Project NU Core Threat Analysis | Cycle 5

NU Core Threat Analysis

approved by Hootie | adapted from ru's version

pokemon rely on offensive and defensive synergy to function. cores of pokemon are units within teams that are built specifically to take advantage of these synergies between pokemon. many teams are built around such cores. the premise of this thread is to analyze cores by discussing the threats to them. hopefully this exercise helps to show how a core can either potentially beat threats or what common pokemon threaten it to further the teambuilding process.

procedure:

1. i will post a core comprised of 2 pokemon.
2. posters will have the chance to post threats to the core.
example: Dragon Dance Scrafty is a threat to the core of Xatu + Steelix as it outspeeds Xatu and Steelix and is able of setting up against both of them, and beating them with its STAB super effective attacks
3. cycles will last for four days, there will be no voting.

rules:

1. starting with cycle 2 reservations are not allowed. if you have reserved for the first cycle, you have 24 hours to write up your post.
2. please post only pokemon that are viable in nu. preferably ones not listed lower than C- rank in the viability rankings. avoid using weird / very very specific sets to check these pokemon.
3. each poster may only nominate one threat.
4. when posting, please explain yourself. calcs are not necessary but please list more reasons than something simple like type synergy. be descriptive so that other posters and i can fully understand your reasoning behind your nomination. also please list a full set of the pokemon including its item, full moveset, ev spread, and nature. different sets can be posted for the same pokemon so long as they serve an entirely different purpose from the other set.
5. please be respectful to others, if someone posts something wrong do not post in the thread, i will take care of it.

--

if anyone has any suggestions please pm me​

have fun !

cycle 1 - whimsicott + pivot incineroar: https://hastebin.com/inovaqiqan.diff
cycle 2 - scarf delphox + dd scrafty: https://hastebin.com/uvexuyumav.diff
cycle 3 - nasty plot aromatisse + hex rotom: https://hastebin.com/ununitibib.diff
 
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• cycle 1 •

this cycle will centre around an offensive core, consisting of whimsicott + pivot incineroar

Whimsicott @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Energy Ball
- Psychic
- Defog

Incineroar @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 132 Def / 128 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake / Will-O-Wisp

post a pokemon that can threaten this core, the definition of a threat is in the op

cycles last 4 days, this cycle will last until the 15th
 
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Rabia

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GP & NU Leader

Passimian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Receiver
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Knock Off
- Gunk Shot
While reliant on prediction to truly shine, Choice Scarf Passimian outspeeds both Incineroar and Whimsicott and can either bop one with the appropriate coverage move or repeatedly chip away with U-turn.
 

quziel

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628-Braviary.png

Braviary (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 248 HP / 192 SpD / 68 Spe
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Bulk Up
- Roost
- Brave Bird

Sets up on Incin if ya predict well, takes nothing from Whims, really solid answer to both.

252 SpA Life Orb Whimsicott Moonblast vs. 248 HP / 192+ SpD Braviary: 133-156 (33 - 38.7%) -- 3.5% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Incineroar Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 172 HP / 0 Def Braviary: 150-177 (39 - 46%) -- guaranteed 3HKO (with item)
0 Atk Incineroar Knock Off vs. 172 HP / 0 Def Braviary: 102-120 (26.5 - 31.2%) -- guaranteed 4HKO (without)
 
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Magmortar @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Vital Spirit
EVs: 88 HP / 252 SpA / 168 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Substitute

Can enter against almost any move and get free subs (inci eq can be a trouble, but it can scout with subs, and kill inci with z-move or focus blast if it's chipped).
 

poh

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Aerodactyl @ Choice Band
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 80 Def / 176 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Pursuit
- Aqua Tail

Aerodactyl outspeeds and OHKOes Whimsicott with Stone Edge after rocks. Incineroar takes about 75% after Intimidate and can't do much back except burning it. Pursuit lets it chip away at Whimsicott should it switch out.
 
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Typhlosion @ Choice Specs
Timid Nature
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Eruption
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power Grass
- Focus Blast

Kill Incineroar after Rocks and can tank him well, apart of the fire inmunity.
252 SpA Choice Specs Typhlosion Focus Blast vs. 248 HP / 128+ SpD Incineroar: 302-356 (76.8 - 90.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

And whimsicott is a piece of cake for him.
 

Yoshi

IT'S FINK DUMBASS
@ Roseli Berry
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 248 HP / 160 Atk / 76 SpD / 24 Spe
Careful Nature
- Dragon Tail
- Gunk Shot
- Stealth Rock
- Glare

So basically this is a cool Druddigon set I just made. I remembered back around the Seismitoad meta(ish), people were using Roseli Berry Druddigon for things like Delphox and Whimsicott. I thought I'd revive the same concept here in this thread. It has enough Special Defense to take less than 50% than Moonblast, and also has enough Speed for Diancie for good measure, although that is irrelevant to this situation. It's not really an Incineroar killer, although it can Glare Incineroar and set up Stealth Rock in order to inhibit Incineroar's ability to come in healthy every turn it needs to.

Calcs:
160 Atk Druddigon Gunk Shot vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Whimsicott: 528-624 (202.2 - 239%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Whimsicott Moonblast vs. 248 HP / 76+ SpD Roseli Berry Druddigon: 151-178 (42.2 - 49.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
 

Medicham @ Life Orb
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Bullet Punch

Medicham easily sets up on Incineroar and can easily get rid of it thanks to Drain Punch, while having a high chancis to OHKO Whimsicott after setting up, with Bullet Punch.
 
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Rabia's
Passimian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Receiver
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Knock Off
- Gunk Shot

quziel's
Braviary (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 248 HP / 192 SpD / 68 Spe
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Bulk Up
- Roost
- Brave Bird

Melancholy Hills'
Magmortar @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Vital Spirit
EVs: 88 HP / 252 SpA / 168 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Substitute

poh's
Aerodactyl @ Choice Band
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 80 Def / 176 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Pursuit
- Aqua Tail

Sas0's
Typhlosion @ Choice Specs
Timid Nature
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Eruption
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power Grass
- Focus Blast

Yoshizilla315's
Druddigon @ Roseli Berry
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 248 HP / 160 Atk / 76 SpD / 24 Spe
Careful Nature
- Dragon Tail
- Gunk Shot
- Stealth Rock
- Glare

Earth's
Medicham @ Life Orb
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Bullet Punch

• cycle 2 •

this cycle will centre around an offensive core, consisting of dragon dance scrafty + choice scarf delphox

Scrafty @ Chople Berry
Ability: Moxie / Shed Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Knock Off
- Drain Punch
- High Jump Kick

Delphox @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Dazzling Gleam
- Grass Knot
- Trick / Psychic

cycles last 4 days, this cycle will last until the 19th
 

Yoshi

IT'S FINK DUMBASS
@ Normalium Z
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Power Gem
- Earth Power
- Stealth Rock

Basically since this Scrafty doesn't have Iron Tail you're pretty much set up to just send in Diancie every time Scrafty comes in. Since Moonblast is quad effective, you OHKO. For Delphox, you're taking 0 from Grass Knot, meaning Psychic is the only really threatening move. Normalium Z is run over Leftovers so you don't get a Choice Scarf tricked onto you.
 
359.gif
@ Life Orb
Ability: Justified / Super Luck
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature / Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Play Rough
- Pursuit / Swords Dance / Iron Tail

Absol is able to OHKO the delphox with sucker punch, or, if it's locked into psychic, kill it with pursuit. At the same time it's able to knock out scrafty with play rough, even if it were to run intimidate, and even if it runs jolly (which allows you to outspeed jolly/timid decidueye). It also always outspeeds scrafty before a DD. (If you wanted to go heat, scarf absol would also beat both mons reliably).
 

poh

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Aerodactyl @ Choice Band / Flyinium Z
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 80 Def / 176 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Pursuit / Aerial Ace
- Aqua Tail / Fly

This mon is more useful than I expected lol. Aerodactyl still outspeeds Scrafty at +1 and can revengekill with Aerial Ace or with Z-Fly depending on what you wanna run. It can come in on Delphox's coverage moves and Trick and potentially trap it with Pursuit or OHKO with Stone Edge.
 
Mismagius @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dazzling Gleam
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
- Power Gem

Mismagius is really usefull vs this core cuz can kill both pokemon. Can outspeed Scrafty +1 speed and kill him with dazzling gleam and kill with shadow ball delphox
 

Snou

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Druddigon @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD / 8 Spe
Impish Nature
- Dragon Tail
- Sucker Punch
- Stealth Rock
- Glare

Basically, it checks both and can switchin on Scrafty even after a dance. It can prevent it to sweep with glare if it's Moxie, or just force it out with Dragon Tail. In the meantim it could even set Stealth Rocks. Sucker Punch is basically because I didn't like any other option on it (maybe eq? but it doesn't sound like a good choice to me, since Steelix would only take a small amount of damage). Sucker Punch hits Delphox and even if it isn't ok it can still be ok to chip some damage or to finish. It tanks everything is not Psychic and would even punish a possible Grass Knot addressed to other mons you have. And ofc, would Glare the Phox.
 
Yoshizilla315's
Diancie @ Normalium Z
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Power Gem
- Earth Power
- Stealth Rock

Count Riario's
Absol @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified / Super Luck
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature / Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Play Rough
- Pursuit / Swords Dance / Iron Tail

poh's
Aerodactyl @ Choice Band / Flyinium Z
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 80 Def / 176 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Pursuit / Aerial Ace
- Aqua Tail / Fly

Sas0's
Mismagius @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dazzling Gleam
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
- Power Gem

Snou's
Druddigon @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD / 8 Spe
Impish Nature
- Dragon Tail
- Sucker Punch
- Stealth Rock
- Glare

• cycle 3

this cycle will centre around hex rotom + nasty plot aromatisse!

Rotom @ Aguav Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Hex
- Volt Switch
- Defog

Aromatisse @ Fairium Z
Ability: Aroma Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Nasty Plot
- Trick Room
- Moonblast
- Psychic

cycles last 4 days, this cycle will last until the 24th
 

Houndoom @ Firium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Flame Charge / Taunt

Houndoom can switch on rotom's will-o-wisp and set-up a nasty plot.Aromatisse is ohkoed by inferno overdrive at +2

252 SpA Houndoom Dark Pulse vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Rotom: 288-342 (95 - 112.8%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
+2 252 SpA Houndoom Inferno Overdrive (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Aromatisse: 589-694 (145 - 170.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 

Snou

the grand master of all the things bad!
is a Tutor Alumnusis a Top Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Past SCL Champion

Incineroar @ Incinium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Darkest Lariat
- Earthquake
- Flare Blitz

The cat is probably the most annoying mon to face for this core. Can't be burned, resists hex and prevents Aromatisse to setup. In case she does, a +2 blitz would kill em pretti easily.

+2 252 Atk Incineroar Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aromatisse: 471-555 (116 - 136.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
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Elias PSY's
Houndoom @ Firium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Flame Charge / Taunt

Snou's
Incineroar @ Incinium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Darkest Lariat
- Earthquake
- Flare Blitz


• cycle 4

this cycle will centre around steelix + xatu

Steelix @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Heavy Slam
- Earthquake
- Curse

Xatu @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 248 HP / 200 Def / 60 Spe
Bold Nature
- U-turn
- Night Shade
- Defog
- Toxic / Protect / Defog

changing cycles so that they last a week as oppose to 4 days
 

Charizard @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 248 HP / 152 Def / 108 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Toxic
- Flamethrower
- Substitute

my patented bulkyzard set switches in on anything that isnt toxic and kills it

(also good for making passimians upset btw)
 

Rabia

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GP & NU Leader

Exeggutor-Alola @ Choice Specs
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 192 HP / 252 SpA / 64 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Leaf Storm
- Flamethrower
- Giga Drain

offensive answer that bops this core by 2HKOing both with Flamethrower
 

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