[OVERVIEW]
Mandibuzz is an effective, if somewhat niche utility Pokemon that is capable of keeping a number of both passive and offensive Pokemon at bay with its combination of good bulk, unique defensive typing, and reliable recovery, allowing it to shut down key threats such as Slowbro, Krookodile, and Celebi. This is further augmented by Mandibuzz's high Speed for a defensive Pokemon, which lets it outspeed and annoy slower Pokemon such as Blissey and Alomomola, as well as its access to Taunt and Toxic to shut down passive counterplay, and Overcoat, which makes it immune to sandstorm damage and Spore from Amoonguss. These traits together make Mandibuzz a nuisance to offensive and defensive teams alike, as generally only super effective or boosted neutral hits can break through it reliably, and it can outspeed most defensive Pokemon and Taunt them before it is hit with a status move. This resilience to a unique array of threats is what sets it apart from Togekiss and Moltres, two other Flying-types commonly utilized on balance and bulky offense. That said, Mandibuzz is nevertheless quite easily overwhelmed due to the ubiquity of offensive threats that can easily exploit it, such as Cobalion and Mega Manectric, as well as the bulky Fairy-types found on many defensive teams that can pressure it despite being slower, such as Sylveon and Florges. It is also extremely vulnerable to faster setup sweepers, such as Suicune, Terrakion, and Togekiss, since it cannot Taunt them before they set up. This sheer passivity is why the aforementioned Togekiss and Moltres are generally better options as Flying-types, as these both have top-notch offensive presence to back up their defensive utility. Lastly, Mandibuzz's typing only has a handful of useful resistances and makes it weak to Stealth Rock, which greatly limits the number of threats that it can beat reliably.
[SET]
name: Utility Birb
move 1: Foul Play
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 124 SpD / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Foul Play is Mandibuzz's primary means of dealing damage and punishes strong physical attackers such as Crawdaunt as well as Dark-weak offensive Pokemon such as Gengar, Latias, and Celebi. It also allows Mandibuzz to punish slower physical setup Pokemon such as Scizor. Taunt is key to Mandibuzz's success, as it prevents slower Pokemon from using status moves, allowing it to stop Toxic from Pokemon such as Alomomola and Blissey as well as prevent them from healing. Toxic helps mitigate Mandibuzz's passivity by crippling foes. It is crucial to Mandibuzz's role as a stallbreaker, as it allows Mandibuzz to beat Pokemon such as Alomomola, Slowbro, and Hippowdon one-on-one. Knock Off can be run over Foul Play to cripple foes by removing their items, but it generally does much less damage due to Mandibuzz's miserable offensive stats and should really only be considered if you intend to dedicate Mandibuzz to crippling slower teams. This makes it much more passive, and it becomes setup fodder for much more of the tier.
Set Details
========
248 HP and 124 Special Defense EVs with a Careful ensure Mandibuzz is never OHKOed by +1 Devastating Drake from Latias or Thunderbolt from Mega Manectric, and never 2HKOed by Choice Specs Draco Meteor from Hydreigon or Life Orb Ice Beam from Starmie. 136 Speed EVs give Mandibuzz the jump on maximum Speed Adamant Scizor as well as Jolly Crawdaunt, allowing it to fire off a Foul Play or Toxic before they can go for a strong attack. Overcoat gives it the unique defensive perk of being immune to Amoonguss's Spore as well as sand damage from Hippowdon.
Usage Tips
========
Be careful to account for Mandibuzz's extreme passivity in offensive matchups, as giving free turns to Pokemon such as Mega Manectric, Cobalion, Primarina, and Togekiss can prove extremely costly to a balance team. Do not carelessly toss it in versus a Scizor with Stealth Rock up, for example. It can come in, however, on a resisted attack from a Pokemon such as Celebi or Krookodile and take that as an opportunity to fire off Toxic or Foul Play. Mandibuzz must be careful to avoid being crippled by Knock Off, too, as losing its Leftovers means it will be 2HKOed by far more threats later on. Due to this passivity, you shouldn't always wait until it is at low HP to use Roost, as this will often lead to it getting KOed before it can move. You should therefore predict when the opponent will attack and use Roost proactively. Thanks to the combination of Taunt, Toxic, and its high Speed for a defensive Pokemon, Mandibuzz can prove a massive headache for defensive teams. Be careful switching it in, though, as it can only do its job with any sort of consistency if it is not statused. Alomomola and Blissey, for example, both almost always carry Toxic, meaning Mandibuzz cannot safely switch in despite beating them one-on-one. Pokemon such as Slowbro, Hippowdon, and Amoonguss are generally safer bets for bringing Mandibuzz in. If the opposing team has any of Swords Dance Lucario, Cobalion, or Terrakion, be cautious when going for Foul Play, as giving them a free Attack boost with Justified would be extremely dangerous.
