Kingler's next block focuses on Iron Defense, Amnesia, and Swords Dance—building the high-attack, high-defense, high-speed model.
Speed is already on target. What's left is stacking both defenses and Swords Dance. The two new moves—Amnesia and Swords Dance—are just learned, both under five in proficiency. Long road.
Iron Defense and Amnesia aren't complicated: keep using them and tank Spinarak's Pin Missile. Stamina is the only limiter. With Pokéblocks, he can eat as much as he wants and fast-track mastery.
So the new schedule: morning stays Agility runs; afternoons are Iron Defense + Amnesia; nights are Swords Dance. Raise these three before touching the rest.
Back to Scyther. It learns best in real fights. Where to find live opponents?
If Reiji uses Poliwhirl, it cuts into Poliwhirl's afternoon work—unless Poliwhirl can train its moisture-sense while battling. That's the point anyway. Early adaptation won't hurt.
As for Scyther's plan, he's still framing it. This Scyther's kit—potential, level, abilities, moves—is all strong, no obvious gaps.
The one flaw is typing. Bug/Flying is rough: 2× Flying, 4× Rock, 2× Fire, 2× Electric, 2× Ice. Five weaknesses, four resistances.
It's headed for Scizor eventually. Bug/Steel is cleaner: one weakness (4× Fire), nine resistances, red armor plating—sharp look.
Light Metal after evolution beats Steadfast for utility.
Steadfast: when it flinches, Speed rises one stage.
Light Metal: halves its own weight.
Both are "speed" paths, but the edge is obvious. Still, Steadfast has meaning. That "hit me harder, I'll push back" drive? Hard not to see a trait tie-in.
Ability is only a trigger. This Scyther would keep its fighting spirit with or without Steadfast. It's a proud fighter. Even without Reiji, it could've clawed to clan leader.
Its results are from decisions and grind, not the label on its trait. No Steadfast? Fine. Battle after battle would still harden a champion's mindset—just without the speed proc.
One stage of Speed on flinch doesn't impress him anyway, and this Scyther rarely flinches. Stronger foes only hype it up.
Light Metal is icing. The core he wants is Swarm.
Swarm: when HP dips, Bug-type moves hit harder.
It's more than power. The name says it: a "warning sense" when HP drops—call it a sixth sense. Different from Poliwhirl's moisture-sense, different from psychic or aura reads. Closer to Croagunk's danger sense—passive, not active.
Active senses ping before an enemy moves; passive often kicks in as the move's coming—unless the hostility is blatant. First move versus second move. Still worth developing.
So: Swarm practice alongside Poliwhirl to sharpen that sixth sense.
Build stays the same—high attack, high speed, burst. Offense is there already: Focus Energy, Swords Dance, and Fury Cutter—base 40, doubles on each consecutive hit: 80, then 160, capped at 160 after three.
Speed tools exist: Quick Attack, Agility, Tailwind. For Scizor, it won't be enough by itself. Scyther's base Speed is 105; Scizor's is 65. Light Metal halves weight, not the stat.
Armor raises Scizor's defense but also weight: Scyther 56.0 kg → Scizor 118.0 kg. With Light Metal, 118 → 59 kg. Add Float Stone and it halves again—about 30 kg.
Keep the "effective speed" target in mind: with Light Metal on and weight shaved, he wants Scizor moving like it's base 130, aiming to pace Accelgor's territory (Accelgor hits 290 after a boost). He'll trade Bug/Steel boosters for speed if he has to. And who says a Pokémon can only "carry" one thing? If it fits, strap it on—whether it matters is separate.
Burst hinges on stringing Fury Cutter. Hit three times, and the fourth and fifth stay at 160. So consistency is king.
Defense comes later post-evo. Scizor can learn Iron Defense; that's where "no obvious weakness" starts to form. Kingler can stack both defenses; Poliwhirl lacks physical bulk; Scizor will trail on special bulk; Rhyhorn's special bulk is weak—each has a tilt.
Bottom line for Scizor's system: if Fury Cutter doesn't chain, the plan collapses. Training must center on keeping the chain.
So Scyther's daily plan: mornings—speed work that improves connection rate (speed supports accuracy when you're the one dictating pace). It can't learn true accuracy boosts, but items help; Light Metal + Float Stone are locked, with SilverPowder as a third test later.
Midday—Swarm drills with Poliwhirl, improve the "sixth sense".
Evening—offense: Focus Energy, Swords Dance, Fury Cutter loops. If the hit rate improve, power must keep pace.
High defense waits until after evolution; Scyther can't learn Iron Defense now.
So: mornings—Quick Attack, Agility, Tailwind; afternoons—Swarm sensitivity with Poliwhirl; nights—high-offense work with Focus Energy, Swords Dance, and Fury Cutter.
Plan set. He released Scyther.
"Shaa." Scyther glanced around, clocked Poliwhirl training moisture-sense under the tree, and started over.
"Hold up, Scyther." Reiji waved it back and called to Poliwhirl, who was dodging Spinarak's shots. "Poliwhirl, over here."
"Yobo, yobo." Several Pin Missiles had landed; Poliwhirl's back was peppered with fine spines. Reiji pulled them out and sprayed medicine. They'd close fast.
He faced them both, mostly for Scyther. "You want power? You follow my drills. Got it?"
"Shaa." A firm nod.
"You'll train with Poliwhirl." He pointed back. "Poliwhirl, step back—seven, eight meters."
"Yobo." Poliwhirl backed off ten paces.
"Alright. Poliwhirl, Water Gun."
"Yobo—pfft." The stream hit square. Scyther raised its blades, but Reiji held them down. "No. You're dodging Water Gun. That's the drill."
"Shaa?" Getting hit is training?
"This hones your evasion and wakes that latent sense. Do it right and you'll sidestep with your eyes closed. Clear?"
"Shaa." It didn't fully get it, but felt the edge in it.
"Your turn. Scyther, Air Slash at Poliwhirl. Poliwhirl, evade right after it launches."
"Yobo." The wind blade snapped out; Poliwhirl sprang aside and it sliced empty air.
"Good. That's the loop." He stood between them and laid it out. "Poliwhirl: afternoons you'll use Water Gun, Mud Shot, and Ice Ball—only ranged—to pressure Scyther. Scyther: you dodge and return fire with Air Slash—also only ranged. No close combat."
"Understood? Ranged only. This is an evasion build. No hiding in the trees, no using rocks. Use the beach, space out from the tents, pull your punches, don't get hurt—we don't have a Pokemon Center here. Rest if you're tired; come to me for food if you're hungry."
The pairing trains sense and evasion while building ranged proficiency. Two birds, one stone. Early on, Scyther will eat more hits; Poliwhirl's moving-target aim is almost perfect. Training alongside Poliwhirl should also raise Scyther's own hit rate.
With Scyther slotted in—and its drills folded into Poliwhirl's—Reiji took out Shelmet's ball…
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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