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So when I checked the RMT, I saw it filled with teams that had cores inside. It brought me to try to make my own cores that I discussed with Faked Thrower yesterday night. Smogon may have their own cores, but it doesn't mean we can't find cores that work efficiently.
So many unexperienced members of this site may ask: What is a core? Smogon has this covered, providing an awesome explanation.

A core consists of 2-3 Pokémon that work well together through Defense, Offense, both, or through other ways to counter most of the metagame. This makes having a solid core one of the most important parts of team building. - Smogon University

Now, there is a lot of different types of cores. Smogon has this covered as well.

There are four different types of cores and they are as follows:

Defensive: This core consists of 2-3 Pokémon that compliment each other defensively. They are designed to counter a wide range of
threats through bulk and synergy, while taking resisted and neutral
hits with relative ease.

Offensive: This core is made up of Pokémon that have great coverage and power so that they can take out a wide range of threats
in the tier.

Mixed: This core consists of Pokémon that synergize well both offensively and defensively. For this type, you may have two walls and
one offensive Pokémon that all have great synergy and work well
together.

Other: This includes Pokémon who work together in other ways. Like a Toxic Spikes user and a Substitute + Calm Mind sweeper. Or a Spiker
and a Pokémon with a lot of power but not enough to break through
walls without Spikes. Even a lure and a sweeper can count as a
combinations. - Smogon University

So I was thinking we could post our favorite cores on this Q! If you post, please include EVs, Natures and everything else in a full moveset. Also, include what type of core yours is (Offense, Defense, Mixed or Other) and in what tier your core can be used and performs the best. Add a short description explaining your core. I'll be posting a core just to show the format in which you should answer.

Darmanitan-Z Darmanitan-Z

+

Roserade Roserade

This is an Offensive core for use in the UU Tier. Darmantian-Z and Roserade provide great offensive synergy while Darmanitan can use Belly Drum to safely render himself to Zen Mode. BLA BLA BLA.

To note that that was an example and you should put a bigger description. xD


Remember, there is no such thing as a perfect core. Don't get too arrogant about your core and saying that, for example, your Leavanny could own your Dialga. Make a usable core, meaning no gimmick such as Specs Delibird or Banded Blissey. I hope you guys will post your cores here so everyone who visits this Q will get ideas for new cores and teams.

Have fun posting your cores and DO NOT post Smogon cores, we can just go see them there.

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edited by
Do cores basically cover each others weaknesses?
The tags xD
LOL, I nearly died when I saw the tags!
Eh, i love my tags :]
What tags? zD
Something called "retagging" happened to this. :P
^ OMG ^

29 Answers

0 votes

Slowbro (M) @Leftovers
image
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Def/ 4 SAtk/ 252 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)

-Scald
-Slack Off
-Calm Mind
-Flamethrower

Florges (F) @Light Clay
image
Trait: Flower Veil
EVs: 132 Def/ 124 SAtk/ 252 Spd
Timid Nature

-Aromatherapy
-Safeguard
-Moonblast
-Lightscreen

I have this set because it actually works exceptionally well. This is a "defensive" core, but after it's put into motion, this set up dishes out some damage. I use these two because Slowbro is physically defensive and Florges is specially defensive, and they work well at covering each others' weaknesses. So I never really send in Slowbro first, but in case I do, and he gets put under a status ailment, I do have Aromatherapy on Florges. Plus, with Regenerator, Slowbro can come back in after gaining some HP back. Florges goes out before Slowbro and sets up a light screen. Then, she sets up a safeguard. After hard switching into Slowbro, that's 5 turns of light screen where you can set up calm mind and 4 turns of safeguard. I have lefties and a boosted Special Defense because even behind a Light Screen, Slowbro does take hits hard, such as something like a Latias. But after setting up, Slowbro basically sweeps teams. There are, however, some problems. A major problem to this is Scizor. A Bullet Punch to Florges does a lot, and even with bold nature 252 EV's in Defense, an X-Scissor does a respectable amount; enough to have to waste a turn using Slack Off. That's why I have Flamethrower on Slowbro and not Ice Beam. I wasn't too worried about giving up Ice Beam because I do have Florges with Moonblast. Another huge problem is the cold truth that Slowbro's speed sucks. I tried to make a way to incorporate Trick Room, but it generally seems to hurt the strategy more than it helps. I don't want to swap out flamethrower for ThunderWave, so if anyone can try to add a 3rd Pokemon to this core and maybe incorporate some speed help (whether it be paralyze, trick room, or sticky web), I'd appreciate the help!

