Wondering “how do you evolve a Scyther” and getting frustrated with confusing answers? You’re definitely not alone. While Scyther has been a beloved Pokémon since Generation I, its evolution process remains one of the most complex and misunderstood mechanics in the entire franchise. Unlike most Pokémon that simply level up to evolve, Scyther requires specific items and methods that leave countless players scratching their heads.
The confusion has only grown worse with recent games introducing entirely new evolution paths. Whether you’re playing Pokémon Scarlet & Violet and desperately need a Scizor for your competitive team, or exploring the vast world of Pokémon Legends: Arceus and want to discover the mighty Kleavor, this comprehensive guide will walk you through every single method, alternative solution, and strategic consideration you need to successfully evolve your Scyther.
Key Takeaways
• Two Distinct Evolution Paths: Scyther can evolve into Scizor (Bug/Steel) via Metal Coat + Trade, or Kleavor (Bug/Rock) via Black Augurite in specific games • No Level Requirement: Scyther can evolve at any level once you have the required evolution item • Trade Workarounds Available: Multiple legitimate alternatives exist for players who can’t trade, including wild encounters and Pokémon HOME transfers • Strategic Evolution Decision: All three forms (Scyther, Scizor, Kleavor) share identical 500 Base Stat Total – evolution redistributes stats rather than upgrading them • Game-Specific Requirements: Evolution methods and item locations vary dramatically between different Pokémon game titles
How Do You Evolve a Scyther: The Two Main Paths
Before diving into detailed step-by-step instructions, here’s exactly how do you evolve a Scyther and what your options are:
Evolving Scyther into Scizor
- Required Item: Metal Coat
- Evolution Method: Trade Scyther while it’s holding Metal Coat
- Result: Bug/Steel type with high Attack (130) and Defense (100)
- Available In: Most mainline Pokémon games since Generation II
Evolving Scyther into Kleavor
- Required Item: Black Augurite
- Evolution Method: Use Black Augurite directly on Scyther (no trading needed)
- Result: Bug/Rock type with highest Attack stat (135)
- Available In: Pokémon Legends: Arceus exclusively
The choice between these evolutions isn’t merely aesthetic – it fundamentally transforms your Pokémon’s battle capabilities, type weaknesses, and strategic role within your team composition.
How Do You Evolve a Scyther in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Complete Guide
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet represent the most current and accessible method for obtaining Scizor. Fortunately, the process has been significantly streamlined compared to older generations.
Step 1: Finding and Catching Scyther in Paldea
Scyther can be reliably found in several specific locations across the Paldea region:
- South Province (Area One): Near the lighthouse area, particularly in tall grass sections
- South Province (Area Three): Around the central plains and grassland regions
- East Province (Area Two): In forested areas surrounding Artazon
- West Province (Area One): Scattered throughout various terrain types
Scyther appears at levels 16-33 in the wild, making it accessible relatively early in your adventure. If you’re struggling to locate one, try hunting during different times of day, as Scyther spawn rates can fluctuate based on time and weather conditions.
Step 2: Obtaining a Metal Coat in Paldea
The Metal Coat is absolutely essential for Scyther’s evolution into Scizor. In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, you have several reliable methods to obtain this crucial item:
Delibird Presents (Most Reliable Method):
- Visit any Delibird Presents store in Levincia, Cascarrafa, or Mesagoza
- Purchase a Metal Coat for exactly 3,000 Pokédollars
- This is the most straightforward method and doesn’t rely on random chance
Wild Pokémon Held Items:
- Some Steel-type Pokémon like Bronzor occasionally carry Metal Coats as held items
- Use a Pokémon with the Frisk ability to check for held items before engaging in battle
- Success rate is quite low, making the store purchase method much more reliable
Picnic Discovery Method:
- Rarely found during picnics when you have Steel-type Pokémon in your active party
- Not recommended as your primary method due to extremely low drop rates
Step 3: Executing the Trade Evolution Process
Once you have both Scyther and a Metal Coat, follow these precise steps:
- Equip the Metal Coat: Open your bag, select the Metal Coat, and choose “Give to Pokémon” to attach it to Scyther
- Access Link Trade Feature: Press Y to open the main menu, then select “Poké Portal”
- Initiate Link Trade: Choose “Link Trade” followed by “Set Link Code”
- Use Community Evolution Code: Enter code 4448-4448 (a widely-established community code specifically for evolution trades)
- Complete the Evolution Trade: Trade your Metal Coat-holding Scyther with another player, and it will automatically evolve into Scizor during the trade process
- Receive Your Scizor: The other player should immediately trade your newly evolved Scizor back to you
Trade Solutions for Players Without Friends
The biggest roadblock many players encounter is the trading requirement itself. The community-established code 4448-4448 has become the unofficial “evolution helper” code, where players specifically assist each other with trade evolutions and immediately trade the evolved Pokémon back.
