Darksafadao
best of the second options
[OVERVIEW]
A good typing, good bulk, access to reliable recovery, and access to Defog make Mantine a good Pokemon in UU. Mantine is one of the best defensive answers to physical threats such as Cobalion and Infernape due to its typing. It also has a great Special Defense stat that allows it to absorb hits from strong special attackers such as Hydreigon. Those traits, paired with its ability to threaten Stealth Rock users such as Swampert with Toxic and Scald, allow Mantine to control hazards effectively. However, Mantine is passive and should be avoided on more offensive teams, as it can’t maintain momentum well. It also has a weakness to Stealth Rock, which hinders its role as a wall and can be taken advantage of by strong physical attackers, such as Breloom, Azumarill, and even Pokemon that it would usually check such as Choice Band Infernape. Mantine has a 4x weakness to Electric-type attacks, allowing Pokemon with access to them, such as Mega Manectric, pressure it and prevent it from exerting its role.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Roost
move 3: Defog
move 4: Haze / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Mantine's most reliable STAB move that also has a chance to burn the foe. Roost allows Mantine to repeatedly switch in on Pokemon it is supposed to counter, such as Infernape and Volcanion. Defog clears entry hazards from the field for itself and its teammates. Haze helps Mantine beat common setup sweepers, such as Suicune and Cobalion, more reliably. Toxic allows Mantine to punish common switch-ins, such as Mega Manectric and Breloom, and it also lets Mantine pressure common Stealth Rock setters such as Swampert.
Set Details
========
A spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD with a Bold nature lets Mantine switch into physical attackers with more security, such as Cobalion, Lucario, and some variants of Scizor. The use of Leftovers improves its longevity. Water Absorb gives Mantine an immunity to Water-type attacks and can be utilized to recover HP when facing Pokemon such as Tentacruel and Swampert that rely greatly on such attacks to exert offensive pressure. Water Absorb also helps stop setup sweepers such as Suicune that have roles a Water-type attack as their only STAB move. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 SpD with a Calm nature helps Mantine take on special attackers such as Nidoking lacking Thunderbolt. However, it gives up on some physical bulk with this spread, which lessens its ability to check physical threats.
Usage Tips
========
Although Mantine is a Defogger, it's weak to Stealth Rock. Misplaying can end up with it being KOed before using Defog. It can also get pressured easily, mainly when Stealth Rock is up. Make sure to avoid getting into a position where Mantine needs to heal, use Defog, and use Haze against opposing threats at the same time. Switch in against Pokemon that Mantine checks, such as Cobalion and Scizor . Also, avoid being hit by Toxic, as it hurts Mantine’s longevity and overall effectiveness, making it harder for Mantine to deal with the Pokemon that it normally checks. Keeping Mantine as healthy as possible is essential for it to keep checking potential threats.
Team Options
========
Ground-types complement Mantine well, as they can check the Electric- and Rock-types that beat Mantine. One example is Hippowdon, which makes a nice core with Mantine despite its passivity and shared weakness to some wallbreakers, such as Crawdaunt. Gliscor is another great partner that absorbs physical hits Mantine wouldn’t appreciate and benefits from Mantine’s special bulk and Water immunity. Dragon-types are also a nice option to check Electric-types. Two good Dragon-type partners are Hydreigon and Kyurem, the latter one appreciating Mantine’s ability to use Defog. Grass-types such as Amoonguss and Mega Sceptile can be great partners too, as they take Electric-type attacks easily. Heal Bell users, such as Blissey and Sylveon, can help with Mantine's weakness to status.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mirror Coat can be used to surprise your opponents, but it relies on prediction and it isn’t really recommended. Air Slash is not a common option, but it can catch your opponent off guard, hitting Grass-types for super effective damage and OHKOing Heracross, which would otherwise switch in freely to take advantage of Mantine’s passiveness.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Residual Damage** Mantine appreciates being healthy, as it aids it in its role as a Defogger. To help preserve its health, Mantine should try to avoid taking too much residual damage from sources such as Toxic and Stealth Rock.
**Offensive Pressure** Mantine can get overloaded by offensive teams. Although Haze makes it less prone to offensive pressure, it still can be pressured to use Defog and deal with a threat at the same time. This, combined with the aforementioned residual damage, can quickly wear down Mantine and make it unable to adequately perform its role.
**Electric-types** Mega Manectric, Magneton, and most other Electric-types are able to switch into Mantine or come in with a double switch and then fire off a strong Volt Switch or Thunderbolt.
**Rock-types** Although they fear switching into Mantine because of its access to Scald, Mantine gets extremely pressured by Rock-type Pokemon. Pokemon like Terrakion, Mega Aerodactyl, and Nihilego can hit Mantine really hard; Nihilego is particularly troublesome because it does not mind being burned and does not take very much from Scald.
