Scyther is an excellent Bug/Flying Pokemon with a physical attacking moveset. It evolves into the stronger, tankier, and slower, Scizor. This guide will explain how to get a Scyther and how to evolve it into Scizor. While Scyther does have another evolution in the form of the Bug/Rock Pokemon Kleavor, this evolution cannot be performed in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, and Kleavor must instead be transferred from Pokemon Legends: Arceus using Pokemon Home.

In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, Scyther and Scizor can be excellent additions to a team. Scyther learns a variety of useful physical damage moves through level-up, including Fury Cutter, Wing Attack, and X-Scissor, all of which it has STAB when using. Focus Energy is an excellent option for improving its critical hit rate, and it can also learn Acrobatics, Brick Break, and Close Combat via TM for an even better variety of physical attacks. Swords Dance is also available through level-up or TM and provides Scyther with a very useful buff move. After evolving, Scizor has access to Bullet Punch and Metal Claw via level-up for some fantastic Steel-type damage moves.

Updated on February 7, 2024 by Renri Seong: As of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Scyther can evolve into the Bug/Rock-type Kleavor, but Scarlet & Violet players may not know whether to choose between Scizor or Kleavor. With the full release of the Pokemon Scarlet & Violet expansion pass, it's now possible to catch a wild Scizor and Kleavor in the Indigo Disk DLC. Trainers that have caught a Scyther can also evolve it into Kleavor if they wish, but they'll have to go an extra step if they decide on evolving Scyther instead of catching wild Kleavor. The following guide has been updated to include how to get Kleavor (Indigo Disk), a comparison of Scizor and Kleavor, and more areas where you can catch a wild Scyther.

Where to Find Scyther

North Province, South Province, Casseroya Lake

Scyther can be found most easily in the area west of Glaseado Mountain, especially near water like Casseroya Lake. Players earlier in the game might instead wish to search in South Province Area 4 near the smaller ponds and near the land bridge connecting South Province Area 2 to Area 4. They can also be located near small ponds in North Province Area 2. Scyther also appears in 4/5-star Tera Raids, which unlock after obtaining seven gym badges and completing the main storyline respectively.

If you have the Indigo Disk DLC, then you can find and catch Scyther in the Canyon Biome, Savanna Biome, and Chargestone Cavern.

How to Evolve Scyther into Scizor

How to Get Metal Coat

The trick to evolving Scyther into Scizor is that it requires both trading and a special item to achieve. The item in question is called the Metal Coat and can be obtained in a few different ways. The most reliable method of acquiring the Metal Coat is by purchasing it from a Delibird Presents shop, in the battle items tab, for 3,000 Poke Dollars. It can also be acquired in the auction, though this isn't as reliable a method.

Once players have a Metal Coat, they'll need to give it to their Scyther to hold via the menu. With Scyther holding a Metal Coat, players will need to find a friend to trade with since trading Scyther with the Metal Coat will trigger the evolution. So find a friend to swap Scyther back and forth, and the job's done.

If you would rather not evolve Scyther via trading, then you can try to catch a Scizor in 5 or 6-star Tera Raids. As stated before, you will unlock 5-star Tera Raids once you complete the main storyline (i.e, "The Way Home" main quest). You'll need to complete the Academy Ace Tournament before you can start getting 6-star Tera Raids.

In the Indigo Disk, you can find wild Scizor in the Canyon Biome.

How to Get Kleavor in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Kleavor Location in Indigo Disk

Kleavor will appear in the Canyon Biome in Terarium as a Fixed Spawn. You can find it by climbing the mountain northwest from the Canyon Plaza. If you look at the map (Y-button), its habitat is the brown/mountainous region with a small lake in the middle. For those that are still struggling to pinpoint Kleavor's location, go to the area with the trainer icon on the above image.

The summit of the mountain will have hunks of black crystal that look strikingly similar to the Black Augurite in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Despite this, you can't find Black Augurite in Pokemon Scarlet/Violet. There is a chance that Kleavor may not appear, so if this happens, save your game, then exit out of it on the Switch's home screen. When you reload Scarlet/Violet, the Kleavor should be there.

The wild Kleavor in the Canyon Biome is level 70. If you'd prefer to catch a higher-leveled Kleavor, then you can look for them in 6-star Tera Raids. You will unlock 6-star Tera Raids after clearing 5-star Tera Raids following the Academy Ace Tournament.

Evolving Scyther into Kleavor in Scarlet/Violet

If you want to evolve Scyther into Kleavor, you'll need to transfer Scyther to Pokemon Legends: Arceus. You can do this by using Pokemon HOME on the Switch. You'll need to make sure Scyther is in a PC Box in Pokemon Scarlet/Violet before opening Pokemon HOME. Once this is done, you can access Pokemon HOME and move Scyther to a Basic Box, and then to Legends: Arceus.

You can find Black Augurite in space-time distortions in Legends: Arceus. You might also dig one up with Ursaluna, or you can buy it from Ginter at the Ginkgo Guild next to your house and the Galaxy Hall. The Black Augurite from the Ginkgo Guild will be labeled as a "Jet-Black Rock." After you've obtained the Black Augurite, use it on Scyther, then send Scyther back to Scarlet/Violet.

Should You Use Scizor or Kleavor?

Which Evolution is Better?

Both Scizor and Kleavor have a base stat total in 500 and are part Bug-type, but their similarities end there. Scizor is a Bug/Steel-type Pokemon whereas Kleavor is Bug/Rock. This means they'll have different type effectiveness and strengths. Choosing which Pokemon is better fit for our team comes down to preferences and its base stats. If you want a hard-hitter that has moderate speed, then you're better off with Kleavor. If you want a sturdy Pokemon with only one Type weakness, then you'll want Scizor.

Here's some basic information regarding Scyther-evolutions:

• Kleavor has more type weaknesses than Scizor, but Scizor's extremely weak to Fire-type attacks. While it may survive a physical Fire-type attack thanks to its high Defense, it's not going to be able to withstand a special Fire-type move. Its poor Speed also means it won't be able to move first in battle against most opponents.
• Unlike Kleavor, Scizor can't be damaged by Poison-type moves (with some exceptions).
• Kleavor has an exclusive movie called Stone Axe. It has a high critical hit ratio and will also set up Spikes on the opposing Pokemon's field of battle.
• Scizor learns Steel-type moves via leveling up and TMs. Steel-type attacks are great for countering most Fairy-type Pokemon.