Resource SS OU Good Cores

[Katy]

offensive cores

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sets

Tornadus-Therian (M) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Defog

Zeraora @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Plasma Fists
- Volt Switch
- Close Combat
- Knock Off

tornadus-t and zeraora are a great offensive core as both support each other with the so called volt-turn core. tornadus-t can put pressure on
bulky grass-types such as ferrothorn, tangrowth, and tapu bulu, whereas zeraora can pressure problematic pokemon such as corviknight and
slowking and moreover blissey with its strong stabs and coverage respectively. tornadus-t can also pivot on ground-types such as landorus-t
and garchomp and switch out again to an appropiate partner to handle them. zeraora also pressures dragon-types such as dragapult due to its
higher speed tier and access to knock off.


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sets

Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Roost
- Swords Dance

Dragapult @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Draco Meteor
- U-turn
- Flamethrower

scizor and dragapult are great partners, since they're able to support each other well and can help to keep up pressure. dragapult qith choice specs can break through a lot of common pokemon, while scizor is able to threaten clefable, rillaboom, and weavile with its strong stab in bullet punch. dragapult helps to wallbreak for scizor in the later part of the game so scizor has it easy to click bullet punch on weakened foes.


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sets

Zeraora @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Plasma Fists
- Volt Switch
- Close Combat
- Knock Off

Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Roost
- Swords Dance

scizor and zeraora are great partners, they can pressure a lot of common pokemon offensively, such as dragapult, clefable, toxapex, corviknight, and tornadus-therian. moreover they support each others offenswive power with their strong stab- and coverage-options.

balanced cores

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sets

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 128 SpD / 128 Spe
Calm Nature
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock

Tangrowth @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Focus Blast
- Sleep Powder

heatran and tangrowth share great synergy, while heatran can check special threats such as tornadus-t, zapdos, and tapu lele well, tangrowth can check the monstros ground-types roaming around in the tier, such as landorus-t and garchomp, tangrowth also checks zeraora and kartana for heatran, as their coverage is threatening to heatran. heatran in return checks coriknight and skarmory for tangrowth as both pokemon aren't easy to handle for tangrowth.

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sets

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 128 SpD / 128 Spe
Calm Nature
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock

Clefable @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Soft-Boiled
- Thunderbolt

easy and self explanatory: heatran and clefable share a great synergy and they're able to check a plethora of threats. heatran sets stelth rocks while clefable checks dragon-types such as dragapult and especially hydreigon for heatran, as both could be problematic, especially the latter. clefable likes it that heatran is able to wear down pokemon for it with dishing out toxics or with the help of stealth rocks. clefable can capitalize on that with calm mind-boosting up in the lategame to break through pokemon with more ease.

defensive core

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sets

Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 48 Def / 208 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Pain Split
- Will-O-Wisp

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Knock Off
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip

rotom-wash and ferrothorn are a great core, since rotom-wash handles heatran, corviknight, and skarmory for ferrothorn. especially heatran is a threat to ferrothorn and rotom-wash is immune to its ground-coverage and resists its fire-type stab moves. rotom wash can bring in ferrothorn safely via the help of volt switch. ferrothorn pressures opposing pokemon really well due to its access to spikes and its annoying tools in knock off and leech seed. in overall they share a great synergy and they are able to put pressure on tornadus-t, rillaboom, and garchomp, which are all top tier threats.

 

[ausma]

Hello, everyone! I hope you're having a good day today. I just got around to updating the cores in the OP; I figure for transparency's sake to explain why I added certain suggested cores, and also why I added some specific ones that weren't suggested as well.

OFFENSIVE CORES

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Double Dragon cores have been a very common sight on more offensive teams, and it's no surprise as to why. Dragapult is a premier form of speed control that is adorned with great defensive utility and pivoting abilities, pairing particularly well with these two dragons for its ability to help Garchomp/Kyurem overload their checks and apply pressure to faster revenge killers like Kartana, Tornadus-T, and Tapu Koko. Kyurem particularly is an interesting Pokemon of note, as alongside Dragapult's speedy pivoting abilities against checks like Mandibuzz, it can find very effective wallbreaking opportunities despite the Dragon-type overlap.

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Zeraora is a Pokemon that has seen a resurgence in the tier as of late, utilizing its IoA-styled Heavy-Duty Boots set. Its phenomenal speed tier usurps even Dragapult, paired with its ability to reliably force progress against targets like Landorus-T with its access to Knock Off and apply great pressure to the tier's premier forms of removal with its Electric-type STAB. Zeraora finds itself comfortably fitted on balance offense cores and VoltTurn teams that want a way to maintain hazards. Scizor, another rising threat, forms an astounding VoltTurn core with Zeraora, applying great pressure against Rillaboom and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele while pivoting out against Corviknight, Toxapex, and Mandibuzz for Zeraora. Tornadus-T works well with Zeraora for about the same reasons, using Zeraora's pivoting target as a Knock Off or boosting opportunity. Tapu Koko also works well with Scizor for the same reasons, also having further utility in its ability to reliably check Tornadus-T and Zapdos thanks to Roost.

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Scizor and Dragapult form a similar core to that of Scizor and Zeraora, with a greater emphasis on opening up Dragapult's cleaning abilities with applied pressure against Pokemon like Weavile and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele that may get in the way otherwise.

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Rillaboom is a premier wallbreaker in the tier, and it's no surprise as to why that is; with its additional access to U-turn, it naturally fits well with a myriad of offensive partners. Magnezone's rise in use parallels that of Corviknight's, finding new life in a Substitute + Iron Defense set that reliably dispatches Ferrothorn and Corviknight, while also pressuring Mandibuzz naturally with its Electric-type STAB. Although on paper Kartana appears like a redundant partner, with Grassy Terrain, it and Rillaboom form one of the most deadly wallbreaking cores in the tier that can very easily overwhelm Corviknight and Mandibuzz. Heatran and Rillaboom are a combo that take notes from Gen 7's classic combo of Bulutran with a more offensive spin thanks to Rillaboom's access to U-turn. Rillaboom can easily obliterate Slowking and Tapu Fini, while Heatran bodies Corviknight, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn, also appreciating Grassy Terrain's passive recovery and Earthquake weakening.

These, I believe, are the main eyebrow raisers in the offensive section. If you have any questions, feel free to DM me!

