cute
Also fuck list tags
[Overview]
<p>At first glance, Manaphy looks pretty harmless and more like something you just want to cuddle. It would be unwise to dismiss it like that though—Manaphy's cute exterior hides one of the most powerful sweepers in the Doubles metagame. While it might seem like it's outclassed by Kingdra or Ludicolo in Rain, it actually has several aspects that let it stand out over the Swift Swimmers. Tail Glow boosts Manaphy's Special Attack to astronomical levels, allowing it to run straight through more offensive teams and punch huge holes in pretty much everything else. In addition, Manaphy has access to Hydration, meaning that not only does it get its STAB boosted in rain, but it becomes darn near impossible to take down with Rest. It doesn't even really need Rain though, since as long as it isn't in sun it's still hitting things incredibly hard. It even has nice bulk with 100 all around, letting it take a surprising number of hits.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Manaphy is not without its shortcomings. It is outsped by almost all of the things that threaten it, such as Latios and Thundurus, and takes a ton of damage from each. It has a severe case of four moveslot syndrome, since it often doesn't have room for everything it needs to run. Manaphy also has an issue that many other Pokemon do not—it's surprisingly difficult to build a team around. With its main offensive move being a ridiculously strong Surf, Manaphy's pool of teammates can be surprisingly restricted, since many partners will hate Surf just as much as its opponents. Nonetheless, Manaphy is one of the most terrifying Pokemon to run up against, especially in Rain, and priority should always be given to its removal. Oh, did I mention it's adorable?</p>
[SET]
Name: Offensive Tail Glow
Move 1: Tail Glow
Move 2: Surf / Scald
Move 3: Ice Beam
Move 4: Protect / Rest
Item : Wacan Berry / Life Orb
Ability: Hydration
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Manaphy's trademark set in Doubles. With Tail Glow boosting its Special Attack three stages, Manaphy becomes absolutely deadly. This set is pretty staightforward, honestly. Set up when there's an opening lategame and just tear through the opponent. Surf will hit both opponents and maximizes sweeping potential at the cost of hitting a teammate, while Scald hits one opponent slightly harder and has a fair shot to burn the opponent. Ice Beam is for all of those pesky Dragons and Grass-types who resist Surf. The last slot is a tossup between Protect and Return. The former grants immunity to just about anything for a single turn, and the latter heals Manaphy back to full health, and works great with Hydration in Rain. Manaphy can choose between either Wacan Berry to take a stray Thunderbolt or Life Orb to pack even more power, although using Rest is highly advised on Life Orb variants since the item's recoil makes it susceptible to faster attacks like Latios's Draco Meteor and Breloom's Mach Punch.</p>
<p>This set is best brought out lategame, where Manaphy can simply tear through even its normal checks with some prior damage. It really isn't as simple as finding a setup opportunity, unfortunately, since Manaphy's stats are only a bit above average and its typing leaves it with fairly common weaknesses in Electric and Grass. Even when Manaphy gets going, it still needs support to keep going, or it could miss a crucial KO and get destroyed or set up on in return. Outside of Politoed, who brings permanent Rain to power up Surf and activate Hydration, Musharna and Parasect are possibly the two best teammates Manaphy could ever ask for to achieve this. Musharna can power up Surf with Helping Hand and prevent Trick Room with its own Imprison while taking no damage from Surf with Telepathy. Parasect might not be able to augment Manaphy's power like that, but Rage Powder and Spore are invaluable to Manaphy, and Manaphy heals Parasect through Dry Skin. Manaphy appreciates partners that help it move before the opponent through Thunder Wave or Tailwind. Gastrodon is also an option if you wish to overwhelm your opponent by spamming powerful spread moves. Hitmontop is, as always, a valuable partner as well, if only for its ability to destroy Ferrothorn with Close Combat.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Manaphy has a few other options it can run on this set that aren't already mentioned. Blizzard is an alternative to Ice Beam that hits two opponents, and while its accuracy can be worrying, Manaphy is a pretty good addition to Hail teams, making Blizzard much better. Energy Ball can go in either of the last two slots as well, although Ice Beam gets generally better coverage, so Energy Ball should only be used if one has huge problems with bulky Waters such as Gastrodon, Politoed and Suicune.</p>
[SET]
Name: Defensive Tail Glow
Move 1: Tail Glow
Move 2: Scald / Surf
Move 3: Energy Ball / Ice Beam
Move 4: Rest / Protect
Item : Wacan Berry / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Hydration
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252 HP / 136 SpA / 12 SpD / 108 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While the Offensive set is all about ending the game, this set is better suited to punching holes in the opponent to allow for another Pokemon to sweep. To ensure that Manaphy can pull off such a strategy, the set is constructed a bit differently. In fact, Tail Glow is really the only thing the two sets have in common. Scald and Energy Ball are the preferred offensive moves on this set for a couple of reasons. The lack of Surf makes it easier to either build around or just tack onto the end of a team, and Energy Ball lures out and pummels bulky Water-types like Gastrodon, paving the way for a sweeper like Kingdra to pick up the pieces.
