SS OU OU "Tapu Sceptile" Team looking for improvement

Was bored a few days ago and came up with this team that surprisingly works well, but has a few weak spots. Anyone care to help point something out where I can change things?

Sceptile @ Electric Seed
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
- Leaf Blade
- Drain Punch

Sceptile is based on a Kommo-o build I used before, the only difference being Swords Dance and Leaf Blade in place of Belly Drum and Thunder Punch. Not the BEST set, I know, so, please care to leave suggestions! As for the item, electric seed, is to trigger unburden whilst gaining a defense boost, effectively gaining more protection and being able to outspeed a Specs Regieleki without needing ANY EVs into speed (548 < 552).

Tapu Koko @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wild Charge
- Acrobatics
- U-turn
- Taunt

Tapu Koko is mainly used as backup to support Sceptile's electric seed, so I have what I consider a somewhat simple set. Wild Charge for a good physical electric type move, as Koko doesn't have many options. Whether the opponent used an offensive move or not, Wild Charge will most likely lower Koko's HP to below 50% based on the damage roll, triggering the Sitrus berry and thus boosting the power of acrobatics. U-Turn to catch the opponent into a trap, maybe stopping a normal/fighting move with Polteageist, etc. Taunt to just stop setups/hazards after Zoroark lead if they haven't already.

Polteageist-Antique @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shell Smash
- Stored Power
- Giga Drain
- Shadow Ball

Basic Polteageist build, not much explaining needed. Shell Smash to boost stored power, giga drain, and shadow ball. Sash to stop instantly dying, unless hit by toxic or a hazard. Weak Armor to maybe get an extra speed buff for stored power. Kinda just quick setup and sweep half the team role.

Zoroark @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
- U-turn

This is where the fun begins. Lead with Zoroark disguised as Toxicroak and instantly use trick unless the opponent is also a dark type. Psychic types would instantly pounce on the opportunity, and get nullified. Fairy types would run away because of sludge bomb, and Toxicroak's overall poison type moves, and everything else is just well, in between. If neither occur, then it's most likely a setup/hazard lead, and your disguise wouldn't be broken. U-Turn out and progress, as usual, screwing with them every so often. Just be cautious if it's a poison type, may be using black sludge, which would screw over Zoroark.

Toxicroak @ Black Sludge
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Vacuum Wave
- Shadow Ball
- Nasty Plot

Pretty basic Toxicroak build in my opinion, and not the best either. Toxicroak's defense is indeed higher than Zoroark's, but Toxicroak's weaknesses are bigger and more common than Zoroark's, so in most cases, you can't even hit off a single nasty plot. Sludge Bomb for STAB, Vacuum Wave for STAB and priority, and shadow ball to deal with psychic types, if you even manage to outspeed them. Toxicroak's speed is the same as the one Kommo-o set I mentioned, however that set had a Salac berry, substitute, and belly drum, so in shorter terms, was faster, which is something Toxicroak doesn't have. Dry Skin is used to catch water types and heal in the process. (I realize I may need to swap to a physical Toxicroak)

Excadrill @ Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Rapid Spin

Not going to lie, I just slapped in Excadrill as my third improvement to the team to balance the physical and special attack moves. Previous sets were Starmie and Mr. Rime with Rapid Spin, both of which got destroyed before they could even hit off a rapid spin, usually by sucker punch Bisharp. Now, just gets hit off by Heatran. Basic tank set, and definitely need a new replacement, preferably a physical Defogger.



Overall, the team is missing a few standard immunities but is fun to use. I'll gladly take any suggestions to improve!
 
Last edited:
Hey unburden Sceptile is actually something I've used and had alot of fun with so first of all gotta love the idea this is just personally what I've used.

Tapu Koko @ Light Clay
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Taunt

Firstly screens Koko instead of offensive bc I use weakness policy Sceptile instead and I like it compared to screens Regieliki instead. It gets taunt and outspeads every hazard setter except scarf lando so helps with that too. Always Always Always use U-turn instead of volt switch I've lost and learned the hard way maybe twice bc of that. Sceptile behind screens sets up easily and the screens can help Excadrill rapid spin too.


Sceptile @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 240 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Swords Dance

Here's the Sceptile that so easily sweeps when it goes off. SD'ing infront of a U-turn mon or even Heatran works so well behind screens. Against something like Heatran it can actually eat a magma storm and get health back with drain punch. The 16 hp is to breathe a bit easier when you might have to take a big hit especially if screens are down too. Even without the last bit of speed it even still out speeds Hawlucha and ko's with thunderpunch. Thunderpunch instead of sub also takes down alot of would bc counters most prominently Volcarona. Toxapex Corviknight things of he sort also just die on sight with thunderpunch.

Cloyster @ Focus Sash
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Ice Shard
- Shell Smash

To keep a shell smasher I'd take Cloyster works well but personally not something I really like. I opt for sash instead of herb or kings rock bc it gets so easily OK'd setting up. It's strong can be fun but is hard to work with in my opinion.