DEFENSIVE / BALANCE CORES

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Tangrowth has seen a bit of a dip early on in the metagame, but its Fighting-type neutrality and Ground-type resistance in tandem with Knock Off and Regenerator give it a very respectable niche as a wall in the tier. Particularly, Heatran and Tangrowth form an incredibly solid balance core together, covering a wide array of defensive bases while being able to also provide a respectable range of utility through the use of Stealth Rock/Toxic or Sleep Powder/Knock Off respectively.

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Corviknight does a fantastic job alleviating pressure off of Tapu Koko to always click the midground move due to its ability to reliably swap into Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Excadrill, and also provides a safety net against potential revenge killers like Choice Scarf Landorus-T and Tapu Lele. Likewise, Tapu Koko and its use of HDB also take pressure off of Corviknight to come in after a teammate faints, letting Corviknight experience less pressure to Defog and constantly check Ground-type wallbreakers.

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The main ones I'd like to dissect are the two Landorus-T cores I opted to add here, since most other bases were pretty effectively covered. Landorus-T is the most splashable Pokemon in the tier, and likewise fits phenomenally with a bevvy of Pokemon to build great balance cores. Landorus-T forms a great hazard stacking core with Ferrothorn, also providing it solid assurance against Fighting-type coverage and alleviating pressure from it to check opposing Landorus-T. Landorus-T and Corviknight, however, form for one of the most reliable and versatile cores in the tier due to their phenomenal type synergy and role compression.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to DM me. Have fun with these cores, and keep suggestions coming for the next update!

 

[Pissog]

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sets

Weavile @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Axel
- Knock Off
- Ice Shard
- Low Kick

Slowking @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Scald
- Slack Off
- Future Sight
- Teleport

Offensive Core​

Pretty straightforward core: Weavile hits hard but he's also frail as fuck so Slowking's teleport can bring in Weavile safely. Future Sight is also great because it hits Toxapex, which probably is the best Weavile check/counter once he loses his item. Slowking is a great partner for weavile also because he's a great answer to scalds and other special moves by pokemon that weavile can't ohko like toxapex, scarf lele et cetera.

Things to look out for:

Basically anything that outspeeds weavile and hits slowking is something to keep in mind when you build using this core

Good Partners:

entry hazards are very good, electric immunity is needed, heatran traps toxapex once you knock off his shed shell and your opponent is gonna have a hard time trying to check both weavile and your second breaker

 

[agslash23]

Dragapult-Zeraora core

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Sets

Dragapult @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 96 HP / 252 SpA / 160 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hex
- Draco Meteor
- U-turn
- Will-O-Wisp

Zeraora @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Plasma Fists
- Volt Switch
- Toxic
- Knock Off

Two of the fastest Pokemon in the metagame, Zeraora and Hex-Dragapult form a fast and effective VoltTurn core. They can help beat each others greatest checks - Zeraora takes care of Mandibuzz, cripples/chips/beats TTar for Pult, in return HexDragapult cripples/beats most Ground and bulky-grass types for Zeraora. They can also pressure/beat shared checks like Clefable, Ferrothon etc.

HexPult can secure a burn against most foes due to its phenomenal speed. This also includes ground types that Zeraora hates facing. Since most ground types are physical attackers and lack reliable recovery, this mean that Zeraora is not afraid of a burnt ground type switching in to block Volt Switch and can permanently chip them with Knock off.

In return Zeraora can surprise Clefable, ground and bulky grass type switchins with Toxic, providing Dragapult with more opportunity to absue Hex and beat them. Moreover, it can help Dragapult by threatening opponent's Dragapult with Knock off. This allows our Dragapult to invest some EVs into HP (Pult still outpseed Koko) and live some hits it otherwise couldn't with max speed. Further, Zeraora beats most of the usual defoggers. This is very important for a VoltSwitch core since the number of switches such a core forces results in entry hazard damage for the opponent.

Thus, the combination of status damage (that also buffs up Hex to 130BP), entry hazard damage, VoltTurn chip damage and great offensive prowess of both Zeraora and Dragapult can prove too much to handle for opponents.

Good Partners:

- Heatran is the best partner this core can ask for. It set ups Stealth Rock reliably to punish opponent switches caused by Pult-Zera. It traps and eliminates Blissey, perhaps the best answer to this core (It only gets 3KHOed by Zera's Plasma Fist), and other stall staples that can recover the chip damage cause by the core. This is especially crucial against those who use Aromatherapy/Heal Bell since they would try to thwart HexSpam. If some other partner can set up Stealth Rock, Heatran could use Toxic instead to make Pult's Hex even more spammable.

- Lando can join the VoltTurn spam by making use of slow pivoting instead of fast like PultZera. It can set up SR/defog, switch into ground types that switch into Zeraora, can provide Toxic as well for HexSpam and weaken physical attackers with Intimidate.

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-Another set of mons that can slow VoltTurn and bring Zeraora or Dragapult in safely, these guys additionally provide Future Sight support to make it easier for Zeraora and Dragapult to break past defensive mons found in balance teams like Pex, Tangrowth, Clefable, Fini, Ferrothon, Zapdos etc.. They also have a brilliant matchup against ground types. Finally their defensive prowess means that they can switch into a number of PultZera's revenge killers like Nidoking, Heatran, Scarf Latios, Tapu Lele in case of Slowking; Lando (Scarf in particular), Sand Rush Excadrill, Hawlucha in case of Slowbro.

 

[SLDR]

Pretty simple, but highly synergistic pivot combination, they cover each other's weaknesses and main counters, the both have slow pivoting moves, hazard setter+remover combo and finally they provide the two immunities a team requires in ground and electric.

This compressed core allows many frailer wallbreakers to do their job through hazard control and safe pivoting. These include vicious attackers like band g-zapdos, specs lele, specs kyurem, np hydreigon and crawdaunt, just to name a few.


Faster pivots also work nicely with this core as they provide much needed speed control and usually they set the tempo of the match.
My suggestions are torn-t, koko and pult. All of them are fast enough to dominate many offensive pokemon and each of them sinergyzes well with the core for different reasons.
has knock off, which is particularly useful for removing rocky helmets other than its usual perks, and alleviates corvi from the pressure provided by rillaboom and kartana.
is incredible with corvi, checks many threats like both zapdos, torn-t and lucha.
is even faster than koko and appreciates swampert's toxic powering up its hex.

is extremely annoying to this core, so make sure you have a reliable answer and possibly a lure.

