QC Checks: Bouff / GrilledClawitzer / dodmen
GP Checks: Fireflame479
[OVERVIEW]
* Mienshao has a solid offensive typing and great offensive moves in High Jump Kick and U-turn.
* It has a niche over other Fighting-types, having utility and coverage moves unlike Keldeo and Knock Off unlike Infernape.
* Mienshao is really frail, so it almost never finds direct opportunities to switch in.
* It's still outsped by common Choice Scarf users, such as Keldeo and Terrakion, and it is weak against priority.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Stone Edge / Poison Jab
move 4: Knock Off
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Reckless
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* High Jump Kick is Mienshao's most powerful STAB move thanks to the Reckless boost, allowing it to get KOs on tier staples such as Mega Aerodactyl and Cobalion, but its drawback puts Mienshao in danger, as Mienshao loses 50% of its health if High Jump Kick misses.
* U-turn is a good way to pivot around Mienshao's checks while doing a good amount of damage against frailer Pokemon.
* Stone Edge is a strong coverage move that 2HKOes Mantine and Crobat.
* Knock Off is a safe attack to play around most of the Ghost-types, such as Gengar and Froslass, and it removes the items of Mienshao common answers.
* Poison Jab can be used instead Stone Edge to hit Primarina and Clefable harder.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Speed investment with a Choice Scarf and a Jolly nature allows Mienshao to outspeed the entire unboosted tier and several slower Choice Scarf users and setup sweepers such as Hydreigon and Haxorus.
* Maximum Attack investment is used to hit as hard as possible.
* Reckless boosts High Jump Kick's Base Power to 156, ensuring that it has a high chance to OHKO threats such as Haxorus and Mega Aerodactyl after Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
* Mienshao is really frail, which means the safest way to find opportunities is via U-turn, Volt Switch, or logical double switching.
* Be careful of using High Jump Kick if your opponent has a Ghost-type.
* Mienshao can often act as a solid lead, as it can threaten many Pokemon the opponent could lead with and use U-turn to gain momentum as they go into their dedicated checks.
* Mienshao is best used as a revenge killer, as it outspeeds the entire unboosted tier with Choice Scarf, so don't sacrifice it if your opponent has a huge setup wincon.
* It can act as a cleaner mid- or late-game, as it matches up well against offense.
Team Options
========
* Mienshao appreciates entry hazard support, especially Spikes support coming from Klefki or Roserade, as its switch-ins will be even more limited.
* Steel-types such as Scizor and Cobalion can help Mienshao defeat Fairy-types, such as Togekiss and Clefable.
* Pursuit trappers such as Choice Scarf Krookodile and Mega Aerodactyl can defeat Psychic-types to help Mienshao.
* Poison-types such as Amoonguss and Nidoking can help Mienshao remove Fairy-types from the field, while Mienshao helps them against Steel-types.
* Psychic- and Ground-types such as Latias and Krookodile threaten Poison-types such as Amoonguss and Tentacruel, which are solid Mienshao checks that resist most of its moves.
* Fighting-types are solid teammates too, as they overwhelm most of Mienshao's checks.
* VoltTurn support from the likes of Raikou and Hydreigon helps Mienshao a lot, as it gives Mienshao opportunities to switch in while also forming a great VoltTurn core.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Choice Band is a solid option, as Mienshao becomes a wallbreaker that 2HKOes the whole tier, but the lack of Speed is suboptimal for a frail Pokemon like Mienshao.
* A Life Orb set with Regenerator can be used as well, but the lack of Speed is, again, suboptimal for Mienshao, and the set is really easy to revenge kill, as your opponent will notice Mienshao doesn't have Choice Scarf.
* A set featuring Swords Dance and Life Orb may work against bulkier teams, but Mienshao lacks setup opportunities, and this set can't pivot with U-turn.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Gengar and Doublade can threaten Mienshao thanks to their immunity to High Jump Kick, and Mienshao can't revenge kill threats such as Haxorus if Ghost-types are still healthy on the opposing team.
**Revenge Killers**: Common revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Keldeo, Choice Scarf Gengar, and Choice Scarf Latias can OHKO Mienshao with their STAB moves, but they can't switch into High Hump Kick or Knock Off reliably.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Clefable and Primarina can easily tank High Jump Kick and OHKO Mienshao with their powerful STAB attacks, but they have to look out for Poison Jab.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Togekiss and Crobat can take High Jump Kick from Mienshao fairly easily, but they fear Stone Edge and can be pivoted around with U-turn.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Amoonguss and Nidoqueen can take any attack unleashed by Mienshao well, but Mienshao can use U-turn to gain momentum against them.
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