Sceptile

[sims796]

Finally, the site's back up, and I can ask about my new canadite, Sceptile! I never done one, not competetivley, and can use some pointers. I have an idea on a subseeder:

Sceptile@???(ITEM)
Nature:???
Substitute
Leech Seed
Leaf Storm
Dragon Pulse
EV:???

As you see, I have no idea. Assistance will be most appreciative. Also, is there any other sets besides the Sub-seeder?

[Toothache]

Sub seeder should have max speed and Timid nature. I use 6 HP / 252 SpAtt / 252 Speed to get more Leech Seed recovery.

Sceptile @ Leftovers
Trait: Overgrow
EV: 252 Att / 252 Speed / 6 SpAtt
Nature: Lonely
Swords Dance
Leaf Blade
Thunderpunch
HP Ice

I like this thing for a nice surprise. HP Ice for Dragons, Leaf Blade for STAB, and Thunderpunch for fliers. Thunderpunch is an Emerald Move Tutor move though

[sims796]

Thats a great set, but I need one more inclined for special attacks. Plus, I unfortunatley no longer have Emerald acess.

[Smarties-chan]

I personally prefer Focus Sash or Life Orb on the Swords Dance set. It's not like Sceptile is going to have much use of Lefties without Substitute anyway. HP Ice is nice to have, but not everyone has the patience to breed for it in which case you can use Earthquake or Dragon Claw. Brick Break is a nice option as well, as it can really hurt Blissey and Tyranitar. Thunderpunch can also be substituted with Aerial Ace or Earthquake. Aerial Ace takes care of Heracross and Earthquake is good for beating Electivire that's sturdy enough to take a hit and go for the OHKO with Ice Punch. Without Thunderpunch Gyarados comes in and lols at Sceptile. In the end it just depends on what you need to counter. X-Scissor is also an option if you truly fear Azelf.

CB Sceptile is also an option and it's basically the same except you use another physical move instead of Swords Dance.

I'm personally a big fan of physical attacking variations of Sceptile, but you can't deny the usefulness of the subseeder, which can also serve as a physical attacker, just so you know.

*edit* It took me so long to write up the post you had got in my way. =P For a special attacker use either Choice Specs (Timid full Speed and Sp.Attack with Leaf Storm / Hidden Power [ICE] or Dragon Pulse / Focus Blast / Energy Ball or any other special attack you can think of throwing in here) or the standard Subseeder, which should be holding Leftovers and mostly likely uses the 252 spread.

[sims796]

I knew you was gonna edit, so I waited before I post. Psysical is really that good? I'll think about it.

I can't remember, but isn't Dragon SE against other dragon?

[Smarties-chan]

I don't know if the physical sets really are that good, but I believe they are. I know I'll train myself one was I have time to breed a Sceptile. It's extremely good for cleaning the field in late game, that I know without even having used it. I've seen a couple of battle videos on Youtube where an SD Sceptile has done some pretty nasty damage right at the start of the battle as well. But in the end, it depends on which kind of attacker you need more.

And yes, Dragon is indeed Super Effective against other Dragons, hence why it's an option if you don't want to breed for HP Ice.

[Iceman3k]

SubSeeding is basic for Sceptile, and that is the right moves. As far as EVs go:
96 HP / 252 Spd / 160 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)

Physical Sceptile is basically just novelty if you ask me, since it serves no true purpose in the D/P Metagame. Here it is anyway:

Sceptile @ Focus Sash
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Thunderpunch / Dragon Claw
- Leaf Blade
Tough choice between Thunderpunch and the Claw, but since you have no Emerald access, go with the Claw.

[sims796]

I forgot to ask, do I use Substitute first, then Leech Seed?

[Anti Pop Culture Warrior]

Really, I like the subseeder set. It really has worked nicely for me. Then again, I play ADV, but there is still nothing that hurts the set's power I can think of at the moment. But yeah, I vote subseeder, since there are better special and physical sweepers by far IMO.

EDIT: sims, it depends. Usually leech seed first, since if you get a bad matchup, you can switch. You can do that with sub, but then you lose 1/4 HP...

[Iceman3k]

I forgot to ask, do I use Substitute first, then Leech Seed?
Sub first, ALWAYS. No point in trying to attempt to seed, then gettting OHKOed in the process. And if they switch, you strike, then pull out.

[Anti Pop Culture Warrior]

Sub first, ALWAYS. No point in trying to attempt to seed, then gettting OHKOed in the process. And if they switch, you strike, then pull out.

I thought you were supposed to come in against something like blissey...that couldn't directly kill you. then again, I've never ACTUALLY used a subseeder, excpet a long LONG time ago, so listen to iceman3k.

[Iceman3k]

I thought you were supposed to come in against something like blissey...that couldn't directly kill you.
Even if SeedTile is sent against Bliss, it still has to worry about getting smacked with an Ice Beam.

But Bliss is basically the ONLY Pokemon you should Seed first on.

[sims796]

So I'ma stick with Substiseeding, with Dragon Pulse & Leaf Storm/Energy Ball for offenses.

[Anti Pop Culture Warrior]

Forgot about the beam lol...but yeah, that should work fine. I haven't used a subseeder, so Iceman3k is probably right.