Which Class Gives You False Swipe in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet?
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The answer is not a class at all; it’s a professor! In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, you obtain the incredibly useful TM 57 False Swipe from Mr. Jacq, your biology teacher at the Naranja Academy (Scarlet) or Uva Academy (Violet). He doesn’t just hand it over, though. There’s a small prerequisite to fulfill before he entrusts you with this essential tool for catching Pokémon.
To obtain the False Swipe TM, you need to register 30 Pokémon in your Pokédex. Once you’ve reached that milestone, a red exclamation mark will appear next to the biology room on your school map. Head to the room, have a chat with Mr. Jacq, and he will reward you with the False Swipe TM. This move is invaluable for weakening wild Pokémon to the point where they are much easier to catch.
Why is False Swipe so Important?
False Swipe is a physical Normal-type move that inflicts damage, but with a critical difference – it cannot reduce a target’s HP to zero. Instead, it always leaves the target with a minimum of 1 HP. This makes it perfect for weakening Pokémon without accidentally knocking them out. When you’re hunting for rare spawns, or just trying to fill out your Pokédex, the last thing you want to do is accidentally defeat the Pokémon you’re trying to catch. False Swipe allows you to bring their health down to the absolute minimum, significantly increasing your chances of a successful capture.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about False Swipe
To further expand on your knowledge of False Swipe and its intricacies, here are 15 frequently asked questions:
1. What are the best Pokémon to teach False Swipe to in Scarlet & Violet?
One of the most recommended Pokémon to teach False Swipe to is Gallade. Gallade is ideal due to its access to both False Swipe and the move Hypnosis. The combination of low HP and the sleep status effect makes capturing wild Pokémon much easier. Another popular choice is Scyther/Scizor, due to the ease of obtaining Scyther early on, and its usefulness even late game. Other good options include Parasect, Beedrill, Garchomp, Gliscor, and Zangoose. The general principle is to pick a Pokémon with good attack, and potentially some utility (like sleep or paralysis moves).
2. At what level do Pokémon learn False Swipe?
Typically, Pokémon do not naturally learn False Swipe through leveling up. It is usually acquired as a TM (Technical Machine). However, in older games, some Pokemon can learn it naturally at level 12. In Scarlet & Violet, the easiest way to obtain it is from Mr. Jacq, as described earlier.
3. How do I get the False Swipe TM again if I use it?
In Scarlet & Violet, TMs are not single-use items. Once you receive the False Swipe TM from Mr. Jacq, you can use it to teach the move to as many compatible Pokemon as you wish without fear of it disappearing. You can also craft more TMs at TM machines, however, they must have been previously obtained.
4. Can Ghost-type Pokémon be hit by False Swipe?
Normally, Normal-type moves cannot hit Ghost-type Pokémon. However, there are ways to overcome this. Hisuian Decidueye with the ability Scrappy can use False Swipe on Ghost types. Also, Pangoro, with the ability Scrappy can do the same thing. The ability allows Normal and Fighting type moves to hit Ghost-types, making your Ghost-type hunts much easier.
5. What Pokémon learn False Swipe naturally without the TM?
In older generations, like Gold, Silver, and Crystal (GSC), Scyther/Scizor are the only Pokemon to learn False Swipe naturally. In modern games it is generally a TM move. Smeargle can also learn it by using Sketch, a unique move, on a Pokemon that knows False Swipe.
6. Can Beedrill learn False Swipe?
Yes, Beedrill is one of many Pokémon that can learn False Swipe by using the TM. Other common examples include Parasect, Kingler, Pinsir, Weavile, Garchomp, and Gliscor.
7. Which Pokémon are considered the best for using False Swipe?
While many Pokémon can utilize False Swipe, certain Pokémon excel at it. Some highly ranked False Swipe users include Venusaur, Zangoose, Scyther/Scizor, Escavalier, Parasect, Shedinja, Aegislash, and Sirfetch’d/Farfetch’d. These Pokémon often have a combination of good attack stats and additional supportive move options.
8. Is there an alternative to False Swipe?
Yes, there are a few alternatives, though none function exactly the same. Super Fang is a popular choice, as it cuts an opponent’s HP in half rather than bringing it down to 1. Another move, Hold Back, works similarly to False Swipe in that it will never cause a Pokemon to faint, leaving it at 1 HP.
9. What move leaves 1 HP like False Swipe?
The move that works precisely like False Swipe, leaving the target with 1 HP, is Hold Back. False Swipe and Hold Back are the only two moves in the games that will always leave at least 1 HP.
10. Can a Pokémon faint to False Swipe?
No, False Swipe is specifically designed to prevent a Pokémon from fainting. It will always leave a minimum of 1 HP, regardless of the target’s initial health.
11. How do you evolve Scyther into Scizor?
To evolve Scyther into Scizor, you’ll need to give it a Metal Coat to hold and then trade it with another player. This means you’ll need to find a friend or online trading partner.
12. Can Ralts learn False Swipe?
No, Ralts and its evolution Kirlia cannot learn False Swipe. However, the male evolution of Kirlia, Gallade, can learn it.
13. Is False Swipe boosted by the Sharpness ability?
Contrary to some beliefs, the Sharpness ability does not affect the base power of False Swipe.
14. What moves can put a Pokémon to sleep and also use False Swipe?
Breloom learns Spore, which puts the opponent to sleep, and it can also learn False Swipe. However, Gallade is the best user of Hypnosis and False Swipe. You level up Kirlia to 53 for Hypnosis, and then evolve it into Gallade and teach it False Swipe.
15. Is False Swipe a good move?
Absolutely! False Swipe is an excellent move for any Pokémon hunter. Its unique ability to bring down an opponent’s health to 1 HP without causing a faint makes it invaluable for catching wild Pokémon and shiny hunting. While it may not be the strongest move, its utility far outweighs its lack of raw damage. Scyther, and subsequently Scizor, are often seen as excellent users of False Swipe due to the ease of acquisition early in the game.
By mastering the use of False Swipe and understanding its nuances, you’ll become a far more efficient and successful Pokémon trainer in Scarlet & Violet. Don’t forget to visit Mr. Jacq after registering 30 Pokemon in your Pokedex!