Is Scyther Good in Pokemon? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, Scyther is good in Pokémon, though its effectiveness depends heavily on the specific game, format, and role it’s being asked to fulfill. Scyther’s primary strength lies in its high Speed and respectable Attack stat, allowing it to function as a potent physical attacker early on in many games. It excels at picking off weaker opponents or those with a type disadvantage. However, its Bug/Flying typing leaves it vulnerable to common types like Rock, Electric, Ice, and Flying, which can severely limit its survivability, particularly later in the game against stronger opponents. Ultimately, the question of whether Scyther is “good” comes down to understanding its strengths and weaknesses, knowing when to leverage its capabilities, and, crucially, considering its powerful evolution, Scizor.

Scyther’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

High Speed: Scyther’s outstanding Speed stat allows it to consistently move first, enabling it to attack or use status moves before the opposition. This is crucial in both in-game playthroughs and competitive scenarios.
Decent Attack: Scyther boasts a solid Attack stat, especially in the early to mid-game. With access to moves like Swords Dance, it can further amplify its offensive capabilities to hit hard.
Technician Ability: This is a game-changer. Moves with a base power of 60 or less get a 50% damage boost. This makes low-power but high utility moves like Quick Attack very potent.
Good Movepool: Scyther has access to various physical attacking moves, including Aerial Ace, X-Scissor, and utility moves like Swords Dance. The False Swipe move is particularly useful for catching Pokémon for Pokédex completion.
Early Game Prowess: In many Pokémon games, Scyther can be a valuable team member during the early to mid-game due to its speed and attack, where it outclasses most other Pokemon available at that time. It’s particularly effective against common early game types like Grass and Fighting.

Weaknesses

Vulnerable Typing: Its Bug/Flying dual typing is a major liability, giving it a 4x weakness to Rock and weaknesses to Electric, Ice, and Flying. This means it can be easily knocked out by common offensive moves.
Lower Bulk: Scyther’s defenses are not impressive. This leaves it susceptible to even neutral damage hits, especially from Pokemon that can target its weaknesses.
Outclassed Late Game: As the game progresses and opponents become more powerful, Scyther’s middling stats and weaknesses become more apparent, making it less effective on its own.
Stealth Rock Vulnerability: Before evolution, Scyther suffers from a major disadvantage due to Stealth Rock. Since it is a flying type, half of its HP will be reduced upon entering battle, making it risky to swap into battle.

The Evolution Factor: Scyther vs. Scizor

The question of Scyther’s “goodness” cannot be separated from its evolution into Scizor. Evolving Scyther is usually highly recommended due to the dramatic benefits that Scizor provides.

Typing Change: Scizor trades the Flying-type for Steel, giving it a drastically improved defensive profile. It now only has one weakness, Fire, although that is a 4x weakness. It gains numerous resistances, particularly to Normal, Grass, Psychic, Bug, Dragon, Ice, Steel, and Fairy-type moves. Additionally, it loses its weakness to Rock, Electric, and Ice.
Stat Boost: Scizor receives significant stat boosts, especially in its Attack and Defense, making it a much more potent physical threat. While it loses some speed compared to Scyther, it still has a strong enough attack stat to sweep through many teams
Versatile Movepool: Like Scyther, Scizor has a wide range of moves available, enabling it to function as an offensive force or a defensive pivot. It gets access to Bullet Punch, a priority move boosted by Technician, which can be devastating.
Mega Evolution: Mega Scizor further enhances its stats and gives it access to abilities that take it to another level. The Mega Scizor is a formidable pokemon that can handle titans like Landorus-T and Mega Alakazam.

In essence, Scyther can be seen as a stepping stone to the much more versatile and powerful Scizor. While Scyther has its place, especially in the early to mid-game, its weaknesses and vulnerabilities often make evolving it a strategic move.

Scyther’s Role in Different Formats

Scyther can perform differently in various formats:

In-Game Playthroughs: Scyther is fantastic for early to mid-game scenarios, taking down early bosses easily and leveling up quickly. However, its vulnerability to rocks makes it less effective towards the end of the story mode.
Competitive Battles: In competitive formats, Scyther’s viability is more limited without evolution. Its high speed can make it a decent pick in lower tiers, but more defensive Pokémon can exploit it easily.
Pokémon GO: In Pokémon GO, Scyther is a decent but not outstanding pick. Its evolution, Scizor, becomes a more viable option, especially with the introduction of Mega Evolution. Scyther can still be useful as a lead to dish out high powered Aerial Ace moves, but its type weaknesses often limit it.
Other Spinoffs: In games like Pokémon Unite, Scyther often outclasses Scizor due to its higher speed and superior unite move damage. In general, Scyther seems to function best as a burst damage dealer.

