*This is not a thread complaining that Mienshao is OP, but rather a thread to collect ideas for new creative sets.*
So, a while ago, I made a fairly successful OU VoltTurn team. My core was Mienshao/Rotom-W/Infernape/Jolteon, with Gengar for late-game sweeping and useful immunities, and Claydol for spinning. Mienshao was my MVP, and I started thinking what else it might be able to do. After much testing of various sets, I've came up with a few gems, and a few gimmicks that actually kind of work. The sets are listed below:
Calm Mind
Mienshao @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
-Calm Mind
-Aura Sphere
-Grass Knot
-Hidden Power [Ice]/Hidden Power [Fire]
Incredibly gimmicky, and surprisingly effective. The only thing this has over anything else Mienshao can run is the immense surprise factor. Aura Sphere provides sweet, reliable stab, Grass Knot rends bulky waters, and Hidden Power complements the coverage very nicely. Hidden Power [Ice] is excellent for hitting flying- types, most notably Gliscor, but if you happen to find yourself on a sun team, Hidden Power [Fire] is an acceptable alternative for toasting Forretress and Scizor. I play this set by sending it in on something like Blissey, who will more often than not switch to a physical wall such as Forretress. When the opponent sees Calm Mind, they will either stare in amazement, not knowing what to do, or pull a second switch to their special wall and allow you to get another Calm Mind in.
Swords Dance
Mienshao @ Life Orb/Focus Sash
Trait: Regenerator
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
-Swords Dance
-High Jump Kick
-Stone Edge
-Taunt/Baton Pass
After a Swords Dance, Mienshao is a deadly sweeper prepared to rip large wholes in the opponents team if not dealt with immediately. Swords Dance pumps Mienshao's attack to fearsome levels, while High Jump Kick and Stone Edge provide very nice coverage together. Taunt can be used to ease your set up and reduce fear of burns from the likes of Jellicent, however, Baton Pass can be used to abuse Regenerator without losing your boosts. The choice really depends on how well the rest of your team can use attack boosts.
Acrobatics
Mienshao @ Flying Gem
Trait: Regenerator
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
-Acrobatics
-U-Turn
-High Jump Kick
-Stone Edge
Mienshao can effectively run an Acobatics set off a great attack stat and good speed stat. U-Turn is for Regenerator abuse and scouting, while High Jump Kick Murders steel- and rock- types who dare to oppose Acrobatics. Stone Edge gives great coverage paired with High Jump Kick, and gives Mienshao yet another powerful attack to threaten potential switch-ins with.
Choice
Mienshao @ Choice Band/Choice Scarf
Trait: Regenerator
Nature: Jolly/Adamant
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
-High Jump Kick
-Stone Edge
-U-Turn
-Fling
Equipping a choice item allows Mienshao to become either a deadly sweeper or a potent revenge killer. High Jump Kick and Stone Edge provide neat coverage together, U-Turn scouts switch-ins and abuses Regenerator, and Fling is used in case you really don't want your choice item.
MixShao
Mienshao @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
Nature: Naive
EVs: 252 Atk/36 SpA/220 Spe
-High Jump Kick
-U-Turn/Stone Edge
-Grass Knot
-Hidden Power [Fire]/Hidden Power [Ice]
MixShao is quite possibly Mienshao's most effective set outside of classic Fake Out U-Turn. High Jump Kick is absurdly powerful stab, while U-Turn can abuse Regenerator to the fullest. Stone Edge is an option over U-Turn for coverage sake, but isn't recommended. Grass Knot is one of the main draws of MixShao, as it shreds bulky waters such as Gastrodon and Jellicent. Hidden Power [Fire] is generally preferable, but if you're on a rain team or really want to hit Landorus and Gliscor hard, Hidden Power [Ice] is an option. If running Hidden Power [Ice] then it is recommended to shift 32 SpA EVs into Spe. 220 EVs in speed with a Naive nature and Hidden Power [Fire] out-speeds base 100. You could run 252 speed EVs, but there are no Pokemon you'd outrun with them who you wouldn't normally.
Other Options:
I've listed just about all Mienshao has. Drain Punch has underwhelming power and Mienshao lacks the bulk to abuse it. Bulk Up is in all ways inferior to Swords Dance, as even at +1 Mienshao will find itself easily KOed by strong stab. Force Palm could be used for the paralysis rate, but Mienshao has better things to do. A stall-based set running Substitute, Bounce, Drain Punch, and Taunt is actually viable, running an EV spread of 252 HP/ 4 Atk/252 Spe and holding Leftovers, but Mienshao has better things to do. Just stick to the above sets or classic Mienshao.
Countering Mienshao: Physically defensive Jellicent can shrug off anything Mienshao can through at it sans Grass Knot, and reply with a nasty burn. Jellicent must, however, be wary of Mienshao U-Turning out for a counter. Ghost types make Mienshao sad, as it cannot use High Jump Kick and if they are lucky enough may even be able to switch in on one, causing massive damage. Any strong priority move will KO Mienshao, such as Conkeldurr or Breloom's Mach Punch.
Please post your ideas, but keep in mind that the goal is to find something other than the classic VoltTurn Mienshao. I'd also prefer if you tested the sets first, as I had a few more sets than this that worked on paper, but not in practice.
