[OVERVIEW]
Mantine is a great special wall in OU and is capable of walling a significant portion of the metagame. Because of its typing, it's able to be one of the best answers to Volcarona in the tier while also being able to switch into threats such as Ash-Greninja and Mega Charizard Y. Mantine is also a good Defogger, being able to deter Pokemon such as Bisharp and Landorus-T from switching in to take advantage of it with a Scald burn. However, Mantine is very passive and can drain momentum from your team, and its weakness to Stealth Rock is suboptimal for a defensive Pokemon. The prevalence of Electric-types such as Mega Manectric and Tapu Koko also hinders Mantine, as it can't do much against them. Finally, it has relatively low Defense, even when invested, so Pokemon such as Mega Medicham and Landorus-T can easily do massive damage to it.
[SET]
name: Mixed Wall
move 1: Roost
move 2: Scald
move 3: Toxic / Haze
move 4: Defog / Haze
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Calm
evs: 240 HP / 196 Def / 72 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost is mandatory, as it allows Mantine to repeatedly come in on Pokemon it is supposed to counter such as Greninja and Volcarona. Scald gives Mantine a little offensive presence and prevents it from being Taunt bait while also having a nifty 30% chance to burn. Toxic allows Mantine to cripple Pokemon such as Rotom-W, Latios, and Tangrowth on the switch and deal damage to Pokemon such as Keldeo. Defog is a decent option on Mantine, as it clears entry hazards if your team needs it. Finally, Haze gets rid of boosts from setup sweepers such as non-Thunderbolt Magearna, Volcarona, and Manaphy and prevents them from taking advantage of Mantine.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs maximize Mantine's overall bulk while letting it take less damage from Stealth Rock. The given Special Defense investment allows Mantine to take two Dark Pulses from Ash-Greninja if Stealth Rock is not up. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Defense to take on physical threats such as Greninja and Alolan Marowak. Leftovers gives Mantine passive recovery, allowing it to sponge hits better. Water Absorb is the best ability, as it gives Mantine an immunity to Water-type attacks, allowing it to pivot into Scalds without fearing a burn.
Usage Tips
========
Mantine should be used as a defensive pivot to switch into Pokemon such as Ash-Greninja and Mega Scizor. Prioritize keeping Mantine healthy with Roost, as it tends to get worn down a lot between Stealth Rock damage and taking hits. Be careful of Hidden Power Electric from Pokemon that might carry it such as Greninja and Keldeo. Use Haze on Pokemon that are able to set up on Mantine such as Manaphy and Volcarona. If Defog is being run, try to use it on Pokemon Mantine can force out such as Keldeo. Try not to let Mantine get badly poisoned by Toxic, as it severely limits its ability to eat hits.
Team Options
========
Mantine fits best on bulkier teams that need a switch-in for threats such as Volcarona and Heatran. Thus, other bulky Pokemon make good teammates. Ferrothorn is a very good defensive partner for Mantine,(AC) as it can switch into Electric- and Rock-type moves aimed at Mantine, while Mantine can switch into Fighting- and Fire-type moves for Ferrothorn. Other Grass-types such as Tangrowth and Amoongus are also good for switching into Electric-types such as Tapu Koko. Heatran is also a good defensive partner for Mantine, as it appreciates Mantine's ability to switch into Ground-types, while Heatran can force out bulky Grass-types that Mantine can't touch. If Defog isn't being run on Mantine, another entry hazard remover such as Mew or Latios is recommended, as Stealth Rock severely hampers Mantine's longevity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rocky Helmet is a decent option to wear down Pokemon such as U-turn Mega Scizor; however, Mantine prefers Leftovers. Mirror Coat can be used to get a surprise KO but is generally not worth the moveslot. Ice Beam can be used to hit Zygarde and Garchomp. An EV spread of 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD with a Bold nature allows Mantine to take on physical threats such as Weavile and Garchomp a little better at the cost of being able to take on strong special attackers. On the other hand, a spread of 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD with a Calm nature makes Mantine an almost unbreakable special wall. However, this prevents it from pivoting into physical attacks as freely. Air Slash can be used as a secondary STAB move to hit Keldeo, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss for decent damage but is generally not worth the moveslot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-type Coverage**: Tapu Koko, Magnezone, and Mega Manectric can all easily take a Scald and threaten Mantine out with a STAB Thunderbolt. Magearna and Rotom-W can also do massive damage to Mantine with Volt Switch. Mega Medicham and Mega Mawile can both OHKO Mantine with Thunder Punch; however, they must be wary of Scald burns.
**Passive Damage**: Stealth Rock chips a quarter of Mantine's health away each time it switches in, making it more difficult for Mantine to switch into attacks. Similarly, Toxic from Pokemon such as Heatran can wear Mantine down quickly, making it less effective as a wall.
**Taunt**: Taunt users such as Tapu Fini prevent Mantine from healing, removing entry hazards, or spreading poison.
**Rock-type Coverage**: Although none of them want to take a Scald, Tyranitar, Terrakion, and Landorus-T can all OHKO Mantine with Stone Edge, or in Landorus-T's case, Continental Crush.
**Strong Attacks**: Wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Tapu Lele and Choice Band Zygarde can easily 2HKO Mantine with their strong STAB attacks. Z-Moves such as Supersonic Skystrike from Landorus-T and Gyarados can also do massive damage to Mantine.
