[OVERVIEW]
Scizor is a defining Pokemon in BDSP OU due to its amazing typing, bulk, and versatility alongside its decent coverage. It's easy to fit on teams, checking common wallbreakers in Latios, Alakazam, and Weavile. It can be a slow defensive pivot, thanks to U-turn, a defensive Swords Dance cleaner late-game, or a dangerous offensive Swords Dance sweeper; the former two even can be compressed onto the same set. However, Scizor finds itself too reliant on Bullet Punch to deal damage, which allows Steel-resistant Pokemon such as Skarmory, Heatran, and Lucario to take advantage of it. Scizor is also vulnerable to the common Magnezone, which can trap and easily deal heavy damage to it. Scizor has a quadruple weakness to Fire, allowing Pokemon such as Garchomp, Clefable, and Togekiss to run Fire-type coverage, bait in Scizor, and OHKO it. Furthermore, defensive Scizor is setup fodder against the likes of Feraligatr, Dragonite, and Nasty Plot Rotom-W.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Bullet Punch
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Roost
move 4: Swords Dance / Defog
item: Leftovers
ability: Technician
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 240 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Technician-boosted Bullet Punch makes up for Scizor's low Speed tier, as it can be a reliable revenge killer. U-turn is the other STAB move of choice to slowly pivot and safely bring in other teammates. Swords Dance allows Scizor to become a sweeper or a late-game cleaner, using priority Bullet Punch to sweep. Defog is another option if your team already has a setup sweeper or lacks a Defogger. The EVs allow Scizor to always check Latios at full HP, being able to tank two Choice Specs Surfs after Stealth Rock damage. Alternatively, a spread of 252 HP / 156 Def / 100 SpD can be used to better check Weavile while still not being too weak to Latios.
Scizor appreciates Defoggers like Gliscor and Latias to allow it to come onto the field more comfortably. Scizor is quadruply weak to Fire, so Fire-resistant Pokemon such as Latios, Latias, Starmie, and Rotom-W pair well with it. Starmie and Rotom-W are amazing with Scizor, as they threaten Infernape, Heatran, Skarmory, and Lucario. Additionally, Rotom-W and Gliscor are slow pivots and can form potent VoltTurn cores with it. Dangerous wallbreakers like Garchomp, Infernape, Latios, and Crawdaunt benefit from Scizor's slow U-turn allowing them free entry. Weavile, Alakazam, and Mamoswine also benefit from this, as they struggle to enter the field at times. Scizor finds it hard to deal with Magnezone Ground-types like Gliscor and Garchomp provide reliable counterplay against it. Scizor struggles greatly with setup sweepers like Nasty Plot Rotom-W, Feraligatr, and Dragonite, so Unaware Clefable makes a good partner to handle them Scizor struggles to dealing with the majority of bulky Water-types like Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Milotic, so partners like Shaymin and Rotom-C are helpful to deal with these checks, and Scizor can check the likes of Weavile for them. Shaymin can provide Healing Wish if Scizor is at very low HP and Rotom-C can cripple Scizor's checks with Trick Tangrowth can also help check Rotom-W, but due to its lacking Special Defense it is a lot shakier at doing so.
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Bullet Punch
move 2: Quick Attack
move 3: Brick Break
move 4: Swords Dance
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Adamant
evs: 32 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Def / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Quick Attack is another priority move used as coverage, as it is also boosted by Technician and can hit the likes of Rotom-W and Infernape. Brick Break deals with Magnezone and Heatran, OHKOing both after a Swords Dance. The EVs allow Scizor to outspeed Modest Magnezone, and maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature notably enables Scizor to 2HKO the likes of Gliscor and Skarmory after a Swords Dance.
This set fits best on hyper offense teams, which value Scizor's Steel typing and priority moves. Dual screens setters such as Azelf and Espeon allow Scizor to set up and sweep more easily. Azelf can provide Taunt and Explosion to stop other leads in their tracks and provide momentum, while Espeon provides Magic Bounce and Yawn to annoy other leads and deny entry hazards reliably. Hazard setters such as Focus Sash Azelf, Focus Sash Mamoswine, Custap Berry Skarmory, and Roserade can put Pokemon in range of Scizor's attacks, like putting Infernape in range of a boosted Quick Attack. Setup sweepers like Lucario, Infernape, Dragonite, and Breloom also provide setup and priority, wearing down threats reliably and creating insane offensive pressure, They can also take out the Fire-types that Scizor lures in, such as Heatran and Infernape, or weaken them with priority moves for Scizor to take them out later on. Similarly, Feraligatr takes care of these Fire-types, and it also forcibly chips bulky Water-types despite lacking priority. Offensive entry hazard removers like Starmie and Donphan not only keep the pressure on the opponent, but also allow Scizor to enter the field without harming its ability to sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Scizor can run a Choice Band set with an EV spread of 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe, a Jolly or Adamant Nature, and a moveset of Bullet Punch, U-turn, Brick Break, and Roost. This set can serve as a wincon on bulky offense or balance teams, but Scizor is severely outclassed by other Choice Band users, as a Choice-locked Scizor is easier to deal with. A 252 HP / 156 Def / 100 SpD set with Shed Shell as the item can be used, strictly on balance, to semi-check Latios and escape Magnezone's Magnet Pull. However, this is rarely run as Scizor prefers Leftovers much more.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Infernape and Heatran can switch into Scizor and effortlessly OHKO it with their STAB moves. However, Scizor can get momentum off of them with U-turn. Heatran must watch out for Brick Break, and Infernape may be OHKOed by boosted Quick Attack and is liable to taking chip damage. Similarly, the likes of Azelf, Togekiss, Clefable, and Garchomp can bait in Scizor and OHKO it with a Fire-type coverage move.
**Magnezone**: Magnezone can trap Scizor and 2HKO it with Choice Specs Thunderbolt. However, Magnezone does need to watch out for Brick Break, which can 2HKO it.
**Water-type Pokemon**: Rotom-W, Slowbro, Starmie, and Milotic switch into Scizor and check it reliably. Rotom-W can status Scizor with Thunder Wave and Will-O-Wisp or 2HKO it with a boosted Hydro Pump. Slowbro and Milotic wall defensive Scizor forever and can use Scald to burn it, with Slowbro even capable of 2HKOing it with Flamethrower. Similarly, Life Orb Starmie can switch in and 2HKO Scizor with Hydro Pump, but it must watch out for U-turn, which can 2HKO it.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Pokemon like Skarmory and Lucario can switch into Scizor and comfortably check it. Skarmory can freely set up entry hazards on Scizor and can also use Taunt to prevent it from using Defog. Lucario can use Scizor as a free chance to set up Swords Dance, proceeding to OHKO it.However, Lucario must watch out for Brick Break.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[ATowerFalledXD, 573472]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lalaya, 279858], [dex, 277988]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429] [dex, 277988]]
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