[OVERVIEW]
Name: Swords Dance Pivot
Move 1: Swords Dance
Move 2: U-Turn
Move 3: Aeriel Ace
Move 4: Roost
Item: Eviolite
Ability: Technician
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
Other Options
=============
Checks and Counters
==================
**Stealth Rocks**: Stealth Rocks pressure Scyther the most out of everything, the fear of taking 50% when switching in not only forces you to keep Scyther out of action but also forces you to eventually try and get a spin off. This gives the opponent a lot of momentum as they no longer have to worry about a Pokemon.
**Rock-type Pokemon**: Not only are they 4 x effective against Scyther, a majority of them are either set up Pokemon or get up hazards. This way when you are forced out, you lose countless amounts of momentum and your switch in is most likely going to have to take a huge hit.
**Ice-Type Pokemon**: With Vanilluxe being so commonly used in the tier, it will most likely be in a match up with you and Scyther eventually. This Pokemon alone will force you out and deal huge damage to your switch in as well as residual damage through Hail.
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Fire type Pokemon such as Delphox and Houndoom threaten Scyther too much to stay in, both these Pokemon can set up on the switch and have potential to sweep your team.
**Electric-type Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Vikavolt and Rotom-C have one of the most threatening moves when it comes to your team losing momentum and that is Volt Switch. With both them Pokemon being able to force Scyther out and Volt Switch into a different Pokemon they can counter your last turn straight away.
- Scyther has great speed, allowing to out speed a majority of Pokemon in the tier, with the move U-turn it can safely pivot into checks without taking damage first. It can also sweep late game quiet easily once its checks are weakened or dealt with.
- Access to Roost and Eviolite makes it quiet a bulky Pokemon and is able to take hits and recover it off.
- It's overall decent attack allows it to deal heavy damage when pivoting, it will help gain momentum when U-turning on Physical walls such as Slowbro or Steelix then punishing them with the switch in.
- It's ability Technician allows it to take advantage of Aeriel Ace as it is more powerful and will never miss.
- Scyther is 4 x weak to Stealch Rocks so pivoting around to gain momentum can only be done if they are not on the field. They pressure Scyther enough that your opponent does not have to play around it anymore.
- It is susceptible to Knock Off causing it to lose any viability as a check to offensive Pokemon if it loses its Eviolite.
Name: Swords Dance Pivot
Move 1: Swords Dance
Move 2: U-Turn
Move 3: Aeriel Ace
Move 4: Roost
Item: Eviolite
Ability: Technician
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Swords Dance is used to sweep late game, after you have pivoted enough to remove any faster Pokemon and weakened the walls, Scyther is a good sweeper.
- U-turn is a great move for pivoting in to heavy hitters, you can take advantage of being the second to switch if you force out a Pokemon and gain momentum.
- Aeriel Ace is Scyther's Flying STAB getting the boost from technician, it hits very hard after a Swords Dance, killing Vanilluxe and Delphox after Stealth rocks.
- Roost is used as a form of reliable recovery, being able to come in on bulky Pokemon, Roost off any damage then pivot on the Pokemon they switch into. This strategy allows you to reliably check more Pokemon during a match.
Set Details
========
- 248 HP is so that Scyther can make the most of using Eviolite and use it to help set up, 248 HP Scyther is able to set up Sword Dances on Slowbro and Xatu thanks to its EVs and Eviolite.
- 252 Speed with Jolly is to guarantee ouspeed as much as possible. This spread allows you to outspeed every 100 speed Pokemon.
- Technician is its only viable ability as it powers up Aeriel Ace by 1.5 allowing you to break more teams down.
Usage Tips
========
- Try to get rid of Stealth Rocks before utilising Scyther as they pressure it a lot.
- Make sure you know when to pivot and when to set up, assess the threats to Scyther from the team preview and work towards getting them low enough so that Scyther can sweep after a Swords Dance.
- Try to assess what Pokemon may be running Knock Off from the team preview. You do not want to lose Eviolite early in the game or your Scyther will be pressured throughout.
- A lot of the time it is best to keep your health above 50% with Scyther before you switch out, if you somehow end up with hazards on your side of the field, you will still want Scyther to be able to come in.
Team Options
========
- Hazard removers or preventers such as Hitmonlee or Xatu would be good for Scyther as it allows Scyther to have less pressure throughout the game. Hitmonlee also covers the Rock weakness that Scyther faces.
- A bulky Pokemon to check Scythers Ice and Fire weakness such as Slowbro would work, it is bulky enough to be able to take coverage moves after and be able to pivot out with Regenerator.
- A bulky Steel type such as Steelix will work well against Rock Pokemon that Scyther fears as well as being able to get up Stealth Rocks to help its sweep.
- Vikavolt would work well with Scyther as it can make use of a Volt/Turn core gaining momentum with every switch.
Other Options
=============
- Choice Scarf is also viable with 252 Atk instead of the HP investment. This allows it to outspeed most of the scarfers in the tier and pivot easily vs pretty much everything.
- It can run Knock Off to cripple opponents and take away Leftovers recovery or a choiced item.
- It can be used as a Pursuit trapper, coming in on a weak Pokemon and killing them off as they switch. This works very well when trying to get rid of Slowbro, stopping it from abusing its regenerator ability.
Checks and Counters
==================
**Stealth Rocks**: Stealth Rocks pressure Scyther the most out of everything, the fear of taking 50% when switching in not only forces you to keep Scyther out of action but also forces you to eventually try and get a spin off. This gives the opponent a lot of momentum as they no longer have to worry about a Pokemon.
**Rock-type Pokemon**: Not only are they 4 x effective against Scyther, a majority of them are either set up Pokemon or get up hazards. This way when you are forced out, you lose countless amounts of momentum and your switch in is most likely going to have to take a huge hit.
**Ice-Type Pokemon**: With Vanilluxe being so commonly used in the tier, it will most likely be in a match up with you and Scyther eventually. This Pokemon alone will force you out and deal huge damage to your switch in as well as residual damage through Hail.
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Fire type Pokemon such as Delphox and Houndoom threaten Scyther too much to stay in, both these Pokemon can set up on the switch and have potential to sweep your team.
**Electric-type Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Vikavolt and Rotom-C have one of the most threatening moves when it comes to your team losing momentum and that is Volt Switch. With both them Pokemon being able to force Scyther out and Volt Switch into a different Pokemon they can counter your last turn straight away.
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