Mandibuzz [QC: 0/2]

[Carbonific]

[OVERVIEW]

• Mandibuzz is a competent option for teams seeking a defensive solution to physical attackers or opposing defensive walls.
  • The former are handled by efficient stat allocation and Foul Play, and the latter by above average Speed and Taunt.
    • However, Mandibuzz's Speed is not so high to disallow a slow U-turn, granting its frail partners safe switch-ins.
• Acts as a foil to common threats of defensive teams, such as Mega Gengar and powder moves such as Spore via Overcoat.
  • Overcoat also prevents the chip damage from sand and hail, which gives it an edge when attempting to stall out foes
• Flying typing is mixed; stops Bug- and Fighting-type weakness, but added Ice-, Electric-, and Rock weakness problematic.
  • Weakness to Stealth Rock in particular is irritating, as checking a foe at only 75% health can often prove challenging.
  • Difficulty fitting in Brave Bird, and Roost removing Flying typing, means Bug- and Fighting-types can still be vexing.
• Faces similar competition, even as a stallbreaker, such as Skarmory and Umbreon, if Mandibuzz's niches are not utilised.

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Foul Play
move 2: Roost
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Toxic / U-turn
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Overcoat
nature: Bold / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

• Foul Play is Mandibuzz's best STAB move, as it compensates for its poor offensive stats by utilising the opponent's Attack.
  • It also ignoring the user's Attack drops helps versus Intimidate users such as Landorus-T, and Aegislash's King's Shield.
• Roost is mandatory as a form of reliable recovery, keeping Mandibuzz out of KO range of attacks while it stalls foes out.
• Taunt has a myriad of uses, but importantly puts a stop to setup users and locks more defensive foes out of their recovery.
• Toxic's rising potency stalls out defensive foes such as Hippowdon and Porygon2 even after Mandibuzz leaves the field.
• U-turn grants a matchup advantage against hard switches or allows a partner a safe switch-in by letting Mandibuzz tank.
  • While Toxic's often favored, redundancy via a partner, or concern over Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain promotes the latter.

Set Details
========

• Rocky Helmet wears down physical attackers by dealing them 1/6 of their maximum HP when struck by a contact move.
• Overcoat stops powder moves such as Spore from shutting down Mandibuzz, and forbids damage from sand and hail.
• A Bold nature and maximum Defense investment minimize damage physical attackers deal. Use Impish with U-turn.
• While a simple spread is typically best for Mandibuzz, small adjustments can be made to better handle certain situations.
  • HP EVs can be dropped to 236 to reduce damage from burn, Leech Seed, and poison at the cost of overall bulk.
  • Def EVs can be shifted to SpD to guarantee survival against Tapu Lele's Moonblast, such as with 252 HP / 20 SpD.
  • Speed EVs can be raised to 44/52 to outpace base 85/86s, respectively, such as Cresselia, Suicune, and Rotom-A.
    • Remember that intentionally keeping Speed low can be useful with U-turn to provide partners safe switch-ins.

Usage Tips
========

• The primary switch in opportunity for Mandibuzz is against physical attackers trying to boost, as Foul Play will stop them.
  • For example, Mega Salamence and Kartana can be OHKOed even at +1, and Mega Kangaskhan and Scizor at +2.
• Opportunities outside of this are still plentiful thanks to typing and bulk, but beware of switching into preventable status.
  • This includes Scald users, as burns will not only inflict chip damage, but also hamper the damage output of Foul Play
  • Preventing, or at least bearing in mind, Stealth Rock is also important, as it can limit the foes Mandibuzz can check.
• Z moves can complicate Mandibuzz's ability to check setup sweepers; consider sacking a less important partner if needed.
• Against locked down foes, strongly consider the use of U-turn in order to maintain momentum through switch initiative.

Team Options
========

• Mandibuzz fits best on balance and stall teams that appreciate it checking physical threats and wearing down passive foes.
• Mega Gengar is great choice of mega for both archetypes, as it can trap and KO a big threat for Mandibuzz in Fairy-types.
  • In return, Mandibuzz can eliminate Ghost-types and specially defensive walls safely, and switch into Ground attacks.
• Mega Metagross is an alternative ally on more offensive teams for similar reasons, checking Rock- and Fairy-types handily.
• Ground-types such as Landorus-T, Mamoswine, and Excadrill are valuable, as they take care of Rock- and Electric-type foes.
  • Those examples also make good Assault Vest users, helping them deal with the special attackers Mandibuzz dislikes.
• More defensive teams can opt for walls better dedicated to beating special attackers such as Chansey, Blissey, and Heatran.
  • The latter is also notable for being able to switch into Fairy-types easily and activate Flash Fire against Will-O-Wisp.
• When using U-turn, frail attackers such as Greninja and Blaziken appreciate being granted safe switch-ins against fast foes.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

• Despite a wide movepool, deviation from the main set should be rare, as Mandibuzz finds it difficult to find the moveslot.
• Mago and Figy Berry, for Bold and Impish natures respectively, trade chip damage for safety in a hefty amount of healing.
• Brave Bird's high base power helps deal with Bug- and Fighting-types more swifty than merely relying on chip damage.
• Knock Off can be used over Foul Play, though both its damage and inability to remove many items are likely to disappoint.
• Tailwind and Rock Tomb provide speed control, with the latter being particularly helpful against Charizard and Volcarona.
• Iron Defense cements Mandibuzz's ability to check physical attackers, albeit this is often overkill, especially given Foul Play.
• Whirlwind could be chosen over Taunt to gain a phaser, though this creates issues, such as against status and defensive foes.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Rock-types**: Rock-type physical attackers such as Tyranitar often use Stone Edge, which is a strong non-contact move with a heightened critical hit ratio, making them quite dangerous. Special attacking variants like Nihilego can equally be quite effective.

**Electric-types**: Offensive Electric-types such as Tapu Koko, Thundurus-T, and Choice Specs Rotom-A have a variety of means to expel Mandibuzz from the field, with the former of those listed being notable thanks to an easy switch-in granted by Fairy typing.

**Fairy-types**: Fairy-type Pokemon such as Mimikyu, Tapu Fini, and Tapu Lele are irksome for Mandibuzz, as they take Foul Play well and hit it for super effective damage. The aforesaid all can potentially OHKO Mandibuzz from full, depending on their set.

**Burns**: Pokemon able to inflict burn such as Will-O-Wisp Rotom-A or Scald Toxapex and Suicune problematically cut into Foul Play and U-turn's damage output, and inflict residual damage, giving Mandibuzz trouble checking foes for the rest of the battle.

**Strong Special Attackers**: While Mandibuzz's base Special Defense is fine, it not being a priority investment leaves Mandibuzz prey to strong special attackers such as Greninja, Mega Charizard Y, and Naganadel who need only a little chip damage to KO.

**Taunt**: Faster Taunt users such as Heatran and Gliscor are able to outlast Mandibuzz by restricting its use of Roost and Taunt.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Carbonific, 233942]]
- Quality checked by: [[<username1>, <userid1>], [<username2>, <userid2>]]
- Grammar checked by: [[<username1>, <userid1>], [<username2>, <userid2>]]

 

[Carbonific]

Ready for QC.