[OVERVIEW]
Scizor is a great pick for hyper offense teams because of its access to Pursuit, great typing, and strong priority. Scizor can Pursuit trap prominent Psychic-types like Reuniclus, Alakazam, and Latios lacking Hidden Power Fire and revenge kill them with Bullet Punch should they stay in. Scizor's Bullet Punch is one of the strongest priority moves in the tier, allowing it to revenge kill threats like Terrakion, Tyranitar, and Dragonite with some prior damage. It can also OHKO or heavily damage checks like Magnezone, Heatran, Keldeo, and Rotom-W with Superpower. Scizor can run a Choice Scarf set to outspeed and Pursuit trap Alakazam for rain teams. U-turn additionally allows Scizor to form VoltTurn cores with Rotom-W or Landorus-T to repeatedly force damage and gain momentum.
However, Scizor suffers from poor longevity due to its vulnerability to entry hazards and Life Orb recoil. This is further compounded by strong attacks like Alakazam and Reuniclus's Focus Blast and Mamowsine's Earthquake 2HKOing it, which is made worse by Scizor's low Speed forcing it into Pursuit mind games against Alakazam and Latios. Scizor struggles a lot with rain teams for these reasons, since they often bring faster Pokemon that can take boosted Bullet Punch, like Keldeo, Thundurus-T, and Starmie, while defensive Politoed and Tentacruel can take its attacks and burn it with Scald. The Choice Scarf set often lacks power, as even Pokemon like Reuniclus are able to stay in on it and scout it with Recover or Protect. Scizor's weakness to Fire also makes it struggle against Heatran and Volcarona and Pokemon it could otherwise handle, like Alakazam, Colbur Berry Latios, and Tyranitar. It also leaves Scizor vulnerable to being trapped by Magnezone if it is faster.
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Bullet Punch
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Swords Dance
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Pursuit punishes switches from Pokemon like Reuniclus, Latios, and Alakazam and forces them into a dangerous guessing game: stay in and get KOed by Bullet Punch, or switch and get KO'ed by Pursuit. Pursuit also has the notable benefit of hitting Jellicent super effectively. Superpower provides good neutral coverage against Pokemon like Keldeo, Politoed, and Skarmory and OHKOes Heatran, Magnezone, and Ferrothorn.
Quick Attack can also be used over one of the coverage moves, most commonly Superpower, to better threaten faster Pokemon that resist Bullet Punch, like Thundurus-T, Keldeo, and Volcarona. Bug Bite lets Scizor OHKO Reuniclus at +2 and Latios unboosted, and it provides a reliable STAB move to hit Water-types like Rotom-W and Gastrodon. However, dropping Superpower leaves Scizor walled by common Steel-types, while dropping Pursuit causes the same with Jellicent.
Set Details
========
Scizor can run a Jolly nature to outspeed all Magnezone lacking Choice Scarf, Jellicent, Adamant Breloom, and defensive Jirachi. However, the ack of power compared to Adamant is generally not worth it. Scizor is commonly the only Steel-type, or answer to Psychic-types, on hyper offense teams, so losing so much health from Life Orb can be devastating and put it in range of Alakazam and Reuniclus's Focus Blast. Therefore, Scizor can drop Life Orb for a number of different Gems. Normal Gem, alongside Quick Attack, can be run to more easily revenge kill Pokemon like Keldeo and Thundurus-T; Steel Gem lets Scizor revenge kill Latios and Dragonite with Bullet Punch more easily; Fighting Gem helps it KO Gastrodon with +2 Superpower; Dark Gem lets Scizor OHKO Latios with Pursuit after Stealth Rock if it stays in.