I love this core because it provides a very functional backbone to more offensively oriented teams in just two slots. Landorus-T+Slowking > Swamper is probably a bit more reliable defensively, but that's not the point of this core. You want to abuse those 4 slots for offensive presence.

SETS

Corviknight @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 172 Def / 88 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 21 Spe
- Brave Bird
- Defog
- Roost
- U-turn

Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Damp
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 21 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Flip Turn
- Toxic
- Protect

Sets and spreads are nothing special, the only noteworthy choice is no earth stab on swampert. I don't really care about it to be honest, I'd rather have the longevity and scout potential of protect and the help of toxic in wearing down opposing bulky cores.

Sample team

Corviknight @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 172 Def / 88 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 21 Spe
- Brave Bird
- Defog
- Roost
- U-turn

Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Damp
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 21 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Flip Turn
- Toxic
- Protect

Kartana @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Knock Off
- Sacred Sword
- Smart Strike

Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Moonblast
- Thunderbolt
- Psyshock

Zapdos-Galar @ Choice Band
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Drill Peck

Tapu Koko @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
- U-turn
- Roost

ALTERNATIVELY, use Life Orb Kartana + Scarf Zapdos, basically you want two wallbreakers and a cleaner/speed control

 

[AM]

Would it be possible to hyperlink posts in OP for future cores submitted so newer users can pull sets? I think I've been asked this on PS twice in the past 3 days about it and didnt notice it wasn't a thing.

 

[SLDR]

Balanced core

^ importable ^​

This core is built around Sub Roost Kyurem and aims at making the most out of it. I think that the most useful means of support are Toxic Spikes and "Magnet-trapping": the former because it's incredibly disruptive alongside SubRoost strategies and makes it easier for opposing Pokémon to fall into Kyurem's KO range thanks to the steady damage that Toxic Spikes induces; the latter removes many Pokémon aiming to stop Kyurem, such as Corviknight (which can PP stall Kyurem), Ferrothorn and Melmetal (as Pinkacross conveniently explained here just a few minutes ago).
Toxapex is a great partner for Kyurem not just because of Toxic Spikes: it can shrug off Fighting-, Steel- and Fairy-type attacks aimed at Kyurem, which in turn can eat Electric-type attacks for Toxapex.
Outside of Ground-types, Magnezone shares pretty phenomenal type sinergy with Toxapex as they cover each other's weaknesses and also eliminates Ferrothorn and Corviknight, two Pokémons that annoy Toxapex due to Leech Seed+Spikes and Defog+Pressure, respectively. Magnezone also resists Rock-type attacks for Kyurem, although pretty much every Rock-type attacker carries another STAB/coverage move that's supereffective against it.

SETS

Kyurem @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 52 HP / 204 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Roost
- Freeze-Dry
- Earth Power

The center of the core and an incredibly infuriating Pokémon to face if unprepared. Good bulk+SubRoost+Pressure is evil and between Freeze Dry and Earth Power, backed by base 130 Special Attack, Kyurem hits pretty hard as well. The only noteworthy part about this spread is the fact that this is max Speed. I've seen many 56/252/200+, but I'd rather have full Speed since 95's speed tier is suprisingly crowded with menaces like Tapu Lele and Obstagoon.

Toxapex @ Shed Shell
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Scald
- Recover
- Knock Off

It has seen better days in the meta, but still remains the best Toxic Spikes setter in the tier and keeps many threats in check by itself. I think Scald, Knock Off and Recover are staples on Pex so nothing new here. Fully Physically defensive because I ain't losing to CB Urshifu-R, especially because I want the Shed Shell to be able to escape from Heatran (although if your team handles Heatran well then absolutely run Rocky Helmet).

Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 48 HP / 252 Def / 148 SpA / 60 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Thunderbolt

lately I've been enjoying this set, it's extremely effective and dangerous. Thunderbolt over Discharge because I want to spread poison damage with Toxic Spikes. The EV spread is interesting: 252+ Def is mandatory on ID+BP sets, but with as little as 48 HP you make sure you never die from full HP to a Sacred Sword from CB / +1 Scarf Kartana, which is relevant because Kartana is affected by Magnet Pull and Sacred Sword ignores Defense boosts from Iron Defense. 60 EVs in Speed allows Zone to outspeed 0 Spe Corviknightand the rest is put into HP to maximize Thunderbolt damage.

 

[pulsar512b]

(importable linked in sprites)
This is a core I've been messing around with lately. The basic idea is simple- skarm+slowking is a fantastic defensive core, with skarm taking on the physical hits (especially the offensive grasses and grounds that are prominent rn, and annoy the other two) while slowking deals with annoying fire types (especially Heatran) and special attackers in general. Skarmory also provides spikes and Slowking provides teleport and future sight support. Both of these are very much appreciated by Urshifu-Rapid-Strike, which has been generally picking up as of late, considering the recent metashifts away from Slowbro and towards Slowking. Slowking does not fare great versus Urshifu-RS:

252 Atk Choice Band Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Slowking on a critical hit: 165-198 (41.8 - 50.2%) -- approx. 0.4% chance to 2HKO (So, it's losing health every time it swaps in... frankly I didn't think it did *that* much)

252 Atk Choice Band Urshifu-Rapid-Strike U-turn vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Slowking: 274-324 (69.5 - 82.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO


These meta shifts are reflected in it's surprisingly high 13th place in March's usage stats. Spikes make it a ton easier to break.. well everything really, while Future Sight makes pex a non-issue.

It's worth noting that any two of the members of this core also make quite a fine core- the most suspect one is Urshifu-RS and Skarm, but even that synergizes nicely with Skarm dealing with the grasses that annoy Urshifu-RS and Urshifu-RS dealing with Heatran.

To accompany this, you really need a electric immunity, and I've found that works great and also serves as a neat cleaner/speed control option. Also worth noting that it's possible to forego hazard removal if you choose to go this route, as it turns out to be quite difficult to fit (in my opinion). The only mon so far that is really annoyed by hazards is Skarmory, and that's with a liberal definition of "annoyed". Plus, the opponent will be forced to defog quite often due to your spikestacking.

