[OVERVIEW]
With its excellent typing and 110 / 105 / 95 defensive stats, Mandibuzz is a sturdy wall and utility Pokemon that provides answers to many common threats to balance and stall teams. Mandibuzz's bulk allows it to serve as either a physical or a special wall; its Dark / Flying typing allows it to counter the likes of Chandelure, Shaymin, and Krookodile, though it also comes with a heavily hindering weakness to Stealth Rock. Mandibuzz's useful movepool includes reliable recovery in Roost, a solid STAB move in Foul Play, pivoting ability in U-turn, and good utility in moves such as Knock Off and Taunt. Its Speed, while low enough to generate momentum with a slow U-turn, is higher than that of most other defensive Pokemon, allowing Mandibuzz to act not only as a wall but also a decent stallbreaker with Taunt, Knock Off, and Roost. Additionally, Mandibuzz is a reliable Defog user with a favorable matchup against many common Stealth Rock users, such as Krookodile, Mega Swampert, and Nidoqueen, depending on its spread.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Taunt / Toxic
move 4: Defog / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Careful
evs: 240 HP / 216 SpD / 52 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost provides Mandibuzz with a reliable source of recovery and temporarily removes its Flying typing, allowing it to stall against foes such as slower variants of Nidoqueen and Mega Blastoise. Mandibuzz can use Knock Off to weaken special attackers such as Nidoqueen and Shaymin by removing their Life Orb and to remove Leftovers from defensive Pokemon such as Suicune and Florges. Taunt further allows Mandibuzz to wear down foes by preventing recovery of health, infliction of status, boosting, and setup of entry hazards. Defog lets Mandibuzz clear entry hazards from both sides of the field. Toxic can be used to help further in wearing down defensive Pokemon after their Leftovers has been removed and puts offensive Pokemon such as Feraligatr on a timer. Foul Play can be used instead of Knock Off as a useful way to deal big damage to physical threats, but this compromises Mandibuzz's ability to deal with the aforementioned special attackers.
Set Details
========
52 Speed EVs let Mandibuzz outspeed uninvested Suicune, Gligar, and Cresselia so that Mandibuzz can use Taunt or Knock Off before they move, as well as defensive Rotom formes so that Mandibuzz can Roost before they use Volt Switch. 240 HP EVs maximize Mandibuzz's overall bulk while retaining a favorable number to switch into Stealth Rock. The remaining EVs are placed into Special Defense, which, paired with a Careful nature, lets Mandibuzz easily take on special attackers such as Chandelure, Hydreigon, and Shaymin and even comfortably tank Florges's Moonblasts. Overcoat is Mandibuzz's most useful ability, negating Sleep Powder and Spore as well as the rare hail damage. Leftovers gives Mandibuzz passive recovery, easing switches into Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
Mandibuzz fits best on balanced teams that appreciate entry hazard clearing or the wearing down of passive Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Cresselia. Mandibuzz can find many opportunities to switch in due to its excellent bulk and typing. With Taunt, Mandibuzz can defeat many setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Suicune and Reuniclus one-on-one.
Team Options
========
Bulky Psychic-types, such as Slowking, Reuniclus, and Cresselia, provide a physically defensive backbone and help to deal with the Fighting-types that give specially defensive Mandibuzz trouble. Florges also provides a sturdy Fighting resistance as well as cleric support, which will often be useful for healing a burn from one of the many Scalds Mandibuzz will take, and it also offers a check to threats like Mega Ampharos and Kyurem. Nidoqueen and Dragalge both have great synergy with Mandibuzz because they can check Fighting-, Electric-, and Fairy-types and set Toxic Spikes to aid Mandibuzz in wearing teams down.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Foul Play
move 3: Taunt / Toxic
move 4: Defog / Toxic / Brave Bird
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Impish
evs: 240 HP / 216 Def / 52 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost provides reliable recovery and allows Mandibuzz to stay in against Pokemon such as Rhyperior by temporarily removing its Flying typing. Foul Play does significant damage to physical attackers such as Entei and Mega Aerodactyl and deters setup from the likes of Slurpuff and Feraligatr. Taunt prevents opposing Pokemon from recovering their health, setting entry hazards, and inflicting status, which aids Mandibuzz in wearing its foes down. Defog lets Mandibuzz clear entry hazards set by the likes of Krookodile and Mega Aggron. Toxic is an option to wear down defensive Pokemon and put sweepers on a timer, while Brave Bird can also be used for a harder hit on Fighting-types.
Set Details
========
With the given investment in Speed, Mandibuzz can outspeed uninvested Suicune, Cresselia, and Gligar to Taunt them before they set up or recover health, as well as uninvested Rotom formes to avoid a super effective Volt Switch by using Roost first. The remaining EVs with an Impish nature maximize Mandibuzz's physical bulk to easily deal with Pokemon such as Krookodile, Mega Swampert, and Doublade. Leftovers is used for passive recovery, reducing Mandibuzz's reliance on Roost. Overcoat is the most useful ability Mandibuzz has and allows it to ignore the effects of Sleep Powder, Spore, and hail.
Usage Tips
========
Physically defensive Mandibuzz fits well on balanced and stall teams that need entry hazard control and a reliable answer to many physical attackers. With its great bulk and typing, Mandibuzz can find several opportunities to switch in and do its job. It should switch into Stealth Rock setters that it has a good matchup against on the turn that they set up Stealth Rock, in order to avoid additional damage. Thanks to Taunt and its decent Speed, Mandibuzz can prevent the recovery of the likes of Snorlax and Umbreon. Mandibuzz should be wary of burns inflicted by Scald, as they reduce Foul Play's damage output.
Team Options
========
Mandibuzz should be paired with special walls such as Florges, which can reliably take on the likes of Hydreigon and Kyurem. If Mandibuzz is the team's entry hazard clearer, it needs a reliable, long-lasting setter of Stealth Rock that can outlast the opposing Stealth Rock user as a teammate; examples are Mega Aggron and Blissey. Blissey also provides cleric support, which is valued, as Mandibuzz is heavily crippled by burn and poison. If Mandibuzz does not run Defog, it should be paired with a hazard remover such as Forretress or Empoleon. Toxic Spikes users such as Qwilfish, Nidoqueen, and Dragalge have good type synergy with Mandibuzz and, in conjunction with Taunt and Knock Off, can quickly wear out opposing teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mandibuzz has access to U-turn and can make great use of the slow momentum it brings, if it can find the room in its moveset. With it, Mandibuzz can pivot out of incoming Kyurem, Cobalion, and other common counters that would otherwise get a free turn. Whirlwind can be used to phaze setup sweepers, but Taunt is more reliable at stopping the likes of CurseLax and Calm Mind Reuniclus and prevents Wish altogether. Brave Bird is a possibility to hit Fighting-types and Whimsicott super effectively. Rocky Helmet is an option on the physically defensive set to punish physical attackers, especially U-turn users, but without Leftovers recovery, Mandibuzz is pressured to use Roost more frequently.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Taunt**: When Taunted, Mandibuzz can be worn down or beaten by many Pokemon that it would normally beat, such as Hydreigon and Krookodile. Taunt also prevents Mandibuzz from removing entry hazards.
**Status**: Scald burns will severely hinder Mandibuzz, especially because it will often have its Leftovers removed by Knock Off. Toxic prevents it from staying in for extended periods of time.
**Electric-, Rock-, and Ice-types**: Pokemon with a type advantage against Mandibuzz, such as Mega Ampharos, Mega Aerodactyl, and Kyurem, can normally easily come in and threaten it with their STAB moves.
**Cobalion and Lucario**: Due to their typing and ability, Cobalion and Lucario use Mandibuzz as complete setup fodder.
**Wallbreakers**: Depending on its EV spread, Mandibuzz can get overwhelmed by the likes of Work Up Pidgeot and Choice Band Entei.
