What Items are Best for Scyther in Pokémon Unite?
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Scyther, the evolved form of Mantis Pokémon, is a high-attack, high-mobility threat in Pokémon Unite. Unlike its evolution, Scizor, it excels in speed and quick bursts of damage, making item selection crucial for maximizing its potential. So, what items are truly best for Scyther?
The ideal held item loadout for Scyther focuses on amplifying its strengths: attack power, critical hit chance, and sustainability. This typically translates to equipping Muscle Band, Scope Lens, and Focus Band. Here’s why each item is essential for Scyther’s gameplay:
- Muscle Band: This item is a core pick for many physical attackers in Pokémon Unite, and Scyther is no exception. Muscle Band provides a flat increase to attack damage, as well as a bonus damage increase based on the opponent’s remaining HP. This consistent damage boost synergizes perfectly with Scyther’s high attack and mobility, allowing it to quickly shred through enemy health bars. The bonus damage based on a percentage of the opponent’s max HP allows Scyther to deal increased damage to tankier enemies, too.
- Scope Lens: Scyther is designed to capitalize on critical hits, and Scope Lens is the perfect item to do that. Scope Lens significantly increases critical hit damage which, combined with Scyther’s high attack, turns every crit into a devastating blow. This item helps Scyther make the most of its boosted basic attacks and abilities.
- Focus Band: While Scyther boasts impressive offensive prowess, it lacks the inherent tankiness of Scizor. Focus Band provides a safety net, offering a significant boost to defense and special defense when Scyther’s HP falls low, allowing it to recover HP. This provides crucial survivability, enabling it to survive tough situations, get back to the fray and continue to deal damage. This additional bit of sustain is exactly what a fragile offensive powerhouse like Scyther needs to remain a persistent threat.
Synergies and Considerations for Item Choices
The synergy between these three items creates a playstyle where Scyther excels at dealing significant damage in bursts, while also having the sustain to survive longer encounters. While other items might offer unique advantages, these are the three that synergize best with Scyther’s unique abilities and playstyle in Pokémon Unite.
It’s also important to note that while some players may consider other damage boosting items, like Razor Claw, its benefits don’t outweigh those of Muscle Band, Scope Lens, and Focus Band. Razor Claw, while giving an increase to basic attack damage, does so only at close range, limiting its practicality on Scyther. Focus Band also helps Scyther mitigate its low max HP and defenses to make use of its mobility. Ultimately, the consistency and benefits offered by Muscle Band, Scope Lens, and Focus Band make them the optimal choices for maximizing Scyther’s performance.
Gameplay and Strategy with Ideal Items
Equipped with these three held items, Scyther becomes a hyper-offensive threat that is capable of quickly taking down opponents and securing objectives. The increased attack power from Muscle Band, coupled with the increased critical hit damage from Scope Lens, allows Scyther to deal devastating damage with its basic attacks and abilities. The Focus Band ensures Scyther doesn’t fall to quick burst damage and allows it to re-engage enemies.
Players using this build need to focus on taking advantage of Scyther’s high mobility and strong burst damage. Engage opponents swiftly, land critical hits, and strategically withdraw to heal. Utilizing Scyther’s unite move wisely is also important to get an edge on opponents and deal significant damage to finish them off.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Scyther Items
Here are some common questions and answers about the best items for Scyther:
1. Why is Muscle Band so important on Scyther?
Muscle Band is essential because it provides consistent damage amplification based on a flat amount and percentage of the opponent’s remaining HP. This makes Scyther’s basic attacks and abilities hurt more across the board, allowing it to shred through HP bars, particularly against tankier foes. Its benefits align with Scyther’s core role as an offensive powerhouse.
2. Is Scope Lens really necessary for Scyther?
Yes. The critical hit damage boost provided by Scope Lens directly benefits Scyther’s gameplay. Given its high attack stat, the increased critical hit damage allows Scyther to take full advantage of its basic attack damage output. It is arguably the most important item to have on a Scyther build.
3. Why is Focus Band considered better than other defensive items?
Focus Band’s utility is crucial because it provides a mix of defense and sustainability. Unlike other defensive options, Focus Band doesn’t just make Scyther tankier but it also heals it up when its health is low, making it a very well-rounded choice for an offensive Pokémon. This combination is optimal for Scyther’s role, enabling it to stay in the fight longer and sustain through those crucial battles.
4. Can I use Razor Claw on Scyther?
While Razor Claw can increase Scyther’s basic attack damage, it doesn’t give a lot of value to Scyther. Unlike Muscle Band, it’s damage boost only applies at close range and doesn’t grant any kind of survivability. Muscle Band, Scope Lens, and Focus Band provide consistent advantages.
5. What if I don’t have all the items leveled up?
Prioritize leveling up Muscle Band and Scope Lens first, as they are more impactful to Scyther’s damage. Then, focus on leveling up Focus Band. Even at lower levels, these three items provide considerable improvements to Scyther’s performance.
6. Are there any alternative item builds for Scyther?
While the Muscle Band, Scope Lens, and Focus Band combination is the most optimal build for most players, alternative builds focusing on pure damage or speed are viable. However, they often come at the cost of sustainability and overall effectiveness. Therefore, you’re usually better off choosing the build recommended in this article.
7. What moveset best compliments this item build?
Scyther’s ideal moveset typically includes moves that allow for mobility and burst damage. Swords Dance can greatly increase your damage output, which combined with this item build, can give you a significant advantage.
8. Is Scyther better than Scizor?
Scyther has more mobility, higher attack, and greater damage on its unite move compared to Scizor, but it lacks the tankiness and defensive typing that Scizor has. It’s generally preferred to play Scyther when you’re facing enemies that can’t hinder its mobility.
9. Should I evolve Scyther into Scizor?
Evolving Scyther into Scizor is generally advantageous due to the boost in attack and defense and the addition of the Steel-type, making it only weak to Fire. However, in Pokémon Unite you will not evolve it, as each Pokémon has its own stats and abilities, therefore, evolving is not a possibility.
10. Is Scyther still good in late game?
Yes. Scyther’s high mobility and burst damage with the correct item build can allow you to deal significant damage to opponents throughout the game, making it a relevant threat in the late game.
11. What are Scyther’s biggest weaknesses?
Scyther’s biggest weakness is its fragility due to its low HP and lack of natural tankiness. This is why equipping Focus Band is crucial. It is also susceptible to hindrances such as stuns and slows which limit its mobility and make it easier to take down.
12. What other items could be considered if not using Focus Band?
Some might consider the Attack Weight for additional attack power or the Float Stone for increased mobility. However, the benefits offered by Focus Band are unmatched, so those should be taken into consideration when making the decision.
13. How does this item build compare to builds for Scizor?
Scizor focuses more on survivability and sustainability, often using items like Muscle Band, Razor Claw, and Scope Lens when applicable, but it’s less dependent on mobility than Scyther. Scyther, on the other hand, needs the mobility and extra sustain provided by Focus Band to fully realize its potential in Pokémon Unite.
14. Is it worth using a held item enhancer on these items for Scyther?
Yes, absolutely. Held Item Enhancers are worth investing in to level up Muscle Band, Scope Lens, and Focus Band. Doing so maximizes their effectiveness and greatly boosts Scyther’s potential to carry games.
15. Where can I learn more about Scyther’s moves and strategies?
You can find a plethora of resources online including guides, gameplay videos, and forums. Experimenting with different move combinations in practice mode can also allow you to learn Scyther’s strengths and weaknesses and perfect your builds.