Swampert-Skarmory
Swampert-Skarmory is a classic duo core. Swampert and Skarmory almost perfectly complement each other in their coverage. Swampert beats things that beat Skarmory (fire, electric, rock/ground) and Skarmory beats things that beat Swampert (grass). When combined with a strong Safe swap like Sableye or Trevenant, this BBML core performs consistently and gives opportunities to find win conditions. This core is a good reference for what to look for when you build your own ABC teams.
Swampert is the offensive pokemon in this core. It has a weak fast move and relies on charged moves for damage. Because of this, Swampert works best when you can set up scenarios to farm down with Mud Shots. Hydro Cannon is the primary attack. Earthquake or Sludge Wave provide coverage for things that resist water (e.g., Azumarill).
Skarmory is a defensive "steel tank" pokemon. It's not flexible in its coverage, but has bulk and its Brave Bird nuke to do some damage to most of its counters.
The core is flexible enough that you can use either Swampert or Skarmory as the lead, depending on shifts in the meta. Although more popular in Great League, this core also has play in Ultra League.
Example teams
Swampert lead
- Swampert - Sableye - Skarmory
- Swampert - Trevenant - Skarmory
Skarmory lead
- Skarmory- Trevenant- Swampert
- Skarmory- Sableye - Swampert
These teams rely on energy and switch clock management to give Swampert, Sableye and Trevenant an energy lead. I.e., instead of fighting to the death to maintain alignment and getting farmed, it can sometimes be beneficial to lose switch (or forcing a switch), if that lets you gain energy or switch advantage on Swampert, Sableye or Trevenant.
A Swampert lead gives you a snowball effect when you win lead.
A Skarmory lead gives you the option to tank charged moves, "Brave Bird and dip", and catch attacks that hurt Skarmory on Trevenant (Hydro Cannon, electric, rock).
Skarmory can be swapped out for other pokemon like Talonflame, Noctowl and Pidgeot.
Notes
Skarmory - Trevenant - Swampert
- if your opponent swaps to Galarian Stunfisk, swap to Trevenant instead of Swampert. They might have Bastiodon in the back.
