NU Core - Huntail + Torterra
Type of Core: Baton Pass Offense
Movesets:
Huntail@Leftovers
Ability: Water Veil
EVs: 196 HP / 72 Attack / 240 Speed
Impish Nature
- Coil
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Waterfall / Aqua Tail
Torterra@Life Orb / Leftovers / Lum Berry
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 196 HP / 120 Def / 192 Speed
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock / Stone Edge / Rock Polish
- Bullet Seed / Seed Bomb / Wood Hammer
- Earthquake
- Synthesis / Rock Polish
Description:
The main idea behind this core is that Huntail can boost its offenses with Coil and attempt to make a sweep. When predicting an Electric-type attack, such as a slow Volt Switch from Lanturn, you can use Baton Pass to Torterra. Huntail can also soak up any Will-o-Wisps / Burns for Torterra.
Explanation:
Huntail struggles to find the opportunity to set up, so only switch it into slower targets, like Rhydon. The EVs give it decent speed and good bulk. Coil is a great boosting move. Baton Pass gives the boosts to Torterra. Substitute allows it to set up Coil. Waterfall is a good attack, but Aqua Tail also works (since it benefits from the accuracy boost from Coil).
Torterra can use a variety of different items, such as LO, Leftovers, and Lum Berry. LO is great for boosting its attacks, while Leftovers increases its longevity. Lum Berry isn't as necessary, but you could use it if Torterra faces annoying status conditions, such as Toxic. The EVs give it decent speed, while the rest are invested in its HP and Def. Torterra is a good setter of SR, while Stone Edge gives coverage (with good accuracy from the Coil boost) and Rock Polish Bullet Seed deals with Sash users, such as Archeops, and Wood Hammer does a lot of damage (but has recoil), while Seed Bomb is a more reliable alternative. Earthquake is STAB and Synthesis is a reliable form of recovery.
Checks / Counters:
Not all cores are perfect and this one is far from an exception.
Bulky Grass-types: Although there aren't many Bulky Grass-types in NU, Vileplume does give this core a big problem. Both Torterra and Huntail can't dent Vileplume's defenses.
Taunt Users: Liepard is a good example of this. Because of its access to Prankster + Taunt, it automatically shuts down Huntail.
Haze / Roar / Clear Smog: This is an obvious check to this Baton Pass core. All three moves can eliminate the Coil buff, which can be a serious problem.
Potential Teammates
What Baton Pass team would be complete without Xatu? Xatu is a decent recepient from Huntail (since it benefits from the Defense boost; although it cannot take advantage of the attack / accuracy boosts) and has Magic Bounce support. It also has access to Stored Power, which has 20 x 6 + 20 = 140 BP (after two Coil boosts)! Xatu also has access to Signal Beam, which allows this core to deal with Liepard and bulky Grass-types. To top it all off, Xatu has Calm Mind, which can further boost its damage.
This core easily gets worn down, so emergency clerics / supports are a necessity. A good example is Mesprit, which provides Healing Wish support (although it compounds the Dark type Weakness with Xatu, so take that into consideration).
Defensive Pivots with U-turn / Volt Switch are also nice to bring Huntail safely in. Lanturn is an excellent example. Because it has a slow Volt Switch and decent bulk, Lanturn can lead Huntail in and help it set-up.
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