[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Rock Slide / Stone Edge
move 4: Knock Off
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Reckless / Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Mienfoo is an effective revenge killer and speedy pivot with U-turn. High Jump Kick is Mienfoo's main STAB attack, and it notably OHKOes common Pokemon like Persian and Lairon. Rock Slide is Mienfoo's main source of coverage against Flying-types like Emolga and Pelipper. Stone Edge can be used instead for its higher damage, notably having an 87.5% chance to OHKO Emolga, though this comes with the cost of lower accuracy and the loss of Rock Slide's chance to flinch. Knock Off lets Mienfoo remove its target's item, which is important, since many walls in ZU are reliant on Leftovers for recovery or Eviolite for their bulk like Wormadam-S and Frillish, respectively. However, due to its low base power, Knock Off is a very risky move to lock Mienfoo into. Reckless can be used to increase the power of Mienfoo's High Jump Kick, though Regenerator can be used instead to help Mienfoo stay healthy, letting it avoid getting into KO range of some attacks, like Persian's Fake Out or Pawniard's Sucker Punch, late-game.
Mienfoo is best used as speed control for offensive and balance teams. It's deathly afraid of priority, notably Persian's Fake Out and Pikachu's Extreme Speed, so physically bulky Rock-types like Lairon and Solrock make great partners. These Pokemon can also set up Stealth Rock for Mienfoo, which helps wear down its targets into KO range. Additional pivots work well in adding damage on Mienfoo's targets, with Persian in particular excelling at this role due to its powerful Fake Out. Mienfoo and its fellow pivots can help switch in wallbreakers like Kingler, which help break through physical walls that check them like Solrock. Mienfoo struggles to damage Poison-types like Muk and Arbok, so Psychic- and Ground-types like Mr. Mime and Hippopotas make good answers to them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mienfoo can act as a setup sweeper with Swords Dance and Bulk Up, but its shaky bulk, even with Eviolite, and mediocre Speed make it very easy to revenge kill. Inner Focus looks like it has potential for its ability to let Mienfoo surprise Fake Out users like Persian, but bulky sets need Regenerator to function, while bulkless sets take way too much damage from Fake Out for this to be a viable strategy.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Most special attackers OHKO Choice Scarf Mienfoo and 2HKO variants holding Eviolite, though Psychic-types like Grumpig and especially powerful special attackers like Simisear can OHKO even the bulkiest Mienfoo sets.
**Faster Physical Wallbreakers**: Bulkless Eviolite Mienfoo sets can only 2HKO or 3HKO many physical attackers like Kingler and Leafeon, while they outspeed and 2HKO it back. Choice Scarf sets can outspeed them, but without Eviolite Mienfoo is often OHKOed. However, these physical attackers must be wary of bulkier spreads with Eviolite, which can often dodge a 2HKO and either finish off its targets or pivot around them.
**Poison-types**: Mienfoo lacks the coverage to threaten Poison-types, meaning oftentimes the most it can do against foes like Muk and Arbok is to use a resisted High Jump Kick. However, all Poison-types barring the rare Sticky Hold Muk dislike Knock Off.
**Flying-types**: Without Rock-type coverage, Mienfoo struggles to damage Flying-types. Emolga is a notable problem due to its Flying Gem-boosted Acrobatics OHKOing even the bulkiest variants of Eviolite-holding Mienfoo.
**Status**: While Regenerator means residual damage isn't a huge concern, the attack reduction of burn leaves Mienfoo unable to threaten foes that it can't hit for super effective damage. Paralysis is troublesome for Mienfoo sets reliant on their Speed, notably Choice Scarf sets.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mirbro.451786/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Rock Slide / Stone Edge
move 4: Knock Off
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Reckless / Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Mienfoo is an effective revenge killer and speedy pivot with U-turn. High Jump Kick is Mienfoo's main STAB attack, and it notably OHKOes common Pokemon like Persian and Lairon. Rock Slide is Mienfoo's main source of coverage against Flying-types like Emolga and Pelipper. Stone Edge can be used instead for its higher damage, notably having an 87.5% chance to OHKO Emolga, though this comes with the cost of lower accuracy and the loss of Rock Slide's chance to flinch. Knock Off lets Mienfoo remove its target's item, which is important, since many walls in ZU are reliant on Leftovers for recovery or Eviolite for their bulk like Wormadam-S and Frillish, respectively. However, due to its low base power, Knock Off is a very risky move to lock Mienfoo into. Reckless can be used to increase the power of Mienfoo's High Jump Kick, though Regenerator can be used instead to help Mienfoo stay healthy, letting it avoid getting into KO range of some attacks, like Persian's Fake Out or Pawniard's Sucker Punch, late-game.
Mienfoo is best used as speed control for offensive and balance teams. It's deathly afraid of priority, notably Persian's Fake Out and Pikachu's Extreme Speed, so physically bulky Rock-types like Lairon and Solrock make great partners. These Pokemon can also set up Stealth Rock for Mienfoo, which helps wear down its targets into KO range. Additional pivots work well in adding damage on Mienfoo's targets, with Persian in particular excelling at this role due to its powerful Fake Out. Mienfoo and its fellow pivots can help switch in wallbreakers like Kingler, which help break through physical walls that check them like Solrock. Mienfoo struggles to damage Poison-types like Muk and Arbok, so Psychic- and Ground-types like Mr. Mime and Hippopotas make good answers to them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mienfoo can act as a setup sweeper with Swords Dance and Bulk Up, but its shaky bulk, even with Eviolite, and mediocre Speed make it very easy to revenge kill. Inner Focus looks like it has potential for its ability to let Mienfoo surprise Fake Out users like Persian, but bulky sets need Regenerator to function, while bulkless sets take way too much damage from Fake Out for this to be a viable strategy.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Most special attackers OHKO Choice Scarf Mienfoo and 2HKO variants holding Eviolite, though Psychic-types like Grumpig and especially powerful special attackers like Simisear can OHKO even the bulkiest Mienfoo sets.
**Faster Physical Wallbreakers**: Bulkless Eviolite Mienfoo sets can only 2HKO or 3HKO many physical attackers like Kingler and Leafeon, while they outspeed and 2HKO it back. Choice Scarf sets can outspeed them, but without Eviolite Mienfoo is often OHKOed. However, these physical attackers must be wary of bulkier spreads with Eviolite, which can often dodge a 2HKO and either finish off its targets or pivot around them.
**Poison-types**: Mienfoo lacks the coverage to threaten Poison-types, meaning oftentimes the most it can do against foes like Muk and Arbok is to use a resisted High Jump Kick. However, all Poison-types barring the rare Sticky Hold Muk dislike Knock Off.
**Flying-types**: Without Rock-type coverage, Mienfoo struggles to damage Flying-types. Emolga is a notable problem due to its Flying Gem-boosted Acrobatics OHKOing even the bulkiest variants of Eviolite-holding Mienfoo.
**Status**: While Regenerator means residual damage isn't a huge concern, the attack reduction of burn leaves Mienfoo unable to threaten foes that it can't hit for super effective damage. Paralysis is troublesome for Mienfoo sets reliant on their Speed, notably Choice Scarf sets.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mirbro.451786/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
Last edited:
