Pokken Tournament DX/Sceptile

Edit Introduction

Introduction

Sceptile is a speed class character in Pokkén Tournament and Pokkén Tournament DX. As a trapper and mix-up fighter, Sceptile's playstyle focuses on the following:

• Restricting the opponent's options with traps and punishing escape attempts on reaction
• Opening up opponents with frame traps, pokes, armored options and long combos
• Applying fast movement speed and feints to bait and punish opponents

Sceptile has average HP and slightly below average damage output. Sceptile requires higher than average execution in order to deal significant damage, maintain advantage, and avoid his weak disadvantage state. The best Sceptile players specialize in smooth movement, consistent execution ability, and reaction speed.

Sceptile is among the fastest characters in the game. Sceptile has access to top tier jump speed and counter attack dash cancel speed. In addition, many moves can be cancelled into quick dashes for mix-ups or combo follow-ups. By holding R while in the air, you can use Hang to halt your momentum instantly in mid-air and catch your opponent off guard. As Sceptile's attacks are not as fast as his movement speed, make good use of spacing, traps, dash cancels, and other tools to cover yourself after you attack.

For duel phase, Sceptile excels in neutral and advantage with long reaching pokes, traps, and a great bait and punish game. Sceptile's damage output can be enhanced by using 8Y to guarantee a minimum 6 second defense debuff. On knockdown, Sceptile can lie bullet seeds on top of the opponent for a scary 50/50 mix-up on wakeup, where the opponent must either block bullet seed, or throw crush if Sceptile cancels the bullet seed into a grab. However, in duel phase disadvantage state, Sceptile is hindered by his large hurtbox, lack of a grounded frame 11 attack (outside of grab), and riskier than average grab crushes. Sceptile's disadvantage state risks becoming predictable as Sceptile overwhelmingly favors jumping to escape, using 4X to crush throws and avoid highs, and relying on a strong CA that leads into a corner swap for an extended combo.

For field phase, Sceptile has great tools available including a low profile move, anti-airs, dash cancels, and trap setups. However, Sceptile's moves are more sluggish in this phase, either having increased startup or increased cooldown when compared to duel phase. Characters like Shadow Mewtwo and Braixen perform well against Sceptile in field phase thanks to their quick long ranged attacks and projectiles. Support picks like Emolga or Snivy can be useful for gaining the upper hand in field phase.

Sceptile's Burst Mode is one of the strongest in the game and benefits from versatility. It can be used offensively while in advantage to secure a round, or while in disadvantage to escape Sceptile's weak disadvantage state. Some unique Burst Mode benefits include but are not limited to increased Y+B grab damage for scarier grab mix-up potential, faster trap activation to apply more pressure, and a powerful CA burst attack dealing extra damage when used against attacks.

Sceptile rewards nimble players that are detail-oriented, express themselves through creative play, and that enjoy the mental-game aspects that come with playing a mix-up character. Sceptile enjoys a strong match-up spread against most fighters. His weaknesses can be mitigated if the player practices strong, consistent execution and smart use of traps.

Sceptile #PTDX_SCP
Vitals
HP	570
Shield Health	600 SH (Normal)
Synergy Gauge	200 CC
Burst Mode Duration	840F (14 sec)
Movement
Back Dash	FP 29F / DP 33F (1-8F Total invuln, Cancelable on Frame 25)
Side Dash	37F (5-14F Projectile invuln, Cancelable on Frame 25)
Forward Dash	21F (Cancelable on Frame 13)
Unique Movement Options	Roll
Stances
High Stance	Restores recoverable HP (6 HP/sec)
Low Stance	High invuln. on Frame 1

General Moves

Y+B Grab
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Grab	FP 80 / DP 90	12	N/A	i11	FP Shift (0) / DP Shift	N/A

Deals additional damage when in Burst Mode.

Burst Y+B Grab
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Grab	FP 120 / DP 149	12	N/A	i11	FP Shift (0) / DP Shift	N/A

X+A / [X+A] Counter Attack
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Counter	70 / 83	3	Mid	i27 / i47	+8 / Launch	-8 / +4

Sceptile is put into a counter armor state from frame 1-20 (40 if charged). Counter pierces when fully charged. Can be dash canceled by inputting a direction and R.

j.R Hang
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Sceptile hangs on a vine from above. Sceptile slowly descends and falls off the vine over time. Pressing R manually lets Sceptile jump off the vine. After jumping off the vine, Sceptile can land in any direction. Can transition into aerials.

L+R Forest's Flash
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Counter	190 (50) / 140 (35)*	12	Mid Low	i23	Knockdown	0

Sceptile quickly rushes forward and strikes. Counter armor on frame 1, and becomes invincible on frame 20. Counter pierces. * Landing Forest's Flash from max distance will cause it to not go into the animation.

