[OVERVIEW]
Mantine's typing and excellent special bulk let it handle menacing, commonplace attackers like Mega Blastoise, Ninetales, and Roserade. The high usage of these attackers means it gets opportunities to switch in against many teams, letting it use Defog with decent consistency, and the ability to run any two of Air Slash, Scald, and Toxic can make it tricky for offensive teams to safely respond to early-game. However, vulnerability to Electric-type attacks and Toxic renders it easily forced out by Pokemon that might have those moves. Registeel and Bronzong are prevalent Stealth Rock users that practically always have Toxic, so it's extremely difficult for Mantine to keep entry hazards away against teams with them. A Stealth Rock weakness means it often switches in with significant HP lost and is under a lot of pressure to clear hazards, and the high number of Stealth Rock setters that run Toxic makes this job even harder. It faces significant competition from Milotic, which boasts greater versatility by not requiring three specific moves and the ability to beat Steel-types by using Refresh. Only having one customizable moveslot means it'll be helpless against certain setup users depending on its fourth move; for example, using Haze over Air Slash makes Toxicroak a counter, and using Air Slash allows bulky Pokemon like Curse Snorlax to be a problem.
[SET]
name: Defog
move 1: Roost
move 2: Defog
move 3: Scald
move 4: Air Slash / Haze
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 120 SpD / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Aptitude at switching into common special attackers gives Mantine plenty of Defog opportunities. Scald's burn chance keeps physical attackers and Steel-types from switching in freely. Air Slash hits Grass- and Fighting-types that could exploit Scald, including Virizion, Roserade, Shaymin, and Toxicroak. Haze eliminates boosts from special setup wallbreakers like Salazzle. Toxic is an option to take attackers like Mega Blastoise and Ninetales down as efficiently as possible.
Set Details
========
136 Speed EVs are used to outpace Adamant Machamp, which would otherwise handle Mantine without issue. The remaining investment goes in special bulk to maximize Mantine's ability to check special attackers.
Usage Tips
========
Opportunities to switch in come from common special attackers that can't hope to break through a healthy Mantine like Mega Blastoise and Ninetales. Air Slash should punish Grass-types, Toxicroak, and Machamp expecting Scald on the switch, and spreading Toxic if Mantine has it weakens the opposition for a teammate to clean up. Blanket checks like Milotic can run Toxic, so they must be scouted before Mantine can safely switch in. However, trading Toxic with an opposing wall can be productive if Mantine is no longer necessary or your team has a cleric. Don't be afraid to let Mantine go down if the foes it checks have been sufficiently weakened for teammates to handle; putting too much focus on keeping Mantine around can drain your momentum.
Team Options
========
Mantine's slow, somewhat passive nature limits it to balanced and defensive teams. Registeel and Ground-types such as Rhyperior absorb Electric-type attacks sent Mantine's way, and threatening physical attackers can be answered by bulky Psychic-types like Cresselia. Florges and Umbreon offer Heal Bell, meaning Mantine is much less afraid of Toxic users, and appreciate a solid Ninetales switch-in. Choice Scarf Gardevoir's Healing Wish is a way for more offensive teams to revitalize Mantine. Fast sweepers such as Zygarde-10% and Barbaracle appreciate Mantine softening the opposition up with Toxic and attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice Beam can hit Grass-, Ground-, and Dragon-types all at once, specifically surprising Noivern, but its overall poor coverage and power usually aren't worthwhile.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Toxic**: Anything running Toxic, including common blanket checks like Registeel and Milotic, can leave Mantine pretty useless. It's too weak to KO foes before poison damage racks up. Almost every Pokemon can learn Toxic, so any attacker wanting to lure Mantine can easily do so.
**Electric**: A 4x weakness to Electric makes Mantine easily OHKOed or 2HKOed by anything running moves of the type. Such Pokemon include Raikou, Mega Ampharos, Rotom-C, Goodra, and Mismagius.
**Physical Attackers**: Mantine has fairly poor physical bulk, so any physical attacker faster than it has an easy time beating it. Wallbreakers like Guts Machamp and Choice Band Zygarde-10% are free to throw out attacks, and Swords Dance users such as Toxicroak and Virizion OHKO it after boosting. Most don't like taking one or both of Scald and Air Slash as they switch in, though.
**Rock**: Stealth Rock removing a quarter of Mantine's HP puts it in KO range of attackers it could otherwise check like Poisonium Z Salazzle. Rock-types like Tyrantrum and Lycanroc-D force Mantine out with the power of their STAB moves.
