Breaking Defensive Cores in Monotype
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Art by DatHeatmor.
Introduction
Defensive cores in Monotype have risen in popularity, as they are capable of taking a lot of the metagame on and they allow offensive Pokemon to have solid sponges to fall back on. When building a team in Monotype, you might often forgo a Pokemon that is valuable in usage-based tiers, as their secondary typing might make it less valuable. Staraptor's neutrality to Fighting provides Normal teams with useful defensive utility, but it adds nothing to Flying teams that can't already be covered by another teammate, as between each other Mantine, Celesteela, Gliscor, and Landorus-T already cover all of Flying's weaknesses. Overall, a Pokemon's secondary typing, what niches a Pokemon's typing provides, its coverage, and more applies to building, especially with Monotype and its defensive cores.
Standard Defensive Cores
(Porygon2 & Chansey & Staraptor)
Normal-type
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The defensive core of Porygon2 + Chansey + Staraptor is important on all balanced Normal teams simply because it walls such a large portion of the metagame while providing amazing support for the rest of the team. For example, this core has the potential to wall types like Bug, Electric, and Ice and simultaneously grant invaluable team support for the offensive core through Toxic, paralysis, slow pivoting, the ability to consistently switch into revenge killers, and Stealth Rock. The core synergizes very well defensively, with Chansey soaking up special attacks from threatening attackers like Tapu Koko and Greninja with Porygon2 acting as its physically defensive counterpart, switching in and checking massive threats like Mega Scizor. Staraptor acts as the answer to Fighting-types, checking threatening Pokemon like Breloom and Choice Scarf Heracross while providing Defog support to prevent the core from being easily chipped by entry hazards like Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes. This core has many potential other options that can help improve its matchup against certain threats: Staraptor can run Close Combat over U-turn to let it take care of Pokemon like Bisharp and Tyranitar, Chansey can run Counter to beat Pokemon like Choice Scarf Heracross and Choice Scarf Terrakion, and Porygon2 can opt for a set with Trace and a moveset of Thunder Wave (or Toxic) / Foul Play / Ice Beam / Recover. Porygon2 can also run some Special Attack investment with Thunderbolt to prevent Toxapex from switching into it reliably, making the matchup against Water and Poison teams much easier.
(Mantine & Swampert & Toxapex)
Water-type
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Mantine + Swampert + Toxapex is a fantastic core that can wall large portions of the tier with relative ease, with Tapu Bulu and Tapu Koko, two Pokemon that should be able to fairly easily threaten Water teams, being examples. Thanks to Swampert's immunity to Electric-type coverage, it can easily switch in on Tapu Koko, while Toxapex can set Toxic Spikes and act as a Tapu Bulu switch-in due to its neutrality to Grass-type attacks. Swampert also now opts to run Rest, as it can successfully take on threats such as Zeraora for the team. Mantine is the core's Defogger, provides an immunity to Ground-type attacks, and is a fantastic specially defensive sponge that can switch into many special attackers such as Latios and Volcarona. Baneful Bunker on Toxapex allows it to recover HP with Black Sludge, scout Choice-locked Pokemon such as Choice Band Diggersby, and wear down the opposing Pokemon with Toxic Spikes. However, offensive setup sweepers such as Diggersby can take advantage of this by using Swords Dance, which allows it to break the defensive core. Swampert forms the hazard setting core with Toxapex with Stealth Rock, chipping Pokemon immediately on the switch, and it also shuffles Pokemon around with Roar, chipping them with Stealth Rock and potentially crippling them with Toxic Spikes set by Toxapex. Toxapex can run Toxic instead of Toxic Spikes to cripple Flying-types like Tornadus, but this means that it has to poison grounded foes itself, which is less efficient. Overall, between being a great hazard setting and removing core while also providing handy immunities such as to Ground- and Electric-type attacks and a neutrality to Grass-type coverage, this core can be frustrating to break for unprepared teams.
(Celesteela & Ferrothorn & Heatran)
Steel-type
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Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Heatran make up the defensive core on Steel teams, as Celesteela provides an immunity to Ground coverage and neutrality to Fighting coverage, Ferrothorn provides a resistance to Electric- and Water-type attacks, and Heatran is the cornerstone to any Steel team because of its Fire immunity. The former two provide Leech Seed support, mitigating their lack of reliable recovery and making them slightly less reliant on Leftovers + Protect. Ferrothorn can take on Water-types such as Mega Swampert with Power Whip and provide Steel teams with Spikes, allowing it to wear down opposing Pokemon more easily. Celesteela can check attackers such as Mega Gallade and Terrakion and retaliate with Heavy Slam, OHKOing both of them, although the latter needs to be slightly chipped. Heatran is also a necessary teammate for these two, as it provides an immunity to Fire-type attacks, which is invaluable to Steel teams and can't be replaced. It also provides Rock-type coverage in Stone Edge that allows Steel teams to handle threats such as Volcarona while its Air Balloon remains intact. Heatran can also trap other Pokemon such as Toxapex with Magma Storm and then use Taunt to prevent them from recovering HP. Celesteela can also opt to run Toxic to pressure other walls and attackers such as Mantine and Mega Lopunny even more.
