Pokémon Sceptile

[Redfeatherz]

======
#254 - Sceptile
======

Base Stats:
HP: 70
Atk:85
Def:65
Sp.Atk 105
Sp.Def 85
Speed 120
(BST: 530)

Abilities:

Overgrow
When this Pokemon has 1/3 or less of its maximum HP, rounded down, its offensive stat is multiplied by 1.5 while using a Grass-type attack.

Unburden
If this Pokemon loses its held item for any reason, its Speed is doubled as long as it remains active, has this Ability, and is not holding an item.

Complete Movepool:

Complete Movepool

- [00] Leaf Blade
- [01] Pound
- [01] Leer
- [01] Quick Attack
- [01] Leafage
- [05] Mega Drain
- [12] Detect
- [15] Quick Guard
- [20] Assurance
- [25] Giga Drain
- [30] Slam
- [35] Double Team
- [42] Screech
- [49] Endeavor
- [56] Leaf Storm
TM Learn:

TMs

- [TM001] Take Down
- [TM004] Agility
- [TM007] Protect
- [TM012] Low Kick
- [TM014] Acrobatics
- [TM018] Thief
- [TM020] Trailblaze
- [TM025] Facade
- [TM027] Aerial Ace
- [TM028] Bulldoze
- [TM032] Swift
- [TM033] Magical Leaf
- [TM036] Rock Tomb
- [TM039] Low Sweep
- [TM043] Fling
- [TM044] Dragon Tail
- [TM047] Endure
- [TM049] Sunny Day
- [TM055] Dig
- [TM056] Bullet Seed
- [TM057] False Swipe
- [TM058] Brick Break
- [TM066] Body Slam
- [TM068] Thunder Punch
- [TM070] Sleep Talk
- [TM071] Seed Bomb
- [TM073] Drain Punch
- [TM078] Dragon Claw
- [TM081] Grass Knot
- [TM085] Rest
- [TM086] Rock Slide
- [TM088] Swords Dance
- [TM100] Dragon Dance
- [TM103] Substitute
- [TM105] X-Scissor
- [TM108] Crunch
- [TM111] Giga Drain
- [TM115] Dragon Pulse
- [TM119] Energy Ball
- [TM130] Helping Hand
- [TM137] Grassy Terrain
- [TM146] Grass Pledge
- [TM149] Earthquake
- [TM152] Giga Impact
- [TM155] Frenzy Plant
- [TM156] Outrage
- [TM158] Focus Blast
- [TM159] Leaf Storm
- [TM163] Hyper Beam
- [TM168] Solar Beam
- [TM171] Tera Blast
- [TM172] Roar
- [TM184] Vacuum Wave*
- [TM190] Solar Blade
- [TM192] Focus Punch
- [TM194] Grassy Glide
- [TM200] Scale Shot
- [TM204] Double-Edge
- [TM205] Endeavor
- [TM221] Throat Chop
- [TM222] Breaking Swipe
- [TM226] Dragon Cheer*
- [TM229] Upper Hand*
Reminder:
- False Swipe
- Fury Cutter
- X-Scissor
- Energy Ball
- Shed Tail*

Most Notable Attacks in bold. New moves marked by (*)




Overview

Sceptile has historically been one of the fastest offensive grass types in the game. It has previously struggled with its power, coverage and frailty, but has received several useful options since Sword/Shield, and gains a few more tools in Scarlet/Violet.

Sceptile itself hasn't changed too much between games, but in the current offensive metagame, heavily influenced by protosynthesis and quark drive speed-boosting paradox attackers,its access to unburden or scale shot allows it to easily outspeed commonly seen pokemon in the current metagame, and threaten them with strong grass STAB, earthquake and dragon coverage,if it can find an opportunity.

On the other hand, it is unlikely to be consistent without support, notably struggling against Ribombee and sticky webs. It has the potential to be a decent revenge killer or cleaner, having a lot of item and move options that can be taylored around its teammates needs. Its low defences and poor defensive type in grass make it easy to remove, should it fail to deal enough damage or miss a crucial attack entirely.