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0 votes

This is a defensive core that I have saw and come to acknowledge as extremely dangerous.

Chansey
enter image description here

Skarmory
enter image description here

and Mega Venusaur(shut up I couldn't find the mega sprite)
enter image description here

SkarmBliss may have been the ultimate defensive core in gen 4, and somewhat amazing still in gen 5, but in gen 6, people have started using bissey's younger sister, chansey. With eviolite, she tanks **** Blissey can only dream of, to give you a preview of it's tanking skills, take a look at this.

252 Atk Terrakion Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 518-612 (73.5 - 86.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Not even funny anymore. It can wall the majority of physical attackers and special attackers aren't even a question.

Of course, anything that does pose as a threat to Chansey is pertty much automatically taken care of by the physically defensive monster known as skarmory, similiar to skarmbliss, it takes care of all those otherwise scary phyical attackers and sends them back home crying.

Of course there is STILL stuff that can break that core, as few as there is. That's where mega venusaur comes in. Walling stuff like conkeldurr all day long. It can run mixed defense to tank both sides of the spectrum. It pretty much kills anything that poses as a threat to skarm and chansey, but it it pretty optional.

It really goes like this. Chansey walls 95% of all stuff. Skarmory and MegaSaur wall everything else. It is an EXTREMELY hard core to break and is jerkish on stall teams. Watch out for these monsters. Being unprepared is not going to do you well.

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Is there specific movesets for them or just standard smogon movesets?
0 votes

Gliscor and Jellicent OU DEFENSIVE CORE

enter image description here
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 244 HP / 248 Def / 16 Spd
Impish Nature
- Roost
- Taunt
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
enter image description here
Jellicent @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 36 Def / 220 SDef
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Recover
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Ball

These two Pokemon make a GREAT core!
They both cover each others weaknesses. Jellicent's most common weaknesses are electric and grass, both which Gliscor covers. Gliscor offers awesome recovery and defensive bulk. Jellicent also has a high hp and sp defense bulk as well as will o wisp. Will o wisp cuts the opponents attack in half, helping jellicent block defensive hits as well as aiding gliscor to become a supreme wall. Gliscor offers taunt, a unique move that won't let other Pokemon set up, and its attacking movepool grants excellent coverage. Don't forget that jellicent resists ice, gliscors most popular weakness and is also immune to water! These two Pokemon are excellent together and can take on almost every offensive Pokemon in the OU metagame!

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this has been posted
Nope it was Gliscor + Tentacruel

Jellicent + Ferrothorn
0 votes

Thought I'd post some cores that i've found in XY LC and OU


MawMence

Mawile (F) @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk/ 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Sucker Punch
- Substitute
- Iron Head

Salamence (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 72 Atk / 184 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature
- Fire Blast
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Draco Meteor

One of the most common switch ins to mawile are steel types, which salamence can either earthquake or roast. Together, they cover nearly every type in the game, along with every single one of their own weaknesses. I used this as a core on a sticky web team, which is why I have MixMence, but most of the time you would use a more defensive one with intimidate, making a double intimidate core to check physical attackers extensively.


Gothitar

Tyranitar @ Tyranitarite
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
- Ice Punch/Earthquake

Gothitelle @ Choice Specs
Trait: Shadow tag
EVs: 44 HP / 252 SpA / 212 Spd
Modest Nature
- Psyshock
- Energy Ball / Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Fire
- Trick

What checks t-tar? the first thing that probably come to mind is fighting types. What traps fighting types? Gothitelle. A simple, self-explanatory trapping core


I'll add more later

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0 votes

I think I made this up, its a great core and I dont know why not many people do stuff like this

Aggron + Sabeleye + Azumaril

enter image description here

Sabeleye (M) @Lagging Tail / Ring Target

Trait: Prankster

EVs: 116 HP / 80 Atk / 112 Def / 200 SpD

Impish (+Def -SpA) or Careful nature (+SpD -SpA)

• Will-o-wisp
• Recover
• Foul Play
• Trick

Sabeleye is a hilarious Pokèmon, it only has one weakness wich you can easily fix by simply switching it out. it has great defense, special defence and Hp. Its abbility Prankster makes all of its status moves gain priority. Priority is the hardest thing to understand in the metagame in my opinion so I will make this simples, every status moves a Pokemon with prankster uses will moth of the time go first. this means will-o-wisp and recover will go first allowing instant recovery or instant shut-down. sabeleye helps out this core perfectly being a great support Pokemon. how I use my sabeleye is with trick and lagging tail, remember that priority thing I was talking about? well lagging tail is an item that makes the holder move last unless its using a priority move. this makes things that are big threats less scary. sabeleye is the speed control for this team and helps out aggron and azumaril alot.

enter image description here
Azumaril (F) @Assult vest

Trait: Huge Power/Thick Fat

EVs: 100 HP / 252 Atk / 36 Def / 120 Spe

Adamant (+Atk -SpA)

• Superpower
• Aqua Jet
• Ice Punch
• Play Rough

Azumaril is a great Pokemon on this core. it resists Sableye's AND Aggrons weaknesses. I cant think of a better Pokemon for this core. its a great psysical attacker with amazing hp and def, though its SpD isnt as impressive, the assult vest fixes that lickity split! there isnt much out to say about Azumaril. Playing Azumaril is simple, click an attack that doesnt get resisted and your good.

enter image description here
Aggron (M) @Aggronite

Trait: Sturdy

EVs: 136 HP / 156 Atk / 112 Def / 104 SpD

Careful Nature (+SpD -SpA)

•Iron Head
• Stone Edge
•Earthquake
• Protect

Aggron is probably the best mega for this team. other than Mega Steelix, Mega Aggron is probably the bulkiest mega ever. azumaril covers his weaknesses perfectly. Aggron is an amazing Pokemon and he is amazing in this core. strategy is elementry, scout out moves with protect and switch or attach based on what they used, seeing the mindsets of other players they tend to keep using the same move, so scouting out is essentail.

other additions I recomend for this team are..

a special attacking Grass type a special flying type a special fire type enter image description here

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0 votes

Ferroking

Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Leech Seed
- Spikes
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip

Slowking @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Toxic
- Slack Off
- Scald
- Psyshock

Pretty simple core, doesn't work as well after the steel nerf, but is still great. Slowking works like an add-on to ferrothorn, giving it a reliable special wall to work with along with toxic support. NOTE: heal bell/aromatherapy support highly recommended. These two are destroyed by status and need a way to remove it. Especially slowking. Anyways, gyro ball, power whip, scald, and psyshock are all STAB, leech seed is necessary on any ferrothorn (excluding rest variants), stealth rock is also necessary (spikes is for if your team already has rocks), Toxic pairs well with leech seed, and slack off is for sustain. These two work surprisingly well together and I will upload an rmt using them soon.

