Project USM RU Cores

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MrAldo

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Approved by atomicllamas

Since RU is gonna take some time to get out of beta, some projects are on hold on but I think this one can go cause it is less metagame stage dependant.



Credit for the banner goes to Centinela
Welcome to the SM edition of RU Cores! We are gonna post cores that have proven to be effective and that we enjoy using and stuff. Discussing the viability on some of them, recommendations for sets changes and teammates isnt out of the question either so be sure to do that.

For those that dont know a Core is: It is a group of elements, in this case 2 or 3 Pokemon, that work together in order to achieve the goal of effectively supporting a team in order to make it better and by consequence making it more efficient and consistent on the metagame as a whole. Offensive cores to overwhelm common checks or beat each other checks, defensive cores in order to sustain a team against many different threats, balanced cores for that nice balance between offense and defense (redundancy and everything). These are an essential and fun part of teambuilding that opens a lot of possibilities and ease the teambuilding process, many possible interactions that are just great to see develop in a match.

Let me provide an example, with a basic balanced core:
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Nidoqueen @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Ice Beam

Snorlax @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 144 HP / 188 Def / 176 SpD
Careful Nature
- Body Slam
- Curse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Balanced core that complement each other really well through a great array of resistances and great offensive prowess that can be really hard to deal through a match. Nidoqueen is basically a staple on almost any team, especially offense given its combination of raw bulk and power that is just so unique and so good for any team. Snorlax completes nidoqueen as a partner giving it an important ice resistance against the like of Mega Glalie, Sneasel and even Cryogonal and a fire resist that sadly nidoqueen as a ground type doesnt resist so thats neat and providing a great win condition that appreciates nidoqueen wallbreaking potential and how customizable it is. Nidoqueen soft checks fighting types, and breaking through steel types annoying for snorlax, Snorlax gives love back to nidoqueen by blanket checking special psychic types, ice types and water types that nidoqueen can have trouble it. Straightforward and simple.

Why it is a balanced core? Cause both combines great offensive and defensive presence in order to function in a team. Balanced cores are trickier to come up at first but Offensive and Defensive are more straightforward, you either wall or break stuff. If you are new to the concept, dont hesitate to ask.

The aim of this team is to help people that want to try it out RU, and even experienced ones, with a resource that will help ease the teambuilding process, find new cool to try out or just expand the horizon of our teambuilding scope as a player as a community. Help each other in order to improve oneself they say. Pretty sure I dont need to bring up the "have respect for each other" policy, like if someone post a questionable core dont be a numbhead saying "that is shit, delete" and have the patience to tell someone else why it is bad and suggest changes. We all start somewhere.

Replays showing are encouraged, but not necessary. We trust your guts when you post a core but having a replay can be nice to show newer players how it works and for them to see the duo in action you know?

PLEASE LABEL IF YOUR CORE IS OFFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE OR BALANCED

HAPPY POSTING!
 
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MrAldo

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Salazzle + Rotom-Cut by Punchshroom
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Salazzle @ Poisonium Z
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Taunt

Rotom-Mow @ Choice Specs / Grassium Z
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Leaf Storm
- Thunderbolt / Will-O-Wisp
- Trick / Defog
Salazzle poses a very significant offensive threat due to high Speed and Special Attack, strong dual STABs, as well as her access to Nasty Plot. Although she's very frail, she does have some easy setup opportunities against the tier's bulky Grass- and Fairy-types, with her ability even allowing it to set up without hassle in front of Sableye and non-Stun Spore Whimiscott. Rotom-Mow is an incredibly effective way to force out the foe's Grass-types and occasionally fat Fairy-types for Salazzle to set up on, and in turn can switch into Ground- and Water-type attacks for Salazzle should she be confronted against them without any boosts.

What I really like about this core is that not only do they complement each other well defensively and offensively, they're also pretty versatile in how they can be run. Salazzle can run a Poisonium-Z set with Taunt that can just punch a massive hole in stall while still being very competent against offense. Alternatively, you can choose to put more coverage on Salazzle and use Life Orb instead, with +2 LO Dragon Pulse smashing unsuspecting Dragalges which can be troublesome for the two, while HP Ice is primarily for OHKOing SpD Gligars after +2 as well as sniping Flygon. Rotom-Mow, on the other hand, can use Choice sets with Trick, which can cripple some of the specially defensive Pokemon both of them have issues with, such as Cresselia and Snorlax. If you want Rotom-Mow to be more flexible than that, Expert Belt can bluff Choice sets, Leftovers just gives a bit more longevity, and even Grassium Z can be an option if the Z-moveslot is free, essentially giving it a 1-turn Specs Leaf Storm that doesn't drop its power and lock itself in.

Swellow + Pangoro by Clyde Frog 53
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Swellow @ Choice Specs
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Boomburst
- Heat Wave
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Grass] / Air Slash

Pangoro @ Choice Band / Life Orb
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Gunk Shot
- Bullet Punch / Ice Punch
Swellow became a lot bigger threath because of the special attack buff and the spamming specs boomburst is amazing in the tier.
Even tho swellow hits very hard it still struggles against some mons so do most rock types beat it and do most steel types still tank a heat wave and klll it after.
some other walls or pokemon with a lot of natural bulk like cresselia and snorlax also wall or beat swellow.

Pangoro helps swellow out a lot being able to destroy pretty much all steel and rock types in the tier with its stabs. Pangoro also beats both cress and snorlax with its dual stabs, and even florges who can take a hit from swellow and do a lot of damage to that with moonblast using its poison coverage. This combo has one real answer in diancie what can wall swellow and also take a hit from pangoro and ohko it back.

Yanmega + Pangoro by Cheryl.
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Yanmega @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Protect
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Giga Drain

Pangoro @ Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Hammer Arm
- Gunk Shot
- Bullet Punch / Ice Punch
Yanmega is a big threat to the frail offensive teams that are popular right now due to Speed Boost and having decent enough power, but it struggles to do much of anything to bulkier teams that have Pokémon such as Registeel, Florges, and Bronzong. Pangoro makes for an excellent teammate to Yanmega as it can break through bulky teams like it's nothing, smashing stuff like Registeel and Florges with it's STABs and coverage. It also wears down Pokémon like Nidoqueen and Gligar for Yanmega to clean up afterwards. Pangoro also provides a nifty Rock resist, which is nice to combat mons like Gigalith that Yanmega has issues with. Good teammates to this core would be a hazard remover such as Mantine or Dhelmise to remove Stealth Rock, which is very useful for Yanmega to have more cleaning ability late-game. A Stealth Rock setter is also useful to help Yanmega clean and to help Pangoro to wallbreak easier and bring more threats in range of a Bullet Punch. Recommended setters for this core are Nidoqueen and Diancie for their useful resists. Nidoqueen in particular resists Fairy-types that can threaten the core. Overall, this is a very fun and effective offensive core that has good matchups against both offensive and defensive playstyles.

