Manaphy (QC 3/3)(GP 2/2)

Nollan

Nollan

is a Contributor Alumnus
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cute
Taken over from Arcticblast

[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 Spe

[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

[Overview]

<p>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 and Ludicolo in rain, it actually has several aspects that let it stand out over the Swift Swim users. 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, as it generally hits things incredibly hard regardless of weather, with the exception of sun. It even has nice bulk, 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 Pokemon that threaten it, such as Latios and Thundurus, and has a severe case of four-moveslot syndrome, since it often lacks enough 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 potential partners is heavily restricted, as otherwise viable choices 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
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[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 straightforward, honestly. Set up when there's an opening late-game 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 Dragon- and Grass-types that resist Surf. The last slot is a tossup between Protect and Rest. The former grants a key immunity to just about anything for a single turn, as if Manaphy is KOed, then all of its hard work will go to waste. 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; however, if Life Orb is used, it is highly recommended to use Rest as well, as the item's recoil makes Manaphy susceptible to faster attacks like Latios's Draco Meteor and Breloom's Mach Punch.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Blizzard is an alternative to Ice Beam that hits two opponents, and while its accuracy in neutral weather can be worrying, Manaphy is a pretty good addition to hail teams. Energy Ball can go in either of the last two slots as well, but Ice Beam gets generally better coverage, so Energy Ball should only be used if one has huge problems with bulky Water-types such as Gastrodon, Politoed, and Suicune.</p>

<p>This set is best brought out late-game, when 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, as 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, which 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 provide support. Musharna can prevent Trick Room with Imprison and power up Surf with Helping Hand while taking no damage from it due to 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 with Surf due to Dry Skin. Parasect can also easily tank Grass- and Electric-type attacks aimed at Manaphy with Rage Powder. Manaphy appreciates partners that can use moves such as Thunder Wave and Tailwind to help it move before the opponent. Gastrodon is also an option if you wish to overwhelm your opponent by spamming powerful spread moves. Hitmontop is a valuable partner as well, if only for its ability to destroy Ferrothorn with Close Combat.</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
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 136 SpA / 12 SpD / 108 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set is well-suited for 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 than sets more focused on outright sweeping with Manaphy. In fact, Tail Glow is really the only thing this set has in common with them. Scald and Energy Ball are the preferred offensive moves on this set for a couple of reasons. The lack of Surf makes Manaphy 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. However, Surf is still an option over Scald, as hitting both opponents can come in handy. Ice Beam can also be used over Energy Ball, as it can hit Grass- and Dragon-types that resist Manaphy's STAB attacks for heavy damage. Rest capitalizes on this set's bulk in tandem with rain, allowing Manaphy to heal any damage taken and then be cured of its sleep by Hydration at the end of the turn. Protect is an option over Rest, as it enables Manaphy to guard itself against potentially fatal attacks while its ally takes out the source of them.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Wacan Berry is the preferred item for this set, as it lets Manaphy get past would-be checks such as Thundurus and Thundurus-T. However, Sitrus Berry is also an option, giving Manaphy some extra longevity to help it set up with less difficulty. With the given spread Manaphy can outspeed positive-natured Pokemon with base 70 Speed, such as Breloom. The given Special Attack investment allows for a +3 Scald to OHKO both Breloom and even the bulkiest Thundurus sets in the rain. The remaining EVs are dumped into HP in order for Manaphy to sponge as many hits as possible, with a few thrown into Special Defense so that Manaphy can survive a Dragon Gem-boosted Draco Meteor off of Timid Latios.</p>

