[Overview]
<p>Mantyke returns in Generation V to Little Cup as a great special attacker, having the power to rip through unprepared teams. The addition of Eviolite was also welcome for Mantyke, giving it a boost to its mediocre Defense while further boosting its amazing Special Defense. With Eviolite, it now has the ability to run a support or defensive set. However, all is not great for Mantyke. Its typing leaves it vulnerable to Stealth Rock and gives it a glaring quadruple weakness to common Electric-type attacks, whichoften OHKO despite a massive 120 base Special Defense. In addition, it always loses to Munchlax and has trouble defeating Croagunk. Even so, Mantyke can be a devastating Pokemon that teams should look out for.</p>
[Set]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Hidden Power Flying
move 2: Rest
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Toxic / Scald
item: Eviolite
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 156 HP / 196 Def / 120 SpD
[Set Comments]
<p>With Eviolite, Mantyke can also run an effective defensive set. Its base 120 Special Defense stat is easily the highest in the metagame, matched by no other Pokemon. The EVs and Bold nature are tailored to remedy Mantyke's weaker Defense, while Eviolite pumps up Mantyke's defenses even further. Hidden Power Flying is a reliable move that gets STAB, while Rest and Sleep Talk are the crux of this set. This set's purpose is to absorb status and damage while residual damage chips away at the opponent's health. In the final slot, Toxic is the more reliable move, but Scald gets a secondary STAB attack with the possibility of inflicting a burn.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Other defensive Pokemon work well with this set, as Mantyke is one of two prominent special walls in Little Cup, along with Munchlax. Ferroseed gets wonderful defensive synergy with Mantyke, resisting both of Mantyke's weaknesses, while in return Mantyke resists the Fire- and Fighting-type attacks which trouble Ferroseed. Ferroseed can also set up Stealth Rock and Spikes, which is perfect for Mantyke. Gligar and Hippopotas are good partners because they are physical tanks that are immune to Electric-type attacks, and can also both set up Stealth Rock. However, all of the above partners along with Mantyke itself willstruggle versus Elekid, so Misdreavus is a welcome addition as well. Snover is always an option to provide hail support which can chip away at opponents' health as they attempt to take Mantyke out.</p>
[Set]
name: Rain Dance Sweeper
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Flying / Hidden Power Electric
item: Life Orb / Damp Rock
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 36 Def / 200 SpA / 40 SpD / 200 Spe
[Set Comments]
<p>This is Mantyke's most devastating set, capable of inflicting heavy damage and OHKOing a large portion of the metagame. Rain Dance is important as it triggers Swift Swim, doubling its Speed, while also boosting Mantyke's Water-type attacks, giving its souped up Hydro Pump the ability to destroy everything that doesn't resist or is immune to it. Surf is more reliable and has more PP, but the drop in power is quite noticeable, making Hydro Pump the superior option. Ice Beam gets good coverage with Hydro Pump, hitting Grass-types that resist Water-type attacks. Hidden Power Flying is a secondary STAB that allows Mantyke to beat Snover on the switchin, along with Croagunk. However, Hidden Power Electricpairs well with Mantyke's other moves, giving it the coverage of the infamous BoltBeam combo. The EVs compensate for the IV drop with Hidden Power Flying, while maxing out Speed and Special Attack for maximum effectiveness.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Rain Dance supporters are also good because Mantyke won't have to waste a turn setting up Rain Dance. Voltorb is a good teammate because it is one of the fastest users of the move and has Explosion to possibly take out a threat before it goes down. Other Rain Dance sweepers in Kabuto and Omanyte are also great teammates because they too can take advantage of Rain Dance, and have physical moves to take care of Munchlax, who Mantyke can't. so Fighting-types are also good for dealing with Munchlax, like Mienfoo, who also has Rain Dance, are helpful.</p>
<p>The last slot is given to either Hidden Power Flying or Hidden Power Electric for the best results, but others can be used depending on the Pokemon you want to hit. Hidden Power Grass still gets coverage on Water-types and hits Chinchou for super effective damage, but fails to do anything to other Mantyke, while also leaving Mantyke vulnerable to Croagunk. Hidden Power Ground is similar, hitting Chinchou and Croagunk for super effective damage, but lacks coverage on most other Water-types.</p>
[Set]
name: Agility
move 1: Agility
move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Electric / Hidden Power Flying
item: Life Orb / Eviolite
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 36 Def / 200 SpA / 36 SpD / 196 Spe
[Set Comments]
<p>While Rain Dance is more devastating than Agility, this set provides Mantyke with a more reliable boost that will never go away unless it is either phazed out or KOed. Water Absorb is preferred so Mantyke won't get an unneeded Speed boost if Rain Dance is up, and it gives Mantyke a chance to heal itself of Life Orb or Stealth Rock damage. Modest is preferred because Mantyke needs all the power it can get, and it will still be able to hit a dangerous 30 Speed after a single Agility.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>The EVs on this set maximize Special Attack and Speed while giving a needed buff to Mantyke's defenses. Eviolite can be used instead of Life Orb for more bulk, but Mantyke will lose a lot of power. Good partners to this set are Pokemon that cover Mantyke's glaring 4x weakness to Electric-type attacks, so Gligar, for that reason, works very well as a teammate. Because this set isn't playing with the weather, Hidden Power Fire is an option to hit Ferroseed and Snover. In addition, Hidden Power Grass can be used for Chinchou at the cost of coverage.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Mantyke's movepool is quite shallow, so there aren't a lot of different possible sets for it. It can use Aqua Ring on the defensive set for more reliable recovery than Rest, but it will then lose to status conditions. With its high Special Defense, Mirror Coat can be viable, but Mantyke will still be OHKOed by Thunderbolt and other Electric-type attacks. Finally, Signal Beam is another option, but it has less power than Ice Beam for hitting most Grass-types for super effective damage.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Despite its amazing base 120 Special Defense, Electric-type attacks such as Thunderbolt will still KO Mantyke. Chinchou resists or is immune to most of Mantyke's attacks and can KO with Thunderbolt, but it should be worried about the less-common Hidden Power Grass and Hidden Power Ground. Though it has to watch out for Hidden Power Flying, Snover removes rain and 2HKOes Mantyke with Blizzard. The same goes for Croagunk, who can heal itself in rain because of Dry Skin while 2HKOing Mantyke with the combination of Fake Out and Sucker Punch. Stealth Rock ruins the offensive sets as they won't be able to switch in as many times or use as many attacks, while Taunt works best against the defensive set so it can't heal itself or spread poison with Toxic. Ferroseed is a good counter as well, as all it has to worry about is the rare Hidden Power Fire, and it doesn't take much from Hidden Power Flying and Ice Beam while setting up on Mantyke with entry hazards, draining it of its health with Leech Seed, and damaging it with Bullet Seed.</p>
<p>Mantyke returns in Generation V to Little Cup as a great special attacker, having the power to rip through unprepared teams. The addition of Eviolite was also welcome for Mantyke, giving it a boost to its mediocre Defense while further boosting its amazing Special Defense. With Eviolite, it now has the ability to run a support or defensive set. However, all is not great for Mantyke. Its typing leaves it vulnerable to Stealth Rock and gives it a glaring quadruple weakness to common Electric-type attacks, whichoften OHKO despite a massive 120 base Special Defense. In addition, it always loses to Munchlax and has trouble defeating Croagunk. Even so, Mantyke can be a devastating Pokemon that teams should look out for.</p>
[Set]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Hidden Power Flying
move 2: Rest
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Toxic / Scald
item: Eviolite
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 156 HP / 196 Def / 120 SpD
[Set Comments]
<p>With Eviolite, Mantyke can also run an effective defensive set. Its base 120 Special Defense stat is easily the highest in the metagame, matched by no other Pokemon. The EVs and Bold nature are tailored to remedy Mantyke's weaker Defense, while Eviolite pumps up Mantyke's defenses even further. Hidden Power Flying is a reliable move that gets STAB, while Rest and Sleep Talk are the crux of this set. This set's purpose is to absorb status and damage while residual damage chips away at the opponent's health. In the final slot, Toxic is the more reliable move, but Scald gets a secondary STAB attack with the possibility of inflicting a burn.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Other defensive Pokemon work well with this set, as Mantyke is one of two prominent special walls in Little Cup, along with Munchlax. Ferroseed gets wonderful defensive synergy with Mantyke, resisting both of Mantyke's weaknesses, while in return Mantyke resists the Fire- and Fighting-type attacks which trouble Ferroseed. Ferroseed can also set up Stealth Rock and Spikes, which is perfect for Mantyke. Gligar and Hippopotas are good partners because they are physical tanks that are immune to Electric-type attacks, and can also both set up Stealth Rock. However, all of the above partners along with Mantyke itself willstruggle versus Elekid, so Misdreavus is a welcome addition as well. Snover is always an option to provide hail support which can chip away at opponents' health as they attempt to take Mantyke out.</p>
[Set]
name: Rain Dance Sweeper
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Flying / Hidden Power Electric
item: Life Orb / Damp Rock
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 36 Def / 200 SpA / 40 SpD / 200 Spe
[Set Comments]
<p>This is Mantyke's most devastating set, capable of inflicting heavy damage and OHKOing a large portion of the metagame. Rain Dance is important as it triggers Swift Swim, doubling its Speed, while also boosting Mantyke's Water-type attacks, giving its souped up Hydro Pump the ability to destroy everything that doesn't resist or is immune to it. Surf is more reliable and has more PP, but the drop in power is quite noticeable, making Hydro Pump the superior option. Ice Beam gets good coverage with Hydro Pump, hitting Grass-types that resist Water-type attacks. Hidden Power Flying is a secondary STAB that allows Mantyke to beat Snover on the switchin, along with Croagunk. However, Hidden Power Electricpairs well with Mantyke's other moves, giving it the coverage of the infamous BoltBeam combo. The EVs compensate for the IV drop with Hidden Power Flying, while maxing out Speed and Special Attack for maximum effectiveness.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Rain Dance supporters are also good because Mantyke won't have to waste a turn setting up Rain Dance. Voltorb is a good teammate because it is one of the fastest users of the move and has Explosion to possibly take out a threat before it goes down. Other Rain Dance sweepers in Kabuto and Omanyte are also great teammates because they too can take advantage of Rain Dance, and have physical moves to take care of Munchlax, who Mantyke can't. so Fighting-types are also good for dealing with Munchlax, like Mienfoo, who also has Rain Dance, are helpful.</p>
<p>The last slot is given to either Hidden Power Flying or Hidden Power Electric for the best results, but others can be used depending on the Pokemon you want to hit. Hidden Power Grass still gets coverage on Water-types and hits Chinchou for super effective damage, but fails to do anything to other Mantyke, while also leaving Mantyke vulnerable to Croagunk. Hidden Power Ground is similar, hitting Chinchou and Croagunk for super effective damage, but lacks coverage on most other Water-types.</p>
[Set]
name: Agility
move 1: Agility
move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Electric / Hidden Power Flying
item: Life Orb / Eviolite
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 36 Def / 200 SpA / 36 SpD / 196 Spe
[Set Comments]
<p>While Rain Dance is more devastating than Agility, this set provides Mantyke with a more reliable boost that will never go away unless it is either phazed out or KOed. Water Absorb is preferred so Mantyke won't get an unneeded Speed boost if Rain Dance is up, and it gives Mantyke a chance to heal itself of Life Orb or Stealth Rock damage. Modest is preferred because Mantyke needs all the power it can get, and it will still be able to hit a dangerous 30 Speed after a single Agility.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>The EVs on this set maximize Special Attack and Speed while giving a needed buff to Mantyke's defenses. Eviolite can be used instead of Life Orb for more bulk, but Mantyke will lose a lot of power. Good partners to this set are Pokemon that cover Mantyke's glaring 4x weakness to Electric-type attacks, so Gligar, for that reason, works very well as a teammate. Because this set isn't playing with the weather, Hidden Power Fire is an option to hit Ferroseed and Snover. In addition, Hidden Power Grass can be used for Chinchou at the cost of coverage.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Mantyke's movepool is quite shallow, so there aren't a lot of different possible sets for it. It can use Aqua Ring on the defensive set for more reliable recovery than Rest, but it will then lose to status conditions. With its high Special Defense, Mirror Coat can be viable, but Mantyke will still be OHKOed by Thunderbolt and other Electric-type attacks. Finally, Signal Beam is another option, but it has less power than Ice Beam for hitting most Grass-types for super effective damage.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Despite its amazing base 120 Special Defense, Electric-type attacks such as Thunderbolt will still KO Mantyke. Chinchou resists or is immune to most of Mantyke's attacks and can KO with Thunderbolt, but it should be worried about the less-common Hidden Power Grass and Hidden Power Ground. Though it has to watch out for Hidden Power Flying, Snover removes rain and 2HKOes Mantyke with Blizzard. The same goes for Croagunk, who can heal itself in rain because of Dry Skin while 2HKOing Mantyke with the combination of Fake Out and Sucker Punch. Stealth Rock ruins the offensive sets as they won't be able to switch in as many times or use as many attacks, while Taunt works best against the defensive set so it can't heal itself or spread poison with Toxic. Ferroseed is a good counter as well, as all it has to worry about is the rare Hidden Power Fire, and it doesn't take much from Hidden Power Flying and Ice Beam while setting up on Mantyke with entry hazards, draining it of its health with Leech Seed, and damaging it with Bullet Seed.</p>
