Scyther Weaknesses and Counters in Pokémon GO

Scyther is definitely one of those Pokémon that would be absolutely terrifying to encounter in real life. It looks kinda cute in the games and anime with its big eyes and pouty face, but if you look at it objectively, it’s a man-sized insect with literal machetes for arms that flies. I already can’t look directly at a real praying mantis as it is, so I’d scream if confronted by a Scyther. To ensure you don’t lose your guts when encountering a Scyther, here are Scyther’s weaknesses and counters in Pokémon GO.

Scyther is a Bug/Flying type, which means its resistances break down like this:

• Resistant to: Bug
• Double-Resistant to: Fighting, Grass
• Triple-Resistant to: Ground
• Weak against: Flying, Fire, Electric, Ice
• Double-weak against: Rock

Since type nullifications aren’t a thing in Pokémon GO, Scyther is instead simply super-duper resistant to Ground type moves. Meanwhile, these are the moves Scyther has in its kit:

Quick Moves

• Fury Cutter (Bug)
• Air Slash (Flying)

Main Moves

• Aerial Ace (Flying)
• Night Slash (Dark)
• X-Scissor (Bug)

Scyther Weaknesses and Counters in Pokémon GO

• Rampardos with Smack Down and Rock Slide
• Rhyperior Smack Down and Rock Wrecker
• Mega Aerodactyl with Rock Throw and Rock Slide
• Terrakion with Smack Down and Rock Slide
• Shadow Tyranitar with Smack Down and Stone Edge
• Gigalith with Smack Down and Rock Slide
• Golem with Rock Throw and Stone Edge

Scyther’s particular flavor of typing makes it a bit of an all or nothing kind of Pokémon. If you try to go at it with a Bug, Fighting, or Grass type, you’re going to have a very difficult time, to say nothing of Ground types which, as previously mentioned, are pretty much complete nonstarters. However, while Scyther is highly resistant to lesser types, those with advantages over it will find those advantages to be rather decisive. 

With its double weakness to Rock types, the writing on the wall is clear: you want a sturdy Rock type. Rock types are naturally resistant to both Flying and Bug moves and neutral to Dark moves, so if you employ one, there isn’t much Scyther can do against you. The best choices for raw DPS are definitely Rampardos and Rhyperior, but something like Golem or Gigalith would also work fine. If Legendaries are on the table (though you probably don’t need one for this), Terrakion or Therian Landorus are your go-to Mons. No matter what you’re using, just double up on Rock type moves, and Scyther will fare about as well as any other insect when faced with a large rock. Spoiler: it’ll fare very poorly.