[OVERVIEW]
Mega Sceptile, despite possessing incredible Speed and Special Attack, finds itself outclassed in almost every way as a special attacker in the DOU metagame, paling in comparison to Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y and Mega Gardevoir, which do significantly more damage and provide more overall utility in regards to typing and support. Its unique Grass / Dragon typing along with its ability, Lightning Rod, grants it an immunity to Rage Powder, Spore, and Thunder Wave, giving it a very small niche on certain offensive teams, such as those that really, really appreciate an Electric immunity, redirection of Electric-type moves, and immunity to sleep-inducing moves or are especially susceptible to Thunder Wave. However, Sceptile is hurt by its mediocre defenses, as well as its weaknesses to common moves such as Ice Beam, Draco Meteor, and Pixilate Hyper Voice, meaning it has few opportunities to switch in. Sceptile's poor defenses also mean that it is OHKOed by or takes major damage from every common priority attack, rendering its high Speed fairly ineffective in a lot of cases. It is also fairly linear in its options due to a limited movepool.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker (aka Sucktile)
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Dragon Pulse
move 3: Protect
move 4: Focus Blast / Hidden Power Ice
item: Sceptilite
ability: Overgrow
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leaf Storm and Dragon Pulse are powerful STAB moves that provide good neutral coverage. Focus Blast is used in order to beat bulky Steel-types, which resist both Leaf Storm and Dragon Pulse, as well as doing heavy damage to threats such as Terrakion and Kangaskhan without dropping Special Attack. Hidden Power Ice can be used to OHKO Landorus-T, which Leaf Storm can only OHKO with prior chip damage. Protect is used to safely Mega Evolve against faster Pokemon that can do heavy damage to Sceptile, such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T, as well as being useful for stalling out Trick Room and Tailwind turns and increasing the number of turns Mega Sceptile can provide Lightning Rod redirection for.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature and 252 Speed EVs allow Mega Sceptile to outrun as many opposing threats as possible, most notably Adamant Choice Scarf Landorus-T. 252 Special Attack EVs allow it to hit as hard as possible. Overgrow is used instead of Unburden because it allows Sceptile to forgo Mega Evolution in situations where it has lost 66% or more of its HP for the boost to its Grass-type attacks, whereas Unburden is functionally useless on a Pokemon holding a Mega Stone.
Usage Tips
========
Sceptile is best saved for late-game situations where it can use its great Speed and Special Attack to pick off weakened threats, but it should also try to Mega Evolve earlier on in order to have Lightning Rod active and to outrun Choice Scarf Landorus-T as soon as possible. When using Sceptile, it is almost always a KO-or-be-KOed situation, and if Sceptile or its partner cannot get a KO that turn, it is best to Protect or to switch out, as Sceptile's mediocre defenses make most neutral attacks a 2HKO and super effective attacks a near-guaranteed OHKO. If the opponent has a faster threat, always use Protect to safely Mega Evolve first turn. Sceptile should avoid super effective moves as much as possible, as well as common priority moves, almost all of which OHKO or 2HKO it. Though Mega Sceptile very rarely has opportunities to safely switch in, switching in on Electric-type moves can be a nice way to pick up a Special Attack boost, though Electric-types commonly have Hidden Power Ice, so be wary.
Team Options
========
Sceptile works well with partners that fear Electric- and Water-types; Talonflame in particular can beat Steel-types for Sceptile and appreciates Sceptile beating bulky Water-types such as Rotom-W as well as redirecting Electric-type attacks. Hyper offensive teams in general appreciate Mega Sceptile's immunity to moves such as Spore, Rage Powder, and Thunder Wave, as well as its ability to break through threats such as Landorus-T, Rotom-W, Keldeo, and Terrakion in addition to Dragons such as Latios and Hydreigon. Pokemon such as Terrakion and Keldeo work well with Sceptile, as they appreciate having bulky Water-types taken care of, and in return they can provide Quick Guard support to keep priority moves away and work well against threats such as Heatran and Charizard. Bulky Steel-type Pokemon such as Heatran and Aegislash work well with Sceptile, as Sceptile readily handes threatening Ground-types, as well as Water-types for Heatran, and in return they can beat Fairy- and Ice-types, and Aegislash can also provide Wide Guard support for temporary protection against threats such as Heatran, Abomasnow, and Charizard. Jirachi can easily redirect threatening Ice-, Dragon-, Fairy-, and Flying-type moves, while Sceptile can easily beat Ground-types for Jirachi. Boosting attackers such as Gyarados and Volcarona work well with Sceptile; Gyarados provides Intimidate support and beats Fire-types, whereas Volcarona roasts Steel- and Grass-types and both appreciate Thunder Wave being redirected.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sceptile can run Substitute to avoid potentially fatal attacks, but this is generally not a good idea because Sceptile already brings little to the table and needs all the coverage options it can get. Hidden Power Ground hits Steel-types more reliably than Focus Blast does but comes with significantly less power and coverage. Hidden Power Fire can be used to beat Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, but it lowers Sceptile's Speed by 1 point and has little use outside of beating them. Quick Guard lets Mega Sceptile provide additional support to its teammates and can let it get around pesky priority moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-type Pokemon**: Fairy-type Pokemon such as Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir can switch in on Sceptile and either force it out or KO it.
