In-battle formes
| Type | |
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| Abilities | |
| Tier |
| HP: | 110 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 65 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 105 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 55 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 95 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 80 |
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Evolutions
- Vullaby
- Mandibuzz
Overview
Mandibuzz's typing, excellent mixed bulk, reliable recovery, and good utility options make it a great defensive Pokemon in UU, checking many offensive threats such as Excadrill, Azelf, Gyarados, and Zarude. It is also a decent Defogger with solid matchups against entry hazard setters such as Excadrill and Jirachi. Mandibuzz's relatively high Speed for a defensive Pokemon lets it get the jump on slower wallbreakers such as Primarina without investing too much into its Speed. However, its reliance on Heavy-Duty Boots leaves it with a crippling weakness to Knock Off from Pokemon that Mandibuzz tries to pivot into such as Scizor and Tangrowth. If it loses its item, Mandibuzz easily gets overwhelmed, as it often has to deal with numerous threats and is forced to use Roost often. Mandibuzz's typing also leaves it weak to common threats such as Nihilego, Thundurus-T, Azumarill, and Primarina.
Physically Defensive
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| Move 2 | |
| Move 3 | |
| Move 4 |
| Item | |
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| Nature |
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| EVs |
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Foul Play allows Mandibuzz to hit Excadrill and Gyarados for big damage and discourage them from using their setup moves in front of it. Knock Off punishes switch-ins like Primarina and Nihilego by removing their items. Defog can also be used due to its good matchup against certain entry hazard setters such as Excadrill and Jirachi, but Mandibuzz can't beat other setters like Nihilego or Hippowdon, and struggles longer term versus Skarmory, especially Toxic variants, so it should only be run if absolutely necessary. Taunt can shut down defensive Pokemon such as Chansey and Celesteela that rely on passive damage to break through Mandibuzz, and prevent Skarmory from setting Spikes up against it as well as Toxic from Hippowdon. Brave Bird lets it hit Conkeldurr, Tapu Bulu, and Keldeo super effectively. U-turn lets Mandibuzz pivot out of unfavorable matchups such as Nihilego and Nidoking and bring in a teammate that can threaten them. Overcoat lets Mandibuzz pivot in on Spore from Amoonguss and ignore damage from Hippowdon's Sand Stream, though it must be wary of Sludge Bomb poisons. 96 Speed EVs let Mandibuzz outspeed Modest Primarina, with the remaining EVs invested in physical bulk to maximize its ability to take on wallbreakers like Zygarde-10% and Dragon Dance Salamence.
Mandibuzz is found on bulky offense and balance teams as a solid glue, combining the roles of pivot, mixed wall, and Ghost resist into one teammate. Amoonguss is a great partner that absorbs Knock Off and covers Mandibuzz's matchups against Azumarill and Primarina, while Mandibuzz checks threats such as Salamence. Together they can limit Scizor throughout a game as well. Excadrill can provide Rapid Spin support to free Mandibuzz from running Defog while checking Hatterene and Nihilego. Colbur Berry Slowking and Swampert check threats such as Conkeldurr, Nihilego, and Cobalion, and they appreciate Mandibuzz's ability to check Gyarados and Zarude. In addition, Mandibuzz forms a pivot core with both. Hippowdon and Nihilego appreciate Mandibuzz checking Excadrill and Zarude. Their good special bulk lets them pivot into Thundurus-T and Hydreigon. Frail wallbreakers such as Zygarde-10% and Nidoking struggle to switch in, so they appreciate the slow U-turn Mandibuzz provides. Keldeo and Scizor can remove threats to Mandibuzz like Hippowdon and Nihilego and form momentum cores with it.
Other Options
Toxic punishes switch-ins like Thundurus-T and Hippowdon. Whirlwind phazes out threats Mandibuzz cannot handle like Primarina and Cobalion.
Checks and Counters
Fairy-types: Primarina can force Mandibuzz out, as it can nail it with Moonblast or set up a Substitute for free. Azumarill can force it out with Choice Band-boosted Play Rough. Calm Mind Hatterene can use Mandibuzz for free setup.
Rock-types: Nihilego is able to freely switch into Mandibuzz lacking Knock Off and hit it with either Power Gem or Meteor Beam. Lycanroc-D can deal huge damage to Mandibuzz but does have to worry about taking big damage itself from Foul Play.
Fighting-types: Without Brave Bird, Mandibuzz doesn't have a way to deal with Conkeldurr and Keldeo, since they can force it out with their strong STAB moves. Cobalion, in particular, takes advantage of sets that only run Dark-type moves because of Justified.
Knock Off: Mandibuzz's reliance on Heavy-Duty Boots means that taking a Knock Off leaves it vulnerable to Stealth Rock. This means that it is deterred from switching into Pokemon that it would normally check such as Azelf, Scizor, and Tangrowth.
Status: Toxic from Pokemon that Mandibuzz normally checks such as Excadrill and Zygarde-10% hampers its usually good longevity, forcing it to use Roost more often and leading it to be overwhelmed over time. Burn prevents Mandibuzz from checking setup sweepers such as Gyarados and Salamence reliably.
Strong Wallbreakers: Thundurus-T, Mamoswine, and Nidoking all can muscle through Mandibuzz with their powerful attacks, and Mandibuzz cannot do much to stop them.