<p>Due to the lack of Surf, this set has much more freedom for teammates than it would otherwise. First and foremost, Politoed is almost a required teammate for this set as it needs Drizzle support in order to make the most of its bulk with Rest and boost the power of its STAB attacks. This set is great at luring out bulky Water-types and decimating them with Energy Ball, so it works nicely alongside Pokemon that are countered by bulky Water-types and function efficiently in rain, such as Kingdra and Scizor. Assuming you don't run Ice Beam, this set will have a difficult time getting around Dragon-types. As such, teammates that can dispose of Dragon-types, such as Weavile, Mamoswine, and Kingdra, are much appreciated. Cresselia also makes for a helpful teammate, as it can make Manaphy even more threatening by supporting it with Icy Wind and Helping Hand. Finally, Amoonguss and Parasect make for good teammates, as even with its bulk this set appreciates Rage Powder support, which pressures the opponent to avoid double-targeting Manaphy. Amoonguss is the preferred partner unless you are running Surf in most cases, as it has higher bulk and an overall better Grass / Poison typing.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Manaphy lacks very many useful options, as most coverage attacks are outclassed by the sheer power of its STAB attacks in rain. Psychic is an option for taking out Toxicroak, but it achieves nothing else and a +3 Ice Beam already OHKOes Toxicroak most of the time. Blizzard can be used alongside hail, as it is a powerful spread attack that works great in tandem with Manaphy's STAB options. Note that Rest no longer remains an option if using hail support, however. Calm Mind is an option over Tail Glow on the defensive Tail Glow set, as after a few Special Defense boosts Manaphy cannot be broken through by even the strongest attackers such as Rotom-W and Ludicolo and can easily heal off damage using Rest. If this set is used, an alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA and a Bold nature would be preferred, maximizing Manaphy's physical bulk so that it is nigh indestructible after a few Calm Mind boosts. Acid Armor is an option to use alongside Calm Mind, making Manaphy virtually unbreakable bar a critical hit, but this would leave Manaphy without coverage and make it incredibly weak to Taunt. You can run an all-out attacking set with Surf, Ice Beam, and Energy Ball, but Ludicolo presents stiff competition for such a set. Heart Swap allows Manaphy to pass Tail Glow boosts to its partners, which can be very useful, especially if they do not have access to Psych Up. Manaphy struggles to find room for such an option on a set, however. Manaphy has access to both Light Screen and Reflect, as well as many other support options including Helping Hand and Safeguard. However, Manaphy is generally better off taking advantage of Tail Glow and doesn't have the room in its crowded four moveslots to make use of these options. Finally, Manaphy can use Choices Specs, allowing it to hit hard without the need to use Tail Glow, but its attacks are significantly weaker at +1 than at +3.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Faster Electric-types, such as Thundurus and Thundurus-T, present a big threat to Manaphy. However, Electric-types need to be wary of Wacan Berry, as at +3 Manaphy can easily OHKO them. Dragon-types such as Latios, Kyurem, Kyurem-B, and Kingdra are also good checks, though many must also be wary of Ice Beam. Kyurem-B in particular is a great check, as a Life Orb-boosted Fusion Bolt has a chance to OHKO Manaphy, who can do little in return other than hope for a Scald burn. Choice Scarf users, especially Genesect, present Manaphy with similar problems so long as they can KO. Bulky Water-types such as Rotom-W and Jellicent threaten Manaphy as well, as they resist its STAB moves and Ice Beam. Rotom-W in particular can be very troubling, as it packs a super effective STAB attack. Jellicent also is immune to Surf and is able to set up Trick Room and chip away at Manaphy's health should it lack Rest. Most bulky Water-types must be wary of a Tail Glow-boosted Energy Ball, however.</p>

<p>Grass-types neutral to Ice Beam, such as Ferrothorn and Ludicolo, can smack Manaphy around with their STAB attacks while they take very little damage from Manaphy's attacks. Shaymin-S is also an excellent check granted it gets a safe switch-in, as it can OHKO Manaphy with a Life Orb-boosted Seed Flare. Abomasnow is a solid answer as well, as it can weaken Manaphy's Water-type STAB attacks thanks to Snow Warning, can tank an Ice Beam even if Manaphy is at +3 from Tail Glow, and can strike back with Wood Hammer or Giga Drain. Common Prankster users can be a nuisance; for example, Whimsicott and Thundurus can prevent Manaphy from setting up or sweeping thanks to priority Taunt and Encore, respectively. Finally, Sunny Day and Drought can put a stop to Manaphy's sweep, as they will make its STAB attacks incredibly lacking in power, even at +3.</p>
 
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Alright, finished with the write up. I did it pretty late at night, so it is likely a bit messy and I recommend people look over it carefully rather than just passing it off instantaneously. I'll probably look it over tomorrow morning/afternoon.
 
It's worth noting that Parasect resists Electric- and Grass-type moves aimed at Manaphy

Emphasize the utility of Protect on Manaphy - it's super-prone to being double-targeted after that +3, and without Protect Manaphy is often forced to waste those boosts due to being knocked or forced out

Nollan - Just in general - I don't think you have emphasized its importance enough
 
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Pocket said:
Emphasize the utility of Protect on Manaphy - it's super-prone to being double-targeted after that +3, and without Protect Manaphy is often forced to waste those boosts due to being knocked or forced out
Click to expand...

