Overview
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Once at the top of the tier, Mienfoo remains an excellent bulky offensive pivot in this metagame. It can support the team through the newly buffed Knock Off and remain healthy throughout the match with the nigh-exclusive combination of U-turn and Regenerator. It has the ability check prevalent Pokemon such as Tirtouga, Carvanha, and Pawniard, beating them using its powerful Fighting-type STAB, while also boasting decent Eviolite-boosted bulk and excellent survivability thanks to Regenerator. However, its typing leaves it walled by Fairy- and Ghost-types and also beaten out by common Flying-types. It also despises status, with burn lowering its damage output and delivering chip damage and paralysis eliminating its Speed advantage. It receives competition from Timburr as a bulky pivot, but Mienfoo holds better longevity because of U-turn and Regenerator.
Bulky Attacker
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name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Drain Punch / High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Fake Out / Taunt
ability: Regenerator
item: Eviolite
evs: 196 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
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Drain Punch is the key move on the set, letting Mienfoo KO several notable threats in the metagame, such as Pawniard and Tirtouga. Knock Off is an amazing move, taking items from opponents and hitting threats like Slowpoke and Misdreavus for solid damage. U-turn preserves momentum, lets Mienfoo get out of a bad situation, and activates Regenerator. Fake Out helps Mienfoo get chip damage and can be used to break Sturdy. However, be be careful not to spam it, as it is predictable and can offer free switch-ins to your opponent. Only use it when the chip damage is absolutely necessary. Taunt prevents setup, keeps opponents from crippling Mienfoo with status, blocks recovery, and is especially useful with Mienfoo's decent Speed. High Jump Kick is an option if power is necessary, but the lack of longevity is an issue.
Set Details
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In this set, Speed is maximized and bulk is optimized, enhancing Mienfoo's ability to deal with Pawniard. Without the Speed investment, standard Pawniard outspeeds and KOes with a +2 Iron Head, even if Mienfoo has maximum bulk. If you aren't particularly concerned about Pawniard, a spread of 156 HP / 116 Def / 196 SpD with an Impish nature maximizes bulk, but if Mienfoo is running Taunt, this is not advised. Eviolite is chosen to enhance Mienfoo's bulk and Regenerator provides extra healing.
Usage Tips
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This set is geared towards bulky offense and balanced teams, either as glue or part of a VoltTurn core. It should be used as a pivot, tanking resisted hits and hitting something with Knock Off, KOing with Drain Punch if necessary, and switching out with U-turn. If your opponent has something faster that threatens Mienfoo, such as Abra or Murkrow, it should not use U-turn, but should instead switch out manually. This set excels early- to mid-game, where it can target key threats and either cripple them or take them out.
Team Options
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Mienfoo works well as part of a VoltTurn core. Chinchou can beat Murkrow and other Flying-types while also helping with Slowpoke. Magnemite can do this as well, but but it trades bulk for the ability to beat the Fairy-types that wall Mienfoo. Vullaby and Larvesta can beat Foongus and Croagunk and also have U-turn. A Regenerator core can be formed alongside Slowpoke and Foongus, creating a highly durable trio that can spread status and Knock Off items to weaken foes, weakening the opposing team for a late-game sweep. Foongus beats Spritzee, Slowpoke beats Fletchling, and Mienfoo beats bulky special walls that block the other two. Other Fighting-types, as well as Dwebble and Tirtouga, appreciate Mienfoo's ability to use Knock Off on walls such as Slowpoke and Spritzee.
Choice Scarf
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name: Choice Scarf
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Drain Punch
move 4: U-turn
ability: Regenerator
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 236 Atk / 36 SDef / 236 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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High Jump Kick is Mienfoo's STAB move here as well as its primary revenge killing move. Don't spam it if your opponent still has a Ghost-type, as you run the risk of Mienfoo losing half of its health. Knock Off goes well with a Choice Scarf set, as it can surprise something that would normally be faster than Mienfoo and helps clear out Ghost-types. Drain Punch should be used when you don't want to risk a High Jump Kick miss and need to revenge something. U-turn should be used on predicted switches and activates Regenerator. Stone Edge is also an option in order to hit Larvesta, giving it utility over Drain Punch.
Set Details
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The EVs are standard for an offensive Pokemon, maximizing Attack and Speed, and an Adamant nature is chosen as with a Choice Scarf, Mienfoo still hits 24 Speed. The Special Defense EVs let Mienfoo survive Misdreavus's Dazzling Gleam from full health. Choice Scarf fits the revenge killer and cleaner role of this set, and Regenerator is the best of Mienfoo's abilities.
