Project Core Analysis Workshop (Discussing Partners for Mega Sharpedo + Tank Chomp)

[JTD783]

(this is different than RP's nomination; they serve different roles)

Slowbro @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP/ 232 Def/ 24 SpD
Bold Nature
-Scald
-Slack Off
-Thunder Wave
-Psyshock

Slowbro works very well with this core because it can beat the Pokemon and types that otherwise blow past it, as well as providing a third regenerator user and a better defensive backbone. Slowbro takes on most fire and ice types that threaten this core with their STABS, and most psychics in the tier can't beat it unless they run the necessary coverage. Many attackers such as Manaphy and Talonflame lose if they don't have coverage, and those who can win 1v1, such as Zard X, Weavile, and Serperior, have difficulty switching into Thunder Wave.

Due to the pressure electrics give this core, I recommend adding a fat ground-type to handle them.

 

[bludz]

Not feeling creative today so we'll go with a pretty simple core

Politoed @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 248 HP / 164 Def / 96 Spe
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Toxic
- Encore
- Rest

Kingdra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 28 HP / 252 SpA / 228 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Draco Meteor
- Scald
- Ice Beam

Defensive > Specially Defensive on Politoed is basically for Talon and other priority users to a degree.

Discuss threats

 

[p2]

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball

Walls Kingdra and Politoed easily and weakens them with Power Whip / annoys them with Leech Seed. Rain teams struggle to break Ferrothorn if they lack a pokemon with Fighting coverage

252+ SpA Choice Specs Kingdra Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 176 SpD Ferrothorn in Rain: 135-159 (38.3 - 45.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip vs. 28 HP / 0 Def Kingdra: 127-151 (42.6 - 50.6%) -- 2% chance to 2HKO
0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip vs. 248 HP / 164 Def Politoed: 254-302 (66.3 - 78.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[Dr Ciel]

Reserve Mega Altaria.

Altaria @ Altarianite
Ability: Cloud Nine
EVs: 248 HP / 104 Def / 156 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Hyper Voice / Return
- Heal Bell
- Flamethrower / Earthquake

Mega Altaria doesn't care about anything that Politoed throws at it. Takes pitiful damage from Scald, and heals off Toxic via Heal Bell. Kingdra also can't win unless it uses Ice Beam on the switch, as Mega Altaria resists Kingdra's Water STAB moves and is immune to Draco Meteor and can easily OHKO with Hyper Voice / Return.

 

[Random Passerby]

Azumarill @ Assault Vest
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off

Azumarill can take hits from both members of the core even under the rain and OHKOes Kingdra and 2HKOes Politoed with STAB Play Rough. The only way it loses is if Scald burns Azumarill. Choice Band Azumarill can also threaten the core but it takes a lot from Rain-boosted Hydro Pump.

 

[heritage]

Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power Ice

Tangrowth not only walls Politoed to hell and back and has a chance to OHKO it with Leaf Storm after Rocks, but it also tanks the majority of Kingdra's attacks with relative ease, especially more thanks to Draco Meteor drops. (Toxic is a bit on the annoying side, sadly) A Kingdra locked into Ice Beam is really scary though, but Tangrowth can Knock Off its Choice Specs, meaning Ice Beam no longer has a chance to 2HKO (or even close for that matter). From there it can pivot out with Regenerator to gain back any HP it might need. It's a bit of an awkward process but it works in the end.

Hide

0 SpA Tangrowth Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Politoed: 306-360 (79.8 - 93.9%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

252+ SpA Choice Specs Kingdra Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth in Rain: 129-153 (31.9 - 37.8%) -- 93% chance to 3HKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Kingdra Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 188-222 (46.5 - 54.9%) -- 64.8% chance to 2HKO
(Scary...but after a Knock Off...)
252+ SpA Kingdra Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 126-150 (31.1 - 37.1%) -- 80.7% chance to 3HKO

Leaf Storm does a good amount of damage back.
0 SpA Tangrowth Leaf Storm vs. 80 HP / 0 SpD Kingdra: 159-187 (51.1 - 60.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

 

[DarkNostalgia]

MEW

 

[SketchUp]

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

Without rocks Kingdra in the rain fails to 3hko Chansey and with rocks up it still won't 2hko. Politoed can be annoying with Rest + Encore + Toxic but Natural Cure gets rid of toxic / scald burns and when Politoed clicks Rest there are many pokemon that can use the free turns.

