Resource SS Good Cores

[SiTuM]

Art made by Jhonx~
Aproved by Ubers Council.


Sword & Shield Good Cores​

In the process of teambuilding, a strong core is a key component to make the process easier, and give the team a good back bone. This thread will be used for the purpose of showing off some great cores! With Most Wanted and all these other tournaments about to start, feel free to post some cores that you've used or seen while building or watching tour games. You may like this thread to show off some cool mons that you put together, or just to steal some ideas for your own teambuilding, whatever works for you.

So what constitutes a good core?
An offensive core utilizes two or three Pokemon that are able to work together to break through whatever Pokemon the opponent is using, allowing the rest of the team to support those two Pokemon as the focal point. A good defensive core is a combination of two Pokemon that are able to switch into or check a good chunk of the offensive Pokemon in the meta, serving as the backbone of the team. Balanced cores a mix of these definitions, being able to check almost all Pokemon while still carrying some type of offensive presence.

Please label your core with the tag 'Offensive' / 'Balanced' or 'Stall' in bold so that I don't have to try and decide where your core goes, also, explain how your core works.
Examples:

Offense Core

Offense Core

Calyrex-Shadow @ Choice Specs
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Draining Kiss
- Trick

Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 144 HP / 252 Atk / 112 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Play Rough
- Close Combat / Sword Dance
- Assurance
- Sword Dance / Wild Charge

Balance Core

Balance

Yveltal @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Snarl
- Roost
- Defog

Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Morning Sun
- Sunsteel Strike
- Knock Off

Stall Core

Stall

Lugia @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 248 HP / 56 Def / 204 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Whirlwind
- Roost
- Toxic

Eternatus @ Black Sludge
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 240 SpD / 16 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dynamax Cannon
- Flamethrower
- Toxic
- Recover

​

 

[SiTuM]

Offensive

Offense

Balance

Balance

Stall

Stall

 

[Fusion Flare]

3-man band balance core

Eternatus @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 212 SpD / 44 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Recover
- Flamethrower
- Toxic
- Dynamax Cannon

Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 32 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Morning Sun
- Sunsteel Strike
- Thunder Wave

Yveltal @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 72 HP / 244 SpD / 192 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Foul Play
- Snarl
- Defog
- Roost

description

I don’t really need to go in depth with this.
These three make up just about every single competitive SS Ubers team, because they can semi-handle the most powerful offensive threats at the moment: Zacian-C, Calyrex-S, and Kyogre. They also provide hazard and hazard removal, along with speed control via NDM’s twave, and most importantly, all of them have recovery. The EVs on all three are meant to speed creep specific mons, Eternatus creeps Max Speed non-Scarf Kyogre so you can 1v1 specs water spouts, NDM creeps paralyzed Zacian-C, and Yveltal outruns offensive Ground types such as SD groudon and SD Landorus-Therian.

 

[SiTuM]

the most feared of offensive cores for every actual ss balance. these two monsters effortlessly dismantle any etern/ndm/yvel defensive core with overwhelming power by setting up on passive foes.

Import

Zekrom @ Leftovers / Haban Berry / Life Orb
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Bolt Strike
- Dragon Claw
- Substitute / Roost / Draco Meteor / Weather Ball

Groudon @ Leftovers
Ability: Drought
EVs: 240 HP / 108 Atk / 140 Def / 20 Spe
Impish Nature
- Precipice Blades
- Stone Edge / Rock Tomb
- Swords Dance / Bulk Up
- Heat Crash / Thunder Wave / Toxic / Roar

 

[TheSnoozySea]

Zacian + Gothielle Offensive Core

Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Play Rough
- Crunch
- Wild Charge

Gothitelle @ Leftovers
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 248 HP / 56 Def / 204 Spe
Bold Nature
- Rest
- Taunt
- Charm
- Cosmic Power

Description

Zacian-Crowned is a top tier offensive threat in the SS metagame, with extremely few viable switch-ins. Most of which gets trapped by Gothielle.

Necrozma Dusk Mane are forced to run rocky helmet, to avoid a pp stall game by Zacian, whereas, Quagsire without leftovers or heavy duty boots get worn down heavily by hazards until it can no longer switch-in.

Gothielle can break through the common Eternatus + Yveltal + Dusk Mane defensive core prevalent in many balanced teams, and thus make for a devastating opening for Zacian to sweep.

 

[Ropalme1914]

Balance core

Tspikes Etern + DD Zyg

Zygarde @ Leftovers
Ability: Power Construct
EVs: 16 HP / 220 Atk / 40 Def / 232 Spe
Impish Nature
- Thousand Arrows
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Dragon Tail

Eternatus @ Black Sludge
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 212 SpD / 44 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dynamax Cannon
- Toxic Spikes
- Recover
- Flamethrower

Eternatus helps Zygarde by giving it Toxic Spikes to let it beat stuff like Xerneas, Quagsire, Calyrex-Ice, and basically any other bulkier Pokémon by making them getting in range of Thousand Arrows when you stall the poison turns with Sub. Eternatus also helps with some checks like Kyogre, while Zygarde work as a better wincon with this and pressures Poison- and Steel-types that are immune to Toxic Spikes and might take Dynamax Cannon or Flamethrower.

 

[Cynara]

Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 144 HP / 252 Atk / 112 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Behemoth Blade
- Close Combat
- Assurance
- Wild Charge

Behemoth Blade hits like nothing, Play rough I feel is more important coverage here, Zygarde-C is a very important target in the current meta, along with pokes such as Zekrom, the stray kyurem-black etc. CC + Wild Charge is pretty redundant too, you can drop them for Swords Dance (pref CC), Jolly Assurance is unable to guarentee the KO on Necrozma-DM.

Some good offensive cores: LO yveltal + sub leech calyrex, RP groudon + Yveltal, Kyogre + DD Glare Zygarde etc etc

 

[Fusion Flare]

Behemoth Blade hits like nothing, Play rough I feel is more important coverage here, Zygarde-C is a very important target in the current meta, along with pokes such as Zekrom, the stray kyurem-black etc. CC + Wild Charge is pretty redundant too, you can drop them for Swords Dance (pref CC), Jolly Assurance is unable to guarentee the KO on Necrozma-DM.

Some good offensive cores: LO yveltal + sub leech calyrex, RP groudon + Yveltal, Kyogre + DD Glare Zygarde etc etc

I don’t see why you wouldn’t go wild charge, unless you want Ho-oh shitting on you to hell and back, I’d just go Assurance / Prough / CC / Wild Charge

 

[Jhonx~]

Behemoth Blade hits like nothing, Play rough I feel is more important coverage here, Zygarde-C is a very important target in the current meta, along with pokes such as Zekrom, the stray kyurem-black etc. CC + Wild Charge is pretty redundant too, you can drop them for Swords Dance (pref CC), Jolly Assurance is unable to guarentee the KO on Necrozma-DM.

Some good offensive cores: LO yveltal + sub leech calyrex, RP groudon + Yveltal, Kyogre + DD Glare Zygarde etc etc

Fixed, thanks for the advice

 

[katerina]

OFFENSE CORE

+

Scarf Galarian-Darmanitan + Assurance Zacian-C

Darmanitan-Galar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Gorilla Tactics
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn

Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 184 HP / 252 Atk / 72 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Assurance
- Play Rough
- Close Combat
- Wild Charge

Description

Zacian-C breaks walls allowing G-Darmanitan to (hopefully) sweep weakened teams. Assurance kills NDM, Wild Charge kills Ho-Oh.
Scarf G-Darmanitan revengekills faster threats like jolly DD Zygod.

 

[FearNeverDies]

/Offensive Core/
Groudon @ Life Orb
Ability: Drought
EVs: 164 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 88 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Precipice Blades
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
- Rock Polish

Calyrex-Shadow @ Choice Scarf
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Psychic
- Trick



/Description/
With the introduction of the second DLC on SS, this bring one of the best offensive couples on the current meta.
Groudon double dance appreciate the facts that less mons carry ice coverage. With LO groudon can do massive damage to the most commons synergiess. Without boost Groudon can spread massive damage on the first stages of the battle and with a good prediction double dance sets really shine on the mid/late game battle. Necrozma Dusk Mane are on of the most popular mons on the meta and so Yveltal. Groudon can take advantage of that and terrify any team with his powerfull stab atacks. Stone edge as a coverage guarantees that groudon can deal with yveltal and Ho Oh with the disadvantage that he struggles against some steel types like skarmory. With that Offensive pressure scarf/specs calyrex shine with groudon as she can threat Zygard and most of the steel types with the correct item. Once that Groudon dies for recoil or prio damage, Calyrex-S can clean weak teams with hes powerfull stabs, thanks to Grim niegh calyrex dosnt need boost to to work well. This parther offers immediately power against the most commons teams on the meta and can deal with anything.

 

[Fc]

Offensive Core
+

This is one of the most standard but dangerous cores in the current meta, because it allows Zacian-C to push itself further offensively due to Kyogre providing good support for it to break its checks. Necrozma-DM is one of the best ways to "beat" it usually through Rocky Helmet chip or para then healing off damage. The rain doesn't allow sets not holding Utility Umbrella to heal off the damage, and if it is umbrella which is a lackluster item it can just be knocked off or pressured hard because it has no item support. Kyogre has the main checks of things like Ferrothorn, Eternatus, and Blissey, all of which Zacian-C can beat especially in rain which weakens Eternatus Flamethrower so it can switch in even more reliably. Paired with hazards it will likely be more deadly, but this base core is very good by itself. They can both run many sets, so I'll just drop a few for both.

Kyogre

Choiced (Kyogre) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Spout
- Ice Beam
- Origin Pulse
- Thunder

CM Rest (Kyogre) @ Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Rest
- Scald
- Ice Beam / Sleep Talk

Zacian-C

4 Attacks (Zacian-Crowned) @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Assurance
- Close Combat
- Wild Charge
- Play Rough

SD (Zacian-Crowned) @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Wild Charge
- Behemoth Blade

Alternative EV Spread:
EVs: 252 Atk / 144 SpD / 112 Spe
Adamant Nature

 

[katerina]

OFFENSE CORE

+

Basic psychic spam core: Tapu lele helps Calyrex-Shadow by nullifying priority and buffing its Psychic attacks, allowing it to OHKO defensive Ho-Oh, Blissey and Chansey with Psyshock. Tapu Lele also scares Yveltal and Tyranitar out with STAB Moonblast, Nature's Madness and Taunt. Thanks to its raw power, good coverage moves and setup options this core can effortlessly break through common defensive cores, such as the NDM / Eternatus / Ygod one.

Tapu Lele

Tapu Lele @ Terrain Extender
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nature's Madness
- Psychic
- Moonblast
- Taunt

Calyrex-Shadow

Calyrex-Shadow @ Life Orb
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Draining Kiss

 

[Maxomega]

Offensive core


Currently, thanks to its incredible STABs and its high Special Attack: Reshiram has like no checks (aside from Blissey and Chansey, but rarely seen at the moment) and can just threaten all the metagame. Paired with Zacian-Crowned, the core is really powerful. Indeed, Zacian-Crowned appreciates the fact that Reshiram can come on its checks and destroy them (such as Necrozma-Dusk-Mane, Ho-Oh, Quagsire and Lugia (if burned)). As far as Zacian-Crowned is concerned, it can come on the only two aforementioned Reshiram's walls.
However, the main weakness of this core is the speed control (as Reshiram hasn't a good one), if Zacian-Crowned or Reshiram get paralyzed: the core will be struggling. So a team with Thunder Wave or Aromatherapy (as Aromatherapy can also heal Zacian from a burn) support would be great for this offensive core.

Reshiram

Reshiram @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Turboblaze
EVs: 72 HP / 32 Atk / 252 SpA / 152 Spe
Modest Nature
- Blue Flare
- Draco Meteor
- Roost
- Stone Edge

Let me explain this Reshiram spread :
- 152 Speed allows it to outspeed Necrozma-Dusk-Mane 252 Speed Neutral.
- 32- Atk, in association with 252+ SpA allows Reshiram to always KO Ho-Oh. Indeed the Draco Meteor - Stone Edge combination with this spread will get rid of Ho-Oh (calcs below).
- The rest is put in HP to better hold hits.

Calcs

252+ SpA Turboblaze Reshiram Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Ho-Oh: 171-202 (41.1 - 48.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
32- Atk Turboblaze Reshiram Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 204+ Def Ho-Oh: 252-300 (60.5 - 72.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Zacian-Crowned

Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Play Rough
- Wild Charge
- Protect / Assurance

Protect may seem odd on Zacian, but it's actually really helpful. Indeed, if a Ditto comes and copies your Zacian, you can just Protect and see on what the Ditto will be locked on. Then you can switch on your Pokemon which resists (if you have a core like Eternatus - Necrozma for example).

 

[Royal1604]

Zacian + Gothielle Offensive Core

Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Play Rough
- Crunch
- Wild Charge

Gothitelle @ Leftovers
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 248 HP / 56 Def / 204 Spe
Bold Nature
- Rest
- Taunt
- Charm
- Cosmic Power

Description

Zacian-Crowned is a top tier offensive threat in the SS metagame, with extremely few viable switch-ins. Most of which gets trapped by Gothielle.

Necrozma Dusk Mane are forced to run rocky helmet, to avoid a pp stall game by Zacian, whereas, Quagsire without leftovers or heavy duty boots get worn down heavily by hazards until it can no longer switch-in.

Gothielle can break through the common Eternatus + Yveltal + Dusk Mane defensive core prevalent in many balanced teams, and thus make for a devastating opening for Zacian to sweep.

It feels really strange to me to play no attack gothi, because it means that's basically a dead mon, can't deal any damages is a big problem when the meta has a lot of recovery options, you aren't threatening anything, and do you really win pp wars vs eternatus (which has pressure) with this set ?
I would recommand to use a specs set with trick, trapping efficiently eternatus and threatening necrozma of having a useless item

 

[Exiline]

That Gothitelle set aims to PP Stall and killing the threats making them use struggle, it wins the PP war vs Eternatus and NDM forcing them to keep out of PP with Taunt, Pressure only affects Damaging Moves, if Status moves they will not be affected by pressure

no.

 

[Jhonx~]

no.

my bad I was checking now how Pressure works, I was wrong.

 

[Katy]

offensive core:
Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Behemoth Blade
- Close Combat
- Wild Charge

Calyrex-Shadow @ Life Orb
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Astral Barrage
- Psychic
- Draining Kiss

and
this core is a really good core as they are really offensive and they can work well for each other; zacian-c can offensively pressure yveltlal for calyrex-s and it can also pressure xerneas and zamazenta. furthermore zacian-c can offensively pressure kyurem-b and kyurem-w, which calyrex-s appreciates, as zacian-c has a better and easier time switching into them for it and retaliate with a strong stab behemoth blade or its coverage in close combat. calyrex-s however can pressure necrozma-dusk mane for zacian-c, and can help versus lugia, solgaleo, and ho-oh with its strong nasty plot-boosted astral barrage or even with draining kiss. in overall this core checks a ton of threats for each other offensively.

balanced / defensive core:
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leftovers
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Morning Sun
- Earthquake
- Sunsteel Strike

Yveltal @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Taunt
- Roost

and
necrozma-dm is a great stealth rock-user in the ubers tier, with having access to morning sun as its recovery-option and earthquake and sunsteel strike as its moves. it can help versus xerneas, zacian-c, pheromosa, and zekrom for yveltal, whereas yveltal can check necrozma-dw, calyrex-s, and lunala for necrozma-dm. yveltal has knock off and u-turn as its first 2 slots, knock off is to help removing items such as choice specs, leftovers, and heavy-duty boots. taunt is to shut down recovery-options such as roost, morning sun, or recover. yveltal itself has roost in its arsenal too, as it wants to stay healthy by checking these pokemon for necrozma-dm.

offensive dual-water core:
Kyogre @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Water Spout
- Origin Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Thunder

