Project NU Cores Threat Analysis - Haunter + Shiftry

[poh]

Pinsir @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- X-Scissor
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake

Scarfed Pinsir can OHKO both mons with X-Scissor. It might even go on a killing spree after the Moxie boost. Only problems are faster scarfers like Jynx and Rotom. Pinsir outspeeds both mons with the Choice Scarf but it's up to you if you want to outpeed more stuff like +1 Lilligant and +1 Vivillon (Jolly Nature) or do more damage to mons like Xatu and Steelix (Adamant Nature). Personally i'd choose the latter.

A useful calc:
252+ Atk Life Orb Shiftry Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Pinsir: 156-185 (57.5 - 68.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[Take Azelfie]

Sliggod (Sliggoo) @ Eviolite
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 72 SpD
Careful Nature
- Curse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Outrage

Sliggod just sets up on Sceptile and Shiftry (It can only set up on Shiftry if it already has 1 curse up) other than that it just abuses them. Of course you can get crit at full health w/o Eviolite and get OHKOed which can be quite worrying.

Crit Calc
252+ Atk Life Orb Shiftry Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 248 HP / 188 Def Sliggoo on a critical hit: 352-417 (103.8 - 123%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[nv]

Ok the threat nomination period is over. You may now post partners to the core from now until Friday.

 

[poh]

Weezing @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 152 Def / 108 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Bomb

I think Weezing is an amazing partner for this Grass-spam core. First of all, none of the threats posted earlier can touch this thing. It has enough speed to outspeed Malamar, defensive Lanturn, hazard setters like Steelix, Piloswine, Rhydon, Ferroseed,... Defoggers like Pelipper and Mantine. Set-uppers like Audino-Mega and Rhydon. It can also burn things ofcourse which makes cleaning late-game easier. Weezings defence is also good against mons like Hariyama, Kangaskhan and other physical offensive mons.

Shoutout to Winter's Howl for helping me :]

 

[etern]

Regirock @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Atk / 16 Def / 196 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Thunder Wave
- Drain Punch

Regirock is a really nice partner for this core, providing a switch-in to Fire-Types as well as Stealth Rock. Additionally, Regirock checks a lot of common checks to Shiftry/Sceptile, such as Scyther, Pyroar, Magmortar and Skuntank. Shiftry also really appreciates the speed control Regirock brings with T-wave.

 

[nv]

Thanks to Winter's Howl, Stoned M&M, Watchog, PrinceLucian, and MARCU5theBAW5 this week for helping choose the winners. This week's winner for threat goes to boltsandbombers and their Scyther while the win for partner goes to ~Eternally and their Regirock. Congratulations (especially Eternally for winning two weeks in a row for partner :o)

This week's core is...

+

Sets + Brief Description

Barbaracle @ White Herb
Ability: Tough Claws
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell
- Frustration
- Substitute


Skuntank @ Lum Berry
Ability: Aftermath
EVs: 24 HP / 76 Atk / 156 SpA / 252 Spe
Lonely Nature
- Poison Jab
- Sucker Punch
- Fire Blast
- Memento

The point of this core is to set up a Barbaracle sweep. Memento Skuntank aims to give Barbaracle as many setup opportunities as possible as Skuntank can lure in Steel-types that may wall it. Substitute on Barbaracle maximizes its setup opportunities. This core is also pretty self sufficient, making it easier than most to add to teams.

The threat nomination period will end on Tuesday. You may now post threats to this core.

 

[boltsandbombers]

Shiftry @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Lonely Nature
- Knock Off
- Leaf Storm
- Sucker Punch
- Explosion

Really nothing too creative here, mixed Shiftry with Explosion to lure in Skuntank is a pretty big threat to this core as it outspeeds and OHKOs both members. Obviously if it explodes it can't beat both of the mons on the core by itself, but this acts as purely an offensive check, being able to revenge kill either of these and prevent Barbaracle from getting a setup opportunity.

252+ Atk Life Orb Shiftry Explosion vs. 24 HP / 0 Def Skuntank: 448-529 (126.9 - 149.8%)

 

[Dr Ciel]

I'll take Vanilla Rotom.

The Wake (Rotom) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Will-O-Wisp
- Hex
- Discharge

Sub-Hex Rotom-A is a pretty huge threat to this core. It cripples Barbaracle with Will-O-Wisp and 2HKO it with Hex. For Skuntank, Rotom can play mind-games with Sucker Punch, resists Poison Jab, takes minimal damage from Fire Blast, & can avoid Memento with Substitute & Will-O-Wisp once, then Wisp again after Lum Berry has been consumed and proceed to wear it down with Discharge.

