Scyther is a Bug/Flying-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I and the first stage of its evolution line, with a base stat total of 500.

Scyther

Scyther

Abilities

Swarm

Ups BUG moves in a pinch.

Technician

Powers up the Pokémon’s weaker moves.

Steadfast

Raises Speed each time the Pokémon flinches.

Hidden Ability

Base Stats

Total: 500
EV Yield: 1 Attack
HP: 70
Attack: 110
Defense: 80
Sp. Atk: 55
Sp. Def: 80
Speed: 105

Scyther's Weaknesses and Resistances

Evolution Chain

Scyther can evolve into Scizor by trading while holding a Metal Coat or with a Metal Coat or Kleavor with a Black Augurite.

Scyther Playthrough, Competitive, and Nuzlocke Usage

Using Scyther in a Playthrough

Scyther begins as a fast physical Bug/Flying attacker with excellent Attack and Speed but a severe quadruple Rock weakness. Trading Scyther while holding a Metal Coat produces Scizor, which trades Speed for much greater defensive utility through Bug/Steel typing, strong Attack, and Technician-boosted priority such as Bullet Punch; using Black Augurite in games where it is available instead produces Kleavor, a Bug/Rock attacker with still higher Attack and access to Stone Axe. Because Scizor is a trade evolution and Kleavor's item is game-specific, many playthroughs use Scyther itself, which remains statistically strong despite being unevolved. The branches serve different needs: Scizor is the safest and most balanced, while Kleavor favors immediate physical pressure.

Scyther in Competitive Pokémon

Scizor has had an exceptional competitive career built around Technician Bullet Punch, U-turn, Swords Dance, and its excellent Bug/Steel defensive typing. Priority compensates for its low Speed and lets it revenge kill weakened opponents, while Mega Scizor adds still greater bulk and setup potential. Kleavor has a different niche through high Attack, Sharpness, and Stone Axe, which simultaneously damages the target and establishes Stealth Rock. Scyther itself can remain viable in lower tiers through high Speed, Eviolite in later generations, and Technician, although its quadruple weakness to Stealth Rock is a major limitation.

Scyther in Nuzlockes

Scyther is immediately strong but risky around Rock coverage, while Scizor is one of the safest possible outcomes of the line because Steel typing supplies numerous resistances and Technician Bullet Punch gives reliable priority. The problem is accessibility: Scizor normally requires a trade with Metal Coat, and Kleavor requires a game that provides Black Augurite or another supported evolution method. Kanto Scyther is also a Safari Zone encounter, reducing encounter reliability. When an evolved branch is available, Scizor usually favors risk control while Kleavor favors fast offensive progress.

Learnsets

58 moves · Scarlet Violet

Level Up

1 Leer normal type --- 100 status move
1 Quick Attack normal type 40 100 physical move
4 Fury Cutter bug type 40 95 physical move
8 False Swipe normal type 40 100 physical move
12 Wing Attack flying type 60 100 physical move
16 Double Team normal type --- --- status move
20 Double Hit normal type 35 90 physical move
24 Slash normal type 70 100 physical move
28 Focus Energy normal type --- --- status move
32 Agility psychic type --- --- status move
36 Air Slash flying type 75 95 special move
40 X-Scissor bug type 80 100 physical move
44 Swords Dance normal type --- --- status move

Machine

- Swords Dance normal type --- --- status move
- Take Down normal type 90 85 physical move
- Hyper Beam normal type 150 90 special move
- Agility psychic type --- --- status move
- Light Screen psychic type --- --- status move
- Swift normal type 60 --- special move
- Rest psychic type --- --- status move
- Substitute normal type --- --- status move
- Thief dark type 60 100 physical move
- Reversal fighting type --- 100 physical move
- Protect normal type --- --- status move
- Scary Face normal type --- 100 status move
- Endure normal type --- --- status move
- False Swipe normal type 40 100 physical move
- Sleep Talk normal type --- --- status move
- Baton Pass normal type --- --- status move
- Rain Dance water type --- --- status move
- Sunny Day fire type --- --- status move
- Facade normal type 70 100 physical move
- Helping Hand normal type --- --- status move
- Brick Break fighting type 75 100 physical move
- Air Cutter flying type 60 95 special move
- Aerial Ace flying type 60 --- physical move
- Tailwind flying type --- --- status move
- U-turn bug type 70 100 physical move
- Close Combat fighting type 120 100 physical move
- Air Slash flying type 75 95 special move
- X-Scissor bug type 80 100 physical move
- Bug Buzz bug type 90 100 special move
- Vacuum Wave fighting type 40 100 special move
- Giga Impact normal type 150 90 physical move
- Bug Bite bug type 60 100 physical move
- Acrobatics flying type 55 100 physical move
- Struggle Bug bug type 50 100 special move
- Lunge bug type 80 100 physical move
- Skitter Smack bug type 70 90 physical move
- Dual Wingbeat flying type 40 90 physical move
- Tera Blast normal type 80 100 special move
- Pounce bug type 50 100 physical move
- Trailblaze grass type 50 100 physical move

