VGC / Battle Spot / Doubles OU Cores Thread

[Black117]

- Pokémon featured: Primal Groudon + Trick Room Gravity Setter ( Cresselia / Bronzong )
- Metagame: VGC 16 ( Trick Room ) 
- Core Type: Offense
- Sets: 

Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb  
Ability: Desolate Land  
Level: 50  
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD  
Brave Nature  
IVs: 0 Spe  
- Precipice Blades  
- Fire Punch 
- Rock Slide / Substitute / Sword Dance
- Protect  

See this NB Page for other P-Groudon sets.

Cresselia @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 244 HP / 108 Def / 156 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Trick Room
- Ice Beam / Psychic
- Helping Hand
- Gravity / Skill Swap

or 

Bronzong @ Lum Berry / Mental Herb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Def / 196 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Trick Room
- Gyro Ball
- Skill Swap / Hypnosis
- Gravity / Safeguard

The main goal of this core is to support a Primal Groudon sweep via the use of Trick Room, and a capable support Pokemon like Cresselia or Bronzong. Precipice Blades is one of the most powerful spread attack in the format and paired with a Pokemon with base attack is a gargantuan 180 ATK with STAB. With Primal Groudon being an immediate target due to its offensive capabilities, unless it has some of speed control, the Primal won't be able to get some powerful STAB damage off against its targets. One option VGC players have came up with is to utilize Primal Groudon as a "Trick Room" sweeper to outspeed Pokemon with a base speed of 90+ while negate most "positive" speed control options such as Tailwind. The choice between Cresselia and Bronzong depends on team composition and personally preferences, though both Psychic-types perform the same role. Aside having the obvious Trick Room support, Cresselia and Bronzong are able to use the move "Gravity" which effectively removes the Flying-type and Levitate ability. Not only will all Flying-type or Levitate users get hit with a Precipice Blades, but one of the side effects increases the accuracy of all Pokemon by 5/3x making the Ground-type move have over 100% accuracy. Skill Swap allows both Psychic-types to "change" the weather via switching the abilities of the user and Primal Groudon. This can inadvertently give Primal Groudon the Levitate ability, thus making it immune to Ground-type attacks, while Cresselia / Bronzong gets Desolate Land. If using Cresselia, note it has access to Helping Hand, incredibly staying power ( 120 HP / 120 Def / 130 Def ), and can use a variety of other support options for Primal Groudon and its teammates. For Bronzong, its main use is attributed to being a defensive check to Xerneas via threatening it with Gyro Ball and can use Hypnosis to place Pokemon to sleep. 
 

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- Pokémon featured:  Xerneas + Smeargle
- Metagame: VGC 16
- Core Type: Offense 
- Sets:

Xerneas @ Power Herb
Ability: Fairy Aura
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Geomancy
- Dazzling Gleam
- Moonblast
- Protect

Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Moody
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dark Void
- Spiky Shield
- Follow Me / Craft Shield
- Fake Out / Wide Guard

Xerneas is one of the most deadliest sweepers in the VGC 16 format after it setups Geomancy and proceed to sweep with +2 Fairy Aura Moonblast or Dazzling Gleam. One way to make Xerneas far threatening is to pair with the an variable Pokemon with exclusive access to Dark Void: Smeargle. The idea of this core is to pin the opponent into either dealing with +2 Geomancy-boosted Xerneas, or two opposing Pokemon to sleep. Keep in mind, Smeargle can use other other support moves to prop up the Xerneas setup, even if it means cost the Smeargle's own sake. Fake Out and Follow Me allows Smeargle to effectively disrupt one or both target Pokemon either a guarantee flinch, or redirect any other disruption  move like Taunt / Thunder Wave away from Xerneas. Though not as consistent, Moody boosts can change the direction of the game, especially if Smeargles gets an accuracy, speed, or evasion boosts. If the potential of spread attacks is threatening for this pairing, Wide Guard can be use to prevent damage, and grant a pseudo-free turn for Xerneas to boost. Crafty Shield can be used to prevent incoming Status moves like Taunt, Dark Void, Thunder Wave, etc.