 

[Winter's Howl]

Sawk @ Choice Band
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Zen Headbutt
- Stone Edge

Yeah, this is pretty uninspired. Sawk outspeeds and OHKOs both Skuntank and Barbaracle, meaning you can shutdown the Memento + Shell Smash games before they even happen. In the event you are caught off guard and Barb sets up on something else, Sawk can act as an emergency check provided that Sturdy remains intact.

Calcs v Core

252 Atk Choice Band Sawk Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Barbaracle: 510-600 (178.9 - 210.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 Atk Choice Band Sawk Close Combat vs. 24 HP / 0 Def Skuntank: 397-468 (112.4 - 132.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[etern]

Malamar @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Superpower
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

Basically Malamar sets up on and discourages Skuntank from using memento, and takes advantage of it if predicted correctly. Malamar can take a hit from Barb, Superpower up and win against it as well. Nothing too special, but definitely a huge threat that uses the whole point of the core against itself.

 

[Punchshroom]

Gurdurr @ Eviolite
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 HP / 192 Atk / 64 Def
Adamant Nature
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Mach Punch

As far as Skuntank switch-ins go, Gurdurr straight up does not give a damn. Even if it gets Memento'd on the switch, Gurdurr can more than easily make up for lost ground against Barbaracle with Bulk Up's Defense boost and Drain Punch's recovery. Should it get poisoned by Skuntank's Poison Jab beforehand, it only pressures this core even further.

Btw I don't know what the hell is up with the Skuntank spread; you can achieve the same exact stat spread with 24 HP / 76 Atk / 136 SpA / 252 Spe @ Lonely nature, with 20 EVs to spare.

 

[nv]

Fixed the EV spread, Punchshroom

 

[poh]

Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Recover
- Toxic

Just the standard Quagsire set. Quag doesn't care about Memento or Shell Smash. Earthquake does over 80% to Skunk and does 2HKO Barbaracle (before Memento). Quag stalls Barb out with Toxic-Recover. And here are the calcs with Barb:

252+ Atk Tough Claws Barbaracle Razor Shell vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 121-144 (30.7 - 36.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

252+ Atk Tough Claws Barbaracle Frustration vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 110-130 (27.9 - 32.9%) -- 86.7% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[erisia]

No Frills @ Eviolite
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Night Shade
- Scald / Taunt

Frillish is completely immune to Barbaracle's entire moveset and takes pitiful damage from any of Skuntank's attacks, being able to stall out Sucker Punch easily. It can also break Barbaracle's Substitutes reliably with Night Shade, and it can spread status to switch-ins with Will-O-Wisp with proper prediction.

76+ Atk Skuntank Poison Jab vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Frillish: 35-42 (11.1 - 13.3%) -- possible 8HKO
156 SpA Skuntank Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Frillish: 28-33 (8.9 - 10.5%) -- possibly the worst move ever

#seriouspost

 

[nv]

Ok the threat nomination period is over. You may now post partners to the core from now until Friday.

 

[etern]

Mesprit @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Psychic
- Signal Beam
- Grass Knot

CM Mesprit is the perfect partner for this core, being able to act as a plan B if the opponent has checks to a +2/+2 Barbaracle. CM Mesprit destroys every single counter to Barbaracle, from Quagsire, Shiftry, Malamar and even Frillish. Mesprit also provides the added bonus of an immunity to ground, and a resistance to fighting types, meaning that the core synergises incredibly well, whilst also having great offensive presence.

 

[erisia]

Mesprit @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Psychic
- Signal Beam
- Energy Ball

One of the things this core could really do with is Stealth Rock support to maximize Barbaracle's sweeping chances, and ideally from a supporter that doesn't stack weaknesses with Barbaracle. Mesprit fits this bill perfectly, having excellent defensive synergy with both Barbaracle and Skuntank due to its Fighting-resistance and Levitate, as mentioned by Eternally. The main difference between this set and Eternally's is that it should act as a lead in the early game, or as a pivot in the midgame to exploit its coverage to take out checks that don't expect it. Psychic and Signal Beam are standard while Energy Ball breaks past bulky Water-types that can take on a boosted Barbaracle, such as Omastar and Quagsire.

 

[nv]

I was also going to submit Mesprit with a similar set, but with Stealth Rock over Calm Mind and Energy Ball over Grass Knot. Aside from the obvious defensive and offensive synergy, the core could also use Stealth Rock support to maximize Barbaracle's sweeping chances, and ideally from a supporter that doesn't stack weaknesses with Barbaracle. Mesprit fits this bill perfectly. Please let me know whether I can submit this as a seperate entry or whether I should just leave this as a discussion point of Eternally's set.

I believe this is enough to warrant a separate entry.
I really should put something about this in the OP.

