Can this method of making singles cores actually work?

I readthis question, which got me thinking. If a set of four types has no weaknesses, that means that for every two-type subset, its weaknesses are all resisted by the other two types. In case you’re dying to know and too lazy to click on the link, the combinations are water ground flying steel and water bug steel dragon. This could be useful for building defensive cores, as they’re supposed to consist of two Pokemon that are each able to switch into attacks that threaten the other. I chose sets of two Pokemon that are both viable in the same Smogon tier. There might actually be more such cores, because these weaknesses were calculated without considering abilities. Which of these might actually work?

Set in Uber (not technically a tier, but this post uses “tier” and “format” interchangeably)

Palkia @ Life OrbAbility: PressureEVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpeTimid Nature-Surf-Spatial Rend-Thunderbolt-Ice Beam

Genesect @ Choice ScarfAbility: DownloadEVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpeAdamant Nature (hasty if adamant is impossible)-U-Turn-Iron Head-Extreme Speed-Blaze Kick

Set in UU

Empoleon @ Life OrbAbility: TorrentEVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpeModest Nature-Agility-Surf-Flash Cannon-Grass Knot

Gligar @ EvioliteAbility: ImmunityEVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpDCareful Nature-U-Turn-Earthquake-Roost-Toxic

Set in NU

Steelix @ LeftoversAbility: SturdyEVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpDSassy NatureIVs: 0 Spe-Curse-Gyro Ball-Earthquake-Rock Slide

Mantine @ LeftoversAbility: Water AbsorbEVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpDBold Nature-Toxic-Scald-Air Slash-Protect

Pleaselog inorregisterto add a comment.

This is actually an extremely popular and effective way of building defensive cores in Singles. You may have heard of “Dragon-Steel-Fairy” cores, which is arguably one of the most popular and synergistic defensive cores these days due to the fact that they check each other weaknesses, plus potent threats in the current meta, very well. While there are other things to consider, such as threats in the meta that’s being played in, this is a great way to start.

Another thing to take into account when building defensive cores is the stats of the Pokemon. For example, the Empoleon/Gligar core is the best you mentioned for that reason. Since Gligar has high Defense, it can easily take Fighting type moves (which are usually Physical) aimed at Emploleon. Similarly, Empoleon’s high Special Defense allows it to easily take Water and Ice type moves (which are usually Special) aimed at Gligar.

The one nitpick I have about the sets you listed is this: when building defensive cores, you want to choose Pokemon which have defensive sets. This is so they can continually absorb hits without going down. While the synergy might give offensive Pokemon some longevity, defensive Pokemon fill this role much better. I only say this because Palkia, Empoleon and Genesect seem to have offensive movesets.

One of my favorite cores consists of Mega-Scizor, Azumarill, and Garchomp:

Azumarill 2x resists Fire, Garchomp 2x resists Fire

Azumarill 2x resists Ice and immune to Dragon, Scizor 2x resists Ice, Dragon and Fairy

Scizor 4x resists Grass and immune to Poison, Garchomp 2x resists Poison and immune to Electric