[Overview]
- Deceptively cute and cuddly
- Manaphy is easily one of the best Rain sweepers in the entire metagame
- Tail Glow boosts its SpA to astronomical levels, allowing it to punch through many walls
- Hydration can let it use Rest to heal back to 100% health in one turn, and gives it a pseudo-immunity to status in Rain
- Loves rain, but doesn't rely on it like Swift Swim sweepers
- surprising bulk lets it tank some smaller hits
- outsped by several prominent threats, like Latios and Thundurus
- 4MSS
[SET]
Name: Offensive Tail Glow
Move 1: Tail Glow
Move 2: Surf / Scald
Move 3: Ice Beam
Move 4: Protect / Rest
Item : Leftovers / Wacan Berry / Life Orb
Ability: Hydration
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
- Manaphy's trademark set
- Tail Glow gives Manaphy a three-stage boost to its Special Attack in one turn
- Surf/Scald for STAB; former hits two opponents while latter does more damage to one opponent and has a burn chance
- Ice Beam for Dragons and Grasses
- Protect shields Manaphy from attacks while its partner takes action
- Rest can be used instead to heal
- best used late game when faster threats have been dealt with
- Leftovers lets Manaphy survive the chip damage it might accumulate as it sweeps, Wacan lets it survive a one-off Electric attack, Life Orb for moar powah
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- EVs maximize sweeping potential
- Energy Ball hits Gastrodon, Politoed, etc.
- Blizzard is also cool
- RAIN
- Musharna is Manaphy's real best friend - Telepathy lets it avoid Surf, it can prevent Trick Room with Imprison, it can boost Manaphy's power even further with Helping Hand, and it destroys the most common Wide Guard user in the tier - Hitmontop
- Anything immune to Surf is a good partner - Parasect can provide Rage Powder support, while Toxicroak can help prevent a revenge kill with Fake Out
- Enjoys teammates who can use Tailwind or spread paralysis
- Without the above, gets wrecked by faster variants of Thundurus, Latios, etc, and doesn't like Swift Swim users
- Storm Drain and Water Absorb can be a hassle
[SET]
Name: Defensive Tail Glow
Move 1: Tail Glow
Move 2: Scald / Surf
Move 3: Energy Ball / Ice Beam
Move 4: Rest / Protect
Item : Wacan Berry / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Hydration
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252 HP / 136 SpA / 12 SpD / 108 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- A different way to run Manaphy focusing on its excellent bulk
- Scald is the preferred option on this set as Manaphy isn't a dedicated sweeper, although Surf can still be run
- Energy Ball is great for Rain teams so it can come out earlier in the match and smack Gastrodon/Jellicent hard
- Rest is much better on this set since this Manaphy is able to take more hits that offensive Manaphy might not
- Ice Beam still hits Dragons/Grasses and Protect is still Protect, although they aren't as important on this set
- Wacan Berry lets Manaphy smash through bulky Thundurus
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- EVs maximize HP, outspeed base 70s like Politoed and Breloom, and allow Manaphy to always OHKO bulky Thundurus with a +3 Scald in the rain - rest are dumped into Special Defense to take hits better, although they can also go into another stat
- Because this set can afford Scald > Surf, Manaphy has far more freedom in teammates
- Can draw out and remove bulky Waters to pave the way for Pokemon that they beat, like Kingdra or Scizor
- Hates Dragons even more than the offensive set, so having partners that can handle them is recommended - Kingdra and Scarf Politoed both do a fine job of this on Rain teams
- Cresselia can use Icy Wind and Helping Hand to make Manaphy even more threatening
[Other Options]
- Offensively, all of Manaphy's other options are usually out damaged by its STAB in Rain
- Psychic destroys Toxicroak, but that's all it does
- while Calm Mind may have wrecked the OU tier, it's a bit too slow for Doubles
- an all out attacker can be run but is generally outclassed by Ludicolo, who has similar Water/Grass/Ice coverage and healing through Giga Drain
- has a plethora of support options, but they are usually better left to other Pokemon
- Heart Swap is cute
[Checks and Counters]
- Any faster Dragon- or Electric- type is a huge threat
- Scarfers like Genesect hurt
- priority from the likes of Techniloom and Hitmontop can wear down the offensive set if it lacks healing
- Wide Guard
- things immune to Water, really strong bulky Waters, although they must watch out for Energy Ball
- Rotom-W in particular is awful
- Grass-types neutral to Ice - Ferrothorn in particular
- sun
- Doesn't like Sand too much, but still threatens Sand
- Abomasnow and Kyurem can tank even a +3 Ice Beam and deal massive damage in return
- Deceptively cute and cuddly
