Scyther: Analyzing Damage-Per-Energy Efficiency in Pokémon TCG

Scyther SV05-001 card art from Temporal Forces

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Scyther Spotlight: Damage-Per-Energy Efficiency in the Pokémon TCG

When you pick up a card like Scyther from Temporal Forces, you’re not just admiring a green streak of blade-winged speed—you’re eyeing a tool with two very different ways to shine on the battlefield. ⚡ This Common Grass Basic Pokémon carries a lean 90 HP and a pair of attacks that force you to weigh tempo against raw power. In a meta where energy efficiency often determines early-game momentum, Scyther serves as a compact case study in how a single card can juggle cost, payoff, and long-term value.

Card snapshot: what Scyther brings to the table

Set: Temporal Forces (sv05)
Card number / Rarity: SV05-001 — Common
Type / Stage: Grass, Basic
HP: 90
Weakness: Fire
Retreat cost: 1
Illustrator: Dsuke
Regulation: Standard and Expanded legal
Set details: 162 official cards in the set, 218 total in Temporal Forces
Art and rarity notes: The linework showcases Dsuke’s crisp, kinetic style—perfect for trainers who appreciate speed as much as strategy
Card value angles: Pricing data from CardMarket around 0.03 EUR on average (with holo variants running higher) reflects its status as a common but accessible pick for budget-focused decks

Within its 90 HP, Scyther stands as a nimble starter, capable of pressuring early game while you set up the board. In practice, you’ll often see it deployed to apply initial damage and force your opponent to respond, buying you crucial tempo as you charge a more powerful late-game plan. The set’s theme is balanced around straightforward Pokémon power, and Scyther fits that design philosophy with a elegant, cost-efficient approach to damage delivery. 🎴

Damage-per-energy: two paths, two personalities

Scyther offers two distinct assaults, each with a different energy footprint and strategic texture. The first option is straightforward:

Cut Up — Cost: 1 Colorless, Damage: 10

The second option is more ambitious but comes with a tempo caveat:

Slashing Strike — Cost: 2 Colorless, Damage: 60; Effect: During your next turn, this Pokémon can't use Slashing Strike.

From a raw efficiency standpoint, Slashing Strike delivers 60 damage for 2 energy, which is 30 damage per energy—more than triple what you get from Cut Up. The trade-off is the next-turn cooldown, which prevents you from chaining Slashing Strike back-to-back. If you run the numbers across a two-turn window, a typical line might look like this: spend 2 energy to deal 60 on Turn 1, then use Cut Up (1 energy) on Turn 2 for 10 more, totaling 70 damage for 3 energy, or roughly 23.3 damage per energy over the cycle. That’s still a strong DPR (damage-per-energy) figure for a Basic Grass attacker, especially early in the match when every resource counts. ⚡

Of course, the real-world value hinges on your deck’s energy acceleration and your opponent’s responses. If you can pair Scyther with ways to retrieve or accelerate colorless energy—consider the broader toolbox of Temporal Forces or adjacent support lines—the 2-energy strike becomes a viable finisher in the right tempo-driven lineup. In slower matchups, the 60-damage attack can open a lane to evolve into more threatening threats down the road, especially when you couple it with pressure from other Basic Pokémon.

Strategic takeaways: deck-building and matchup ideas

Tempo vs. power: Use Slashing Strike to seize early lead when you’re ahead on board development. If the hand supports a quick energy spike, the 60 damage can derail an opponent’s setup before they stabilize.
Energy management: Don’t ignore Cut Up as a reliable finishing option in later turns. If you’re applying early pressure, applying 10 damage per turn with 1 energy can pare down a foe who’s stacking HP for a bigger push.
Evolving potential: Scyther’s natural evolution path to Scizor (Bug/Steel) is a nod to the broader planning window—steel-type resistances and varied energy costs can diversify your late-game options.
Metal energy synergy: While Scyther’s Grass type implies a different colorless focus, the evolving family often thrives in mixed-energy decks where tempo and threat density overlap with field control.

“Speed is not just about hitting hard; it’s about forcing your opponent to answer before they can act.” — a careful read of Scyther’s two-attack dynamic, where the 2-energy strike forces a decision on turn one, and energy can still be spent efficiently in the following turn. 🔥

Art, lore, and collector’s context

Dsuke’s illustration captures Scyther’s razor-wings in a moment of poised menace, a visual echo of the card’s strategic duality. The Temporal Forces set embraces a brisk, kinetic vibe, and Scyther’s artwork anchors that energy with a clean, legible portrayal that players appreciate on both collectability and playability fronts. For collectors, the non-holo version remains approachable, with market signals showing broader availability and steady, modest price movements. The available pricing data—an average card price of around 0.03 EUR and holo premiums—reflect a healthy, accessible corner of the market that’s perfect for new players and casual collectors alike. 💎🎴

Market value trends and practical advice

As a Common spinner within a mid-range set, Scyther tends to sit in the lower end of the market spectrum, making it a practical doorway into constructing grass-typing subtheories or simply filling out a Trainer’s bench with reliable early-game options. When planning purchases, weigh the card’s utility against the energy economy of your deck. The card’s standard-legal status means it remains a usable piece for both casual tournaments and local league play. If you’re chasing holo variants or play-primed copies, expect holo prices to skew higher, but the core non-holo stock remains a reliable entry point. 🪙

Beyond the card itself, the product ecosystem around TCG collecting—tournaments, sleeves, binders, and protective accessories—complements the Scyther journey. Speaking of protection, for players on the go, a slim, durable phone case can keep your play environment calm and organized between rounds. For example, the official product linking into this article’s footer offers a practical option for travel to events or casual meetups.

Whether you’re chasing a perfect tempo build or simply admiring the blade-dancing elegance of Scyther, the Pokémon TCG rewards a thoughtful balance of energy discipline, keen timing, and a little strategic bravado. ⚡🎨

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