Swellow + Roserade by MrAldo
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Swellow @ Choice Specs
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Grass] / Air Slash
- Boomburst
- Heat Wave

Roserade @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
- Sleep Powder / Spikes
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Sludge Bomb
- Leaf Storm
Offensive core with the emphasis of overwhelming common checks. We all know how effective Swellow is with its amazing speed tier, the gratuitous SpA buff gamefreak gave to it and scrappy boomburst being a great move to spam with like no drawbacks it makes for a really good Pokemon that is a nightmare for offense and can put in work against Defensive teams. Roserade is a rather underappreciated Pokemon, excellent Pokemon that doesnt see enough usage imo. It makes for a great partner cause it can beat the defensive Rock-types like Diancie and Gigalith hate dealing with, and both can aim to overwhelm steel-types in Doublade, Registeel and Bronzong and blanket special walls like Umbreon and Mantine. Roserade can also provide Spikes which in conjunction with Swellow can be a real pain. Gotta point that this core can fail to pressure spdef Cresselia so take that into account, shit is too bulky.

Gardevoir + Shaymin by EonX
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Shaymin @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Seed Flare
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Healing Wish

Gardevoir @ Choice Specs
Ability: Trace
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
Like with many other top offensive cores right now, this core focuses on putting immense pressure on shared checks and counters. In the case of Gardevoir and Shaymin, this would mean Steel-types primarily. The great part about this core is that you can pull role reversal on them, thus making it harder for the opponent to play around them. Scarf Shaymin is a pretty underrated set right now as most people use it to wear down walls (for good reason) but base 100 Speed and access to Healing Wish is really neat. The added Speed most notably lets it revenge kill opposing Scarf Heracross. Seed Flare is still a pretty sketchy move to switch into due to the SpDef drop chance. Psychic is useful for the many Fighting-types in the tier and it also revenge kills Salazzle while dealing hefty damage to Roserade and Venusaur, two key targets that Earth Power can't hit for good damage. HP Ice is almost exclusively for DD Flygon, but it is one of the bigger reasons to use Scarf Shaymin over other Scarfers as they fail to outspeed it and fall to +1 Attacks pretty easily. Healing Wish gives Shaymin great late-game utility that lets it bring back a crippled sweeper or weakened wall for the end-game if Shaymin can't finish off the opposing team itself.
Specs Gardevoir just hits insanely hard. In the 40+ battles I've had with it, very rarely have I encountered a team with more than one reliable Fairy resist. With Offensive Nidoqueen and Doublade taking nearly 50% from Specs Moonblast, it's very easy to wear down resistances by yourself. Psyshock is used over Psychic so Gardevoir can come in on Florges and still 2HKO reliably bar Special Attack drops. Focus Blast allows Gardevoir to deal with Registeel and do some significant damage to Escavalier. Shadow Ball deals with Bronzong and smacks Doublade really hard while also hitting bulky Psychic-types slightly harder than Moonblast.

Torkoal + Charizard + Leafeon by EonX
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Torkoal @ Heat Rock
Ability: Drought
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Explosion

Charizard @ Choice Specs
Ability: Solar Power
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Focus Blast
- Flamethrower

Leafeon @ Normalium Z
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Knock Off
- Double-Edge
I'm kind of surprised this core hasn't been posted yet as it's one of the best sun cores you can utilize. Torkoal is obvious as its the best Drought user for Sun teams to use (Ninetales is more of a standalone wallbreaker) Torkoal's job is pretty basic. Set up the Sun and Stealth Rock for the team while spreading status when it comes in to check something. Explosion lets it go down late-game to get in Charizard or Leafeon to finish off the opposing team while also being a nice way to get a free switch on a threatening Pokemon you wouldn't switch into reliably otherwise. Charizard is the premier wallbreaker on Sun teams thanks to its access to Solar Power and a solid movepool. Fire Blast quite simply will nuke something upon impact. Even most resists without heavy SpDef investment are going to be 2HKOed thanks to the Solar Power and Choice Specs boosts. Solar Beam and Focus Blast are there to deal with the select few Pokemon that can handle Fire Blast with Focus Blast being most notable for catching an incoming Gigalith for heavy damage. Flamethrower is a reliable Fire-type STAB that Charizard can use when the extra power of Fire Blast isn't needed (such as against more offensive teams or teams without a bulky Fire resist) As for Leafeon, it's one of the biggest beneficiaries of Z-moves as they have allowed it to go from obscurity to becoming the 2nd best Chlorophyll sweeper the tier has to offer. Thanks to Leafeon's higher Speed tier over Venusaur, it can run an Adamant nature while still outpacing non-Scarf Gardevoir in spite of Trace. Leafeon's physical bulk lets it easily set up on the likes of Rhyperior, Gligar, and any un-boosted hit from Flame Orb Heracross. This physical bulk also makes it slightly harder to revenge kill with priority as most priority moves fall on the physical side. Leaf Blade and Knock Off give Leafeon pretty solid coverage overall and Double-Edge gives Leafeon access to an extremely powerful Breakneck Blitz that can allow it to overcome Grass-type resists that Knock Off can't quite overcome, most notably Heracross.

Swellow + Meloetta by Mylo Xyloto
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Swellow @ Choice Specs
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Boomburst
- U-turn
- Heat Wave
- Air Slash

Meloetta @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Focus Blast
- Psychic / Psyshock
- Shadow Ball
Really cool normal spam core that focusses on softening checks for Swellow with Fightinium Z Meloetta. All-Out Pummeling deals with Registeel, Snorlax, Porygon2, Umbreon, Gigalith etc. which all stops birdy from spamming Boomburst. Although no defensive synergy, they both have similar checks that can easily be overpowered. Calm Mind Meloetta is a pretty underrated breaker right now with its great coverage and unique typing. Its speed tier is also a plus over something like Reuniclus.

