Scizor
– Rebel Clash
Date Reviewed:
July 22, 2020
Ratings Summary:
Standard: 2.00
Expanded: 2.00
Limited: 3.00
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is horrible. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
Otaku
Scizor is another baseline Pokémon, by which I mean it is worth a single Prize when KO’d and contains no “extra” mechanics (Prism Star, Ultra Beast, etc.). Scizor’s Metal typing is good right now; while not much use for type-matching, with support like Metal Frying Pan and Metal Saucer, the [M] type just has it good. 130 HP is enough to tank “small” attacks, like the damage you may face from more technical attackers, or because your opponent’s setup is wanting. [R] Weakness is dangerous; see Blacephalon (SM – Unbroken Bonds 32/14). -30 [G] Resistance is better than nothing. A Retreat Cost of [C] is easy to pay most of the time.
Scizor knows two attacks, “Raid” and “Guard Claw”. Raid costs [M] and let’s Scizor attack for 30 damage, plus another 90 if it evolved from Scyther during this turn. The actual text reads “this Pokémon” instead of Scizor, but does specify “Scyther”: while attack-copiers can use Raid, unless they can evolve from Scyther, they won’t ever get the bonus damage. Nor would a Scizor evolved from Ditto {*}. For [MCC], Guard Claw does 90 damage and reduces the damage Scizor (or anything copying this attack) takes from attacks by 30, during your opponent’s next turn. This reduction occurs after Weakness and Resistance. Neither of these attacks are outright powerhouses, but with the rest of the card, they might be enough.
We now address that Scizor is a Stage 1 Evolution. It should be reasonable to run; not as easy as a Basic, but not as demanding as a Stage 2. All Standard or Expanded legal Scythers worth considering are Basic [G] Pokémon with 70 [R] Weakness, no Resistance, and Retreat Cost [C]. Scyther (SM – Celestial Storm 4/168; Shiny Vault SV1/SV98) is probably your best bet, as its attacks are almost useful. [C] let’s “Twin Play” Bench two more Scyther from your deck, while “Agility” does its usual stalling with a bit of damage (20), and the cost is [CC]. It only has 70 HP, though, while Scyther (Hidden Fates 5/68) has 100. The bigger Scyther’s attacks are worthless filler, or else this wouldn’t be a tough decision.
On their own, these attacks are so-so, but the rest of Scizor is a huge help. There are three potential approaches to Scizor:
- Spam Raid, bouncing Scizor if it isn’t KO’d.
- Tank with Guard Claw, bouncing or healing as needed.
- A combination of the two.
With any approach, Metal support is important. Metal Goggles or Metal Frying Pan put you over the threshold, going from a little more likely to be OHKO’d to a little more likely to survive a hit. Guard Claw gives you a healthier margin, though it still takes 20 fewer points of damage to OHKO our tanking Scizor than your typical Basic Pokémon V. Scizor is only worth one Prize, though, which is why it could still be worth it. While there is a risk your opponent will attack around Scizor to get to them, you may want to consider some form of reusable healing via Bench-sitter if you’re going to the tanking route.
Another concern is your damage output; 120 for one isn’t bad, but if you’re not hitting Weakness (and you’re not), you’ll probably need to up it some more. The same goes for the 90-per-turn while tanking. Galarian Perrserker (Sword & Shield 128/202; SSH – Black Star Promos SWSH008; SSH – Rebel Clash 205/202) may be the answer here, or Dhelmise (SM – Guardians Rising 59/145; SM – Black Star Promos SM53) in Expanded. While you could push to reach a reliable 2HKO range, the main thing is to ensure you’re at least hitting 3HKO’s while tanking. In Expanded, of pairing Scizor up with Flareon (XY – Ancient Origins 13/98), Jolteon (XY – Ancient Origins 26/98), and/or Vaporeon (XY – Ancient Origins 22/98) might be worth it.
No one is running Scizor decks and winning tournaments, or at least, they’re not placing well enough to show up in the results you can find over at Limitless. As such, the only place Scizor really has a chance to shine is in the Limited Format, but even if the Pre-Releases hadn’t been canceled, those would be over by now. Still, if you do get the chance and pull at least a 1-1 line of Scizor and Scyther, you should probably use it. Scoop Up Net and Twin Energy are in this set as Uncommons. You’d have to be insanely lucky, but one version of the Ability Perrserker is here as a Secret Rare as well. Even with out all of those, the fact you just need a little Metal Energy means you’d include this just as a solid Stage 1 attacker.
Ratings
- Standard: 2/5
- Expanded: 2/5
- Limited: 3/5
Scizor is probably a near miss, but it just released in Rebel Clash, so it has plenty of time to still make a dent in Standard. Spamming Raid, as well as upping Raid’s damage, ought to be more effective in Expanded, but it faces so much more competition (and counters), I’m still being generous with how I scored it. Even in the Limited Format, it is good but not great… unless you get a lot of them, or pull enough of the support it is fortunate is in this set.
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