Players who love Pokemon Unite know that a lot of the MOBA-like game’s characters follow the franchise’s evolution process, wherein the likes of Charizard have to go through Charmander and Charmeleon before reaching its height in power - adding an element of thrill for players who use them. However, there are certain Pokemon who can take alternate evolution routes - such as Scizor, which came to Pokemon Unite as an alternate form of Scyther.
For players who want a more adaptable Pokemon to use in combat, Scizor is easily a tankier counterpart to the mobility-focused Scyther. However, for players who want to master their first All-Rounder may want to consider grabbing Scizor to dominate the competition. Just how can player maximize their usage of Scizor?
Scizor: The Essentials
Scizor of the Pokemon Unite MOBA demonstrates one of the more unique qualities of the Pokemon game. Whereas other Pokemon evolve throughout their gameplay, Scizor is in fact an “alternate” route. The game begins with Scizor as Scyther, and only at around Level 5 do they finally transform to this quick red behemoth. Compared to Scyther, Scizor has a more aggressive toolkit perfect for players who want to make quick work of opponents. Once they’re able to overcome Scizor’s rather predictable moveset, enemies wouldn’t even know they’re coming.
General Strengths
Compared to other available Pokemon in Pokemon Unite, Scizor is almost always a viable All-Rounder due to its two (2) available playstyles, allowing players to compensate for various combat situations by tailoring their Scizor to accommodate different playstyles. In turn, Scizor is usable in any lane thanks to its accessible toolkit. Players in need of a unit that’s capable of helping its allies anywhere can go for Scizor.
General Weaknesses
Despite Scizor’s inherent utility, there’s no denying that Scizor’s accessible toolkit makes it just as predictable. On top of this lack of variety is its lack of defenses against crowd control, making Scizor rather vulnerable when faced with stuns, slows, and knockbacks. Players using Scizor should double down with having a support unit nearby that could help take the pressure away from Scizor when faced with multiple threats.
Relevant Characteristics
- Tier: S
- Role: All-Rounder. The diversity of Scizor’s toolkit allows players to build it as a tank or as a DPS, both of which can help in combat.
- Attack Type: Melee. Scizor relies on coming up close and personal to be efficient in combat. With its speed, a rushing Scizor is an enemy’s worst nightmare.
- Damage Type: Physical. Unlike the Special Damage Type, Physical Damage is one of the more common Damage Types in the game, making it efficient for the straightforward Scizor.
- Difficulty: Intermediate. The criticism of Scizor’s toolkit being predictable can make it difficult to maneuver in combat, forcing players to make adjustments on the fly.
Players who don’t mind using a Pokemon Unite character criticized for being “predictable” should enjoy using Scizor. Its straightforward toolkit coupled with speedy gameplay is precisely what MOBA players need for a good time, especially for those who love playing Jungle or offensive roles. Scizor fits the profile of a player who wants to finish things quickly to move on to the next battle.
Relevant Statistics
- Offense: 4.5. Scizor boasts some of the most aggressive moves in the game, making it a recommended Pokemon for players who want to go on offense.
- Defense: 2.5. Middling Defense means Scizor can’t last for long in combat, meaning players need to make quick work of foes.
- Mobility: 4. The mobility options Scizor has can make it much easier for it to escape tricky situations.
- Scoring: 2. Being set in offense means there’s not a lot of room for Scizor to focus on Scoring.
- Support: 1. Its lack of utility makes Scizor extremely unideal for Support roles.
Scizor of Pokemon Unite has gameplay that fits the stereotype of a hard Attacker, meaning players of MOBA with a penchant for ADC roles should fit this Pokemon’s user profile. Its focus on Offense and Mobility means Scizor excels in shock and awe tactics, leaving no room for hesitation.
The Best Scizor Build: First In, First Out
Being the token example of an initiator in Pokemon Unite gameplay, Scizor builds should always rely on striking first and striking fast and then suddenly disappearing before enemies can strike back. This means Scizor doesn’t necessarily need to eliminate their foes when they enter combat, but rather strike fast enough that other team members should be able to eliminate what’s left of enemies once Scizor leaves.
Burst Supremacy
- Move Order: Swords Dance - Basic - Basic - Dual Wingbeat - Basic - Basic - Dual Wingbeat - Basic
Given Scizor’s innate nature as an Attacker, a lot of its attacks have naturally-high DPS. When timed correctly, Scizor can swoop into battle and burst enemies to oblivion, with enough time to retreat and recover. Key to this build is the combination between Bullet Punch and Dual Wingbeat, alongside Swords Dance for the additional burst, which Scizor can easily use against jungle foes given its lack of defensive items.
Must-Have Items: All About Attack
Despite Scizor’s lack of defenses, its efficiency as an Attacker means players only need to secure high-enough damage numbers that enemies can no longer strike back. Both Battle Items and Held Items should allow Scizor to strike much faster and deal more damage. While it’s an incentive for Scizor to have Items that can make it eliminate opponents in an encounter, just dealing enough damage to force enemies to retreat should be enough.
- Battle Item: X-Speed
Being an adaptable unit means Scizor should be capable of adjusting to almost any combat situation, as though a lower-leveled Legendary Pokemon. While Scizor already has decent mobility, having that extra boost in speed would help. Thanks to X-Speed, Scizor gains a momentary boost in movement speed and becomes immune to slowing effects for that time. This can be a great help against pesky slows and other crowd control hindrances that may go its way.
