VGC / Battle Spot / Doubles OU Cores Thread

[Black117]

- Pokémon featured: Xerneas and Primal Groudon
- Metagame: VGC 16
- Core Type: Balance 
- Sets: 

Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Precipice Blades / Earthquake
- Fire Punch / Overheat  
- Eruption / Rock Slide / Substitute / Sword Dance 
- Protect  

See this NB Page for other P-Groudon sets.

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

Meet the premier offensive duo that's defined the VGC 16 metagame: Primal Groudon and Xerneas. Based on the offensive typing alone, Primal Groudon's and Xerneas's STAB Ground-, Fire- and Fairy-type attacks hit almost everything in the format bar Fire/Flying-type Pokemon like Ho-oh. The Ground/Fire-typing as well as an enhanced ability in Desolate Land allows Primal Groudon to beat back most Steel- and Poison-type which check Xerneas, can override both Delta Stream and Primordial Sea if it switches in.  On the other hand, Xerneas can threaten most Pokemon with powerful Fairy-type attacks, particularly Dragon-type Pokemon like Mega Salamence or Mega Rayquaza who resist Fire-type attacks, while immune to Precipice Blades. If Xerneas manages to setup its Power Herb Geomancy, it can effectively sweep or severely threaten entire teams with +2 Fairy Aura boosted Moonblast or Dazzling Gleams. Primal Groudon already garners a high offensive stats of 180 Attack and 150 Special Attack so it can hit STAB Precipice Blades and Eruptions for heavy damage. Even if one of the two restricted Pokemon faints, the other can finish off weaken teams given the excessive damage output Primal Groudon and Xerneas exert. It is important to have multiple ways to deal with Primal Groudon and Xerneas as this is one of, if not the most overused restricted duo of VGC 16.


 

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- Pokémon featured:  Mega Rayquaza and Kyogre
- Metagame: VGC 16
- Core Type: Offense 
- Sets:

Rayquaza @ Life Orb / Focus Sash 
Ability: Air Lock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive / Jolly Nature
- Dragon Ascent
- Extreme Speed
- Draco Meteor / Sword Dance
- Protect

Kyogre-Primal @ Blue Orb  
Ability: Primordial Sea  
Level: 50  
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe  
Timid / Modest Nature  
- Water Spout  
- Origin Pulse / Scald
- Ice Beam  
- Protect

One of the most popular cores used to maintain weather control: Mega Rayquaza (also its base form), and Primal Kyogre. With Primal Groudon being the along the most overused of the "Primal Weather" Pokemon, the ability Desolate Land will likely be up for most matches to "evaporate" Water-type attacks, or not effective. from Primal Kyogre. Though Primordial Sea can "reverse" the weather to Primal Kyogre's advantage, the problem is Primal Groudon and always switch out, and reassert weather dominance to null any of Kyogre's attack. Now pair Primal Kyogre with Rayquaza and Primal Groudon has a problem. Both Rayquaza's forms have two respective abilities in Air Lock and Delta Stream which will remove the "Water-type" immunity Primal Groudon has with its Desolate Land, allowing Primal Kyogre to freely attack with its powerful STAB Water-type moves. In terms of offensive coverage, Mega Rayquaza and Primal Kyogre is an capable core which can sweep through teams with the combination of powerful Water-, Flying-, Ice-, and Dragon-type attacks. For what Primal Kyogre can achieve is Mega Rayquaza is deal with anything it can touch or beat, such as opposing Dragon-types, and bulky Steel-types. Mega Rayquaza is not limited to a "Mega Stone", as the only requirement is knowing the move Dragon Ascent, which aside the defense drops is among the most offensive Flying-type attacks in the game. With the rain up / in effect, Primal Kyogre's Water-type attacks are augment to insane levels, especially with its high base 180 Sp. Atk and strong Water-type attacks in Water Spout or Origin Pulse. Keep in mind both Pokemon are rather frail on the physical end so they need to net fast KOs before the opponent can maintain their speed control, use potential setup, or OHKO the two back.