To get rid of hazards I would also put in a utility zapdos or defoging Tornadous-T. They do the job of hazard checking along with checking Rilllaboom and believe me respect Rillaboom. I don't have a set on hand but they're really easy to find.

Other than that those are some key changes Lando-T instead of Zoroark lead really believe I really love Zoroark but it's really frail and I can never find any great usage for it. Finally melmetal maybe instead of Toxicroak the team does kind just die to Lele or Kartana. If you can catch Kartana in leafblade or Lele in moon Melmetal can just double iron bash everything in sight.

Really I didn't just wanna completely uproot the team I love the idea and direction but it does need some fine tuning. These are some ideas I have right now have fun today and good luck laddering.
 
Hello Lucidirus and welcome to Smogon! I love this heat team and here are some changes I would like to implement on the team:
- Tapu Koko’s and Sceptile’s sets
:ss/tapu koko: :light clay:
Tapu Koko @ Light Clay
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Taunt
:ss/sceptile: :weakness policy:
Sceptile @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 240 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Swords Dance
Like what Jaxly mentioned, it would be better to use a double screens set on Tapu Koko so that your main sweepers would have an easier time sweeping. Now that Tapu Koko is using double screens, I suggest using a Weakness Policy on Sceptile because Grass has lots of weaknesses, and the screens would help it take a supereffective attack. Additionally, Sceptile (and all pure Grass-types) have a weakness to the Bug type. A weakness to Bug means it also has a weakness to U-turn, meaning it is able to switch-in on a U-turn user like Landorus-Therian or Corviknight and start sweeping from there. Additionally, having max speed on Sceptile makes it so that Sceptile outspeeds Hawlucha after both get an Unburden boost.

- Replacing Toxicroak and Excadrill
:ss/hawlucha: :electric seed: > :ss/toxicroak: :black sludge: and :ss/landorus-therian: :focus sash: > :ss/excadrill: :leftovers:

I suggest replacing Toxicroak with Hawlucha and Excadrill with Landorus-Therian. Hawlucha is overall a better Fighting-type than Toxicroak. It is able to take advantage of both Koko’s terrain and screens, and it is also a very common pick in hyper offensive teams. I suggest replacing Excadrill with Landorus-Therian because it is able to set-up rocks, then Explode to prevent Defog.

- !! HEAT ZOROARK !!
:ss/zoroark: :electric seed:
Zoroark @ Electric Seed
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Shadow Ball
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethrower / Extrasensory
This heat Zoroark set bluffs Unburden Hawlucha or Sceptile (provided they didn’t come in already before Zoroark) and uses Nasty Plot to OHKO (or have a chance to) Hawlucha’s and Sceptile’s best checks (Toxapex, Slowbro, Tapu Koko, Zapdos). This set is so fun to use, especially when your unsuspecting opponent would switch these mons in and attempt to wall the fake Hawlucha/Sceptile. For the last moveslot, I prefer using Extrasensory on Zoroark for the extra heat and to hit Toxapex, but you can use Flamethrower instead to hit steels like Ferro and Corviknight.

Tapu Koko @ Light Clay
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Taunt

Sceptile @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 240 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Swords Dance

Polteageist-Antique @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shell Smash
- Stored Power
- Giga Drain
- Shadow Ball

Zoroark @ Electric Seed
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Shadow Ball
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethrower / Extrasensory

Landorus-Therian @ Focus Sash
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Explosion

Hawlucha @ Electric Seed
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Acrobatics
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
Hope I helped :blobwizard:
 
Last edited:
Hello Lucidirus and welcome to Smogon! I love this heat team and here are some changes I would like to implement on the team:
- Tapu Koko’s and Sceptile’s sets
:ss/tapu koko: :light clay:
Tapu Koko @ Light Clay
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Taunt
:ss/sceptile: :weakness policy:
Sceptile @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 240 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Swords Dance
Like what Jaxly mentioned, it would be better to use a double screens set on Tapu Koko so that your main sweepers would have an easier time sweeping. Now that Tapu Koko is using double screens, I suggest using a Weakness Policy on Sceptile because Grass has lots of weaknesses, and the screens would help it take a supereffective attack. Additionally, Sceptile (and all pure Grass-types) have a weakness to the Bug type. A weakness to Bug means it also has a weakness to U-turn, meaning it is able to switch-in on a U-turn user like Landorus-Therian or Corviknight and start sweeping from there. Additionally, having max speed on Sceptile makes it so that Sceptile outspeeds Hawlucha after both get an Unburden boost.

- Replacing Toxicroak and Excadrill
:ss/hawlucha: :electric seed: > :ss/toxicroak: :black sludge: and :ss/landorus-therian: :focus sash: > :ss/excadrill: :leftovers:

I suggest replacing Toxicroak with Hawlucha and Excadrill with Landorus-Therian. Hawlucha is overall a better Fighting-type than Toxicroak. It is able to take advantage of both Koko’s terrain and screens, and it is also a very common pick in hyper offensive teams. I suggest replacing Excadrill with Landorus-Therian because it is able to set-up rocks, then Explode to prevent Defog.