Tyrantrum + Escavalier by Stan Soojung
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Tyrantrum @ Rockium Z / Stone Plate
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Polish
- Head Smash
- Earthquake
- Outrage

Escavalier @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 144 SpD / 96 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Pursuit
- Iron Head
- Protect
- Megahorn
Pretty self-explanatory offensive core revolving around Rock Polish Tyrantrum, Escavalier can take care of fairies like Comfey and Gardevoir efficiently for t-rex as well as threatening Ice-types such as Mega-Glalie and Frosslass. it is worth noting that Escavalier could be replaced by scarf Durant, but escav is a much more reliable and bulky partner.

Ninetales + Shaymin by Stan Soojung
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Ninetales @ Firium Z
Ability: Drought
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Psyshock / Hypnosis

Shaymin @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Synthesis
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Seed Flare
- Psychic
These 2 synergies extremely well together, bouncing off each others weaknesses, Synthesis healing more in the sun, mitigating Life Orbs recoil and powering up Shaymins Hidden Power Fire to great levels. Psyshock on Ninetales is primarily for Dragalge as well as incoming Salazzles, but the last moveslot is pretty expandable, i've seen a lot of innovative or creative stuff like Hypnosis, Hidden Power Electric for Mantine, Hidden Power Ice, Will-O-Wisp and the list goes on, just whatever the team would appreciate is the best option

Zygarde-10% + Mega Abomasnow by MrAldo
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Zygarde-10% @ Choice Band
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Thousand Arrows
- Outrage
- Superpower
- Extreme Speed

Abomasnow-Mega @ Abomasite
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Ice Shard
- Swords Dance
- Wood Hammer
- Earthquake

or

Abomasnow @ Abomasite
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 92 Atk / 252 SpA / 164 Spe
Mild Nature
- Blizzard
- Giga Drain
- Ice Shard
- Focus Blast
These 2 together are REALLY good, like "lowkey broken" cause the offensive synergy these 2 share together is damn great. Thousand Arrows makes for a ridiculous spammable move and Zygarde-10% (Zydog) makes for a great user of it, but even with a Choice Band it doesnt do enough to the bulky pokemon running around in the tier so this is where Mega Abomasnow enters. Snowman puts inmense pressure on many of the Pokemon that can switch into the green dog. Many bulky waters are hard pressed by Aboma, Cresselia is really pressured due to the moonlight nerf under hail and Chesnaught sets nowadays are heavy aboma bait. Zydog in return gets rid of Bronzong thanks to Thousand Arrows hitting through levitate, pressure Steel types in general (both can pressure Doublade existence) and soft check fire types like Salazzle, Moltres and Rotom-Heat for Aboma. Outstanding offensive prowess.

Sneasel + Linoone by tyrantytar
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Sneasel @ Choice Band / Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 0 SpA
- Icicle Crash
- Knock Off
- Ice Shard
- Pursuit

Linoone @ Figy Berry
Ability: Gluttony
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 SpA
- Belly Drum
- Extreme Speed
- Stomping Tantrum
- Seed Bomb
pokemon who resist linoone's coverage moves are basically limited to some ghost types like decidueye and dhelmise and some other random mons like bronzdong, and tsareena, however sneasel easily threatens and forces out all these mons, giving it excellent synergy with linoone. even pokemon who only check linoone thanks to their raw bulk like cress, p2 and gligar are all threatened by either knock off/pursuit or its ice stabs. it even has x-scissor if you wanna bop umby too but i havent tested it so i dunno if its actually good. being safe from faster ghost types thanks to sneasel allows linoone to run more investment on bulk rather than speed, which can create more set up opportunities for it. this core is pretty weak to fighting types (especially bewear) and durant tho, so make sure to add checks for those mons

Shell Smash Cloyster + Defog Rotom-Cut + Specs Moltres by billionbattler
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Cloyster @ Normalium Z
Ability: Skill Link
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Explosion
- Icicle Spear
- Liquidation
- Shell Smash

Rotom-Mow @ Grassium Z / Iapapa Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leaf Storm
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Defog

Moltres @ Choice Specs
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Hurricane
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Grass]
When building around Smash Cloyster I thought to myself what does cloyster struggle with, bulky waters. You know who can kill said bulky waters, mowtom as this set provides hazard removal and the power to muscle through bulky waters for cloyster to set up and clean. Cloyster also struggles against steels so I chose specs moltres to kill and break steel types for cloyster. Mowtom also provides hazard removal that moltres needs to switch in and kill steels and grass types. I found out that this core does struggle with galvantula and rocks support also helps the core pick up kills. This is a very offensive core so hazard support is great

Mega Abomasnow + Nidoqueen by Venoxio
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Abomasnow-Mega @ Abomasite
Ability: Soundproof
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Rash Nature
- Blizzard
- Ice Shard
- Focus Blast
- Wood Hammer

Nidoqueen @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Ice Beam
Nidoqueen and Aboma's typings complement each other very, very well, and can put an immense amount of offensive pressure on the opposing team. Mega Aboma puts a large amount of pressure on bulky waters like Milotic which give Nidoqueen a ton of trouble with just putting holes in the opposing team, as well as Ground types like Flygon and Zydoge, which can either set up on a Nidoqueen switch or just proceed to spam Thousand Arrows to dent Nidoqueen's teammates on the switch ins, repsectively. Nidoqueen covers Abomasnow's hard weaknesses such as to Fighting mons like Bewear or Fire mons like Rotom-H, beating all of them fairly easily 1v1. Nidoqueen setting up SR is also great for Aboma, letting it achieve a lot of crucial 2HKOs/OHKOs that benefit it immensely, such as straight up OHKOing Flygon with Ice Shard or 2HKOing Registeel with Focus Blast if need be. This core just has a ton of nuking power and combined they can easily dent holes in any team.

Rain Dance Kingdra + Toxicroak by HypnoEmpire
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Kingdra @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Rain Dance
- Hydro Pump
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam

Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Gunk Shot
Cool core I've been messing around with lately, Kingdra is really threatening with Rain up, especially to offense, but even defensive checks like Cresselia can't tank two Rain-boosted Hydro Pumps. However, a few mons like Milotic and Umbreon can take it on comfortably enough, which is where Toxicroak comes in. It can switch into these two basically for free and start boosting while shrugging off Life Orb recoil and resisted hits with recovery from the Rain and Drain Punch. I think Life Orb is best on Toxicroak, but Z sets are probably fine as long as it beats Milotic lol. The moves on the sets can be changed up depending on your team comp of course, and Kingdra can run Choice Specs with Surf over Rain Dance if you have proper Rain support.

