All guidesVGC guide · 4 min read

Cores in VGC: which Pokémon work together

In doubles almost no Pokémon wins on its own: it wins with the partner that covers its weaknesses or sets up the field for it. Those combinations are cores, and they're where almost every team starts.

By @9shinny · updated 03/10/2026

01What a core is
02Pick the size and the order
03Use the pair map
04From the core to the team

STEP 01

What a core is

A core is a group of two, three or four Pokémon that are played together because they help each other: one sets the weather and the other uses it, one controls Speed and the other hits, or they cover each other's weaknesses. Find a good core and you already have half a team.

STEP 02

Pick the size and the order

In Cores you choose pairs, trios or quartets and how to sort them: by teams that run them, by adjusted WR or by Top 8. Min. teams removes combinations with a small sample, and Must include shows only the cores of one specific Pokémon.

Open Cores

STEP 03

Use the pair map

The map crosses the most used Pokémon with each other: each cell tells you what share of the teams with one also runs the other. It shows at a glance which pairs are almost fixed and which almost never go together.

STEP 04

From the core to the team

Once you have a core, look up in the Pokédex the teammates that show up most and build it in the teambuilder. From there you can see who outspeeds you and export the team to try it on Showdown.

Next upHow to build a VGC team

Frequently asked questions

What is adjusted WR?

The win rate corrected for sample size: each core gets 20 extra games at 50%, so one with very few games doesn't look better than it is.

Is a heavily used core always good?

Not necessarily. Usage tells you what's played; adjusted WR and Top 8 tell you what works. Ideally, a core that's played a fair amount and wins above 50%.

Next up · 4 min readMatchups in VGC: what your Pokémon beats and loses toHow much your Pokémon wins depending on what the opponent brings.