Gen 7 VGC / Battle Spot / Doubles OU Cores Thread

[Black117]

Celesteela + Arcanine + Gastrodon

 

- Pokémon featured: Celesteela + Arcanine + Gastrodon
- Metagame: S/M VGC 17 
- Core type: Defensive
- Sets:

Note: EV Spreads are from this Team. 

Celesteela @ Leftovers  
Ability: Beast Boost  
Level: 50  
EVs: 164 HP / 68 Atk / 108 Def / 124 SpD / 44 Spe  
Adamant Nature  
- Heavy Slam  
- Leech Seed  
- Substitute / Flamethrower
- Protect  

Gastrodon @ Sitrus Berry 
Ability: Storm Drain  
Level: 50  
EVs: 252 HP / 116 Def / 140 SpD  
Sassy Nature  
- Scald  
- Toxic  
- Earthquake  / Recover / Ice Beam
- Protect  

Arcanine @ Firium Z / Sitrus Berry / Safety Goggles
Ability: Intimidate  
Level: 50  
EVs: 236 HP / 4 Def / 4 SpA / 12 SpD / 252 Spe  
Timid Nature  
IVs: 0 Atk  
- Overheat / Burn Out
- Will-O-Wisp  
- Snarl  
- Morning Sun /  Protect

This core is built around having to protecting Celesteela for the late game SubSeeds and can provide great synergy for each other. Given how bulk Celesteela is both  BST and typing respectively, what better way to pair this defensive mon with... another one in Arcanine. To start, Arcanine has the ability Intimidate to lower the defense of the opposing Pokemon, while use either Will-O-Wisp, or Snarl respectively to lower the opposing target's offensive potential. Thanks to the Intimidate ability, potential burn status, and Snarl special attack drops against the foes, Celesteela can find it much easier to setup Substitutes / Leech Seeds, bur most of all stick around throughout the match. Gastrodon is an interesting pick here, but serves the purpose of redirecting all single target Water-type moves against Arcanine or Celesteela. In fact, Toxic Gastrodon paired with Celesteela has the potential to "stall" out opponents if they don't have the proper offensive Pokemon to beat either mons. In turn, but Arcanine and Celesteela can easily handle any Grass-type Pokemon on the field like Tapu Bulu or Kartana. Gastrodon can serves a defensive switch in for any potenial Rock- or Electric-type Pokemon aimed at Arcanine or Celesteela. While this team is quite 'stally', note all three Pokemon essentially aid in tackling their own resistences or potential weaknesses with passive damage.