Scyther is a bipedal, insectoid Pokémon. It is primarily green with thin, cream-colored sections between its head, thorax, and abdomen. The abdomen of a female will be slightly larger than that of a male. It has narrow eyes and three points on the back of its somewhat reptilian head. Its forearms consist of large, white scythes, which it uses for hunting as well as fighting. On its thighs are spikes of fur, and it has three clawed toes on its large feet. Two pairs of cream-colored wings extend from its back. While these wings do allow Scyther to fly, it rarely does so.
Scyther is an adept hunter that tears at its prey with its scythes. Its green coloration gives in excellent camouflage in the grass, and its quick movement is too fast to follow and increases the effectiveness of its scythes. By cutting through hard objects, it keeps its arms sharp. The anime has shown that wild Scyther form swarms. A new leader is elected when the current leader is defeated in a fight against a challenger; the former leader then leaves the swarm and goes into exile as a result. It has also been shown that Scyther becomes aggressive when faced with the color red. Although it is rare, Scyther can be found in grasslands.
In the main series
Major appearances
Tracey caught an elderly Scyther in Tracey Gets Bugged after it resolved its conflict with a horde of Scyther it once led. Even in its old age, it is very aggressive, but for the same reasons, Tracey tries not to use it.
Bugsy used a Scyther during his Gym battle against Ash in Gettin' The Bugs Out. This Scyther was trained to block Fire-type attacks by using Swords Dance as a fan. Ash discovered that this defensive strategy doesn't work if a Fire-type move is used from above, which allowed his Cyndaquil to win in his Gym match.
Goh caught a Scyther in JN006. He used it again in JN007 to compete in the Battle Frontier Flute Cup, but lost to Houji's Mightyena.
Other
Scyther debuted in Showdown at Dark City. Yas's Scyther is the primary Pokémon of the Yas Gym. It was used during the feuds between the Kas and Yas Gyms of Dark City.
In Mewtwo Strikes Back and its remake, Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, Corey's Scyther captured and cloned by Mewtwo. In the original film, when Team Rocket saw this Pokémon being cloned, it was mistaken for an Alakazam. The Scyther clone reappeared in Mewtwo Returns.
A Scyther in The Fourth Round Rumble belonged to Jeanette Fisher. Facing Ash during the Indigo Plateau Conference, it battled Bulbasaur. Despite the type disadvantage, Bulbasaur came out as the winner. It reappeared in flashbacks in the following episode and Bulbasaur... the Ambassador!.
Danny's Scyther helped his Machoke and Nidoqueen carve a sled in Navel Maneuvers, during his second challenge against Ash. It later competed in the sled race alongside Danny's Electrode and Geodude. It reappeared in flashbacks in A Way Off Day Off and Hello, Pummelo!.
A group of Scyther appeared in Tracey Gets Bugged on Murcott Island. Tracey's Scyther came from them.
A Scyther was used alongside a Houndoom to chase after Celebi in the beginning of Celebi: The Voice of the Forest, under the command of a Pokémon poacher.
A girls Scyther in Tag, We're It! was partnered with Giant's Koffing against Dawn's Piplup and Conway's Slowking during the Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition.
A Scyther in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness was part of Team Razor Wind, along with Sandslash and Zangoose. The trio of clawed Pokémon were blasted out of the Wigglytuff Guild. They overheard that Team Poképals were assigned the task of traveling to the Labyrinth Cave to get a Gabite Scale for an ailing Shinx, and decided to attempt beating them to the item. Unfortunately for Team Razor Wind, Gabite defeated them easily. It reappeared alongside its team in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness.
A Scyther umpired the Pokémon Base game in Pulling Out the Pokémon Base Pepper! that Ash and his classmates took part in at the Pokémon School .
Minor appearances
Koga had a Scyther in a flashback in Bad To The Bone. Otoshi was revealed to have defeated it with his Marowak during a Gym battle, thus allowing him to attain the Soul Badge.
A pink Scyther appeared in Team Rocket's fantasy in In the Pink.
A Scyther was seen in Muramasa's dojo in Wired for Battle!.
A Scyther was at the Pokémon Swap Meet in Palmpona in Tricks of the Trade.
Scyther were available in the Bug-Catching Contest in The Bug Stops Here. Casey tried to catch one, but failed.
