Mega Sceptile [QC 1/3]


QC Checks: Eyan / - / -
GP Checks: - / -
[OVERVIEW]

* Mega Sceptile's ability, Lightning Rod, allows it to switch into Electric-type attacks with ease.
* Mega Sceptile has one of the biggest Speed stats in UU, only being outsped by Mega Aerodactyl and Choice Scarf users, and its big Special Attack stat allows it to hit decently bulky Pokemon such as Gliscor and Raikou for a good amount of damage.
* Thanks to these qualities, Mega Sceptile becomes really threatening on late-game scenarios if its checks are gone. It can be used as a revenge killer against slower foes as well.
* Grass and Dragon STABs allow Mega Sceptile to hit the entire tier but Steel-types, which are already covered by its Fire- or Fighting-type coverage.
* Mega Sceptile struggles to beat the omnipresent Mega Aerodactyl, and fails to OHKO or even 2HKO tier staples, such as Mega Pidgeot, Mega Aerodactyl, and Togekiss.
* Mega Sceptile bulk is lamentable, and therefore it can't switch into most of the attacks that target it. Mega Sceptile is also OHKOed by Ice Shard, which is commonly present on both Mamoswine and Weavile.

[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Dragon Pulse
move 2: Giga Drain / Energy Ball
move 3: Leaf Storm
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Focus Blast
item: Sceptilite
ability: Overgrow
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Dragon Pulse is Mega Sceptile's most spammable STAB, as it hits Dragon-types such as Hydreigon and Latias for supereffective damage, Grass-types such as Rotom-C and Celebi for neutral damage.
* Giga Drain is a solid STAB that hits Ground- and Water-types such as Krookodile, Primarina, and Suicune for supereffective damage, while also recovering a bit of Mega Sceptile's health each time it's used.
* Energy Ball can be used over Giga Drain if you want to OHKO Primarina without dropping its Special Attack, as Giga Drain misses the OHKO. Giga Drain, however, is usually better because of the given recovery.
* Leaf Storm is Mega Sceptile's strongest STAB, and it must be used to hit certain Pokemon under specific circumstances, such as Suicune after a Calm Mind, and +2 Attack Gliscor after some chip damage.
* Hidden Power Fire is a coverage move that hits Steel-types such as Scizor, Cobalion, and Metagross supereffectively.
* Focus Blast is another coverage move that aims Steel-types, OHKOing Cobalion and Empoleon. However, it shouldn't be used over Hidden Power Fire in many cases because it misses the OHKO on Scizor while having a poor Accuracy.

Set Details
========

* Sceptilite allows Sceptile to Mega Evolve
* The given EV spread allows Mega Sceptile to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding tier staples such as Mega Pidgeot and Speed tie with Mega Beedrill.
* A Timid nature allows Mega Sceptile to outspeed fast Pokemon such as Crobat and Mega Pidgeot.
* A Modest nature can be used instead, but it makes Mega Sceptile more vulnerable to Mega Beedrill and Crobat since it can't outspeed or Speed tie them.
* Overgrow is pretty useless since Sceptile should Mega Evolve as soon as possible, but Lightning Rod, its post-Mega ability, is extremely useful against Electric-types, mainly if they are locked into Volt Switch or Thunderbolt

Usage Tips
========

* Mega Sceptile can switch in on defensive Water-types, such as Suicune and normal Swampert, and into Volt Switch and Thunderbolt from Electric-types, such as Raikou, Rotom-C, and Xurkitree, but it must be careful about these carrying Ice-type coverage, such as offensive Suicune with Ice Beam and Xurkitree with Hidden Power Ice.
* Be smart when using Leaf Storm, as it harshly drops Mega Sceptile's Special Attack and Mega Sceptile might become a setup bait to the likes of Suicune, Mega Aerodactyl, and Scizor.
* While Mega Sceptile can switch into Water- and Electric-type attacks, it is extremely frail against any other kind of attack. Bring Mega Sceptile in with VoltTurn support or logical double switches.

