>>55533017Onix doesn't have the enregy of an early game shitmon, and it can't evolve without trading so for many players it will remain an early game shitmon if they want to carry it forward.
Sandshrew and Ekans are just straight "it gets bigger", so they are not the same at all. Abrok is a straight upgrade from Ekans, Onix has significantly different archetype and stat distribution.
A better comparison would be mons that undergo significant metamorphosis like Trapinch and Nincada, but both of those do actually feel like first forms, and they are both regular levelup evos.
But the best comparison would be, yes, Scyther, but also Clamperl, the latter of which is a shitmon at its core but with its item it's got effectively 190 SpA which boosts it right up to its evos in terms of base stat totals. Onix doesn't have such a nuke of an item, it's stuck being a shitmon with no potential, wasting both a mon that you can catch and a "fast weak rock/ground" archetype.
Also Clamperl has higher attack than Onix lmao 
