Scyther
Encyclopedia
Scyther, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo
and Game Freak
's Pokémon
franchise linked through evolution. Created by Ken Sugimori
, Scyther first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue
, while Scizor was introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver
. They later appeared in subsequent sequels, spin-off games, related merchandise, and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise.
for the first generation of Pocket Monsters games Red and Green, which were localized outside of Japan as Pokémon Red and Blue
. Originally called "Strike" in Japanese, Nintendo decided to give the various Pokémon species "clever and descriptive names" related to their appearance or features when translating the game for western audiences as a means to make the characters more relatable to American children. Scyther's English name comes from the word "scythe
," a tool used for cutting.
Scyther resembles a primarily green, human-sized praying mantis with accents of cream coloration. It has large, blade-like forearms and a pair of cream-colored wings. Its head is reptilian rather than insect in shape, with three small points, and its feet possess three claws. The female of the species have larger abdomens. Using its agility and speed, Scyther can create the illusion that there are more than one of itself. It leaps out of the grass and slices prey with its scythes. Scyther's coloring renders it invisible in grass. Scyther sharpens its sythes by cutting hard objects
, Pokémon Yellow, and Pokémon FireRed
. It must be traded from another version to be found in the Blue and LeafGreen versions. In Pokémon Gold and Silver
, and their remakes Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
, Scyther is found in the National Park's Bug Catching Contest. Outside of the main titles, it appears in Pokémon Snap
, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
games, and the Pokémon Ranger
games. In Pokémon Stadium 2
Scyther stars in a mini-game alongside Pinsir called "Clear Cut Challenge", where each player chops a falling log for each round of the game.
In Pokémon Adventures
, Scyther is the first Pokémon Blue received. It is seen to have evolved into a Scizor prior to the events of Volume 9. He brings it on his journey to the Sevii Islands. Bugsy is seen with a Scyther in the Gym Leader faceoff.
series, Scyther has been met with generally positive reception. Scyther has been featured in different kinds of merchandise, including the Pokémon Trading Card Game
and various figurines. IGN
noted their various weakness, though described them as "so popular it's sickening" and praised its design, naming Scyther the best of the Bug-type Pokémon to appear in Pokémon Red and Blue and made stronger with its evolved form. IGN also listed it as one of the best Bug types, including Parasect. While they called Scyther's "one of the coolest looking Bug types in the game," stating that they used it just because of its appearance, they bemoaned Scyther's lack of Bug attacks. They also called him a "cool looking" Pokémon, commenting that its flaws were not strong enough to make it not worth using. GamesRadar
described Scyther as one of their office's favorite characters, praising its abilities and adding "plus he just looks cool". GameSpy
's Justin Leeper wrote that Scyther was better for "more macho gamers". Author Loredana Lipperini described Scyther as a dinosaur as well as a beetle with two scythes. Authors Tracey West and Katherine Noll ranked Scyther the fourth best Bug type Pokémon and wrote that it had "ninja-like ability and speed" and was a "fierce competitor" due to it "picking fights with Ash
's Charizard
". Author Maria S. Barbo called Scyther "terrifying" and wrote that its design seemed to have similarities to dinosaurs.
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
and Game Freak
Game Freak
is a Japanese video game developer that currently creates games exclusively for Nintendo. It has developed the Pokémon series of role-playing games and several other games.-History:...
's Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
franchise linked through evolution. Created by Ken Sugimori
Ken Sugimori
is a Japanese video game designer, illustrator, manga artist, and director. He is most famous as the character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise. Sugimori is also credited with the art direction for other titles, including Pulseman. Sugimori drew all of the original 151 Pokémon...
, Scyther first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version, originally released in Japan as , are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. They are the first installments to the Pokémon series. They were first released in Japan in 1996 as Red and Green, with Blue being...
, while Scizor was introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver
Pokémon Gold and Silver
are the second installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. The games have dual-mode capabilities allowing them to also be played on earlier Game Boy models. They were first released in Japan in 1999 and to...
. They later appeared in subsequent sequels, spin-off games, related merchandise, and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise.
Concept and characteristics
Scyther was one of 150 different designs conceived by Game Freak's character development team and finalized by Ken SugimoriKen Sugimori
is a Japanese video game designer, illustrator, manga artist, and director. He is most famous as the character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise. Sugimori is also credited with the art direction for other titles, including Pulseman. Sugimori drew all of the original 151 Pokémon...
for the first generation of Pocket Monsters games Red and Green, which were localized outside of Japan as Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version, originally released in Japan as , are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. They are the first installments to the Pokémon series. They were first released in Japan in 1996 as Red and Green, with Blue being...
. Originally called "Strike" in Japanese, Nintendo decided to give the various Pokémon species "clever and descriptive names" related to their appearance or features when translating the game for western audiences as a means to make the characters more relatable to American children. Scyther's English name comes from the word "scythe
Scythe
A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass, or reaping crops. It was largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery, but is still used in some areas of Europe and Asia. The Grim Reaper is often depicted carrying or wielding a scythe...
," a tool used for cutting.
