[OVERVIEW]
Mienshao is a good fast pivot due to its access to U-turn and Knock Off in conjunction with Regenerator and an Assault Vest, allowing it to constantly pivot in and chip foes throughout a game. Furthermore, its high Speed lets it outspeed metagame staples such as Hydreigon, Celebi, and Nihilego, which greatly bolsters its ability as a pivot, and its pure Fighting typing enables Mienshao to check some of the tier's key threats in Hydreigon and Kyurem. Mienshao can also switch into other special attackers more easily due to its resistance to Stealth Rock and its increased special bulk from an Assault Vest. However, its typing also leaves it vulnerable to several key attacking types in Fairy, Flying, and Psychic, and it struggles with foes such as Mega Altaria, Moltres, and Latias as a result. While Mienshao may be able to switch into some special attacks due to its Assault Vest, it has minimal physical bulk, which makes it vulnerable to priority moves from Scizor, Mamoswine, and Crawdaunt and faster physical attackers like Terrakion and Zeraora.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Fake Out
item: Assault Vest
ability: Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 100 HP / 156 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
High Jump Kick is run due to its high Base Power, enabling Mienshao to OHKO Hydreigon and Empoleon. Knock Off enables Mienshao to remove the items of its switch-ins such as Amoonguss, Alomomola, and Primarina. U-turn lets Mienshao act as an offensive pivot, which can help it in unfavorable matchups against Pokemon that resist its moves or aren't crippled by Knock Off such as Mega Altaria and Mega Slowbro. Fake Out chips faster foes that threaten to KO Mienshao, such as Mega Beedrill and Infernape, and provides it with a way to pick off extremely weakened sweepers such as Dragon Dance Kommo-o. It is also extremely effective at racking up chip damage when stacked with poison or burns.
Set Details
========
100 HP and 156 Special Defense EVs combined with an Assault Vest allow Mienshao to take Devastating Drake or a Choice Specs-boosted Draco Meteor from Hydreigon or a Draco Meteor from +1 Latias. An alternative spread of 132 HP / 136 SpD / 240 Spe hits the same defensive benchmarks while sacrificing some Speed for HP to help in the matchup against physical attackers. Regenerator enables Mienshao to be a consistent pivot throughout a game so it can consistently check Hydreigon and other special attackers.
Usage Tips
========
Mienshao should be used primarily to pivot into special attackers like Hydreigon and Nihilego. It can also be switched into passive Pokemon such as Blissey that it doesn't fear much from; however, it must be wary of status. Once on the field, Mienshao should try to pivot out and generate offensive momentum with U-turn. It can also use U-turn to capitalize on the switches it can force against top-tier Pokemon like Hydreigon and Empoleon. Mienshao should attempt to stay healthy throughout the course of a match to ensure it can consistently check what it needs to. Pivoting or switching it out to recover health with Regenerator after taking an attack helps with this, but it should avoid taking strong attacks unless necessary. If a Pokemon that relies heavily on its item to function, such as Suicune or Choice Specs Primarina, is predicted to switch in, using Knock Off to punish it and thus lessening a threat to Mienshao's teammates is preferred as opposed to switching it out immediately. Against defensive teams, Mienshao functions best as a means to cripple key stall staples and passive Pokemon like Alomomola and Quagsire with the removal of their items, which can make it easier for its more offensive teammates to break through them. Despite Mienshao's lack of offensive investment, it can be used to KO certain frailer offensive threats like Lucario due to its naturally high Attack combined with a high-Base Power STAB move. It must scout for Protect users that can force it to lose 50% of its HP, however, such as Empoleon and Nihilego. Mienshao can be used as an effective switch-in to Volt Switch from Mega Manectric due to its high special bulk and ability to regain HP through Regenerator and pivoting.
