You use zacian with either: Landorus, Zekrom, Groudon, Urshifu or anything else that can abuse from this passive teams with Ho oh, Necrozma-DM etc
-
Check out the relaunch of our general collection, with classic designs and new ones by our very own Pissog!
-
Welcome to Smogon! Take a moment to read the Introduction to Smogon for a run-down on everything Smogon, and make sure you take some time to read the global rules.
Resource SS Good Cores
- Thread starter SiTuM
- Start date
Offensive core
+ 
Dracovish fishieous rend can 1 shot or heavily chip a lot of pokemons
Some of its checks are water absorb or eternatus being faster than it and resist water type attack.
pairing with kyogre with thunder wave whose check is also eternatus most of time and reduce its speed to half and hence dracovish when it come in next time can 2HKO eternatus.
Usually we have a fairy type on back to bait necrozma dusk mane and double to dracovish to either force him to switch out and sac other pokemon or take 80+ damage by fishieous rend.
Problems : usually when you make team around this core so team being too passive does not help in winning game and bulky offense is better to make around this core which result in team being weak to some common threats sometimes like a team built around calyrex and zacian too. you cant really use 2 zacian checks or team become weak offensively. But maybe in future someone can make a lot stronger team available around this core than what is used right now in meta.
+ Dracovish fishieous rend can 1 shot or heavily chip a lot of pokemons
Some of its checks are water absorb or eternatus being faster than it and resist water type attack.
pairing with kyogre with thunder wave whose check is also eternatus most of time and reduce its speed to half and hence dracovish when it come in next time can 2HKO eternatus.
Usually we have a fairy type on back to bait necrozma dusk mane and double to dracovish to either force him to switch out and sac other pokemon or take 80+ damage by fishieous rend.
Problems : usually when you make team around this core so team being too passive does not help in winning game and bulky offense is better to make around this core which result in team being weak to some common threats sometimes like a team built around calyrex and zacian too. you cant really use 2 zacian checks or team become weak offensively. But maybe in future someone can make a lot stronger team available around this core than what is used right now in meta.
Attachments
Hello everyone ! Since I'm the new owner of this thread, I am updating it by removing outdated cores and adding new ones. I'll add my own to contribute:
Offensive:
+ 
Balance:
+ 
+ 
Stall:
+ 
Offensive:
+ Calyrex-S + Lunala is in my opinion a very underrated core due to its capability to overwhelm teams overly dependant on Yveltal and sweep them afterwards. This offensive Lunala has the only goal of luring Yveltal, as Lunala is just often played with a defensive set as an answer to Groudon, Zekrom, etc. Ghost resists being close to non-existent aside from Yveltal, you'll often find yourself switching Yveltal into Lunala, whether it is to scare it away with a Knock Off/Foul Play or to catch momentum with U-turn. This is where Power Herb Meteor Beam comes in clutch, because after heavily chipping Yveltal, Calyrex-S will have a way easier time destroying the opponent's team.
Balance:
+ A very annoying pair that works awfully well together. These two don't rely that much on what the first one checks that the second can't check, but more with what tools they can provide. Kyogre sets up rain for Ferrothorn, which makes him even more unkillable, taking a disgusting ~30% from a defensive Eternatus' Mystical Fire, or easily living a Sacred Fire from Ho-Oh to Knock Off his boots if necessary. Kyogre loves Ferrothorn's Spikes, whether you're using Specs or Sub CM, because they both love that (minimum) 12% clutch, as Specs Water Spout becomes a 2HKO for Utility Umbrella Blissey, and Sub CM can run Roar to continuously Roar Eternatus out, if he tries to set up with Cosmic Power, or just to PP Stall his Recovers, and because Spikes+Roar is broken.
+ The Don and The Dada works a bit like Ferro Ogre does, but a bit more offensively. Groudon gives Zarude a 75% HP Synthesis heal, and Zarude gives Groudon an easy way to switch-in on Eternatus or Yveltal thanks to U-turn. While Groudon takes care of these foes, Zarude is here to check Calyrex-S, Kyogre and Zygarde, who are very annoying threats or walls to Groudon.
Stall:
+ While stall is pretty weak in this gen because of the complete removal on Mega-Sableye and Arceus forms, there is still some viability left to be found in this playstyle thanks to a pretty strong core which can annoy a lot of teams: Blissey and Zygarde. I'll be quick; Blissey walls Kyogre, Xerneas, Eternatus, Palkia, Dialga and Zygarde walls Groudon, Zygarde, Necrozma-DM, Marshadow, Urshifu, Rayquaza and Ho-Oh. Yes, that's a lot.
stall
magic bounce helps the birds with their sr weakness, meaning they can both go with more offensive sets, giving stall teams a bit of power and making them less passive overall. yveltal can be max max atk speed but calyrex-s ensurance is needed.
balance
standard futurePort. less seen than in ou but equally as threatening. slowking is good. garay oak used it in upl and won. buzzwole hits hard and thanks to future sight theres not much that likes switching into it.
mewtwo appreciates spikes specially to help it chip spd ndm. it also appreciates potential twave support and knock off support. yveltal gives necessary calyrex-s ensurance while also soft checking groudon. yveltal can be scarf if you want.
ndm appreciates clef running sr- it allows for a more offensive approach to your balances. twave is also good on clef. potentially a dd set can also work if youre running knock. clef absorbs all type of status that can cripple ndm- it can also run aromatheraphy or even healing wish to nullify even further this issue.
weaken groudon / zygod / ferro with lando and/or dada for ndm to sweep. overlapping offensive synergy is good. maybe add scarf ygod to alleviate speed issues.