Sample team (importable linked in sprites):
(You can also replace Zeraora with scarf Lando if you want defog)

 

[SLDR]

Pretty straightforward Double Ghost core, with Dragapult leveraging its amazing speed tier and STAB Ghost attacks to dismantle the opposing team. Aegislash helps in its efforts by luring in and providing Toxic support against Dragapult's main counters, allowing it to wear them down and powering up its Hex. Aegislash also works as a switch-in to terrifying attackers like Tapu Lele and Kyurem and as a check to Hawlucha, all of which tend to be troublesome for Dragapult teams to deal with. Being both Ghost types they share weaknesses, but their secondary typing are very sinergystic, with Aegislash taking Fairy, Ice and Dragon type attacks aimed at Dragapult, which conversely resists Fire.

SETS

Dragapult @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Draco Meteor
- Hex
- U-turn

Specs Dragapult is nothing new in Gen 8, there isn't much to discuss here. I suggest Shadow Ball and Hex because you want to click Ghost STAB as much as possible and you also want a strong reliable hit, not just Hex. U-turn is great for momentum purposes but you can actually use whatever you wish in the last slot, be it Fire Blast/Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, Thunder Wave, Will-o-Wisp, whatever. The EVs spread is fairly simple, max speed Pult notably outruns Adamant Arctozolt in Hail, so if you are weak to it bear this in mind. If you have another reliable form of speed control, you could remove something from Speed and place it in HP to improve bulk. Timid is required because you'd be slower than Koko and tying with Weavile otherwise.

Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 248 HP / 112 SpA / 148 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Toxic
- King's Shield
- Shadow Ball

EVs spread allows you to avoid the 3HKO from Specs Lele's Psychic and Modest Specs Kyurem's Ice beam, while always OHKOing the former after one round of Stealth Rock. If you want you can go even more defensive and invest something in Defense to handle Hawlucha better. The moveset is pretty obvious and you can't change a single one other than maybe going for Protect>King's Shield if you are afraid of G-Zapdos getting Defiant boosts through King's Shield, or Close Combat>Sub/King's Shield to smack Blissey and Tyranitar.

 

[notsotryharding33]

Zonevile is currently a core I really enjoy. I admit this is a bit better in National Dex since Weavile has Pursuit to trap, and Magnezone having a more consistent HP Fire, but still overall I feel like this core but's in work. Weavile's job is to tear through the more offensive paced meta, as well as potentially being a fearsome breaker combine with Boots + SD. It's also able to help out with marvelous priority Ice Shard against threats like Dragapult, and Rillaboom. Magnezone helps pressure regen cores(Toxapex, Tangrowth, Slowbro mainly), as well as pressuring fairies and trapping Corviknight in return for Weavile. This core also boots in viability with the bans of Ace and Mag, which were one of the biggest weaknesses of it, and I'd like to say that now it's better. FS support also benefits this core greatly.

Both are able to respectively counter Landorus-T and Heatran, but what's best about this core is one is able to pressure Blissey, Ttar, and Galar Slowking while the other pressures regen cores, and Grass type responses. Overall this core is very consistent at hitting hard, and countering most of the meta. This core is near unwallable. In terms of pokemon to watch out for Koko, and Specs Pult.

Fire core imo. Rillaboom and Zone form a volturn core, and allow for the breaker in Kartana to goal success. Rillaboom setups Terrain to benefit grass moves and suppress ground moves as well as giving the team the ability recovery. Magnezone traps pokemon like Corviknight and PhysDef Zor, to allow for more leeway. Overall watch out for pokemon like Specs Pult, and Volcarona. Defensive Zapdos can be an issue since Kartana doesen't have Z-Move(Not Natdex).

And for the last, an immensely underrated core since DLC 1'S Release imo, when it was with Indeedee instead. Solid specs Lele + breaker Expanding Force Zam has been one of my favorite cores, more so now with Mag/Ace gone as well, even Spectrier. Lele is able to provide a fairy typing as well as setup terrain to help nullify the effects of priority, which Zam really abhors. Thunder is a move that is ran to pressure Corvi/Slowking, some of which Zam Struggles. Alakazam's speed tier over Urshifu R-S, Hydreigon, Volcarona, Garchomp, and Kartana, is all helpful as these are some of the several pokemon that can attempt OHKO or severely damage Lele as they all get knocked out by an attack of Alakazam. Overall the stallbreaking capabilities as even specially defensive tanks like Blissey and AV Galar King fail to strug off attacks is also really well doubt by Zam if Lele fails to be able to use Psyshock. Recover allows for it to always 1v1 Blissey, and use Toxapex furthermore as setup fodder, especially if it lacks Knock Off. This core in general pressures the entire meta outside of Aegislash/Jirachi since those take stabs + coverage fairly well. Overall this core just struggles to notably pokemon in Weavile, Utility Torn, Zeraora, Scarf Lando, and Dragapult. Recommended you almost always slap a Corvi, and speed control mon that can deal with the weaknesses. Overall tho I love this core, hopefully you do to.

Gengar and Garchomp form a great core of breakers, self-explanatory one subs up and Nasty Plot's stall, the other Swords Dances and Sweep. Gengar and Garchomp together form a strong physical attacker + a strong special attacker. A form of speed control, and Weavile check should ensure that this core is kept together. Garchomp also could be swapped for SR or Fire Blast if it chooses to hit Corvi/Swole or setup rocks to allow Gengar to even have a smoother time breaking shit. In terms of Weaknesses Weavile, Tornadus, Tapu Koko, however Tapu Koko won't OHKO Garchomp unless specs ; Garchomp OHKO's it, Koko fears of a poison stab from Gar.

Gengar and Dragapult are the tale of the Ghosts that reigned OU. Together Gengar and Dragapult can form a great ghost spam core. Dragapult is able to rack momentum with U-turn as well as a offensive check to responses to pokemon such as Tapu Koko, and Tornadus. Specs Hex gives Dragapult in option to 2HKO Clef and Toxapex immediately. Gengar is a slower, 110 speed, however a much paced breaker. Mons like Blissey, Corviknight, Heatran, regen, and stall are broken down much easier by Gengar. Mons like Clefable and Tapu Fini don't really appreciate Gengar because they obviously fear Sludge Wave and still are pressured by Gengar without it. In terms of weaknesses: Weavile, Zeraoara, and Scarf Landorus, Defensively: Mandibuzz. However Mandibuzz can still be pressured by Pult if it get's burned and hex'd, possibly having to rely on boots.