Choice Band Escavalier is a nice teammate for this core for its ability to Pursuit trap Cresselia (at least for enough damage to put it close to Hydro Pump range) as well as Roserade, Shaymin, and Meloetta. It can even tank a Life Orb HP Fire from Roserade as long as Rain is up. Rain setters like Uxie and Liepard are nice to have if you decide to run a dedicated Rain team, Uxie for its bulk, decent Speed, and Stealth Rock, and Liepard for Prankster Rain Dance and Encore.

Scarf Moltres + Mega Blastoise + Grass type (Rotom-Cut or Virizion) by cyanize
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the heat (Moltres) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Fire Blast
- U-turn
- Air Slash

gunshot sonata (Blastoise-Mega) @ Blastoisinite
Ability: Mega Launcher
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Aura Sphere
- Rapid Spin

flippant (Rotom-Mow) @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leaf Storm
- Volt Switch
- Defog
- Toxic

or

kintsugi (Virizion) @ Grassium Z
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
scarf moltres has nice offensive synergy that lends it to coring with multiple offensive mons well. moltres + blastoise is solid as moltres checks grass types that would seek to revenge blastoise, and can pivot on rock and ground types in order to give blastoise more opportunity to fire off attacks, and aura sphere blastoise can weaken stuff like umbreon, bulky dragons, and snorlax for moltres to have a better chance at cleaning as well as providing invaluable hazard support. moltres + rotom-mow is similar in that the partner brings hazard control to the table and forces out rock and ground types, but instead rotom-mow also forms a solid volturn core and checks bulky waters for moltres, and can provide a way to whittle bulky mons with toxic (except umby/lax/drag). moltres + virizion is, imo, one of the best ways to bring out viriz's potential - with the exception of dragalge (and like slowking i guess?), all of scarf moltres' checks get pivoted on and set up on by viriz, and moltres takes advatage of viriz's threatening breaking prowess in order to clean up teams that have been busted through by it. it also checks the occasional doublade.

Snorlax + Gligar by Ov3r Ac3
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Snorlax @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD or 144 HP / 188 Def / 176 SpD
Careful Nature
- Curse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Body Slam / Return

Gligar @ Eviolite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn / Defog
- Roost
- Earthquake / Acrobatics
This core was a good core back in ORAS UU, and now that it is in RU I feel it is even better. The core provides the rest of the team with a sweeper, Ice resist, fire reists, Queen qheck, Heracross check, fighting resist and Stealth rocks and hazard control. Complementing this core you would need a Water resist and also a way to beat special set-up sweepers. I fee like this core beats many top tier threats like Nidoqueen and Heracross. I'm sorry the explanation isn't very long but don't know that much about meta.

Gigalith + Gligar by Ryoma Nagare
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Meteor (Gigalith) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 240 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Blast
- Toxic
- Protect

Kiva (Gligar) (M) @ Eviolite
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe
Impish Nature
- Defog
- Earthquake
- Roost
- U-turn
A typical backbone for sand teams here. Thanks to Sand, Gigalith makes for a pretty bulky Rocker on both sides. Standard rocks set with rock blast in order to not get pp stalled by Substitutes. Decided to go for Toxic + Protect is pretty cheese to wear stuff down along with Sand, plus I don't feel the need to hit anything else with it. Protect also manages to avoid getting tricked by something uncomfortable or scout some CB breaker such as Pangoro. Gligar should honestly be the only defogger that should be paired with Gigalith. Provides a switch-in to Ground and Fighting-type moves which Gigalith is weak to and can check Doublade, which is the reason I am not using EQ on Gigalith rather than Protect. Sand Veil is also super hilarious when it works. As for partners, Shaymin works pretty well in order to overwhelm some breakers slower than it such as Flame Orb Heracross, Rotom-Mow and Kommo-O as well as providing a switch-in to Water-type moves.

Snorlax + Cresselia by cyanize
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desperate (Snorlax) @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
Happiness: 0
EVs: 188 HP / 128 Def / 192 SpD
Careful Nature
- Curse
- Frustration
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

close to me (Cresselia) @ Psychium
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Moonblast
- Toxic
- Moonlight
not sure why this isn't more common, snorlax + cresselia is disgustingly hard to break, and doublade's continual decline definitely hasn't helped. most of the special mons that try to bust through physdef cress, like yanmega, moltres, and vanilluxe end up walled by lax, and the various fighting and strong phys breakers that threaten out lax - bewear, machamp, krow, and the like - get hard walled by cress. not much else to say about this, except it's stopped by curse lix and sd rhyp. (protip: slap a milotic on lol)

Mega Steelix + Milotic + Mandibuzz by cyanize
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+

train of thought (Steelix-Mega) @ Steelixite
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Atk / 168 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic

time dilation (Milotic) @ Leftovers
Ability: Marvel Scale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Refresh
- Haze
- Recover

borderline (Mandibuzz) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 HP / 176 SpD / 80 Spe
Careful Nature
- Roost
- Defog
- Knock Off
- Taunt
the quintessential "slap 3 mons on balance and it works" core, mega steelix + milotic + mandibuzz covers the vast majority of the meta with relative comfort. i'm pretty sure you could add any combination of 3 pokemon, add this, and the team would just magically work. it doesn't really need much of an explanation, but i'll give one anyways: milo covers basically everything that threatens lix, from dd gatr to gligar to scarf molt and everything in between, and that frees up lix to be the big fat damage machine it always is. however, you're a bit weak to grass and strong special mons with just milolix - this is where mandi picks up the slack. it provides absurd special bulk, defog, knock off support and a grass resistance, and ensures that very few pokemon are capable of breaking through your team with ease as well as providing quite the annoyance to stall teams and slower bulky teams. i use ib milo cause it's busted at nabbing grasses on the switch but since you have a mandi you don't really need it tbh

Cresselia + Chesnaught + Snorlax by calummr
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+

Cresselia @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Moonlight / Psyshock

Chesnaught @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Spikes
- Wood Hammer
- Spiky Shield
- Leech Seed

Snorlax @ Leftovers
Ability: Immunity
EVs: 188 HP / 144 Def / 176 SpD
Careful Nature
- Curse
- Body Slam / Return
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
This balanced core is basically just fat mons, who tend to set up let game and win, Cresselia and Snorlax really appreciate Chesnaught's ability to hazard stack and basically just chip away and counter the main threats in the tier that really give Cresselia and Snorlax a hard time to win late game. As you may have noticed both Cresselia and Snorlax are extremely weak to Heracaross, which surprisingly isn't hard to deal with for this core despite having a normal and a psychic type.