Was there anywhere specific you were aiming at? I emphasized it on the Offensive set, since it lacks bulk. The Defensive set usually is not in any immediate danger thanks to higher bulk (go figure), so I didn't emphasize it there.
 
Defensive:

Under your AC EV description where you (or Arcticblast) describe that +3 Scald OHKOs bulky Thundurus in rain, add on that the same condition also OHKOs Jolly Breloom!

Rage Powder Amoonguss / Parasect are still amazing partners for Defensive TG set, especially if Manaphy is lacking Protect. Wacan only protects Manaphy from Electric-type moves ONCE. I would even say that Rage Powder support is mandatory if Manaphy wants to make use of Tail Glow before being knocked out unconscious, because the opponent WILL double-target it to death.

OO:

Note that +3 Ice Beam already has a good chance to OHKO Toxicroak.

Calm Mind is actually very effective - it lets Manaphy set up on Kingdra / Ludicolo / Latios without worries. After +2 - +3 boosts, it can even start to shrug off attacks from Rotom-W! If there's any moveset that makes good use of Rest, it's the CM set, not any of the Tail Glow sets. I am confused as to why you mention Suicune, since CM HydraRest Manaphy pretty much outclasses Suicune in this regard.

Add Heart Swap! This lets Manaphy to pass its TG boost to its partner.

Calm Mind + Iron Defense coupled with HydraRest sounds like a formidable tank - worth an OO mention

Blizzard is a strong option for Manaphy used in Hail teams.

U-turn is an interesting option to switch Manaphy out from any counters that comes in

Choice Specs is an interesting option, too

Checks & Counters:

You forgot to mention Kyurem-B, probably one of Manaphy's biggest counter in existence next to Ferrothorn and Rotom-W. LO Fusion Bolt has a high chance to OHKO max HP Manaphy, while Manaphy can't do much back but hope for a Scald burn on the switch.

Gastrodon or Cradily aren't really issues, surprisingly, since Manaphy can simply boost up to +6 and knock them out with Energy Ball or Ice Beam. Take them out of this section.
If anything, you should include Jellicent, which can actually stall out Manaphy without Rest or Energy Ball. You can also add Amoonguss here, which can protect its partner with Rage Powder against Manaphy without Surf or Ice Beam.

Suicune can't do shit to Manaphy without Roar, and Manaphy hits Suicune hard after a Tail Glow and Rain boosts. Forget it if Manaphy knows Energy Ball. I would remove it.

Specify Kingdra as one of the fast Dragon-type mons. Kyurem is also worth a mention

Add Shaymin-S

You over-state Manaphy's reliance on weather. Not all Manaphy carries Rest, and after a +3 Manaphy is hitting hard with or without rain (you are right about Sunny Day / Drought, though) Abomasnow isn't a problem because it changes the weather to Hail, but because it can survive Manaphy's attack and retaliate back with a super effective Grass-type move. Please rephrase this section.

I would remove the priority part, because despite the lack of recovery, Manaphy is durable with its 100 / 100 defenses.

Note that prankster Pokemon like Thundurus, Whimsicott, and Liepard can be a nuisance, as they would prevent Manaphy from setting up (Taunt) or attack (Encore)
 
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Alright, I did the things listed above (sorta hastily). The only thing I didn't mention was U-turn, because Manaphy almost always runs Tail Glow and U-turn is extremely contradictory with that. If you want, I can mention it as an option for Choice Specs Manaphy, though.
 
Calm Mind is an option over Tail Glow on the Defensive Tail Glow set, as after a few Special Defense boosts even the strongest attackers such as Rotom-W and Ludicolo cannot break through it while it can easily heal off damage using Rest.
Click to expand...
I would suggest an even more defensive set (think max HP / max Def, Bold) to make it physically bulky.
Heart Swap allows Manaphy to pass Tail Glow boosts to its partner, though this can easily be achieved through the use of Psych Up anyway and Manaphy struggles to find room for such an option on a set.
Click to expand...
The point of Heart Swap is to support a Pokemon without Psych Up by passing Tail Glow boosts. The supported sweeper can use Protect while Manaphy passes boost via Heart Swap (iirc), so it wont leave a turn of vulnerability that a turn of Psych Up would give.
Blizzard can be use alongside Hail, as it is a powerful spread attack that works great in tandem with Surf.
Click to expand...
Change Surf to its Water STAB move, since one may prefer to use Scald over Surf.

