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

[StarZabRighT]

Just a minor nitpick, the set there is hex gengar, not Shadow Ball Gengar. Assuming Gliscor was already poisoned by his toxic orb, Gengar has a 40-ish percent chance to 2HKO

148 SpA Gengar Hex (130 BP) vs. 244 HP / 200+ SpD Gliscor: 180-213 (51.1 - 60.5%) -- 41.4% chance to 2HKO after Poison Heal

It's a pretty shaky check, you might want to add protect to help stall out some recovery

Not many people really run hex though, more often then not its your standard lo set with shadow ball, sludge wave, focus blast and some utility

 

[Mega Slutbunny]

Not many people really run hex though, more often then not its your standard lo set with shadow ball, sludge wave, focus blast and some utility

Isn't the point of the thread to check the particular core presented, not a general core of two pokemon? Or am I mistaken?

 

[bludz]

Isn't the point of the thread to check the particular core presented, not a general core of two pokemon? Or am I mistaken?

Yes the point is to check the particular core.

However it is important to remember that in actual gameplay things are a bit different. If full sets haven't been revealed, your opponent may have a check to your core but they do not realize it or they may play their check incorrectly. For example for this core Bisharp is a good check. But in actual gameplay, a Bisharp user is likely to click Sucker Punch against Gengar which would result in Will-O-Wisp proccing his Lum Berry and leading to a situation in which they still do not know if Gengar is carrying Focus Blast.

 

[Fire-breather Richard]

Thundurus @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Sludge Wave
- Hidden Power Ice

Really nice wallbreaker here. You can set up on either Pokemon, then outspeed and OHKO with the proper move. Sludge Wave is nice to OHKO Clefable at +2 while also dealing nice damage to Mega Altaria and Mega Gardevoir.

 

[DarkNostalgia]

Hydreigon @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Mild Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Flash Cannon
- Superpower

Hydreigon outspeeds Clefable and 2HKOes it with Flash Cannon, while OHKOing Gengar with Dark Pulse. Even though Gengar outspeeds Hydreigon, Hydreigon can still shrug off Will-O-Wisp and Hex easily due to it being specially-oriented and resisting the move, respectively.

252+ SpA Life Orb Hydreigon Flash Cannon vs. 252 HP / 84+ SpD Clefable: 221-260 (56 - 65.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Life Orb Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 108 HP / 0 SpD Gengar: 463-546 (160.7 - 189.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
148 SpA Gengar Hex (65 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Hydreigon: 54-64 (16.6 - 19.6%) -- possible 6HKO

 

[bludz]

Discuss partners

Edit: starting below BlazeLatias' post

 

[BlazeLatias]

Nobody thought of toxicroak? Im suprised.

Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Sucker Punch
- Drain Punch
- Sword Dance

Toxicroak beats this core pretty easy as sucker punch ohkos gengar while gunk shot ohkos clefable. I guess sucker punch mind games are a thing but eh.

252 Atk Life Orb Toxicroak Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Gengar: 296-351 (114.2 - 135.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Life Orb Toxicroak Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 172 Def Clefable: 463-549 (117.5 - 139.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Edit: really bludz?

 

[DarkNostalgia]

Garchomp.

Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 164 Def / 76 SpD / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Dragon Tail / Stone Edge
- Fire Blast

Tank Garchomp is an excellent partner to this core thanks to its ability to check numerous threatening Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, Toxicroak, Bisharp, Magnezone, Beedrill, Heatran, and Excadrill, alongside providing much-needed Stealth Rock support to whittle down switch-ins. Fire Blast is for Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor which annoys Gengar + Clefable as well, while Stone Edge > Dragon Tail is a viable possibility for Talonflame, Mega Charizard Y, and Tornadus-T.

 

[SketchUp]

Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 248 HP / 96 Def / 144 SpD / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Synthesis
- Hidden Power Fire

Core is weak to offensive steel and poison types and Venusaur stops many of them. Checks Excadrill and Bisharp, beats Scizor, easily takes hits from offensive electric types and switches in against other powerful wallbreakers like Sylveon and Mega Diancie. Sludge Bomb works great because the 30% poison chance gives Gengar more opportunities to spam Hex.

 

[BlazeLatias]

Mixed Jirachi

Jirachi @ Expert Belt
EVs: 132 Atk / 160 SpA / 216 Spe
Mild Nature
- Iron Head
- Icy Wind
- Hidden Power Ground / Hidden Power Fire
- Thunderbolt

This lures gengar and clefs checks and counters such as hp ground for tran and icy wind for sp.def scor. also takes on sp.def talon decently well with thunderbolt. Mix rachi can also Run hp fire in order to hit things such as ferrothorn and mega scizor which can check clef if not carrying a fire type move. Ferro and mega scizor (sp.def invested) can also check gengar. Jirachi also nails torn with Icy wind+iron head.