Bulkier Defensive Cores for Semistall or Extremely Fat Balance
(Tyranitar & Mega Sableye & Mandibuzz & Alolan Muk)
Dark-type
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Although the defensive core on Dark struggles with core metagame threats like Mega Diancie, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Scizor, it still has the ability to check a large portion of the metagame. The core offers Stealth Rock, Defog, status, bulky setup support, and the ability to control the momentum game. Tyranitar, the Stealth Rock setter, demolishes a plethora of hazard removers such as Crobat, Mantine, and Staraptor, and it has the potential to cripple game-changing defensive threats with Toxic. Mandibuzz holds the entire core together, beating threats that the rest of the core falls flat against such as Mega Lopunny, Mega Scizor, and Belly Drum Azumarill. It also provides Defog support and can potentially stallbreak alongside Hydreigon. The Speed investment lets Mandibuzz outpace and KO even Jolly Azumarill after a Belly Drum, which is a huge threat to Dark teams. Mega Sableye has the potential to outright prevent the opponent from getting Stealth Rock up. It also has a part Ghost typing that helps it force prediction with threatening Choice-locked Fighting-types, notably Keldeo. Alolan Muk is a secondary check to special attackers thanks to its fantastic defensive typing, good 105 / 100 special bulk, and recovery in Iapapa Berry + Recycle. It can also quickly end games with Curse, especially when playing against types like Electric that don't have many physical attackers. Alolan Muk is also fantastic at flipping the matchup against Fairy teams, checking a plethora of attackers like Tapu Bulu early-game and sweeping with Curse late-game after weakening checks. The defensive core stops any offensive player looking to grab momentum with Choice-locked pivots like Greninja and Victini by scouting them with Protect. The core can generate momentum as well with U-turn Mandibuzz.
(Mantine & Zapdos & Celesteela & Gliscor)
Flying-type
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The defensive core commonly found on Flying teams is built around the idea of walling as many threats as possible while being able to use Defog against every single Stealth Rock user in the metagame barring a few select, somewhat obscure setters such as Taunt Cobalion and Thunderbolt + Ice Beam Nidoking. It also excels at covering threats for each other, unlike other balance types such as Normal and Water that typically lose to a few threats like Mega Scizor and Substitute + Swords Dance Tapu Bulu. Conversely, balanced Flying teams are fantastic at covering weaknesses for each other. For example, Mantine can check Volcarona for Celesteela, Tornadus-T can check Keldeo for the core, Gliscor checks Bisharp, and it also has potential Pursuit support from Mega Aerodactyl that removes specific threats like Choice Band Victini. Given that Stealth Rock hasn't been put up, even Taunt Pokemon can be exploited and beat with aggressive switching to faster, more offensive teammates that are capable of OHKOing it such as Supersonic Skystrike Tornadus-T and Choice Scarf Landorus-T. The core also has an extremely good matchup against opposing balance types that rely on Toxic to win longer games thanks to two resilient Toxic immunities in Celesteela and Gliscor. It also has the option to run other tools like Taunt Gliscor to help against balance teams. These Pokemon also have the potential to beat even the scariest of wallbreakers such as Kyurem-B and Swords Dance Bisharp. Gliscor can outpace Bisharp and is capable of tanking a boosted Sucker Punch, while a creative option in Thunder Wave Zapdos can beat Kyurem-B in a one-on-one situation. The core is not only great against opposing balance types such as Steel, but also has a good matchup against offensive types such as Bug and Fighting, being able to wall these types at Team Preview or after one, maybe two, threats have been handled. Other sets, notably SubToxic Zapdos, are great to interchange in this core to improve your matchup against opposing balance types such as Water, but know that you'll need to adjust the team accordingly. For example, you'll need to always run Taunt Gliscor with SubToxic Zapdos so that the Steel matchup doesn't suffer too heavily.
Defensive Cores That Bulky Offensive Teams Rely on
(Hippowdon & Gastrodon)
Ground-type
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Hippowdon + Gastrodon is a great defensive core on Ground teams, being able to take on a wide variety of the metagame. Hippowdon is a great physical wall that is capable of taking on a variety of physical attackers such as Victini, Dragonite, and Mimikyu while also slowly wearing down foes with the chip damage from sand. Hippowdon is also capable of phazing setup sweepers such as Mega Altaria and Mega Scizor with Whirlwind, which prevents them from overwhelming it. Gastrodon can take on Pokemon that Hippowdon struggles with, such as Keldeo, while also being able to switch into Water-type attacks for Hippowdon. Gastrodon provides Toxic support for Ground teams, allowing it to put threats such as Greninja on a timer. Mega Steelix is another defensive option that helps the team take on Dragon- and Fairy teams, which can otherwise be a nuisance for Ground, and it is an underrated defensive threat that most teams are not prepared for. Mega Steelix helps tremendously in the Fairy matchup specifically, as it can beat both Tapu Bulu and Azumarill, even after the latter has used Belly Drum if Mega Steelix has used Curse.
Stallbreakers
[FLYING: Gliscor]
- Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
- Ability: Poison Heal
- EVs: 244 HP / 12 Def / 196 SpD / 56 Spe
- Jolly Nature
- - Roost
- - Taunt
- - Earthquake
- - Stealth Rock
Taunt Gliscor notably outright beats a lot of common Steel teams thanks to its ability to outpace and break walls such as Skarmory and Ferrothorn and defeat many offensive Pokemon like Mega Scizor and Bisharp in a one-on-one situation. It's also amazing at preventing Stealth Rock from going up, as it is able to beat a number of Stealth Rock users such as Clefable, Tyranitar, and Chansey. Toxic Orb and Poison Heal let it act as a status absorber, and running Toxic over Taunt on some teams lets it cripple a plethora of walls like Swampert and Zapdos.
[PSYCHIC: Mew]
- Mew @ Leftovers
- Ability: Synchronize
- EVs: 252 HP / 176 SpD / 80 Spe
- Jolly Nature
- - Will-O-Wisp
- - Knock Off
- - Taunt
- - Soft-Boiled
This Mew set is found on balanced Psychic teams and is a phenomenal stallbreaker that can almost take on Normal's defensive core by itself. With Knock Off, it can cripple walls such as Porygon2, Chansey, and Ferrothorn by removing their item, which decreases the former two's bulk and prevents the latter from recovering. Then, it can prevent them from using their recovery moves, allowing it to easily wear them down with Knock Off in tandem with the burn from Will-O-Wisp. Due to Mew's great natural bulk and access to Soft-Boiled, it can easily shrug off weak attacks from walls and render them almost useless. Defensive cores such as Porygon2 + Chansey + Staraptor rely on their teammates such as Porygon-Z to take care of Mew, due to their inability to wear it down.
[DARK: Hydreigon]
- Hydreigon @ Dragonium Z
- Ability: Levitate
- EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
- Timid Nature
- IVs: 0 Atk
- - Roost
- - Taunt
- - Dark Pulse
- - Draco Meteor
Hydreigon is a fantastic stallbreaker thanks to Taunt + Roost letting it simply outlast a number of walls such as Mantine and Ferrothorn while simultaneously preventing any utility moves they might use, notably hazards and Defog. Its amazing offensive typing and strong Special Attack limit offensive switch-ins, and its useful ability in Levitate lets it force prediction with strong wallbreakers like Nidoking. Dragonium Z is the preferred item, as it can be used to nuke walls Hydreigon checks with Taunt without wearing it down like Life Orb would. However, an item like Dread Plate can give it the same resilience that Dragonium Z does.
[STEEL: Heatran]
- Heatran @ Air Balloon
- Ability: Flash Fire
- EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
- Timid Nature
- - Magma Storm
- - Earth Power
- - Taunt
- - Stone Edge
Heatran's role as a trapper is invaluable for Steel teams in Monotype, with the ability to trap some of its most annoying checks in Toxapex and Chansey with Magma Storm and either prevent the use of recovery moves with Taunt or put them on a timer with Toxic, which in tandem with Magma Storm makes wearing them down easier. Earth Power allows Heatran to beat down Pokemon such as Toxapex more easily. Toxic allows Heatran to chip down defensive Pokemon such as Porygon2, in tandem with Magma Storm's ability to trap Pokemon and Taunt's ability to prevent Pokemon from recovering off damage. This makes Heatran very hard for walls to break down. Heatran can also run Leftovers instead of Air Balloon to allow it to stallbreak more easily due to not being as prone to chip damage, but this means it will lose out on its Ground immunity.
Wallbreakers
[DRAGON: Kyurem-B]
- Kyurem-Black @ Life Orb
- Ability: Teravolt
- EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Naive Nature
- - Ice Beam
- - Fusion Bolt
- - Earth Power
- - Roost
Kyurem-B is an extremely potent wallbreaker that severely threatens a multitude of types like Poison, Flying, Water, and Electric at Team Preview. Other types like Dark, Grass, and Ground struggle greatly as well, almost always being forced to sacrifice something every time it comes on the field. Although Teravolt isn't that notable, it lets Kyurem-B break through walls like Rotom-W that would otherwise be able to cripple it with Will-O-Wisp. Roost gives it longevity that helps mitigate the Stealth Rock weakness and can prevent some revenge killers like Greninja from eliminating it thanks to its great 125 / 100 / 120 defensive stats.