[Checks and Counters] Commands: Remove, Add, Comments

<p>Faster Electric-types, such as Thundurus and Thundurus-T, will present a big threat to Manaphy. However, Electric-types need to be wary of Wacan Berry, as at +3 Manaphy can easily OHKO them. Dragon-types such as Latios, Kyurem, Kyurem-Black, and Kingdra will also be good checks, though many must also be wary of Ice Beam. Kyurem-Black is a great check, as a Life Orb-boosted Fusion Bolt has a chance to OHKO Manaphy, while Manaphy can do little back to it other than hope for a Scald burn. Choice Scarf users, namely Genesect, will also present similar problems, so long as they can KO. Gastrodon and Cradily can present problems depending on what set Manaphy is running; Gastrodon can trouble sets lacking Energy Ball while Cradily can handle sets lacking Ice Beam. Similarly, bulky Water-types such as Rotom-W, will present a problem as they resist its Water-type STABs. (Insert here how Jellicent walls Manaphy without Rest or Ice Beam) Rotom-W in particular can be very troubling, as it packs a super effective STAB attack. Most bulky Water-types must be wary of Energy Ball, however.</p>

<p>Grass-types neutral to Ice Beam, such as Ferrothorn and Ludicolo, can smack Manaphy around with their STAB attacks while they take very little damage from Manaphy's attacks. Shaymin-S is also a counter granted it gets a safe switch-in, as it can OHKO Manaphy with a Life Orb-boosted Seed Flare. Abomasnow is troubling, as it can weaken Manaphy's Water-type STAB attacks thanks to Snow Warning, and can tank an Ice Beam even if Manaphy is at +3 from Tail Glow, then can strike back with Wood Hammer or Giga Drain. Common Prankster abusers such as Whimsicott and Thundurus can also be a nuisance as they can prevent Manaphy from setting up or sweep thanks to priority Taunt and Encore, respectively. Finally, the Defensive Tail Glow set in particular does not appreciate opposing weather, most notably Drought or Sunny Day, as it requires rain support in order to give its STAB attacks more power. (Defensive Tail Glow is Modest and max SpA, much like Offensive Tail Glow - After a +3 it's not dependent on Rain boost. The only ones dependent on weather are those reliant on Hydra Rest.)</p>
 
Pocket said:
The point of Heart Swap is to support a Pokemon without Psych Up by passing Tail Glow boosts. The supported sweeper can use Protect while Manaphy passes boost via Heart Swap (iirc), so it wont leave a turn of vulnerability that a turn of Psych Up would give.
Click to expand...

I'll get to the other changes asap, I want someone to confirm these mechanics for Heart Swap (seems a bit odd that it would work through Protect).

-EDIT-
Oh, and I'm not so sure about Surf alongside Blizzard either; most Hail teams will not enjoy having to tank repeated +3 Surfs, I would assume Scald is a perfectly viable option. :[
I'll change it to Surf for now, though, but would like some second opinions on that.

Derp, nvm

-EDIT #2-

Changes should all be done, except for Heart Swap.
 
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The point of Heart Swap is to support a Pokemon without Psych Up by passing Tail Glow boosts. The supported sweeper can use Protect while Manaphy passes boost via Heart Swap (iirc), so it wont leave a turn of vulnerability that a turn of Psych Up would give.
Click to expand...
I was wrong :X

Nevertheless, my point still stands that Heart Swap is still useful for supporting special sweepers lacking Psych Up, a move that is poorly distributed

Please re-phrase your Heart Swap description to include this point.