Durant + Porygon2 + Jellicent by CawnShonnery
+
+

Kevin (Durant) @ Choice Band
Ability: Hustle
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Crunch
- Rock Slide
- Superpower

Why was this in NU (Porygon2) @ Eviolite
Ability: Download
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Tri Attack
- Toxic
- Recover
- Shadow Ball

UNTESTED (Jellicent) @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 176 Def / 84 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Scald
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
Durant, being a powerful physical attacker, can threaten quite a few things in the metagame with its massive Hustle-boosted Attack stat - most notably outspeeding Guts Heracross and OHKOing with Iron Head, as well as being able to live a Close Combat from the Scarf Moxie set. However, physical walls like Doublade, and fast special attackers, can stop it in its tracks.
Enter Porygon2 - with its Download Ability, it gets a free +1 to its Special Attack when switching in on a Pokemon with higher Physical Defense. Holding an Eviolite boosts its 85/90/95 bulk to an effective 85/144/151. And with Normal/Ghost coverage in Tri Attack and Shadow Ball, its STAB is basically unresisted in the RU metagame.
However, passive Toxic damage shuts Porygon2 down cold. Enter Durant, who eats poison for breakfast. Fighting-types also hit Porygon2 super-effectively, and Durant can switch in on a physical attack quite well.

I know I'm not the best at teambuilding, but my experience shows that this core can be devastating on a bulky offense team.

After Ningildo pointed out weaknesses to Heracross and Salazzle, I put something that could deal with both of these threats - Jellicent. Although its stats aren't the best, it can deal with Hera (resisting STAB and 2HKOing with HP Flying) and force Sally out by resisting everything it runs.
I have not really used Jellicent with this core, but I have used it on other teams (most notably a webs team in the NU alpha), and it makes a good defensive wall.

Salazzle + Gligar by Fannyfan
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Salazzle @ Poisonium Z
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 8 HP / 248 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Taunt / Hidden Power [Grass]

Gligar @ Eviolite
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Defog
- U-turn
This is a pretty cool balanced core that I've been having fun with lately. The idea of the core is that Salazzle, while good at breaking teams, is frail and so it appreciates a good defensive mon to fall back on. Gligar provides a ground immunity for its 4x weakness, has Defog for its weakness to rocks, and U-Turn to help bring it in safely. Salazzle on the other hand, provides an (albeit frail) ice resist for Gligar, and is something powerful Gligar can bring in with U-Turn. Obviously the core has a shared weakness to water, so a water resist is crucial for this core. Another Volt-Turn user is also good to complete the Volt-Turn core.

Dragalge + Comfey + Bronzong by explodingdaisies
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+

Dragalge @ Dragonium Z
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 200 HP / 252 SpA / 56 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Sludge Wave
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Toxic Spikes

Comfey @ Leftovers
Ability: Triage
EVs: 248 HP / 196 Def / 64 Spe
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Draining Kiss
- Taunt
- Synthesis

Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake
This is a nice DFS balance core that has been putting in a lot of work. Dragalge is a nice option in RU even if its speed tier is subpar. It has access to toxic spikes to help wear things down for for comfey and z-draco makes a nice 1 time nuke that can hammer things that even resist it. HP fire is nice coverage to help wear down things like steel types that counter comfey such as registeel, escavalier, durant and duoblade. Comfey makes for a nice balanced wincon. Exceptional mono fairy typing, along with triage which gives its healing moves +3 priority and decent bulk makes comfey a nice option. Bronzong helps round out the core. It helps check many threats such as Boom swellow and lures in Salazzle to nail it with earthquake.

Mega Abomasnow + Gigalith + Qwilfish by teachable
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+

Abomasnow @ Abomasite
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 92 Atk / 252 SpA / 164 Spe
Rash Nature
- Blizzard
- Giga Drain
- Ice Shard
- Focus Blast

Gigalith @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Blast
- Earthquake
- Toxic

Qwilfish @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spikes
- Scald
- Haze
- Taunt
Pretty standard Teachable core (Hazard Stack) that just so happens to check most of the setup sweepers in the tier while also, typing wise, working together pretty well. Qwilfish stops Durant and Gatr, which setup/come in on Giga pretty freely, Gigalith stops Lazzle, which can break Abomasnow and Qwilfish, and Mega Abomasnow provides some offensive pressure while acting as a pivot/check for Zydoge/DD Flygon or just general ground-type attacks. Pairs well with some more solid ground immunities/resists, personally have liked Sigilyph with it, and a Pokemon that can switch into Queen. Hopefully someone can critique it a bit more, enjoy.
 
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ayy im first
--------------------


Offensive Core


I already posted about these two Pokemon together but for the sake of starting off this thread right, I'll do it again. Mismagius got some pretty huge buffs with the addition of Z-Moves allowing it to break through a lot of bulkier Pokemon. Mismagius always lacked the power to do so, but now its able to. Mismagius + Zoroark works well together because some of the common moves they share with each other such as Nasty Plot and Taunt while both being able to make really solid win conditions given the right situation. Their typings go well together as your opponent isn't so sure to click that fighting move if Zoroark is disguised as Mismagius. Its pretty much a guessing game when it comes to playing around the two as one wrong move could change the tides of an entire game. Nasty Plot + Taunt on Mismagius allows it to set up on passive Pokemon such as Registeel. Zoroark hits really hard and can force switches due to disguise allowing it to set up Swords Dance to potentially clean up the rest of the game.

Mismagius @ Ghostium Z
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Taunt
- Dazzling Gleam

Zoroark @ Life Orb
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Low Kick


 

Punchshroom

FISHIOUS REND MEGA SHARPEDO
is a Community Contributoris a Tiering Contributoris a Top Contributor


Salazzle poses a very significant offensive threat due to high Speed and Special Attack, strong dual STABs, as well as her access to Nasty Plot. Although she's very frail, she does have some easy setup opportunities against the tier's bulky Grass- and Fairy-types, with her ability even allowing it to set up without hassle in front of Sableye and non-Stun Spore Whimiscott. Rotom-Mow is an incredibly effective way to force out the foe's Grass-types and occasionally fat Fairy-types for Salazzle to set up on, and in turn can switch into Ground- and Water-type attacks for Salazzle should she be confronted against them without any boosts.