252+ SpA Choice Specs Kingdra Hydro Pump vs. 4 HP / 252 SpD Eviolite Chansey in Rain: 183-216 (28.5 - 33.6%) -- 98.1% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock

 

[Mega Magic Bounce]

Charizard @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Focus Blast
- Roost

Rain cores hate when there's no rain. Mega Charizard Y stops rain. Therefore, this core hates Zard Y. Once it's gotten off its mega evolution, it easily comes in on Politoed and clicks Solarbeam for major profit. Outside of rain, it also troubles Kingdra, but it cannot switch in. Kingdra can't OHKO Zard Y in sun (from full, so pack a good defogger/spinner), and Zard Y is faster and can achieve a clean 2HKO with Solarbeam.

beautiful calcs

252+ SpA Choice Specs Kingdra Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 250-295 (84.1 - 99.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Kingdra Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Charizard Y in Sun: 212-252 (71.3 - 84.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Solar Beam vs. 28 HP / 0 SpD Kingdra: 175-206 (58.7 - 69.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[JTD783]

Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP/ 122 Def/ 120 SpD/ 16 Spe
Calm Nature
-Giga Drain
-Recover
-Thunder Wave
-Healing Wish

Celebi threatens this core by walling/ scaring out both members and being able to cripple both with Thunder Wave. It has the EVs to avoid the 2HKO from two max roll Dracos from Specs Kingdra and eats up any other hit from the core bar SpecsDra's Ice Beam.

The movepool is standard for Support Celebi.

 

[Random Passerby]

How is this not up yet?

Alakazam @ Alakazite
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Dazzling Gleam

It can Trace Swift Swim from Kingdra and OHKO it with Dazzling Gleam after Rocks. However, it needs a little bit of support (such as 1 layer of Rocks + 1 layer of Spikes) to 2HKO Politoed.

 

[bludz]

Discuss partners

 

[SketchUp]

Pinsir @ Pinsirite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Return
- Close Combat
- Quick Attack

Beats some of the biggest threats to standard rain cores with powerful flying stab + fighting coverage in ferrothorn, celebi, tyranitar, mega alt, chansey, gastro etc.
Priority helps against mega zam as well as other threats when the rain is down such as lopunny, keldeo and serperor. Needs some support in defog/spin and something to beat electric types so pokemon like latias, mamoswine and excadrill are good teammates

 

[Martin]

Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 44 Atk / 16 Def / 200 SpD
Impish Nature
- Swords Dance
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
- U-Turn

Mega Scizor is a great option for a pivot and cleaner on a rain team. It directly benefits from rain weakening Fire-type moves targeted at it, it discourages Tyranitar switch-ins with STAB Bullet Punch and U-Turn, it is lures things like Hippowdon and Megazard Y so that it can U-Turn into Politoed reset your own weather, it provides a slow u-turn, allowing you to regain momentum (it is just an all around great pivot tbh), and it can clean up if it has to, reducing the pressure which is placed onto your rain sweepers/wallbreakers like Kingdra and Kabutops. Also, creating a VoltTurn core with Tornadus-T allows it to trap certain builds in an un-ending vortex (which is always nice) :].

 

[heritage]

New Demons (Tornadus-Therian) @ Life Orb
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 76 Atk / 216 SpA / 216 Spe
Naive Nature
- Hurricane
- Focus Blast
- U-turn
- Knock Off

A pretty obvious partner. Under the Rain, Hurricane has a devastating 100% accuracy that backs high fire power, and it completely mauls bulky Grass-types such as Celebi. It 2HKOs Ferrothorn, a major pain to this core, with Focus Blast, while also crippling Chansey by Knocking Off its Eviolite, making Kingdra's Hydro Pump a 2HKO after any sort of damage. It also provides momentum with U-turn, giving more opportunities for teammates to switch and giving it HP back with Regenerator.

 

[Dr Ciel]

Kabutops.

Kabutops @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance / Rapid Spin
- Low Kick

Kabutops provides the role of a solid Physical Swift Swimmer to perfectly compliment Kingdra's role as a Special Swift Swimmer. Kabutops can eliminate Kingdra's threats, most notably Ferrothorn, and several specially defensive Pokemons such as Chansey, Mew, and Slowking. Kabutops also can use Swords Dance to sweep late-game or use Rapid Spin to remove hazards. In return, Kingdra eliminates bulky Grass types, most notably Mega Venusaur & can easily eliminate Pranksters that want to cripple it, including Sableye and Klefki in order to facilitate a sweep for Kabutops, should it use Swords Dance.

 

[Vinc608]

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Knock Off / Gyro Ball
- Power Whip

This core struggle against Fairies likes Altaria-Mega, bulky-Waters like Suicune, and bulky-grass like others Ferrothorn and Tangrowth lacking HP Fire. Ferrothorn walls them. It also love the support of the rain, so it can live some Fire hits. It also walls some physical sweepers like Azumarill or Tyranitar. Knock Off is here for others Ferrothorn and Chansey.

 

[Tressed]

Talonflame
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Roost
- Swords Dance
- Will-O-Wisp / Taunt

Talonflame seems like a weird pick for Rain teams, but it can switch into several mons that make rain cores like this one struggle, such as Mega Venusaur, Ferrothorn, and Celebi. From there, it can easily set up on them with Swords Dance or cripple them with Will-o-wisp, making it more difficult to check Kingdra later on.