Otherwise, good work :]

QC Approved (3/3)
 
Additions in Blue
Subtractions in Red
Comments in Purple
[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 and Ludicolo in Rain rain, it actually has several aspects that let it stand out over the Swift Swimmers Swim users. 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 rain though, since as long as it isn't in sun it's still hitting it generally hits things incredibly hard no matter what as long as it isn't in sun. 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 Pokemon that threaten it, such as Latios and Thundurus, and takes a ton of damage from each. It has a severe case of four moveslot four-moveslot syndrome, since it often doesn't have often not having room for everything it needs to run. Manaphy also has an issue that many other Pokemon do not; (change to colon) 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 potential partners is surprisingly restricted, since as many partners will otherwise good choices 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
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
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[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 straightforward, honestly. Set up when there's an opening lategame late-game 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 Dragon- and Grass-types who that resist Surf. The last slot is a tossup between Protect and Rest. The former grants a key immunity to just about anything for a single turn, as if Manaphy is KO'd KOed, then all of its hard work will go to waste. The latter heals Manaphy back to full health, (remove comma) 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, (change to semicolon) although using Rest is highly advised on Life Orb variants since however if Life Orb is used, it is highly advised to use Rest as well, as the item's recoil makes it Manaphy susceptible to faster attacks like Latios's Draco Meteor and Breloom's Mach Punch.</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 in neutral weather can be worrying, Manaphy is a pretty good addition to Hail hail teams, making Blizzard much better. Energy Ball can go in either of the last two slots as well, although but Ice Beam gets generally better coverage, so Energy Ball should only be used if one has huge problems with bulky Waters Water-types such as Gastrodon, Politoed and Suicune.</p>

<p>This set is best brought out lategame, where late-game, when 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 as 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 which brings permanent Rain rain to power up Surf and activate Hydration, Musharna and Parasect are possibly the two best teammates Manaphy could ever ask for to achieve provide this. Musharna can power up Surf with Helping Hand and prevent Trick Room with its own Imprison and power up Surf with Helping Hand while taking no damage from Surf with it due to 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 with Surf due to Dry Skin. Parasect can also easily tank Grass- and Electric-type attacks aimed at Manaphy with Rage Powder. Manaphy appreciates partners that can use moves such as Thunder Wave and Tailwind to 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>

[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
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
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 This set is better suited to well-suited for 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 than sets more focused on sweeping with Manaphy outright. In fact, Tail Glow is really the only thing the two sets have in common it has in common with them. Scald and Energy Ball are the preferred offensive moves on this set for a couple of reasons. The lack of Surf makes it Manaphy 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. However, Surf is still an option over Scald, since it hits both of the opposition as being able to hit both opponents can come in handy. Ice Beam can also be used over Energy Ball, as it can hit Grass- and Dragon-types that resist its Water-type Manaphy's STAB attacks for heavy damage. Rest capitalizes on this set's bulk in tandem with rain, allowing Manaphy to heal any damage taken and then be cured of its sleep by Hydration at the end of the turn. Protect is an option over Rest, as you can guard yourself it enables Manaphy to guard itself against potentially fatal attacks while your its ally takes out the source of them.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Wacan Berry is the preferred item for this set, as it lets Manaphy get past would-be checks such as Thundurus and Thundurus-T. However, Sitrus Berry is also an option, giving Manaphy some extra longetivity longevity to help it set up with less difficulty. With the given spread Manaphy can outspeed positive natured positive-natured Pokemon with base 70 Speed, such as Breloom. The given Special Attack investment allows for a +3 Scald to OHKO both Breloom and even the bulkiest Thundurus sets with Scald in the rain (if I'm reading this sentence right, please change this to '...allows for a +3 Scald to OHKO both Breloom and even the bulkiest Thundurus sets in the rain' or 'allows Manaphy to OHKO both Breloom and even the bulkiest Thundurus sets with Scald at +3 in the rain' or something like that that doesn't say Scald twice). The remaing EVs is remaining EVs are dumped into HP in order for Manaphy to sponge as many hits as possible, with a few thrown into Special Defense so that Manaphy can survive a Dragon Gem-boosted Draco Meteor off of Timid Latios.</p>