- !! HEAT ZOROARK !!
:ss/zoroark: :electric seed:
Zoroark @ Electric Seed
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Shadow Ball
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethrower / Extrasensory
This heat Zoroark set bluffs Unburden Hawlucha or Sceptile (provided they didn’t come in already before Zoroark) and uses Nasty Plot to OHKO (or have a chance to) Hawlucha’s and Sceptile’s best checks (Toxapex, Slowbro, Tapu Koko, Zapdos). This set is so fun to use, especially when your unsuspecting opponent would switch these mons in and attempt to wall the fake Hawlucha/Sceptile. For the last moveslot, I prefer using Extrasensory on Zoroark for the extra heat and to hit Toxapex, but you can use Flamethrower instead to hit steels like Ferro and Corviknight.

Tapu Koko @ Light Clay
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Taunt

Sceptile @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 240 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Swords Dance

Polteageist-Antique @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shell Smash
- Stored Power
- Giga Drain
- Shadow Ball

Zoroark @ Life Orb
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Shadow Ball
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethrower / Extrasensory

Landorus-Therian @ Focus Sash
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Explosion

Hawlucha @ Electric Seed
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Acrobatics
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
Hope I helped :blobwizard:

I do agree that Landorus-T is a better choice in place of Excadrill, and I do see the reasoning behind swapping Toxicroak for Hawlucha (Insane base speed and decent attack power). I didn't really think of using a screens Koko, mainly since I wanted a more offensive one. However, with weakness policy that validates the use for screens Koko in my team. Ran your revised team through a good few rounds, worked out really well excluding the fact that I don't have a defogger anymore. Thanks for the help!
 
Last edited:
Hey unburden Sceptile is actually something I've used and had alot of fun with so first of all gotta love the idea this is just personally what I've used.

Tapu Koko @ Light Clay
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Taunt

Firstly screens Koko instead of offensive bc I use weakness policy Sceptile instead and I like it compared to screens Regieliki instead. It gets taunt and outspeads every hazard setter except scarf lando so helps with that too. Always Always Always use U-turn instead of volt switch I've lost and learned the hard way maybe twice bc of that. Sceptile behind screens sets up easily and the screens can help Excadrill rapid spin too.


Sceptile @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 240 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Swords Dance

Here's the Sceptile that so easily sweeps when it goes off. SD'ing infront of a U-turn mon or even Heatran works so well behind screens. Against something like Heatran it can actually eat a magma storm and get health back with drain punch. The 16 hp is to breathe a bit easier when you might have to take a big hit especially if screens are down too. Even without the last bit of speed it even still out speeds Hawlucha and ko's with thunderpunch. Thunderpunch instead of sub also takes down alot of would bc counters most prominently Volcarona. Toxapex Corviknight things of he sort also just die on sight with thunderpunch.

Cloyster @ Focus Sash
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Ice Shard
- Shell Smash

To keep a shell smasher I'd take Cloyster works well but personally not something I really like. I opt for sash instead of herb or kings rock bc it gets so easily OK'd setting up. It's strong can be fun but is hard to work with in my opinion.

To get rid of hazards I would also put in a utility zapdos or defoging Tornadous-T. They do the job of hazard checking along with checking Rilllaboom and believe me respect Rillaboom. I don't have a set on hand but they're really easy to find.

Other than that those are some key changes Lando-T instead of Zoroark lead really believe I really love Zoroark but it's really frail and I can never find any great usage for it. Finally melmetal maybe instead of Toxicroak the team does kind just die to Lele or Kartana. If you can catch Kartana in leafblade or Lele in moon Melmetal can just double iron bash everything in sight.

Really I didn't just wanna completely uproot the team I love the idea and direction but it does need some fine tuning. These are some ideas I have right now have fun today and good luck laddering.

Must say, swapping to Cloyster for Polteageist did change the team quite a bit. After Sceptile accidentally killed a Flareon that was meant to trigger Weakness Policy, it got killed by a dual wingbeat, and then Cloyster came in and just killed the rest of the team.

Screens Koko definitely helps a lot, especially with Weakness Policy Sceptile. Saved me from Draco Meteor OKOs, Flare Blitz OKOs, and more.

Melmetal definitely does pack a punch, and

Tornadus-T and Landorus-T definitely benefit the team quite a bit with rocks and defog.

Whilst the team has changed a bit, I have ran into a few deadends with things such as Ferrothorn being swapped in and unable to swap out late game, cancelling any chance of kicking off Unburden and Weakness Policy together. Overall, good changes to the team. I would've loved if Zoroark stayed in, but you can't keep everything.
 
Back
Top