How To Get TM81 X-Scissor in Pokémon Platinum

by Chris Haygood

You can find copies of TM81 X-Scissor in two locations in Pokémon Platinum:

One copy is on Route 221, close to Pal Park. Reaching this location for the first time requires Surf.
Unlimited copies can be purchased at the Battle Frontier. Each copy costs 64 BP, which are earned by fighting in the Battle Frontier’s various facilities.

X-Scissor is a damage-dealing Bug-type physical move. It is a basic attack with no secondary effects.

TM81 X-Scissor Locations

Location #1: Route 221 (Step-by-Step)

TM81 X-Scissor’s primary location on the Town Map.

The earliest obtainable copy of TM81 X-Scissor is on Route 221, southeast of Sandgem Town.

To access the TM’s location here you need to first defeat Leader Wake for the Fen Badge and get the Hidden Move Surf from Celestic Town.

Once you have a Pokémon in your party that can use Surf, you’re good to go.

Fly (or walk back) to Sandgem Town and head east from the Pokémon Center.

Heading east from Sandgem Town’s Pokémon Center.

Turn south at the east side of town and head for the beach.

Moving south to reach Sandgem’s coast.

At the coastline, use Surf.

Continue traveling southward on the water on Route 219.

Using Surf to skim across the water.

Walk over the tiny island where the Tuber kids are playing, then use Surf again on the other side.

Passing the Tuber trainers while traveling southward.

When the path becomes split up by boulders, take either side.

Tip: The right-hand path is a bit less complicated than the left, but both sides will get you to the TM.

Surfing onto the right-hand path.

Turn to the east when possible. This will put you on Route 220.

Turning eastward onto Route 220.

Head east past the trainers of Route 220.

Passing a Swimmer trainer while heading eastward.

When the paths merge again, head for the land to the east.

Traveling east after the two paths merge.

Climb onto the stretch of land where the Fisherman NPC is standing.

Stepping back on land near a fisherman NPC.

Go east and take the southern path through some grass, and resume journeying to the east.

Traveling east through grass.

If you’re on the correct path, you will pass by a Berry plot just above you.

Continuing east past the Berry plot.

Eventually you will come to a clearing with a Poké Ball item in the middle.

Entering the clearing where TM81 X-Scissor is found.

Pick up this item to obtain TM81 X-Scissor.

Obtaining TM81 X-Scissor.

This is the only free copy of TM81 X-Scissor in the game. Getting more copies of this TM will be very costly, so it is recommended that you put a lot of thought into how you use this first one.

Location #2: Battle Frontier

TM81 X-Scissor’s second location on the Town Map.

Multiple copies of TM81 can be purchased from the TM seller in the Battle Frontier’s Exchange Service Corner.

This method requires you to have defeated the Pokémon League Champion and been entered into the Hall of Fame. So this location is only accessible in the post-game.

A ship from Snowpoint City will then be available to bring you to the Battle Zone’s Fight Area.

The Battle Frontier is the large building directly northeast of the Fight Area’s Pokémon Center.

Entering the Battle Frontier from the Fight Area Pokémon Center.

Pass through the entrance hall and head through the big door to the north.

Cutting through the Battle Frontier’s entrance hall.

A bunch of shops are gathered in the center of the next room. This little marketplace is the Exchange Service Corner.

Speak to the clerk in the southeastern shop with the red and white striped canopy.

Approaching the TM seller at the Service Exchange Corner.

Scroll through her inventory until you find the listing for TM81 X-Scissor.

TM81 X-Scissor’s listing at the Exchange Service Corner.

TM81 X-Scissor is one of the most expensive items at the Battle Frontier. Each copy costs 64 BP, and you can only get BP by winning at Battle Frontier’s various battle facilities.

X-Scissor Details and Uses

In-game description of TM81 X-Scissor.

X-Scissor is a Bug-type physical move. It deals fairly decent damage but has no secondary effects.

X-Scissor Move Details
Type	Bug
Category	Physical
Power	80
Accuracy	100%
PP	15 (max. 24)

There aren’t many Bug-type physical moves in Platinum. And with a base power of 80 and 100% accuracy, X-Scissor is about as well-rounded as they get.

Its decent strength and no added frills makes this a good move to land reliable super-effective hits to tricky Dark- and Psychic-type Pokémon.

With that said:

X-Scissor is a good move, but there are arguably better options.

U-Turn has a slightly lower base power of 70, but it has the added benefit of allowing the user both to attack and switch out of battle in the same turn. It also works well with a Choice Band, which adds 50% to the move’s base power and doesn’t lock the user into the one move (due to the switch).

X-Scissor can do the job well too, though, if all you need is a decent Bug attack with no surprises.

Miscellaneous Info about X-Scissor:

TM81 X-Scissor can be sold for 1,500 PokéDollars, although it isn’t recommended due to its scarcity.
If X-Scissor is used in a Pokémon Contest, it will earn the user 2 Appeal Points, plus 2 bonus Appeal Points if the user acts first in that turn.

BACK TO THE MAIN GAME Pokémon Platinum Full Strategy Guide

Guide Navigation

Pokémon Platinum
- How To Get TM81 X-Scissor in Pokémon Platinum

Chris Haygood

270 articles

Chris is an American freelance writer and lifelong gamer. RPGs have been his genre of choice ever since he got Pokémon Blue in 1867, but if he finds a good rhythm game, he will prioritize playing it over both eating and breathing.

View Writer's Posts →