Field Phase Moves

nY
Attack	Damage	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	20 each	Special Mid	i23	+5	-7

Sceptile throws two shurikens to the side that travel in an arc. Holding the input causes the shurikens to stay in place. Special / Dash / fY cancelable.

sY
Attack	Damage	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	20, 42	Low, Mid	i62, i218	Stun	N/A

Sceptile strafes to the side and throws out a shrub. The shrub is planted to the ground and stuns the opponent on contact. After a period of time, the shrub explodes and stuns the opponent. The explosion from the shrub also gives a Defense debuff to the opponent on hit. The Defense debuff lasts for 6.5 seconds. Holding the sY input throws the shrub even further.

fY
Attack	Damage	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	90	Mid	i11	Shift (+2)	-18

Sceptile does a flash kick motion. Afterwards, fires a vertical arc-shaped projectile that travels straight ahead. Throw crush.

bY
Attack	Damage	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	30 each	Low	i23	+12	N/A

Sceptile first ducks and becomes invincible against Highs on frame 1. Afterwards, Sceptile surrounds itself with roots. During this time, Sceptile recovers from debuffs faster. Once complete, Sceptile restores 30 recoverable HP and gains 14CC of Synergy. Dash cancelable during any point in the move. Throw crush.

j.Y
Attack	Damage	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	10, 9 each	Mid	i19	N/A / +24	-8

Sceptile spins around and spawns a cloud of leaves. The leaf cloud has no hitstun. The leaf cloud disappears once coming in contact with the opponent, or if Sceptile is hit. After a period of time, the leaf cloud shoots six leaves that home in on the opponent. The leaves have hitstun.

j.X
Attack	Damage	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	70	Mid High	i25	Shift (Knockdown)	-8

Sceptile turns invisible and becomes invincible from frame 4-14. Sceptile then lands straight to the ground with a multihit slash. Can be canceled with j.R before the attack comes out.

X Homing Attack 1
Attack	Damage	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	30	Mid	i21	+4	-8

Sceptile homes in on the opponent and strikes with both arms. Can be canceled with block or jump. Throw crush.

XX Homing Attack 2
Attack	Damage	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	10	Mid	i21	+8	-4

Following up from Homing Attack 1, Sceptile swipes Its tail.

XXX / XX[X] Homing Attack 3
Attack	Damage	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	60 / 90	Mid	i21	Shift (+8)	-8

Following up from Homing Attack 3, Sceptile both kicks and slashes the opponent. Can be charged to guard break/counter pierce. If Homing Attack 2 was blocked, there is a 28 frame window to punish a charged Homing Attack 3.

Weak Moves

2Y
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	40	0	Low	i15	+12	-4

A low swipe to the ground. Invincible against Highs on frame 1.

5Y
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	20	0	Mid Low	i15	+4	-4

A double hit arm swipe. Special cancelable.

5YY / 5Y[Y]
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	36 / 80	3	Mid Low	i15	+4 / Launch	-8 / -4

Sceptile throws out a quick kick. Can be charged to counter pierce and launch the opponent. Special / Dash cancelable.

6Y
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	30	2	Mid Low	i19	-4	-8

Sceptile advances forward and shoves the opponent. Invincible against Lows on frame 5.

6YY / 6Y:Y
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	90 / 120	3	Mid	i19	+14 / Launch	-12

Sceptile throws out Its arms and does a curved slash. Powered up if the input for 6YY is delayed. 6Y only combos into the normal variant of 6YY. 6Y does not combo into 6Y:Y. Can cancel into j.R after the attack.

8Y
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	56	3	Mid High	i19	+4* / +12**	-8*** / +2**** / +6*****

Sceptile spits out a poisonous cloud that lingers. Invincible against Highs and Mid Highs on frame 5. On hit, gives the opponent a Defense debuff that lasts for 6 seconds. * +4 on hit against Pikachu, Pikachu Libre, Croagunk, Braixen, and Weavile. ** +12 on hit against everyone else. *** -8 on block against Pikachu, Pikachu Libre, and Croagunk. **** +2 on block against everyone else. ***** +6 on block against Braixen.

j.Y
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	54	0	Mid High	i11	+20	-8

Sceptile shoots a vine from Its palm. Can be angled upwards by inputting j.8Y. Can be angled downwards by inputting j.2Y.

Strong Moves

2X
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	80	3	Low	i19	Knockdown	-12*

A sweeping slide that is invincible against Highs on frame 1. * Becomes safe on block if done at a distance.

