Hey everyone. I am back again with another team which is a pseudodragmag team consisting of my man Mega Sceptile, Magnezone, Zapdos, Ursuluna, Quaqaval and Tapu Lele. I first played 2 games on one my main accounts called Windwaxer 5 and I reached a max elo of 1705. Then I created another test account and played on a test account named Wengerwills. I wanted to test this team on the lower ladder to see if I can make top 500 by starting from the bottom on 14th February 2025 with that team and I achieved it by hitting 1654. On the test account, I played 54 games and won 40 of them. Now of course hax happened where I lost some games and even won some games too because of it but it is what it is. Now lets get to the explanation of the team.
Mega Sceptile - I am of course a huge fanboy and its my favourite mega and I have been using him since eternity. However, I know of its strengths and weaknesses and I have played to its strenghts often. Its strenghts are straightforward - high speed and special attack and the ability to outspeed and one shot several fast mons on the tier - like Tapu Koko - Leaf Storm, Dragapult - Dragon Pulse, Mega Lopunny - Focus Blast and Leaf Storm ,(if I got a higher role), Mega Diancie - any special grass move. In addition, it can put in work against some defensive mons like Dondozo and Alamamola. Of course, it has flaws because it cant break many special walls or mons with high spdef, if it can't hit them super effectively. So we have the other teammates who can deal with them. Dragon Pulse is Dragon stab, Leaf Storm is the strong special move we need, Giga Drain is damage and recovery and one shotting Mega Diancie and Greninja. Focus Blast is to one shot Kingambit who thinks it can come in and get bammed. Of course, it can miss but thats the case with any mon that uses focus blast. It also hits Ferrothorn hard and Heatran too. Straightforward ev spread with 252 Spa and 252 speed with timid and it reaches a speed stat of 427 and even outspeeds Jolly Dragonite at +1 speed. Lightningrod allows it to block volt switch.
Zapdos - This is my bulky attacker who can take physical hits when needed. I have gone max HP, some evs in special attack and some evs in defence to take phys hits better and the speed is for outspeeding adamant rillaboom. Hurricane for flying stab, Heat Wave for Mega Scizor and Melm and Discharge for paras. Roost is for recovery. Static for paras and boots are to ignore rocks while switching. This can deal with Zamazenta and other fighting types in a pinch.
Ursuluna - Ursuluna is the stall breaker of the team. I have gone for 4 attacks with flame orb - Facade for stab and hits like a truck, Earthquake stab and strong in general, Fire Punch for steels and Ice Punch for Lando and Gliscor and even Dragonite. Ursuluna hits so hard that I felt there is no need for an SD. I have gone for adamant max attack, 216 speed to outspeed base 45s and 40 evs in HP to soften some hits. This is also the electric immunity before Sceptile mega evolves.
Tapu Lele - This is my scarfer and special attacker with a second form of speed control - Psychic and Psyshock are strong stabs for psychic. I went for Moonblast and Focus Blast in the other slots as Focus Blast with for Mega Tyranitar and Kingambit and Heatran. Moonblast is stab and Psyshock is for Glowking. Standard scarf spread for Timid. Lele also blocks priority which is useful for Mega Sceptile.
Magnezone - This is my trapper for annoying steels like Ferrothorn and Corviknight (the big one). I hate Corvknight so much that I wanted this mon to be removed on priority. It also helps trap defensive mega scizor and even Kingambit on occasion. I can also get a big hit on Melmetal too. Ev spread is modest with 8 HP evs which I think is to live a sacred sword from Kartana. Trapping of steels helps mega sceptile to make progress in a battle. Z move is for instant killing of many of these steels. An Ice resist too.
Quaquaval - This mon is my hazard removal. I tried to fit great tusk but it just wasnt good enough to take special hits so I went with AV Quqaval here with Rapid Spin to remove hazards, Knock off for items and and Aqua Step for stab and CC for stab. The ev spread is to KO blissey with CC most of the time and to outspeed base 110s after a rapid spin and to live a moonblast from mega diancie. An ice resist too.