Additional Community Solutions:
- Discord servers and Reddit communities like r/pokemontrades offer reliable, trustworthy trading partners
- Our Pokémon type calculator can help you understand why specific evolution choices matter strategically for your team
- Local gaming communities and conventions often organize dedicated trade meetup events
How Do You Evolve a Scyther in Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Pokémon Legends: Arceus revolutionized Scyther’s evolution by completely eliminating the trading requirement and introducing Kleavor, an entirely new evolutionary form with unique characteristics.
Black Augurite: Your Key to Kleavor
Black Augurite functions as a unique evolution stone exclusive to the Hisui region. Unlike the Metal Coat’s complex trade evolution requirement, Black Augurite works exactly like a traditional evolution stone – you simply use it directly on Scyther, and the evolution occurs immediately without any additional steps.
Where to Find Black Augurite in Hisui
Black Augurite can be obtained through several distinct methods in Pokémon Legends: Arceus:
Graveler Farming (Most Reliable Method):
- Defeat or catch wild Graveler – they have approximately an 8-10% chance to drop Black Augurite
- Graveler can be consistently found in Coronet Highlands and other mountainous regions
- This method provides the most reliable success rate with consistent effort
Space-Time Distortion Events:
- Black Augurite occasionally appears as shimmering ground loot during distortions
- Always check every glowing item during active distortion events
- Much less reliable than direct Graveler farming but provides additional opportunities
NPC Request Completion:
- Certain late-game requests from NPCs in Jubilife Village reward Black Augurite
- Check regularly with village residents for new available requests
- Provides guaranteed rewards but limited quantity
The Streamlined Evolution Process
Once you successfully obtain Black Augurite:
- Open your satchel and locate the Black Augurite item
- Select “Use” and choose your target Scyther from your party
- Confirm the evolution prompt – Scyther will immediately transform into Kleavor
- No trading required, no additional steps, no complications
This dramatically simplified approach makes Kleavor significantly more accessible than Scizor in games that still require the traditional trading method.
How Do You Evolve a Scyther Without Trading: Alternative Methods
Many players struggle intensely with the trading requirement for obtaining Scizor. Fortunately, modern Pokémon games offer several completely legitimate workarounds that don’t require friends, online partners, or complex trading arrangements.
Finding Pre-Evolved Forms in Wild Areas and Raids
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Solutions:
- Scizor occasionally appears in 3-4 star Tera Raid battles
- Check the daily raid rotation specifically for Bug-type or Steel-type themed events
- Join online raids through the Poké Portal system to access significantly more opportunities than solo play
Pokémon Sword & Shield Alternatives:
- Scizor can be found roaming in the Lake of Outrage area during specific weather conditions
- Max Raid Battles throughout various Wild Area locations regularly feature Scizor encounters
- Understanding cross-platform gaming mechanics can help optimize your multiplayer raid strategies
Legacy Game Options:
- Some older titles like Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon feature Scizor spawns in post-game areas
- Victory Road and similar challenging locations often have evolved forms available for direct capture
Using Pokémon HOME as Your Evolution Hub
One of the most innovative and underutilized solutions involves strategically using Pokémon HOME’s cross-game ecosystem:
- Strategic Transfer: Move your Scyther from your main game to Pokémon Legends: Arceus via HOME
- Simple Evolution: Use the much easier Black Augurite method in Legends: Arceus to evolve into Kleavor
- Return Transfer: Move your newly evolved Pokémon back to your preferred primary game
This method works effectively because:
- Both Kleavor and Scizor maintain compatibility across modern Pokémon games
- No trading partners or external assistance required
- Uses completely legitimate, official game mechanics and features
Emulator and ROM Modification Methods
For players utilizing emulators or homebrew gaming solutions:
ROM Patch Modifications:
- Various fan-created patches eliminate trade evolution requirements entirely
- Modified game versions allow Metal Coat to function like a standard evolution stone
- Popular community patches include “Universal Trade Evolution Patch” for multiple generations
Emulator Built-in Features:
- Many modern emulators include integrated trade evolution simulators
- These specialized tools can artificially trigger evolution without requiring actual trading
- Particularly valuable for completely single-player gaming experiences
Important Disclaimer: These modification methods may not maintain compatibility with official online features and should be used responsibly according to your local laws and the terms of service for your gaming platform.
How Do You Evolve a Scyther Strategically: Comparing All Options
This critical section addresses where most evolution guides completely fail – understanding that evolution isn’t automatically an improvement. The strategic reality involves much more complexity than simply “evolved equals better.”
Understanding the Base Stat Trade-Off System
All three Pokémon forms share an absolutely identical Base Stat Total of 500, which means evolution fundamentally redistributes existing stats rather than providing overall power increases:
Scyther’s Stat Distribution:
- HP: 70
- Attack: 110
- Defense: 80
- Special Attack: 55
- Special Defense: 80
- Speed: 105 (Highest speed among all three forms)
Scizor’s Stat Distribution:
- HP: 70
- Attack: 130 (Major increase from base form)
- Defense: 100 (Significant defensive improvement)
- Special Attack: 55
- Special Defense: 80
- Speed: 65 (Substantial decrease from original)
Kleavor’s Stat Distribution:
- HP: 70
- Attack: 135 (Highest raw attack power)
- Defense: 95
- Special Attack: 45
- Special Defense: 70
- Speed: 85
The crucial strategic insight: Scyther sacrifices its exceptional speed advantage for increased bulk and raw power when evolving. This trade-off isn’t always beneficial, depending entirely on your team strategy and battle requirements.
Critical Type Matchup Analysis
Type changes often represent the most important factor in evolution decision-making:
Scyther (Bug/Flying) Weaknesses:
- 4x Weakness: Rock-type attacks
- 2x Weaknesses: Electric, Fire, Flying, Ice
- Key Resistances: Fighting, Bug, Grass
- Immunity: Ground-type attacks
Scizor (Bug/Steel) Weaknesses:
- 4x Weakness: Fire-type attacks (single major vulnerability!)
- Resistances: Normal, Bug, Steel, Psychic, Ice, Dragon, Fairy
- Immunities: Poison-type attacks
- Strategic Advantage: Massive defensive typing improvement
Kleavor (Bug/Rock) Weaknesses:
- 4x Weaknesses: Steel, Water
- 2x Weaknesses: Rock
- Resistances: Normal, Flying, Poison, Fire
Scizor’s typing transformation represents arguably the most significant change – transitioning from multiple exploitable weaknesses to essentially one major vulnerability while simultaneously gaining numerous valuable resistances. This makes Scizor incredibly valuable as a defensive wall in competitive battle formats.
The Eviolite Strategy: Keeping Scyther Un-evolved
Here’s an advanced strategy that most casual players never consider: intentionally keeping Scyther un-evolved while equipped with an Eviolite item.
Eviolite provides a massive 50% boost to both Defense and Special Defense stats for any un-evolved Pokémon. When applied strategically to Scyther:
- Effective Defense becomes 120 (surpassing Scizor’s 100)
- Effective Special Defense reaches 120 (significantly better than Scizor’s 80)
- Crucially retains the valuable 105 Speed stat advantage
This creates a genuinely unique defensive speedster role that can outspeed major threats while maintaining surprising bulk and survivability. Combined with key moves like Roost for recovery and U-turn for pivoting, Eviolite Scyther becomes a completely viable alternative that offers distinctly different strategic value compared to either traditional evolution path.
How do you evolve a Scyther without trading?
The most reliable non-trading evolution methods include:
- Directly catch Scizor from Tera Raids in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
- Use Pokémon Legends: Arceus to evolve into Kleavor with Black Augurite, then transfer via HOME
- Find wild Scizor spawns in games like Sword & Shield during specific conditions
- Utilize community trade codes like 4448-4448 for evolution trades with guaranteed immediate trade-backs
What specific item do you use to evolve a Scyther?
The required evolution items are:
- For Scizor Evolution: Metal Coat (must be held by Scyther during trading)
- For Kleavor Evolution: Black Augurite (used directly like a traditional evolution stone)
What level does Scyther need to be to evolve?
Scyther can evolve at any level whatsoever as long as you possess the required evolution item. There is absolutely no minimum level requirement for either evolution path – you could theoretically evolve a level 1 Scyther if you had the necessary items.
Why isn’t my Scyther evolving when I try?
