Post by 5gen on Sept 25, 2016 22:56:43 GMT
ZU Good Cores
Art coming soon
Approved by slar flar
OP largely stolen from OU Good Cores
A strong core is one of the single most valuable aspects of a team. Cores are normally made up of two or three pokemon that work great together, and have a specific goal to accomplish. The majority of cores have varying characteristics that allow them to triumph in different areas, and depending on your team, they can be built to succeed offensively or defensively. An offensive core is a group of pokemon focused towards and designed to break through teams, while a defensive core is meant to have a useful set of resistances and the ability to consistently switch into a wide range of attacks.
In this diverse and constantly evolving metagame, there are a plethora of cores to experiment with. With that out of the way, welcome to the ZU Good Cores thread!
Posting Guidelines
- Anyone can post a core in this thread. The cores are broken down into four categories: offensive cores, balanced cores, defensive cores, and weather cores. Please state which category your core falls into when posting
- Although the way your core works may be obvious to you, this may not be the case for others. As such, please explain how your core operates, what it's good against, and what it struggles facing. Just be quick and concise, we're not looking for essays
- This goes without saying, but do make sure your post includes the sets your core is using in a pastebin. In addition, please try to include an explanation of any EV spreads deviating from the standard 252 / 252. Replays are also very helpful and highly encouraged when posting cores
- Please be respectful of the cores people post in this thread. If someone posts a core that you think is ineffective or just plain bad, there is no need to jump at their throats, simply respond politely and with constructive criticism
Core Selection Process
- This thread will be regularly checked and effective cores selected for archive
- While the selection of good cores can often be subjective, it is taken into consideration a variety of aspects before deciding which cores are featured in the archive. This includes quality of explanation, effectiveness of the core in the current metagame, and so on
- If more discussion is needed to examine cores, we'll talk it over on discord (join) or some other place
Examples:
Offensive Core
+
Sets
Simple offensive core featuring NP Simisage and Toxic Electabuzz. This Simisage set acts as a sweeper or breaker, beating Ground-types that pressure Electabuzz. The latter checks Flying-types for Simi, and also carries Toxic to help wear down it's and Sage's switch ins. EVs are standard, as well as movesets.
Defensive
+
or 
Sets
Gourgeist-L is the premier physically defensive Pokemon in the tier. Pair it with a specially bulky Normal-type and a fantastic defensive core is formed. Regigigas has absurd bulk for ZU standard, able to stomach hits from the likes of Vanilluxe or Duosion with ease. Regigigas is able to Toxic stall foes and remove their items with Knock Off, which compliments Gourgeist-L (as it has an easier time wearing down opposing Pokemon). Munchlax on the other hand has great defensive synergy with Gourgeist-L due to Thick Fat. With Thick Fat, it is able to consistently check Glaceon and Magmar, two Pokemon which tear through Gourgeist-L. A standard Curse Rest-Talk set is used to act as a win condition whilst maintaining strong defensive presence (Curse also boosts Defence making it increasingly difficult to take down).
Balance
+
Sets
Jumpluff and Lairon share fantastic synergy, the former checking Fighting-, Water-, and Ground-types while the latter beats Ice- and Rock-types. Using utility Pluff here, since the speed and support it brings to teams is second to none. Rocker Lairon here because of that mix of defense and offense it brings, running enough speed for base 50's.
Weather
+
Sets
Weather isn't as common now as it was with Heat Rock, but here is a cool little rain core. Golduck is an amazing sweeper under rain, not much can take it's rain boosted Hydro Pump or coverage. This makes it fantastic at cleaning late game with that +2 speed. Emolga switches into Electrics and gets a free +1 boost to speed, and can set rain quite easily. Thunder to abuse the rain and Air Slash for the grasses (not much else is needed since Golduck beats everything Emolga can't under rain).
Have fun, post away!
Archive
Offensive: +
(Acast ) 
+
(takeazelfie )
Defensive: 
+ 
(Fannyfan )
Balance:
Weather:
