NAME: Scolipede
MOVESET #1: "Held at Poison Point"
FORMAT TYPE: Doubles
ABILITY: Poison Point
NATURE: Jolly
EVS: 252 Speed, 252 Attack, 4 Defense
MOVES:
- Skitter Smack
- Cross Poison
- Toxic Spikes
- Venom Drench
ITEM: Rocky Helmet
DYNAMAX POTENTIAL: No
PARTNER: Gengar
MOVESET NAME: "Curses are Dishes Best Served Cold"
FORMAT TYPE: Doubles
ABILITY: Cursed Body
NATURE: Modest
EVS: 252 Special Attack, 252 Speed, 4 HP
MOVES:
- Hex
- Venoshock
- Icy Wind
- Curse
ITEM: Rocky Helmet
DYNAMAX POTENTIAL: No
EXPLANATION:
The goal of this moveset is to utilize Scolipede's Ability, Poison Point, in conjunction with its Bug and Poison-type moves to gradually wear down the opponent. With Toxic Spikes, Scolipede can poison switch-ins, preventing the opponent from using grounded Pokemon without serious repercussions. Although Flying-types and Pokemon with Levitate can easily dodge this trap, Scolipede can use Poison Point and the Rocky Helmet to punish attackers that make physical contact. Even if Scolipede encounters Pokemon who don't make physical contact, it can still occasionally poison them with Cross Poison or lower their Special Attack with Skitter Smack.
The true value fo the moveset, however, comes into play when Scolipede manages to poison an opponent. Its Venom Drench can reduce the stats of a poisoned victim, simplifying the tasks of surviving hits and taking down opponents. Moreover, its partner, Gengar, benefits from the presence of poisoned opponents because its Hex and Venoshock double in base power when they hit poisoned opponents. Gengar can use Curse and Icy Wind to place additional limits on the opponent's HP and Speed while Scolipede drains their HP with poison. Gengar's Curse Body, alongside a Rocky Helmet, can also constrain attackers that make physical contact by reducing their HP and potentially locking one of their moves for several turns.
Neither of these Pokemon should Dynamax because they would lose many of the useful secondary effects of their moves.
MOVESET #2: “The Colony's Conquest”
FORMAT TYPE: Singles
ABILITY: Swarm
NATURE: Adamant
EVS: 252 Attack, 252 Speed, 4 HP
MOVES:
- Megahorn
- Superpower
- Double-Edge
- Swords Dance
ITEM: Silver Powder
DYNAMAX POTENTIAL: Yes
Of my three movesets, this is the sole moveset where Dynamax is truly beneficial for Scolipede. Rather than Poison Point, its Ability is Swarm, boosting the power of its Bug-type moves when it reaches a third of its HP or lower. To make it easier for Scolipede to stay on the field long enough to use its Ability, it should double its HP with Dynamax and reserve some of its EVs for HP. Dynamax also boosts the power and accuracy of many of its moves, most notably Megahorn. It also rectifies some of the hazardous secondary effects of moves like Superpower and Double-Edge while simultaneously replacing them with beneficial effects like boosting Scolipede's Attack or reducing the opponent's Speed or Special Attack. Scolipede's last move, Swords Dance, serves as a method of reinforcing its Attack before and outside of Dynamax. Scolipede reaches even higher levels of power with its Swarm Ability, Adamant nature, Attack EVs, and Silver Powder item strengthening its Bug-type moves. The remaining 252 EVs are reserved for Speed so that it can outpace opponents and take advantage of its boosted moves immediately.
MOVESET #3: "The Centipede Shuffle"
FORMAT TYPE: Singles
ABILITY: Speed Boost
NATURE: Jolly
EVS: 252 Speed, 252 Attack, 4 Defense
MOVES:
- Skitter Smack
- Cross Poison
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass
ITEM: Focus Sash
DYNAMAX POTENTIAL: No
This final moveset makes use of Scolipede's Hidden Ability, Speed Boost, as well as its Swords Dance and Baton Pass to provide Attack and Speed boosts to itself and the rest of its party members. Scolipede also prepares the battlefield for its party members using Skitter Smack to lower the Special Attack of its opponent and Cross Poison to potentially poison its opponent. Other than its moves, Scolipede requires a Jolly nature and 252 Speed EVs to facilitate its Speed stat. Similarly, its physical STABs require 252 Attack EVs to maximize their power (without an Adamant nature) and its Defense should receive the remaining EVs because it is the strongest defensive stat. Finally, Scolipede must have the Focus Sash for this moveset to survive potentially one-hit K.O.'s. It should also avoid Dynamax because it loses its moves's effects in Dynamax.
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