Approved by Magnemite | Primarily copied from -Grim who primarily copied from bludz who primarily copied the format from OU's Victim of the Week
Pokemon teams rely on offensive and defensive synergy to function. Cores of pokemon are units within teams that are built specifically to take advantage of these synergies between pokemon. Many teams are built around such cores. The premise of this thread is to analyze cores by discussing threats to them and then potential partners. Hopefully this exercise helps you with your teambuilding process.
I will not necessarily be using cores from the Good Cores thread (though I may use a few), but I recommend you check it out if you are looking for a core to build around.
Procedure:
1. I will post a core comprised of 2 pokemon.
2. For the first 3 days after that post, posters will have the chance to post threats to the core.
Example: Stunfisk is a threat to the Volturn core of Raichu and Ninjask.
3. After the the first 3 days are up, posters will nominate potential partners to the core, keeping in mind the threats previously posted. This will last for 4 days.
Example: Grumpig is a potential partner for Leafeon as it checks Ice, Fire and Poison types that would threaten Leafeon, while bringing in physical attackers like Metang that would be set up on by Leafeon.
4. When the week is up, I will choose the top 2 partners to the core and put them in the OP. This is a subjective procedure so I will most likely consult other players – but not ones who made nominations in the thread. Please don’t be insulted if your nomination doesn’t make the OP. I will probably add in a Hall of Fame if this thread goes on for long enough.
Rules:
1. Please follow up your reservations in a timely fashion. I will allow 24 hours after a reservation to make the post. After the 24 hours is up, if you have not made your post then someone else may reserve that pokemon.
2. When the threats nominations period ends, I will no longer accept threats and will only be accepting partners to the core.
3. Please post only pokemon that are viable in PU. Preferably ones not listed lower than C rank in the viability rankings.
4. Each poster may only nominate one partner to a core. I would prefer you only post one threat as well but if many threats have been posted since your first post I may allow you to post a second threat.
5. When posting either a threat or a partner, explain yourself. Calcs are not necessary but please list more reasons than something simple like type synergy. Be descriptive so that other posters and I can fully understand your reasoning behind your nomination. Also please list a full set of the pokemon including its item, full moveset, EV spread, and nature. Feel free to comment and elaborate on others' threats or partners.
6. Please be respectful to others :)
Clarifications Regarding Threats & Partners:
A threat to the core must check or counter at least one member and cannot be countered by the other. A threat does not necessarily need to be able to switch into both members of the core, but it should be difficult/annoying to switch into for the members of the core. More clarification is provided in the post below. Of course, the biggest threats counter both members.
When nominating partners, you are allowed to make suggested changes to the current sets of the members of the core.
Example: If nominating defensive roselia as a partner to the core of sdef Golem and Zebstrika it would be a good choice to change Golem to weakness policy.
Current core being discussed:
|
Politoed + Gourgeist-Super
Threats | Partners
Pokemon teams rely on offensive and defensive synergy to function. Cores of pokemon are units within teams that are built specifically to take advantage of these synergies between pokemon. Many teams are built around such cores. The premise of this thread is to analyze cores by discussing threats to them and then potential partners. Hopefully this exercise helps you with your teambuilding process.
I will not necessarily be using cores from the Good Cores thread (though I may use a few), but I recommend you check it out if you are looking for a core to build around.
Procedure:
1. I will post a core comprised of 2 pokemon.
2. For the first 3 days after that post, posters will have the chance to post threats to the core.
Example: Stunfisk is a threat to the Volturn core of Raichu and Ninjask.
3. After the the first 3 days are up, posters will nominate potential partners to the core, keeping in mind the threats previously posted. This will last for 4 days.
Example: Grumpig is a potential partner for Leafeon as it checks Ice, Fire and Poison types that would threaten Leafeon, while bringing in physical attackers like Metang that would be set up on by Leafeon.
4. When the week is up, I will choose the top 2 partners to the core and put them in the OP. This is a subjective procedure so I will most likely consult other players – but not ones who made nominations in the thread. Please don’t be insulted if your nomination doesn’t make the OP. I will probably add in a Hall of Fame if this thread goes on for long enough.
Rules:
1. Please follow up your reservations in a timely fashion. I will allow 24 hours after a reservation to make the post. After the 24 hours is up, if you have not made your post then someone else may reserve that pokemon.
2. When the threats nominations period ends, I will no longer accept threats and will only be accepting partners to the core.
