Moves

Volt Switch is Mega Manectric's primary STAB attack and the move it should aim to use the most throughout the course of a match, as it allows Mega Manectric to gain momentum for your team while dealing chip damage to foes. Overheat allows Mega Manectric to OHKO Pokemon like Celebi after Stealth Rock damage, Cobalion, and physically defensive Klefki at the cost of having low accuracy and halving Mega Manectric's Special Attack after use. Flamethrower is an alternative, more reliable Fire-type coverage move, but it loses out on the many KOs listed earlier. Thunderbolt is Mega Manectric's stronger STAB attack that it uses to KO Pokemon without needing to switch out afterwards. Thunderbolt also gains some KOs that Volt Switch does not, like OHKOing Alomomola and Slowbro after Stealth Rock damage. Hidden Power Ice lets Mega Manectric hit Ground- and Dragon-types like Hydreigon, Latias, Nidoqueen, Gligar, and Krookodile for super effective damage. Hidden Power Grass allows Mega Manectric to deal heavy damage to Ground-types like Swampert, Quagsire, and Rhyperior but loses out on hitting Dragon-types like Hydreigon and Latias. Alternatively, Signal Beam can be used in the last moveslot in order to hit Krookodile, Hydreigon, Celebi, and Latias harder than any other move, but this causes Mega Manectric to lose out on the ability to hit any other Ground-type super effectively.

Set Details

Maximum investment in Special Attack and Speed with a Timid nature allows Mega Manectric to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding Pokemon like Crobat and Mega Pidgeot. Lightning Rod is the preferred ability before Manectric Mega Evolves, as it lets Manectric pivot into and block one predicted Volt Switch from Rotom-C, Zeraora, or opposing Mega Manectric to gain a boost to its Special Attack and shift momentum to your side. Intimidate is used frequently throughout a match in order to weaken physically offensive foes. Manectite gives Manectric the ability to Mega Evolve.

Usage Tips

Mega Manectric should use Volt Switch as much as possible to gain momentum for your team while also dealing damage. Volt Switch is also a generally safe middle-ground play for when you do not know whether your opponent will switch out or not, although you must be mindful of Ground-type switch-ins like Hippowdon, Gligar, and Krookodile, which block Volt Switch. Because of its subpar bulk, Mega Manectric should primarily be brought in with pivoting from fellow U-turn or Volt Switch users like Scizor and Hydreigon, and it can also be brought in on a free switch to attempt to revenge kill a slower foe like Cobalion or Scizor. Mega Manectric can be brought in on some weak predicted hits, however, such as a predicted Bullet Punch from a bulky Scizor, or on Electric-type attacks if not yet Mega Evolved. You can use Intimidate as a form of utility by sending Mega Manectric in on a physical attacker like Cobalion and then pivoting out in an attempt to weaken them for your other team members. Try to keep Mega Manectric as healthy as possible throughout a match because it lacks any way to regain health and needs to be as healthy as possible to revenge kill priority attackers such as Crawdaunt and offensive Scizor. This involves switching Mega Manectric in as few times as possible when there are entry hazards up, since they will wear it down very quickly.

Team Options

Mega Manectric fits best on VoltTurn offense due to its nature as an offensive pivot and revenge killer, but it can also fit just generally on hyper offense and bulky offense. Other users of Volt Switch and U-turn like Scizor, Hydreigon, and Infernape make great partners for Mega Manectric because they can give it many opportunities to come in throughout the course of a match. Stealth Rock support from Pokemon like Cobalion and Krookodile and Spikes support from Klefki will make Mega Manectric's job of revenge killing much easier. Because of Mega Manectric's nature of switching in and out often, it enjoys entry hazard removal support from Pokemon like Starmie, Hydreigon, and Empoleon to keep Mega Manectric from taking too much residual damage. Wallbreakers like Mamoswine, Crawdaunt, and Lucario appreciate the free switches that Mega Manectric provides from Volt Switch in order to break defensive Pokemon like Blissey and Florges that Mega Manectric cannot. Pokemon such as Mamoswine, Starmie, and Primarina that are capable of damaging bulky Ground-types like Hippowdon and Gligar, which would otherwise block Volt Switch, make good partners for Mega Manectric. If not opting for Hidden Power Grass, Grass-types like Celebi and Amoonguss are especially good partners, as they can break past Rhyperior and Water / Ground Pokemon like Swampert and Quagsire. Pursuit users like Krookodile, Scizor, and Bisharp can help to take out bulky Psychic-type Pokemon that resist Volt Switch like Latias and Celebi.