Other Good Cores

[Mr Mixed Breed]

Trevenant + Heatran + Rotom-W is a very good FWG core on a stall team that I have been using, and it is very successful; basically, these pokemon cover all of each other's weaknesses extremely efficiently. Heatran and rotom-w cover Talonflame, which trevenant can obviously cannot handle. Trevenant handles the odd Celebi that switches in on rotom-w, by setting up a substitute on it and 2HKOing with shadow claw, its substitute intact in the process. It can then set up Leech Seed on the pokemon that comes in after celebi. Both trevanant and heatran can handle any bulky grass types that dare stand in rotom's way. Trevenant and rotom-w can handle ground types, which heatran gets raped by. Trevenant and rotom both resist water, which heatran is weak to. Trevenant is immune to fighting, which heatran is weak to, and rotom can set up will-o-wisp on most fighting types (aside from Blaziken, certain guts pokemon, and the irrelevant Infernape), and can kill blaziken, a pokemon that both trev and heatran have trouble with. The rotom's set is physically defensive with volt switch, hydro pump, rest, and will-o-wisp. This is a chestorest set that is quite annoying for stall that relies on Toxic to wear down rotom. Heatran is standard, with roar/lavaplume/protect/stealth rock. Not much to say here, other than that it contributes a lot to this core, but I've already aforementioned its uses. Trevenant is a fantastically underrated subseed set with substitute, leech seed, shadow claw, and will-o-wisp. Trevenant walls a lot of pokemon, and can set up substitute on a lot of things. All in all, this core is very successful and very good on stall, in my experience.

Using a Gourgiest(huge) would be better suited than Trevenant to this role, it has similar special bulk to Trevenant, but it can sponge physical hits much better than Trevenant can, then proceed to cripple physical attackers with WoW, it also has a better support movepool than trevenant.

 

[Antarctic Termite]

Using a Gourgiest(huge) would be better suited than Trevenant to this role, it has similar special bulk to Trevenant, but it can sponge physical hits much better than Trevenant can, then proceed to cripple physical attackers with WoW, it also has a better support movepool than trevenant.

Trevenant, as far as I know, also gets Will-o-Wisp, and has access to Harvest. Gourgeists's physical bulk still gives it a noteworthy niche over Trevenant, but Trevenant is still very much worth considering, especially with that nice Attack and a somewhat better Special Defense. I guess it would depend on how well it fits with the rest of your team.

I'm not much of a team builder (literally my first post), but drapion and weezing are both immune the only weakness of the other. Feel free to suggest a completely different setup with these 2 pokes, any decent person's advice would be greatly appreciated.

Drapion@Black Sludge
Battle Armor:Careful
248 Hp 244 SpD 16 Def
- Crunch
- Posion Jab
- Whirlwind
- Taunt

Special Bulk and Phaze, with STABs

Weezing@Black Sludge
Levitate:Bold
252 Hp 252 Def 4 SpD
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower
- Will 'o Wisp
- Pain Split

Physical Bulk with Pain Split

I popped up in this thread to post something very similar.

Drapion@Assault Vest
Sniper:Careful / Adamant / Impish
[Any specially bulky or bulky attacking spread]
- Crunch / Night Slash
- Poison Jab / Cross Poison
- Earthquake
- Aqua Tail / Pursuit / Brick Break

Gengar@Black Sludge
Levitate:Modest / Timid
4 Hp 252 SpA 252 Spe
- Substitute
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Focus Blast / Disable

I think both of these cores, or a combination of the two, are going to see use, and mono-Poison is even better now. The Drapion/Gengar core is completely and utterly untested either in Wi-Fi or Showdown, though, so it probably has some dangerous flaws I'm missing. You can swap around Assault Vest Drapion for a support Drapion with Toxic Spikes and Whirlwind or Toxic and another move to give Gengar a doubled Venoshock and Hex and mandatory Focus Blast, but it sounds pretty risky. Anyway, I'm feeling really good about Drapion this generation. ^_^

 

[escarlata]

Regenerator makes Tangrowth and Slowbro a pain in the ass to kill when equipped with an Assault Vest, combine that with a bulky Fire like Rotom-H or Heatran and this suddenly becomes a very solid FGW defensive core to deal with, especially when each of them is also able to hit back rather hard.

