Sceptile

Sceptile
File:Sceptile.png National Pokédex Grovyle - Sceptile (#254) - Torchic Hoenn Pokédex Grovyle - Sceptile (#3) - Torchic
Japanese name	ジュカイン - Jukain
Evolves from	Grovyle
Evolves into	None
Generation	Third
Species	Forest Pokémon
Type	Grass
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight	115.1 pounds (52.2 kg)
Ability	Overgrow

Sceptile (known as ジュカイン Jukain in Japan, Gewaldro in Germany and Jungko in France) is one of the Template:Pokenum fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. It is a stage 2 evolution of one of the three Hoenn starter Pokémon, Treecko.

The name "Sceptile" originates from the words "septic" (as in "resulting from putrefication," because Sceptile is a Grass Pokémon that can sometimes poison), and "reptile". Its name may also be modeled off sceptre, meaning "royal" or "kinglike", as Sceptile is the "King of the Jungle." It may also derive from "scent" or "scented," representative of being Grass-type. Its Japanese name originates from 樹海 ([jukai] Error: {{nihongo}}: text has italic markup (help)), literally meaning "a sea of trees" or "abundant leafage".

Appearance

Sceptile is a human-sized bipedal gecko with large, sharp, sword-like outgrowths on its arms, yellow orb-like seeds growing on its back, and a huge, complex tail not unlike a fern. Its body is configured for battling prowess and superior mobility in jungle environments.

Biology

Sceptile is on the level of King of the Jungle, for it assumes authority with its unequaled power in jungle environments. Because it is apparently convinced that it is a caretaker of the forest, this Pokémon carefully grows trees and plants with loving care. The orbs on Sceptile’s back are seeds filled to the brim with nutrients, and Sceptile uses these nutrients not for itself but for the sake of revitalizing the trees it looks after. As for itself, to regulate its body temperature so that it does not become too cold, it basks in sunlight.

Sceptile may weigh 115 pounds on average, but it is very agile and dextrous in the jungle. It generally travels long distances through the jungle by leaping amongst the branches of trees with dextrous footwork. When confronted by an opponent Pokémon, Sceptile uses its jumping mobility among the branches to attack its foe from above and behind, slashing with its leaf blades. This applies to trainer-owned Sceptiles in Pokémon battles; If a battle takes place in a forested area, Sceptile will attempt to use this terrain to its advantage.

In the video games

Sceptile is certainly not found in the wild, just like any Starter Pokémon's evolution. It is evolved from Grovyle at level 36, which in turn is evolved from Treecko at level 16. Therefore, Sceptile potentially resides in the player’s team in any game of Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald, if the player chose Treecko at the beginning. It can also be traded among the previously mentioned versions and the FireRed and LeafGreen versions.

Statistically, Sceptile is a very strong Grass-type Pokémon, with very high speed and nearly as high special attack, benefiting its use of grass-type moves very well. With its Overgrow ability and its moveset including the moves Aerial Ace, Earthquake, Crunch (Obtained by breeding), Dragon Claw, Thunder Punch (Obtained by the Emerald Move Tutor), and Sceptile’s unique Grass-type attack Leaf Blade, Sceptile is considered ideal for its type.

Among movesets, other very popular moves for a Sceptile holding the Leftovers are the moves Substitute and Leech Seed, which can keep up its health abnormally long while Sceptile attacks with Leaf Blade/Giga Drain and Thunderpunch/Hidden Power. This makes it good against Pokémon with tremendous amounts of HP. However, an effective link-battle moveset might be Leaf Blade, Crunch, Endeavor, and Endure; holding a Petaya berry (to boost Special attack) or Salac berry (to boost Speed) will also be useful when Sceptile's HP gets low. This moveset takes advantage of the Overgrow ability by using Endure to bring its HP down to a low point when attacked, which in turn, makes it's grass-type attacks more powerful, and takes advantage of the move Endeavor to cause damage equal to the HP Sceptile lost; the Petaya Berry/ Salac Berry will also take effect making this combo more effective. However, this moveset requires breeding, exclusive hold-items, and will be uneffective against Pokémon using Sandstorm or Hail. Sceptile also has the potential to be a Physical sweeper or a paladin tank.

In the animé

Sceptile made its initial appearance in the Hoenn League in AG 127 (Episode 405 by international number), belonging to a trainer named Tyson. It has been used to defeat an Aggron in a Double Battle round, defeated a Rhydon in the second round, and in the battle against Ash in the third round.

In the Battle Frontier, Ash's Grovyle evolved into a Sceptile during a battle with a Tropius in the episode "Grovyle VS Tropius! Grass Field Duel!". Even after his evolution, Sceptile has retained his rebel-like personality. Ash's Sceptile was initially unable to use any attacks, due to the psychological impact of a Meganium's rejection. However, it regained the ability to use its attacks two episodes later in "Sceptile! Dawn of Revival!!". It then learned "Solar Beam" in the "Battle Palace" episode "Fierce Fighting! Jungle Battle at the Battle Palace!". Since then, it has gained the title of one of Ash's most powerful Pokémon (next to Charizard and Pikachu).

Trivia

In the episode, Ash VS May the Last Battle!, Sceptile uses the ability Overgrow against Blaziken. This marks the second time Overgrow was used.

In other properties

In the card game

Sceptile's card appearances were in the following sets, as Stage 2 Pokémon cards with the Grass type (bar CG, which is Psychic-type):

• EX: Ruby and Sapphire (as two cards)
• EX: Team Aqua vs. Team Magma (as Sceptile ex)
• EX: Emerald
• EX: Crystal Guardians (as Sceptile ex (Delta Species))

In the manga

Sceptile was a rental pokémon in the Battle Factory. It was used by Emerald, who then took it away after the battle.

References

• The following games and their instruction manuals: Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue; Pokémon Yellow; Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2; Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal; Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald; Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen; Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

Publications

• Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
• Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
• Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
• Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
• Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5

External links

• Official Pokémon website
• Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Sceptile as a species
• Template:Serebiidex
• Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
• PsyPoke - Sceptile Pokédex entry and Usage Overview
• Smogon.com - Sceptile Tactical Data
• Template:WikiKnowledge