Hello! I recently decided I wanted to make a team with Mienshao, and I like doing off-meta things so I picked AV as my set of choice and built a team around it. Hazard stacking Mew (in theory) allows Mienshao to pick away at the enemy team in such a way that the rest of its strong teammates are able to come in and clean up.
...However, there are aspects of this team that still clearly fall short, and that is what I am asking you for help with. Rillaboom is somewhat hard to deal with for this team, along with certain set up sweepers, and I want to know what I can/should change to be able to deal with more threats and hopefully use this team to move up the ladder a bit. I don't want to get rid of Mienshao, but I am open to almost any other suggestion. Thank you for any response!
Mienshao @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 64 HP / 28 Atk / 164 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
The mon the team was built around. I know the EV spread is wonky, but hear me out. The HP and SpD investment allows it to live a +1 Psychic from Timid Volcarona at full HP, to which it can then promptly Stone Edge and OHKO. I used to use another EV spread of 96 HP / 28 Atk / 132 SpD / 252 Spe, which is more evenly distributed, but dies to Psychic. The 28 Atk allows Mienshao to OHKO Gengar with Knock Off. Overall, while it doesn't initially seem like much I have won games because of how easily it can just keep coming in with that Regenerator healing, living everything the opponent does and knocking them off and whatnot. I think it's fun.
Mew @ Red Card
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Flare Blitz
I've always loved Mew as a lead hazard setter, and it still fails to disappoint. Mew can usually get up Rocks and 1 layer of Spikes before it dies, and it messes up their lead with Red Card. I generally like Red Card better than Focus Sash, because with the HP investment Mew lives almost anything, even super-effective moves. Taunt is always helpful, and Flare Blitz does a good amount to Ferrothorn and stuff like that.
Bisharp @ Black Glasses
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
Almost quintessential on teams like this, here's Bisharp to offer his Defiant ability to the team to stop Defogs and the like. Sometimes this thing can just straight up win, it's scary. It completely destroys Sticky Web, because it can just get to like +4 and Sucker Punch everything to death. Overall this is one of the more effective Pokemon on my team.
Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive/Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psychic
- Roost
- Earthquake/Mystical Fire
Latios hasn't really struck me this generation as being particularly special, but nevertheless on this team it's been able to put in a healthy amount of work. Psychic absolutely shreds through a lot of OU, including troublesome things like Toxapex that give Mienshao and Bisharp trouble. Draco is always a good nuke to drop on things, Roost is good for recovering health, but I'm not quite sure on the last spot. Earthquake allows it to beat Heatran and Magnezone, and Mystical Fire allows it to beat Ferrothorn and Corviknight. You are always walled by the ones that you don't have the coverage for. I don't know which to pick! I could see this Pokemon being changed to something else.
Diggersby @ Life Orb
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Body Slam
- Earthquake
- Quick Attack
This Diggersby is probably the most unsure of any of the Pokemon on this team. The most recent addition, he's there to stop Ghost and Electric type attacks, as well as offering his Huge Power. Quick Attack is fun, Body Slam and Earthquake hit hard. Not much else to say; it's Diggersby. Like I said, if there's any Pokemon on this team that I can see changing, it's this thing, but for the time being It's been able to be reasonably effective.
Tapu Koko @ Choice Specs
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Dazzling Gleam
- Grass Knot
Specs Koko is so scary it will just make any team better that you put it on. And that does not fall flat here. Koko can often clean up after everyone else. A lot of times, I don't even send it out until the end of the game, because by then a lot of the fast Pokemon are dead and it can easily deal with the rest with its Thunderbolts and Dazzling Gleams. Grass Knot is fun for Swampert and Seismitoad. This has been a really good mon on this team and has put in a lot of work, as well as being particularly effective at opening up for Mienshao with Volt Switch.
Any help you can give with this team would be appreciated, thank you for reading!
Team Importable: https://pokepast.es/c5b54addcd8e735c