Common troubleshooting issues include:
- Scyther isn’t actually holding the Metal Coat during the trade attempt
- Using local/nearby trading instead of proper Link Trade (some local methods fail to trigger evolution)
- Using incorrect evolution item (Metal Coat required for Scizor, Black Augurite for Kleavor)
- Playing a game version that doesn’t support the specific evolution path (Kleavor exclusively in Legends: Arceus)
Is evolving Scyther actually worth it strategically?
The answer depends entirely on your team strategy:
- Evolve to Scizor when you need a bulky physical attacker with superior defensive typing
- Evolve to Kleavor when you want maximum raw attack power and are playing Legends: Arceus
- Keep as Scyther with Eviolite when you value speed control and want a unique defensive pivot role
Is Scizor definitively better than Scyther?
Scizor trades away Scyther’s speed advantage for increased attack and defense, plus gains significantly superior Bug/Steel typing. “Better” depends entirely on your specific team needs:
- Scizor advantages: Higher attack stat, much better defensive typing, access to priority Bullet Punch
- Scyther advantages: Superior speed control, potentially stronger with Eviolite, different coverage move options
What are the key differences between Scyther, Scizor, and Kleavor?
Primary Strategic Differences:
- Stat Specialization: Scyther (speed-focused), Scizor (balanced bulk/attack), Kleavor (maximum attack power)
- Type Coverage: Flying vs. Steel vs. Rock secondary typing creates completely different weakness profiles
- Move Accessibility: Each form has access to different signature moves and coverage options
- Competitive Roles: Speed support vs. physical wall vs. heavy offensive threat
Why does Scizor have such a severe 4x weakness to Fire?
Scizor’s Bug/Steel dual typing creates the 4x Fire weakness because:
- Bug-type takes 2x damage from Fire-type attacks
- Steel-type also takes 2x damage from Fire-type attacks
- Combined multiplier: 2x × 2x = 4x total weakness
However, this single major weakness is strategically offset by Scizor having dramatically fewer total weaknesses compared to Scyther’s multiple vulnerability points.
Where exactly do I get a Metal Coat in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
The most dependable Metal Coat source is Delibird Presents retail stores:
- Store locations: Levincia, Cascarrafa, and Mesagoza
- Fixed price: 3,000 Pokédollars
- Always available for immediate purchase without RNG dependency
Where can you reliably find a Scizor in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
Scizor can be obtained through:
- Tera Raid battles: 3-4 star raids, especially during Bug-type or Steel-type themed events
- Extremely rare wild encounters: Very uncommon spawns in late-game areas
- Personal evolution: Most reliable method remains evolving your own captured Scyther
For players interested in understanding how these complex trading mechanics work across different gaming platforms and systems, our comprehensive guide on cross-platform compatibility explains similar connectivity features and trading systems in detail.
How can I efficiently get Black Augurite in Pokémon Legends: Arceus?
Most Efficient Farming Method:
- Actively hunt wild Graveler in Coronet Highlands regions
- Defeat or catch them for approximately 8-10% Black Augurite drop chance
- Check Space-Time Distortions for additional item opportunities
- Complete available NPC requests in Jubilife Village that reward Black Augurite
Conclusion: Mastering How Do You Evolve a Scyther
Successfully answering “how do you evolve a Scyther” requires understanding both the mechanical evolution requirements and the deeper strategic implications of your evolution choice. Whether you’re pursuing Scizor’s exceptional defensive capabilities in modern games or exploring Kleavor’s incredible raw power in the Hisui region, the key lies in matching your evolution decision to your team’s specific needs and your personal competitive playstyle.
The most crucial takeaway is that evolution isn’t an automatic upgrade in every situation – sometimes the un-evolved form offers genuinely unique strategic advantages, and choosing between Scizor and Kleavor depends entirely on your long-term battle goals. With the comprehensive range of methods we’ve detailed for overcoming traditional trading requirements, every single player can successfully obtain their preferred evolution path.
Ready to build the perfect competitive team around your newly evolved Pokémon? Explore our detailed Pokémon type calculator to optimize your team’s type coverage and develop winning strategies for your next major battle or tournament.
Take Action Now: Have you successfully evolved your Scyther using any of these proven methods? Share your evolution experience and help other trainers overcome the evolution challenge – because every championship-level Pokémon team starts with mastering these fundamental evolution mechanics.
With a degree in mythology and folklore, Fatima is our RPG Lore Master. She delves into the vast open worlds of RPGs to uncover hidden narratives, cultural inspirations, and thematic connections. Her features are for players who want to fully immerse themselves in the history and lore of their favorite games.