Mienshao [QC 1/2] [GP 0/2]

Oathkeeper

"Wait!" he says, do I look like a waiter?
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[OVERVIEW]

Mienshao is arguably the best Fighting-type in the RU metagame thanks to its two great abilities, good Speed tier, and coverage movepool. Combine the fact that U-turn can be used with Regenerator, Mienshao can offset any chip damage it receives. Mienshao can also work as a wallbreaker with a Life Orb or Choice Band set that punches holes in teams expecting a Choice Scarf set. Its bulk is subpar to the point where even a resisted hit can do significant damage, but Regenerator can offset this sometimes.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Poison Jab / Stone Edge
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

U-turn pivots on switch-ins to Mienshao such as Fairy- and Poison-types like Sylveon and Galarian Slowbro as well as give the team momentum. Knock Off punishes threats that switch in on expected Fighting-type moves like Chandelure or Reuniclus. Poison Jab nails Fairy-types like Gardevoir and Sylveon with a decent chance to poison. Stone Edge is an alternative to Poison Jab that has a chance to 2HKO Togekiss as well as 2HKO threats like Crobat and Noivern.

This set for Mienshao functions as speed control for offensive or balanced teams. Its primary purpose is to either use Close Combat for denting the opposing team or pivoting via U-turn. As such, Fairy-types can prevent Mienshao from spamming the former. Toxtricity, Steelix, and Stakataka are greatly appreciated to offensively pressure said Fairy-types. The latter two can also provide Stealth Rock support for Mienshao's team. Toxtricity is notable since it can form a VoltTurn core with Mienshao. A partner like Zarude or Chandelure hits Ghost- and Psychic-types that also prevent spamming of Close Combat. In return, Mienshao destroys Dark-types for these partners. Physically bulky threats like Milotic and Suicune are common switch-ins to Mienshao and, as such, will require help to bring down. Teammates like Thundurus and Raikou accomplish this task and can also form a VoltTurn core with Mienshao.

[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Close Combat / High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Life Orb / Choice Band
ability: Regenerator / Reckless
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

High Jump Kick is preferred for its Reckless damage boost and guarantees 2HKOes on Milotic and Suicune. Close Combat is a safer alternative to avoid recoil from missing outright or from Protect scouting by the opposing team. Knock Off deals heavy damage to Fighting-type move switch-ins like Chandelure and Galarian Slowbro. U-turn pivots on common switch-ins to Mienshao like Sylveon and Togekiss. Stone Edge guarantees OHKOes on Crobat and Noivern as well as 2HKOes Togekiss. Regenerator pairs better with Close Combat since none of Mienshao's other moves are boosted by Reckless other than High Jump Kick. Life Orb gives Mienshao move freedom at the cost of chip damage, whereas Choice Band gives Mienshao hole-punching attacking power at the cost of being locked into one move.

This set for Mienshao fits best on bulky or hyper offensive teams. A teammate like Chandelure or Stakataka can come in on Fairy-types that would otherwise wall Mienshao's moves, and either cripple the opposing team with status or provide Stealth Rock support, respectively. Mienshao, in return, destroys Dark- and Steel-types that these two teammates don't like. Spikes support from Roserade works nicely to wear down opposing threats and put them in range of Mienshao's Fighting STAB moves. Roserade also functions as a Fairy check that Mienshao appreciates. While Mienshao's Speed tier is great as it is, there are others that are naturally faster like Noivern and Crobat which threaten Mienshao with their respective STAB moves. A teammate like Zarude can outspeed them both as well as others and take pressure off of Mienshao. Mienshao appreciates a VoltTurn core formed with Toxtricity. Mienshao offensively pressures the special tanks or threats that Toxtricity struggles with like Porygon2 and Alolan Marowak, while Toxtricity handles the Fairy-types that Mienshao has a hard time denting.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Swords Dance is a decent option in the wallbreaker set for Mienshao. However, Swords Dance requires a turn for set up along with the fact that the immediate power Life Orb or Choice Band + Reckless gives is far more valuable in the long run. Assault Vest can prove a viable item, but it doesn't provide the Speed control that Choice Scarf does, nor does it provide the hole-punching power that a Life Orb or Choice Band does. Given Mienshao's poor bulk, an Assault Vest isn't helping.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fairy-types**: Sylveon, Gardevoir, and Mimikyu all offensively pressure Mienshao, and the former can recover any damage done to them as well.

**Bulky Water-Types**: If Mienshao's running Choice Scarf, Milotic and Suicune, both eat up whatever move Mienshao throws at them and recover HP afterwards.

**Faster Pokemon**: Crobat and Noivern are just a couple of threats that naturally outspeed and offensively pressure wallbreaker Mienshao. They both need to be wary of Stone Edge, however.

**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Galarian Weezing and Colbur Berry Galarian Slowbro are two of Mienshao's bigger issues since they can shrug off any damage and recover it back. Galarian Slowbro needs to be careful of successive Knock Offs from wallbreaker Mienshao, however.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Oathkeepre, 83980]]
- Quality checked by: [[Mac3, 291087], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
 
Last edited:

Mac3

im reminded theres no finer place to kiss
is a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnus
make into paragraphs, tag me, and ill give the 1/2 (just so i can see it as a normal write-up)
[OVERVIEW]
  • Mienshao is arguably the best Fighting-type in the RU metagame thanks to its two great abilities, good Speed tier, and coverage movepool.
  • Combine the fact that U-turn can be used with Regenerator, Mienshao can offset any chip damage it receives.
  • Mienshao can also work as a wallbreaker with a Life Orb or Choice Band set that punches holes in teams expecting a Choice Scarf set.
  • Its bulk is subpar to the point where even a resisted hit can do significant damage. (mention that it is offset by regen however)

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Poison Jab / Stone Edge
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
  • U-turn pivots on switch-ins to Mienshao such as Fairy- and Poison-types like Sylveon and Galarian Slowbro as well as give the team momentum.
  • Knock Off punishes threats that resist Fighting-type moves like Chandelure (chandelure doesn't resist fighting moves, can reword to switch in on expected fighting attacks) or Reuniclus.
  • Poison Jab nails Fairy-types like Gardevoir and Sylveon with a decent chance to poison.
  • Stone Edge is an alternative to Poison Jab that has a chance to 2HKO Togekiss as well as 2HKO threats like Crobat and Noivern.
  • Regenerator is the preferred ability instead of Reckless since none of the selected moves are boosted by it. (you make it seem like regen is just filler, regen itself is an amazing ability)

  • This set for Mienshao functions as speed control for offensive or balanced teams. Its primary purpose is to either use Close Combat for denting the opposing team or pivoting via U-turn. As such, Fairy-types can prevent Mienshao from spamming the former. Toxtricity, Steelix, and Stakataka are greatly appreciated to offensively pressure said Fairy-types. The latter two can also provide Stealth Rock support for Mienshao's team. (mienshao can pivot into these mons on fairy types, toxt forms a volturn core as well)
  • A partner like Obstagoon or Chandelure hits Ghost- and Psychic-types that also prevent spamming of Close Combat. In return, Mienshao can wear down opposing Dark-types for these partners. (mienshao does not wear down opposing darks, it breaks them) (i personally feel like obstagoon doesn't pair the best with meinshao, ask in ruqc though)
  • Physically bulky threats like Milotic and Suicune are common switch-ins to Mienshao and, as such, will require help to bring down. Teammates like Thundurus and Raikou accomplish this task and can also form a VoltTurn core with Mienshao.

[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: High Jump Kick / Close Combat (id want cc first slash)
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Life Orb / Choice Band
ability: Reckless / Regenerator (id want regen as first slash)
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
  • High Jump Kick is preferred over Close Combat for its Reckless damage boost and guarantees 2HKOes on Milotic and Suicune. (if you make the slash changes, say instead that HJK is preferred with reckless)
  • Close Combat is a safer alternative to avoid recoil from missing outright or from Protect scouting by the opposing team.
  • Knock Off deals heavy damage on Fighting-resistant threats like Chandelure (again, chande doesn't resist) and Galarian Slowbro.
  • U-turn pivots on common switch-ins to Mienshao like Sylveon and Togekiss.
  • Stone Edge guarantees OHKOes on Crobat and Noivern as well as 2HKOes Togekiss.
  • Reckless should go with High Jump Kick for its attack boost, otherwise Regenerator is the go-to ability. (again, if slash changes, move this up)
  • Life Orb gives Mienshao move freedom at the cost of chip damage, whereas Choice Band gives Mienshao hole-punching attacking power at the cost of being locked into one move. (personally dont think cb mienshao is worth it, ask in ruqc channel)

  • This set for Mienshao fits best on bulky or hyper offensive teams. A teammate like Chandelure or Stakataka can come in on Fairy-types that would otherwise wall Mienshao's moves, and either cripple the opposing team with status or provide Stealth Rock support, respectively. Mienshao, in return, destroys Dark- and Steel-types that these two teammates don't like.
  • Spikes support from Roserade works nicely to wear down opposing threats and put them in range of Mienshao's Fighting STAB moves. Roserade also functions as a Fairy check that Mienshao appreciates.
  • While Mienshao's Speed tier is great as it is, there are others that are naturally faster like Noivern and Crobat which threaten Mienshao with their respective STAB moves. A teammate like Zarude can outspeed them both as well as others and take pressure off of Mienshao. (mienshao also appreciates volturn support)

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
  • Swords Dance is a decent option in the wallbreaker set for Mienshao. However, Swords Dance requires a turn for set up along with the fact that the immediate power Life Orb or Choice Band + Reckless gives is far more valuable in the long run. (id like a AV set to be mentioned here as well, check with ppl in ruqc chan on disc though)

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fairy-types**: Sylveon, Togekiss, Gardevoir, and Mimikyu all offensively pressure Mienshao, and the former two can recover any damage done to them as well. (i wouldnt mention togekiss as it takes 70-80% from LO regen stone edge, while being 2hkoed by scarf)

**Bulky Water-Types**: If Mienshao's running Choice Scarf, Milotic and Suicune, both eat up whatever move Mienshao throws at them and recover HP afterwards.

**Faster Pokemon**: Crobat and Noivern are just a couple of threats that naturally outspeed and offensively pressure wallbreaker Mienshao. They both need to be wary of Stone Edge, however.

(stuff like colbur gbro and weezing-g are also good checks)

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Oathkeepre, 83980]]
- Quality checked by: [[Mac3, 291087], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
 
Last edited:

gorex

penguin council
is a Site Content Manageris a Forum Moderatoris a Community Contributoris a Contributor to Smogon
LCPL Champion
QC Reject.

Upon discussion with members of the QC team, the analysis is simply too barebones and does not capture a lot of important information required for a full analysis, especially considering Mienshao's placing in A rank. The main issues brought up were with regards to the skimpy overview, the teammates section which was lacking in detail, as well as the apparent lack of knowledge of the Pokemon you chose to write about. It would require too much handholding by qc2 to rectify these issues, and since it has also been mentioned in discussions that there has been previous cases of handholding in your analyses, we have decided to outright QC reject this analysis.
 

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