approved by bludz
op adapted from the gen 6 thread
| Teams rely on offensive and defensive synergy to function. Cores of Pokemon are units within said teams that are built specifically to take advantage of these synergies between Pokemon. Thus, nearly all teams are built around such cores. The premise of this thread is to analyze cores by discussing threats to them and potential partners. Hopefully this exercise helps you strengthen your teambuilding skills.
| System
Two Pokemon Cores
| Rules
| What Is A Threat or Partner?
op adapted from the gen 6 thread
in need of some art
Two Pokemon Cores
- This iteration of the thread will mainly focus on two Pokemon cores. They are much less restricting than three Pokemon cores, so the amount of threats and partners are increased.
- For 5 days, posters will have the chance to post threats and/or partners to the selected core. For example, Volcarona is a threat to the core of Mega Scizor + Tapu Koko as neither of the partners have ways to deal with a boosted Volcarona, so Choice Scarf Garchomp is a good partner with the core to help deal with Volcarona and other underlying issues. Refer to the example post below.
- You are able to reserve either 1 partner and 1 threat or 2 partners or 2 threats.
- When the five days are up, I will choose the top 3 partners and threats and put them into the Core Archive. I will explain why they were chosen. This is a subjective procedure. As such, other players will be consulted for opinions, unless they made nominations in the thread themselves.
- Please follow up your reservations in a timely fashion, preferably within 12 hours. If you don't finish your reservation in a timely manner, I will allow someone else to take the Pokémon you reserved. Do not make a habit out of not following up on your reservations.
- Please post Pokemon that are viable in OU. This means they should be listed on the OU Viability Rankings thread. However, I will be rather lenient with some nominations as long as the poster offers a knowledgeable explanation of why the unranked Pokemon is a threat or good partner to the core. This does not mean you should posting Pokemon that are completely unviable such as Flygon and Tsareena. I don't want to discourage posters, but please refrain from doing that.
- Each poster may only nominate one partner to a core and two threats to the core, preferably threats your selected partner handles. If you see activity is low and you have more threats and/or partners in mind, feel free to post them.
- When posting, please explain whether the Pokemon you are mentioning is a threat, partner, or possibly both. This helps with keeping the thread organized.
- When posting either a threat or a partner, explain why. Calculations aren't necessary, but please list more reasons than simple type synergy. You don't have to write an essay, but be descriptive enough so other posters and I can understand the reasoning behind your nomination. Furthermore, please list a full set of the Pokémon including its item, full moveset, EV spread, and nature.
- When nominating partners, please post one moveset and EV spread. Refrain from using too many slashes because this should be treated as a teambuilding exercise. This can't be avoided every time, so I will exercise some leniency with this rule!
- Please be respectful to others!
- A threat to the core must check or counter at least one member and cannot be countered by the other. A threat does not necessarily need to be able to switch into both members of the core, but it should be difficult/annoying to switch into for the members of the core. Of course, the biggest threats counter both members.
- A partner is able to adequately deal with the the threats to the core. This does not mean the partner has to be a guaranteed switch-in to the threat, but they should be able to defeat it in nearly every situation.
- When nominating partners, you are also allowed to make suggested changes to the current sets of the members of the core.
Core in Question:
+
Mega Metagross + Tapu Koko is a tried and true core in which Tapu Koko provides pivoting with it's access to U-turn and drawing in Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, AV Tangrowth, Amoonguss, and Mega Venusaur, all of which Mega Metagross takes advantage of due to it's impressive power and coverage. Tapu Koko could also provide means of alleviating the stall matchup with Taunt and Nature's Madness which Mega Metagross appreciates.
Threat: Ash-Greninja
Greninja @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Water Shuriken
- Ice Beam
Ash-Greninja is a threat to the core because it's high speed tier puts it above both Mega Metagross and Tapu Koko as well as being able to threaten them with its powerful Dark Pulses and Hydro Pumps. It has to be wary though as it is not able to safely switch into neither members of the core without being severely weakened or outright OHKO'ed.
Partner: Keldeo
Keldeo @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Secret Sword
- Stone Edge
- Hydro Pump / Surf
- Icy Wind
Choice Scarf Keldeo is a good partner for this core as it is able to revenge kill a wide variety of threats can't be handled once transformed / boosted such as the aforementioned Ash-Greninja, Volcarona, DD Zygarde, and Mega Sharpedo. It's also a decent switch-in to Ash-Greninja but Hydro Pump flat out 2HKOes it'd be best to pack a second way of dealing with Ash-Greninja besides it for extra insurance.
Metagross @ Metagrossite
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Hammer Arm / Earthquake
- Meteor Mash
- Ice Punch
- Thunder Punch / Zen Headbutt
Tapu Koko @ Magnet
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- U-turn
- Taunt
- Hidden Power [Ice] / Nature's Madness
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Hammer Arm / Earthquake
- Meteor Mash
- Ice Punch
- Thunder Punch / Zen Headbutt
Tapu Koko @ Magnet
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- U-turn
- Taunt
- Hidden Power [Ice] / Nature's Madness
Mega Metagross + Tapu Koko is a tried and true core in which Tapu Koko provides pivoting with it's access to U-turn and drawing in Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, AV Tangrowth, Amoonguss, and Mega Venusaur, all of which Mega Metagross takes advantage of due to it's impressive power and coverage. Tapu Koko could also provide means of alleviating the stall matchup with Taunt and Nature's Madness which Mega Metagross appreciates.
Threat: Ash-Greninja
Greninja @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Water Shuriken
- Ice Beam
Ash-Greninja is a threat to the core because it's high speed tier puts it above both Mega Metagross and Tapu Koko as well as being able to threaten them with its powerful Dark Pulses and Hydro Pumps. It has to be wary though as it is not able to safely switch into neither members of the core without being severely weakened or outright OHKO'ed.
Partner: Keldeo
Keldeo @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Secret Sword
- Stone Edge
- Hydro Pump / Surf
- Icy Wind
Choice Scarf Keldeo is a good partner for this core as it is able to revenge kill a wide variety of threats can't be handled once transformed / boosted such as the aforementioned Ash-Greninja, Volcarona, DD Zygarde, and Mega Sharpedo. It's also a decent switch-in to Ash-Greninja but Hydro Pump flat out 2HKOes it'd be best to pack a second way of dealing with Ash-Greninja besides it for extra insurance.
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