The Team - https://pokepast.es/f84e9e290b7e3dd8
Replays -
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300524692-q4w3v0lmo3j2nu1uw0y5croq6v7vcohpw - Proof of Peak 1705 vs Mega Heracross + Corv
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300518296-a6a2gjs3j9250x6xlrscuosx20rclw9pw - Vs Dragonspam and AV Torn
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300680222-2ph526j0atsyic96ohxe3pvtovf7lvopw?p2 1654 peak on test account vs HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300601888-qmcvjxpd32165xyopb2jsk9oc9rye9upw?p2 vs HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300601661-4rlm6tihot9p8b0dxv98tf1bou4g6sdpw?p2 vs Mega Tyranitar and Alamamola and Mega Sceptile clean up
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300598428-8y0pkfsoer3bbplwh0tjnd99dp7uhpgpw vs 1800 opp
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300591799-sgi7tqbxt4a4r4qankhdvknpdq59enjpw?p2 vs Alo and Mega Venusaur
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300588945-0d3mf5gpquvothg3k5iorbcmijliomapw vs Hazard stack HO and where Luna checked DD Pult
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300587673-mjvbdxce5l8om335at7wk7etkbe7hilpw vs Rain
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300586727-w6ahxulx09uya54rp8ajv0n0d3jj1a6pw?p2 - Mega Sceptile hattrick taking out Dragapult and hitting 2 focus blast on Heatran and taking out a weakened Zadpos
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300582352-8tuykrxhbd1i75dpve08qi4vwpduw3opw?p2 - Vs hsam offence
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300585628-5jgcrh3x64st8wo0txa26jbhp9cva80pw vs Mega Lop and Clod
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300579854-sywqeyh1sg01gtpuhkcp7xsi8s7ej3gpw?p2
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300565795-v4hpfxipoo9tpxtujj0d9bftuyy9d1apw?p2 - Mega Diancie getting trolled and early forfeit
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300567726-vq2g64thg4vj4lyngohq0gngwos54uapw?p2 vs Webs Zard Y
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300549786-1qs0suwlsqep2an75l4n7jq3qejcsyapw vs Zard X
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300575901-0rnm3vyecrsjllqxqatxakxrv2r4phhpw?p2 vs specs moltres
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300566089-39irkrv17bvp7tpdgpu9wfjulcrbxp9pw turn 1 forfteits
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300571934-g071iobersxpfwyp20a9uipv7k0vbv6pw vs Mega Lop
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300547683-7ddmrjwpngocar07latmgygsyb1hqampw vs Zard Y but killed it before it mega evolved
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300579854-sywqeyh1sg01gtpuhkcp7xsi8s7ej3gpw?p2 - Mega Sceptile cleaning up
I also stupidly forgot to save a replay where my Mega Sceptile killed a Tapu Koko on turn 1 with Leaf Storm and Ursuluna did 90 percent to a moltres with facade and we won that game too.
Screenshots showing records
Threats
Defensive
Mega Venusaur - I havent seen it too much but one of my defeats came against it as I have only a choice locked mon against it and stuffs my team.
Teleport Chansey - When I faced it on a sun team i struggled vs it.
Offensive
Raging Bolt - Switching into it is difficult and I would have to gamble a bit against it. I can deal with it offensively though Lele and Mega Sceptile.
Zard Y - Kinda - I have to lead Quaq vs it and Aqua Step it otherwise it threatens my entire team and I cant switch into it directly.
Rain (somewhat) - I have to manage my gameplan vs rain sufficiently and have to also hope for a static paras.
Ogerpon wellspring (kinda) - Again I dont many safe switch ins vs it. I had to play aggressively vs it but I didnt loose to much to it.
Z Celebrate Victini - On Paper this is a pretty big threat so I have to play aggressively vs it for fish for Discharge Paras.
Sash spam on psychic terrain - Yes this is pretty rare and i never faced it but i could struggle vs Polteageist and Cerluledge on psy terrain.
Additional Note - I never faced stall on the ladder with this team so i cant make a judgment on what would happen vs stall.
Conclusion - All in all the record with this team is 42 wins out of 56 games. 40 wins out of 54 in the Wengerwills account and 2 wins in the Windwaxer 5 account. So that is 75% of wins. I was hardpressed and was thinking of running great tusk with helmet for spinning and removing hazards and keeping rocks but it was tough to fit in as I needed an ice resist. I went with Luna to deal with the stall match up better which meant forgoing rocks. I found this team easy for laddering purpose and it worked out well. I am open to constructive criticism of the team and feedback for the team. Basically I am open to replacing two slots on the team i.e Ursuluna and Quaqaval. I am also open to replacing Zapdos with a ground immunity. But I want to still keep the Lele, Mega Sceptile and Magnezone core. I am also open to tweaking movesets or ev spreads on my current team.