 

[toaster04]

balance core
+

sets

Clefable @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Def / 120 SpA / 16 SpD / 12 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Thunder
- Soft-Boiled

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Knock Off
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip

in general i have the feelings that clefable + ferro are an underrated / underappreciated pairing in the metagame. the idea is super simple: abuse the power of spikestacking while holstering breaking power with relative ease, and allowing you to pave a way to win the game. your most common grounded switch-ins mald in front of spikes, and makes clef an even more fantastic and generally reliable wincon to use on teams such as stall and fat balance that need a wincon quite splashable.

+spa clef is insanely good. you can run maximum hp and physdef + dump 4 in w/e but the ev's are specified to help in many situations. 16 spd avoids the 3hko from specs pult shadow ball, you will end up clicking soft constantly with +1 as you will take minimum damage from shadow ball and can switch into dropped dracos. 252 hp + 108 def is kinda clunky as it was dumped to live sd bisharp iron head and eat sd kart leaf blade after taking very minimum chip. seems pretty irrelevant as both make clef rely on plenty of 50/50s but make clef bulkier. initially i had 132 evs left for this spread after making investments so i put 120+ spa and 12 spe for ttar which is kinda clunky imo. preferred partners are zera switch-ins such as lando, and grounds in general, which can make an intersection for the omnipresent zama (will become irrelevant / more relevant to deal with depending on suspect outcomes, but thats a discussion for later).

 

[Tysonslayer]

Offensive Core
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Sets

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Choice Band
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Aqua Jet

Tornadus-Therian @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Hurricane
- Heat Wave
- Knock Off

Urshifu-R and NP Tornadus-T form a nice offensive core that are able to lure in each others check. Where Urshifu-R can invites fat Grass-types that it struggles breaking can U-Turn allowing into Tornadus-T where it can set up as it forces them to switch, at the same time Tornadus-T can remove items that they rely on such as Heavy-Duty Boots or Leftovers, whereas Urshifu-R can then handle mons such as Heatran, Tyranitar, and Blissey for Tornadus-T. As Urshifu-r is able to handle those mons it opens up Tornadus-T to be able to run Heat Wave here than Focus Blast with better accuracy against the fat grass type while also hitting Rocky Helmet Skarmory a lot better which can otherwise wear down Urshifu-R rather easily by taking chip damage from it.

Good Teammates
Ferrothorn makes a good teammate for these two being able to cover the huge Electric-Type weakness that these two share, while being an annoyance to the enemy by removing items with Knock Off and wearing them down with Leech Seed. At the same time Ferrothron provides Spikes for both of them making them be even more threatening as the hazards will be hitting a lot more after items are being removed.

Scizor is able to handle a good check of things that can be a nuisance such as better checking Rillaboom and Kartana, Tapu Lele, and Kyurem at the same time Scizor can form a nice pivoting core with Urshifu-R as it invites Fire-types that is struggles with where Urshifu-R can break for Scizor and can then be able to clean late game with Swords Dance.

Slowking Future Sight support aids Urshifu-R and Tornadus-T in being able to pressure even some of their best checks most notably hitting Toxapex for Urshifu-R. It's ability as a slow pivot with Teleport to sponge an attack and be able to bring either of them safely and to make use of Future Sight once activated, as well as being able to check Heatran a lot better than Urshifu-R.

 

[notsotryharding33]

Aegislash is able to aid Heatran, via 2HKOing past half the meta via choice Specs. Pokemon like Tyranitar, Gastrodon, and Slowking that Heatran may struggle with, Aegislash can pressure in return. Also Aegislash in return can provide a fighting immunity. Heatran removes foes like Blissey and SpDef Pex and can deal with Fire types that Aegislash struggles with. Heatran also acts a stallbreaker to alleviate pressure against Aegislash. It's a monosteel core so ultimately mons like Landorus and Garchomp are gonna be issues.
The combine poweress of Swords Dance Aegislash and Future Sight provides it with the ability to pressure and defeat it's checks/counters such as Zapdos, Toxapex, and Hippowdon offensively. Also the ability to aid Slowking by removing threats in Blissey and Tyranitar with CC is beneficial as it provides leeway for it in the endgame. Slowking can be swapped for Slowbro if you're in need of a Lando check. Otherwise a Lele, Tran and pivot in to other special attackers to aid Aegislash is pretty helpful. This core effectively disrupts balances and provides offensive momentum.

 

[Katy]

offensive core

&

sets

Weavile @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Axel
- Knock Off
- Ice Shard
- Low Kick

Dragapult @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Draco Meteor
- U-turn
- Flamethrower

this offensive breaks down most of the pokemon in the tier, as dark/ice and ghost/dragon is a pair, which not many pokemon in the overused tier are able to cover defensively, and both form a great offensive synergy with their sets to just burst through the opposition. weavile with choice band is a threat in general with its high speed tier and its high attack stat and the ever so spammable knock off. dragapult with choice specs appreciates weaviles ability to break past blissey so dragapult has it easier to just spam shadow ball, meanwhile draco meteor and u-turn are great and the latter allows dragapult to just escape from difficult matchups, while chipping away the opposing pokemon. flamethrower is able to bust through ferrothorn, scizor, kartana, and melmetal with more ease. in general this offensive core capitalizes on the fact that not many pokemon in the tier are able to fully defensively cover these two.

defensive / balanced cores

&

sets

Melmetal @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 244 SpD / 12 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- Double Iron Bash
- Earthquake
- Toxic

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog

this balanced core compliments each other really well, with melmetal bursting through fairy-types such as clefable which zapdos has trouble bypassing, zapdos on the other hand can check dangerous pokemon to melmetal, such as kartana, zapdos-galar, excadrill, and urshifu-r. melmetals ability to annoy plenty of pokemon with toxic such as garchomp, landorus-t, and slowbro is very much appreciated to hinder them in the long run and to put them on a timer. in general they compliment each other well due to their type-synergy and ability to cover each others weaknesses.

&

sets

Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dual Wingbeat
- Earthquake
- Heal Bell

Volcarona @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Quiver Dance
- Flamethrower
- Psychic
- Roost

both of these pokemon build up a great synergy, as dragonite can check urshifu-r for colvarona, moreover dragonite and volcarona are both able to check prominent ou pokemon in the tier such as rillaboom, kartana, bisharp, heatran, magnezone, scizor, and ferrothorn together. dragonite and volcarona are perfect for each other, as they overwhelm the pokemon they aim to check with ease. dragonite can also help volcarona with heal bell so volcaronas moveslot is opened up for either an attacking- or utility-move, so it doesnt have to run safeguard necessarily. overall that core overwhelms a good amount of pokemon in the ou tier with their synergy alone.

have fun trying these cores out, and have a great day! :D​

 

[HydreigonTheChild]

@ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Scald
- Slack Off
- Future Sight
- Teleport

@ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 Spe
Timid Nature
- Discharge
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog

Zapdos and slowking form a good defensive core together. Slowking can pressure pokemon that threaten zapdos with scald burns and future sight to pokemon such as landorus-t, garchomp, and tyranitar. Zapdos really appreciates that slowking can take on ice attacks from pokemon like weavile, and nidoking, and appreciates being able to take on special hits like tapu lele, and special victini. Zapdos punishes Pokémon that take advantage of slowking's low defence to freely u-turn punishing pokemon such as dragapult, landorus-t, and tornadus-t.

 

[notsotryharding33]

Hydreigon + Dragapult lately has been a fun core that I enjoy. It's mainly just a spam of the dragons on paper but Hydreigon and Dragapult can both perform nearly similar roles but at the same time magnet differerent targets/threats. Now it isn't the typical Nasty Plot set, but Hydreigon is able to pressure checks like Clefable, and Blissey via it's coverage and act as a solid slowtwin, and Heatran sponge for the core. It's also able to be a way of threatening bulkier mons that Dragapult can't. However in return for Pult firing of boosted hexes, and thrashing Mandibuzz with Specs Draco can be nice for the core. The higher speed advantage over threats in Tapu Koko, Tornadus, and Kartana definitely is advantageous in Dragapult's eyes. With the pairing of toxic spikes Dragapult can also pressure Tapu Fini as it's Hydreigon's hardest wall. Overall the core is very great at covering for each other's weaknesses, and just combining power to over throne over threats.

Hydreigon + Aegislash is incredibly fire. Hydreigon is perfectly able to cover Knock and EQ weaknesses plus once again being a great Heatran check and it's able to bop Mandibuzz after a +2 Life Orb Draco Meteor. Aegislash in return pairs fairly well by being a soft check to things like Clefable and Tapu Lele, and being a nice Ice/Fighting resist for the core. In return it can break through Blissey and Fairy types that Hydreigon struggles with. And it has arguably a better mathchup against Ferrothorn and Tyranitar. NP Hydreigon and Mixed LO Aegislash both can effectively work to dismantle each other's checks as well as threaten the mu between bulkier threats.

Dragapult+ Aegislash is able to form a nice Ghost spam core. Where Ghost is a highly offensive typing in the metagame, and basically takes advantage of pressuring the majority of the metagame. Dragapult is indeed a very fast, and valid pivot, as well as nuke via Specs. Similar with Hydreigon it's natural speed helps in mu in the more offensive paced meta, and having the advantage of weakening Buzz sure does help. With U-turn it gives it the ability to safely provide momentum to get Aegislash in. Aegislash pressures those pesky Clefables, Ttar, and Spdef Ferro's, and gives for a nice way of chipping opposing Dragapult with Shadow Sneak. Furthermore Aegislash is able to add for being a better switch in to more offensive pokemon that pult can't. Overall this ghost spam is really fun, and effective rn, and has great synergy in pairing.

 

[Plushietran]

+
This core is pretty straight forward, use Magnezone to trap annoying steels that annoy scarf fini alot especially ferrothorn and then go wild, this core is really tough to handle especially for teams that rely on ferrothorn to check fini so these mons have some great synergy together

Sets

Tapu fini@Choice Scarf
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Surf
- Moonblast
- Defog
-Trick

Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 160 HP / 252 Def / 96 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Toxic
- Body Press
- Iron Defense

 

[Tysonslayer]

Offensive Cores
+
Dragapult is already strong on it's own being a major threat to majority of the teams in the tier and can pivot out against special walls like Blissey and Mandibuzz which Urshifu-R can break past through on it's own. Urshifu-R is able to overwhelm these special attackers that can take hits from Dragapult, and is also able to check Weavile and Bisharp for it who try to revenge it. In return Dragapult can pressure against the Slowtwins, while both are able to overwhelm against their checks like Tapu Fini and Toxapex. These two also form a very nice pivoting core being able to grab momentum with each other bringing them into more favorable matchups.

+
Similarly like Urshifu-R, Melmetal is able to break past mons like Blissey, Tyranitar, and Mandibuzz for Dragapult while at the same team being able to take on against Fairy-types for it as well. Melmetal is able to provide Thunder Wave support for Dragapult crippling the speed tier of opposing mons for Dragapult while also boosting its Hex damage for Dragapult, where in return it can function as a pivot bringing Melmetal safely. Dragapult is also able to check mons such as Zapdos and Slowbro for Melmetal that struggles breaking through them.

+
This core is effective in breaking past through their checks like Landorus-T and Heatran with their moves. Victini has a variety of options it can do with either Glaciate picking off weakened Ground-Types, whereas Scorching Sands is able to get Heatran which Tapu Koko normally invites and can weaken them to be in range for those moves. Victini is also able to pick off Ferrothorn for Tapu Koko which itself struggles breaking. Tapu Koko is able to boost Victini's Bolt Strike with Electric Terrain support letting it be able to break against bulky Water-types easier on its own while itself can pressure and remove those Water-types for Victini. These two are able to form a pivoting core with U-turn wearing down the opposing side and bringing each other in constantly.

+
Garchomp is able to cover Weavile's weakness of Fire and also be able to check Heatran for it, while able to pressure the metallic birds with Fire Fang which they can both pressure weakening them enough to be removed. Weavile is able to revenge kill faster threats for Garchomp with Ice Shard such as Dragapult and Scarf Landorus-T, it can also remove items in the opposing side if Garchomp where to run Stealth Rocks take damage from losing Heavy-Duty Boots and can get wear down a lot easier. This core is able to overwhelm shared checks they have such as Skarmory, Corviknight, and Tapu Fini creating a deadly wallbreaking core which can clean up games on.

Defensive Cores
+
These two are some of the most used mons as a mainline of defensive backbones for their ability to cover a lot for team, due to the plethora of mons that they can check. Landorus-T is able to check physical attackers such as Excadrill, Zeraora, and Garchomp for Slowking, it can also be able to soft check Tapu Koko due to it's immunity to electric moves. Slowking covers the special attackers for Landorus-T like Tapu Lele and Heatran, while covering its Ice and Water weakness. A really simple yet effective core seeing in many teams, while also being annoyance to the opposing side grabbing momentum, while utilizing their utility moves such as Future Sight, Knock Off, and Teleport to support their team.

