Speed Boost Espathra or Moody Scovillain for a Scarlet Playthrough?

Question

Leave your opnions here, I am a fan of Scovillain, but I don't know which would be better.

Comments

Espathra is easily the more reliable one, having Stored Power in its arsenal. Scovillain can be funny though.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, both Speed Boost on Espathra and Moody on Scovillian are hidden abilities, meaning you have to get an ability patch. To get an ability patch, you need to win 6 star tera raids, and to unlock 6 star tera raids, you have to beat the champion.
So, unless you have a friend trade you a Espathra or Scovillian with hidden ability already, you can't use either for a playthrough. However, assuming you have a plan for this, or somehow get one, here's how I think they would fare against the Champion using the following sets: (I am including only the champion because if I included all the gym leaders this would be several pages long)

      Espathra  
      Ability: Speed Boost   
      - Dazzling Gleam  
      - Calm Mind  
      - Shadow Ball  
      - Lumina Crash/Stored Power

Scovillian
Ability: Moody
- Energy Ball
- Flamethrower
- Crunch
- Zen Headbutt
(Note that all Pokemon will have no EVs, be the same level, and have neutral natures)

She leads with her own Espathra, which is a real problem for both of them, because it has Opportunist to copy your Speed Boosts, Calm Minds, and Moody Boosts.
With Scovillian, it will outspeed and 2HKO with Lumina Crash. or maybe, it will use reflect ore dazzling gleam. since the AI is quite dumb, I'll assume it doesn't Lumina Crash twice, which lets you Flamethrower twice and KO
After that, if you have even decent boosts from Moody, you've basically won. Flamethrower the Gogoat, Avalugg, and Kingambit, and Energy Ball the Veluza and Glimmora for an easy win.

If you choose Espathra, you start off in a big speed tie, so have it a few levels over hers and youll be good. If you're feeling bold, Calm Mind, or if not, Shadow Ball twice to get it out of the way. Stored power or Lumina Crash the Gogoat, again, sneaking in as many Calm Minds as possible, Shadow Ball on Veluza, Stored Power on Avalugg. Then-
Oh no. Kingambit.
Kingambit absolutely WALLS Espathra. If you were at +6 Sp.Atk you still wouldn't OHKO. You have to grind out 50 Fighting Tera shards and Tera Blast it if you want to win.

So, in conclusion, You actually Can't play through Scarlet with SB Espathra or Moody Scovillian. However, if you DID get one, your beloved favorite Scovillian would actually be stronger against the Champion than the Ubers tier Meta threat is. Which, if you ask me, is the best possible outcome to a question like this.

Sources: https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Ability_Patch#Acquisition
Damage calculations done at https://calc.pokemonshowdown.com/

Comments

Assuming the player has access to Pokémon's HAs, I see no reason why they couldn't go out of their way to use EVs, nature mints, tera, or even held items. Scovillain is too reliant on Moody for it to be a better choice imo, considering how unreliable the ability can be.