**Flying-type Pokemon**: Flying-types such as Togekiss and Talonflame can beat Sceptile, with Togekiss redirecting every one of its moves with ease and Talonflame circumventing Sceptile's high Speed with Gale Wings.
**Ice-type Pokemon**: Ice-type Pokemon such as Kyurem-B and Weavile can beat Sceptile with priority Ice Shard, though neither can switch in on Leaf Storm.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-types such as Aegislash, Jirachi, and Mega Metagross can switch in on any of Sceptile's standard moves and proceed to 2HKO or OHKO it; Jirachi can also redirect Sceptile's attacks with ease.
**Strong Attackers**: Due to its mediocre defenses, Sceptile can be OHKOed or 2HKOed by any strong neutral attack, such as Mega Charizard Y's Heat Wave or Mega Kangaskhan's Return.
**Faster Pokemon**: Weather sweepers such as Venusaur, Ludicolo, Kingdra, and Mega Swampert can outrun Sceptile and KO it with super effective moves such as Sludge Bomb, Ice Beam, and Ice Punch under their respective weather conditions, though standard Mega Swampert is slower than Timid Mega Sceptile. Faster Choice Scarf users such as Genesect can outrun Sceptile and OHKO it with U-turn or Ice Beam.
**Tailwind and Trick Room**: Sceptile's high Speed all but guarantees that it will be the last Pokemon to move in Trick Room, allowing Pokemon that Sceptile can normally pick off to beat it. For example, under Trick Room, Cresselia can outrun Sceptile and OHKO it with Ice Beam. Tailwind allows Pokemon that Sceptile normally outruns to outspeed it and hit it hard. Pokemon such as Talonflame and Togekiss can beat Sceptile on their own or set up Tailwind to allow their teammate to do so.
Mega Sceptile, despite possessing incredible Speed and Special Attack, finds itself outclassed in almost every way as a special attacker in the DOU metagame, paling in comparison to Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y and Mega Gardevoir, which do significantly more damage and provide more overall utility in regards to typing and support. Its unique Grass / Dragon typing along with its ability, Lightning Rod, grants it an immunity to Rage Powder, Spore, and Thunder Wave, giving it a very small niche on certain offensive teams, such as those that really, really appreciate an Electric immunity, redirection of Electric-type moves, and immunity to sleep-inducing moves or are especially susceptible to Thunder Wave. However, Sceptile is hurt by its mediocre defenses, as well as its weaknesses to common moves such as Ice Beam, Draco Meteor, and Pixilate Hyper Voice, meaning it has few opportunities to switch in. Sceptile's poor defenses also mean that it is OHKOed by or takes major damage from every common priority attack, rendering its high Speed fairly ineffective in a lot of cases. It is also fairly linear in its options due to a limited movepool.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker (aka Sucktile)
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Dragon Pulse
move 3: Protect
move 4: Focus Blast / Hidden Power Ice
item: Sceptilite
ability: Overgrow
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leaf Storm and Dragon Pulse are powerful STAB moves that provide good neutral coverage. Focus Blast is used in order to beat bulky Steel-types, which resist both Leaf Storm and Dragon Pulse, as well as doing heavy damage to threats such as Terrakion and Kangaskhan without dropping Special Attack. Hidden Power Ice can be used to OHKO Landorus-T, which Leaf Storm can only OHKO with prior chip damage. Protect is used to safely Mega Evolve against faster Pokemon that can do heavy damage to Sceptile, such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T, as well as being useful for stalling out Trick Room and Tailwind turns and increasing the number of turns Mega Sceptile can provide Lightning Rod redirection for.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature and 252 Speed EVs allow Mega Sceptile to outrun as many opposing threats as possible, most notably Adamant Choice Scarf Landorus-T. 252 Special Attack EVs allow it to hit as hard as possible. Overgrow is used instead of Unburden because it allows Sceptile to forgo Mega Evolution in situations where it has lost 66% or more of its HP for the boost to its Grass-type attacks, whereas Unburden is functionally useless on a Pokemon holding a Mega Stone.