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0 votes

Skarmory+Chansey+Latias (OU Defensive Core)

Skarmory @Leftovers
Skarmory
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes/Brave Bird/Iron Head
- Roost
- Whirlwind

Chansey (F) @ Eviolite
Chansey
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Bold Nature
- Toxic/Thunder Wave
- Seismic Toss
- Soft-Boiled
- Heal Bell

Latias (F) @ Latiasite/Leftovers
Latias
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Defog/Filler (HP Fire)
- Filler (Thunderbolt)
- Filler (Ice Beam)

RECOMMENDED TEAMMATES: Azumarill (+6 play rough destroys everything) Tornadus-Therian (deals with common walls) Keldeo (reliable heatran counter) Scizor (excellent late-game cleaner, swords dance or choice band, take your pick)

I'm sure someone has posted Skarmory+Chansey on here before, but Latias wraps it all together and is a good mixed wall in general. The only flaw in skarmory+chansey on its own is the lack of synergy and weakness in... Well, their weaknesses! However, Latias can take physical and special hits very well and resists fire, electric, and fighting. This core can be very hard to get around without a mixed attacker with a strong dark, ghost, bug, dragon, ice, or fairy move. Strong physical attackers with status moves can also be hard to deal with. It has its flaws, but I recommend this core to people who like to disrupt and annoy their opponent, and don't want to be afraid of Hyper Offense.

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0 votes

NU Core - Huntail + Torterra

huntail torterra
Type of Core: Baton Pass Offense

Movesets:

huntail
Huntail@Leftovers
Ability: Water Veil
EVs: 196 HP / 72 Attack / 240 Speed
Impish Nature
- Coil
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Waterfall / Aqua Tail

torterra
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.

Will continue editing later...

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edited by
Isnt the Gorebyss set illegal through teambuilder due to the new Baton Pass Clause implemented about a month ago? Or is it allowed so long as you do not pass the simultaneous boosts?
^ Ugh that was my mistake; I was using the old Shell Smash Gorebyss + Torterra Core, instead of the Coil Huntail + Torterra core. I'll update this soon.
0 votes

I didn't realised that this thread exist lol. So I just wanna to post one of my Favourite cores in Gen 7 OU that I have been using it with decent success. I posted it on Smogon too.

Gen 7 OU Celesteela + Gastrodon Defensive Core

A very solid core. Both mons are capable of dealIng with each other's checks, and has pretty great typing with many immunities and resistances. Both of them have great reliable recovery that allows them to stay very Long in battles, and also have great stalling potential. Synergy among them is really well, being able to switch into attacks aiming at each other.


Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature

  • Heavy Slam
  • Flamethower
  • Leech Seed
  • Protect

Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature

  • Earthquake
  • Scald
  • Toxic
  • Recover

Specially Defensive Celesteela can take hits really well from Tapu Lele, and is able to OHKO Lele with a Heavy Slam. Leech Seed and Leftovers gives it the much needed recovery and turns 2HKO hits to 3HKO, or turn 4HKO hits to 5HKO. Flamethower is able to check threats such as Ferrothorn and Scizor. Storm Drain Gastrodon is able to switch into STAB moves from Greninja and Specs Kingdra in the rain which is able to threaten Celesteela, and is also immune to electric STAB moves from Tapu Koko. Toxic on Gastrodon is really good for hiting Bulky opponents that are hard to muscle past, forcing them to switch sometimes. Recover is another reliable recovery that keeps Gastrodon Healthy. Physically Defensive Gastrodon is also able to check threats such as Marowak that is a big threat to Specially Defensive Celesteela.


Good Team Members

DDance Charizard X is a good team member that could blow through many Steel types like Celesteela having a coverage move with Flare Blitz and some others like Grass Knot Tapu Koko, Bloom Doom Heatran which is dealt by Earthquake. It is also able to resist all of Celesteela/Gastrodon's weakness.

Specs Tapu Koko is able to check Dragons that have a fire type coverage such as Garchomp and Salamence with HP Ice. It is able to threaten Tapu Fini and Toxapex due to Specs, and is able to outspeed and OHKO Non Ash Greninja with Volt Switch. Mega Gyarados is also very weak to it.

A Hazard remover will be appreciated since the above sweepers lacked recovery and will be weakened.


I will be posting my Ubers core later.

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edited by