Team Options
========
Scizor best fits on weatherless hyper offense teams that need a check to Psychic-types while performing as a sweeper. Pursuit trapping Choice Scarf Latios is especially critical for sweepers such as Dragonite, Garchomp, and Volcarona to function, while breaking Alakazam's Focus Sash and weakening Reuniclus opens up Swords Dance Breloom and Terrakion. Garchomp and Dragonite can wear down and remove checks like Heatran, Keldeo, and Rotom-W so Scizor can sweep with Bullet Punch late-game. Lum Berry Volcarona appreciates Alakazam's Focus Sash being broken so it can't stop it with Thunder Wave and Tyranitar being worn down. Breloom pressures Water-types like Gastrodon and Rotom-W and can work with Scizor to remove faster threats with Mach Punch. Air Balloon Starmie removes entry hazards so Scizor can more easily set up on and take attacks from Pokemon like Latios and Kyurem-B; Scizor also benefits from Starmie wearing down Keldeo. Offensive Spikes users like Custap or Salac Berry Skarmory also fit well alongside Scizor, as entry hazards help put foes in range of a boosted Bullet Punch. Cloyster can weaken checks like Rotom-W and appreciates Scizor removing Choice Scarf Latios, while Scizor can weaken Cloyster's checks for it to sweep. Stealth Rock from setters like Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Jirachi can chip Pokemon like Volcarona and Skarmory into KO range of Scizor's boosted attacks.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-Turn
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Bullet Punch
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-Turn and Pursuit form the crux of this set's niche in trapping frailer Psychic-types such as Latios and Alakazam, as it now outspeeds them and either OHKOes them if they stay in with U-turn or on the switch out with Pursuit. Pursuit also helps force damage on other frail foes threatened by Scizor's coverage, such as Mamoswine and Dragonite. Having a Pursuit user faster than Alakazam can be incredibly important for removing it; this quality is not replicated by the more common Choice Scarf Tyranitar. Superpower helps Scizor revenge kill Steel-types like Excadrill, Ferrothorn, Magnezone, and Heatran while 2HKOing Keldeo. Another option is Double Hit, which KOes Alakazam through Focus Sash hits Substitute users, such as Thundurus-T, Keldeo, Tentacruel, and Tornadus. Aerial Ace is able to deal solid damage to Volcarona, but it is mostly useless outside of this matchup.
Set Details
========
A Jolly nature is run to outspeed Keldeo, Latios, Starmie, and Alakazam.
Team Options
========
This Scizor primarily fits on rain teams looking to better defend against Alakazam and Latios while also opening up some rain sweepers like Keldeo and Thundurus-T for setup opportunities thanks to U-turn. Politoed sets rain and is more easily able to run a physically defensive set to check Pokemon like Tyranitar and Mamoswine with Scizor removing Alakazam. Tentacruel and specially defensive Excadrill can spin away entry hazards to improve Scizor's longevity. Ferrothorn provides important resistances to Water and Dragon, sets entry hazards, and can Knock Off checks like Heatran. Keldeo appreciates Scizor removing Latios for it so it can more easily wallbreak while covering Heatran for Scizor. Thundurus-T can more easily sweep after setting up an Agility if Latios is taken out and is a strong wallbreaker in its own right. Furthermore, Scizor can also bring Thudurus-T and Keldeo onto the field safely with U-turn.
Choice Scarf Scizor can be used alongside other Volt Switch users such as Rotom-W to form a VoltTurn core on sand teams with Hippowdon. Hippowdon can be used more easily thanks to Scizor removing the Psychic-types Tyranitar is usually tasked with handling. While these teams are relatively uncommon, Scizor still enjoys similar support on rain teams: Excadrill for Rapid Spin support, Pokemon like Poison Heal Breloom and Terrakion to take advantage of the removal of Psychic-types, and bulky Pokemon such as Slowking and Skarmory to take the strong hits that Scizor cannot take. Choice Scarf Latios can also act as a backup Choice Scarf user to handle offensive teams and Speed-boosting setup sweepers like Dragonite and Volcarona, while Air Balloon Heatran can assist against Volcarona and has good type synergy with Scizor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band Scizor can pivot around with its strong U-turn and can revenge kill prominent Dragon-types like Dragonite and Salamence. However, Choice Band Scizor is not that effective since it's slow, has poor longevity, the rain teams it used to see use on have better means of keeping these threats under control, and Tyranitar straight outclasses it on sand teams. Scizor can also run a bulkier Swords Dance set with Roost, Bullet Punch, and a coverage move like U-turn, Bug Bite, Brick Break, or Superpower to set up consistently against Psychic- and Dragon-types. However, the extra bulk still isn't enough to withstand rain-boosted attacks from Pokemon like Keldeo, and various Fire-type coverage moves, and the set can still be overwhelmed by strong Dragon-type attacks from Dragonite, Kyurem-B, and Garchomp. The set also lets Skarmory set up Spikes for free. Scizor can also run a support set with U-turn, Bullet Punch, Roost, and Pursuit, taking advantage of Roost and its natural bulk to keep it alive throughout the game. However, such a set is setup fodder for common Pokemon like Volcarona, Dragonite, and Gliscor and still isn't bulky enough to survive strong attacks from Alakazam, Latios, and Reuniclus continuously if entry hazards are up. Scizor can run Flying Gem and Acrobatics on the Swords Dance set for a strong attack with good neutral coverage without Life Orb recoil. However, dropping Pursuit removes a lot of Scizor's utility on hyper offense teams, while Acrobatics doesn't provide the same coverage and utility Bullet Punch and Superpower do.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Heatran and Volcarona OHKO Scizor, outspeed it, and can set up Stealth Rock or Quiver Dance on it, respectively. However, Heatran is OHKOed by +2 Superpower, while Volcarona doesn't enjoy taking Bullet Punch or Quick Attack after Stealth Rock.