 

[Boser]

Regenerator makes Tangrowth and Slowbro a pain in the ass to kill when equipped with an Assault Vest, combine that with a bulky Fire like Rotom-H or Heatran and this suddenly becomes a very solid FGW defensive core to deal with, especially when each of them is also able to hit back rather hard.

You just gave me a really good thing to try in a team I been working on :). Assualt vest really is a game changing item. I might even try putting some special bulk into a mienshao just to see if it becomes able to take a special hit. Between Drain Punch, Regen, U-Turn there is a lot of utility. Just wonder if it will be enough for him.

 

[Ballofire]

Garchomp @ Garchompite
Rough Skin / Sand Force
Jolly, 252 ATK, 252 Spd, 4 Hp
-Swords Dance
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Iron Head

Talonflame @ Life Orb/Leftovers
Gale Wings
Adamant, 180 HP, 252 ATK, 72 Spd
-Swords Dance
-Brave Bird
-Flare Blitz
-Roost

Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Levitate
Calm, 252 HO, 72 Def, 196 Sdef
Volt Switch
Hydro Pump
Wilowisp
Sleep Talk/Rest/Thunderbolt

Using this offensive core ATM it's backed up by a Klefki and a Smeargle lead with sticky web support. Also using mold breaker excadrill as a spinner works fantastic with talonflame.

 

[escarlata]

Garchomp @ Garchompite
Rough Skin / Sand Force
Jolly, 252 ATK, 252 Spd, 4 Hp
-Swords Dance
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Iron Head

Talonflame @ Life Orb/Leftovers
Gale Wings
Adamant, 180 HP, 252 ATK, 72 Spd
-Swords Dance
-Brave Bird
-Flare Blitz
-Roost

Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Levitate
Calm, 252 HO, 72 Def, 196 Sdef
Volt Switch
Hydro Pump
Wilowisp
Sleep Talk/Rest/Thunderbolt

Using this offensive core ATM it's backed up by a Klefki and a Smeargle lead with sticky web support. Also using mold breaker excadrill as a spinner works fantastic with talonflame.

I think Tailwind is a better option over Roost on Talonflame, especially since it can patch up M-Chomp's mediocre speed stat. Tbh I never actually ever got a single opportunity to ever use Roost because it simple still lacks the necessary bulk.

 

[Ballofire]

I think Tailwind is a better option over Roost on Talonflame, especially since it can patch up M-Chomp's mediocre speed stat. Tbh I never actually ever got a single opportunity to ever use Roost because it simple still lacks the necessary bulk.

On the contrary I had the exact opposite experience lol. I've found I could roost up a lot in certain things faces when I knew they'd switch where a swords dance wouldn't be very advantageous i.e early game etc. I used to use tailwind though before talon would go down but I found by them garchomp was already faster than the remaining mons or sticky web would patch it up sometimes. However it's tough sometimes due to no spin blocker, I used to use trevenant though but I don't wanna loser spin support :(

 

[escarlata]

On the contrary I had the exact opposite experience lol. I've found I could roost up a lot in certain things faces when I knew they'd switch where a swords dance wouldn't be very advantageous i.e early game etc. I used to use tailwind though before talon would go down but I found by them garchomp was already faster than the remaining mons or sticky web would patch it up sometimes. However it's tough sometimes due to no spin blocker, I used to use trevenant though but I don't wanna loser spin support :(

this means that the choice between tailwind and roost on its last slot is purely dependent on whether you want early game viability or late game utility. if you had sand support i would definitely recommend tailwind though. I dont know about you, but what i find is that priority tailwind is always useful as a good backup against boosting sweepers which talonflame cannot ko outright

 

[redmest]

Hey i was thinking of this core:

Venusaur(venusaurite)
Overgrow
modest 252 hp 252 SpAtk
giga drain
leach seed
sludge bomb
sleep powder

Greninja(expert belt)
protean
Jolly 252 Atk 252 Spd
aerial ace
waterfall
nightslash
U-turn

Volcarona
flame body
timid 252 SpAtk 252 Spd
quiver dance
fiery dance
bug buzz
roost

So far with greninja and venusaur fully trained I've been rather successful with those 2 leading for doubles and in singles i lead with greninja, I'm looking to tweak or alter my core however so opinions are welcome. I love venusaur as it's my fave starter, so I'd like to build around him.