Set Ideas

EVs - Maximum Speed investment with speed boosting nature allows Sceptile to reliably outpace base 119s (Cinderace) and base 116s (Iron Valiant without booster energy speed). The rest of investment will usually go towards either or both offensive stats.

Loaded Dice Cleaner
Sceptile @ Loaded Dice
Ability: Overgrow
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Scale Shot
- Rock Slide / Earthquake
- Bullet Seed

Loaded Dice gives Sceptile two useful multi-hit moves that avoid making contact with the opponent. Dragon coverage both boosts speed and hits common protosynthesis abusers for super effective damage. Rock Slide/ Earthquake for coverage against targets such as Moltres or Heatran.


Sun Team Attacker

Sceptile @ White Herb
Ability: Unburden
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Solar Beam / Grass Knot
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Tera Blast

Sceptile can run a white herb to activate unburden after a leaf storm. White herb can also afford its teammates some insurance against sticky webs, a matchup it would itself stuggle against otherwise.

Weakness Policy

Sceptile @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Unburden
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Mild Nature
- Giga Drain / Leaf Storm
- Earthquake
- Endure / Breaking Swipe
- Vacuum Wave

Upon activating its weakness policy on a weak u-turn or a fire move in the rain, Sceptile outspeeds practically everything. Its new access to vacuum wave allows it to threaten priority attackers like Kingambit or Weavile from easily revenge killing it with strong priority moves after setup.

Mirror Herb Counter-attacker

Sceptile @ Mirror Herb
Ability: Unburden
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Scale Shot
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
- Leaf Blade

Whilst a risky, reactive strategy for something so frail, Mirror Herb could allow Sceptile to mimic a boost from an opponent at any point in the game,such as from a rapid spin or an enemy dragon dance, and upon the resulting unburden activation, outspeed anything afterwards.

Closing Thoughts

I was honestly excited for Tera Dragon + Dragon Cheer + Throat Spray as a threatening combo for Sceptile! But alas, it doesn't appear to be the case...Dragon Cheer only seems to target Sceptile's ally in doubles, so likely just fails in singles?

Even without this set, and even without access to Shed Tail below ubers, perhaps Sceptile can find some utility in this new metagame, between its meta-friendly movepool that now includes Vacuum Wave to outplay sucker punches from Kingambit, and strong grass /dragon moves to slam the likes of Great Tusk and other Paradox threats, old and new (Gouging Fire, Walking Wake, Iron Boulder, Raging Bolt etc) . Perhaps the combination of unburden, boosting moves and Terastylisation may allow it to perform better in this metagame than it has done previously?

What do you think?

 

[Eeveeto]

Rillaboom is right there in OU. This means that the best way to use Unburden is this:


Sceptile @ Grassy Seed
Ability: Unburden
Tera Type: Grass / Flying / Rock / Ground / Fight /Dark / Electric
EVs: 96 HP / 252 Atk / 160 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- 2 moves out of Acrobatics, Rock Slide, Earthquake, Drain Punch, Thunder Punch and Crunch.

Main problems are initial 295 Attack and being unable to cover everything with just 3 attacking moves. At least Grass STAB lets it threaten Dondozo.

 

[Zoruashrew]

Sceptile @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unburden
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Acrobatics
- Night Slash
- Drain Punch

 

[InvisibleWater]

Sometimes I wonder how much better this thing would be if it got, like, Growth or something.

 

[DaRotomMachine]

Sometimes I wonder how much better this thing would be if it got, like, Growth or something.

if it did, in the current meta with Sun and everything, yeah it would be way better than right now.

 

[Erebos]

Can't believe that after all this time, it still has no moves to boost its Special Attack. I wanted to make a Throat Spray + Grass Whistle spread, but that would only work on National Dex.