[Overview]
<p>Minccino may look cute and harmless, but it's a force to be reckoned with. With decent offensive stats, an amazing ability, a reasonable movepool, and good typing, Minccino has the potential to become a deadly sweeper. Although it is strong offensively, its defenses are poor, making it vulnerable to revenge kills by priority users or Pokemon equipped with a Choice Scarf. As it is a mixed bag of ups and downs, a trainer should think twice before attempting to use Minccino on a team.</p>
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Tail Slap / Return
move 2: Wake-Up Slap
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: U-turn
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Minccino has a great ability in Technician, with which it can effectively abuse its diverse movepool. Tail Slap is the primary STAB move that gets boosted by Technician, and it allows Minccino to break through Substitutes and Focus Sashes. While Return is slightly less powerful on average and doesn't receive a Technician boost, it is a good choice if you're hesitant about Tail Slap's 85% accuracy. Wake-Up Slap is Minccino's strongest Fighting-type move that provides coverage on Steel- and Rock-types, and has a respectable 90 Base Power after the boost from Technician. Knock Off, on the other hand, has a low Base Power even after the Technician boost, but it is an excellent move in the LC metagame as most walls tend to rely on Eviolite. In addition, Minccino's good Speed makes it an effective scout with U-turn.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Technician is the preferred ability, and it's one of the only reasons you should consider using Minccino on your team. Work Up, Minccino's only usable set up move, may find a place on this set, specifically over U-turn. Aqua Tail or Iron Tail can be used over U-turn to provide more type coverage. As for EVs, the standard maximum Attack and Speed spread is used. Jolly is the preferred nature because with any other nature, Minccino will be too slow to sweep. Frillish does the job of walling Minccino pretty well, because it s immune, resists, or takes very little damage from all of Minccino's moves. It also has access to Will-O-Wisp which completely cripples Minccino. Yamask is one of the best teammates Minccino can ask for, as it's immune to Minccino's one weakness, has great bulk, and has access to Will-O-Wisp to cripple problematic foes. Most sweepers work well with entry hazard support, therefore Pokemon such as Dweeble or Ferroseed can be potential teammates.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Tail Slap
move 2: Wake-Up Slap
move 3: Aqua Tail
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band / Choice Scarf
nature: Jolly / Adamant
ability: Technician
evs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>If used properly, Minccino can abuse a Choice Band or Choice Scarf. This set is designed to be a heavy hitter with the former item, and a scout and revenge killer with the latter. Tail Slap is Minccino's main STAB move, as it obtains a nice Technician boost. On this set, its ability to break Substitutes and Focus Sashes comes in handy and makes it superior to Return, despite the lower accuracy. Wake-Up Slap reaches a decent 90 Base Power after a Technician boost and is one of the only ways Minccino can dent Steel-type Pokemon. Aqua Tail hits Fire-, Rock-, and Ground-type Pokemon super effectively, but it doesn't get boosted by Technician. U-turn is an excellent move to gain momentum.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The choice between Choice Scarf and Choice Band depends on Minccino's role in your team: if you want a heavy hitter, Choice Band is your item. However, if you are looking for a revenge killer or scout use a Choice Scarf instead. As for natures, Adamant should be used with a Choice Scarf because a Choice Scarf increases Minccino's Speed, reducing the need for a boosting nature. Vice versa, Choice Band Minccino should use a Jolly nature. The EV spread maximizes Minccino's Attack and Speed, while the remaining EVs are placed into HP. Bulky Ghost-type Pokemon do the job of walling Minccino pretty well. They are immune to two of its moves and resist one. They can also retaliate with Will-O-Wisp. As far as teammates go, Yamask and Duskull are excellent choices as they are immune to Minccino's Fighting-type weakness and can cripple the opposing Pokemon with a Will-O-Wisp. Entry Hazard support is always welcome while attempting to sweep, making Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Dwebble good teammates.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Minccino does not have many other competitively viable options. A special set with Calm Mind and Swift can be used, but its Special Attack stat isn't anything to write home about. Sing is another move that can be used to cripple foes, but its accuracy makes it unreliable. A Focus Sash + Flail set can be used, but entry hazards pose a big problem to this strategy. Other gimmicks you may want to try include a Toxic Orb + Facade + Fling set, and a Last Resort set. Encore messes with Pokemon such as Ferroseed, giving a teammate a free turn of setup. Substitute can also be used with Work Up because Minccino is relatively safe setting up with Work Up once it's behind a Substitute. Retaliate is another attack that can be used over Aqua Tail on the Choice Scarf set to increase Minccino's revenge killing capabilities, as Retaliate's power doubles if the Pokemon that was on the field faints just before Minccino switches in.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Since Minccino is a Normal-type Pokemon, most fast Fighting-types such as Mienfoo are a threat to it. Ghost-types such as Yamask wall Minccino and can burn it using Will-O-Wisp. Priority users and Pokemon equipped with a Choice Scarf menace Minccino as its defenses aren't stellar enough to take hits. Steel-types such as Bronzor are also problematic as they can take any hit Minccino can muster, apart from Wake-Up Slap.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Minccino receives Skill Link as a Dream World ability. Unfortunately, as Minccino has few moves to abuse with Skill Link, Technician is preferred.</p>
<p>Minccino may look cute and harmless, but it's a force to be reckoned with. With decent offensive stats, an amazing ability, a reasonable movepool, and good typing, Minccino has the potential to become a deadly sweeper. Although it is strong offensively, its defenses are poor, making it vulnerable to revenge kills by priority users or Pokemon equipped with a Choice Scarf. As it is a mixed bag of ups and downs, a trainer should think twice before attempting to use Minccino on a team.</p>
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Tail Slap / Return
move 2: Wake-Up Slap
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: U-turn
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Minccino has a great ability in Technician, with which it can effectively abuse its diverse movepool. Tail Slap is the primary STAB move that gets boosted by Technician, and it allows Minccino to break through Substitutes and Focus Sashes. While Return is slightly less powerful on average and doesn't receive a Technician boost, it is a good choice if you're hesitant about Tail Slap's 85% accuracy. Wake-Up Slap is Minccino's strongest Fighting-type move that provides coverage on Steel- and Rock-types, and has a respectable 90 Base Power after the boost from Technician. Knock Off, on the other hand, has a low Base Power even after the Technician boost, but it is an excellent move in the LC metagame as most walls tend to rely on Eviolite. In addition, Minccino's good Speed makes it an effective scout with U-turn.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Technician is the preferred ability, and it's one of the only reasons you should consider using Minccino on your team. Work Up, Minccino's only usable set up move, may find a place on this set, specifically over U-turn. Aqua Tail or Iron Tail can be used over U-turn to provide more type coverage. As for EVs, the standard maximum Attack and Speed spread is used. Jolly is the preferred nature because with any other nature, Minccino will be too slow to sweep. Frillish does the job of walling Minccino pretty well, because it s immune, resists, or takes very little damage from all of Minccino's moves. It also has access to Will-O-Wisp which completely cripples Minccino. Yamask is one of the best teammates Minccino can ask for, as it's immune to Minccino's one weakness, has great bulk, and has access to Will-O-Wisp to cripple problematic foes. Most sweepers work well with entry hazard support, therefore Pokemon such as Dweeble or Ferroseed can be potential teammates.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Tail Slap
move 2: Wake-Up Slap
move 3: Aqua Tail
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band / Choice Scarf
nature: Jolly / Adamant
ability: Technician
evs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>If used properly, Minccino can abuse a Choice Band or Choice Scarf. This set is designed to be a heavy hitter with the former item, and a scout and revenge killer with the latter. Tail Slap is Minccino's main STAB move, as it obtains a nice Technician boost. On this set, its ability to break Substitutes and Focus Sashes comes in handy and makes it superior to Return, despite the lower accuracy. Wake-Up Slap reaches a decent 90 Base Power after a Technician boost and is one of the only ways Minccino can dent Steel-type Pokemon. Aqua Tail hits Fire-, Rock-, and Ground-type Pokemon super effectively, but it doesn't get boosted by Technician. U-turn is an excellent move to gain momentum.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The choice between Choice Scarf and Choice Band depends on Minccino's role in your team: if you want a heavy hitter, Choice Band is your item. However, if you are looking for a revenge killer or scout use a Choice Scarf instead. As for natures, Adamant should be used with a Choice Scarf because a Choice Scarf increases Minccino's Speed, reducing the need for a boosting nature. Vice versa, Choice Band Minccino should use a Jolly nature. The EV spread maximizes Minccino's Attack and Speed, while the remaining EVs are placed into HP. Bulky Ghost-type Pokemon do the job of walling Minccino pretty well. They are immune to two of its moves and resist one. They can also retaliate with Will-O-Wisp. As far as teammates go, Yamask and Duskull are excellent choices as they are immune to Minccino's Fighting-type weakness and can cripple the opposing Pokemon with a Will-O-Wisp. Entry Hazard support is always welcome while attempting to sweep, making Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Dwebble good teammates.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Minccino does not have many other competitively viable options. A special set with Calm Mind and Swift can be used, but its Special Attack stat isn't anything to write home about. Sing is another move that can be used to cripple foes, but its accuracy makes it unreliable. A Focus Sash + Flail set can be used, but entry hazards pose a big problem to this strategy. Other gimmicks you may want to try include a Toxic Orb + Facade + Fling set, and a Last Resort set. Encore messes with Pokemon such as Ferroseed, giving a teammate a free turn of setup. Substitute can also be used with Work Up because Minccino is relatively safe setting up with Work Up once it's behind a Substitute. Retaliate is another attack that can be used over Aqua Tail on the Choice Scarf set to increase Minccino's revenge killing capabilities, as Retaliate's power doubles if the Pokemon that was on the field faints just before Minccino switches in.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Since Minccino is a Normal-type Pokemon, most fast Fighting-types such as Mienfoo are a threat to it. Ghost-types such as Yamask wall Minccino and can burn it using Will-O-Wisp. Priority users and Pokemon equipped with a Choice Scarf menace Minccino as its defenses aren't stellar enough to take hits. Steel-types such as Bronzor are also problematic as they can take any hit Minccino can muster, apart from Wake-Up Slap.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Minccino receives Skill Link as a Dream World ability. Unfortunately, as Minccino has few moves to abuse with Skill Link, Technician is preferred.</p>
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