Dracovish @ Choice Band
Ability: Strong Jaw
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fishious Rend
- Outrage
- Psychic Fangs
- Crunch

and
kyogre with choice scarf is a very threatening pokemon in the tier, as water spout can dish out a huge chunk of damage to any pokemon, which doesn't resist its water stabs, such as palkia and eternatus. ice beam can help versus eternatus and can dish out neutral damage against palkia, same as thunder, which can hit palkia neutrally. origin pulse is kyogres 2nd water stab because when kyogre is low on hp, it doesn't deal the damage it wants to opposing pokemon, so origin pulse is a given as a 2nd water stab-option. dracovish can profit from the drizzle to power up its fishious rend in conjunction with a choice band. fishious rend as a very tough move to switch into, outrage is dracovishs 2nd stab, whereas psychic fangs hits toxapex and zamazenta. crunch is there to hit lunala and giratina hard.

 

[JT Yao]

Sticky Webs Offense Core

Shuckle @ Mental Herb
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sticky Web
- Stealth Rock
- Encore
- Final Gambit

Yveltal @ Life Orb
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off / Foul Play
- Sucker Punch / Foul Play
- Roost
- Taunt

Regieleki @ Life Orb
Ability: Transistor
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Wild Charge
- Assurance
- Rapid Spin
- Explosion

Description

The potent core consisting of Shuckle + Regieleki + Fast Yveltal is becoming increasingly popular in Webs builds. Regieleki offers a natural form of speed control, hitting 499 speed and can reliably threaten many of the prominent defoggers in the tier with a Transistor Boosted LO Wild Charge. Assurance always OHKOs Calyrex-S, Explosion does significant damage to Eternatus and Zygarde, and finally Rapid Spin eases the Hazard War. Fast Yveltal can reliably defeat many of the defoggers in the tier, who are naturally slower than it. Knock Off + Sucker Punch synergize well, although Foul Play can be used if more offensive threats are a concern. Originally, I had Foul Play + Sucker Punch during the Zacian-C meta, but with its ban, Knock Off becomes an even more potent option to utilize. This core can also be further improved with the use of a Defiant abuser like Galarian Zapdos, although one must be wary of the opposing Ditto matchup when building Webs HO.

 

[Fc]

Been a while since a new core was submitted, so since a lot are outdated I'll go for more recent ones to try and get some more cores going in this meta

Balance Core
+
I think Zarude is really underrated and pretty good overall in the current meta. It functions as a counter to Zygarde, and check to Calyrex especially when paired with Ho-oh, a check to Groudon and Kyogre, Defensive Yvel lacking U-turn, Necrozma-DM, etc. Ho-oh is a strong pivot for it, scouting out Calyrex-S while providing a way to deal with things that threaten Zarude like Xerneas and when paired they can take on every CB Zacian attack although that's a very risky strategy. Thunder Wave on Ho-oh is nice for catching Eternatus, and Brave Bird might be better than WW with good anti Xerneas support but just for this core I'll leave it as is.

Offensive Core
+
This may be a more out there core, but I think that it's still quite cool and unexplored. I used this in my only MW game post Zacian-C which while it didn't matter for the standings since it was over the team was still really cool and I think showed off these two quite well. Marshadow can threaten Necrozma-DM quite hard which isn't hard to chip either when Darm-G is U-turning around a ton, and they can both carry rock moves to snipe Ho-oh and let each other break. Marshadow is checked fairly hard by Phys.Def Zygarde, something Darm-G threatens really hard for it. Eternatus is also forced out by Darm so that it can't wall Marshadow as hard if it's a fast set or doesn't have an item.

 

[JT Yao]

Double Suicide Lead + Fast Yveltal Offense Core

Slurpuff @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
IVs: 0 HP / 0 Atk / 0 Def / 0 SpD
- Sticky Web
- Magic Coat
- Endeavor
- Misty Explosion

Mew @ Focus Sash
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Misty Explosion

Yveltal @ Life Orb
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Roost
- Taunt

Description

The incredibly potent (and highly explosive) core of Slurpuff, Mew, and Yveltal provides tremendous amounts of momentum for Hyper Offense teams. Both Slurpuff and Mew can set up their Hazards respectively, and then proceed to explode via Misty Explosion. Fast Yveltal can reliably defeat many of the defoggers in the tier, who are naturally slower than it. Knock Off + Sucker Punch synergize well, and exert enough offensive pressure to defeat a wide variety of threats commonly found in the tier.