**Magnezone**: If it outspeeds Scizor and manages to switch in safely, Magnezone traps Scizor and OHKOes it with Hidden Power Fire. However, most common Scizor sets are faster and can easily OHKO it with Superpower or pivot out with U-turn.
**Residual Damage**: Entry hazards, Iron Barbs, Rocky Helmet, and Life Orb recoil all significantly hinder Scizor's longevity and puts it into 2HKO range of Pokemon like Alakazam, Reuniclus, Kyurem-B, and Latios.
**Fire-type Coverage**: Fire-type coverage from Pokemon it'd normally check, like Alakazam, Latios, Tyranitar, and Garchomp, can lure in and OHKO Scizor. However, most of these Pokemon can be taken out by a boosted Bullet Punch.
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon like Thundurus-T, Keldeo, Volcarona, and Starmie outspeed and threaten to OHKO Scizor; some of them also resist Bullet Punch, making it tougher to revenge kill them.
**Water-types**: Water-types like Keldeo, Gastrodon, Jellicent, and Rotom-W can burn Scizor and force it out by easily stomaching its attacks.
**Very Bulky Pokemon**: Physically bulky Pokemon like Skarmory, Gastrodon, and Rotom-W can take at least one boosted attack from Scizor and significantly weaken it or set up on it this is even more painful for the Choice Scarf set.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[johnnyg2, 57904]]
- Quality checked by: [[Ophion, 433215], [BluBirD, 347088 ], [Links, 487106]
- Grammar checked by: [[dex, 277988]]
Scizor is a great pick for hyper offense teams because of its access to Pursuit, great typing, and strong priority. Scizor can Pursuit trap prominent Psychic-types like Reuniclus, Alakazam, and Latios lacking Hidden Power Fire and revenge kill them with Bullet Punch should they stay in. Scizor's Bullet Punch is one of the strongest priority moves in the tier, allowing it to revenge kill threats like Terrakion, Tyranitar, and Dragonite with some prior damage. It can also OHKO or heavily damage checks like Magnezone, Heatran, Keldeo, and Rotom-W with Superpower. Scizor can run a Choice Scarf set to outspeed and Pursuit trap Alakazam for rain teams. U-turn additionally allows Scizor to form VoltTurn cores with Rotom-W or Landorus-T to repeatedly force damage and gain momentum.
However, Scizor suffers from poor longevity due to its vulnerability to entry hazards and Life Orb recoil. This is further compounded by strong attacks like Alakazam and Reuniclus's Focus Blast and Mamowsine's Earthquake 2HKOing it, which is made worse by Scizor's low Speed forcing it into Pursuit mind games against Alakazam and Latios. Scizor struggles a lot with rain teams for these reasons, since they often bring faster Pokemon that can take boosted Bullet Punch, like Keldeo, Thundurus-T, and Starmie, while defensive Politoed and Tentacruel can take its attacks and burn it with Scald. The Choice Scarf set often lacks power, as even Pokemon like Reuniclus are able to stay in on it and scout it with Recover or Protect. Scizor's weakness to Fire also makes it struggle against Heatran and Volcarona and Pokemon it could otherwise handle, like Alakazam, Colbur Berry Latios, and Tyranitar. It also leaves Scizor vulnerable to being trapped by Magnezone if it is faster.
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Bullet Punch
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Swords Dance
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Pursuit punishes switches from Pokemon like Reuniclus, Latios, and Alakazam and forces them into a dangerous guessing game: stay in and get KOed by Bullet Punch, or switch and get KO
Quick Attack can also be used over one of the coverage moves, most commonly Superpower, to better threaten faster Pokemon that resist Bullet Punch, like Thundurus-T, Keldeo, and Volcarona. Bug Bite lets Scizor OHKO Reuniclus at +2 and Latios unboosted, and it provides a reliable STAB move to hit Water-types like Rotom-W and Gastrodon. However, dropping Superpower leaves Scizor walled by common Steel-types, while dropping Pursuit causes the same with Jellicent.
Set Details
========
Scizor can run a Jolly nature to outspeed all Magnezone lacking Choice Scarf, Jellicent, Adamant Breloom, and defensive Jirachi. However, the ack of power compared to Adamant is generally not worth it. Scizor is commonly the only Steel-type, or answer to Psychic-types, on hyper offense teams, so losing so much health from Life Orb can be devastating and put it in range of Alakazam and Reuniclus's Focus Blast. Therefore, Scizor can drop Life Orb for a number of different Gems. Normal Gem, alongside Quick Attack, can be run to more easily revenge kill Pokemon like Keldeo and Thundurus-T; Steel Gem lets Scizor revenge kill Latios and Dragonite with Bullet Punch more easily; Fighting Gem helps it KO Gastrodon with +2 Superpower; Dark Gem lets Scizor OHKO Latios with Pursuit after Stealth Rock if it stays in.
Team Options
========
Scizor best fits on weatherless hyper offense teams that need a check to Psychic-types while performing as a sweeper. Pursuit trapping Choice Scarf Latios is especially critical for sweepers such as Dragonite, Garchomp, and Volcarona to function, while breaking Alakazam's Focus Sash and weakening Reuniclus opens up Swords Dance Breloom and Terrakion. Garchomp and Dragonite can wear down and remove checks like Heatran, Keldeo, and Rotom-W so Scizor can sweep with Bullet Punch late-game. Lum Berry Volcarona appreciates Alakazam's Focus Sash being broken so it can't stop it with Thunder Wave and Tyranitar being worn down. Breloom pressures Water-types like Gastrodon and Rotom-W and can work with Scizor to remove faster threats with Mach Punch. Air Balloon Starmie removes entry hazards so Scizor can more easily set up on and take attacks from Pokemon like Latios and Kyurem-B; Scizor also benefits from Starmie wearing down Keldeo. Offensive Spikes users like Custap or Salac Berry Skarmory also fit well alongside Scizor, as entry hazards help put foes in range of a boosted Bullet Punch. Cloyster can weaken checks like Rotom-W and appreciates Scizor removing Choice Scarf Latios, while Scizor can weaken Cloyster's checks for it to sweep. Stealth Rock from setters like Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Jirachi can chip Pokemon like Volcarona and Skarmory into KO range of Scizor's boosted attacks.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-Turn
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Bullet Punch
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-Turn and Pursuit form the crux of this set's niche in trapping frailer Psychic-types such as Latios and Alakazam, as it now outspeeds them and either OHKOes them if they stay in with U-turn or on the switch out with Pursuit. Pursuit also helps force damage on other frail foes threatened by Scizor's coverage, such as Mamoswine and Dragonite. Having a Pursuit user faster than Alakazam can be incredibly important for removing it; this quality is not replicated by the more common Choice Scarf Tyranitar. Superpower helps Scizor revenge kill Steel-types like Excadrill, Ferrothorn, Magnezone, and Heatran while 2HKOing Keldeo. Another option is Double Hit, which KOes Alakazam through Focus Sash hits Substitute users, such as Thundurus-T, Keldeo, Tentacruel, and Tornadus. Aerial Ace is able to deal solid damage to Volcarona, but it is mostly useless outside of this matchup.
Set Details
========
A Jolly nature is run to outspeed Keldeo, Latios, Starmie, and Alakazam.
Team Options
========
This Scizor primarily fits on rain teams looking to better defend against Alakazam and Latios while also opening up some rain sweepers like Keldeo and Thundurus-T for setup opportunities thanks to U-turn. Politoed sets rain and is more easily able to run a physically defensive set to check Pokemon like Tyranitar and Mamoswine with Scizor removing Alakazam. Tentacruel and specially defensive Excadrill can spin away entry hazards to improve Scizor's longevity. Ferrothorn provides important resistances to Water and Dragon, sets entry hazards, and can Knock Off checks like Heatran. Keldeo appreciates Scizor removing Latios for it so it can more easily wallbreak while covering Heatran for Scizor. Thundurus-T can more easily sweep after setting up an Agility if Latios is taken out and is a strong wallbreaker in its own right. Furthermore, Scizor can also bring Thudurus-T and Keldeo onto the field safely with U-turn.
Choice Scarf Scizor can be used alongside other Volt Switch users such as Rotom-W to form a VoltTurn core on sand teams with Hippowdon. Hippowdon can be used more easily thanks to Scizor removing the Psychic-types Tyranitar is usually tasked with handling. While these teams are relatively uncommon, Scizor still enjoys similar support on rain teams: Excadrill for Rapid Spin support, Pokemon like Poison Heal Breloom and Terrakion to take advantage of the removal of Psychic-types, and bulky Pokemon such as Slowking and Skarmory to take the strong hits that Scizor cannot take. Choice Scarf Latios can also act as a backup Choice Scarf user to handle offensive teams and Speed-boosting setup sweepers like Dragonite and Volcarona, while Air Balloon Heatran can assist against Volcarona and has good type synergy with Scizor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band Scizor can pivot around with its strong U-turn and can revenge kill prominent Dragon-types like Dragonite and Salamence. However, Choice Band Scizor is not that effective since it's slow, has poor longevity, the rain teams it used to see use on have better means of keeping these threats under control, and Tyranitar straight outclasses it on sand teams. Scizor can also run a bulkier Swords Dance set with Roost, Bullet Punch, and a coverage move like U-turn, Bug Bite, Brick Break, or Superpower to set up consistently against Psychic- and Dragon-types. However, the extra bulk still isn't enough to withstand rain-boosted attacks from Pokemon like Keldeo
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Heatran and Volcarona OHKO Scizor, outspeed it, and can set up Stealth Rock or Quiver Dance on it, respectively. However, Heatran is OHKOed by +2 Superpower, while Volcarona doesn't enjoy taking Bullet Punch or Quick Attack after Stealth Rock.
**Magnezone**: If it outspeeds Scizor and manages to switch in safely, Magnezone traps Scizor and OHKOes it with Hidden Power Fire. However, most common Scizor sets are faster and can easily OHKO it with Superpower or pivot out with U-turn.
**Residual Damage**: Entry hazards, Iron Barbs, Rocky Helmet, and Life Orb recoil all significantly hinder Scizor's longevity and put
**Fire-type Coverage**: Fire-type coverage from Pokemon it'd normally check, like Alakazam, Latios, Tyranitar, and Garchomp, can lure in and OHKO Scizor. However, most of these Pokemon can be taken out by a boosted Bullet Punch.
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon like Thundurus-T, Keldeo, Volcarona, and Starmie outspeed and threaten to OHKO Scizor; some of them also resist Bullet Punch, making it tougher to revenge kill them.
**Water-types**: Water-types like Keldeo, Gastrodon, Jellicent, and Rotom-W can burn Scizor and force it out by easily stomaching its attacks.
**Very Bulky Pokemon**: Physically bulky Pokemon like Skarmory, Gastrodon, and Rotom-W can take at least one boosted attack from Scizor and significantly weaken it or set up on it this is even more painful for the Choice Scarf set.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[johnnyg2, 57904]]
- Quality checked by: [[Ophion, 433215], [BluBirD, 347088 ], [Links, 487106]
- Grammar checked by: [[dex, 277988]]
Last edited by a moderator:
