Project National Dex OU: Break This Core (Week 59: Dragonite + Iron Crown)

[Triton_da_g.o.a.t]

Lopunny-Mega (F) @ Lopunnite
Ability: Scrappy
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Power-Up Punch
- Close Combat
- encore
- Return
who doesn't remembers encore pup mlop from last gen?
u pup on koko enough so screens are not problem (and it can't hurt you) then kill cyc, this elimenates espathra chance of sweeping

+3 252 Atk Lopunny-Mega Return vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Cyclizar through Reflect: 306-360 (88.9 - 104.6%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO
and
+3 252 Atk Lopunny-Mega Return vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Espathra through Reflect: 211-249 (53.5 - 63.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (esp is still slower than mlop after +1 speed)
u encore esp on after the first protect and then profit

 

[K302]

Voting is up! Ends Monday!

Ting-Lu @ Mental Herb
Ability: Vessel of Ruin
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Spikes
- Whirlwind
- Ruination

The best way to stop Espathra from snowballing out of control is simply tera ting-lu. Just Tera into Steel, click Whirlwind, boom it's no longer a problem at that given moment. Worried about koko taunting you? Mental Herb has got you covered.

Clodsire @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover
- Stealth Rock

Tera Dark Clod hardwalls Espa no matter what tricks its running, even if Cyc and Koko have supported it properly. Even Tera Fighting doesn't beat it.

0 SpA Tera Fighting Espathra Tera Blast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Tera Dark Clodsire: 126-150 (27.2 - 32.3%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

Clod can easily break Espa's Cyc provided subs and apply Toxic without running out of Recover PPs.

Other HO teammates beat this Clod set but thats just how Espa HO goes rn so L.

Lopunny-Mega (F) @ Lopunnite
Ability: Scrappy
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Power-Up Punch
- Close Combat
- encore
- Return
who doesn't remembers encore pup mlop from last gen?
u pup on koko enough so screens are not problem (and it can't hurt you) then kill cyc, this elimenates espathra chance of sweeping

+3 252 Atk Lopunny-Mega Return vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Cyclizar through Reflect: 306-360 (88.9 - 104.6%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO
and
+3 252 Atk Lopunny-Mega Return vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Espathra through Reflect: 211-249 (53.5 - 63.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (esp is still slower than mlop after +1 speed)
u encore esp on after the first protect and then profit

 

[SoBalanced]

pup lop is funny so that

 

[myself12]

clodsire

 

[Deciduii]

Clodsire

 

[K302]

Congratulations to Sputnik for winning this week of Break this Core!

As you all probably know, NatDex is currently suspect testing Espathra so this week we will look at it again. This time with its fellow HO-Attacker Mega Gyarados!



How will YOU break this core? Submissions end Friday!

Sets

Gyarados @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Crunch
- Earthquake

Espathra @ Electric Seed
Ability: Speed Boost
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stored Power
- Dazzling Gleam
- Roost
- Calm Mind

 

[SoBalanced]

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Punching Glove
Ability: Unseen Fist
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Surging Strikes
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Swords Dance

Espathra hates it, it does.
252 Atk Punching Glove Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Espathra on a critical hit: 207-246 (52.5 - 62.4%) -- approx. 2HKO
0 SpA Espathra Dazzling Gleam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Tera Electric Urshifu-Rapid-Strike: 88-104 (25.8 - 30.4%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

Gyarados is annoying but beatable:
-1 252 Atk Punching Glove Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Thunder Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Gyarados: 292-348 (88.2 - 105.1%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO
-1 252 Atk Punching Glove Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Thunder Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Gyarados-Mega: 112-134 (33.8 - 40.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+1 252 Atk Punching Glove Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Drain Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Gyarados-Mega: 378-446 (114.1 - 134.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO after one swords dance
​

 

[K302]

After this way too long break, we will take a a look at the new core, that won the trios tournament. Bonus points, if your Pokémon can prevent the hazards.
Our new core will be Skarmory + Hippowdon!



How will YOU break this core? Submissions end Friday!

Sets

Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Slack Off

Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Body Press
- Iron Defense
- Spikes
- Roost

 

[sealoo]

Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Defog

Tera poison In front of hippo and win with plot…L core!

 

[Parmesan Cheese]

Kyurem @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Ice
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Freeze-Dry
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Roost

weep

 

[sealoo]

Kyurem @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Ice
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Freeze-Dry
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Roost

weep

In a pure 1v2, doesn’t Hippo just Tera steel toxic you then slacks on ep barely not killing? (assuming it doesn’t) then sturdy Skarm kills with press + sand + tox

 

[ArSd]

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Tera Blast
- Toxic

Tera on Hippos EQ, click Magma, click Terablast and yeah. Even after Skarm teras into a dragon type Magma and Sand chip alongside Earth Power still means you win the 1v1.

Calcs

252 SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 144-171 (34.2 - 40.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery and trapping damage
252 SpA Tera Grass Heatran Tera Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 234-276 (55.7 - 65.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Tera Grass Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Tera Dragon Skarmory: 109-129 (32.6 - 38.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after trapping damage
252 SpA Tera Grass Heatran Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Tera Dragon Skarmory: 131-155 (39.2 - 46.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Def Skarmory Body Press vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tera Grass Heatran: 96-114 (29.7 - 35.2%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[Giyu]

Gholdengo @ Air Balloon
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Water / Fairy / Fighting
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Make It Rain
- Shadow Ball
- Nasty Plot
- Recover / Focus Blast

Gholdengo is immune to both Body Press and Earthquake due to Air Balloon and isn't bothered by Toxic or Sandstorm because of its Steel-typing. Gholdengo then sets up Nasty Plot effortlessly.

 

[Parmesan Cheese]

In a pure 1v2, doesn’t Hippo just Tera steel toxic you then slacks on ep barely not killing? (assuming it doesn’t) then sturdy Skarm kills with press + sand + tox

u right mb g

 

[myself12]

Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 248 SpD / 4 Spe
Impish Nature
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Protect

Shits on this core with mbounce + knock off + burn

 

[SoBalanced]

Walking Wake @ Choice Specs
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Hydro Steam
- Flamethrower
- Draco Meteor

252 SpA Choice Specs Walking Wake Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 462-546 (110 - 130%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 SpA Choice Specs Walking Wake Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Skarmory: 349-412 (104.4 - 123.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Depends on hitting four hydros in a row, 2hkoing even after tera. If you miss one and lose that is simply a skill issue.

 

[seth]

Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Growth

growth and click respective move, +1 ep 2hkoes both teras
BOOF PACK.

 

[K302]

Voting is up! Ends Sunday!

Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Defog

Tera poison In front of hippo and win with plot…L core!

Kyurem @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Ice
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Freeze-Dry
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Roost

weep

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Tera Blast
- Toxic

Tera on Hippos EQ, click Magma, click Terablast and yeah. Even after Skarm teras into a dragon type Magma and Sand chip alongside Earth Power still means you win the 1v1.

Calcs

252 SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 144-171 (34.2 - 40.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery and trapping damage
252 SpA Tera Grass Heatran Tera Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 234-276 (55.7 - 65.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Tera Grass Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Tera Dragon Skarmory: 109-129 (32.6 - 38.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after trapping damage
252 SpA Tera Grass Heatran Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Tera Dragon Skarmory: 131-155 (39.2 - 46.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Def Skarmory Body Press vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tera Grass Heatran: 96-114 (29.7 - 35.2%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

Gholdengo @ Air Balloon
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Water / Fairy / Fighting
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Make It Rain
- Shadow Ball
- Nasty Plot
- Recover / Focus Blast

Gholdengo is immune to both Body Press and Earthquake due to Air Balloon and isn't bothered by Toxic or Sandstorm because of its Steel-typing. Gholdengo then sets up Nasty Plot effortlessly.

Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 8 HP / 248 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Substitute
- Taunt / Glare

Substitute on the Hippowdon, and just click Leaf Storm until your finger hurts. 8 HP EVs makes sure Hippowdon's Earthquake never breaks your Substitute.

Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 248 SpD / 4 Spe
Impish Nature
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Protect

Shits on this core with mbounce + knock off + burn

Walking Wake @ Choice Specs
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Hydro Steam
- Flamethrower
- Draco Meteor

252 SpA Choice Specs Walking Wake Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 462-546 (110 - 130%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 SpA Choice Specs Walking Wake Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Skarmory: 349-412 (104.4 - 123.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Depends on hitting four hydros in a row, 2hkoing even after tera. If you miss one and lose that is simply a skill issue.

Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Growth

growth and click respective move, +1 ep 2hkoes both teras
BOOF PACK.

 

[Giyu]

Serperior by hidin

 

[sealoo]

by setset77

 

[seth]

by sealoo

 

[Salt Kitchen]

hidin

 

[K302]

Congratulations to hidin for winning this week of Break this Core!

Our new core will be Zamazenta + Mega-Tyranitar!



How will YOU break this core? Submissions end Friday!

Sets

Zamazenta @ Choice Band
Ability: Dauntless Shield
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Wild Charge
- Ice Fang
- Crunch

Tyranitar-Mega @ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
Tera Type: Rock
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Stealth Rock

 

[Giyu]

Iron Valiant @ Expert Belt / Life Orb
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Fairy / Steel / Electric
EVs: 40 Atk / 216 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Close Combat
- Moonblast
- Psyshock
- Thunderbolt / Knock Off

 

[Sputnik]

Buzzwole @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Beast Boost
Tera type: Steel / Electric it doesn't matter at all in this matchup lol
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 48 Spe
Impish Nature
- Close Combat
- Ice Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Roost

This is one of the few things that actually walls both of these together, as it has a unique typing that Zama rarely has coverage for and Roost lets you stay healthy to check these multiple times in a game. Even with Tera Fighting Zamazenta just gets eaten up and chipped by Helmet, and of course Mega Tyranitar has no shot. Even random Psychic Fangs Zama doesn't 2HKO you. Tera Steel is mostly a filler Tera thats generally good on Buzz but it could let you live a Stone Edge if you get chipped or something I guess.

252 Atk Choice Band Tera Fighting Zamazenta Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 204+ Def Buzzwole: 109-129 (26 - 30.8%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
252 Atk Choice Band Zamazenta Psychic Fangs vs. 252 HP / 204+ Def Buzzwole: 156-184 (37.3 - 44%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Tyranitar-Mega Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 204+ Def Buzzwole: 127-150 (30.3 - 35.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after sandstorm damage
0 Atk Buzzwole Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Zamazenta: 153-180 (47 - 55.3%) -- 71.9% chance to 2HKO
0 Atk Buzzwole Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tyranitar-Mega: 484-576 (141.9 - 168.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO