Mantine (QC 0/3)

[bb skarm]

Bulbapedia / Serebii / B/W analysis
QC: / /
GP: /​

Overview
########

- Great defensive typing, although leaves it weak to Stealth Rock and Electric-types
- High Special Defense
- Average attacking stats
- Good defensive capabilities
- Great ability in Water Absorb
- Complete stop to special threats in the tier such as Typhlosion and Omastar
- No recovery outside of RestTalk

Physically Defensive
########
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Defog
move 2: Rest
move 3: Haze
move 4: Scald
ability: Water Absorb
item: Leftovers
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
nature: Bold

Moves
========

- Rest provides recovery, allowing Mantine to be more passive
- Scald is a STAB that is used for the high chance to burn
- Defog clears hazard for the team
- Haze screws with setup sweepers like Feraligatr, SubCM Uxie, and Crotomb
- Sleep Talk can be used, but Mantine has bad 4MSS and it just adds to it
- Toxic can help create passive damage
- Air Slash hits Ludicolo

Set Details
========

- 248 HP EVs add on to bulk, and allow Mantine to switch into Stealth Rock 5 times compared to 4
- 252 Defense EVs with a Bold Nature maximize Defense, allowing Mantine to take physical hits better
- Water Absorb provides an immunity to Water-type attacks, allowing Mantine to function as a good pivot and better wall
- Leftovers is passive recovery

Usage Tips
========

- Defogging is support Mantine can pull off, so use it when needed
- If there are no hazards on the field, Mantine can stay in and spread burns with Scald
- Mantine works as pivot with Water Absorb and can pivot in to special attacks
- Rest is a bit tricky to use, it should not be used unless Mantine is at very low health, as if Mantine is going to be taken down with an attack, it can be better to just play it safe and switch out

Team Options
========

- Stealth Rock weak Pokemon such as Articuno love Mantine's Defog support
- Sandslash is a good partner, as Mantine takes Water-type attacks directed at it, while Sandslash take Electric-type attacks directed at Mantine
- Clerics such as Audino really help as they can immediately wake up Mantine from Rest
- Stall teammates such as Vileplume make good partners
- Mantine works on defensive teams in general

Other Options
########

- A Rain Sweeper set with Swift Swim can work with Air Slash, Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, and Rain Dance
- A SubToxic set can work
- Assault Vest can work with Mantine's high Special Defense, but Mantine is much too weak to do much damage
- Choice Specs gives Mantine a huge power boost to its attacks

Checks & Counters
########

**Electric-types** Mantine has no business staying in on Electric-type Pokemon such as Electivire, as they can cleanly OHKO Mantine

**Taunt** Taunt stops Mantine from using Defog or Rest, extremely crippling it

**Strong Physical Attacks** Even with enough defense investment, any strong physical attack from namely banded users, will easily take down Mantine

 

[scorpdestroyer]

hello.

I don't think Mantine fits anywhere on offense at all. It's the only Defogger that also checks Fire spam and Water-types very well, but it's extremely passive (reliance on Rest + weak STAB moves). Offense usually benefits a lot more from Lanturn / Dragalge / even Altaria to check those things. Mention this in the overview as Mantine can really only afford to function in a defensive / stall team with cleric support.

I'm thinking of changing the set to something like:

Physically Defensive
########
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Defog
move 2: Rest
move 3: Haze
move 4: Scald
ability: Water Absorb
item: Leftovers
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
nature: Bold

The reason RestTalk doesn't really work is because Mantine has really, really bad 4MSS (srsly I've not seen anything like it) and RestTalk really exacerbates it. It's better on stall teams for Mantine to rely on the cleric to help it wake up and stuff. Meanwhile all these moves are pretty important for stall. Meanwhile Haze prevents stuff like Gatr from setting up on it while stopping stuff like SubCM Uxie, Crotomb, etc. which is quite important for stall. and obviously Scald burns stuff and hits Fire-types etc.

Moves:
- Edit this accordingly
- Mention Toxic
- Mention RestTalk
- Maybe mention Air Slash to hit Ludicolo

Usage Tips:
- Defogging isn't a "main role" on stall anymore, just one of the things Mantine can do, so edit this

Team Options:
- Remove the offensive teammates; as mentioned Mantine doesn't really fit on offense
- Add some good stall teammates, especially ones that share good synergy

you might want to test Mantine out on stall for a while because this is kind of a big shift from the direction you were originally writing on.

shoutout Punchshroom and QueenofLuvdiscs for helping me on this one

 

[bb skarm]

scorpdestroyer I've done all this, could you please take another look at it?

edit: dropping, needs a better writer

 

[Raseri]

this has been dropped