Pet a Linoone!
So, a while ago, I made a fairly successful OU VoltTurn team. My core was Mienshao/Rotom-W/Infernape/Jolteon, with Gengar for late-game sweeping and useful immunities, and Claydol for spinning. Mienshao was my MVP, and I started thinking what else it might be able to do. After much testing of various sets, I've came up with a few gems, and a few gimmicks that actually kind of work. The sets are listed below:
Calm Mind
Mienshao @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
-Calm Mind
-Aura Sphere
-Grass Knot
-Hidden Power [Ice]/Hidden Power [Fire]
Incredibly gimmicky, and surprisingly effective. The only thing this has over anything else Mienshao can run is the immense surprise factor. Aura Sphere provides sweet, reliable stab, Grass Knot rends bulky waters, and Hidden Power complements the coverage very nicely. Hidden Power [Ice] is excellent for hitting flying- types, most notably Gliscor, but if you happen to find yourself on a sun team, Hidden Power [Fire] is an acceptable alternative for toasting Forretress and Scizor. I play this set by sending it in on something like Blissey, who will more often than not switch to a physical wall such as Forretress. When the opponent sees Calm Mind, they will either stare in amazement, not knowing what to do, or pull a second switch to their special wall and allow you to get another Calm Mind in.
Swords Dance
Mienshao @ Life Orb/Focus Sash
Trait: Regenerator
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
-Swords Dance
-High Jump Kick
-Stone Edge
-Taunt/Baton Pass
After a Swords Dance, Mienshao is a deadly sweeper prepared to rip large wholes in the opponents team if not dealt with immediately. Swords Dance pumps Mienshao's attack to fearsome levels, while High Jump Kick and Stone Edge provide very nice coverage together. Taunt can be used to ease your set up and reduce fear of burns from the likes of Jellicent, however, Baton Pass can be used to abuse Regenerator without losing your boosts. The choice really depends on how well the rest of your team can use attack boosts.
Acrobatics
Mienshao @ Flying Gem
Trait: Regenerator
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
-Acrobatics
-U-Turn
-High Jump Kick
-Stone Edge
Mienshao can effectively run an Acobatics set off a great attack stat and good speed stat. U-Turn is for Regenerator abuse and scouting, while High Jump Kick Murders steel- and rock- types who dare to oppose Acrobatics. Stone Edge gives great coverage paired with High Jump Kick, and gives Mienshao yet another powerful attack to threaten potential switch-ins with.
Choice
Mienshao @ Choice Band/Choice Scarf
Trait: Regenerator
Nature: Jolly/Adamant
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
-High Jump Kick
-Stone Edge
-U-Turn
-Fling
Equipping a choice item allows Mienshao to become either a deadly sweeper or a potent revenge killer. High Jump Kick and Stone Edge provide neat coverage together, U-Turn scouts switch-ins and abuses Regenerator, and Fling is used in case you really don't want your choice item.
MixShao
Mienshao @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
Nature: Naive
EVs: 252 Atk/36 SpA/220 Spe
-High Jump Kick
-U-Turn/Stone Edge
-Grass Knot
-Hidden Power [Fire]/Hidden Power [Ice]
MixShao is quite possibly Mienshao's most effective set outside of classic Fake Out U-Turn. High Jump Kick is absurdly powerful stab, while U-Turn can abuse Regenerator to the fullest. Stone Edge is an option over U-Turn for coverage sake, but isn't recommended. Grass Knot is one of the main draws of MixShao, as it shreds bulky waters such as Gastrodon and Jellicent. Hidden Power [Fire] is generally preferable, but if you're on a rain team or really want to hit Landorus and Gliscor hard, Hidden Power [Ice] is an option. If running Hidden Power [Ice] then it is recommended to shift 32 SpA EVs into Spe. 220 EVs in speed with a Naive nature and Hidden Power [Fire] out-speeds base 100. You could run 252 speed EVs, but there are no Pokemon you'd outrun with them who you wouldn't normally.
Other Options:
I've listed just about all Mienshao has. Drain Punch has underwhelming power and Mienshao lacks the bulk to abuse it. Bulk Up is in all ways inferior to Swords Dance, as even at +1 Mienshao will find itself easily KOed by strong stab. Force Palm could be used for the paralysis rate, but Mienshao has better things to do. A stall-based set running Substitute, Bounce, Drain Punch, and Taunt is actually viable, running an EV spread of 252 HP/ 4 Atk/252 Spe and holding Leftovers, but Mienshao has better things to do. Just stick to the above sets or classic Mienshao.
Countering Mienshao: Physically defensive Jellicent can shrug off anything Mienshao can through at it sans Grass Knot, and reply with a nasty burn. Jellicent must, however, be wary of Mienshao U-Turning out for a counter. Ghost types make Mienshao sad, as it cannot use High Jump Kick and if they are lucky enough may even be able to switch in on one, causing massive damage. Any strong priority move will KO Mienshao, such as Conkeldurr or Breloom's Mach Punch.
Please post your ideas, but keep in mind that the goal is to find something other than the classic VoltTurn Mienshao. I'd also prefer if you tested the sets first, as I had a few more sets than this that worked on paper, but not in practice.
Pet a Linoone!