Team Options
========
Mandibuzz fits best on bulkier balance, stall, and semi-stall teams in need of a defensive check to offensive Grass-, Ghost-, Dark-, and Psychic-types, as well as a means of pressuring opposing bulky teams. Mega and non-Mega Slowbro both do an excellent job of shutting down most Fighting-types that would otherwise make Mandibuzz a liability thanks to Regenerator and their high Defense. They also provide an effective win condition with Calm Mind to make your team less passive. Hippowdon and Empoleon make for a very potent balance core that shuts down most offensive threats that could take advantage of Mandibuzz such as Primarina and Mega Manectric. This pairing greatly appreciates Mandibuzz's ability to break stall teams and keep Pokemon such as Gengar and Celebi at bay. Clerics are crucial for Mandibuzz to keep up the pressure versus stall and not be crippled by status. Blissey, Florges, and defensive Mega Altaria are all very capable clerics that also have good type synergy with Mandibuzz and the aforementioned Hippowdon + Empoleon core. Hazard removers are a must-have on any bulky team, but this is especially true for teams carrying Mandibuzz due to its Stealth Rock weakness. Empoleon, Tentacruel, Hydreigon, and defensive Mega Altaria are very proficient hazard removers that are generally capable of beating most hazard setters. Bulky Stealth Rock setters such as Mega Aggron, Mega Steelix, and Empoleon are necessary on balance teams to consistently rack up chip damage on Pokemon forced to come in against Mandibuzz on top of being worn down by Taunt and Toxic. These examples also make for excellent answers to Fairy-types, compensating for one of Mandibuzz's biggest defensive shortcomings. Similarly, Spikes setters such as Chesnaught and Klefki turn the matchup versus stall teams further in Mandibuzz's favor by increasing the pressure from entry hazard damage. Chesnaught can also take on select Pokemon that attempt to set up on Mandibuzz, such as Cobalion and Zeraora, while Klefki's defensive typing allows it to check opposing Fairy-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Rocky Helmet gives Mandibuzz the option to more effectively punish physical attackers alongside Foul Play, but the loss of longevity provided by Leftovers is extremely costly, turning many 3HKOs from the tier's wallbreakers into 2HKOs, and the chip damage provided by both Foul Play and Toxic is generally enough for Mandibuzz to do its job. Mandibuzz is also very prone to having its item removed with Knock Off, thereby nullifying any benefit it might provide. U-turn over Taunt changes Mandibuzz's function from that of a wall to that of a bulky pivot, allowing it to bait in Pokemon such as Sylveon, Cobalion, Primarina, and Togekiss to bring in a teammate that can exploit such threats safely. It is relatively subpar in this role, though, as the lack of Taunt renders Mandibuzz even more passive than normal and forfeits its solid matchup versus bulky teams. Despite Mandibuzz's pitiful Attack stat, it can viably run Brave Bird to prevent it from being setup fodder for Fighting-types such as Heracross and Infernape. It struggles to fit Brave Bird onto its moveset, though, as sacrificing any of Foul Play, Taunt, or Toxic cuts drastically into its role compression and its recoil effect hurts Mandibuzz's longevity somewhat. Mandibuzz can make for an effective user of Defog, since its natural bulk allows it to Defog consistently despite its Stealth Rock weakness, but there are many other Pokemon better suited for this role that, unlike Mandibuzz, are capable of beating the tier's most common hazard setters.
Checks and Counters
========
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types can come in on Mandibuzz for free due to their generally high bulk and resistance to Foul Play. Klefki, Florges, and Sylveon are all able to fire off free status moves or attacks at Mandibuzz, while Mandibuzz can do little in return. Togekiss and Mega Altaria are particularly dangerous because they can set up on Mandibuzz with impunity. They must be mindful of Toxic if they lack Heal Bell, though.
**Fighting-types**: Outside of Toxic, Mandibuzz has little in the way of consistently threatening the tier's slew of dangerous Fighting-types, meaning that they can come in on Mandibuzz relatively safely and either set up or attack. They also fear little from Foul Play due to their resistance to Dark. Special mention goes to Cobalion, Swords Dance Lucario, and Terrakion, all of which gain an Attack boost via Justified if Mandibuzz goes for Foul Play against them. The former two of these are also immune to Toxic.
**Electric-types**: With the exception of Zeraora, all relevant Electric-types take little damage from Foul Play and can beat Mandibuzz one-on-one by spamming their STAB moves. Mandibuzz is bulky enough, however, to Roost off the damage from a predicted Volt Switch in a pinch, meaning that the momentum gained isn't necessarily free.
**Rock-types**: Terrakion, Mega Aerodactyl, and Nihilego all threaten Mandibuzz with Stone Edge or Power Gem, with the former two examples targeting Mandibuzz's somewhat lower Defense. Nihilego's low Attack stat means that it takes little damage from Foul Play and consistently switch in and threaten it with a super effective Power Gem or coverage move.
**Ice-types**: Mamoswine, Kyurem, and the rare Mega Glalie all outspeed Mandibuzz and annihilate it with their STAB moves, while Mandibuzz can do virtually nothing in return if they can manage to come in for free against it.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Pokemon such as Volcanion, Terrakion, and Choice Specs Primarina can overwhelm it with their-high powered STAB moves. Their low Attack stats or, in the case of Terrakion, resistance to Dark mean they also take little damage from Foul Play and force it out.
**Taunt**: Mandibuzz is heavily reliant on being able to use its own status moves to not be a sitting duck, meaning that it is virtually helpless versus faster Taunt users such as Hydreigon and Mega Houndoom.
**Status**: All forms of status put a massive damper on Mandibuzz's effectiveness. Burn makes it far more exploitable by halving its already shaky damage output, paralysis greatly increases the number of Pokemon that can outspeed it and beat it down, and Toxic puts it on a timer, preventing it from staying in for an extended period of time.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[eht, 237235]]
- Quality checked by: [[Hilomilo, 313384], [martha, 384270], [Kink, 222534]]
- Grammar checked by: [[martha, 384270], [talkingtree, 232101]]
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