Team Options
========

* Mega Sceptile appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Swampert, Mamoswine, Metagross, and Klefki.
* Steel-types such as Klefki, Metagross, Scizor, Empoleon, and Scizor have a good synergy with Mega Sceptile, as they resist most of the attacks it's weak to, and they play important roles on most of the teams they're in.
* Physical attackers such as Mamoswine, Scizor, and Krookodile help Mega Sceptile against special walls.
* Pursuit trappers such as Metagross and Krookodile can help Mega Sceptile to beat Choice Scarf Latias and Celebi.
* U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Scizor, Infernape, and Raikou can, sometimes, bring Mega Sceptile in safely.
* Mega Sceptile makes a good partner for Pokemon that struggle against bulky Water-types, such as Krookodile, Weavile, and Metagross.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* Earthquake can be used with a Naive nature over Hidden Power Fire or Focus Blast to 2HKO specially defensive Klefki and Assault Vest Metagross, but it isn't really worth because the other coverage options are too important to give up.
* A set with Substitute and Leech Seed can be used to wear down teams that rely on bulky walls to to wall Mega Sceptile, such as Blissey, Empoleon, and Togekiss, but this set struggles against most of the Steel-types since they can easily wall Mega Sceptile, especially Scizor and Metagross.
* Mega Sceptile isn't limited to specially offensive sets; it can use physical sets as well. A set with Swords Dance, Leaf Blade, Dragon Claw or Outrage, and Earthquake can be used, but it struggles to find setup opportunities due to its bad bulk, and once it sets up, it can't sweep since it's easy to revenge kill and it isn't hard to stop even at +2.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Priority**: Pokemon with strong priority Pokemon such as Scizor and Conkeldurr can KO Mega Sceptile once its HP is below 60%, but Mamoswine and Weavile can OHKO it with Ice Shard.

**Mega Aerodactyl**: Mega Aerodactyl, the fastest Pokemon in the tier, can outspeed and OHKO Mega Sceptile with Wing Attack.

**Revenge killers**: Revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Hydreigon, Choice Scarf Latias, Mega Aerodactyl, and Choice Scarf Mienshao can OHKO Sceptile with their powerful STABs.

**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Scizor and Metagross can OHKO Mega Sceptile if it lacks Hidden Power Fire, and if it isn't enough, both of them can Pursuit trap it, making it easier to revenge kill with priority attacks.

**Specially bulky Pokemon**: Specially bulky Pokemon such as Blissey, Sylveon, Empoleon, Alolan Muk, and Togekiss can take any hit from Mega Sceptile and do many things while walling it, such as setting Stealth Rock and setting up Nasty Plot.
 
Last edited:

Eyan

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Overview
  • Definitely mention the roles Mega Sceptile can perform, which usually consists of cleaning late-game or revenge killing things it's naturally faster than. You'd incorporate the Speed and Special Attack points here.
  • Your point about not being able to OHKO or 2HKO tier staples only cites examples of Pokemon that aren't OHKOed. What about stuff that aren't 2HKOed?
  • Make mention of its ability and what it can sorta pivot into as a result, but it has lackluster bulk so it doesn't like taking any non-resisted hit at all.
  • The point about being weak to priority: I mean it has meh bulk which is why it's "weak" to Bullet Punch, but Scizor hits hard anyway. Technically, it's really only weak to Ice Shard, so you are better off just talking about its typing from a defensive standpoint and specify being checked by Ice Shard.
Moves
  • Primarina is a pretty signing target of Grass-type STAB moves considering it's immune to Dragon Pulse (and Fairy-types in general, but Sylveon and Togekiss both take those just fine, and Klefki resists it).
  • Any significant 2HKOs to OHKOs or 3HKOs to 2HKOs between Giga Drain to Energy Ball? The aforementioned Primarina is one. Good to mention since you wouldn't have to risk missing Leaf Storm.
  • Mention Focus Blast missing out on Scizor. I get that it also doesn't hit Klefki and Metagross super effectively, but Focus Blast does only mildly less, whereas it's pretty big in the case of Scizor.
  • I'd honestly just put Earthquake in Other Options over a mention in Moves. Hidden Power Fire is already hard to give up in this meta for even Focus Blast, not to mention Earthquake.
Usage Tips
  • Specify examples of defensive Water-types and mention how it has to be careful of being caught by Hidden Power Ice from Electric Pokemon.
Team Options
  • Steel-types, in general, support Mega Sceptile very well, so even though you have examples of them littered through your other points, it's worth talking about their type synergy.
  • Mention stuff that struggles with bulky Water-types since Sceptile is great at handling those (bar Mantine).
Other Options
  • With the Swords Dance, mention that even after setting up, it's still not exactly that hard hitting.
Checks and Counters
  • Group Mega Aerodactyl with revenge killers.
  • Change Special Walls to Specially Bulky Pokemon, since stuff like Togekiss aren't necessarily special walls (you get the idea). This is also because I want you to include Alolan Muk as an example; it takes everything and Pursuit traps it.
QC 1/3
 
Overview
  • Definitely mention the roles Mega Sceptile can perform, which usually consists of cleaning late-game or revenge killing things it's naturally faster than. You'd incorporate the Speed and Special Attack points here.
  • Your point about not being able to OHKO or 2HKO tier staples only cites examples of Pokemon that aren't OHKOed. What about stuff that aren't 2HKOed?
  • Make mention of its ability and what it can sorta pivot into as a result, but it has lackluster bulk so it doesn't like taking any non-resisted hit at all.
  • The point about being weak to priority: I mean it has meh bulk which is why it's "weak" to Bullet Punch, but Scizor hits hard anyway. Technically, it's really only weak to Ice Shard, so you are better off just talking about its typing from a defensive standpoint and specify being checked by Ice Shard.
Moves
  • Primarina is a pretty signing target of Grass-type STAB moves considering it's immune to Dragon Pulse (and Fairy-types in general, but Sylveon and Togekiss both take those just fine, and Klefki resists it).
  • Any significant 2HKOs to OHKOs or 3HKOs to 2HKOs between Giga Drain to Energy Ball? The aforementioned Primarina is one. Good to mention since you wouldn't have to risk missing Leaf Storm.
  • Mention Focus Blast missing out on Scizor. I get that it also doesn't hit Klefki and Metagross super effectively, but Focus Blast does only mildly less, whereas it's pretty big in the case of Scizor.
  • I'd honestly just put Earthquake in Other Options over a mention in Moves. Hidden Power Fire is already hard to give up in this meta for even Focus Blast, not to mention Earthquake.
Usage Tips
  • Specify examples of defensive Water-types and mention how it has to be careful of being caught by Hidden Power Ice from Electric Pokemon.
Team Options
  • Steel-types, in general, support Mega Sceptile very well, so even though you have examples of them littered through your other points, it's worth talking about their type synergy.
  • Mention stuff that struggles with bulky Water-types since Sceptile is great at handling those (bar Mantine).
Other Options
  • With the Swords Dance, mention that even after setting up, it's still not exactly that hard hitting.
Checks and Counters
  • Group Mega Aerodactyl with revenge killers.
  • Change Special Walls to Specially Bulky Pokemon, since stuff like Togekiss aren't necessarily special walls (you get the idea). This is also because I want you to include Alolan Muk as an example; it takes everything and Pursuit traps it.
QC 1/3
Implemented. I was meant to write "Specially bulky Pokemon" before but it apparently didn't save my draft.
 

Amaroq

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Overview

The fourth bullet point isn't entirely accurate, as Mega Sceptile can't touch Togekiss with either of its STAB types. Amend this to convey that its STABs give it good neutral coverage on most of the tier and that it has access to Fire- and Fighting-type coverage that allows it to bypass the Steel-types that resist its STAB moves.

Split the last bullet point into two. One should talk about Mega Sceptile's unimpressive bulk and its struggles to switch into neutral attacks. The other should focus on the benefits and detriments associated with its defensive typing (great Scald switch-in, weak to Ice Shard, etc.).

All-Out Attacker

Usage Tips

Mention that Lightning Rod allows Mega Sceptile to switch into Thunder Wave after Mega Evolving. Change the last bullet point to mention that Mega Sceptile should be brought in with pivot support rather than restricting it to VoltTurn.

Team Options

The first bullet point should specify what type of hazard each Pokemon listed provides, and should also include Toxic Spikes.

Expand the second bullet point to explain why each of these Pokemon have good synergy with Mega Sceptile (Klefki can set up Spikes, inflict paralysis on faster checks like Mega Aerodactyl and various Choice Scarf users and Toxic on fat checks like Togekiss, and is immune to Dragon-type attacks; Metagross can trap or 1v1 certain checks; Scizor provides pivot support, can trap some of Sceptile's checks and threaten others with priority, and can potentially clear hazards; Empoleon checks Dragon-types, can clear hazards, and can check Mamoswine with Shuca Berry; etc.). Also, you listed Scizor twice.

Add Entei as a partner and explain that it resists Ice Shard and Bullet Punch and can threaten all of Scizor, Mamoswine, and Weavile.

Mention bulky Water-types as potential teammates, as most of them can handle Mega Sceptile checks like Mamoswine, Weavile, and Scizor and other Steel-types.

Other Options

Include a bullet point for Iron Tail, since it's approximately as useful as Earthquake (which is to say, it's a niche option that hits 1-2 checks).

Checks and Counters

Merge Mega Aerodactyl with Revenge Killers. It does the same thing as all the Choice Scarf users you listed, it just doesn't have to hold a Choice Scarf to do it.

Include a bullet point for Fairy-types and mention Togekiss, Klefki, Sylveon, and Florges.

Expand on what various specially bulky Pokemon can do with the free turns Mega Sceptile gives them (and move Togekiss and Sylveon to the Fairy-type bullet point). Try to associate each Pokemon with a specific thing it can do.

Let me know when this is implemented and I'll look it over again.
 

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