<p>Due to the lack of Surf, this set has much more freedom for teammates than the Offensive set it would otherwise. First and foremost, Politoed is almost a required teammate for this set as it needs the Drizzle support in order to make the most of its bulk with Rest and boost the power of its Water-type STAB attacks. This set is great at luring out bulky Water-types at and decimating them with Energy Ball, so it works nicely alongside Pokemon that are countered by bulky Water-types and function efficiently in rain, namely such as Kingdra and Scizor. Assuming you don't run Ice Beam, this set will have a difficult time getting around Dragon-types. As such, teammates that can dispose of Dragon-types, such as Weavile, Mamoswine, and Kingdra, are much appreciated. Cresselia also makes a helpful teammate, as it can make Manaphy even more threatening by supporting it with Icy Wind and Helping Hand. Finally, Amoonguss & and Parasect still make for good teammates, as even with higher its bulk Manaphy will appreciate the support and Rage Powder will pressure appreciates Rage Powder support, which pressures the opponent to avoid double-targeting Manaphy. Amoonguss is the preferred partner unless you are running Surf in most cases, since as it has higher bulk and an overall better Grass / Poison typing.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Manaphy lacks very many useful options, as most coverage attacks are outclassed by the sheer power of its Water-type STAB attacks in rain. Psychic is an option for taking out Toxicroak, though but it achieves nothing else and a +3 Ice Beam will still OHKO already OHKOes Toxicroak most of the time. Blizzard can be use alongside Hail hail, as it is a powerful spread attack that works great in tandem with Manaphy's Water-type STAB options. Note that Rest no longer remains an option if using hail support, however. Calm Mind is an option over Tail Glow on the Defensive defensive Tail Glow set, as after a few Special Defense boosts Manaphy cannot be broken through by even the strongest attackers such as Rotom-W and Ludicolo cannot break through it while it and can easily heal off damage using Rest. If this set is used, an alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA and a Bold nature would be preferred, maximizing Manaphy's physical bulk so that it will be is nigh indestructible after a few Calm Mind boosts. Acid Armor is an option to use alongside Calm Mind, making Manaphy virtually unbreakable bar a critical hit, though but this would leave Manaphy without coverage and make it incredibly weak to Taunt. You can run an all out all-out attacking set with Surf, Ice Beam, and Energy Ball, though but Ludicolo will present presents stiff competition for such a set. Heart Swap allows Manaphy to pass Tail Glow boosts to its partner partners, which can be very useful, especially if they do not have access to Psych Up. Manaphy struggles to find room for such an option on a set, however. Manaphy has access to both Light Screen and Reflect, as well as many other support options including Helping Hand and Safeguard. However, Manaphy is generally better off abusing taking advantage of Tail Glow and doesn't have the room in its crowded four moveslots to make use of these options. Finally, Manaphy can use Choices Specs, allowing it to hit hard without the need to use Tail Glow, though but its attacks will be are significantly weaker at +1 than they would be at +3.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Faster Electric-types, such as Thundurus and Thundurus-T, will present a big threat to Manaphy. However, Electric-types need to be wary of Wacan Berry, as at +3 Manaphy can easily OHKO them. Dragon-types such as Latios, Kyurem, Kyurem-Black Kyurem-B, and Kingdra will also be are also good checks, though many must also be wary of Ice Beam. Kyurem-Black Kyurem-B in particular is a great check, as a Life Orb-boosted Fusion Bolt has a chance to OHKO Manaphy, while and Manaphy can do little back to it other than hope for a Scald burn. Choice Scarf users, namely especially Genesect, will also present Manaphy with similar problems, (remove comma) so long as they can KO. Similarly, bulky Bulky Water-types such as Rotom-W and Jellicent will present a problem threaten Manaphy as well, as they resist its Water-type STABs STAB moves and Ice Beam. Rotom-W in particular can be very troubling, as it packs a super effective STAB attack. Jellicent also resists Ice Beam and is immune to Surf, whilst being and is able to set up Trick Room and chip away at Manaphy's health should it lack Rest. Most bulky Water-types must be wary of a Tail Glow-boosted Energy Ball, however.</p>

<p>Grass-types neutral to Ice Beam, such as Ferrothorn and Ludicolo, can smack Manaphy around with their STAB attacks while they take very little damage from Manaphy's attacks. Shaymin-S is also a counter an excellent check granted it gets a safe switch-in, as it can OHKO Manaphy with a Life Orb-boosted Seed Flare. Abomasnow is troubling a solid answer as well, as it can weaken Manaphy's Water-type STAB attacks thanks to Snow Warning, and can tank an Ice Beam even if Manaphy is at +3 from Tail Glow, then and can strike back with Wood Hammer or Giga Drain. Common Prankster abusers such as Whimsicott and Thundurus users can also be a nuisance (add semicolon) as they for example, Whimsicott and Thundurus can prevent Manaphy from setting up or sweeping thanks to priority Taunt and Encore, respectively. Finally, Sunny Day and Drought can put a stop to Manaphy's sweep, as they will make its Water-type STAB attacks incredibly lacking in power, even at +3.</p>
GP: 1/2