3. Please post only pokemon that are viable in PU. Preferably ones not listed lower than C rank in the viability rankings.
4. Each poster may only nominate one partner to a core. I would prefer you only post one threat as well but if many threats have been posted since your first post I may allow you to post a second threat.
5. When posting either a threat or a partner, explain yourself. Calcs are not necessary but please list more reasons than something simple like type synergy. Be descriptive so that other posters and I can fully understand your reasoning behind your nomination. Also please list a full set of the pokemon including its item, full moveset, EV spread, and nature. Feel free to comment and elaborate on others' threats or partners.
6. Please be respectful to others :)
Clarifications Regarding Threats & Partners:
A threat to the core must check or counter at least one member and cannot be countered by the other. A threat does not necessarily need to be able to switch into both members of the core, but it should be difficult/annoying to switch into for the members of the core. More clarification is provided in the post below. Of course, the biggest threats counter both members.
When nominating partners, you are allowed to make suggested changes to the current sets of the members of the core.
Example: If nominating defensive roselia as a partner to the core of sdef Golem and Zebstrika it would be a good choice to change Golem to weakness policy.
Past cores discussed:
Carracosta (RIP) + Zebstrika
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Tangela |
Piloswine (RIP) |
Roselia
Raichu + Ninjask
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Prinplup (RIP) |
Barbaracle (RIP) |
Poliwrath (RIP)
Stoutland + Sawsbuck
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
| | 
Rotom-Frost
Carracosta (RIP, use Relicanth)+ Roselia
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Probopass |
Torkoal | 
Sawsbuck + Victreebel (RIP)
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Rapidash | 
Piloswine (RIP) + Pelipper
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Ninetales |
Clefairy |
Tangela
Arbok + Poliwrath (RIP)
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Grumpig |
Misdreavus | 
Tangela + Clefairy
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Poliwrath (RIP) |
Rapidash |
Carracosta (RIP)
Barbaracle (RIP) + Jumpluff
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Clefairy | 
Pawniard + Mightyena
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Grumpig |
Pelipper |
Simisage
Articuno + Vibrava
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Probopass |
Grumpig |
Ursaring + Mr. Mime
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
| Probopass |
Floatzel + Zebstrika
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Raichu |
Vibrava | 
Misdreavus + Fraxure
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Ninetales |
Arbok |
Stunfisk
Simipour + Raichu
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Regice |
Roselia |
Mr. Mime
Piloswine + Roselia
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
|
Stoutland + Mightyena
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Simipour |
Mr. Mime | 
Vigoroth + Jumpluff
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Roselia |
Machoke |
Swanna
Gourgeist-Super + Zweilous
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
| 
Metang |
Dodrio + Raichu
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Trapinch |
Vibrava |
Arbok + Fraxure
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Metang |
Ninetales |
Solrock + Roselia
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Politoed |
Clefairy | 
Carracosta (RIP) + Zebstrika
Top 3 Partners:
Raichu + Ninjask
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Stoutland + Sawsbuck
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
| | 
Rotom-FrostCarracosta (RIP, use Relicanth)+ Roselia
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Sawsbuck + Victreebel (RIP)
Threats | PartnersTop 3 Partners:
Piloswine (RIP) + Pelipper
Threats | PartnersTop 3 Partners:
Ninetales |
Arbok + Poliwrath (RIP)
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Tangela + Clefairy
Threats | PartnersTop 3 Partners:
Barbaracle (RIP) + Jumpluff
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Clefairy | 
Pawniard + Mightyena
Threats | PartnersTop 3 Partners:
Articuno + Vibrava
Top 3 Partners:
Ursaring + Mr. Mime
Threats | PartnersTop 3 Partners:
| Probopass | Floatzel + Zebstrika
Threats | PartnersTop 3 Partners:
Misdreavus + Fraxure
Threats | PartnersTop 3 Partners:
Simipour + Raichu
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
Piloswine + Roselia
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
| Stoutland + Mightyena
Threats | PartnersTop 3 Partners:
Vigoroth + Jumpluff
Threats | PartnersTop 3 Partners:
Gourgeist-Super + Zweilous
Threats | Partners
Top 3 Partners:
| 
Metang | Dodrio + Raichu
Threats | PartnersTop 3 Partners:
Arbok + Fraxure
Threats | PartnersTop 3 Partners:
Solrock + Roselia
Threats | PartnersTop 3 Partners:
Current core being discussed:
Politoed + Gourgeist-Super
Threats | Partners
Last edited:
