Good Teambuilding Cores In OU

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Introduction

One of the most important parts of being able to successfully play competitive Pokémon is being able to build good teams, as they significantly up the chance of you winning the match. Within building teams, one of the most common ways to build a team is by utilizing a core and adding teammates that support the core. For the uninformed, a core is a combination of two or three Pokémon that work very well together. The most common ways a core functions is by having the two team members eliminate each other's counters so one can sweep, having amazing offensive or defensive type synergy, or by having one set ideal conditions for the other. This article will showcase good cores in OU that may also function as a start for those who would like to teambuild. This article will be mostly geared to good cores in general rather than how to create your own or what they are, but hopefully you still learn a thing or two about that aspect.

Bisharp + Mega Gallade + Sylveon

Bisharp and Mega Gallade, apart from their amazing offensive and defensive type synergy, form a core that is a pain for most balanced teams to handle. The idea of the core is simple: apart from Bisharp and Mega Gallade occasionally taking resisted attacks for each other, Bisharp obliterates Fairy-types for Mega Gallade (specifically Unaware Clefable, which can almost counter Mega Gallade) and also can set up its own Swords Dance to punch holes throughout the game so that Mega Gallade can sweep with ease. On the flip side, Mega Gallade can beat Keldeo, physically defensive Mega Venusaur, Conkeldurr, and Lucario, which are all Pokémon that can give Bisharp huge trouble. However, while both these power rangers can boost their attacks to ridiculous levels with Swords Dance, they both struggle with three common Pokémon: Mega Sableye and Mega Slowbro wall Mega Gallade to oblivion while the former is a defensive check to Bisharp with priority Will-O-Wisp, and most Mandibuzz can take +2 Iron Head and +2 Close Combat from Bisharp and Mega Gallade and cripple or easily OHKO with Foul Play. To remedy this problem, enter Sylveon. Choice Specs Sylveon's Hyper Voice OHKOes Mandibuzz and Mega Sableye and weakens Mega Slowbro to the point where it can easily be picked off. Furthermore, aside from providing this offensive support, Sylveon can take on Fighting-types that threaten Bisharp as well. Sylveon also can change its set up a bit to also clear up the path for Bisharp if Mega Gallade is down by running Psyshock to eliminate Mega Venusaur, or even run Heal Bell to negate status effects on both Bisharp and Mega Gallade, which are crippled easily by any status.

Tyranitar or Hippowdon + Excadrill

One of the cores that demolishes hyper offense, this core is the face of sand offense and is incredibly terrifying if set up correctly. The basic idea of the core is that either Tyranitar or Hippowdon come into play and set sand up. After this, the user goes back into Excadrill. Excadrill's ability, Sand Rush, doubles its Speed and allows it to outpace the entire metagame, including Choice Scarf users. Because of the sheer power that Excadrill packs with its meaty base 135 Attack, the high power of its main two STAB moves (80 and 100 for Iron Head and Earthquake, respectively), and its great coverage between Steel, Rock, and Ground, Excadrill is one of the most terrifying sweepers in the entire metagame. Excadrill's fourth moveslot can pack either Rapid Spin or Swords Dance; Rapid Spin allows Excadrill to support its team early-game or as a last-ditch effort late-game, while Swords Dance is usually the better option and allows Excadrill to hit a ridiculous 810 Attack stat with an Adamant nature, OHKOing large amount of things. The choice between Tyranitar and Hippowdon is usually up to player preference. Tyranitar brings much more immediate offensive presence to the table, can Pursuit trap foes so they're weakened just enough for Excadrill to come in and seal the deal, and can lure foes such as Landorus-T and Ferrothorn, both Pokémon that commonly give Excadrill trouble, and eliminate them with Ice Beam and Fire Blast. Hippowdon, on the other hand, is extremely bulky, is a very reliable setter of Stealth Rock (which makes it easier for Excadrill to sweep), is an emergency check to Landorus-T that try to trouble Excadrill, and can provide a lot of utility by reliably spreading Toxic or phazing foes.

Landorus-Therian + Rotom-W

One of the most common cores in early XY, Landorus-T and Rotom-W form a core that gradually picks at the opponent and makes it very hard for the opposing team to land any denting hits. The most obvious aspect of the core is the amazing type synergy; Rotom-W takes Water- and Ice-type attacks for Landorus-T, while Landorus-T can safely absorb Electric-type attacks. Together, these two Pokémon resist a large handful of attacks. Furthermore, Landorus-T and Rotom-W form a VoltTurn core, which allows each of them to slowly pick at the opposing team. Landorus-T can run a defensive set with Stealth Rock to wear down Pokémon with U-turn even more and abuse Intimidate, while Rotom-W can spread Will-O-Wisp and Volt Switch out to chip at the opposing Pokémon's health. Landorus-T can also forgo a defensive Stealth Rock set to use a Choice Scarf set to grab momentum even better while being able to clean up after Rotom-W and itself damage the foe enough.