Egg

- Counter fighting type --- 100 physical move
- Feint normal type 30 100 physical move
- Night Slash dark type 70 100 physical move
- Defog flying type --- --- status move
- Quick Guard fighting type --- --- status move

Pokédex Entries

21 entries
Red / Blue

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

Yellow

Leaps out of tall grass and slices prey with its scythes. The movement looks like that of a ninja.

Gold / Heartgold / Y

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

Silver

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

Crystal

It's very proud of its speed. It moves so fast that its opponent does not even know what knocked it down.

Ruby / Sapphire

SCYTHER is blindingly fast. Its blazing speed enhances the effectiveness of the twin scythes on its forearms. This POKéMON’s scythes are so effective, they can slice through thick logs in one wicked stroke.

Emerald

Its blindingly fast speed adds to the sharpness of its twin forearm scythes. The scythes can slice through thick logs in one wicked stroke.

Firered / X

It tears and shreds prey with its wickedly sharp scythes. It very rarely spreads its wings to fly.

Leafgreen

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

Diamond / Pearl

It is nearly impossible to parry its attacking scythes. Its movements are like a ninja’s.

Platinum / Black / White / Black 2 / White 2

The sharp scythes on its forearms become increasingly sharp by cutting through hard objects.

Soulsilver

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

Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire

Scyther is blindingly fast. Its blazing speed enhances the effectiveness of the twin scythes on its forearms. This Pokémon’s scythes are so effective, they can slice through thick logs in one wicked stroke.

Sun

It confuses its prey with its quick, ninja-like movements. Then, in an instant, it cleaves them with its scythes.

Moon

While young, they live together deep in the mountains, training themselves in how to fight with their scythes and move at high speeds.

Ultra Sun

Its two sharp scythes are more than just weapons. It uses them with dexterity to dress its prey before eating.

Ultra Moon

Some call it a ninja. Its movements— imperceptibly quick—are sufficient to cleave the air in two. It’s very popular in Alola.

Lets Go Pikachu / Lets Go Eevee

Leaps out of tall grass and slices prey with its scythes. The movement looks like that of a ninja.

Sword

As Scyther fights more and more battles, its scythes become sharper and sharper. With a single slice, Scyther can fell a massive tree.

Shield

If you come across an area in a forest where a lot of the trees have been cut down, what you’ve found is a Scyther’s territory.

Legends Arceus

The large, wickedly sharp scythes on its forearms are truly fearsome weapons. Prey's attempts to flee are unfailingly thwarted by this Pokémon's nimble motions.

Where To Find Scyther

12 locations
Poké Pelago · AlolaGift · version details vary

Poke Pelago Elite Four Defeated

Moon max 7%
Gift · Lv. 49–55 · 7%
Sun max 7%
Gift · Lv. 49–55 · 7%
Poni Plains · AlolaBubbling Spots · version details vary

Poni Plains Center

Moon max 30%
Bubbling Spots · Lv. 54–57 · 30%
Sun max 30%
Bubbling Spots · Lv. 54–57 · 30%
Ultra Moon max 30%
Bubbling Spots · Lv. 54–57 · 30%
Ultra Sun max 30%
Bubbling Spots · Lv. 54–57 · 30%
National Park · JohtoWalking · version details vary

National Park

HeartGold max 20%
Walking · Lv. 13–14 · 5% · Bug Catching Contest Yes, Story Progress Before National DexWalking · Lv. 27–28 · 5% · Bug Catching Contest Yes, Story Progress National Dex, Weekday SaturdayWalking · Lv. 27–28 · 5% · Bug Catching Contest Yes, Story Progress National Dex, Weekday ThursdayWalking · Lv. 27–28 · 5% · Bug Catching Contest Yes, Story Progress National Dex, Weekday Tuesday
SoulSilver max 20%
Walking · Lv. 13–14 · 5% · Bug Catching Contest Yes, Story Progress Before National DexWalking · Lv. 27–28 · 5% · Bug Catching Contest Yes, Story Progress National Dex, Weekday SaturdayWalking · Lv. 27–28 · 5% · Bug Catching Contest Yes, Story Progress National Dex, Weekday ThursdayWalking · Lv. 27–28 · 5% · Bug Catching Contest Yes, Story Progress National Dex, Weekday Tuesday
Route 21 · KalosHorde, Purple Flowers, Red Flowers · version details vary