 

[Flan76]

Using a Gourgiest(huge) would be better suited than Trevenant to this role, it has similar special bulk to Trevenant, but it can sponge physical hits much better than Trevenant can, then proceed to cripple physical attackers with WoW, it also has a better support movepool than trevenant.

Trevenant is better than Gourgeist imo. It has Harvest and leech seed, plus has more damage output and more longevity thanks to a sitrus berry. I'm pretty sure gourgeist doesn't learn shadow claw, but trevenant does.

I'm completely new to the battle scene and getting my butt kicked so far in the rating system.

Been running Rotom-w, Choiceband scizor, and megaMawile

The weakness to ground/fire, even with rotom who at best can take 2-3 hits and practically dish no damage back, is kicking my tail hard =(

Taking scizor out for Heatran would make you share even more weaknesses than these pokemon already do. An Excadrill with mold breaker can rip apart this core assuming that it has an SD. i would take out mega mawile for something else, maybe gliscor with Defog. gliscor can kill most fire types with an earthquake, and scizor and rotom resist ice. Furthermore, it can easily take on Excadrill

 

[TheUltimateStorm]

Alright, I suppose I should get this out of the way. Keep in mind it's been awhile since I've played competitively. Anyway, I'm trying to make a FWG Core using Mega Charizard X, and here's what I've got so far.

Charizard @ Charizardite X
Adamant, 252 Atk EV's, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Outrage
Flare Blitz
Dragon Dance
Earthquake
The gist of the set is simple. Provided Rocks aren't up, try to get a Dragon Dance up and Watch things die if you succeed in doing so.

Starmie Leftovers
Natural Cure, Modest
252 Sp. Atk, 252 Speed, 4 Sp. Defense
Surf,
Ice Beam
Thunderbolt
Rapid Spin
Standard Starmie Set, though I'm debating about whether or not swapping Starmie for Tentacruel. You come in, Spin the hazards out, get some damage in with the Bolt Beam combo, and switch out if things get too dicey.
As for a Grass member, this is what I'm having the most trouble with. Some random thoughts would be Breloom to Spore opposing Mega Mawile so I dont have to worry about getting Sucker Punched, so the set would look something like this:

Breloom @ Life Orb
Technician, 252 Attack EVs, 252 Speed, 4 HP, Adamant Nature
Spore
Mach Punch
Bullet Seed
Rock Tomb

Your run of the mill Breloom set, only without Low Kick/Sweep since they've been pushed over Technician's limit, instead opting for Rock Tomb for it's similiar Speed lowering effect while not having to rely on Stone Miss for Rock Coverage. Admittingly, Grass is the type I'm having the most trouble with when it comes to finishing my FWG Core, and I also ask whether Tentacruel is a better option then Starmie for this core. Oh and try to refrain from suggesting Pokemon not in XY, as I don't have access to them, since X is the only Pokemon game I have right now.

 

[Bravadorado]

Been considering something along the lines of this.

Empoleon@Leftovers
Torrent
Calm, 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 SpA
- Scald
- Stealth Rock
- Defog
- Icebeam/Roar

Charizard@Charizadite Y
Drought
Timid/Modest, 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4HP
- Fire Blast
- Focus Blast
- Solar Beam/Dragon Pulse
- Air Slash/Roost/Tailwind

Tyrantrum@Life Orb
Rock Head
Jolly, 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
- Head Smash
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Dance

Okay so, lets break it down. Yzard covers all of Tyrantrum's weaknesses except Dragon, which Empoleon covers for both of them. Empoleon covers all of Yzard's weaknesses except Electric, which Tyrantrum covers for both of them. Also keep in mind that Tyrantrum outspeeds and 2HKO's AV Tyranitar (One of the biggest threats to Yzard) without any boosts, with a single DD it OHKO's AV Tyranitar with Head Smash. Then it can stay in and enjoy the boost from Sandstorm.

Maybe throw in Zapdos for a more reliable Defensive wall:

Zapdos@Leftovers
Pressure (Until Lightning Rod)
Bold, 248 HP / 236 Def / 24 Spe
- Discharge
- Roost
- Heatwave
- Tailwind/Roar/Toxic/Defog

Now Zapdos can tank Fighting and Steel moves that might harm Yzard due to its mediocre defense. It can also set up Tailwind which both Tyrantrum and Yzard benefit from greatly.

I'm also considering putting Avalugg in place of Empoleon and making Zapdos Specially defensive, the walling and recovery is better, but I lose SR and key resistances. Other pokemon I'm considering putting in this team are Scizor and Nidoking.

Thoughts?

 

[WhiteStag98]

I'm trying out a gyarados/excadrill core, since excadrill is no longer banned. They cover each other's weaknesses perfectly and with a bit of set up (sand for excadrill and dragon dance for gyardos) they will completely wreck your whole team.

 

[Goldenratt]

I've been using this
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 176 Atk / 252 HP / 80 SDef
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Thunder Wave
- Spikes

Setup to 100% OHKO 252hp/0Def Rotom-W. Spikes support and TWave to help Togekiss's hax.

Gyarados @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 88 HP / 248 Atk / 172 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Taunt
- Waterfall
- Earthquake

Standard bulky Gyarados. I built it around him because he's one of my favorite pokemon. I don't use him Mega as there's another one on my team.

Togekiss @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Serious Nature
- Air Slash
- Defog
- Dazzling Gleam
- Roost

It seems as very few people have more than one answer to Togekiss. Once that's removed it has free reign to just sit there and hax people to death.

I'm also running a sash Dugtrio on the team to help with electric types. It also checks mega-Gengar.

 

[DinaIsha]

1. Galvantula - The Pawn

Galvantula (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Compound Eyes
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Sticky Web
- Thunder
- Bug Buzz
- Thunder Wave

The Key here is to set up Sticky Web while paralyzing the opponent. If the opponent hasn't taken you out yet, just spam Thunder or Bug Buzz until you die.

2. Espeon - The Soldier

Espeon (M) @ Light Clay
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 Spd / 4 SAtk / 252 HP
Timid Nature
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Psyshock
- Dazzling Gleam

With Sticky Web is place, Espeon can almost always set up both Screens. Coverage moves could be Psyshock and Dazzling Gleam. I always go for Bulk, since setting up screens is important, so the attack really don't matter that much. Of course, Magic Bounce is a handy ability with correct prediction (Having no hazards on your side also makes this easier).

3. Salamence - The King

Salamence (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Fire Fang

Once the screens and sticky web is in place, Salamence can proceed to sweep with Moxie and Dragon Dance. It struggles initially with bulky mons, but you need to plan your switch so as to prevent this (Switching into something like a Gliscor is a very bad idea).

4. Aegislash - The General

Aegislash (M) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- King's Shield
- Sacred Sword
- Shadow Sneak

If and only if Salamence goes down, Aegislash comes into action. With accurate prediction, Aegislash can take out weakened foes easily. As always, Fighting and Ghost has impeccable coverage. If you go up against, for instance a dark type, you can always take whatever they throw at you with 150 defenses and dish back with Sacred Sword. The rest should be easily taken out with Shadow Sneak and King' Shield prediction. While the 4 EVs in Speed may seem odd, it is crucial to outspeed the opponent's Aegislash, should you ever face one.

The rest two could be chosen according to coverage needs. Scolipede and Barbaracle seem to be good choices, that is if Scolipede stays in OU. It probably will because it isn't as powerful as Blaziken, and also as Talonflame is a good counter to it (Barbaracle counters Talonflame except for the odd Will-O-Wisp).

 

[Typhlito]

heres what I came up with for pokebank. (brief explaination)

-Landorus
It hits pretty much everything and its ground/flying typing is very nice defensively. Kills ferros, excadrills, aegislashs, you name it, it probably puts a huge dent in. Its immune to eq and electric types and takes little damage from fighting moves which is troublesome for heliolisk.

-Heliolisk
Its dry skin and electric typing and good stats makes it a very good pokemon to put besides lando. It absorbs all water moves including the infamous azumaril aqua jet, while being immune to gengar shadow balls which who destroy lando while nailing pokemon with a tbolt, hp ice, and surf.

-Azumaril
Even though heliolisk can stop water moves and tank 1-2 talonflame brave birds, its still not vey bulky so thats where azumaril comes in. It can take ice moves with ease and protects the team from dragon spam just with its presence and aqua jet/play rough everything while having super power to play mind games with a kings shield aegilshield.

and there you have it. A nice core with the other 3 pokemon sweeping and supporting along side them.

 

[escarlata]

3. Salamence - The King

Salamence (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Fire Fang

Once the screens and sticky web is in place, Salamence can proceed to sweep with Moxie and Dragon Dance. It struggles initially with bulky mons, but you need to plan your switch so as to prevent this (Switching into something like a Gliscor is a very bad idea).

I cannot comprehend the use of Fire Fang over Fire Blast. Even with an Adamant Nature, Fire Blast still KOs Ferrothorn and Skarm more reliably. Togekiss screw the entire team over, so maybe running Iron Head over Swords Dance on Aegislash and Leftovers over Air Balloon could be a good choice to take it on.

 

[BLKwho]

^^^^ yes to that whole post

 

[BLKwho]

Been thinking about a bulky offensive core with an old favorite, another with a new leash on life and a new guy I have been enjoying. Thoughts and other 3 slot advice appreciated:

- Multiscale Dragonite: DD/Roost/EQ/ Dragon Claw
- Aegislash with usual set
- Mega Blastoise with Dark Pulse and Rapid Spin

They cover eathother's weaknesses very well. M.Blastoise is proving amazing at killing spinblockers. Almost always wins out against M.Gengar and Aegislash with Dark Pulse. Dragonite likes SR removed from spinning. Good predictions can lead to easy set up turns for Aegis & Dragonite.

I am worried that Dragonite will get completely walled by Togekiss with this set, what moves could he have instead?

What do people think? What goes with these guys?

Steel wing instead of eq or roost unless you feel you need it imo. SW hits hard an is great coverage against fairies

 

[Mr Mixed Breed]

Trevenant is better than Gourgeist imo. It has Harvest and leech seed, plus has more damage output and more longevity thanks to a sitrus berry. I'm pretty sure gourgeist doesn't learn shadow claw, but trevenant does.



Taking scizor out for Heatran would make you share even more weaknesses than these pokemon already do. An Excadrill with mold breaker can rip apart this core assuming that it has an SD. i would take out mega mawile for something else, maybe gliscor with Defog. gliscor can kill most fire types with an earthquake, and scizor and rotom resist ice. Furthermore, it can easily take on Excadrill

I would not say Trevenant outclasses Gourgiest, althought Trevenant has a much better offensive presence than Gourgiest. Gourgiest has much better physical bulk, it can be a great physical wall being able to check Excadrill, Scizor, Mamoswine,Garchomp, Terrakion by crippling them WoW, it's much harder for Trevenat do to this becuase of it's average physical bulk.

Gourgiest can also use it's small form, it has a good base speed of 99, being to pull of a very succesful subseeding set, having the ability to outpace slower offensive threats and crippling them with WoW and then proceed to begin the Subseeding process to stall them do death.

 

[Rofl Pwny]

With the official OU tier list out, it seems that Blaziken is back in OU. What are some cores that work well with him?

 

[DinaIsha]

I cannot comprehend the use of Fire Fang over Fire Blast. Even with an Adamant Nature, Fire Blast still KOs Ferrothorn and Skarm more reliably. Togekiss screw the entire team over, so maybe running Iron Head over Swords Dance on Aegislash and Leftovers over Air Balloon could be a good choice to take it on.

Like I said, the switch is important. Fire Blast is a valid option, yes. But Air Balloon is very important on Aegislash because Earthquake is the only powerful move that does not make contact, and hence nullifies King's Shield. This gives it more opportunities to set up than Leftovers. Prediction is also necessary to save your balloon with King's Shield.

 

[DinaIsha]

With the official OU tier list out, it seems that Blaziken is back in OU. What are some cores that work well with him?

I've been running a Blaziken in my current OU team and PS always seems to pair my team against one that includes a Talonflame, lol. I guess that can be dealth with by using stone edge on the switch, but it's risky business.

 

[ginganinja]

to the (obviously) new users (if you were experienced I shouldn't have to tell you), please do not double post

 

[ss234]

I think that pursuit ttar and blaziken is a good core right now. Pursuit ttar traps and wrecks talonflame and also lures in and weakens common blaze counters, namely azumarill and gengar although the latter only if you have assault vest. Blaziken can also pass sd and speed boosts to ttar. Mega tyranitar with ice beam can also stop things like mence and dnite, and ss breaks nite multiscale making it easier to break through with blaze. Ttar also tends to lure in rotom-w, so you can weaken that and then again and easier blaziken sweep. Finally, bulky grounds like gliscor sometimes switch into tyranitar, and then you can nuke them with an ice beam. So yeah ttar + blaze is good.