Gen 7 VGC / Battle Spot / Doubles OU Cores Thread

[RebornFX]

(Jan 16, 2017, 12:24 AM)Black117 Wrote: Tapu Fini + Kartana + Arcanine 
-snip-

Requesting somewhere in your post that you make reference to the fact that this core is commonly referred to as 'AFK'. Just to save any confusion if people see it referred to like this in the future, and frankly it's the best acronym for a core we've had since CHALK.

Oh also, great write ups. I thought I'd chime in with Wolfey's London team core.


Tapu Bulu + Politoed + Magnezone


- Pokémon featured: Tapu Bulu, Magnezone and Politoed
- Metagame: S/M VGC 17
- Core type: Balance
- Sets:

Tapu Bulu @ Lum Berry
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 36 Atk / 60 Def / 140 SpD / 20 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Horn Leech
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Protect

Politoed @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Drizzle
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Def / 4 SpA / 76 SpD / 68 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Perish Song
- Encore
- Protect

Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Def / 12 SpA / 44 SpD / 156 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Substitute
- Protect

This core was popularized by Wolfe Glick at the London International Championships and was used by Tobias Koschitzki in London and Ashin Mehta in San Jose to top cut each pf their respective events. Defensively, these 3 Pokemon function phenomenally when it comes to switching in to each other's weaknesses, patching each other's weaknesses and beating each other's checks and counters. Politoed provides rain, reducing the effectiveness of Fire type moves from the likes of Arcanine, Marowak and Incineroar directed at Magnezone and Tapu Bulu. It also comfortably switches in to these Fire type moves for both Bulu and Magnezone, and Steel type moves for Bulu. Tapu Bulu provides Grassy terrain to reduce the effectiveness of Ground moves, as well as providing passive recovery giving the core more staying power (playing in to Politoed's Perish Song win condition that will be explained later). Tapu Bulu comfortably switches in to Grass and Electric type moves for Politoed, as well as Fighting and Ground type moves for Magnezone. Magnezone comfortably switches in to Steel, Ice, Poison and Flying type moves for Tapu Bulu and Electric and Grass type moves for Politoed. Magnezone also plays a key role in trapping and eliminating Celesteela, or in tandem with Politoed, locking it in to an unfavourable move, allowing the player to target Celesteela's partner. The core only shares a common fire weakness, mitigated by the rain.

Politoed has a special niche in its access to Perish Song, creating a win condition for players who are able to pick up 2 KOs while preserving the Pokemon advantage. Once the player has picked up 2 KOs, the opponent is no longer able to switch, allowing the player to safely set up Perish Song and stall 3 turns with Protect and defensive switching to guarantee a win. The sets are taken directly from Wolfe's London International Team Report, though the Magnezone Sp.Atk and Speed EVs were not provided, so speed EVs have been placed to outspeed most Celesteela. However, alternative sets are certainly viable. For example Ashin used a Life Orb, Light Screen Magnezone on his team. This core greatly appreciates an Intimidate user. The particular EV spreads hit certain defensive benchmarks once Intimidate is factored in.

Wolfe's London International Team Report:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMusa8IRIrs&t=992s
Ashin Mehta's Top 8 San Jose Team Report:
http://www.trainertower.com/the-deadly-m...ls-report/