Politoed + Omastar, Kingdra, Kabutops, or Mega Swampert

Rain offense is a very underrated playstyle in OU, as while it might be a bit difficult to pull off, it almost always will pull its weight. This core is essentially the face of rain offense. Politoed is the standard automatic rain setter with Drizzle; its main role on a rain team/core is to set up rain so teammates can sweep. However, Politoed also has utility in being able to Encore foes such as Ferrothorn that tend to give rain cores trouble. The second half of the core is the sweeper and rain wallbreaker, and all of them have their benefits. For one, each has the ability Swift Swim, which allows them to double their Speed in rain and lets them sweep with ease with their boosted Water-type attacks. Of the choices, there is the choice of a wallbreaker and a rain sweeper for maximum effectiveness; one dents the opposing team while the second cleans up. Out of the wallbreakers brings us Omastar and Kingdra. Omastar under the rain is one of the scariest things any team without a Ferrothorn can face. Choice Specs STAB Hydro Pump under rain off a base 125 Special Attack is the most powerful attack in the entire OU metagame, OHKOing every neutrality, 2HKOing most resistances (including the dreaded Ferrothorn after very minimal prior damage), and 2HKOing even Chansey. However, Kingdra is an alternate option with some added benefits. While it lacks the sheer power that Omastar packs due to its much lower base 95 Special Attack, Kingdra benefits from a much higher Speed stat which lets it outpace every Choice Scarf user, an added Dragon typing which gives it amazing coverage as well as a nuke in STAB Draco Meteor for hitting opposing Water-types, and overall better bulk and defensive typing which means that it isn't as reliant on OHKOing the foe when it isn't as prone to priority and neutral attackers. The second half of the rain offense core is the rain sweeper. Of the two choices, we see Kabutops and Mega Swampert. Kabutops packs ridiculous power under rain, OHKOing every netural resist and striking Pokémon that resist Water-type with its secondary STAB move, Stone Edge. However, Kabutops is very frail and has a very average defensive typing; it usually will faint to most STAB attacks. To remedy this, Mega Swampert, most likely the best overall user of rain, is an option. Mega Swampert is barely outdamaged by Kabutops due to the latter being able to hold a Life Orb; however, Mega Swampert's many positives make up for this. STAB Earthquake, Ice-type coverage, and much more bulk make Mega Swampert a threat under rain. Mega Swampert finds itself OHKOing the foe most of the time and can tank many attacks as well. For reference, Latios's Draco Meteoer can't OHKO, Bisharp's Sucker Punch can't even bring it down under the 40% benchmark, and a key resistance to Scizor's Bullet Punch means it's very hard to stop Mega Swampert after it gets going.

Mega Beedrill + Magnezone

Mega Beedrill finds itself to be an overlooked Mega Evolution in OU due to the fact that it has a fair share of checks and counters such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory. Choice Scarf Magnezone forms an amazing core with Mega Beedrill, being able to form a fast VoltTurn core to continuously grab momentum from the opponent and get amazing matchups. Magnezone also is able to trap almost all of Mega Beedrill's checks and counters due to Magnet Pull, then OHKO all of them with either Hidden Power Fire or Thunderbolt, thus allowing Mega Beedrill to spam U-turn all day long with no worries. Furthermore, one of the easiest ways to take down Mega Beedrill is with priority in the form of Sucker Punch, Bullet Punch, and Extreme Speed. Magnezone can avoid the first by simply switching in and can tank the latter two all day thanks to its great typing and base 100 Defense.

Chesnaught + Rhyperior

Chesnaught and Rhyperior form a core that fits amazingly well on bulkier teams. The two have amazing type synergy for one, with Chesnaught taking Water-, Grass-, Ground-, and most Fighting-type attacks that would all otherwise completely wipe out Rhyperior. In return, Rhyperior outright counters Flying-types and birdspam in general that all are threatening to Chesnaught while also taking Fire-type attacks. Furthermore, Chesnaught and Rhyperior both have access to Spikes and Stealth Rock, respectively, which lets them both form an entry hazard-stacking core that slowly chips at the opponent's team. Chesnaught even has Leech Seed to slowly pick at the foe as well. Both Pokémon also pack decent Attack stats and usually pack two STAB attacks on each, allowing them to consistently deal out damage while supporting the team and each other. Overall, this core is among the best on this list and is very self-sufficient, which makes it very easy to keep the team and core together.

Mega Metagross + Thundurus

Mega Metagross is often regarded to be one of the best Pokémon in OU, even being suspected at one point. This is all due to its extremely high Attack stat that is bolstered by the ability Tough Claws and its high Speed. However, Mega Metagross is stopped cold by a few select Pokémon. Mandibuzz, Skarmory, Slowbro, and Slowking can easily wall or cripple Mega Metagross. To solve this problem, Thundurus comes in. Thundurus, by virtue of typing and stats, simply blows through all of the aforementioned with a Life Orb STAB Thunderbolt. This paves the way for Mega Metagross to come in and start wreaking havoc. However, this is not all the support Thundurus provides. Thundurus can run a Prankster set with Nasty Plot to dent the opposing team and allow Mega Metagross to come in and clean up. Thundurus can also use Prankster Thunder Wave to give Mega Metagross better speed control, and it can also run Focus Blast to muscle past more specific checks that can cripple Mega Metagross such as Ferrothorn.

Mega Altaria + Talonflame

This core somewhat functions like the core above in that there's a Mega Pokémon that just needs its checks and counters wiped out. Mega Altaria is one of the best Mega Evolutions in the current metagame and, depending on its set, can get around its checks and counters; however, the set in this example is the offensive Dragon Dance set, which is stopped easily by Ferrothorn, Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur, Mega Scizor, Bronzong, and many other common Pokémon. Swords Dance Talonflame easily remedies this. Talonflame's Fire-type STAB allows it to OHKO every listed Pokémon at +2 bar Mega Venusaur, which is smashed by +2 Brave Bird. This weakens the opposing team enough for Mega Altaria to sweep. On the flip side, Mega Altaria can weaken the opposing team with Dragon Dance and Swords Dance Talonflame can clean up.

Shuckle + Bisharp

Shuckle is a unique Pokémon in that it is the face of an entire playstyle: Sticky Web offense. However, Sticky Web offense is usually a very difficult playstyle to utilize, as it is stopped by Magic Bounce and Defog, which is everywhere. Bisharp somewhat fixes this; in the case that Sticky Web is bounced back, it switches in and gains +2 thanks to its ability, Defiant. Yes, the Speed drop sucks for it, but Sucker Punch remedies this and allows it to destroy hyper offense or stall with Knock Off. This also enables Bisharp to beat Mega Sableye, which bounces back Sticky Web. Defog is also neutered by Bisharp, as Bisharp also gains a +2 from the evasion drop, allowing it to demolish teams.

Rotom-W + Assault Vest Tornadus-T

Rotom-W and Tornadus-T complement each other almost perfectly. First off, the two form a VoltTurn core, which is almost invaluable and allows the player to continuously grab momentum. Next, the two form a very nice bulky core. Rotom-W stands up to birdspam and many physical attackers in general, while Tornadus-T sponges many special attacks when coupled with an Assault Vest. Tornadus-T is an especially reliable pivot, as Regenerator continuously lets it regain its health and somewhat mitigate Stealth Rock damage. Rotom-W is also able to use Will-O-Wisp to cripple physical attackers for Tornadus-T in the case that it is about to go down. Combined, the two are able to stand up to a plethora of threats; Tornadus-T can eliminate Grass-types for Rotom-W while Rotom-W is an easy stop to most Ice-types in the tier. Overall, the two together form a very simple core that allows them to tank many different types of attacks.

Mega Sableye + Manaphy + Amoonguss

This is a general core that fits very well on stall teams. The idea of the core is that Amoonguss provides a blanket check to many special attackers that do not pack a super effective attack by Sporing them. Mega Sableye is the counter to entry hazards and bounces them back simply by switching in, which is excellent when you consider how destroyed by entry hazards stall cores are. Mega Sableye should run a Metal Burst set with this core to eliminate Pokémon such as Mega Charizard Y that easily demolish the other parts of this core. Manaphy provides a win condition for the core and has excellent synergy with Amoonguss. Overall this core is excellent at stalling out opposing teams and just being a general annoyance to deal with.

Keldeo + Mega Houndoom + Celebi

Keldeo, Mega Houndoom, and Celebi all function very well together. Keldeo and Sludge Bomb Mega Houndoom beat each other's checks and counters, allowing Mega Houndoom to sweep with Nasty Plot. Choice Scarf Keldeo beats Tyranitar, Mega Diancie, Heatran, Chansey, and Terrakion for Mega Houndoom, while Mega Houndoom beats Latios, Latias, Amoonguss, Mega Metagross, Chesnaught, and Celebi for Keldeo. Furthermore, Mega Houndoom can weaken the opposing team and let Keldeo clean up after with a Choice Scarf. Celebi provides a check to Breloom, opposing Keldeo, and Rotom-W, which all can give Mega Houndoom and Keldeo immense trouble. The most notable thing about this core is that whatever Pokémon that gives trouble to any given Pokémon on this core is easily given trouble by another member on this core.

Conclusion

These are all cores that are amazing for starting to build teams with. It's advised you grab a core and start building off of that by pairing it up with good teammates that can support the core while subsequently building a team.

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