The Good Cores Thread [SMOGON]

[croissant]

Hi, and welcome to the Good Cores Thread. Here, you can find good cores to use on your teams or submit some cores that you like to use.

TO SUBMIT A CORE

1-Fill this:

- Pokémon featured:
- Metagame:
- Core type(offensive/balanced/defensive):
- Sets:

2- Give a explanation (minimum 3 lines of text) of how the core works (ex. how they complement each other, what they can accomplish, matchup versus the current metagame).

3- (Not required) If you want, add a replay/battle code to showcase the core in a game.

Any core that I find to be sub optimal will be deleted. Sprites are cool if you want to add those.

[croissant]

- Pokémon featured: Suicune and Ferrothorn
- Metagame: ORAS OU
- Core type: Defensive
- Sets:

Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Rest
- Calm Mind / Sleep Talk
- Scald
- Roar

Ferrothorn @ Chople Berry
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Power Whip
- Spikes
- Thunder Wave / Leech Seed

Water and Grass types are often found in defensive cores because of their excellent synergy, and Suicune and Ferrothorn complement themselves very well too because of the fact that Ferrothorn hazard stacks and Suicune shuffles. Suicune also has decent offensive presence after a few boosts from Calm Mind, and Ferro can be an annoyance with Thunder Wave or Leech Seed. Because of the Fighting weakness, a good partner is Landorus-T because it covers this weakness and can provide Stealth Rock, which frees up a moveslot on Ferro.

[croissant]

- Pokémon featured: Slowking and Tangrowth
- Metagame: ORAS OU
- Core type: Defensive
- Sets:

Slowking @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 128 Def / 132 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Psyshock
- Slack Off

Tangrowth @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 244 HP / 216 Def / 48 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Sleep Powder
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Once again, a defensive Water/Grass core. While these two share a Bug weakness, it's not a common type and it's easy to patch up, and they have good synergy because of Slowking's good special bulk complementing very well Tangrowth's stellar physical bulk. They also both have the ability Regenerator, so they can heal by switching. Putting these two as a defensive backbone for a sand team is a great idea since Hippowdown, a good Ground type, takes care of M-Manectric and Bug types while also setting up the sand, and Regenerator basically negates the sand damage on these two. It's good to note that Slowking has decent offensive presence after a few Calm Mind boosts.

[Frost]

While this is really cool I am seriously the worst person at Pokemon battling. Chess or checkers? I got this. Pokemon? Ya...no. This will be a big help to people like me who have no idea what they're doing when battling. <3

[croissant]

- Pokémon featured: M-Pidgeot and Excadrill
- Metagame: ORAS OU
- Core type: Offensive
- Sets:

Pidgeot @ Pidgeotite
Ability: Big Pecks
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Work Up
- Refresh
- Roost

Excadrill @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Rapid Spin

M-Pidgeot is an underrated threat in the OU tier because of its combination of a good Speed and Special Attack stat, an ability that allows it to have 100% accurate Hurricanes and a good moveset that allows it to break defensive builds/stall. Meanwhile, Excadrill has a good matchup against offense because of its good Speed when paired with a Choice Scarf. They complement each other very well because together, they can beat most playstyles and Excadrill can Rapid Spin the rocks that are annoying for Pidgeot. Also, Pidgeot removes the bulky Grass types that wall Excadrill, such as Tangrowth. and Excadrill beats Steel, Rock and Ice types who are threatening to the bird.

[croissant]

- Pokémon featured: M-Manectric and Weavile
- Metagame: ORAS OU
- Core type: Offensive
- Sets:

Weavile @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Ice Shard
- Low Kick / Swords Dance
- Knock Off

Manectric @ Manectite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Overheat / Flamethrower
- Volt Switch

You probably heard of the BoltBeam combo before; it's when a Pokémon has both an Electric and an Ice move, which is great since they provide incredible coverage. Well, Weavile and M-Manectric are the embodiment of the BoltBeam combo; they can beat each others' checks/counter, and they are both very fast and powerful. Weavile also has access to a great secondary STAB move in Knock Off, which is a very spammable move early game. Volt Switch is also very good to wear down the opposing team while gaining momentum. This core is one of the best offensive one in OU at the moment, and it can be even better when paired with another U-Turner / Volt Switcher, because VoltTurn is a great playstyle since it gains you tons of momentum and it constantly wears down the opposing team to the point where it can be swept fairly easily.

[croissant]

or /

- Pokémon featured: Dragonite/M-Pinsir and Magnezone/Magneton
- Metagame: ORAS OU
- Core type: Offensive
- Sets:

Dragonite @ Lum Berry
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Extreme Speed
- Dragon Dance

Pinsir @ Pinsirite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Quick Attack
- Frustration
- Close Combat
- Swords Dance

Magnezone @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Flash Cannon

(same set for Magneton)

Dragonite is very threatening after a Dragon Dance, but Fairy and Steel types can stop it in its tracks since it usually can't do much to them unless they are weakened. Same goes for Pinsir with Steel types. But what can take care of both of those typings? Magnezone; kills Fairies and also traps Steels and remove them with HP Fire. Magneton is also an option, but it's only recommend on team that are very weak to Weavile and Talonflame since its superior Speed stat allows it to outspeed them when coupled with a Choice Scarf, unlike Magnezone. However, Magnezone is usually better. So basically, you trap and kills the Steels (and kill Fairies if using Dragonite), then you can set up and sweep.

[croissant]

- Pokémon featured: Tentacruel and Bronzong
- Metagame: ORAS UU
- Core type: Defensive
- Sets:

Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 240 HP / 244 Def / 24 Spe
Bold Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Scald
- Toxic Spikes
- Haze

Bronzong @ Leftovers / Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake / Light Screen
- Toxic / Reflect


This is a very good defensive core in UU because Tentacruel and Bronzong complement themselves very well. A bulky water is always good on every balanced team, and Tentacruel is a very good one since it can both Rapid Spin and use Toxic Spikes. Meanwhile, Bronzong can use Stealth Rock to hazard stack, but also Toxic non-grounded foes or put screens to make setting up with other mons easier. Pairing this core with a Wish passer is a good idea to keep it healthy longer.

[croissant]

- Pokémon featured: Jirachi and Azumarill
- Metagame: Doubles OU
- Core type: Balanced
- Sets:

Jirachi @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 92 Def / 164 SpD
Impish Nature
- Follow Me
- Iron Head
- Icy Wind / Thunder Wave
- Protect / Helping Hand

Azumarill @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off / Play Rough
- Belly Drum
- Protect

This core is based on the combination of Jirachi's good typing/bulk and excellent support movepool in addition to Azumarill's huge (see what I did there) attack stat that can be further boosted by Belly Drum. Basically, the strategy is to have both of these guys at the same time on the field, and then use Follow Me on Jirachi while using Belly Drum on Azumarill. This way, you can use Belly Drum without having to worry about taking damage/status and then proceed to sweep (or try to) weakened or unprepared teams. Jirachi can also use either Icy Wind or Thunder Wave to slow down the opposing team, so Azu doesn't have to rely on Aqua Jet, and even Helping Hand to boost Azumarill's attack to disgusting levels.

[croissant]

/

- Pokémon featured: M-Heracross + Weather Sweeper (Kabutops / Excadrill)
- Metagame: ORAS OU
- Core type: Offensive
- Sets:

Heracross @ Heracronite
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 240 HP / 136 Atk / 132 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Pin Missile
- Rock Blast
- Substitute / Bullet Seed

Kabutops @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Waterfall
- Swords Dance
- Aqua Jet / Low Kick

Excadrill @ Air Balloon / Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Swords Dance

M-Heracross is a very potent wallbreaker in OU that was always a bit underrated, and it's a great Pokémon on both Sand and Rain teams because of it's ability to destroy bulky Grass types that are troublesome for these types of teams. If running Bullet Seed, it can also get past bulky Waters that can also be threatening. Meanwhile, Kabutops and Excadrill are powerful Swords Dance users that are also very fast in their respective weathers. This core is annoyed by M-Alakazam, because it can Trace their abilities and outspeed them even in the rain/sand and it can also beat M-Heracross if it's not behind a Substitute. It's good to note that Zam can't switch into Heracross too.