Usage Tips
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This set should spam Knock Off and U-turn early game, using Mienfoo's STAB to revenge kill when needed. High Jump Kick is powerful enough to clean up late-game once all Pokemon that resist or are immune to it have been removed. This set fits best on an fast offensive team, where the utility given by the Eviolite set is not needed.
Team Options
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This set works best on a VoltTurn team, and appreciates partners such as Magnemite, Chinchou, and Archen, which can help to beat Flying-types. Larvesta and Vullaby are also appreciated, as they can beat threats such as Foongus and Croagunk. Pursuit Pawniard is a really good teammate, easily removing Misdreavus and other Ghost-types, allowing Mienfoo to clean up late-game. Late-game sweepers, such as Tirtouga, appreciate Mienfoo's Knock Off support.
Life Orb
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name: Life Orb
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Fake Out / Stone Edge / Poison Jab
ability: Regenerator
item: Life Orb
evs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
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High Jump Kick is the primary move and wallbreaking tool on this set. Knock Off punishes Ghost-types and can help to wallbreak and weaken Mienfoo's checks and counters. U-turn preserves momentum and activates Regenerator to help mitigate Life Orb recoil. Fake Out works as general priority and chip damage. Mienfoo can use it if your team is especially weak to Pokemon such as Dwebble or Tirtouga, although this is better done by the bulky attacker set. If you do include Fake Out, make sure not to give your opponents free switch-in opportunities, and although the chip damage is nice, the Life Orb recoil can add up, even if Mienfoo switches out. Stone Edge can be used for Larvesta, which otherwise walls Mienfoo and can burn it with Flame Body. It also hits Ponyta on the switch without risking a burn, but should only be done when it is in the KO range. Poison Jab gives Mienfoo the ability to 2HKO Spritzee if it has already lost its item to Knock Off.
Set Details
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The EV spread is standard for an offensive Pokemon, investing in Attack and Speed to maximize damage output and offensive potential. Life Orb is the key item of the set, emphasizing Mienfoo's wallbreaking capabilities, and its recoil can be mitigated through Regenerator.
Usage Tips
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This set is best off used as a hit-and-run attacker on bulky offense or offensive teams that need a longer-lasting wallbreaker and don't require the bulk of the main set. It is a little tougher to play with as it can't really take hits and is hard to switch in due to its frailty. This set isn't nearly as reliable against Pawniard, as it is beaten by a combination of Knock Off and Sucker Punch if it's at +2, and Iron Head flat out OHKOes Mienfoo on the switch. Nonetheless, the power of this set is immense, and the strength the Knock Off + U-turn is further amplified by Life Orb. Mienfoo can even manage to KO a full-health Slowpoke with this combination. This set works well early- to mid-game to weaken your opponent's team by smashing opposing Pokemon with High Jump Kick and Knock Off.
Team Options
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This set works best on VoltTurn teams thanks to the greater ease of switching in. It appreciates teammates such as Larvesta and Vullaby, which can beat Croagunk and Foongus for it. Checks for Flying-types, such as Chinchou and Archen, are also appreciated. Late-game sweepers such as Scraggy, Tirtouga, and Misdreavus also appreciate the wallbreaking and Knock Off support.
Other Options
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Mienfoo has a few other options that it can utilize. A SubPass set with Life Orb or Eviolite can be used on Baton Pass teams. It can use a Reckless set with High Jump Kick for even more power, but Regenerator is usually more advantageous. Force Palm is a unique option; its paralysis chance is the same as Scald's burn rate, and it can paralyze threats such as Ponyta and Murkrow.
Checks & Counters
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**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types, most namely Spritzee, resist most of Mienfoo's common moves and usually have the bulk to take them. They can KO Mienfoo with their STAB moves or simply use it as setup bait.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types resist Mienfoo's STAB, and some are bulky enough to take most other hits. Foongus can constantly check Mienfoo thanks to Regenerator and can cripple it with Stun Spore. Koffing can burn it, Grimer has Sticky Hold, and Tentacool can switch in on Drain Punch to hurt it with Liquid Ooze.
**Misdreavus**: Misdreavus can KO Mienfoo with Dazzling Gleam, burn it with Will-O-Wisp, and take its attacks relatively well, but it doesn't like Knock Off.
**Slowpoke**: Slowpoke has the bulk to take most of Mienfoo's attacks, although it won't like U-turn or Knock Off, and is KOed by the combination from the Life Orb set.
**Flame Body Users**: Flame Body users have a chance to burn Mienfoo, effectively neutering its offensive prowess and hampering its survivability. Larvesta resists its STAB and can threaten to KO with Flare Blitz. Ponyta outspeeds Mienfoo and also threatens a KO with Flare Blitz.