What I really like about this core is that not only do they complement each other well defensively and offensively, they're also pretty versatile in how they can be run. Salazzle can run a Poisonium-Z set with Taunt that can just punch a massive hole in stall while still being very competent against offense. Alternatively, you can choose to put more coverage on Salazzle and use Life Orb instead, with +2 LO Dragon Pulse smashing unsuspecting Dragalges which can be troublesome for the two, while HP Ice is primarily for OHKOing SpD Gligars after +2 as well as sniping Flygon. Rotom-Mow, on the other hand, can use Choice sets with Trick, which can cripple some of the specially defensive Pokemon both of them have issues with, such as Cresselia and Snorlax. If you want Rotom-Mow to be more flexible than that, Expert Belt can bluff Choice sets, Leftovers just gives a bit more longevity, and even Grassium Z can be an option if the Z-moveslot is free, essentially giving it a 1-turn Specs Leaf Storm that doesn't drop its power and lock itself in.

Salazzle @ Poisonium Z
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Taunt

Salazzle @ Life Orb
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Dragon Pulse / Hidden Power Ice
Rotom-Mow @ Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Leaf Storm
- Thunderbolt
- Trick


Rotom-Mow @ Expert Belt / Leftovers / Grassium Z
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Leaf Storm
- Thunderbolt
- Will-O-Wisp / Pain Split
Note: I would recommend either Doublade or some sort of Fighting-type wallbreaker as a partner here, as they resist Rock and help deal with Snorlax more efficiently, with the former also handling Cresselia.
 
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Mac3

im reminded theres no finer place to kiss
is a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnus
Hi, I'm new to RU but I think that this is a good core:

Defensive Core


This core was a good core back in ORAS UU, and now that it is in RU I feel it is even better. The core provides the rest of the team with a sweeper, Ice resist, fire reists, Queen qheck, Heracross check, fighting resist and Stealth rocks and hazard control. Complementing this core you would need a Water resist and also a way to beat special set-up sweepers. I fee like this core beats many top tier threats like Nidoqueen and Heracross. I'm sorry the explanation isn't very long but don't know that much about meta.

Snorlax @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Curse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Return

Gligar @ Eviolite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Defog
- Roost
- Acrobatics


 
+


This is a great hazard control core for a Balance or Bulky offensive teams. Nidoqueen is one of the best offensive rockers in the tier. With acces to a powerfull Bolt-Beam Nidoqueen can threaten every respectable hazard remover this tier offers (Donphan's Sturdy needs to be broken first ofc.)
Mantine completes the hazard control core. Its Stealth rock weakness can be worked around with due to the acces to Roost and the ability to come in on most rocker and threaten them out with a scald.

The two Pokémon have great defensive synergy aswell. Nidoqueen can pivot in to Electric and Rock type attacks Mantine hates, while Mantine can pivot into Ground attacks and due to it's high special defense it can tank some Ice and Psychic type attacks.
What I like the most about this core is that you can still adjust the core to what the team needs. For example Mantine has an option in 3 moves for its 4th move. While Nidoqueen can choose what it wants to check specifically or opt to use T-spikes next to Stealth Rocks.

In the importable I wrote down the options Mantine has in its 4th moveslot aswell as a bulky spread for Nidoqueen that outspeeds 0 speed Gligar, but(!) most Nidoqueen's run 252 speed modest or even timid nature. I'll leave the exact investment your team needs to you, the potential user of the core.

Nidoqueen @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 180 HP / 252 SpA / 76 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt

Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: EVs: 244 HP / 188 Def / 76 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Defog
- Scald
- Toxic/Haze/Air Slash
 
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Deleted User 350996

Banned deucer.
May I suggest this one ?



Gligar @ Eviolite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Knock Off / U-Turn / Acrobatics
- Earthquake
- Defog
- Roost

Registeel @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic
- Protect

Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Def / 56 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Wish
- Scald
- Roar
- Heal Bell


For this 3 Pokémon core, we have a SR setter, a Defogger and a Cleric. They both nicely cover each other's weaknesses.
However, Nidoqueen with Earth Power + BoltBeam will break this core, so keep that in mind.

252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoqueen Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 232+ SpD Registeel: 205-244 (56.3 - 67%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoqueen Ice Beam vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Gligar: 473-562 (142 - 168.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoqueen Thunderbolt vs. 204 HP / 56 SpD Vaporeon: 250-294 (55.3 - 65%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

Also:
0 SpA Vaporeon Scald vs. 40 HP / 0 SpD Nidoqueen: 216-254 (65.2 - 76.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
 


Swellow became a lot bigger threath because of the special attack buff and the spamming specs boomburst is amazing in the tier.
Even tho swellow hits very hard it still struggles against some mons so do most rock types beat it and do most steel types still tank a heat wave and klll it after.
some other walls or pokemon with a lot of natural bulk like cresselia and snorlax also wall or beat swellow.

Pangoro helps swellow out a lot being able to destroy pretty much all steel and rock types in the tier with its stabs.
Pangoro also beats both cress and snorlax with its dual stabs, and even florges who can take a hit from swellow and do a lot of damage to that with moonblast using its poison coverage.

Pangoro doesn't just help out swellow but swellow helps pangoro too being able to take a hit from swellow and do a lot of damage to knock out most mons that are faster and are able to ohko pangoro. Swellow also helps pangoro by beeting the slower and bulkier fighting types that can beat pangoro like hitmontop and chesnaught.
This combo has one real answer in diancie what can wall swellow and also take a hit from pangoro and ohko it back.
Pangoro does have bullet punch and can do decend damage with that and dianie doesn't like taking a drain punch but it still beats this combo.
So having a good steel type is pretty much a need with those two mons because of diancie.

sets:
Swellow @ Choice Specs
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Boomburst
- Heat Wave
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Grass] / Air Slash

Pangoro @ Choice Band / Life Orb
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Gunk Shot
- Bullet Punch / Ice Punch
 
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Balanced Core




This balanced core is basically just fat mons, who tend to set up let game and win, Cresselia and Snorlax really appreciate Chesnaught's ability to hazard stack and basically just chip away and counter the main threats in the tier that really give Cresselia and Snorlax a hard time to win late game. As you may have noticed both Cresselia and Snorlax are extremely weak to Heracaross, which surprisingly isn't hard to deal with for this core despite having a normal and a psychic type.

Cresselia @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast / Psychic
- Moonlight

Chesnaught @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Spikes
- Wood Hammer
- Spiky Shield
- Leech Seed

Snorlax @ Leftovers
Ability: Immunity
EVs: 188 HP / 144 Def / 176 SpD
Careful Nature
- Curse
- Body Slam / Return
- Rest
- Sleep Talk


252 Atk Heracross Close Combat vs. +2 188 HP / 144 Def Snorlax: 224-266 (44 - 52.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 0 Atk Snorlax Return vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Heracross: 300-354 (99.6 - 117.6%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
+2 0 Atk Snorlax Body Slam vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Heracross: 250-295 (83 - 98%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after 2 layers of Spikes
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 188 HP / 176+ SpD Snorlax: 142-168 (27.9 - 33%) -- 80.9% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. +2 248 HP / 0 SpD Cresselia: 79-95 (17.8 - 21.4%) -- possible 7HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 8 SpA Cresselia Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Zoroark: 246-290 (94.2 - 111.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO after 1 layer of Spikes
252 SpA Life Orb Zoroark Dark Pulse vs. +2 248 HP / 0 SpD Cresselia: 133-156 (30 - 35.2%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 8 SpA Cresselia Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Flygon: 262-310 (87 - 102.9%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO

Replays

http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7rubeta-560856500 - against barton
 
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Meteor (Gigalith) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 240 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Blast
- Toxic
- Protect

Kiva (Gligar) (M) @ Eviolite
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe
Impish Nature
- Defog
- Earthquake
- Roost
- U-turn


A typical backbone for sand teams here. Thanks to Sand, Gigalith makes for a pretty bulky Rocker on both sides. Standard rocks set with rock blast in order to not get pp stalled by Substitutes. Decided to go for Toxic + Protect is pretty cheese to wear stuff down along with Sand, plus I don't feel the need to hit anything else with it. Protect also manages to avoid getting tricked by something uncomfortable or scout some CB breaker such as Pangoro. Gligar should honestly be the only defogger that should be paired with Gigalith. Provides a switch-in to Ground and Fighting-type moves which Gigalith is weak to and can check Doublade, which is the reason I am not using EQ on Gigalith rather than Protect. Sand Veil is also super hilarious when it works. As for partners, Shaymin works pretty well in order to overwhelm some breakers slower than it such as Flame Orb Heracross, Rotom-Mow and Kommo-O as well as providing a switch-in to Water-type moves.
 
At this point in SM RU, Sun is a very known playstyle and personally I have been enjoying it too. The core Im a fan of as of now is an offensive one: Chlorophyl Sweeper + Choice Band Emboar. I will be taking Venusaur as my Chlorophyl sweeper. For example: Emboar can break through Mantine if Venusaur is lacking Sleep Powder and through bulky steels like: Bronzong and Registeel. These 2 steel types are a pain when sun ends and can take one HP Fire from full HP (at +0 special attack), Bronzong can go for a strong Gyro Ball in sun and Registeel can cripple it with Thunder Wave and protect stall sun out. And again Emboar takes these 2 easily out. Back to Mantine, the specially defensive set which checks Venusaur best takes more than 50% from Emboar's Flare Blitz and straight up faints to Wild Charge. This core is basically a set up sweeper + a strong wallbreaker.

Sets
Venusaur @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Growth
Solar Beam can be used over Giga Drain but it is risky for sun ending
Sleep Powder can be used over Growth but Growth is most of the time better for the boost it gives.
Note: You cannot use Weather Ball with Chlorophyl at the same time.

Emboar @ Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Superpower
- Wild Charge
- Sucker Punch
Life Orb can be used over Choice Band but the Life Orb recoil is not so nice with Flare Blitz/Wild Charge

Actually I never mentioned this Pokemon but Torkoal is key in this core.

Torkoal @ Heat Rock
Ability: Drought
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Lava Plume
- Stealth Rock
- Yawn
- Earth Power
Torkoal can use other moves on this set like: Rapid Spin and Toxic.
If you want to run these moves you can forgo the underestimated Yawn or Stealth Rock.
I chose a relaxed nature because then you would be slower than Gigalith
 
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Santu

is a Tiering Contributoris the 9th Grand Slam Winneris a Past WCoP Champion
World Defender
DEFENSIVE CORE


Registeel @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic
- Protect

Reuniclus @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock
- Recover
- Focus Blast
- Calm Mind

Umbreon @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Wish
- Protect
- Heal Bell
- Foul Play


This core is based on a very particular set of reuniclus with a z-move of focus blast,for cover the fight weakness of the core.That core is very solid making it almost invincible,umbreon help a lot of registeel providing it a recovey(wish pass) and treat it a status with heal bell.Registell and Umbreon are very weakness a fight type for this I put a fightium z reuniclus.
That said I hope you like the core I recommend try it!!
 
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MrAldo

Hey
is a Social Media Contributoris a Community Contributoris a Tiering Contributoris a Contributor to Smogonis a Dedicated Tournament Hostis a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnus
Thanks for the excellent contributions everyone, just wanna point out some stuff regarding some cores:

yCocokie looks fine overall but Vaporeon is honestly a mystery and Im really not sure about its viablity, so if you could provide some replays of it in action just to be sure id appreciate it. In the meantime not adding.

Skyzuma No reason to use victreebel over venusaur right now tbh. You mention chesnaught as an issue but the best venusaur set to run on sun offense is growth + 3 attacks which doesnt care about venusaur at all since hp fire does way too much damage even unboosted when chesnaught does nothing back. Also the speed difference makes venusaur less prone to get revenge killed by some scarfers unlike victreebel. The rest seems fine but victreebel is just outdone by venusaur in most areas tbh. Be sure to edit venusaur if you want to but in the meantine I wont be adding this.

The rest are in the archive, which has been updated to showcase most cores submitted. Keep it up everyone!
 
Thanks for the excellent contributions everyone, just wanna point out some stuff regarding some cores:

yCocokie looks fine overall but Vaporeon is honestly a mystery and Im really not sure about its viablity, so if you could provide some replays of it in action just to be sure id appreciate it. In the meantime not adding.

Skyzuma No reason to use victreebel over venusaur right now tbh. You mention chesnaught as an issue but the best venusaur set to run on sun offense is growth + 3 attacks which doesnt care about venusaur at all since hp fire does way too much damage even unboosted when chesnaught does nothing back. Also the speed difference makes venusaur less prone to get revenge killed by some scarfers unlike victreebel. The rest seems fine but victreebel is just outdone by venusaur in most areas tbh. Be sure to edit venusaur if you want to but in the meantine I wont be adding this.

The rest are in the archive, which has been updated to showcase most cores submitted. Keep it up everyone!
Will do, I was kinda unaware of that. And Victreebel has a higher speedstat and has weather ball but HP Fire is completely fine. Thanks
 

Cheryl.