A good typing, good bulk, access to reliable recovery, and access to Defog make Mantine a good Pokemon in UU. Mantine is one of the best defensive answers to physical threats such as Cobalion and Infernape due to its typing. It also has a great Special Defense stat that allows it to absorb hits from strong special attackers such as Hydreigon. Those traits, paired with its ability to threaten Stealth Rock users such as Swampert with Toxic and Scald, allow Mantine to control hazards effectively. However, Mantine is passive and should be avoided on more offensive teams, as it can’t maintain momentum well. It also has a weakness to Stealth Rock, which hinders its role as a wall and can be taken advantage of by strong physical attackers, such as Breloom, Azumarill, and even Pokemon that it would usually check such as Choice Band Infernape. Mantine has a 4x weakness to Electric-type attacks, allowing Pokemon with access to them, such as Mega Manectric, pressure it and prevent it from exerting its role.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Roost
move 3: Defog
move 4: Haze / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Mantine's most reliable STAB move that also has a chance to burn the foe. Roost allows Mantine to repeatedly switch in on Pokemon it is supposed to counter, such as Infernape and Volcanion. Defog clears entry hazards from the field for itself and its teammates. Haze helps Mantine beat common setup sweepers, such as Suicune and Cobalion, more reliably. Toxic allows Mantine to punish common switch-ins, such as Mega Manectric and Breloom, and it also lets Mantine pressure common Stealth Rock setters such as Swampert.
Set Details
========
A spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD with a Bold nature lets Mantine switch into physical attackers with more security, such as Cobalion, Lucario, and some variants of Scizor. The use of Leftovers improves its longevity. Water Absorb gives Mantine an immunity to Water-type attacks and can be utilized to recover HP when facing Pokemon such as Tentacruel and Swampert that rely greatly on such attacks to exert offensive pressure. Water Absorb also helps stop setup sweepers such as Suicune that have roles a Water-type attack as their only STAB move. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 SpD with a Calm nature helps Mantine take on special attackers such as Nidoking lacking Thunderbolt. However, it gives up on some physical bulk with this spread, which lessens its ability to check physical threats.
Usage Tips
========
Although Mantine is a Defogger, it's weak to Stealth Rock. Misplaying can end up with it being KOed before using Defog. It can also get pressured easily, mainly when Stealth Rock is up. Make sure to avoid getting into a position where Mantine needs to heal, use Defog, and use Haze against opposing threats at the same time. Switch in against Pokemon that Mantine checks, such as Cobalion and Scizor . Also, avoid being hit by Toxic, as it hurts Mantine’s longevity and overall effectiveness, making it harder for Mantine to deal with the Pokemon that it normally checks. Keeping Mantine as healthy as possible is essential for it to keep checking potential threats.
Team Options
========
Ground-types complement Mantine well, as they can check the Electric- and Rock-types that beat Mantine. One example is Hippowdon, which makes a nice core with Mantine despite its passivity and shared weakness to some wallbreakers, such as Crawdaunt. Gliscor is another great partner that absorbs physical hits Mantine wouldn’t appreciate and benefits from Mantine’s special bulk and Water immunity. Dragon-types are also a nice option to check Electric-types. Two good Dragon-type partners are Hydreigon and Kyurem, the latter one appreciating Mantine’s ability to use Defog. Grass-types such as Amoonguss and Mega Sceptile can be great partners too, as they take Electric-type attacks easily. Heal Bell users, such as Blissey and Sylveon, can help with Mantine's weakness to status.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mirror Coat can be used to surprise your opponents, but it relies on prediction and it isn’t really recommended. Air Slash is not a common option, but it can catch your opponent off guard, hitting Grass-types for super effective damage and OHKOing Heracross, which would otherwise switch in freely to take advantage of Mantine’s passiveness.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Residual Damage** Mantine appreciates being healthy, as it aids it in its role as a Defogger. To help preserve its health, Mantine should try to avoid taking too much residual damage from sources such as Toxic and Stealth Rock.
**Offensive Pressure** Mantine can get overloaded by offensive teams. Although Haze makes it less prone to offensive pressure, it still can be pressured to use Defog and deal with a threat at the same time. This, combined with the aforementioned residual damage, can quickly wear down Mantine and make it unable to adequately perform its role.
**Electric-types** Mega Manectric, Magneton, and most other Electric-types are able to switch into Mantine or come in with a double switch and then fire off a strong Volt Switch or Thunderbolt.
**Rock-types** Although they fear switching into Mantine because of its access to Scald, Mantine gets extremely pressured by Rock-type Pokemon. Pokemon like Terrakion, Mega Aerodactyl, and Nihilego can hit Mantine really hard; Nihilego is particularly troublesome because it does not mind being burned and does not take very much from Scald.
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