 

[Random Passerby]

Talonflame
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Acrobatics
- Roost
- Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
- Bulk Up

Talonflame provides an answer to Toxicroak, Mega Scizor, Mega Beedrill, non-Stone Edge Heatran, Bisharp, Mega Gardevoir and Mega Charizard-Y. It doesn't hold an Item to take Knock Off better. Talonflame can also be a secondary status spreader and helps to overload Heatran who can check the core. However, Taunt can be used to beat Specially Defensive Gliscor and Blobs while also avoiding status from Ferrothorn.

 

[bludz]

Only 5 partner nominations so far. Can we get a few more please? :)

 

[p2]

ive never used gengar/clef before so this is just going to be purely theorymonning

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 192 SpD / 64 Spe
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Roar

Heatran is a decent Pokemon with this core as it has amazing defensive synergy with Clefable and can handle most Pokemon that threaten this core such Scizor, Sylveon, and most Talonflame variants.

Lava Plume and Toxic allow Heatran to quickly and effectively spread status around for Gengar, allowing to have 130 BP Hexes early-game, allowing it to dismantle walls easily, coupled with SR support that Heatran also provides.

 

[Fire-breather Richard]

Landorus-Therian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Superpower / Knock Off
- U-turn

Scarf Landorus-T revenges unboosted Charizard, Mega Beedrill, Dragalge, Magnezone and Hydreigon for the core. It also enjoys Gengar luring Gliscor with Hex so that it can clean up late-game.

 

[DarkNostalgia]

Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Stone Edge

Hippowdon checks Talonflame, Mega Charizard X, Toxicroak, Mega Beedrill, defensive Heatran, Bisharp, Diancie, Thundurus, and Mega Charizard Y, all the while providing valuable Stealth Rock support. In return, Clefable deals with most Water-types such as Slowbro and Keldeo and Gengar with Grass-types such as Celebi. Needs a more solid answer to Choice Specs Keldeo and Manaphy however if Hippowdon is chosen.

Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 SpD
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Foul Play

It might seem redundant at first due to Mega Sableye sharing the Ghost typing with Gengar, but Mega Sableye is a decent partner for such a core due to its ability to handle key threats such as Mega Metagross, Gengar, Heatran, Bisharp, Beedrill, and Gothitelle. It appreciates Clefable's ability to handle opposing Mega Sableye, Keldeo, Mega Lopunny, and Kyurem-B, and Gengar's ability to beat Clefable and spread status. It also helps Gengar spread status via its own Will-O-Wisp to strengthen Hex. Fits well together with other entry hazard users to form hazard-stacking balance which is cool for Mega Sableye.

 

[bludz]

New core for the week:

Thundurus (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast

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

Thundurus checks flying types and beats certain grounds like Lando-T that can be annoying for Heracross. It also spams T-Wave on things like Latias which lets Heracross attack much more freely. Good Cores post

Discuss threats

 

[Random Passerby]

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

Mega Manectric doesn't care about Thunder Wave and 2HKOes Thundurus with Hidden Power Ice and OHKOes Mega Heracross with Overheat. However, it dislikes switching into Focus Blast or any of Mega Heracross's hits. Also, if Mega Manectric is unevolved, it can switch into a predicted Electric move, Mega Evolve and OHKO Thundurus with Thunderbolt at +1.

 

[Dr Ciel]

Sableye Mega pl0x.

Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 SpD
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Foul Play

Mega Sableye is a huge threat to the posted core. It can get free chip damage with Fake Out, take an LO T-Bolt, hit it with Knock Off, then Recvoer off the damage (Even with max rolls, LO T-Bolt + Non LO T-Bolt does not 2HKO). Meanwhile, Heracross gets burned, thanks to Prankster Will-O-Wisp and gets worn down as Sableye spams Foul Play and Recover.

 

[heritage]

Diancie @ Diancite
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 32 Atk / 224 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Moonblast
- Diamond Storm
- Earth Power
- Protect

Mega Diancie will always live Thundurus's Thunderbolt and proceeds to OHKO both members of the core, simple as that. Thanks to Magic Bounce, it really doesn't care about Prankster Thunder Wave. If you really want to get fancy to take a bit less damage on Diancie, you don't have to Mega Evolve on the first turn during Thundy's attacks, since most players won't Thunder Wave an obvious Mega Diancie, taking a little over half while OHKOing with Diamond Storm after Life Orb recoil. From there you can simply Mega and Protect against Heracross and outspeed the next turn. Diancie does need a free switch in, like to Mega Heracross's Swords Dance or Thundurus's Thunder Wave if already Mega Evolved, but once that happens, wreck havoc.

Calcs

252 SpA Life Orb Thundurus Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Diancie: 146-173 (60.5 - 71.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

32 Atk Diancie Diamond Storm vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Thundurus: 296-350 (98.9 - 117%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO

or

252 SpA Life Orb Thundurus Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Mega Diancie: 191-226 (79.2 - 93.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

32 Atk Mega Diancie Diamond Storm vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Thundurus: 440-522 (147.1 - 174.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

224 SpA Mega Diancie Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Heracross: 342-404 (113.6 - 134.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[SketchUp]

Talonflame @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Swords Dance
- Roost

Talonflame OHKOs Heracross with Brave Bird and OHKOs Thundurus with a +2 Brave Bird after Stealth Rock damage. Avoids Prankster Thunder Wave with a faster priority Brave Bird. Even unboosted it is a problem because it can use Flare Blitz to 2hko Thundurus (ohko's after rocks + one life orb) and because of priority in Brave Bird, it can still beat Heracross when paralyzed.

 

[Choice Bowtie]

Sylveon @ Leftovers
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 248 HP / 224 Def / 32 SpD
Bold Nature
- Wish
- Protect
- Heal Bell
- Hyper Voice
​

Sylveon can switch into anything Thundurus can throw at her, even with minimum SpDef investment, and she can spam Wish + Protect until the Genie dies from Life Orb recoil. As an added bonus she can also heal any paralysis inflicted on her teammates through the use of Heal Bell. She is also a big threat to Mega-Heracross, as she can OHKO (after Stealth rock Damage) with a Pixilate boosted Hyper Voice. She can avoid the 2HKO from Rock Blast by racking up Leftovers recovery, using Protect on the turn she switches in.

Calcs

252 Atk Mega Heracross Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 248 HP / 224+ Def Sylveon: 175-210 (44.5 - 53.4%) -- approx. 94.1% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Pixilate Sylveon Hyper Voice vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Heracross: 264-312 (87.7 - 103.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

252 SpA Life Orb Thundurus Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 32 SpD Sylveon: 144-172 (36.6 - 43.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

 

[-Ixtamacunxi-]

Nidoking @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 SpD / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Sludge Wave
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Fire Blast

Nidoking can live HP Ice from Thundurus and OHKO with Ice Beam, while Mega Heracross is outsped and OHKOd by Fire Blast after rocks damage.

Calcs

252 SpA Life Orb Thundurus Hidden Power Ice vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nidoking: 211-250 (69.6 - 82.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Thundurus: 299-354 (100 - 118.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Heracross: 294-346 (97.6 - 114.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

 

[DarkNostalgia]

Volcarona @ Lum Berry
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 72 HP / 252 SpA / 184 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Fire Blast
- Giga Drain
- Bug Buzz

Volcarona is a huge threat to the core thanks to its ability to OHKO both Pokemon after Stealth Rock damage with Fire Blast. At +1, it OHKOes Thundurus even easier. Lum Berry means Volcarona can't get stopped by Thundurus's Prankster Thunder Wave. Can't really set up on any Pokemon as Mega Heracross's Rock Blast is an OHKO and setting up on Thundurus means it'll get paralyzed.

252 SpA Volcarona Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Thundurus: 222-262 (74.2 - 87.6%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Volcarona Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Heracross: 356-420 (118.2 - 139.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Fire-breather Richard]

Rotom-Heat @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Overheat
- Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
- Trick

Rotom-H resists Pin Missile and OHKOes Mega Heracross with Overheat. With a Choice Scarf, it also outspeeds Thundurus and has a high chance to KO it after Stealth Rock. Being an Electric-type, Rotom-H cannot be paralyzed by Thunder Wave.

 

[Kav]

Dragalge @ Choice Specs
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 228 HP / 252 SpA / 28 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Sludge Wave
- Focus Blast
- Scald

Dragalge can tank any hit from either, will KO thundy with Meteor or with Sludge Wave after rocks. It also has a solid chance of OHKOing hera without rocks and always KOs with them. Paralysis's speed drop means virtually nothing to it.

It has trouble switching in, since it's 2hko'd by HP ice, and more importantly killed by either of Hera's Stabs + Rock Blast, and also cannot fight hera if it's boosted. However it is dangerous to the core if it finds its way in easily.