A sick Scyther was in Way Away Island's Pokémon Center in Carrying On!.
A Trainer's Scyther was at the Pokémon Jujitsu Academy in Ariados, Amigos.
Multiple Scyther appeared in Mewtwo Returns.
A Scyther appeared in the opening intro of Celebi: The Voice of the Forest, which was reused for Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias.
A Scyther was defeated by Wings Alexander's then-Hoothoot in a flashback in Throwing in the Noctowl.
A Scyther belonged to a participant in the Extreme Pokémon Race in Extreme Pokémon!.
A Scyther appeared in a flashback in Pop Goes The Sneasel.
In Gonna Rule The School!, the Pokémon Trainers' School lends Scyther to the underage students for use in lessons.
A demolition crew in Celebi and Joy! employed a Scyther. Its status after the demolition crew became a construction crew in the new timeline is unknown.
A Trainer's Scyther was seen during the Ever Grande Conference in Saved by the Beldum, where it was among the Pokémon. It reappeared in a flashback in Shocks and Bonds.
A Scyther was defeated by an overcharged Elekid in Reversing the Charges, and was found by Team Rocket.
In Curbing the Crimson Tide, Luna's Scyther, which eventually evolved into a Scizor, was seen in flashbacks.
A Coordinator's Scyther participated in the Performance Stage of the Jubilife Contest in Mounting a Coordinator Assault!.
A Trainer used a Scyther in the Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition in Tag! We're It...!.
A Scyther appeared in I Choose You!.
A Scyther called a "strike" on Kiawe in The Long Vault Home! when he failed to catch a Stakataka at the Pokémon School.
Another Scyther was seen at Old Shore Wharf in Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Subject
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Source
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Entry
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EP097
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Scyther
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Ash's Pokédex
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Scyther, the Mantis Pokémon. Its claws are sharp as swords, and it is a powerful flyer. This Pokémon is rarely seen by humans and almost never captured.
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EP097
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Swords Dance
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Ash's Pokédex
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Swords Dance, Scyther's special attack. Scyther spins furiously to focus its energy and increase its attack power.
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In Pokémon Origins
Red used a Scyther in File 4: Charizard in the Pokémon League, where it went up against Bruno's Onix and Blue's Alakazam.
In the movie adaptations
A Pokémon hunter owned a Scyther in Celebi: a Timeless Encounter.
In the Pocket Monsters manga
- Main article: Goh's Scyther
Goh caught a Scyther in JNM03, just like he does in the anime.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
- Main article: Blue's Scyther
- Main article: Bugsy's Scyther
Scyther debuts in Wake Up—You're Snorlax!, under the ownership of a Bug Catcher who partook of the bike race along Route 11.
A Scyther is the first Pokémon Blue received. He has since evolved into Scizor. He first appeared in A Tale of Ninetales.
Bugsy is seen with a Scyther in the Gym Leader face-off in Silly Scyther.
A Scyther appeared in The Last Battle XIII as one of the Pokémon sent to participate in the fight in Ilex Forest.
A Scyther appeared in a fantasy in Moving Past Milotic.
A Scyther appeared in a fantasy in PSs1.
A Scyther was the sparring partner of X's Pinsir, Rute, in Scizor Defends. It is found unconscious by X. Blue indicates that it had its life-force completely drained through mysterious circumstances, but notes that it will eventually recuperate from its condition.
In the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga
- Main article: Bugsy's Scyther
As in the games, Bugsy has a Scyther. It is Gold's opponent during his Gym challenge.
In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga
A Scyther appeared in The Terrible Twins, Rin & Ran, under the ownership of Ran.
A Scyther appeared in Pokémon Cooking Contest!, under the ownership of Yuki.
A Scyther appeared in GDZ65.
In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
A Scyther appeared in Curry Showdown! Which is the Most Delicious? as one of the participants of a curry cooking competition.
Giovanni was seen with three Scyther in Seize the Dream of One Million Yen!!. All of them were sent out to prevent anyone from winning the contest he hosted on TV.
- Main article: Bugsy's Scyther
Bugsy has a Scyther, which first appeared in The Hardest Insect Pokémon Wins?!.
Red is revealed to have caught a Scyther in Clefairy Has Been Abandoned?!.
In the Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission manga
Garret of the Go-Rock Quads owns a Scyther, which first appeared in Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission Episode Four.