**Taunt**: Mantine's weak attacks render it helpless against Taunt users with recovery like Mandibuzz and Noivern.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[CryoGyro, 331519]]
- Quality checked by: [[roman, 396169], [phantom, 180300], [Averardo, 409096]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Electrolyte, 148071]]
Mantine's typing and excellent special bulk let it handle menacing, commonplace attackers like Mega Blastoise, Ninetales, and Roserade. The high usage of these attackers means it gets opportunities to switch in against many teams, letting it use Defog with decent consistency, and the ability to run any two of Air Slash, Scald, and Toxic can make it tricky for offensive teams to safely respond to early-game. However, vulnerability to Electric-type attacks and Toxic renders it easily forced out by Pokemon that might have those moves. Registeel and Bronzong are prevalent Stealth Rock users that practically always have Toxic, so it's extremely difficult for Mantine to keep entry hazards away against teams with them. A Stealth Rock weakness means it often switches in with significant HP lost and is under a lot of pressure to clear hazards, and the high number of Stealth Rock setters that run Toxic makes this job even harder. It faces significant competition from Milotic, which boasts greater versatility by not requiring three specific moves and the ability to beat Steel-types by using Refresh. Only having one customizable moveslot means it'll be helpless against certain setup users depending on its fourth move; for example, using Haze over Air Slash makes Toxicroak a counter, and using Air Slash allows bulky Pokemon like Curse Snorlax to be a problem.
[SET]
name: Defog
move 1: Roost
move 2: Defog
move 3: Scald
move 4: Air Slash / Haze
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 120 SpD / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Aptitude at switching into common special attackers gives Mantine plenty of Defog opportunities. Scald's burn chance keeps physical attackers and Steel-types from switching in freely. Air Slash hits Grass- and Fighting-types that could exploit Scald, including Virizion, Roserade, Shaymin, and Toxicroak. Haze eliminates boosts from special setup wallbreakers like Salazzle. Toxic is an option to take attackers like Mega Blastoise and Ninetales down as efficiently as possible.
Set Details
========
136 Speed EVs are used to outpace Adamant Machamp, which would otherwise handle Mantine without issue. The remaining investment goes in special bulk to maximize Mantine's ability to check special attackers.
Usage Tips
========
Opportunities to switch in come from common special attackers that can't hope to break through a healthy Mantine like Mega Blastoise and Ninetales. Air Slash should punish Grass-types, Toxicroak, and Machamp expecting Scald on the switch, and spreading Toxic if Mantine has it weakens the opposition for a teammate to clean up. Blanket checks like Milotic can run Toxic, so they must be scouted before Mantine can safely switch in. However, trading Toxic with an opposing wall can be productive if Mantine is no longer necessary or your team has a cleric. Don't be afraid to let Mantine go down if the foes it checks have been sufficiently weakened for teammates to handle; putting too much focus on keeping Mantine around can drain your momentum.
Team Options
========
Mantine's slow, somewhat passive nature limits it to balanced and defensive teams. Registeel and Ground-types such as Rhyperior absorb Electric-type attacks sent Mantine's way, and threatening physical attackers can be answered by bulky Psychic-types like Cresselia. Florges and Umbreon offer Heal Bell, meaning Mantine is much less afraid of Toxic users, and appreciate a solid Ninetales switch-in. Choice Scarf Gardevoir's Healing Wish is a way for more offensive teams to revitalize Mantine. Fast sweepers such as Zygarde-10% and Barbaracle appreciate Mantine softening the opposition up with Toxic and attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice Beam can hit Grass-, Ground-, and Dragon-types all at once, specifically surprising Noivern, but its overall poor coverage and power usually aren't worthwhile.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Toxic**: Anything running Toxic, including common blanket checks like Registeel and Milotic, can leave Mantine pretty useless. It's too weak to KO foes before poison damage racks up. Almost every Pokemon can learn Toxic, so any attacker wanting to lure Mantine can easily do so.
**Electric**: A 4x weakness to Electric makes Mantine easily OHKOed or 2HKOed by anything running moves of the type. Such Pokemon include Raikou, Mega Ampharos, Rotom-C, Goodra, and Mismagius.
**Physical Attackers**: Mantine has fairly poor physical bulk, so any physical attacker faster than it has an easy time beating it. Wallbreakers like Guts Machamp and Choice Band Zygarde-10% are free to throw out attacks, and Swords Dance users such as Toxicroak and Virizion OHKO it after boosting. Most don't like taking one or both of Scald and Air Slash as they switch in, though.
**Rock**: Stealth Rock removing a quarter of Mantine's HP puts it in KO range of attackers it could otherwise check like Poisonium Z Salazzle. Rock-types like Tyrantrum and Lycanroc-D force Mantine out with the power of their STAB moves.
**Taunt**: Mantine's weak attacks render it helpless against Taunt users with recovery like Mandibuzz and Noivern.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[CryoGyro, 331519]]
- Quality checked by: [[roman, 396169], [phantom, 180300], [Averardo, 409096]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Electrolyte, 148071]]
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