A simple but effective special sweeping set up. Hammer opponents with a powerful STAB Thunderbolts and beat down Grass types with Flamethrower. Either Hidden Power provides coverage against Ground types. Hidden Power Grass offers the best coverage in UU, as it hits Golem, Gastrodon, Quagsire, Lanturn and Whiscash. See Other Options for some alternatives. The final slot is mostly filler, but either choice can help power Manectric for a sweep. Charge Beam can grab you a Special Attack boost. Since it does bugger all to Ground types, you'll need to hit a Grass type—or a special wall, like Hypno—with it. Substitute works with Petaya Berry to give Manectric a boost for sweeping and helps protect against status. If you're not using Petaya, then Life Orb is a good choice to give Manectric some extra power. The EVs listed allow Manectric to hit 330 Speed, enough to beat all base 100s. If you use Substitute, then make sure your HP is even so Petaya Berry will activate after three uses. With Life Orb, your HP should be odd so the damage rounds down.
Almost identical to the last set, but with the ability to do more damage to two common UU special walls. Crunch does an average of 47% to Hypno, and 52% to Grumpig, so Manectric can guarantee a 2HKO with Stealth Rock support, or if a Defense drop occurs on the switch.
Almost the same as the first set, but this set packs more immediate power and is best used for hit and runs. Overheat is the more powerful option for a Fire attack and does more damage over two turns than Flamethrower. Hyper Beam is basically a suicide move, but it can do up to 90% against Camerupt. Make sure the likes of Aggron are out of the way before trying it, or you will give him a free turn to set up a Substitute. If Hyper Beam makes you nervous, then you can use Thunder to hit Grumpig and Hypno with a bit more power. Assuming it actually hits, it is a likely 2HKO on both. Other OptionsNot much really, besides a few alternative Hidden Power types. Ice is the obvious one, although in UU the only real targets for it are Nidoking, Nidoqueen and Altaria. However, Overheat has the same base power as Hidden Power Ice against the Nidos, and a Choice Specs Thunderbolt will 2HKO Altaria. If you really want to use Manectric in OU battles, it is the preferred choice at it can take out Salamence, Gliscor, Dragonite and Garchomp. Water takes out Camerupt, but leaves you helpless against Lanturn and the Water/Grounds. Light Screen can be used for support in the final slot of the Special Sweeper set. Thunder Wave can help your team, but many of Manectric's likely switch-ins are either immune to or don't care about paralysis. Thief and Toxic are your standard filler moves, but both can be used to screw with some of your counters. EVsLoad up on Speed and Special Attack. At least 330 Speed to beat base 100s and the occasional Modest/Adamant Persian. If you're using Manectric against OU teams, bump his Speed up to 334 so he can outrun Jolly Garchomp. OpinionThe addition of the Fire attacks is very helpful, allowing Manectric some more type diversity and making him a little harder to wall. His great Speed and Special Attack make him a good candidate for Choice Specs and he'll hit hard with Overheat and STAB Thunderbolt. Manectric is an above average special attacker, but his shallow movepool lets him down. His fellow Electric types like Jolteon, Raichu and even Plusle and Minun have superior movepools, most notably in terms of support options. CountersGrumpig and Hypno can both handle his Thunderbolts quite well and throw up a Light Screen or boost with Calm Mind. Beware of Life Orb Crunch though. Camerupt is immune to Electric, resists Fire and is neutral to both Hidden Power Ice and Grass. STAB Earthquake or Earth Power will bring down Manectric. Water/Ground types like Gastrodon and Quagsire beat him if he doesn't have Hidden Power Grass. Nidoking and Nidoqueen do a decent job of countering him if he isn't packing Hidden Power Ice, just beware of repeated hits from Overheat on the Choice Specs set. |
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