[PSYCHIC: Victini]
- Victini @ Choice Band
- Ability: Victory Star
- EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
- Jolly Nature
- - V-create
- - Bolt Strike
- - Brick Break
- - U-turn
Choice Band Victini is an incredible wallbreaker that has virtually no switch-ins thanks to V-create. Choice Band Victini can 2HKO all Pokemon on the common Flying- and Normal-type defensive cores with V-create, leaving almost no switch-ins. In order to prevent Victini from picking up a few KOs each game, trends such as Pursuit Mega Aerodactyl are now common on balanced Flying teams. In addition, Victini can break Pokemon that resist V-Create such as Toxapex with Bolt Strike and can cripple Heatran, a common switch-in to this fiery behemoth for Steel teams, with Brick Break. Finally, U-turn helps it pick up momentum. Choice Band Victini is a potent Pokemon that really only a few Pokemon in physically defensive Swampert and Gastrodon wall. However, it can further cripple other walls by running Trick.
[GROUND: Landorus]
- Landorus @ Life Orb
- Ability: Sheer Force
- EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
- Timid Nature
- - Earth Power
- - Focus Blast
- - Sludge Wave
- - Gravity
Landorus's access to Sheer Force and a plethora of coverage moves make it a defining force in Monotype. Gravity allows it to dismantle defensive Pokemon such as Celesteela and Zapdos that would otherwise wall it. Gravity also supports teammates like Choice Band Sand Rush Excadrill and Swords Dance Garchomp, as they both appreciate its ability to remove Ground immunities allowing them to easily spam their Ground-type STAB move. Regardless, it still stands as a massive threat to defensive cores with its raw power, and its moveset can be tailored to dismantle certain defensive cores or types.
Setup Sweepers
[FAIRY: Substitute + Swords Dance Tapu Bulu]
- Tapu Bulu @ Life Orb
- Ability: Grassy Surge
- EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Adamant Nature
- - Horn Leech
- - Substitute
- - Swords Dance
- - Zen Headbutt
Because of its access to Swords Dance and Grassy Terrain, Tapu Bulu's Horn Leech becomes an incredibly powerful STAB attack that can even OHKO the likes of Toxapex at +2 in tandem with Life Orb. With Substitute, Tapu Bulu can avoid being copied by Ditto, render defensive Pokemon near useless, and avoid status moves such as Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, and Toxic that would severely hinder its ability to wallbreak. Zen Headbutt allows Tapu Bulu to take on threats such as Mega Venusaur, which would otherwise wall it. Overall, this set is very hard to break for fatter teams because Substitute prevents them from crippling Tapu Bulu and Swords Dance makes it very easy to break past their defenses, leaving them to rely on their offensive teammates to take on Tapu Bulu.
[PSYCHIC: Mega Gallade]
- Gallade @ Galladite
- Ability: Justified
- EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Jolly Nature
- - Swords Dance
- - Close Combat
- - Zen Headbutt
- - Knock Off
Mega Gallade poses a massive threat to defensive cores thanks to its fantastic offensive typing and access to Swords Dance. After one boost, it has the potential to outright beat defensive cores on types like Flying and Water. It also threatens offensive teams by virtue of its blazing fast Speed stat and very workable Special Defense that lets it beat threats one-on-one. Mega Gallade also has creative options, notably Substitute, which allows it to prevent counterplay such as Scald from Water-types like Toxapex and Mantine and gives it extra KOs against players sacrificing slower teammates to revenge kill it.
[NORMAL: Mega Lopunny]
- Lopunny @ Lopunnite
- Ability: Limber
- EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
- Jolly Nature
- - Return
- - High Jump Kick
- - Power-Up Punch
- - Encore
Mega Lopunny is great at disrupting defensive cores by switching in on a foe using a recovery move and locking them into the move with Encore. This allows Mega Lopunny to boost its attack easily with Power-Up Punch, turning it into a fearsome wallbreaker. Mega Lopunny can also take advantage of Encore by using it to just weaken the walls immediately with its powerful attacks, and it does not have to fear Ghost-type switch-ins thanks to Scrappy allowing it to freely use High Jump Kick against them. However, Mega Lopunny needs to be careful of when it executes Encore and tries to switch in against Pokemon such as Toxapex and Chansey, which can burn it with Scald and badly poison it with Toxic, respectively.
Get out there!
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