+
These two have a great synergy with each other as an effective VoltTurn core being able to maintain momentum for their teammates, while also being good defensively. Rotom-W is able to check a plethora mons for Scizor notably Tornadus-T, Landorus-T, and Heatran which it lure in for it. Scizor can handle special attackers for Rotom-W like Kyurem and Tapu Lele, and enjoys having physical attackers crippled from Will-o-Wisp letting it handle Kartana, Weavile, and Rillaboom a lot better. Scizor can function as a great wincon with the help of Rotom-W covering majority of it's check where once crippled or weakened can pick them off.

+
Wasn't sure where to place this I feel offensive would've made more sense, but I'm placing it down here cause why not. This is a remminent core back from gen 7 but now up to date for gen 8 and still functions just as good as it was. Rotom-W invites Grass types which Tornadus-T takes advantage of them and can use them to setup on. In return Rotom-W is able to handle Tyranitar, Melmetal, and Heatran for it while also functioning as a soft check to Zapdos. Rotom-W ability to cripple Rillaboom and Kartana with Will-o-Wisp lets Tornadus-T be better at checking them with the attack decrease. The moveset for these two can be played around depending of team on what coverage is needed or even who can run Defog if you need a defogger for the team.

 

[agslash23]

Garchomp-Magnezone core

+

A typical Drag-Mag core that relies on Magnezone supporting Garchomp's sweep. As most of us are aware, SD + Scale shot Garchomp can beat almost the whole meta once it gets boosts. However, there are very few Pokemon that could still manage to stop a boosted Garchomp. Offensively, this includes priority users Rillaboom, Bisharp, Weavile and faster Choice Scarf users like Kartana. Defensively this includes Corviknight, Skarmory, Tangrowth and Unware walls like Clefable and Quagsire.

Iron Defense + Body Press Magnezone in an exemplary partner to aid Garchomp in sweeping. Magnezone traps and eliminates Skarmory and Ferrothon, hits Corviknight very hard before it U-turns so that it's in Garchomp's Stone Edge or Fire Fang range. That's not the only support Magnezone provides Garchomp though. It can deal with prority users that threaten Garchomp. With max speed, Magnezone can also trap and eliminate Adamant Bisharp with Body Press, surviving a Sucker Punch. It can also use Band Rillaboom lacking High Horsepower as setup fodder and can beat it 1v1. It can also beat band Weavile, and +2 SD Weavile at full health. It can also trap and eliminate unboosted Scarf Kartana locked into anything other than Sacred Sword. Magnezone can also beat Mandibuzz reliably without Garchomp risking a Stone Edge miss and getting KOed by Foul Play. Finally, with Toxic, Magnezone can cripple Unaware Clefable, Quagsire and Tangrowth (However, only on the switch for latter 2 as it hates taking an Earthquake from them).

Some good partners include those who benefit from Magnezone's support and synergize well with Garchomp such as Bisharp, Weavile, Melmetal, Urshifu-R, Kartana etc.. Also, speed control options like Scarf Landorus-T, Dragapult, the aformentioned Weavile and Thunder Wave support from Melmetal, Clefable, Ferrothon etc.. can be useful so that Garchomp doesn't always need to click on Scale Shot to boost its speed.

 

[notsotryharding33]

Whether it's used on stall or Balance, i've recently been finding fondness and having a dedicated physical wall + special wall, and the ability where one check's Rillaboom, and setups hazards, while one checks Tapu Koko and sets up momentum is pretty effective. Skarmory in general is able to cover threatening fighting types, and physical pokemon that can overpower Blissey like Kartana, Weavile, and Urshifu R-S, as well as being able to phaze out hazardous breakers. Blissey in return offers a nice way of checks like Kyurem, Dragapult, Volcarona. Skarmory and Blissey together can cover most of their shared weaknesses.


The core of breaker Drill + Magnezone is super awesome. Being able to lure in Corviknight for Magnezone, and allow it to rack momentum via Volt Switch can create a nice cycle for the team. Also consisting of double steels is great as if one goes, there is still another one in case the MU of Clefable get's a little fishy. On Sand, Excadrill can provide as a form of speed ctrl which is notably great against forces as large as Dragapult and Tornadus, since at +2 it's able to OHKO both threats. Also in a more Slowking oriented meta, Excadrill won't always be reliant on Magnezone on the extent of defeating bulky water types since it's most likely taking over 70% from EQ. The combination of these two also means that we're given a reliable matchup against Tapu Koko, and Excadrill being able to defeat Heatran is very useful. Overall the core struggles with Rillaboom, Landorus, and other faster strong threats if sand isn't up as Excadrill will not be able to outspeed. But the core is just super nice rn.

Ever since the resurgence of Slowking's presence, and also bringing back a favorite core back last generation, I've definitely been having success with this one. Simple as Tapu Koko setting terrain for Victini, forming a volt core, and allowing it to hit hard with Bolt Strike. Tbh, the choice of either Scarf or Band is imho up to preference. The ability to desire speed control vs. raw sheer power is debatably based off of which you prefer as either way you'll still be hitting hard with ET boosted Bolt Strike at a base power of 130. Tapu Koko's ability to offensively pressure. The voltturn momentum allowing it to annoy regenerator cores, hit hard as possible, and be fast is the best with what they represent. While having a slight weakness to Landorus-T, and Dragapult moreover this core reaches a great height of strength and viability within the current meta rn.



Last but not least in pure contradiction of the prior core, the behemoth of annoyance, regen. Tornadus and Tangrowth really form well as a viable regenerator pairing. Tornadus is got a nice ability in being able to shut down annoyances via Taunt, and pivot out consistently via the momentum of U-turn. It also is able to very nicely remove hazards for Tangrowth and safely bring it in, all of which it appreciates. Tangrowth in return stands as a pokemon that can knock pokemon as well as status via Sleep Powder. In terms of the Helmet set it's able to help Tornadus in checking SD Garchomp, Kartana, and Urshifu R-S. The AV set allows it to take on other pokemon that severely threaten it like Specs Koko and Dragapult, and it's able to live a Magma Storm from Tran and OHKO it via EQ after prior damage. Tornadus and Tangrowth are able to pivot out and create opportunities for each other to excel, and make a effective regenerator core.

 

[Gibus]

Is there a good offensive partner for Hydreigon that isn't Dragapult ?

 

[notsotryharding33]

Is there a good offensive partner for Hydreigon that isn't Dragapult ?

Aegislash, Corviknight, and Buzzwhole are all viable pairings with it, so yes.

 

[ausma]

Will be updating this later today, stay tuned!

 

[HydreigonTheChild]

https://pokepast.es/e67545a158f26f2e



Slowking is a special wall to Pokémon like nidoking, tapu lele, and checks CB urshifu-r while landorus-t is a physical wall to pokemon that would want to exploit slowking's weak phys Def like zeraora, tyranitar, and excadrill. Landorus-t provides crucial resistances and immunities to electric, bug, and ground while slowking can take ice, water, and powerful draco meteors that are targetted at landorus-therian.

https://pokepast.es/e521f0824a0075e7



Hydreigon and toxapex pair very well together. Hydreigon covers for its ground and electric weakness while toxapex covers the fighting, and fairy weakness that is so hydreigon is so exploited of. Toxapex can make it easier for hydreigon to break via toxic spikes, scald burns, toxic, and knock off against pokemon like tapu koko, weavile, clefable, and corviknight, and tapu lele that otherwise threaten hydreigon. Hydreigon breaks through common pokemon that defeat toxapex such as heatran, slowking, and zapdos.

 

[ausma]

Hello everyone! I'm here with another update as WCoP goes underway; more importantly, I also updated the OP with Pokepastes to each core, with some modifications here and there. Hopefully, this should make the cores more accessible!

OFFENSIVE CORES

+

+

+

+

FuturePort is one hell of a drug, and with the sheer dominance of Slowking on Balanced Offenses, it is by far one of the best ways to enforce progress in the tier. Urshifu-R, Zeraora, Weavile, and Bisharp particularly stand out as some of the best FuturePort abusers, as the former has 0 switch-ins when facilitated by a Future Sight. Zeraora heavily appreciates Future Sight to severely chunk or dissuade its checks from switching in, or using Future Sight as an opportunity to more selectively impair targets with its Knock Off while threatening critical damage from Future Sight. Bisharp and Weavile with FuturePort operate somewhat similarly as their Knock Offs are insanely difficult to swap into with Future Sight to cover the difference against Tangrowth, Gastrdon, Toxapex, and Buzzwole that may otherwise be willing to take it. Their secondary STABs can also be helpful in covering things like Clefable too. This likely goes without saying, but it would be a sin to not include them given how effective FuturePort is on offenses.

+

+

+

+

Dragapult always finds a way to form new cores, and given its superb speed alongside U-turn and the ability to force switches and damage unlike anything else in the tier, it finds itself pairing really well with Pokemon that appreciate wallbreaking opportunities or can assist Dragapult in overloading its conventional checks. Urshifu-R's dual STABs are nuclear and a majority of Dragapult answers get annihilated by it, either forcing crucial damage or forming a dangerous pivoting core to chip down one another's checks. Hydreigon is a bit of a weirder case, but has shown to be a pretty effective partner as it does great work in helping to overload Steel-type checks like Ferrothorn and Heatran a little more quickly. Bulky Volcarona is also a superb partner since, with its Safeguard variant, it is capable of turning Pokemon like Blissey and Clefable (which Dragapult pivots against) into setup fodder. Dragapult is also great at forcing pressure against Volcarona checks like Toxapex, Swampert, and Gastrodon and giving it a much easier time setting up and finding easier cleaning opportunities. Melmetal is another great U-turn recipient that pairs well hugely due to it being one of the best status spreaders and disruptors in the tier, which can not only help Dragapult keep things like Tapu Fini and Corviknight low, but also spread status to reinforce its nuclear Hex.

+

This core, although somewhat uncommon, takes inspiration from Gen 7 Koko offenses to slap the hell out of each other's checks with Victini's great movepool and wide coverage letting it take advantage of many Tapu Koko answers, and forming a really effective pivoting core all the same since they can force switches and damage pretty reliably in the long term. However, more prominently, Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain sends Victini's Bolt Strikes to dangerously high power levels and further limiting its switch-ins, letting Victini have the potential to overwhelm Pokemon like Slowbro and Slowking without necessarily needing Tapu Koko to do the work for it. This core finds itself pretty soundly on Balanced Offenses and VoltTurn cores since they're fantastic at creating momentum and piercing critical holes into opposing walls with their ability to capitalize on one another's positioning abilities.

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These Pokemon are the sheer definition of overloading checks, and with good pivoting support, can be a headache to keep in check without a defensive core that's willing to divvy the pressure. These Pokemon are particularly effective since they can easily interchange the roles of a wallbreaker and a cleaner with one another very well, and easily overload defensive behemoths like Skarmory, Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Corviknight with Weavile's nuclear Knock Off to force progress and the removal of items that may be necessary to keep Garchomp and itself in check, making this core incredibly difficult for balances and bulkier teams to handle effectively.

These, I believe, are the main eyebrow raisers in the offensive section. If you have any questions, feel free to DM me!

DEFENSIVE / BALANCE CORES

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The highly loved SkarmBliss core has had a decent resurgence in the current metagame as Skarmory and Blissey's amazing defensive profiles have been increasingly coming back to light due to the onslaught of many offensive Pokemon in the current metagame. Both, as always, nearly perfectly cover one another's blind spots, while also boasting great utility. Since these Pokemon can easily pivot into one another, they find it much easier to use their wide range of utility more liberally, such as layering Spikes or spreading status.

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These two cover one another's weak points really well with some great type synergy to cover one another's checks, as well as great progress enforcing options in the form of Future Sight and Knock Off to support their team. This is a pretty self-explanatory core that has seen major use in recent months and is one that definitely deserves to be mentioned.

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A classic VoltTurn core that took early Gen 5 by storm has been seeing a great resurgence in SS OU. Their defensive synergy is, simply put, fantastic, as Scizor's ability to check Kyurem, Tapu Lele, and Rillaboom alongside Rotom-W's ability to check Heatran and Toxapex make these Pokemon great defensive partners on teams in need of both momentum and reliable checks to some really dangerous offensive Pokemon.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to DM me. Have fun with these cores, and keep suggestions coming for the next update!