Couple things to remember (sorry if these were just things left over from when you took this over)
  • capitalize weather moves and abilities but not weathers (rain and sun not Rain and Sun)
  • do not use the word abuse in any form in analyses (unless it's something like this "The abuse was so horrific that the poor thing descended into UU, the land of mediocre Arcanine and Milotic." from the Kyurem-W Uber analysis) because it generally means to misuse or treat badly or use for bad purposes, which is usually not what you're trying to say
  • don't write sets specifically referencing them in relation to other sets on the analysis; it makes things easier just in case a set is deleted/added or the order is changed
  • Kyurem-B not Kyurem-Black
 
Thanks for the check, and sorry for the messiness. x_x

Also wasn't aware of the sets referencing thing, thanks for letting me know about that

Should be ready for check #2 now
 
gp check
Additions
Removals
Comments

[Overview]

<p>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 and Ludicolo in rain, it actually has several aspects that let it stand out over the Swift Swim users. 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, as it generally hits things incredibly hard regardless of weather, with the exception of sun. It even has nice bulk, 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 Pokemon that threaten it, such as Latios and Thundurus, and has a severe case of four-moveslot syndrome, since it often lacking enough 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 potential partners is heavily restricted, as otherwise viable choices 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 HpP / 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 straightforward, honestly. Set up when there's an opening late-game 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 Dragon- and Grass-types that resist Surf. The last slot is a tossup between Protect and Rest. The former grants a key immunity to just about anything for a single turn, as if Manaphy is KOed, then all of its hard work will go to waste. 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; however, if Life Orb is used, it is highly recommended to use Rest as well, as the item's recoil makes Manaphy susceptible to faster attacks like Latios's Draco Meteor and Breloom's Mach Punch.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Blizzard is an alternative to Ice Beam that hits two opponents, and while its accuracy in neutral weather can be worrying, Manaphy is a pretty good addition to hail teams. Energy Ball can go in either of the last two slots as well, but Ice Beam gets generally better coverage, so Energy Ball should only be used if one has huge problems with bulky Water-types such as Gastrodon, Politoed,(AC) and Suicune.</p>

<p>This set is best brought out late-game, when 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, as 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, which 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 provide support. Musharna can prevent Trick Room with Imprison and power up Surf with Helping Hand while taking no damage from it due to 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 with Surf due to Dry Skin. Parasect can also easily tank Grass- and Electric-type attacks aimed at Manaphy with Rage Powder. Manaphy appreciates partners that can use moves such as Thunder Wave and Tailwind to help it move before the opponent. Gastrodon is also an option if you wish to overwhelm your opponent by spamming powerful spread moves. Hitmontop is a valuable partner as well, if only for its ability to destroy Ferrothorn with Close Combat.</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>This set is well-suited for 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 than sets more focused on outright sweeping with Manaphy. In fact, Tail Glow is really the only thing this set has in common with them. Scald and Energy Ball are the preferred offensive moves on this set for a couple of reasons. The lack of Surf makes Manaphy 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. However, Surf is still an option over Scald, as hitting both opponents can come in handy. Ice Beam can also be used over Energy Ball, as it can hit Grass- and Dragon-types that resist Manaphy's STAB attacks for heavy damage. Rest capitalizes on this set's bulk in tandem with rain, allowing Manaphy to heal any damage taken and then be cured of its sleep by Hydration at the end of the turn. Protect is an option over Rest, as it enables Manaphy to guard itself against potentially fatal attacks while its ally takes out the source of them.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Wacan Berry is the preferred item for this set, as it lets Manaphy get past would-be checks such as Thundurus and Thundurus-T. However, Sitrus Berry is also an option, giving Manaphy some extra longevity to help it set up with less difficulty. With the given spread Manaphy can outspeed positive-natured Pokemon with base 70 Speed, such as Breloom. The given Special Attack investment allows for a +3 Scald to OHKO both Breloom and even the bulkiest Thundurus sets in the rain. The remaining EVs are dumped into HP in order for Manaphy to sponge as many hits as possible, with a few thrown into Special Defense so that Manaphy can survive a Dragon Gem-boosted Draco Meteor off of Timid Latios.</p>