Mantine is a great special wall in OU and is capable of walling a significant portion of the metagame. Because of its typing, it's able to be one of the best answers to Volcarona in the tier while also being able to switch into threats such as Ash-Greninja and Mega Charizard Y. Mantine is also a good Defogger, being able to deter Pokemon such as Bisharp and Landorus-T from switching in to take advantage of it with a Scald burn. However, Mantine is very passive and can drain momentum from your team, and its weakness to Stealth Rock is suboptimal for a defensive Pokemon. The prevalence of Electric-types such as Mega Manectric and Tapu Koko also hinders Mantine, as it can't do much against them. Finally, it has relatively low Defense, even when invested, so Pokemon such as Mega Medicham and Landorus-T can easily do massive damage to it.
[SET]
name: Mixed Wall
move 1: Roost
move 2: Scald
move 3: Toxic / Haze
move 4: Defog / Haze
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Calm
evs: 240 HP / 196 Def / 72 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost is mandatory, as it allows Mantine to repeatedly come in on Pokemon it is supposed to counter such as Greninja and Volcarona. Scald gives Mantine a little offensive presence and prevents it from being Taunt bait while also having a nifty 30% chance to burn. Toxic allows Mantine to cripple Pokemon such as Rotom-W, Latios, and Tangrowth on the switch and deal damage to Pokemon such as Keldeo. Defog is a decent option on Mantine, as it clears entry hazards if your team needs it. Finally, Haze gets rid of boosts from setup sweepers such as non-Thunderbolt Magearna, Volcarona, and Manaphy and prevents them from taking advantage of Mantine.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs maximize Mantine's overall bulk while letting it take less damage from Stealth Rock. The given Special Defense investment allows Mantine to take two Dark Pulses from Ash-Greninja if Stealth Rock is not up. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Defense to take on physical threats such as Greninja and Alolan Marowak. Leftovers gives Mantine passive recovery, allowing it to sponge hits better. Water Absorb is the best ability, as it gives Mantine an immunity to Water-type attacks, allowing it to pivot into Scalds without fearing a burn.
Usage Tips
========
Mantine should be used as a defensive pivot to switch into Pokemon such as Ash-Greninja and Mega Scizor. Prioritize keeping Mantine healthy with Roost, as it tends to get worn down a lot between Stealth Rock damage and taking hits. Be careful of Hidden Power Electric from Pokemon that might carry it such as Greninja and Keldeo. Use Haze on Pokemon that are able to set up on Mantine such as Manaphy and Volcarona. If Defog is being run, try to use it on Pokemon Mantine can force out such as Keldeo. Try not to let Mantine get badly poisoned by Toxic, as it severely limits its ability to eat hits.
Team Options
========
Mantine fits best on bulkier teams that need a switch-in for threats such as Volcarona and Heatran. Thus, other bulky Pokemon make good teammates. Ferrothorn is a very good defensive partner for Mantine,(AC) as it can switch into Electric- and Rock-type moves aimed at Mantine, while Mantine can switch into Fighting- and Fire-type moves for Ferrothorn. Other Grass-types such as Tangrowth and Amoongus are also good for switching into Electric-types such as Tapu Koko. Heatran is also a good defensive partner for Mantine, as it appreciates Mantine's ability to switch into Ground-types, while Heatran can force out bulky Grass-types that Mantine can't touch. If Defog isn't being run on Mantine, another entry hazard remover such as Mew or Latios is recommended, as Stealth Rock severely hampers Mantine's longevity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rocky Helmet is a decent option to wear down Pokemon such as U-turn Mega Scizor; however, Mantine prefers Leftovers. Mirror Coat can be used to get a surprise KO but is generally not worth the moveslot. Ice Beam can be used to hit Zygarde and Garchomp. An EV spread of 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD with a Bold nature allows Mantine to take on physical threats such as Weavile and Garchomp a little better at the cost of being able to take on strong special attackers. On the other hand, a spread of 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD with a Calm nature makes Mantine an almost unbreakable special wall. However, this prevents it from pivoting into physical attacks as freely. Air Slash can be used as a secondary STAB move to hit Keldeo, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss for decent damage but is generally not worth the moveslot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-type Coverage**: Tapu Koko, Magnezone, and Mega Manectric can all easily take a Scald and threaten Mantine out with a STAB Thunderbolt. Magearna and Rotom-W can also do massive damage to Mantine with Volt Switch. Mega Medicham and Mega Mawile can both OHKO Mantine with Thunder Punch; however, they must be wary of Scald burns.
**Passive Damage**: Stealth Rock chips a quarter of Mantine's health away each time it switches in, making it more difficult for Mantine to switch into attacks. Similarly, Toxic from Pokemon such as Heatran can wear Mantine down quickly, making it less effective as a wall.
**Taunt**: Taunt users such as Tapu Fini prevent Mantine from healing, removing entry hazards, or spreading poison.
**Rock-type Coverage**: Although none of them want to take a Scald, Tyranitar, Terrakion, and Landorus-T can all OHKO Mantine with Stone Edge, or in Landorus-T's case, Continental Crush.
**Strong Attacks**: Wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Tapu Lele and Choice Band Zygarde can easily 2HKO Mantine with their strong STAB attacks. Z-Moves such as Supersonic Skystrike from Landorus-T and Gyarados can also do massive damage to Mantine.
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