Hello thread-surfers, I've been slacking a bit on these but here's today's common core, the Fire type core.
Note: There will be no flying type core until core challenge 3, seeing as the core is no longer legal.
Infernape (M) @ Focus Sash / Life Orb
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
; 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Hasty / Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Mach Punch
- Thunderpunch / Fake Out
- Flamethrower / Flare Blitz
Infernape is one of Fire's most common attackers, and understandably so. It helps fire with its rock weakness by providing a fighting type STAB, and is often times one of the only things standing between the team and a Terrakion sweep. It offsets its poor bulk with its excellent offensive stats, its very important base 108 speed, and its good offensive movepool. These factors are what makes Infernape a core part of fire teams. The top finisher, who won both fire core challenges, used a sash mixed attacker Infernape with Close Combat, Mach Punch, ThunderPunch, and Flamethrower. He also included Fake out on one of his team write-ups. Sash mixed infernape could have also used Fire Blast or Overheat instead of Flamethrower. Infernape could also choose to be solely a physical attacker, using Flare Blitz instead of a special-based fire type attack. In this case, Focus Sash is not the preferred item, being replaced by Life Orb or Choice Band.
Victini @ Choice Scarf / Assault Vest
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
; 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly / Timid Nature
- V-create / Blue Flare
- Zen Headbutt / Psyshock
- Bolt Strike / Energy Ball
- U-turn / Glaciate
Victini is a common sight in both fire and psychic teams, and its not hard to see why. It has base 100 for all stats and an expansive offensive movepool, giving it excellent versatility and ability to take on threats to the Fire type. The top finisher used a physical scarf set consisting of V-Create, Zen Headbutt, Bolt Strike, and U-turn. One could alternatively choose to use a special scarf set with Blue Flare, Psyshock, and Energy Ball, with the last moveslot being a choice between U-turn and Glaciate. Assault Vest also works with either set of moves, allowing the user to have some additional bulk and to fake a scarf. Alternative to both of these sets would be a mixed set with V-Create, Bolt Strike, and Energy Ball, which would have a lot of potential use against Water.
These two together handle a lot of threats to Fire and have great offensive coverage. They can pressure many teams, offering the ability to apply a consistent offense. The two don't pair that well defensively, each only providing one resist to one of the other's weaknesses, but Fire is rarely defensive in nature. The two appreciate the support of hazards and hazard removal, because this core is hazard weak. This core is weak to fast pokemon that super effect both members and get past Victini's scarf, such as Excadrill in sand and Choice Scarf Terrakion. This core also does not appreciate cores that resist both members. Despite their great coverage together, Dragons can still wall this core, as can a swampert, so a way to deal with these is incredibly important. The surprise of this core is that it lacked Torkoal, which I thoroughly expected to be a common member because of its status as Fire's most consistent hazard remover.
Note: There will be no flying type core until core challenge 3, seeing as the core is no longer legal.
Infernape (M) @ Focus Sash / Life Orb
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
; 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Hasty / Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Mach Punch
- Thunderpunch / Fake Out
- Flamethrower / Flare Blitz
Infernape is one of Fire's most common attackers, and understandably so. It helps fire with its rock weakness by providing a fighting type STAB, and is often times one of the only things standing between the team and a Terrakion sweep. It offsets its poor bulk with its excellent offensive stats, its very important base 108 speed, and its good offensive movepool. These factors are what makes Infernape a core part of fire teams. The top finisher, who won both fire core challenges, used a sash mixed attacker Infernape with Close Combat, Mach Punch, ThunderPunch, and Flamethrower. He also included Fake out on one of his team write-ups. Sash mixed infernape could have also used Fire Blast or Overheat instead of Flamethrower. Infernape could also choose to be solely a physical attacker, using Flare Blitz instead of a special-based fire type attack. In this case, Focus Sash is not the preferred item, being replaced by Life Orb or Choice Band.
Victini @ Choice Scarf / Assault Vest
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
; 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly / Timid Nature
- V-create / Blue Flare
- Zen Headbutt / Psyshock
- Bolt Strike / Energy Ball
- U-turn / Glaciate
Victini is a common sight in both fire and psychic teams, and its not hard to see why. It has base 100 for all stats and an expansive offensive movepool, giving it excellent versatility and ability to take on threats to the Fire type. The top finisher used a physical scarf set consisting of V-Create, Zen Headbutt, Bolt Strike, and U-turn. One could alternatively choose to use a special scarf set with Blue Flare, Psyshock, and Energy Ball, with the last moveslot being a choice between U-turn and Glaciate. Assault Vest also works with either set of moves, allowing the user to have some additional bulk and to fake a scarf. Alternative to both of these sets would be a mixed set with V-Create, Bolt Strike, and Energy Ball, which would have a lot of potential use against Water.
These two together handle a lot of threats to Fire and have great offensive coverage. They can pressure many teams, offering the ability to apply a consistent offense. The two don't pair that well defensively, each only providing one resist to one of the other's weaknesses, but Fire is rarely defensive in nature. The two appreciate the support of hazards and hazard removal, because this core is hazard weak. This core is weak to fast pokemon that super effect both members and get past Victini's scarf, such as Excadrill in sand and Choice Scarf Terrakion. This core also does not appreciate cores that resist both members. Despite their great coverage together, Dragons can still wall this core, as can a swampert, so a way to deal with these is incredibly important. The surprise of this core is that it lacked Torkoal, which I thoroughly expected to be a common member because of its status as Fire's most consistent hazard remover.