Scyther resembles a primarily green, human-sized praying mantis with accents of cream coloration. It has large, blade-like forearms and a pair of cream-colored wings. Its head is reptilian rather than insect in shape, with three small points, and its feet possess three claws. The female of the species have larger abdomens. Using its agility and speed, Scyther can create the illusion that there are more than one of itself. It leaps out of the grass and slices prey with its scythes. Scyther's coloring renders it invisible in grass. Scyther sharpens its sythes by cutting hard objects
In the video games
In the video game series, Scyther can be acquired from either from the Safari Zone, or a trade in with game corner points in Pokémon RedPokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version, originally released in Japan as , are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. They are the first installments to the Pokémon series. They were first released in Japan in 1996 as Red and Green, with Blue being...
, Pokémon Yellow, and Pokémon FireRed
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
are enhanced remakes of the original Pokémon Red and Blue video games, which were released in 1996. The new titles were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance and have compatibility with the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter, which originally came bundled with...
. It must be traded from another version to be found in the Blue and LeafGreen versions. In Pokémon Gold and Silver
Pokémon Gold and Silver
are the second installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. The games have dual-mode capabilities allowing them to also be played on earlier Game Boy models. They were first released in Japan in 1999 and to...
, and their remakes Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
are enhanced remakes of the 1999 video games Pokémon Gold and Silver. The games are part of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games, and were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS...
, Scyther is found in the National Park's Bug Catching Contest. Outside of the main titles, it appears in Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Snap
is a first-person rail shooter and simulation video game developed by HAL Laboratory with Pax Softnica and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 video game console. It is part of the Pokémon series, and one of the first console games based on the Pokémon series...
, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
- Manga :*Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team, manga adaption of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team*Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blazing Exploration Team, manga adaption of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky.-...
games, and the Pokémon Ranger
Pokémon Ranger
is an action/role-playing video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS video game console. The game was released at various dates, varying between continents. The game was first released in Japan on March 22, 2006 and was later released in North America and...
games. In Pokémon Stadium 2
Pokémon Stadium 2
Pokémon Stadium 2, known as in Japan, is a video game for the Nintendo 64. It features all 251 Pokémon from the first and second generations. It was released in North America as simply Pokémon Stadium 2, as it was the second Stadium game to be released there. In Japan, Pokémon Stadium Kin Gin was...
Scyther stars in a mini-game alongside Pinsir called "Clear Cut Challenge", where each player chops a falling log for each round of the game.
In other media
In the anime, Tracey Sketchit catches a Scyther in the Orange Islands. It is aged and was recently removed from its clan by a younger, stronger Scyther. The bug Pokémon reconcile their differences through the interference of Team Rocket, and Tracey's Scyther is allowed to leave with him with its conflicts fully resolved. Tracey's Scyther is incredibly strong-willed, preferring to keep watch over the travelers while they sleep, as opposed to staying in its Pokéball. In the Johto arc, the Azalea Town gym leader, Bugsy, uses a Scyther against Ash, But this Scyther uses Sword Dance to repel fire attacks. Ash had Cyndaquil jump and use a Flamethrower from above Scyther when he was using Sword Dance to beat him.In Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures, released in Japan as , is a Pokémon-related manga based on the video games. Satoshi Tajiri once stated that the Pocket Monsters Special series is closest to what he imagined the Pokémon world to be:...
, Scyther is the first Pokémon Blue received. It is seen to have evolved into a Scizor prior to the events of Volume 9. He brings it on his journey to the Sevii Islands. Bugsy is seen with a Scyther in the Gym Leader faceoff.
Reception
Since it appeared in the PokémonPokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
series, Scyther has been met with generally positive reception. Scyther has been featured in different kinds of merchandise, including the Pokémon Trading Card Game
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game based on the Pokémon video game series, first introduced in Japan in October 1996, then North America in December 1998...
and various figurines. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
noted their various weakness, though described them as "so popular it's sickening" and praised its design, naming Scyther the best of the Bug-type Pokémon to appear in Pokémon Red and Blue and made stronger with its evolved form. IGN also listed it as one of the best Bug types, including Parasect. While they called Scyther's "one of the coolest looking Bug types in the game," stating that they used it just because of its appearance, they bemoaned Scyther's lack of Bug attacks. They also called him a "cool looking" Pokémon, commenting that its flaws were not strong enough to make it not worth using. GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
described Scyther as one of their office's favorite characters, praising its abilities and adding "plus he just looks cool". GameSpy
GameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
's Justin Leeper wrote that Scyther was better for "more macho gamers". Author Loredana Lipperini described Scyther as a dinosaur as well as a beetle with two scythes. Authors Tracey West and Katherine Noll ranked Scyther the fourth best Bug type Pokémon and wrote that it had "ninja-like ability and speed" and was a "fierce competitor" due to it "picking fights with Ash
Ash Ketchum
Ash Ketchum, known as for all appearances in Japan, is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise owned by Nintendo. He was created by, and named after, Satoshi Tajiri as the protagonist of the anime and manga series, as well as on various merchandise related to the franchise...
's Charizard
Charizard
Charizard, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Charizard first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and...
". Author Maria S. Barbo called Scyther "terrifying" and wrote that its design seemed to have similarities to dinosaurs.