4X
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	60	2	Mid	i19	Launch	0

Sceptile ducks and throws out a tail swipe. Invincible against Highs on frame 5. Throw crush. Launches higher if Its a critical hit.

5X / 5[X]
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	80 / 90	4	High	i19 / i35	0 / Crumple	-12 / -8

Sceptile steps forward and does a backhand attack. Counter pierces, crumples, and is safer on block when charged. Can be dash canceled before and after the attack comes out. Can dash cancel the charge as well. Special cancelable.

8X
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	70	4	Mid High	i39	Launch	+8

Sceptile jumps in the air and performs a flip kick. Invincible against Lows on frame 5 and Mid Lows on frame 15. Can move while active. Throw crush.

j.X
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	50	0	Mid High	i21	+16	-8

Sceptile turns invisible and becomes invincible from frame 4-14. Sceptile then lands straight to the ground with a multihit slash. Can be canceled with j.R before the attack comes out.

Pokemon Moves

2A Giga Drain
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Grab	57	0	N/A	i27	Launch	N/A

Sceptile plants vines in the ground and grabs the opponent from afar. Launches the opponent and absorbs 30 HP and Synergy from the opponent. Inputting 1A sets Giga Drain closer to Sceptile. Inputting 3A sets Giga Drain farther away from Sceptile. Can dash cancel by inputting a direction and R before the attack comes out.

4A Detect
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Counter	28 (34)	0	Mid	i58	Stun	-12

Sceptile is put into a counter state from frame 1-26. Countering an opponent's attack causes Sceptile to vanish and leave a log. The log shortly explodes, stunning and giving the opponent Defense debuff that lasts for 7.5 seconds. Even if the explosion if blocked, the Defense debuff is still given to the opponent. On activation (or if the input is held), Sceptile swings forward on a vine. Can cancel into aerials.

5A Bullet Seed: Preparation
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Sceptile quickly leaps into the air. Invincible against Lows on frame 1. Can move while active, and can cancel into aerials. Quickly pressing the input causes Sceptile to do a short hop.

5AA Bullet Seed
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	70 (20) / 49 (18)	3 / 0	Mid	i11 / i81	+4 / Launch	-4 / N/A

Sceptile shoots seeds from Its hand and plants them into the ground. After a short time, the seeds grow into multi-hit vines that launch the opponent. In Field Phase, the seeds are planted in a line. Can change trajectory. The seeds/vines disappear if Sceptile uses Giga Drain or is hit. In Burst Mode, Bullet Seed grows into the vines faster.

6A Leaf Blade
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Counter	50 (13) / 100 (25)	3	Mid Low	i23	+4 / Knockdown	FP -20 / DP -16

Sceptile slashes the opponent with a wide horizontal arc. Counter armor from frame 1-16. Deals more damage and causes a knockdown if hit with the tip. Stuns if Its a critical hit.

Burst 6AA Dragon Breath
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Counter	90 (26)	12	Mid	i23	Launch	-8

Following up from Leaf Blade, Sceptile throws out a sphere of energy that instantly Phase Shifts on hit.

8A Leaf Storm
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Grab	162	12	Aerial	i19	Shift (Knockdown)	N/A

Sceptile leaps into the air and grabs the opponent. Invincible against Highs and Mid Highs on frame 1. Can only grab opponents that are in an aerial state. On hit, gives Sceptile Synergy and an Attack debuff. The Attack debuff lasts for 6.5 seconds.

j.A Leech Seed
Attack	Damage	PSP	Height	Impact	Hit Adv	Block
Normal	10 (3) / 20 (5)	0	Mid / Low	i28 / i190	Crumple	FP -20 / DP -16

Sceptile throws out seeds from above and plants them into the ground. Can change the trajectory of the jump by inputting a direction. If the seeds hit the opponent, Sceptile absorbs and heals 5 recoverable HP. The seeds have no hitstun. After a short time, the seeds grow into plants that crumple the opponent. If the plants hit the opponent, Sceptile absorbs and heals 20 recoverable HP. The seeds/plants disappear if Sceptile uses Giga Drain or is hit. The seeds/plants cannot KO the opponent. In Burst Mode, Leech Seed grows into the plants faster.

Notable Players

• AfroKami (EU): Twitter

• Antwerp (AUS): Twitter

• BimmyQuestion (NA)

• Ghostgodzilla (CL): Twitter

• Gintrax (EU): Twitch, Twitter, YouTube

• Midori (JP/AUS): Twitter, Vods

• Momo (JP): Twitter

• Son_Dula (NA): Twitter

• ThankSwalot (NA): Twitter

• White Chocolate (NA): Twitter, YouTube

• Wise (CA): Twitch, Twitter

External Resources

Pokken Arena: Sceptile

Frame Data: Sceptile