 

[Louna]

Swellow @ Choice Specs
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Boomburst
- Heat Wave
- U-turn
- Sleep Talk

This core need to wear down Sceptile, Rotom and physical walls such as quagsire. Swellow is a pretty cool partner due to his high speed who help a lot the core to deal with faster things such as tauros, floatzel or archeops as it let us the choice to keep skuntank alive without take the risk to loose a 50/50 w/ sucker punch to memento more easily later. Also, with Swellow's ability to take the momentum pretty easily w/ u-turn, it can help a lot the core with sending more easily skuntank to memento for barbaracle.

 

[Pokedots]

Sawk @ Expert Belt / Lum Berry
Ability: Sturdy / Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Zen Headbutt / Earthquake
- Taunt

Barbaracle wants stuff like Garbodor, Vileplume, and Gourgeist-XL, all of which Sawk can at least severely weaken with its coverage, and Gourgeist especially it can now actually beat because of Taunt stopping Systhesis and Will-O-Wisp. Band set works perfectly well with these two, as well

 

[Rapture]

Sceptile @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Giga Drain
- Rock Slide
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Focus Blast
Mixed Sceptile pairs well with Barbaracle and Skuntank like it does with most mons in the tier. The main thing Sceptile brings to the table here is that it does a stellar job of handling most of the physically bulky walls in the tier like Steelix and Rhydon that Skunktank has some trouble breaking through by itself. A mostly uncontested speed tier also means it's great at weakening teams to the point where Barbaracle can sweep unhindered. Another positive is Barbaracle can get a few setup opportunities off of choice locked Pokemon that revenge Sceptile, think of your Swellow locked into Boomburst, choice locked fire types like Pyroar and Charizard, etc.

 

[nv]

Thanks to NotNova230 and allstar124 this week for helping choose the winners. This week's winner for threat goes to boltsandbombers and their Shiftry while the win for partner goes to ~Eternally and their CM Mesprit. Congratulations! :) (Déjà vu anyone?)

This week's core is one that I posted over in the Good Cores thread...

+

Sets + Brief Description

Steelix @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 244 HP / 180 Atk / 84 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic

Sliggoo @ Eviolite
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 72 SpD
Careful Nature
- Curse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Outrage

Steelix, even uninvested, has amazing physical bulk which means it can make use of its other stats fairly easily. Sliggoo takes on many common special attackers such as Magmortar, Charizard, and Sceptile that can cripple or OHKO Steelix. It not only has Sap Sipper to completely wall Sceptile, but its typing and special bulk allows it to resist Water- and Fire-type attacks aimed at Steelix.

The threat nomination period will end on Tuesday. You may now post threats to this core.

 

[Abejas]

reserving aurorus

Aurorus @ Choice Specs
Ability: Refrigerate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Earth Power
- Psychic
- Freeze-Dry
Just look at that cute little snowy dinosaur. Anyway Aurorus is a huge threat to this core since it has the abilty to OHKO both of this mons after rocks or at least very close to OHKO. Pretty cool mon and I think it deserves more love.

Calcs

252+ SpA Choice Specs Refrigerate Aurorus Hyper Voice vs. 244 HP / 128 SpD Steelix: 310-366 (88 - 103.9%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ SpA Choice Specs Refrigerate Aurorus Hyper Voice vs. 252 HP / 72+ SpD Eviolite Sliggoo: 270-318 (79.4 - 93.5%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

 

[carcy]

Abomasnow @ Life Orb
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Mild Nature
- Blizzard
- Giga Drain
- Focus Blast
- Ice Shard

Special Ice types are the bane of this core, and Abomasnow isn't an exception. Blizzard 2HKOes both members of the core, while Focus Blast OHKOes Steelix after Stealth Rock, and if Steelix is weakened, it can even use it to regain health with Giga Drain, especially because Sliggoo fears getting hit by Blizzard. Also, hail negates Steelix' only form of recovery and adds chip damage on Sliggoo.

 

[etern]

Lapras @ Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SpA / 216 Spe
Modest Nature
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Surf
- Freeze-Dry

Lix/Sliggo is a really solid defensive core that walls a significant portion of the meta. However, Specs Lapras is able to cleanly 2HKO both members of the core simply by pressing Ice Beam. Nothing much else to add, but its worth noting that Lapras has enough bulk to take a hit from both Steelix and Sliggoo and still be healthy enough to not be death fodder.

Calcs

252+ SpA Choice Specs Lapras Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 72+ SpD Eviolite Sliggoo: 186-222 (54.7 - 65.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Lapras Ice Beam vs. 244 HP / 84 SpD Steelix: 229-270 (65 - 76.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
180+ Atk Steelix Earthquake vs. 92 HP / 0 Def Lapras: 153-180 (36 - 42.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 Atk Sliggoo Outrage vs. 40 HP / 0 Def Lapras: 123-145 (29.9 - 35.2%) -- 24.5% chance to 3HKO