Mega Sceptile - I am of course a huge fanboy and its my favourite mega and I have been using him since eternity. However, I know of its strengths and weaknesses and I have played to its strenghts often. Its strenghts are straightforward - high speed and special attack and the ability to outspeed and one shot several fast mons on the tier - like Tapu Koko - Leaf Storm, Dragapult - Dragon Pulse, Mega Lopunny - Focus Blast and Leaf Storm ,(if I got a higher role), Mega Diancie - any special grass move. In addition, it can put in work against some defensive mons like Dondozo and Alamamola. Of course, it has flaws because it cant break many special walls or mons with high spdef, if it can't hit them super effectively. So we have the other teammates who can deal with them. Dragon Pulse is Dragon stab, Leaf Storm is the strong special move we need, Giga Drain is damage and recovery and one shotting Mega Diancie and Greninja. Focus Blast is to one shot Kingambit who thinks it can come in and get bammed. Of course, it can miss but thats the case with any mon that uses focus blast. It also hits Ferrothorn hard and Heatran too. Straightforward ev spread with 252 Spa and 252 speed with timid and it reaches a speed stat of 427 and even outspeeds Jolly Dragonite at +1 speed. Lightningrod allows it to block volt switch.
Zapdos - This is my bulky attacker who can take physical hits when needed. I have gone max HP, some evs in special attack and some evs in defence to take phys hits better and the speed is for outspeeding adamant rillaboom. Hurricane for flying stab, Heat Wave for Mega Scizor and Melm and Discharge for paras. Roost is for recovery. Static for paras and boots are to ignore rocks while switching. This can deal with Zamazenta and other fighting types in a pinch.
Ursuluna - Ursuluna is the stall breaker of the team. I have gone for 4 attacks with flame orb - Facade for stab and hits like a truck, Earthquake stab and strong in general, Fire Punch for steels and Ice Punch for Lando and Gliscor and even Dragonite. Ursuluna hits so hard that I felt there is no need for an SD. I have gone for adamant max attack, 216 speed to outspeed base 45s and 40 evs in HP to soften some hits. This is also the electric immunity before Sceptile mega evolves.
Tapu Lele - This is my scarfer and special attacker with a second form of speed control - Psychic and Psyshock are strong stabs for psychic. I went for Moonblast and Focus Blast in the other slots as Focus Blast with for Mega Tyranitar and Kingambit and Heatran. Moonblast is stab and Psyshock is for Glowking. Standard scarf spread for Timid. Lele also blocks priority which is useful for Mega Sceptile.
Magnezone - This is my trapper for annoying steels like Ferrothorn and Corviknight (the big one). I hate Corvknight so much that I wanted this mon to be removed on priority. It also helps trap defensive mega scizor and even Kingambit on occasion. I can also get a big hit on Melmetal too. Ev spread is modest with 8 HP evs which I think is to live a sacred sword from Kartana. Trapping of steels helps mega sceptile to make progress in a battle. Z move is for instant killing of many of these steels. An Ice resist too.
Quaquaval - This mon is my hazard removal. I tried to fit great tusk but it just wasnt good enough to take special hits so I went with AV Quqaval here with Rapid Spin to remove hazards, Knock off for items and and Aqua Step for stab and CC for stab. The ev spread is to KO blissey with CC most of the time and to outspeed base 110s after a rapid spin and to live a moonblast from mega diancie. An ice resist too.
The Team - https://pokepast.es/f84e9e290b7e3dd8
Replays -
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300524692-q4w3v0lmo3j2nu1uw0y5croq6v7vcohpw - Proof of Peak 1705 vs Mega Heracross + Corv
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300518296-a6a2gjs3j9250x6xlrscuosx20rclw9pw - Vs Dragonspam and AV Torn
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300680222-2ph526j0atsyic96ohxe3pvtovf7lvopw?p2 1654 peak on test account vs HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300601888-qmcvjxpd32165xyopb2jsk9oc9rye9upw?p2 vs HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300601661-4rlm6tihot9p8b0dxv98tf1bou4g6sdpw?p2 vs Mega Tyranitar and Alamamola and Mega Sceptile clean up
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300598428-8y0pkfsoer3bbplwh0tjnd99dp7uhpgpw vs 1800 opp
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300591799-sgi7tqbxt4a4r4qankhdvknpdq59enjpw?p2 vs Alo and Mega Venusaur
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300588945-0d3mf5gpquvothg3k5iorbcmijliomapw vs Hazard stack HO and where Luna checked DD Pult
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300587673-mjvbdxce5l8om335at7wk7etkbe7hilpw vs Rain
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300586727-w6ahxulx09uya54rp8ajv0n0d3jj1a6pw?p2 - Mega Sceptile hattrick taking out Dragapult and hitting 2 focus blast on Heatran and taking out a weakened Zadpos
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300582352-8tuykrxhbd1i75dpve08qi4vwpduw3opw?p2 - Vs hsam offence
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300585628-5jgcrh3x64st8wo0txa26jbhp9cva80pw vs Mega Lop and Clod
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300579854-sywqeyh1sg01gtpuhkcp7xsi8s7ej3gpw?p2
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300565795-v4hpfxipoo9tpxtujj0d9bftuyy9d1apw?p2 - Mega Diancie getting trolled and early forfeit
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300567726-vq2g64thg4vj4lyngohq0gngwos54uapw?p2 vs Webs Zard Y
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300549786-1qs0suwlsqep2an75l4n7jq3qejcsyapw vs Zard X
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300575901-0rnm3vyecrsjllqxqatxakxrv2r4phhpw?p2 vs specs moltres
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300566089-39irkrv17bvp7tpdgpu9wfjulcrbxp9pw turn 1 forfteits
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300571934-g071iobersxpfwyp20a9uipv7k0vbv6pw vs Mega Lop
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300547683-7ddmrjwpngocar07latmgygsyb1hqampw vs Zard Y but killed it before it mega evolved
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2300579854-sywqeyh1sg01gtpuhkcp7xsi8s7ej3gpw?p2 - Mega Sceptile cleaning up
I also stupidly forgot to save a replay where my Mega Sceptile killed a Tapu Koko on turn 1 with Leaf Storm and Ursuluna did 90 percent to a moltres with facade and we won that game too.
Screenshots showing records
Threats
Defensive
Mega Venusaur - I havent seen it too much but one of my defeats came against it as I have only a choice locked mon against it and stuffs my team.
Teleport Chansey - When I faced it on a sun team i struggled vs it.
Offensive
Raging Bolt - Switching into it is difficult and I would have to gamble a bit against it. I can deal with it offensively though Lele and Mega Sceptile.
Zard Y - Kinda - I have to lead Quaq vs it and Aqua Step it otherwise it threatens my entire team and I cant switch into it directly.
Rain (somewhat) - I have to manage my gameplan vs rain sufficiently and have to also hope for a static paras.
Ogerpon wellspring (kinda) - Again I dont many safe switch ins vs it. I had to play aggressively vs it but I didnt loose to much to it.
Z Celebrate Victini - On Paper this is a pretty big threat so I have to play aggressively vs it for fish for Discharge Paras.
Sash spam on psychic terrain - Yes this is pretty rare and i never faced it but i could struggle vs Polteageist and Cerluledge on psy terrain.
Additional Note - I never faced stall on the ladder with this team so i cant make a judgment on what would happen vs stall.
Conclusion - All in all the record with this team is 42 wins out of 56 games. 40 wins out of 54 in the Wengerwills account and 2 wins in the Windwaxer 5 account. So that is 75% of wins. I was hardpressed and was thinking of running great tusk with helmet for spinning and removing hazards and keeping rocks but it was tough to fit in as I needed an ice resist. I went with Luna to deal with the stall match up better which meant forgoing rocks. I found this team easy for laddering purpose and it worked out well. I am open to constructive criticism of the team and feedback for the team. Basically I am open to replacing two slots on the team i.e Ursuluna and Quaqaval. I am also open to replacing Zapdos with a ground immunity. But I want to still keep the Lele, Mega Sceptile and Magnezone core. I am also open to tweaking movesets or ev spreads on my current team.