**Flying-types**: Fletchling and other offensive Flying-types can take Mienfoo out with their Flying-type STAB moves, and most are faster than it. Fletchling can completely bypass Mienfoo with Acrobatics, but it cannot KO if it still holds an item. However, most Flying-types have trouble switching in, as a lot of them are neutral to Fighting-type moves.
**Abra**: Abra outspeeds Mienfoo and can OHKO it with Psychic, but has trouble switching in.
Overview
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- great bulky pivot in the current meta, thanks to U-turn + regenerator
- can support the team through the buffed knock off
- Fighting-types still dominate the meta, but the introduction of fairies kinda suck
- Can check popular/dangerous mons such as Tirtouga, Pawniard, Carvanha, Porygon, Ferroseed, etc.
- Meditite gives plenty of competition, but Mienfoo has knock off, and access to U-turn + Regenerator lets it function as a much better team player and pivot.
- Weak to common attack types, flying and fairy, making it weak to top threats such as Misdreavus, Gligar, and Swirlix.
- Hates status, as it kills it's survivability (burn and poison), or keeps it from taking advantage of its speed (paralyze).
- Kinda frail without an Eviolite, and it's usually vulnerable on the special side.
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name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Drain Punch / High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Fake Out / Taunt
ability: Regenerator
item: Eviolite
evs: 76 HP / 116 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
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- Drain Punch is a solid STAB moves that offers recovery.
- Knock Off deprives opponents of their items and hits Misdreavus and Slowpoke.
- U-turn allows you to switch out of checks and counters while keeping momentum and activating Regenerator.
- Fake Out allows for chip damage, and breaks Sturdy, letting it handle Sturdy + Berry Juice abusers. This should only be used to break sturdy or get chip damage lategame, since fake out gives your opponent lots of free switch-ins.
- Taunt is an interesting option, and works well with a fast spread. It should be used to prevent certain switch-ins from setting up, such as Swirlix. Note that you should be taunting defensive switch-ins such as Slowpoke or Spritzee only after they have been hit by Knock Off.
- High Jump Kick is an option where power is needed more than survivability. The lack of Ghost-types in the tier makes this an even safer option than before.
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- The EVs optimize bulk and maximize speed to outspeed standard Pawniard, as otherwise you would be KOed by a +2 Iron Head. You could run more attack, but the speed is necessary with the current metagame.
- A slower set of 236 HP / 116 Def / 116 SDef with an Impish nature can be used if you don't need the extra speed.
- Eviolite is the obvious choice, increasing its ability to tank hits, and due it already receiving reliable recovery through Regenerator.
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- This set works well as glue or part of a VoltTurn core.
- Makes for a great pivot on bulky offense and balanced teams, although offensive teams may enjoy its attributes, keep in mind it may not be fast to enough to keep up with faster offensive teams.
- This Mienfoo is amazing early- to mid-game, and should be switching in and out often to cripple things and recover health while giving constant momentum.
- The combination of Knock Off + U-turn is huge, and gives lots of momentum, especially early game, when you should be hitting slower stuff like Spritzee and Slowpoke with Knock Off and U-turning out to recover 33% of your health.
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- Chinchou is perhaps the best partner to Mienfoo, forming a VoltTurn core and beating Murkrow (bulky Chou does this better) and Gligar (scarf does this best, soak Chou works too), while Mienfoo handles bulky special walls and can Knock Off their item. Archen can also be used, but it needs HP Ice to beat Gligar.
- Magnemite forms a VoltTurn core as well, and can beat fairies for Mienfoo.
- Vullaby or Larvesta can be used to beat Foongus and Croagunk, and have the benefit of forming a U-turn core.
- This set forms an amazing and highly durable regen core with Foongus and Slowpoke. The other two can wall fighting types, Foongus beats Spritzee, Slowpoke beats Gligar, and they spread status for the team to help stuff set up. They appreciate Mienfoo's ability to knock off and further weaken threats, and it can beat bulky special walls like Munchlax and Porygon that the other two despise.
- Other fighting types, particularly Scraggy and Meditite who can wreck lategame, appreciate Meditite's ability to Knock Off their checks, notably Foongus, Spritzee, and Slowpoke.
- Dwebble and Tirtouga also appreciate Mienfoo's ability to Knock Off bulky mons like Slowpoke, Spritzee, and Foongus.
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name: Choice Scarf
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Drain Punch
move 4: U-turn
ability: Regenerator
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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- High Jump Kick again, is your STAB move. Its power should not go unrecognized, but its chance of recoil can be risky at times.
- A fast Knock Off is extremely good in the metagame, and can weaken teams for teammates.