- Manaphy is easily one of the best Rain sweepers in the entire metagame
- Tail Glow boosts its SpA to astronomical levels, allowing it to punch through many walls
- Hydration can let it use Rest to heal back to 100% health in one turn, and gives it a pseudo-immunity to status in Rain
- Loves rain, but doesn't rely on it like Swift Swim sweepers
- surprising bulk lets it tank some smaller hits
- outsped by several prominent threats, like Latios and Thundurus
- 4MSS
[SET]
Name: Offensive Tail Glow
Move 1: Tail Glow
Move 2: Surf / Scald
Move 3: Ice Beam
Move 4: Protect / Rest
Item : Leftovers / Wacan Berry / Life Orb
Ability: Hydration
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
- Manaphy's trademark set
- Tail Glow gives Manaphy a three-stage boost to its Special Attack in one turn
- Surf/Scald for STAB; former hits two opponents while latter does more damage to one opponent and has a burn chance
- Ice Beam for Dragons and Grasses
- Protect shields Manaphy from attacks while its partner takes action
- Rest can be used instead to heal
- best used late game when faster threats have been dealt with
- Leftovers lets Manaphy survive the chip damage it might accumulate as it sweeps, Wacan lets it survive a one-off Electric attack, Life Orb for moar powah
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- EVs maximize sweeping potential
- Energy Ball hits Gastrodon, Politoed, etc.
- Blizzard is also cool
- RAIN
- Musharna is Manaphy's real best friend - Telepathy lets it avoid Surf, it can prevent Trick Room with Imprison, it can boost Manaphy's power even further with Helping Hand, and it destroys the most common Wide Guard user in the tier - Hitmontop
- Anything immune to Surf is a good partner - Parasect can provide Rage Powder support, while Toxicroak can help prevent a revenge kill with Fake Out
- Enjoys teammates who can use Tailwind or spread paralysis
- Without the above, gets wrecked by faster variants of Thundurus, Latios, etc, and doesn't like Swift Swim users
- Storm Drain and Water Absorb can be a hassle
[SET]
Name: Defensive Tail Glow
Move 1: Tail Glow
Move 2: Scald / Surf
Move 3: Energy Ball / Ice Beam
Move 4: Rest / Protect
Item : Wacan Berry / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Hydration
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252 HP / 136 SpA / 12 SpD / 108 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- A different way to run Manaphy focusing on its excellent bulk
- Scald is the preferred option on this set as Manaphy isn't a dedicated sweeper, although Surf can still be run
- Energy Ball is great for Rain teams so it can come out earlier in the match and smack Gastrodon/Jellicent hard
- Rest is much better on this set since this Manaphy is able to take more hits that offensive Manaphy might not
- Ice Beam still hits Dragons/Grasses and Protect is still Protect, although they aren't as important on this set
- Wacan Berry lets Manaphy smash through bulky Thundurus
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- EVs maximize HP, outspeed base 70s like Politoed and Breloom, and allow Manaphy to always OHKO bulky Thundurus with a +3 Scald in the rain - rest are dumped into Special Defense to take hits better, although they can also go into another stat
- Because this set can afford Scald > Surf, Manaphy has far more freedom in teammates
- Can draw out and remove bulky Waters to pave the way for Pokemon that they beat, like Kingdra or Scizor
- Hates Dragons even more than the offensive set, so having partners that can handle them is recommended - Kingdra and Scarf Politoed both do a fine job of this on Rain teams
- Cresselia can use Icy Wind and Helping Hand to make Manaphy even more threatening
[Other Options]
- Offensively, all of Manaphy's other options are usually out damaged by its STAB in Rain
- Psychic destroys Toxicroak, but that's all it does
- while Calm Mind may have wrecked the OU tier, it's a bit too slow for Doubles
- an all out attacker can be run but is generally outclassed by Ludicolo, who has similar Water/Grass/Ice coverage and healing through Giga Drain
- has a plethora of support options, but they are usually better left to other Pokemon
- Heart Swap is cute
[Checks and Counters]
- Any faster Dragon- or Electric- type is a huge threat
- Scarfers like Genesect hurt
- priority from the likes of Techniloom and Hitmontop can wear down the offensive set if it lacks healing
- Wide Guard
- things immune to Water, really strong bulky Waters, although they must watch out for Energy Ball
- Rotom-W in particular is awful
- Grass-types neutral to Ice - Ferrothorn in particular
- sun
- Doesn't like Sand too much, but still threatens Sand
- Abomasnow and Kyurem can tank even a +3 Ice Beam and deal massive damage in return
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