This core can also be further improved with the use of powerful and fast offensive threats that threaten common Defoggers in the tier such as Banded Zacian-H, Geomancy Xerneas, Power Herb Eternatus, and Life Orb Marshadow. However, one must be wary of the opposing Ditto matchup when building Hyper Offense in general, and it is good to have a back up plan against this such as the implementation of running Substitute on sweepers as well as running a Bulky Sweeper like Life Orb Necrozma Dusk Mane.

 

[Ropalme1914]

+

GeoXerneas + Band Zacian

Zacian @ Choice Band
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Close Combat
- Crunch
- Wild Charge

Xerneas @ Power Herb
Ability: Fairy Aura
EVs: 164 HP / 252 SpA / 92 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Geomancy
- Moonblast
- Thunder

Surprised this hasn't been suggest earlier. Offense Core around dual Fairy damage dealers, ideal to overwhelm Fairy-resistant Pokémon such as Necrozma-DM and Ho-Oh. One can wallbreak so that the other can sweep on the late-game, depending on the matchup. While they can deal with a few answers to the other, such as Xerneas being able to beat Tangrowth and Zacian KOing Ferrothorn with Close Combat, it truly shines by weakening the shared checks between them.

 

[Cynara]

+

DD Zekrom + Choice Specs Calyrex - Example sets

Zekrom @ Leftovers
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Bolt Strike
- Dragon Claw
- Magnet Rise

Calyrex-Shadow @ Choice Specs
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Trick
- Aromatherapy

OR

Zekrom @ Life Orb
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Bolt Strike
- Scale Shot
- Draco Meteor / Roost

Calyrex-Shadow @ Choice Scarf
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Trick
- Aromatherapy

Or

Calyrex-Shadow @ Focus Sash
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Draining Kiss

Dragon Dance Zekrom and Calyrex-SR make a monstrous offensive core that a lot of teams tend to struggle against right now, and can be the main offensive axon of almost any build that requires win conditions, such as Bulky Offense. I provided some example sets as usually set choice for these Pokemon is optimised for the type of team they are residing on in order to maxmimise the overall efficiency of the team. The general idea is the two together have ideal offensive synergy and enough power to seriously punch holes and overwhelm each other's checks allowing the other to winning condition. Zekrom also provides an offensive answer to Yveltal, Ho-Oh and Kyogre which Calyrex-SR can sometimes struggle to defeat, whether as Calyrex-SR threatens Tangrowth, Groudon, Zygarde-C, Zacian etc which are all deterrents for Zekrom.

I also threw together an example team with the aforementioned offensive core: https://pokepast.es/1791e2c225280eba

On a side note is this project ever likely to receive updates in the OP? It's been a while and some of the sets are updated including cores that are defunct as those Pokemon are banned from Uber, I feel this project is a good teambuilding tool, especially for newer players trying to build their first teams and for experienced players to get new ideas.

 

[JT Yao]

the most feared of offensive cores for every actual ss balance. these two monsters effortlessly dismantle any etern/ndm/yvel defensive core with overwhelming power by setting up on passive foes.

Import

Zekrom @ Life Orb
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Bolt Strike
- Scale Shot / Outrage
- Substitute / Focus Blast / Roost

Groudon @ Lum Berry
Ability: Drought
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Rock Polish
- Precipice Blades
- Stone Edge / Fire Punch

+

DD Zekrom + Choice Specs Calyrex - Example sets

Zekrom @ Leftovers
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Bolt Strike
- Dragon Claw
- Magnet Rise

Calyrex-Shadow @ Choice Specs
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Trick
- Aromatherapy

OR

Zekrom @ Life Orb
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Bolt Strike
- Scale Shot
- Draco Meteor / Roost

Calyrex-Shadow @ Choice Scarf
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Trick
- Aromatherapy

Or

Calyrex-Shadow @ Focus Sash
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Draining Kiss