Xatu @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic
- Roost
- Night Shade
- Feather Dance
Ho-Oh @ Choice Band
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sacred Fire
- Earthquake
- Brave Bird
- Defog
Yveltal @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 136 HP / 188 SpD / 184 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Foul Play
- Roost
- Defog
- U-turn
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic
- Roost
- Night Shade
- Feather Dance
Ho-Oh @ Choice Band
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sacred Fire
- Earthquake
- Brave Bird
- Defog
Yveltal @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 136 HP / 188 SpD / 184 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Foul Play
- Roost
- Defog
- U-turn
balance
Buzzwole @ Choice Band
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Roost / Leech Life
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
Slowking @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Scald
- Teleport
- Future Sight
- Thunder-wave / Slack Off
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Roost / Leech Life
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
Slowking @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Scald
- Teleport
- Future Sight
- Thunder-wave / Slack Off
Mewtwo @ Expert Belt
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Ice Beam
- Psystrike
- Focus Blast / Nasty plot
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Impish Nature
- Leech Seed / Thunder-wave
- Curse / Protect
- Spikes
- Knock Off / Body Press
Yveltal @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 144 HP / 112 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Foul Play
- Knock Off
- Roost
- Taunt
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Ice Beam
- Psystrike
- Focus Blast / Nasty plot
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Impish Nature
- Leech Seed / Thunder-wave
- Curse / Protect
- Spikes
- Knock Off / Body Press
Yveltal @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 144 HP / 112 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Foul Play
- Knock Off
- Roost
- Taunt
Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Knock Off / Thunder-wave
- Soft-Boiled
- Moonblast
- Stealth Rock
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leftovers
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Morning Sun
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Knock Off / Thunder-wave
- Soft-Boiled
- Moonblast
- Stealth Rock
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leftovers
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Morning Sun
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Atk / 232 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off / U-Turn / Defog / Swords Dance / Toxic
- Stone Edge
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leftovers
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 148 HP / 236 Atk / 124 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Sunsteel Strike
- Stone Edge
- Morning Sun
Zarude-Dada @ Leftovers
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Bulk Up
- Darkest Lariat
- Power Whip
- Jungle Healing
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Atk / 232 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off / U-Turn / Defog / Swords Dance / Toxic
- Stone Edge
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leftovers
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 148 HP / 236 Atk / 124 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Sunsteel Strike
- Stone Edge
- Morning Sun
Zarude-Dada @ Leftovers
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Bulk Up
- Darkest Lariat
- Power Whip
- Jungle Healing
Last edited:
Kyogre @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Spout
- Origin Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Thunder
Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Spout
- Origin Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Thunder
Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
Here are Kyogre's counters:
-Eternatus, Blissey, Ferrothorn (sometimes), Shedinja, Gastrodon
Heatran is designed to remove the first four, with enough special attack to trap Blissey if you hit at least 2 Magma Storms, and only 1 for the others. In turn, Kyogre staves off Ground-types (notably Zygarde) and several Dragon-types thanks to being Scarf with Ice Beam. Defensive setup Kyogre's (such as Sub + CM + Twave) also seem excellent--this trades some power for a more reliable measure for Zygarde, Groudon, etc., so teams can build around this comfortably.
Balance
My favorite core in the current metagame, it copies the ndm+yvel+etern core by checking the same things but Blissey is able to check Xerneas, Eternatus and Kyogre, while Tyranitar uses Stealth Rock and checks Calyrex-Shadow. Giratina-Origin is underrated in the current meta and should see more usage, it fills in Blissey and Tyranitar's weakness to Offensive Groudon and deffogs hazards for easier pivoting. Also Blissey's wish support increases Giratina's longevity.
https://pokepast.es/27809d251183e199
My favorite core in the current metagame, it copies the ndm+yvel+etern core by checking the same things but Blissey is able to check Xerneas, Eternatus and Kyogre, while Tyranitar uses Stealth Rock and checks Calyrex-Shadow. Giratina-Origin is underrated in the current meta and should see more usage, it fills in Blissey and Tyranitar's weakness to Offensive Groudon and deffogs hazards for easier pivoting. Also Blissey's wish support increases Giratina's longevity.
https://pokepast.es/27809d251183e199