 

[nameless90]

Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk/ 4 Def/ 252 Spe
Jolly nature
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Sword Dance/Ice Punch (lure move but after a Sword Dance Toxicroak hits already very hard with its STABs)

Thanks to its unique typing and ability to recover HP in Rain (which is a huge plus to its longevity recharching the HP lost by Life Orb) Toxicroak helps to deal with some threats such as Tyranitar (not Scarfed), Keldeo, Azumarill (a threat to this core), Tangrowth (SDef + AV is almost OKHOed by Gunk Shot), Clefable, Bisharp and has access to priority in the form of Sucher Punch to defeat some weakened threats. Due to its speed (even fully invested with a positive nature) and a middling bulk paired with Life Orb recoil, speed control in the form of Thunder Wave or similar is really appreciated and a way to deal with fast Ground pokemons (i.e. Ferrothorn or Landorus-T) is mandatory.

 

[Random Passerby]

Heracross @ Heracronite
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Pin Missile
- Rock Blast
- Bullet Seed / Swords Dance

Mega Heracross fits naturally into Rain teams because it can easily break down defensive threats that the archetype struggles with such as Ferrothorn, Chansey and Celebi. Bullet Seed is preferred over Swords Dance because it allows Mega Heracross to OHKO Manaphy, Gastrodon and Azumarill, all of which are threats to the core. Unfortunately, Mega Heracross loses to Mega Altaria (although it can severely damage it) and is helpless against Mega Alakazam.

 

[Mega Magic Bounce]

I got Mega Mane

Manectric @ Manectite
Ability: Lightningrod
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder
- Volt Switch
- Overheat
- Hidden Power Ice

Mega Manectric appreciates the rain from Politoed which allows it to spam Thunder with perfect accuracy. Manectric also helps with the Ferrothorn problem by using Overheat. Sure it's going to be weaker in rain, but Ferrothorn will still take really heavy damage so that Kingdra can pick it off. Volt Switch allows it to pivot out when something like Tyranitar comes in, allowing you to bring in Politoed for 8 more turns of rain. Mane does nothing for the Chansey weakness, however except getting a para with Thunder and then para hax the shit out of it every turn.

 

[DennisEG]

Keldeo-Resolute @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Hidden Power [Electric]

Able to check bisharp that threat the others 2, and break the counters for kingdra, like Ferrothorn, Chansey, Azumarril even Bulky rare Gyarados. Also this is a great partner because is boost the attacks due to Rain and you can go Choice Scarf to check opposing torn-t and Weavile too !

 

[Martin]

Permission from Bludz

Latias (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 72 HP / 184 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Timid Nature
- Healing Wish
- Defog / Roost
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock / Roost

Latias fits well onto rain teams for a number of reasons. Firstly, rain teams are often strapped for hazard control options, making it an ideal choice simply for that reason. In addition, Latias has access to Healing Wish, which allows for it to support rain sweepers such as Kabutops and Kingdra, as well as wake up a Politoed which is asleep at low health as a result of taking a super effective hit after using Rest or taking a critical hit after using Rest - increasing its longevity notably and helping your team win weather wars/increasing the number opportunities for Kingdra and Kabutops to wreak havoc. Latias' bulk over Latios is also a major draw, as it means it doesn't go down to things like Knock Off or HP Ice Thundurus as easily and giving more opportunites to come in and Defog.

Roost is an option over either Psyshock and Defog, depending on the build of the team/how much longevity you feel Latias needs to have. Another option which I haven't listed is Thunder, as that allows Latias to take out bulky waters which often pose as threats to rain teams, such as Suicune. The reason I didn't slash it is due to a combination of me trying to keep slash numbers down and the fact that it means sacrificing one of Defog, Roost or Psyshock - all of which are more useful most of the time.

 

[bludz]

New core for the week

Medicham-Mega @ Medichamite
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Fake Out
- Zen Headbutt
- Bullet Punch

Sylveon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 208 HP / 252 SpA / 48 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Shadow Ball
- Baton Pass

Good cores post here. Changed the sets slightly since double prio Medicham is more useful in this meta IMO and Sylveon is the one enjoying Baton Pass in the last slot instead.

Discuss threats

 

[Random Passerby]

Obvious Gengar

Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Wave
- Focus Blast
- Taunt / Icy Wind

Gengar outspeeds both Pokemon and OHKOes with its STAB moves. It also discourages Mega Medicham from spamming High Jump Kick because of its Ghost-typing. While Bullet Punch hurts, Jolly Mega Medicham only has a tiny chance to 2HKO with Bullet Punch while Gengar OHKOes back with Shadow Ball. Sludge Wave makes short work of Sylveon (although Gengar can't really switch into it).