With its blazing Speed and relatively high Special Attack that allows it to take out the likes of Suicune, Mega Salamence, Garchomp, and Rotom-W, Mega Sceptile makes for an efficient revenge killer and late-game cleaner in the Battle Spot Singles metagame. Lightning Rod gives Mega Sceptile immunity to Electric-type moves and a Special Attack boost if it switches into one. Additionally, Mega Sceptile's resulting immunity to Thunder Wave is a huge boon for it by completely removing one of the primary methods to lower its Speed, its greatest asset. Mega Sceptile's secondary typing in Dragon is a huge benefit, as it grants it a secondary STAB type to utilize, removes its weakness to Fire, and gives it a 4x resistance to Water, improving its matchup against the likes of Heatran and Rotom-H. However, Mega Sceptile's typing also gives it a 4x weakness to Ice and new weaknesses to Dragon and Fairy. Mega Sceptile is also quite frail, and the prevalence of priority in Battle Spot Singles gives it a disadvantage against common Pokemon such as Talonflame, Kangaskhan, and Mamoswine. Although Grass / Dragon has decent coverage on its own, Mega Sceptile's STAB moves are walled by Steel-types such as Aegislash, Mega Mawile, Ferrothorn, and Heatran, making its role at cleaning teams a lot more difficult. Even with a high base Special Attack of 145, Mega Sceptile fails to beat the common walls and bulky Pokemon of Battle Spot such as Cresselia, Porygon2, and specially defensive Thundurus.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Dragon Pulse
move 3: Focus Blast / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Protect / Substitute
item: Sceptilite
ability: Overgrow
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leaf Storm is Mega Sceptile's strongest STAB move and allows it to OHKO the likes of Suicune, Rotom-W, Azumarill, and Mamoswine. Dragon Pulse is Mega Sceptile’s secondary STAB attack, hitting many Pokemon that resist Grass for neutral or super effective damage such as Salamence, Gengar, Thundurus, and Hydreigon. Focus Blast allows Mega Sceptile to hit the Steel-types that its STAB moves fail to hit effectively, such as Heatran and Ferrothorn. It also OHKOes Mega Kangaskhan, which is quite noteworthy. Hidden Power Fire provides similar coverage, hitting Ferrothorn and Scizor very hard while also hitting Aegislash and Mega Mawile. Protect can be used for scouting and to get the Speed boost from Sceptile's Mega Evolution right away so it can outspeed threats to its base forme such as Greninja, Mega Gengar, and Mega Lopunny. When facing a Pokemon that cannot do much to Mega Sceptile, such as Rotom-W, Slowbro, or Suicune, Mega Sceptile can utilize Substitute when predicting a switch to give itself a shield against attacks and status moves.
Set Details
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Sceptilite is mandatory for Sceptile, as it is really mediocre outside of its Mega forme and should not be used when going on the offensive. Overgrow is used over Unburden because Mega Sceptile cannot make use of Unburden at all while holding a Mega Stone. Maximum Special Attack and Speed with a Timid nature allows Mega Sceptile to hit fast and hard. Maximum Speed on this moveset greatly improves Mega Sceptile's matchup against Adamant Choice Scarf Landorus-T, letting it outspeed it by a small margin. If coverage is preferred on the team, Mega Sceptile can forgo both of the moves in the last slot for a coverage move such as Earthquake or Rock Slide. If it does, Mega Sceptile should utilize a Naive nature so as to not hinder its Attack stat. If Hidden Power Fire is used, an EV spread of 248 SpA / 12 SpD / 248 Spe should be used for maximum efficiency along with 30 Speed IVs. Note that Mega Sceptile then will not be able to Speed tie with opposing Mega Sceptile and Mega Beedrill, although they are uncommon, so the Speed loss does not put it at a great disadvantage.
Usage Tips
========
Once brought on the field, Sceptile should immediately Mega Evolve to get its new Speed tier the following turn and hit harder with its increased stats. Mega Sceptile is used best during the late-game when everything is softened up and weakened, using its Speed to clean up the remaining Pokemon on the opponent's team. Mega Sceptile is a great revenge killer and should be used as such whenever given the chance. It does not appreciate switching even into some attacks it resists such as Ground, as it is quite frail, so one should be cautious before switching it in into a resisted move. However, Mega Sceptile does not mind switching into types it resists extremely well, such as Scald from a bulky Water-type like Suicune. Mega Sceptile does not mind the potential burn if not running a physical move and can likely retaliate with a quick Leaf Storm for the OHKO. However, note that Mega Sceptile fails to OHKO Suicune with Leaf Storm after a Calm Mind boost, so proper scouting for Calm Mind on Suicune is greatly recommended before switching into it. Mega Sceptile loves to switch into Electric-type moves from the likes of Rotom-W, Raikou, Mega Manectric, and Thundurus. However, one should scout for Hidden Power Ice variants of Rotom-W before switching in and be wary of possible Hidden Power Ice on the switch from the latter three Pokemon.
Team Options
========
Talonflame appreciates having bulky Water-types moved from the battlefield, which Sceptile is capable of doing; in return, it takes out major threats to Mega Sceptile such as Blaziken and Mega Heracross. Heatran and Rotom-H both have great type synergy with Sceptile and take care of Talonflame and Steel-types like Aegislash and Mawile. Mega Sceptile checks a majority of the Pokemon that Azumarill dislikes such as Mega Salamence and Rotom-W, while Azumarill can set up and have an easier time sweeping weakened teams. Substitute + Toxic Aegislash defeats the Fairies and walls that Mega Sceptile hates such as Sylveon, Mega Gardevoir, Cresselia, and Porygon2. In return, Mega Sceptile handles the Ground-types that Aegislash has a disadvantage against. Mamoswine and Landorus-T help with the issues Mega Sceptile has against Thundurus and Aegislash and are also able to provide Stealth Rock to hinder threatening Pokemon to Mega Sceptile such as Talonflame and Dragonite. Landorus-T is also able to provide momentum for Mega Sceptile with a combination of U-turn and Intimidate. In return, Mega Sceptile deals with the bulky Water-types that Mamoswine and Landorus-T struggle with. Gyarados or Suicune is a nice teammate to have to deal with Mamoswine, Talonflame, Blaziken, and Kangaskhan with Rocky Helmet, while Mega Sceptile resists Grass and is immune to Electric with Lightning Rod. Zapdos helps check Flying-types like Talonflame for Mega Sceptile and provides momentum for it with Volt Switch. Sceptile does Zapdos some favors as well by helping check Pokemon like Hippowdon and Mega Tyranitar, both of which Zapdos has a disadvantage against. Tyranitar helps deal with Gengar by Pursuit trapping it and dealing with Flying-types such as Talonflame, Mega Charizard Y, and Zapdos, which all prove to be problems for Mega Sceptile. Tyranitar also appreciates having bulky Water-types removed from the match. Mega Sceptile often has unfavorable matchups in the Battle Spot Singles metagame, so running a second Mega Pokemon is a good idea. In particular, Mega Kangaskhan and Mega Mawile are good choice for when the team has an unfavorable matchup against Fairy-types. Meanwhile, Mega Sceptile can be brought into matches where it can dispose of the threats to Mega Kangaskhan and Mega Mawile, such as Hippowdon and Suicune.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rock Slide can be used to OHKO Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona, both of which threaten Mega Sceptile otherwise, as well as OHKO Talonflame on the switch. The 30% flinch chance can be utilized to great effect as well with Mega Sceptile's impressive base 145 Speed. Earthquake can be used to hit Steel-types like Heatran, Aegislash, Mega Mawile, and Mega Lucario. Energy Ball or Giga Drain can be used for a more reliable Grass-type STAB move in the last moveslot, but these two moves generally do not see much use, as Mega Sceptile is meant to hit hard and fast. SubSeed Sceptile can be used to drain the opposing Pokemon’s HP to bring them into the KO range of one of its STAB moves. However, Mega Sceptile lacks the bulk to do this with great effectiveness. A physical moveset of Swords Dance / Leaf Blade / Earthquake with a filler move is a possibility, but Mega Sceptile lacks the bulk to set up and still lacks the wallbreaking power it wants after a boost.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Priority Moves**: Mega Sceptile's frailty and weakness to priority moves such as Talonflame's Brave Bird and Ice Shard from the likes of Mamoswine, Cloyster, and Weavile means that these Pokemon prove to be effective checks to it. Mega Sceptile fears strong priority from the likes of Lucario, Scizor, and Dragonite as well.
**Aegislash**: Aegislash resists both of Mega Sceptile's STAB types and takes little damage from Earthquake while in Shield forme. It can then either 2HKO with Shadow Ball or OHKO with Hidden Power Ice.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types have the benefit of resisting both of Mega Sceptile's STAB types, and most can take advantage of its frailty. Such Pokemon include Heatran, Scizor, and Ferrothorn.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Mega Heracross takes a hit from Mega Sceptile and OHKOes it with Pin Missile. Specially defensive Thundurus is capable of taking a few hits from Mega Sceptile and can 2HKO with Hidden Power Ice. Cresselia and Porygon2 both stomach hits from Mega Sceptile and can use Ice Beam to either 2HKO or OHKO, respectively. Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y can take a hit and KO Mega Sceptile or set up in Volcarona's case if Mega Sceptile lacks Rock Slide. Mega Venusaur is capable of taking a few hits from Mega Sceptile and OHKOes with Sludge Bomb.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Garchomp, Mega Blaziken, Mega Gengar, and Greninja all outspeed Sceptile before it Mega Evolves and OHKO Mega Sceptile with relative ease. However, the use of Protect to safely get the Speed boost from Sceptile's Mega Evolution allows it to outspeed them and get the upper hand.
**Fairy-types**: Mega Mawile resists both of Mega Sceptile's STAB types and OHKOes it Play Rough. Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir can take a Leaf Storm and OHKO with Hyper Voice. Mega Sceptile gets walled hard by Mega Altaria if lacking Hidden Power Ice, and Mega Altaria can easily OHKO or set up on it. Albeit a little uncommon, Sap Sipper Azumarill is capable of walling Mega Sceptile's STAB moves completely.
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