- Drain Punch should be used when you can recover plenty of health from an enemy, such as a full health Pawniard.
- U-turn is great on anything with a Choice Scarf, preserving momentum and getting chip damage on opponents.
- Stone Edge can be used to hit Larvesta
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- standard scarf spread, maxi out your speed and offense
- adamant is chosen since you hit 16 speed, hitting 24 speed
- choice scarf turns you into a speedy revenge killer
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- This set more or less should be spamming Knock Off and U-turn early game, but it can be used to clean up late game with High Jump Kick lategame.
- fits best on faster offensive teams in need of a revenge killer with knock off, and it can kill stuff like a +1 Scraggy or a +2 Tirtouga murkrow, and weakened Misdreavus that are still holding their item.
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- loves to be part of a VoltTurn core, magnemite works well since this set is even weaker against fairies, and it can smash murkrow if they expect a slower set and go for brave bird. Larvesta and Vullaby again can beat Foongus and Croagunk for Mienfoo.
- pursuit pawniard appreciates the knock off support, and can remove ghosts from the game, giving mienfoo an easier time sweeping lategame.
- lategame sweepers appreciate the knock off support
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name: Life Orb
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Low Sweep / Fake Out
ability: Regenerator
item: Life Orb
evs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
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- High Jump Kick is your standard STAB, smacking things around for high damage.
- Knock Off punishes your checks and counters by depriving them of their item while allowing you to hit Ghost-types.
- U-turn preserves momentum and allows you to escape unfavorable matchups.
- Low Sweep drops the speed of switch-ins, letting you get a fast U-turn off. This is useful against faster stuff like Murkrow and Gligar.
- Fake Out is general priority and chip damage. You can use it if you are especially weak to Pokemon such as Dwebble or Tirtouga, although this is better done by the Bulky Attacker set. If you do include Fake Out, make sure not to give your opponents free switch-ins, and although the chip damage is nice, the life orb recoil can add up, even if you switch out.
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- spread is standard for offensive mon, max/max/leftover in random stat, +speed nature.
- life orb gives extra power and turns high jump kick into a fearsome attack, denting/koing mons neutral to it and smashing those weak to it.
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- best off as a hit and run attacker on bulky offense and balanced teams that can go without the bulk of the bulky attacker set.
- a little tougher to play with as it can't really take hits and is really hard to switch in since it's so frail. It also isn't nearly as reliable against pawniard, as you're beaten by a combination of knock off and sucker punch if it's at +2, and iron head flat out OHKOes you.
- The power of this set is immense, and the strength the Knock Off + U-turn is amplified. You can even ko Slowpoke from full health with the combination.
- works well early- and mid-game to weaken your opponents team and smash stuff with high jump kick
- just smash stuff and knock off, really
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- requires bulky team support and flying checks, magnemite, archen, and Chinchou fit the bill here.
- Loves being on VoltTurn teams, and Vullaby and Larvesta are great teammates for the above reasons.
- gligar handles pawniard since this set has trouble with it. Mienfoo can beat Slowpoke in return for gligar.
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- a subpass set with life orb or Eviolite can be used on baton pass teams.
- a reckless set with High Jump Kick can be used for even moar power, but regenerator is more advantageous.
- HP Ice nails Gligar, although it doesn't hit much outside of that.
- Force Palm can be used. It's paralysis chance is the same as scald's burn rate, and it can paralyze gligar.
- Stone Edge hits flying-types and Larvesta.
- Poison Jab can 2hko Spritzee after Knock Off
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- Gligar resists Mienfoo's STAB and doesn't take much from any of it's other moves, doesn't mind Knock Off, and can take it out with Acrobatics or Earthquake on weakened or offensive Mienfoo.
- Fairy-types wall anything Mienfoo carries and hit Mienfoo super effectively, usually OHKOing it.
- Poison types resist its stab and some are bulky enough to take most other hits. Foongus can constantly check it thanks to regenerator and it can hit it with stun spore. Koffing can burn it, Grimer has sticky hold, and Tentacool hurts it if it switches on Drain Punch thanks to liquid ooze.
- Misdreavus can KO it with Dazzling Gleam, burn it with Will-O-Wisp, and take it's attacks relatively well, but it won't like Knock Off.
- Slowpoke has the bulk to take most attacks, although it won't like U-turn or Knock Off.
- Flame Body users, notably Larvesta and Ponyta. Larvesta resists it's STAB and threaten a KO with Flare Blitz. Ponyta also threatens with Flare Blitz and outspeeds it.
- Murkrow and other offensive Flying-types take it out with Flying-type STAB.
- Abra outspeeds and OHKOes.
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