Team Options
========
Mienshao fits best on offensive and bulkier or balanced builds alike that need a fast pivot capable of taking on Dark-types. It pairs extremely well with other Regenerator users, such as Amoonguss and Slowbro, to form a strong Regenerator core that aids and strengthens Mienshao's pivoting ability. These partners can also help Mienshao due to their high physical bulk that enables them to check strong physical attackers like Terrakion for it. Mienshao does not have the offensive presence to be able to break through bulkier teams and cores effectively, so it pairs well with strong wallbreakers like Mamoswine, Choice Specs Primarina, and Choice Band Crawdaunt. In return, it can pivot these slower Pokemon into play without them having to take prior damage. Due to the number of switches forced by Mienshao, entry hazard support helps it further punish opposing switches; Stealth Rock setters such as Mega Steelix, Gligar, Nihilego, and Nidoqueen make good partners. Additionally, the latter two can set up Toxic Spikes, which pair extremely well with Fake Out from Mienshao. Flying-type checks like Mega Aerodactyl, Rotom-H, and Diancie can patch up Mienshao's weaknesses to key offensive threats in Moltres and Togekiss, and Mienshao can provide pivoting and Knock Off utility for them in return. Mienshao is susceptible to all forms of status, preventing it from performing its role adequately. As a result, clerics such as Florges, Blissey, and Togekiss make good partners. Entry hazards can prevent Mienshao from being able to survive powerful attacks due to the chip damage they provide; thus, pairing it with hazard removal options such as Empoleon, Tentacruel, and Florges is beneficial. Priority moves from the likes of Scizor, Mamoswine, and Crawdaunt can pick off a weakened Mienshao due to its low physical bulk, so pairing it with physically defensive priority checks such as Mega Aggron and Suicune helps alleviate this.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mienshao can opt to run a more offensive set of High Jump Kick / Knock Off / U-turn / Poison Jab with maximum Attack EVs and the Reckless ability combined with a Choice Band, which functions best on Sticky Web teams, but despite its additional power, this directly competes with Terrakion, which is faster and has a secondary STAB option that threatens typical Fighting-resistant foes. The same set can also be run with a Choice Scarf, but it becomes a lot weaker and struggles to compete with Choice Scarf Infernape as a pivot, which has better coverage and secondary STAB options as well. Stone Edge can be run to punish Flying-types, such as Moltres and Togekiss, that otherwise switch into Mienshao for free.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Aside from removing their items and pivoting out of their attacks, Mienshao is left helpless against Pokemon like Primarina, which can fire off a strong attack; Florges, which can remove entry hazards or heal itself and its teammates; and Mega Altaria, which can set up a Dragon Dance or attack.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Moltres, Togekiss, and Crobat resist Mienshao's STAB attack, can switch in without any major issues, and force it out. Mega Aerodactyl struggles to switch in but is faster and can force Mienshao out with potential Flying-type STAB moves.
**Physical Attackers**: Mienshao is threatened significantly by faster physical attackers it can't effectively pivot out of, such as Terrakion, as well as key priority users, such as Scizor and Crawdaunt.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Due to Mienshao's relative lack of offensive presence, it cannot break through Pokemon such as Alomomola, Hippowdon, and Jellicent, and these Pokemon can all cripple it with some form of status. However, none of these Pokemon appreciate the removal of their items.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[martha, 384270]]
- Earlier versions by: [[faded love, 241308], [Highways, 304564]]
- Quality checked by: [[Nuked, 382658], [Hilomilo, 313384], [A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157]]
Mienshao is a good fast pivot due to its access to U-turn and Knock Off in conjunction with Regenerator and an Assault Vest, allowing it to constantly pivot in and chip foes throughout a game. Furthermore, its high Speed lets it outspeed metagame staples such as Hydreigon, Celebi, and Nihilego, which greatly bolsters its ability as a pivot, and its pure Fighting typing enables Mienshao to check some of the tier's key threats in Hydreigon and Kyurem. Mienshao can also switch into other special attackers more easily due to its resistance to Stealth Rock and its increased special bulk from an Assault Vest. However, its typing also leaves it vulnerable to several key attacking types in Fairy, Flying, and Psychic, and it struggles with foes such as Mega Altaria, Moltres, and Latias as a result. While Mienshao may be able to switch into some special attacks due to its Assault Vest, it has minimal physical bulk, which makes it vulnerable to priority moves from Scizor, Mamoswine, and Crawdaunt and faster physical attackers like Terrakion and Zeraora.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Fake Out
item: Assault Vest
ability: Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 100 HP / 156 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
High Jump Kick is run due to its high Base Power, enabling Mienshao to OHKO Hydreigon and Empoleon. Knock Off enables Mienshao to remove the items of its switch-ins such as Amoonguss, Alomomola, and Primarina. U-turn lets Mienshao act as an offensive pivot, which can help it in unfavorable matchups against Pokemon that resist its moves or aren't crippled by Knock Off such as Mega Altaria and Mega Slowbro. Fake Out chips faster foes that threaten to KO Mienshao, such as Mega Beedrill and Infernape, and provides it with a way to pick off extremely weakened sweepers such as Dragon Dance Kommo-o. It is also extremely effective at racking up chip damage when stacked with poison or burns.
Set Details
========
100 HP and 156 Special Defense EVs combined with an Assault Vest allow Mienshao to take Devastating Drake or a Choice Specs-boosted Draco Meteor from Hydreigon or a Draco Meteor from +1 Latias. An alternative spread of 132 HP / 136 SpD / 240 Spe hits the same defensive benchmarks while sacrificing some Speed for HP to help in the matchup against physical attackers. Regenerator enables Mienshao to be a consistent pivot throughout a game so it can consistently check Hydreigon and other special attackers.
Usage Tips
========
Mienshao should be used primarily to pivot into special attackers like Hydreigon and Nihilego. It can also be switched into passive Pokemon such as Blissey that it doesn't fear much from; however, it must be wary of status. Once on the field, Mienshao should try to pivot out and generate offensive momentum with U-turn. It can also use U-turn to capitalize on the switches it can force against top-tier Pokemon like Hydreigon and Empoleon. Mienshao should attempt to stay healthy throughout the course of a match to ensure it can consistently check what it needs to. Pivoting or switching it out to recover health with Regenerator after taking an attack helps with this, but it should avoid taking strong attacks unless necessary. If a Pokemon that relies heavily on its item to function, such as Suicune or Choice Specs Primarina, is predicted to switch in, using Knock Off to punish it and thus lessening a threat to Mienshao's teammates is preferred as opposed to switching it out immediately. Against defensive teams, Mienshao functions best as a means to cripple key stall staples and passive Pokemon like Alomomola and Quagsire with the removal of their items, which can make it easier for its more offensive teammates to break through them. Despite Mienshao's lack of offensive investment, it can be used to KO certain frailer offensive threats like Lucario due to its naturally high Attack combined with a high-Base Power STAB move. It must scout for Protect users that can force it to lose 50% of its HP, however, such as Empoleon and Nihilego. Mienshao can be used as an effective switch-in to Volt Switch from Mega Manectric due to its high special bulk and ability to regain HP through Regenerator and pivoting.
Team Options
========
Mienshao fits best on offensive and bulkier or balanced builds alike that need a fast pivot capable of taking on Dark-types. It pairs extremely well with other Regenerator users, such as Amoonguss and Slowbro, to form a strong Regenerator core that aids and strengthens Mienshao's pivoting ability. These partners can also help Mienshao due to their high physical bulk that enables them to check strong physical attackers like Terrakion for it. Mienshao does not have the offensive presence to be able to break through bulkier teams and cores effectively, so it pairs well with strong wallbreakers like Mamoswine, Choice Specs Primarina, and Choice Band Crawdaunt. In return, it can pivot these slower Pokemon into play without them having to take prior damage. Due to the number of switches forced by Mienshao, entry hazard support helps it further punish opposing switches; Stealth Rock setters such as Mega Steelix, Gligar, Nihilego, and Nidoqueen make good partners. Additionally, the latter two can set up Toxic Spikes, which pair extremely well with Fake Out from Mienshao. Flying-type checks like Mega Aerodactyl, Rotom-H, and Diancie can patch up Mienshao's weaknesses to key offensive threats in Moltres and Togekiss, and Mienshao can provide pivoting and Knock Off utility for them in return. Mienshao is susceptible to all forms of status, preventing it from performing its role adequately. As a result, clerics such as Florges, Blissey, and Togekiss make good partners. Entry hazards can prevent Mienshao from being able to survive powerful attacks due to the chip damage they provide; thus, pairing it with hazard removal options such as Empoleon, Tentacruel, and Florges is beneficial. Priority moves from the likes of Scizor, Mamoswine, and Crawdaunt can pick off a weakened Mienshao due to its low physical bulk, so pairing it with physically defensive priority checks such as Mega Aggron and Suicune helps alleviate this.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mienshao can opt to run a more offensive set of High Jump Kick / Knock Off / U-turn / Poison Jab with maximum Attack EVs and the Reckless ability combined with a Choice Band, which functions best on Sticky Web teams, but despite its additional power, this directly competes with Terrakion, which is faster and has a secondary STAB option that threatens typical Fighting-resistant foes. The same set can also be run with a Choice Scarf, but it becomes a lot weaker and struggles to compete with Choice Scarf Infernape as a pivot, which has better coverage and secondary STAB options as well. Stone Edge can be run to punish Flying-types, such as Moltres and Togekiss, that otherwise switch into Mienshao for free.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Aside from removing their items and pivoting out of their attacks, Mienshao is left helpless against Pokemon like Primarina, which can fire off a strong attack; Florges, which can remove entry hazards or heal itself and its teammates; and Mega Altaria, which can set up a Dragon Dance or attack.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Moltres, Togekiss, and Crobat resist Mienshao's STAB attack, can switch in without any major issues, and force it out. Mega Aerodactyl struggles to switch in but is faster and can force Mienshao out with potential Flying-type STAB moves.
**Physical Attackers**: Mienshao is threatened significantly by faster physical attackers it can't effectively pivot out of, such as Terrakion, as well as key priority users, such as Scizor and Crawdaunt.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Due to Mienshao's relative lack of offensive presence, it cannot break through Pokemon such as Alomomola, Hippowdon, and Jellicent, and these Pokemon can all cripple it with some form of status. However, none of these Pokemon appreciate the removal of their items.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[martha, 384270]]
- Earlier versions by: [[faded love, 241308], [Highways, 304564]]
- Quality checked by: [[Nuked, 382658], [Hilomilo, 313384], [A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157]]
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