Credit to Fille and Orcelot for this idea Most successful teams are not usually made by just slapping on random Pokemon and hoping to win. Rather, they consist of cores or combinations, a group of 2-3 Pokemon that synergize well together, either offensively or defensively, and cover a significant portion of the metagame, and build the team around it. The basic purpose of this thread is to discuss effective cores or combinations in the LU metagame, either defensive or offensive, that can be used successfully in LU. Also, be sure to put in a description of how the core/combo in general is supposed to work. Also, no core/combo is perfect, and there are always counters to each viable core/combo, so don't say a core / combination sucks simply because one or two Pokemon break it. I'll give this a head start some of my own: As for an offensive one: Omastar (M) @ White Herb Trait: Weak Armor EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe Timid Nature - Shell Smash - Surf - Ice Beam - Hidden Power [Grass] Scolipede (M) @ Salac Berry Trait: Swarm EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe Jolly Nature - Swords Dance - Substitute - Megahorn - Aqua Tail This is an awesome combo I've been using lately, since the two are great sweepers in LU and can wreck after a boost. The two have interesting defensive and offensive synergy, and can come in on something the other fears, and use that for free setup, and sweep the team. As I said, they have great offensive synergy too, and they can cover a large portion of the metagame. They hit both specially and physically, respectively, so physical and special walls are not exactly safe from either. You could run an all out SD set for Scolipede if you'd like, if you're looking for EQ+Rock Slide coverage over Aqua Tail, and want Life Orb, I myself prefer SubSalac since he can avoid status and boost his Speed and get the edge over Accelgor and Cinccino. Here's another cool core I've been liking the use of lately (and a defensive one too): Clefable (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Magic Guard EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD Calm Nature - Wish - Protect - Seismic Toss - Heal Bell Dusclops (M) @ Eviolite Trait: Pressure EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD Impish Nature - Will-O-Wisp - Seismic Toss - Rest - Sleep Talk Poliwrath (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Water Absorb EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD Relaxed Nature - Scald - Circle Throw - Rest - Sleep Talk This defensive core can counter almost everything in the metagame. Clefable, Poliwrath, and Dusclops have almost perfect defensive synergy, and can do a lot. Clefable and Dusclops patch up each other's weaknesses, and Poliwrath patches up the Dark weakness and provides utility against Entei. Scald and Will-O-Wisp are nice and also help Clefable take some hits better, while Clefable can throw Wishes to Poliwrath and Dusclops to keep them healthy while also waking them up from Rest with Heal Bell. Moltres gives this core some problems so Slowking might be necessary (but Slowking is amazing anyways so who cares). Discuss away!
I'm loving Uxie and Lanturn as a defensive backbone right now. Uxie's a physically defensive monster, Lanturn takes most hits from either side and both have Twave to slow down things. I also gets Rocks and Heal Bell out of this little combo, as well as a mini VoltTurn thing. The things this doesn't deal with (mainly Krookodile and Lilligant) can easily be sorted out be teammates. It's a nice starting point, anyway.
Poliwrath + Roselia This core is absolutely amazing; litterally NOTHING passes it. Slowking + Steelix Amazing synergy, same as the above stops most threats.... well not offensive tang but you get my point... I'll think of more later... I'm tired
Here's a pretty good combo that I absolutely love using atm. Mesprit @ Life Orb Trait: Levitate EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD IVs: 0 Spe Quiet Nature - Trick Room - Psychic - Thunderbolt - Healing Wish Aggron @ Choice Band Trait: Rock Head EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def IVs: 0 Spe Brave Nature - Head Smash - Heavy Slam - Earthquake - Fire Punch / Aqua Tail These two make a pretty amazing offensive core, as they have awesome synergy both offensively and defensively. Aggron and Mesprit cover each others weaknesses very well and also hit from both sides of the spectrum, which is a real plus. Both are pretty strong sweepers under Trick Room; Mesprit can provide Trick Room support for Aggron to become even more monstrous (CB Head Smash is absurd), and break down physical walls like Tangrowth and Poliwrath to help Aggron succeed. Aggron can also come in on all of Mesprit's weaknesses, and the same for Mesprit. Mesprit also provides Healing Wish, which is awesome to provide Aggron a second chance to destroy another three opponents if it is severely weakened.
Hi. This combination wrecked Xdevo's gym twice and I even used it in UU for POWC once (it wonned.) Poliwrath (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Water Absorb EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd) - Rest - Sleep Talk - Circle Throw - Scald Druddigon (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Rough Skin EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk) - Roar - Dragon Tail - Rest - Sleep Talk Basically, with Hazards and a ghost (I've used Scolipede + CB Golurk or Bulky Rotom-A), these two can spread hazard damage with doing decent damage, working as a defensive core with rest for recovery, and wear down opponents teams. Hazards are pretty easy to get up and keep up in LU, so I abuse it with these two. Druddigon is a good wall to pokemon like Sceptile, Magmortar, Lilligant, and Rotom-C. Poliwrath is a check to Durant, Escavlier, Feraligatr, and other physical attackers. Overall, this core works great late game to keep my bulky offensive team with the momentum and assuring that the other team doesn't pull together a sweep or string together some kills.
An offensive Tag Team I'm using at the moment: Tornadus @ Sky Plate Trait: Prankster Hasty Nature (+Spd -Def) EV: 4 Atk, 252 SAtk, 252 Spd Rain Dance Hurricane Superpower Grass Knot/Tailwind Ludicolo @ Life Orb Trait: Swift Swim Modest Nature (+SAtk -Atk) EV: 4 HP, 252 SAtk, 252 Spd Rain Dance Hydro Pump Giga Drain Ice Beam Once hazards are down, this tag team can sweep teams with ease. Tornadus outruns the entire unboosted metagame bar Sceptile, Accelgor and Scolipede, and only the latter is any real threat to it. Ludicolo outruns everything south of Scarf Manectric in Rain, and has a 270 power Hydro Pump to throw around. They don't share any weaknesses either.
Cool stuff there, that's a pretty awesome combo. Here's another: Mismagius (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Levitate EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe Timid Nature - Substitute - Nasty Plot - Shadow Ball - Hidden Power [Fighting] Bisharp (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Defiant EVs: 48 HP / 252 Atk / 208 Spe Adamant Nature - Substitute - Swords Dance - Sucker Punch - Iron Head This core is amazing on offensive Spike-stacking teams, as they have excellent synergy. One physical, one special sweeper is pretty awesome, and like the previous cores I mentioned, Mismagius and Bisharp have excellent synergy defensively; they can come in on each other's weaknesses and use that as a free setup opportunity to grab an SD or NP boost. Substitute allows them to grab boosts more easily as well. With boosts, these two are very dangerous threats, being able to sweep teams handily, and the former also can spinblock. This core is excellent and does well with just hazard support alone (I use Sash Scolipede to set up the hazards).