Physical
Sweeper
500High
105Fast
CTier

While most trainers evolve Scyther into Scizor immediately, the unevolved form has a niche with Eviolite boosting its defenses. Ground moves can't touch it, which offsets the 5 weaknesses somewhat. Known as the Mantis Pokemon. The stat spread favors raw physical power.

Scyther's spread isn't flashy. Attack leads, Sp. Atk trails, 4 stats clear the bar. Tough to catch and worth 1 Attack EV, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
500High
HP70
C
Attack110
B
Defense80
C
Sp. Atk55
D
Sp. Def80
C
Speed105
B
Total500
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Scyther yields +1 Atk
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch45ChallengingMedium Fast1M XP1.5m / 4'11"56kg / 123.5 lbs100Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It slashes through grass with its sharp scythes, moving too fast for the human eye to track.

Gold

When it moves, it leaves only a blur. If it hides in grass, its protective colors make it invisible.

Silver

Scyther Weakness

Vulnerable

Scyther's Bug/Flying typing leaves it vulnerable to Rock, Fire, Electric, Ice, and Flying moves. Rock hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Ground-type attacks completely.

Gen II Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
  • Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
4xCriticali
½xResisti
¼xResisti
0xImmunei
5Weak
3Resist
1Immune
Scorei-4
Stealth Rock50% on switch
4x Rock — Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Stealth Rock
Abilities
SwarmStrengthens bug moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
TechnicianStrengthens moves of 60 base power or less to 1.5× their power.
SteadfastHARaises Speed one stage upon flinching.

Scyther's evolution chain splits 2 ways into Scizor and Kleavor. The method you choose determines which form you get.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Scyther
#123Scyther
Trade + Metal Coat
Scizor
#212Scizor
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Scyther
BugFlying
Scizor
BugSteel
HP
70
70
ATK
110
130+20
DEF
80
100+20
SP.ATK
55
55
SP.DEF
80
80
SPE
105
65-40
BST
500B-Tier
500A-Tier
ROLE
Sweeper
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Easy

Breed Scyther easily with 23 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Baton Pass, Counter, Light Screen and 3 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Bug
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
25 cycles·6,425 steps
Moderate~6 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
6moves
Breed With (best first)
parasectparasshuckleforretressvenomothgligarariadosbutterfreebeedrillledianyanmavenonat

Baton Pass keeps your team's momentum going. Scyther doesn't need to stay in long, Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn and flexible EVs EVs make every visit count. Swords Dance threatens on the way out. An ability adds passive value.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 2
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Not in Gen 2

Best Scyther Moveset

  • Swords Dance
  • Wing AttackSTAB
  • Baton Pass
  • Hidden Power BugSTAB

You'll want to breed for Baton Pass and Counter on Scyther. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Wing Attack and Fury Cutter, they expand what Scyther can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Quick Attack+1
4010030Normal
Lv 6
Focus Energy
30Normal
Lv 12
Pursuit
4010020Dark
Lv 18
False Swipe
4010040Normal
Lv 24
Agility
30Psychic
Lv 30
Wing Attack
6010035Flying
Lv 36
Slash
7010020Normal
Lv 42
Swords Dance
30Normal
Lv 48
Double Team
15Normal

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM03
Curse
10Ghost
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM43
Detect+4
5Fighting
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM20
Endure+4
10Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM49
Fury Cutter
109520Bug
TM02
Headbutt
7010015Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM08
Rock Smash
2010015Fighting
TM35
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM13
Snore
4010015Normal
TM47
Steel Wing
709025Steel
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM34
Swagger
8515Normal
TM39
Swift
6020Normal
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Baton Pass
40Normal
Egg
Counter-5
10020Fighting
Egg
Light Screen
30Psychic
Egg
Razor Wind
807510Normal
Egg
Reversal
10015Fighting
Egg
Safeguard
25Normal

Tutor Moves

Scyther can't learn any Tutor moves

moderate rates across 2 encounter spots for Scyther. That's the kind of hunt where you pick one location and settle in. Sort by Best below to see where the odds are highest.

Best Locations

National Park - Bug Catching Contest
SilverGrassLv.13-14RareEarlyFacility
CHALLENGING
National Park - Bug Catching Contest
GoldGrassLv.13-14RareEarlyFacility
CHALLENGING
  • Scyther isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Scizor to unlock its full potential. At 500 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.

  • Watch for Aerodactyl (Rock), Arcanine (Fire), and Jolteon (Electric) when using Scyther. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Aerodactyl is the most dangerous since Rock moves deal 4x damage. Ice and Flying-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.

  • Scyther can evolve into Scizor and Kleavor depending on the method. Scyther is the base form in a 3-stage evolutionary line.

  • Scyther fills the sweeper role. It's a physical attacker with base 110 Attack. Base 105 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.

  • Scyther appears in 22 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Scyther has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 22 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.