Road 21

X max 25%
Horde · Lv. 27 · 5%Purple Flowers · Lv. 50 · 5%Purple Flowers · Lv. 51 · 4%Purple Flowers · Lv. 52 · 1%Red Flowers · Lv. 50 · 5%Red Flowers · Lv. 51 · 4%Red Flowers · Lv. 52 · 1%
Y max 25%
Horde · Lv. 27 · 5%Purple Flowers · Lv. 50 · 5%Purple Flowers · Lv. 51 · 4%Purple Flowers · Lv. 52 · 1%Red Flowers · Lv. 50 · 5%Red Flowers · Lv. 51 · 4%Red Flowers · Lv. 52 · 1%
Celadon City · KantoGift · version details vary

Celadon City Prize Corner

FireRed max 100%
Gift · Lv. 25 · 100% · Coins 5500
Red max 100%
Gift · Lv. 25 · 100% · Coins 5500
Red Japan max 100%
Gift · Lv. 25 · 100% · Coins 5500
Yellow max 100%
Gift · Lv. 30 · 100% · Coins 6500
Route 14 · KantoOverworld · version details vary

Road 14

Lets Go Pikachu max 100%
Overworld · Lv. 33–38 · 100%
Route 15 · KantoOverworld · version details vary

Road 15

Lets Go Pikachu max 100%
Overworld · Lv. 33–38 · 100%
Safari Zone · KantoWalking · version details vary

Safari Zone (Area 1, east)

FireRed max 1%
Walking · Lv. 28 · 1%
Red max 1%
Walking · Lv. 28 · 1%
Red Japan max 1%
Walking · Lv. 28 · 1%
Yellow max 1%
Walking · Lv. 15 · 1%

Safari Zone (Area 2, north)

Yellow max 4%
Walking · Lv. 25 · 4%

Safari Zone (middle)

FireRed max 4%
Walking · Lv. 23 · 4%
Red max 4%
Walking · Lv. 23 · 4%
Red Japan max 4%
Walking · Lv. 23 · 4%
Citadark Isle · OrreSnag · version details vary

Citadark Isle 6F

XD max 100%
Snag · Lv. 40 · 100%
Route 210 · SinnohWalking · version details vary

Road 210 (south, towards Solaceon Town)

Platinum max 15%
Walking · Lv. 19 · 5%Walking · Lv. 21 · 10% · Time Morning

Road 210 (west, towards Celestic Town)

Platinum max 15%
Walking · Lv. 27 · 10% · Time MorningWalking · Lv. 29 · 5%
Route 215 · SinnohWalking · version details vary

Road 215

Platinum max 15%
Walking · Lv. 20 · 5%Walking · Lv. 22 · 10% · Time Morning
Route 229 · SinnohWalking · version details vary

Road 229

Diamond max 5%
Walking · Lv. 52 · 5%

Additional Images

PokeAPI sprites

Open this section to load extra PokeAPI sprite images.

Scyther Biology and Behavior

Scyther is an ambush predator that uses green coloration to camouflage itself in grasslands and forests before attacking prey with its arm scythes. It moves quickly enough to be difficult to track visually and sharpens its blades through combat and by cutting hard objects such as trees. Wild Scyther form swarms led by a single individual chosen through combat, and a defeated leader is expelled after being replaced.

Scyther Biological Data

National Pokédex
#123
Species
Mantis Pokémon
Height
4' 11" (1.5 m)
Weight
123.5 lbs (56.0 kg)
Habitat
Grassland
Color
Green
Body Style
Bug Wings
Gender
50% female / 50% male

Misc

Catch Rate: 45

Base Experience: 100 Exp

Hatch Counter: 25

Scyther Size Comparison: BETA

Scyther is listed at 4' 11" (1.5 m); this chart uses a pose-adjusted visual scale.

7 ft6 ft5 ft4 ft3 ft2 ft1 ft0 ft
scyther
Professor Oak
How is visual size determined?

Pokédex height is treated as the official listed measurement, but the chart uses pose-aware visual scaling so each sprite looks reasonable in a direct comparison.

For long or coiled Pokémon, the listed height may represent total body length rather than upright height. For Pokémon with floppy ears, leaves, feathers, antennae, wings, or other flexible features, the chart usually measures to the top of the solid, substantial part of the head or body instead of the tallest decorative feature.

The goal is not to replace the official height, but to make the artwork compare naturally at the size it appears to occupy.

Scyther currently uses a pose-adjusted visual scale.