Conclusion

Scyther is a good Pokémon, particularly in the early stages of many main series games. Its high speed, decent attack, and access to the Technician Ability, combined with moves like Swords Dance can make it a useful team member early on. However, its dual typing makes it vulnerable to common attack types. The power and utility of Scizor makes it highly advantageous to evolve Scyther. While Scyther is fun to use, its evolved form provides drastically more strength and versatility. The true question is not whether Scyther is good, but if you should hold onto it instead of evolving it. In most scenarios, the answer is no. Evolve your Scyther, and watch your team dominate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Scyther:

1. Is it worth evolving Scyther?

Yes, absolutely. Evolving Scyther into Scizor is almost always the right choice. Scizor gains a significant increase in stats, a more advantageous Steel/Bug-typing, and a more robust movepool, making it a much more effective Pokemon overall.

2. Which is better, Scyther or Scizor?

Scizor is generally better than Scyther. While Scyther has higher speed, Scizor has greater attack, defense, and a much more favorable type matchup, only having one weakness. Scizor also has better moves available to it.

3. Is Scizor a strong Pokémon?

Yes, Scizor is a very strong Pokémon. Its high attack, good defenses, and advantageous typing make it a powerful offensive and defensive threat in both single and double battles. Furthermore, Mega Scizor is a top-tier threat.

4. Why is Scyther better than Scizor sometimes?

Scyther is often better in specific niche scenarios where its speed is crucial. In some spinoffs like Pokémon Unite, the damage output of Scyther’s Unite move is more effective compared to Scizor. Scyther’s speed can also be advantageous if the opponent is unable to lower its speed or outspeed it.

5. Is Scizor better than Lucario?

They both have their merits. Lucario is a better wall-breaker due to its STAB Close Combat being more powerful than anything Scizor can do. Scizor is more of a scout/pivot because of U-turn. Both are strong in their own way.

6. Why is Scizor so good?

Scizor’s strengths include its great Steel/Bug-typing, high Attack stat, solid Defense, and access to strong moves like Bullet Punch. Its only weakness to Fire often makes it very easy to use.

7. Who is stronger, Steelix or Scizor?

Scizor is generally stronger than Steelix. It has access to more offensive and utility moves, and is more versatile than Steelix. Scizor can dish out damage while Steelix mainly absorbs damage, which makes Scizor better in most scenarios.

8. Who are Scizor’s counters?

The best counters to Scizor are Pokémon with strong Fire-type moves, such as Mega Blaziken, Mega Charizard Y, and Shadow Chandelure. Fire-type attacks do 4x the damage to Scizor.

9. Who are Scyther’s counters?

Scyther’s weaknesses to Rock, Electric, Ice, and Flying make it vulnerable to a lot of different pokemon. Some effective counters include Mega Diancie, Shadow Rhyperior, and Mega Aerodactyl.

10. Is Scizor weaker than Scyther?

No, Scizor is not weaker than Scyther. While Scyther has higher speed, Scizor has vastly superior attack, defenses, and typing, making it the much stronger Pokémon.

11. Why is Scyther good?

Scyther is good because of its high Speed and decent Attack, as well as access to Technician, which can make it dangerous for opponents who underestimate it. It also has a good movepool that helps it deal with different types of pokemon.

12. What should I evolve my Scyther into?

You should always evolve your Scyther into Scizor. There are no alternative evolutions to consider, and Scizor is far superior to Scyther.

13. Can Scyther evolve at level 100?

Yes, Scyther can evolve at level 100. Its evolution is not triggered by level, but by holding a Metal Coat while being traded.

14. Is Scyther a popular Pokemon?

Yes, Scyther is a popular Pokémon amongst the fan base. Its unique design and powerful attacks make it a fan favorite.

15. Is Scizor good for battle?

Yes, Scizor is excellent for battle due to its combination of great typing, high attack, and strong moveset. It has a solid competitive presence, particularly with its Mega Evolution.

Is Scyther good in Pokemon?