With its excellent typing and 110 / 105 / 95 defensive stats, Mandibuzz is a sturdy wall and utility Pokemon that provides answers to many common threats to balance and stall teams. Mandibuzz's bulk allows it to serve as either a physical or a special wall; its Dark / Flying typing allows it to counter the likes of Chandelure, Shaymin, and Krookodile, though it also comes with a heavily hindering weakness to Stealth Rock. Mandibuzz's useful movepool includes reliable recovery in Roost, a solid STAB move in Foul Play, pivoting ability in U-turn, and good utility in moves such as Knock Off and Taunt. Its Speed, while low enough to generate momentum with a slow U-turn, is higher than that of most other defensive Pokemon, allowing Mandibuzz to act not only as a wall but also a decent stallbreaker with Taunt, Knock Off, and Roost. Additionally, Mandibuzz is a reliable Defog user with a favorable matchup against many common Stealth Rock users, such as Krookodile, Mega Swampert, and Nidoqueen, depending on its spread.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Taunt / Toxic
move 4: Defog / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Careful
evs: 240 HP / 216 SpD / 52 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost provides Mandibuzz with a reliable source of recovery and temporarily removes its Flying typing, allowing it to stall against foes such as slower variants of Nidoqueen and Mega Blastoise. Mandibuzz can use Knock Off to weaken special attackers such as Nidoqueen and Shaymin by removing their Life Orb and to remove Leftovers from defensive Pokemon such as Suicune and Florges. Taunt further allows Mandibuzz to wear down foes by preventing recovery of health, infliction of status, boosting, and setup of entry hazards. Defog lets Mandibuzz clear entry hazards from both sides of the field. Toxic can be used to help further in wearing down defensive Pokemon after their Leftovers has been removed and puts offensive Pokemon such as Feraligatr on a timer. Foul Play can be used instead of Knock Off as a useful way to deal big damage to physical threats, but this compromises Mandibuzz's ability to deal with the aforementioned special attackers.
Set Details
========
52 Speed EVs let Mandibuzz outspeed uninvested Suicune, Gligar, and Cresselia so that Mandibuzz can use Taunt or Knock Off before they move, as well as defensive Rotom formes so that Mandibuzz can Roost before they use Volt Switch. 240 HP EVs maximize Mandibuzz's overall bulk while retaining a favorable number to switch into Stealth Rock. The remaining EVs are placed into Special Defense, which, paired with a Careful nature, lets Mandibuzz easily take on special attackers such as Chandelure, Hydreigon, and Shaymin and even comfortably tank Florges's Moonblasts. Overcoat is Mandibuzz's most useful ability, negating Sleep Powder and Spore as well as the rare hail damage. Leftovers gives Mandibuzz passive recovery, easing switches into Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
Mandibuzz fits best on balanced teams that appreciate entry hazard clearing or the wearing down of passive Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Cresselia. Mandibuzz can find many opportunities to switch in due to its excellent bulk and typing. With Taunt, Mandibuzz can defeat many setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Suicune and Reuniclus one-on-one.
Team Options
========
Bulky Psychic-types, such as Slowking, Reuniclus, and Cresselia, provide a physically defensive backbone and help to deal with the Fighting-types that give specially defensive Mandibuzz trouble. Florges also provides a sturdy Fighting resistance as well as cleric support, which will often be useful for healing a burn from one of the many Scalds Mandibuzz will take, and it also offers a check to threats like Mega Ampharos and Kyurem. Nidoqueen and Dragalge both have great synergy with Mandibuzz because they can check Fighting-, Electric-, and Fairy-types and set Toxic Spikes to aid Mandibuzz in wearing teams down.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Foul Play
move 3: Taunt / Toxic
move 4: Defog / Toxic / Brave Bird
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Impish
evs: 240 HP / 216 Def / 52 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost provides reliable recovery and allows Mandibuzz to stay in against Pokemon such as Rhyperior by temporarily removing its Flying typing. Foul Play does significant damage to physical attackers such as Entei and Mega Aerodactyl and deters setup from the likes of Slurpuff and Feraligatr. Taunt prevents opposing Pokemon from recovering their health, setting entry hazards, and inflicting status, which aids Mandibuzz in wearing its foes down. Defog lets Mandibuzz clear entry hazards set by the likes of Krookodile and Mega Aggron. Toxic is an option to wear down defensive Pokemon and put sweepers on a timer, while Brave Bird can also be used for a harder hit on Fighting-types.