- Held Item: Razor Claw
Scizor’s predictable toolkit doesn’t mean it’s useless, especially when used properly. Since enemies can easily anticipate what sort of attacks Scizor may be able to use, players can compensate for this by ensuring they’re able to strike fast enough before enemies can even react to their knowledge. This can be done by Razor Claw, a Held Item that allows Scizor’s Moves to buff its next basic attack. Not only does this Item scale its buff depending on the Attack power of the Pokemon in question, it also slows the opponent if the user of the Item is in melee.
Alternate Scizor Builds
When building alternative builds for Scizor in their Pokemon gameplay, players should still try focusing on the Pokemon’s potential for high damage output. Given this prioritization, Scizor fans should still be able to create builds that allow Scizor to dominate Jungle fights or even become an actual tank by sheer virtue of its speed not allowing enemies to strike back anyway.
Assassination Jungler
- Move Order: Bullet Punch - Basic - Red Illusion Dive - Basic - Dual Wingbeat - Dual Wingbeat - Red Illusion Dive - Basic
Due to Scizor’s adaptable kit, it can easily switch places between Pokemon Unite lanes whenever necessary. It then makes sense why one of its recommended roles is that of the Jungler, especially if its toolkit is tailored to fit Assassination Jungler. Key to this build is Scizor attacking multiple foes at once with Bullet Punch and then going for a fast-paced burst finish with Dual Wingbeat. When engaging foes, Scizor can also go for Swords Dance for an aimed dash-attack. The priority here is to ensure Scizor is able to proc as much attacks as possible to lower Double Hit’s cooldown and then going for the finish.
Bullet Tanking Punch
- Move Order: Swords Dance - Basic - Bullet Punch - Basic - Swords Dance - Bullet Punch - Basic
Considering Scizor’s multipurpose role, it’s unsurprising for players of Pokemon Unite to have Scizor assigned a tanking role. Thanks to Bullet Punch, Scizor should be able to get constant healing and cooldowns that should allow it to tank most hits in the frontlines. Due to the predictable nature of Scizor’s attacks, enemies who get to “guess” Scizor’s rotations wouldn’t be able to do anything about it anyway since players can have their Pokemon heal faster than how enemies can make them take damage.
Playstyle: Sustain Is Key
Compared to Scyther that focuses heavily on mobility and offense, opting for Scizor fits players who want to last in combat longer thanks to a modified kit. Bullet Punch as a damage move upgrade gives players better options to last more in combat, especially given its heal-per-damage property. While Scizor isn’t as “punchy” as Scyther, it can last in combat much longer. Its lack of damage means there should be more emphasis in comboing Scizor’s kit with dashes and standard attacks.
Lane Recommendations: Anything Goes
Due to Scizor’s nature as an All-Rounder, it can potentially work with any kind of lane depending on the way players build it. It’s recommended that players figure out a primary gameplay focus before deciding on a particular lane. A combat emphasis means focusing on securing levels as soon as possible in the Jungle, while a more defensive role makes Scizor more compatible in both Top and Bottom Lanes.
- Jungle: Scizor in the Jungle means having a ton of opportunity to secure levels quickly, but it also means encountering the enemy’s more brutal Pokemon as well. Players need to be able to maximize Scizor’s potential for speed in order to secure Jungle creatures as soon as possible to make rotations much smoother.
- Top/Bottom: Given the lack of activity in the Top and Bottom Lanes depending on where the clashes happen, Scizor may not necessarily have a means of leveling up quickly. Getting Wild Pokemon as fast as possible is a priority here in order to ensure Scizor is capable of defending its positions and be able to ruin the enemy’s progress in Jungle.
Leveling Approach: Fast But Secure
When leveling up Scizor, it’s important for players to remember that they’ve chosen a Pokemon that prioritizes staying longer in fights - meaning it’s not as quick as other mobility-focusing characters in Pokemon Unite but it’s able to take on damage much better than others. Leveling Scizor in this regard means being fast but secure in its targets.
- Build towards Scizor for Level 1 to 5: As Scyther in the beginning stages of the match, players should secure Wild Pokemon as fast as possible and pick Attack Weight and other score items to get damage numbers quickly. When Scyther becomes Level 5, they should pick Scizor for the sustains.
- Focus on securing Dash from Level 5 to 9. Despite Scizor being able to pick any Lane as its focus, the key here is to secure the Dash move upgrade by Level 7 in order to function more efficiently in its lane of choice. Regardless of lane choice, it’s ideal to secure the Regis in either lane and try to rotate.
- Get better stats from Level 10 onwards. After reaching Level 10, Scizor should remain getting objectives and initiating team fights. However, a key strategy here is to get to Level 13 as fast as possible for a full kit in order to perform more efficiently.
Matchup Considerations: Quick Eliminations Take Key
While Scizor is an efficient All-Rounder that can be “perfect” for almost any combat situation, players who encounter enemies able to outwit and outpace Scizor can spell trouble. When fighting opponents, Scizor should ensure they’re able to eliminate opposing Pokemon fast enough or have options to retreat in the first sight of trouble.
- Teammate: Pikachu, Mr. Mime. Due to Scizor’s All-Rounder specialization, it’s best paired with Pokemon who’s able to meet the same level of aggression. Pikachu’s AOE disablers such as Thunderbolt and Sing as well as Mr. Mime’s ability to take out opponents efficiently make them great allies for Scizor.
- Hard Counters: Tsareena, Snorlax. Despite Scizor’s strength, it doesn’t stand much of a chance against Pokemon who can break a player’s combo through sheer durability or even speed. This can make combo-efficient Pokemon such as Tsareena and extreme tanks such as Snorlax deadly opponents for Scizor.
Pokemon Unite is available for the Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android