Usage Tips
========
Sceptile is best saved for late-game situations where it can use its great Speed and Special Attack to pick off weakened threats, but it should also try to Mega Evolve earlier on in order to have Lightning Rod active and to outrun Choice Scarf Landorus-T as soon as possible. When using Sceptile, it is almost always a KO-or-be-KOed situation, and if Sceptile or its partner cannot get a KO that turn, it is best to Protect or to switch out, as Sceptile's mediocre defenses make most neutral attacks a 2HKO and super effective attacks a near-guaranteed OHKO. If the opponent has a faster threat, always use Protect to safely Mega Evolve first turn. Sceptile should avoid super effective moves as much as possible, as well as common priority moves, almost all of which OHKO or 2HKO it. Though Mega Sceptile very rarely has opportunities to safely switch in, switching in on Electric-type moves can be a nice way to pick up a Special Attack boost, though Electric-types commonly have Hidden Power Ice, so be wary.
Team Options
========
Sceptile works well with partners that fear Electric- and Water-types; Talonflame in particular can beat Steel-types for Sceptile and appreciates Sceptile beating bulky Water-types such as Rotom-W as well as redirecting Electric-type attacks. Hyper offensive teams in general appreciate Mega Sceptile's immunity to moves such as Spore, Rage Powder, and Thunder Wave, as well as its ability to break through threats such as Landorus-T, Rotom-W, Keldeo, and Terrakion in addition to Dragons such as Latios and Hydreigon. Pokemon such as Terrakion and Keldeo work well with Sceptile, as they appreciate having bulky Water-types taken care of, and in return they can provide Quick Guard support to keep priority moves away and work well against threats such as Heatran and Charizard. Bulky Steel-type Pokemon such as Heatran and Aegislash work well with Sceptile, as Sceptile readily handes threatening Ground-types, as well as Water-types for Heatran, and in return they can beat Fairy- and Ice-types, and Aegislash can also provide Wide Guard support for temporary protection against threats such as Heatran, Abomasnow, and Charizard. Jirachi can easily redirect threatening Ice-, Dragon-, Fairy-, and Flying-type moves, while Sceptile can easily beat Ground-types for Jirachi. Boosting attackers such as Gyarados and Volcarona work well with Sceptile; Gyarados provides Intimidate support and beats Fire-types, whereas Volcarona roasts Steel- and Grass-types and both appreciate Thunder Wave being redirected.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sceptile can run Substitute to avoid potentially fatal attacks, but this is generally not a good idea because Sceptile already brings little to the table and needs all the coverage options it can get. Hidden Power Ground hits Steel-types more reliably than Focus Blast does but comes with significantly less power and coverage. Hidden Power Fire can be used to beat Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, but it lowers Sceptile's Speed by 1 point and has little use outside of beating them. Quick Guard lets Mega Sceptile provide additional support to its teammates and can let it get around pesky priority moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-type Pokemon**: Fairy-type Pokemon such as Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir can switch in on Sceptile and either force it out or KO it.
**Flying-type Pokemon**: Flying-types such as Togekiss and Talonflame can beat Sceptile, with Togekiss redirecting every one of its moves with ease and Talonflame circumventing Sceptile's high Speed with Gale Wings.
**Ice-type Pokemon**: Ice-type Pokemon such as Kyurem-B and Weavile can beat Sceptile with priority Ice Shard, though neither can switch in on Leaf Storm.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-types such as Aegislash, Jirachi, and Mega Metagross can switch in on any of Sceptile's standard moves and proceed to 2HKO or OHKO it; Jirachi can also redirect Sceptile's attacks with ease.
**Strong Attackers**: Due to its mediocre defenses, Sceptile can be OHKOed or 2HKOed by any strong neutral attack, such as Mega Charizard Y's Heat Wave or Mega Kangaskhan's Return.
**Faster Pokemon**: Weather sweepers such as Venusaur, Ludicolo, Kingdra, and Mega Swampert can outrun Sceptile and KO it with super effective moves such as Sludge Bomb, Ice Beam, and Ice Punch under their respective weather conditions, though standard Mega Swampert is slower than Timid Mega Sceptile. Faster Choice Scarf users such as Genesect can outrun Sceptile and OHKO it with U-turn or Ice Beam.
**Tailwind and Trick Room**: Sceptile's high Speed all but guarantees that it will be the last Pokemon to move in Trick Room, allowing Pokemon that Sceptile can normally pick off to beat it. For example, under Trick Room, Cresselia can outrun Sceptile and OHKO it with Ice Beam. Tailwind allows Pokemon that Sceptile normally outruns to outspeed it and hit it hard. Pokemon such as Talonflame and Togekiss can beat Sceptile on their own or set up Tailwind to allow their teammate to do so.
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