Set Details
========
With the given investment in Speed, Mandibuzz can outspeed uninvested Suicune, Cresselia, and Gligar to Taunt them before they set up or recover health, as well as uninvested Rotom formes to avoid a super effective Volt Switch by using Roost first. The remaining EVs with an Impish nature maximize Mandibuzz's physical bulk to easily deal with Pokemon such as Krookodile, Mega Swampert, and Doublade. Leftovers is used for passive recovery, reducing Mandibuzz's reliance on Roost. Overcoat is the most useful ability Mandibuzz has and allows it to ignore the effects of Sleep Powder, Spore, and hail.
Usage Tips
========
Physically defensive Mandibuzz fits well on balanced and stall teams that need entry hazard control and a reliable answer to many physical attackers. With its great bulk and typing, Mandibuzz can find several opportunities to switch in and do its job. It should switch into Stealth Rock setters that it has a good matchup against on the turn that they set up Stealth Rock, in order to avoid additional damage. Thanks to Taunt and its decent Speed, Mandibuzz can prevent the recovery of the likes of Snorlax and Umbreon. Mandibuzz should be wary of burns inflicted by Scald, as they reduce Foul Play's damage output.
Team Options
========
Mandibuzz should be paired with special walls such as Florges, which can reliably take on the likes of Hydreigon and Kyurem. If Mandibuzz is the team's entry hazard clearer, it needs a reliable, long-lasting setter of Stealth Rock that can outlast the opposing Stealth Rock user as a teammate; examples are Mega Aggron and Blissey. Blissey also provides cleric support, which is valued, as Mandibuzz is heavily crippled by burn and poison. If Mandibuzz does not run Defog, it should be paired with a hazard remover such as Forretress or Empoleon. Toxic Spikes users such as Qwilfish, Nidoqueen, and Dragalge have good type synergy with Mandibuzz and, in conjunction with Taunt and Knock Off, can quickly wear out opposing teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mandibuzz has access to U-turn and can make great use of the slow momentum it brings, if it can find the room in its moveset. With it, Mandibuzz can pivot out of incoming Kyurem, Cobalion, and other common counters that would otherwise get a free turn. Whirlwind can be used to phaze setup sweepers, but Taunt is more reliable at stopping the likes of CurseLax and Calm Mind Reuniclus and prevents Wish altogether. Brave Bird is a possibility to hit Fighting-types and Whimsicott super effectively. Rocky Helmet is an option on the physically defensive set to punish physical attackers, especially U-turn users, but without Leftovers recovery, Mandibuzz is pressured to use Roost more frequently.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Taunt**: When Taunted, Mandibuzz can be worn down or beaten by many Pokemon that it would normally beat, such as Hydreigon and Krookodile. Taunt also prevents Mandibuzz from removing entry hazards.
**Status**: Scald burns will severely hinder Mandibuzz, especially because it will often have its Leftovers removed by Knock Off. Toxic prevents it from staying in for extended periods of time.
**Electric-, Rock-, and Ice-types**: Pokemon with a type advantage against Mandibuzz, such as Mega Ampharos, Mega Aerodactyl, and Kyurem, can normally easily come in and threaten it with their STAB moves.
**Cobalion and Lucario**: Due to their typing and ability, Cobalion and Lucario use Mandibuzz as complete setup fodder.
**Wallbreakers**: Depending on its EV spread, Mandibuzz can get overwhelmed by the likes of Work Up Pidgeot and Choice Band Entei.
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