The Mantis Pokemon. Scyther is a Red version exclusive from the Safari Zone. D-Tier since Bug moves are terrible in Gen 1, and Scizor doesn't exist yet.
475HP70Attack110Defense80Speed105Sp.Def55Sp.Atk55
Weak to
Physical
Setup Sweeper
105Speed · Fast

Is Scyther Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

Red version only, found in the Safari Zone. Scyther has great speed and physical stats, but Bug-type moves are nearly useless in Gen 1, so most of that power goes toward Normal-type coverage instead. Looks better than it performs.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadEEEEEEEEEETEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ScytherPurchaseErikaGym 4KogaGym 5ScytherCatchSabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Misty
Gym 2
Even

Scyther trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

You Win
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Even
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Scyther trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
You Win
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Risky
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Scyther trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

Even
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
You Win
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
Even
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Scyther trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

Even
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
Even
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Scyther trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
You Win
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
Even
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Even
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Scyther trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

You Win
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
You Win
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Even
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Risky
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Scyther trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

Even
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
Even
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
Risky
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Scyther trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
Risky
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Even

Scyther trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.

Risky
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
Risky
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
You Win
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Tough

Agatha's team hits Scyther's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
Risky
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Avoid
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Scyther trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Scyther trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
Even
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStomp
Even
Gyarados
Lv 63
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Risky
Charizard
Lv 65
FireFlying
Blaze
RageSlashFire BlastFire Spin

Purchase

Available after Badge 3
Type
BugFlying
Tier
E

Scyther can be purchased in Celadon City at Lv 25. 5,500 Coins. Purchase from the Celadon Game Corner prize counter. Coins can be bought at the counter or won at the slot machines.

View Scyther locations

Catch Scyther

Available after Badge 5
Type
BugFlying
Tier
E

Catch Scyther in the Safari Zone (walking, Lv 23, rare).

View Scyther locations

Recommended Moves

  • After Misty
  • After Lt. Surge
    • LV 29NormalSlashPower 70Accuracy 100%PP 20
  • After Erika
    • TM40NormalSkull BashPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15Safari Zone
    • LV 35NormalSwords DancePower —Accuracy 100%PP 30

Red & Blue Scyther Locations

At 5,500 coins, Scyther is the priciest Game Corner prize in the game, though two rare Safari Zone spots offer a free alternative. It is Red-only, so Blue gets Pinsir and trades across.

Red Exclusive: Trade with Blue for Pinsir. See every Red & Blue version exclusive

2 locations to catch Scyther

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6

Best Locations to Catch Scyther in Red & Blue

3 walking and gift spots at Lv. 23-28 for Scyther, all with tough odds. Lock in the highest-rate location from the list and grind it out.

Scyther Weakness

Scyther's Bug/Flying typing leaves it vulnerable to Rock, Fire, Electric, Ice, Poison, and Flying. Rock hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Ground-type attacks completely. Scyther's physical bulk (base 80 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Scyther Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Rock
2x (Weak)Fire, Electric, Ice, Poison, Flying
0.5x (Resist)Bug
0.25x (Resist)Grass, Fighting
0x (Immune)Ground
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Scyther Weak Against

Fragile
6Weak
3Resist
1Immune
Score-6
4xCritical
½xResist
¼xResist
0xImmune

What is Scyther Strong Against

5Strong
0Resisted
0Immune
Score+5
½xResisted
None
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Scyther

Graveler
Graveler
RockGround
C
Jolteon
Jolteon
Electric
A
Gyarados
Gyarados
WaterFlying
B
Raichu
Raichu
Electric
C
Nidoking
Nidoking
PoisonGround
C

Scyther Evolutions

Scyther is a standalone Bug/Flying type at 475 total. It can't breed, which makes catching one the only real option. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Scyther
#123Scyther
Does not evolve
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Scyther Best Moveset

110 Attack and 105 Speed, impressive physical stats wasted on terrible Bug moves. MoveSlash crits frequently from the high Speed (the critical hit formula rewards Speed), and MoveSwords Dance boosts the Attack. The move slots ignore Bug TermStab entirely and run Normal physical attacks.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Scyther
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Swords Dance
  • SlashCoverage
  • Hyper Beam
  • Quick Attack

Recommended Teammates

Moves List

Without TMs, Scyther's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get Normal coverage on top of Bug and Flying STAB for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Quick Attack+1
B4010030Normal
Lv 17
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 20
Focus Energy
———30Normal
Lv 24
Double Team
———15Normal
Lv 29
Slash
B7010020Normal
Lv 35
Swords Dance
B——30Normal
Lv 42
Agility
A——30Psychic

TM Moves

All 14 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
HM01
CutS.S. Annebadge 2
—509530Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
B12010015Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
B150905Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
B10010010Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
A——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM03
Swords DanceSilph Co.badge 5
B——30Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Scyther can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Above
HP70
C
Attack110
B
Defense80
C
Sp. Atk55
D
Sp. Def55
D
Speed105
B
Total475
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.5 m
Weight56.0 kg
Base XP100
EV Yield
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training source
Pokedex Entry

With ninja-like agility and speed, it can create the illusion that there is more than one.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Scyther Red & Blue Guide

  • Where in the Red & Blue Safari Zone can I find Scyther?

    See the Locations section above for where to find Scyther in Red & Blue.

    Safari rules: You can only use Safari Balls. No battling. Two tactical items shift the catch/flee trade-off:

    • Throw bait to keep Scyther from fleeing (flee rate cut to 1/4) but it becomes harder to catch (catch factor halved).
    • Throw a rock to make Scyther easier to catch (catch factor doubled) but it flees twice as often.
    • Each effect lasts 2-6 random turns; throwing one cancels the other.
  • Scyther costs 5,500 Coins in Red. Earn coins by playing the slot machines on the Game Corner floor or buying them at the counter (1,000 coins for ₽10,000).

  • In Red & Blue, Scyther has 475 BST, so weigh it against what your team already covers.

  • In Red & Blue, use Scyther as a setup sweeper. Physical side carries the damage. It outspeeds most threats,

Game Availability

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.

Explore

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