Celesteela is Life
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Yanmega @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Protect
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Giga Drain

Pangoro @ Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Hammer Arm
- Gunk Shot
- Bullet Punch / Ice Punch


Yanmega is a big threat to the frail offensive teams that are popular right now due to Speed Boost and having decent enough power, but it struggles to do much of anything to bulkier teams that have Pokémon such as Registeel, Florges, and Bronzong. Pangoro makes for an excellent teammate to Yanmega as it can break through bulky teams like it's nothing, smashing stuff like Registeel and Florges with it's STABs and coverage. It also wears down Pokémon like Nidoqueen and Gligar for Yanmega to clean up afterwards. Pangoro also provides a nifty Rock resist, which is nice to combat mons like Gigalith that Yanmega has issues with. Good teammates to this core would be a hazard remover such as Mantine or Dhelmise to remove Stealth Rock, which is very useful for Yanmega to have more cleaning ability late-game. A Stealth Rock setter is also useful to help Yanmega clean and to help Pangoro to wallbreak easier and bring more threats in range of a Bullet Punch. Recommended setters for this core are Nidoqueen and Diancie for their useful resists. Nidoqueen in particular resists Fairy-types that can threaten the core. Overall, this is a very fun and effective offensive core that has good matchups against both offensive and defensive playstyles. (Also SD Pangoro can be used in place of AoA, it's all up to preference imo.)
 

Santu

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World Defender
OFFENSIVE CORE
+

Swellow @ Choice Specs
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Boomburst
- U-turn
- Heat Wave
- Air Slash/Hurricane

Nidoqueen @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam/Toxic Spikes
- Sludge Wave/Thunderbolt

Nidoqueen is a fantastic partner for Swellow, as it can beat almost every check to Swellow, mainly Gigalith,Mantine, Rhyperior, Registeel, and Diancie. Nidoqueen helped swellow to the sweep removing all counter of swellow , allowing them to clear the field late game. Also nidoqueen has a elettric-immunity and removing they with his groud type, in short words this core if it used well it is very good. Try it!!
 
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Offensive core

These two make an excellent walllbreaking core due to Hoopa's diverse movepool and high special attack and heracrosse's raw power. These two are a menace to any slower teams especially stall teams as their wall breaking capabilities are overwhelming, although versus more offensive inclined teams they may struggle as they are on the slower side, pivots are nessiciary for these two to perform well, as they give switch in opportunities. A good partner for this core is Gligar, it can provide u-turn support and defog whilst being a great defensive back bone, another great partner is Rotom-Heat, it covers heracrosse's weakness to flying and fire and it can provide volt switch support and it can function as a good revenge killer with scarf.


Heracross @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Facade
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance


Hoopa @ Life Orb
Ability: Magician
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Hyperspace Hole
- Focus Blast
- Knock Off/Substitute




 
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Defensive Core
Gigalith + Whimiscott:

In an hand Gigalith is blessed with sand stream. He supports team with residuel damage and tanks special moves with ease. In another hand Whimsicott checks lot of physical attackers and cockblocks many set up sweepers. GigaScott fits well in various archetypes like stalls or even in offenses where it provides a solid backbone.
However the core struggles against Steel-, Grass-typed Pokemon (Roserade, Escavalier, Shaymin, etc...) and obviously Nidoqueen.
Gigalith @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Spe
Careful Nature
- Toxic
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock

Whimsicott @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leech Seed
- Encore
- Moonblast
- Substitute
 
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MrAldo

Hey
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Just some pointers

Bad feeling Running 248 hp, 252 def, 8 spe timid on whimsicott let you outspeed stuff like jolly heracross and timid kommo-O which can be really beneficial. The core was added but tell me if you agree with my recommendation so I can modify it on the archive.

Santu This looks more like an offensive core to me. Despite Nidoqueen great natural bulk it is still an offensive core cause both sets are offensive, different from the sample nidoqueen + snorlax core. Make sure to fix it and it will be added cause it is a good core tbh.

Thanks everyone again for the contributions, appreciate it. Keep going imo!
 
Defensive core

+
+


This core is basically a triangle of three Pokémon that rely on each other to wall and eventually break a large part of the meta.
The combination of Doublade & Mantine can handle the Pokémon Umbreon doesnt appreciate to stay in on, namely fighting/bug/fairy attacks.
The combination of Mantine & Umbreon can handle the Pokémon Doublade doesnt appreciate: Dark/Ghost/Fire/Ground type attacks
The combination of Doublade & Umbreon can handle the Pokémon Mantine doesnt appreciate: Rock/ Electric type attacks or the pokes with such coverage.

Umbreon pivots in to support its partners with Wish and Heal bell support.
Mantine pivots in to either provide defog utility or to spread Toxic.
Doublade provides the core a "wincon" and a way to finish of weakened Pokémon

Luna (Umbreon) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Wish
- Protect
- Heal Bell
- Foul Play

Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 180 Def / 76 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Defog
- Toxic
- Scald

Doublade @ Eviolite
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Atk / 96 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Shadow Claw
- Shadow Sneak
 
MrAldo
Lose bold nature to outspeed Kommo-o and heracross can be an option. I have any thought against or for it. However, 8 EVs in speed is almost a better option, even with bold nature to outspeed neutral 85 BS.
 

aurora

GODQUAZA
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Slowbro @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Psyshock
- Slack Off

Umbreon @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Foul Play
- Heal Bell
- Wish
- Protect

Doublade @ Eviolite
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Atk / 96 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Shadow Sneak
- Shadow Claw


Here is my first attempt at building a balanced core for this metagame. Slowbro has the potential to act as a late-game win condition while serving as a solid physical wall that can bother sturdy threats such as Rhyperior and Gligar by virtue of its typing. Umbreon can tank attacks from special attackers such as Nidoqueen, which is otherwise very threatening to this core, and provides a mandatory Ghost and Dark resistance as well as cleric / Wish support to help out Slowbro and Doublade. Doublade is just so easy to fit because of its fantastic defensive typing, acting as this core's Rock-type resistance and blanket check to Snorlax and Heracross while providing some offensive muscle.

This core would probably appreciate a Fairy-type of some description to help out with Choice Specs Kommo-o a little, but it would need to predict fairly well. Rhyperior might also be a useful teammate to set up Stealth Rock and check powerful specially oriented Fire-types like Rotom-H and Salazzle.
 
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