Dragon Dance Zekrom and Calyrex-SR make a monstrous offensive core that a lot of teams tend to struggle against right now, and can be the main offensive axon of almost any build that requires win conditions, such as Bulky Offense. I provided some example sets as usually set choice for these Pokemon is optimised for the type of team they are residing on in order to maxmimise the overall efficiency of the team. The general idea is the two together have ideal offensive synergy and enough power to seriously punch holes and overwhelm each other's checks allowing the other to winning condition. Zekrom also provides an offensive answer to Yveltal, Ho-Oh and Kyogre which Calyrex-SR can sometimes struggle to defeat, whether as Calyrex-SR threatens Tangrowth, Groudon, Zygarde-C, Zacian etc which are all deterrents for Zekrom.

I also threw together an example team with the aforementioned offensive core: https://pokepast.es/1791e2c225280eba

On a side note is this project ever likely to receive updates in the OP? It's been a while and some of the sets are updated including cores that are defunct as those Pokemon are banned from Uber, I feel this project is a good teambuilding tool, especially for newer players trying to build their first teams and for experienced players to get new ideas.

Defensive SD Groudon + Life Orb DD Zekrom + Choice Scarf Calyrex-S Bulky Offense Core

Groudon @ Leftovers
Ability: Drought
EVs: 248 HP / 100 Atk / 144 Def / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Swords Dance
- Precipice Blades
- Stone Edge
- Thunder Wave

Zekrom @ Life Orb
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Dragon Dance
- Bolt Strike
- Dragon Claw
- Weather Ball

Calyrex-Shadow @ Choice Scarf
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Trick
- Aromatherapy

Description of the Gambino Groudon's Flagship Bulky Offense

This core capitalizes on the devastating offense core of Defensive SD Groudon, Life Orb Weather Ball Zekrom, and Choice Scarf Calyrex-S. Groudon is EV'd to survive a +2 Foul Play from opposing Specially Defensive Yveltal, and can OHKO back with Stone Edge, potentially facilitating a Calyrex-S sweep. Life Orb Zekrom compliments Scarf Calyrex-S well, as Cynara noted above, but running Weather Ball over Draco Meteor on Zekrom allows it to synergize especially well with Groudon, as it can effectively eliminate many would be checks such as Buzzwole, Ferrothorn, and Tangrowth in a pinch. And Calyrex-S can eliminate Lunala, which would otherwise be the most effective way of preventing a potential Groudon or Zekrom sweep. In this core, Groudon serves primarily as a breaker, whereas Life Orb Zekrom and Choice Scarf Calyrex-S serve as mid to late-game sweepers. However, if more offensive pressure is required, Calyrex-S can opt to utilize Choice Specs, maximizing its breaking prowess. It all comes down to personal preference and what a team specifically requires. The team below opts to utilize Choice Scarf Calyrex-S over Choice Specs, in order to have a true form of speed control, as well as a significantly better Hyper Offense matchup .

Gambino Groudon's Flagship Bulky Offense: https://pokepast.es/b4d6052c53f10057

mencemeat aka Jamvad featured this team on his latest video, where it performed fairly well:

+

GeoXerneas + Band Zacian

Zacian @ Choice Band
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Close Combat
- Crunch
- Wild Charge

Xerneas @ Power Herb
Ability: Fairy Aura
EVs: 164 HP / 252 SpA / 92 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Geomancy
- Moonblast
- Thunder

Surprised this hasn't been suggest earlier. Offense Core around dual Fairy damage dealers, ideal to overwhelm Fairy-resistant Pokémon such as Necrozma-DM and Ho-Oh. One can wallbreak so that the other can sweep on the late-game, depending on the matchup. While they can deal with a few answers to the other, such as Xerneas being able to beat Tangrowth and Zacian KOing Ferrothorn with Close Combat, it truly shines by weakening the shared checks between them.

This core is really powerful. That being said, one minor edit would be to change the Geomancy Xerneas EV's to 168 HP / 252 SpA / 88 Spe, as those are the standard EVs people use, rather than trying to speed creep. Additionally, slashing Ingrain over Substitute may be more optimal, as this core is utilized most frequently on Hyper Offense builds.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

What are the current good cores in the meta?