder Wave or Stun Spore, so it can be helpful to use a Pokemon that can take status moves well such as RestTalk Slowbro or RestTalk Hypno, both of which also happen to serve as decent Nidoqueen checks. Other Hypno sets also make for great status spreaders and supporters in general thanks to Hypno's access to Light Screen, Thunder Wave, and Hypnosis. Ampharos is another option for Light Screen support; it can also draw in Ground-types such as Nidoqueen as it sets up the screen, which can give Scyther an opportunity to come in on Earthquake. Granbull, particularly a variant with a coverage move, stands to benefit greatly as a Swords Dance recipient, as almost no Pokemon can take boosted attacks from it for long. Dodrio is likewise an enormous threat when passed a Swords Dance boost, especially considering it outspeeds Qwilfish, one of the tier's most prevalent Haze users. Quagsire and Piloswine are other good Swords Dance receivers that double as Electric-type checks. Gyarados and Kabutops can also become much more challenging to take on once passed Attack boosts from Scyther. Pokemon with Explosion such as Haunter and Electrode can be useful for their ability to break through or weaken some of Scyther's checks, such as Nidoqueen, Piloswine, Sandslash, and Quagsire; they can also support it with screens and status moves. Mr. Mime and Jumpluff are also great at easing setup for Scyther with their status moves and access to screens, and they can also use Encore to lock foes into moves that Scyther can easily switch into. Lastly, Spikes damage can help Scyther to secure some crucial KOs, such as against Electabuzz and Kadabra, so Qwilfish is a useful teammate.

Other Options: Substitute