<p>Due to the lack of Surf, this set has much more freedom for teammates than it would otherwise. First and foremost, Politoed is almost a required teammate for this set as it needs Drizzle support in order to make the most of its bulk with Rest and boost the power of its STAB attacks. This set is great at luring out bulky Water-types and decimating them with Energy Ball, so it works nicely alongside Pokemon that are countered by bulky Water-types and function efficiently in rain, such as Kingdra and Scizor. Assuming you don't run Ice Beam, this set will have a difficult time getting around Dragon-types. As such, teammates that can dispose of Dragon-types, such as Weavile, Mamoswine, and Kingdra, are much appreciated. Cresselia also makes for a helpful teammate, as it can make Manaphy even more threatening by supporting it with Icy Wind and Helping Hand. Finally, Amoonguss and Parasect make for good teammates, as even with its bulk this set appreciates Rage Powder support, which pressures the opponent to avoid double-targeting Manaphy. Amoonguss is the preferred partner unless you are running Surf in most cases, as it has higher bulk and an overall better Grass / Poison typing.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Manaphy lacks very many useful options, as most coverage attacks are outclassed by the sheer power of its STAB attacks in rain. Psychic is an option for taking out Toxicroak, but it achieves nothing else and a +3 Ice Beam already OHKOes Toxicroak most of the time. Blizzard can be used alongside hail, as it is a powerful spread attack that works great in tandem with Manaphy's STAB options. Note that Rest no longer remains an option if using hail support, however. Calm Mind is an option over Tail Glow on the defensive Tail Glow set, as after a few Special Defense boosts Manaphy cannot be broken through by even the strongest attackers such as Rotom-W and Ludicolo and can easily heal off damage using Rest. If this set is used, an alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA and a Bold nature would be preferred, maximizing Manaphy's physical bulk so that it is nigh indestructible after a few Calm Mind boosts. Acid Armor is an option to use alongside Calm Mind, making Manaphy virtually unbreakable bar a critical hit, but this would leave Manaphy without coverage and make it incredibly weak to Taunt. You can run an all-out attacking set with Surf, Ice Beam, and Energy Ball, but Ludicolo presents stiff competition for such a set. Heart Swap allows Manaphy to pass Tail Glow boosts to its partners, which can be very useful, especially if they do not have access to Psych Up. Manaphy struggles to find room for such an option on a set, however. Manaphy has access to both Light Screen and Reflect, as well as many other support options including Helping Hand and Safeguard. However, Manaphy is generally better off taking advantage of Tail Glow and doesn't have the room in its crowded four moveslots to make use of these options. Finally, Manaphy can use Choices Specs, allowing it to hit hard without the need to use Tail Glow, but its attacks are significantly weaker at +1 than at +3.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Faster Electric-types, such as Thundurus and Thundurus-T, present a big threat to Manaphy. However, Electric-types need to be wary of Wacan Berry, as at +3 Manaphy can easily OHKO them. Dragon-types such as Latios, Kyurem, Kyurem-B, and Kingdra are also good checks, though many must also be wary of Ice Beam. Kyurem-B in particular is a great check, as a Life Orb-boosted Fusion Bolt has a chance to OHKO Manaphy, who can do little in return other than hope for a Scald burn. Choice Scarf users, especially Genesect, present Manaphy with similar problems so long as they can KO. Bulky Water-types such as Rotom-W and Jellicent threaten Manaphy as well, as they resist its STAB moves and Ice Beam. Rotom-W in particular can be very troubling, as it packs a super effective STAB attack. Jellicent also is immune to Surf and is able to set up Trick Room and chip away at Manaphy's health should it lack Rest. Most bulky Water-types must be wary of a Tail Glow-boosted Energy Ball, however.</p>

<p>Grass-types neutral to Ice Beam, such as Ferrothorn and Ludicolo, can smack Manaphy around with their STAB attacks while they take very little damage from Manaphy's attacks. Shaymin-S is also an excellent check granted it gets a safe switch-in, as it can OHKO Manaphy with a Life Orb-boosted Seed Flare. Abomasnow is a solid answer as well, as it can weaken Manaphy's Water-type STAB attacks thanks to Snow Warning, can tank an Ice Beam even if Manaphy is at +3 from Tail Glow, and can strike back with Wood Hammer or Giga Drain. Common Prankster users can be a nuisance; for example, Whimsicott and Thundurus can prevent Manaphy from setting up or sweeping thanks to priority Taunt and Encore, respectively. Finally, Sunny Day and Drought can put a stop to Manaphy's sweep, as they will make its STAB attacks incredibly lacking in power, even at +3.</p>
2/2
 
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