
[OVERVIEW]
Flying
========
Mantine is a solid Defogger for Flying teams due to its immunity to Water-type moves and access to Haze and Roost. Furthermore, Mantine's high Special Defence allows it to pivot into threats like Blacephalon, Choice Scarf Tapu Fini, and Tapu Lele. Mantine notably is the only Water absorber on Flying, checking offensive Water-types like Urshifu-R and Barraskewda. However, Mantine is extremely passive and is threatened by offensive Pokemon such as Bisharp, Zapdos, and Kyurem. Mantine also faces competition with other Defoggers like Tornadus-T and Corviknight because of its lack of momentum.
[SET]
name: Utility (Flying)
move 1: Defog
move 2: Haze
move 3: Roost
move 4: Scald
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Haze checks setup sweepers such as Volcarona, Corviknight, and Azumarill. Scald threatens physical attackers with its burn chance. 96 Speed EVs allow Mantine to outspeed Adamant Azumarill.
Landorus-T greatly appreciates Mantine's ability to switch into Water-types such as Urshifu-R. In return, Landorus-T covers for Mantine's Electric weakness by checking Tapu Koko and Zeraora and other threats such as Victini and Jirachi. Celesteela appreciates Mantine's ability to switch into Fire-types such as Blacephalon and Volcarona, and Celesteela repays this by covering for Mantine's weakness to Rock and checking Tyranitar, Alolan Ninetales, and Kyurem. Mantine, Landorus-T, and Celesteela form the defensive backbone of some Flying teams, which allows other teammates to run more offensive sets to pressure the opposing team better. Thundurus-T and Choice Specs Zapdos appreciates Mantine's Defog and removes hindrances such as Volcanion and Toxapex that can cripple Mantine, and the former takes on Electric-type attacks. Galarian Moltres aids in the Steel, Psychic, Poison, and Ghost matchup and can set up on passive defensive Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Toxapex, and Slowbro, which Mantine struggles with. Galarian Zapdos can remove threats like Kyurem, Bisharp, and Galarian Darmanitan and walls such as Porygon2 and Blissey.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Flying
--------
Toxic may be used over Haze on Mantine to reduce its passivity and allows it to deal with Volcanion and opposing Mantine. However, this prevents Mantine from checking setup sweepers like Volcarona and Cinderace. Defog can be dropped for Toxic, but this forces one of Mantine's teammates to run Defog. The other EVs can also be placed in Special Defense along with a Calm nature to better handle special attackers, but the reduced Defense prevents Mantine from safely checking Cinderace and Azumarill.
Checks and Counters
===================
Flying
--------
**Toxic**: Toxic hinders Mantine's ability to clear entry hazards and reliably check setup sweepers and Water-types.
**Heatran**: Mantine has to be wary of swapping into Heatran, as it can inflict Toxic on Mantine, trap it with Magma Storm, and inflict with with Taunt to weaken Mantine or forcibly remove it from the match.
**Taunt**: Taunt users such as Mew, Tapu Fini, and Galarian Moltres can prevent Mantine from doing its role and can take advantage of it by using it as setup bait.
**Setup Sweepers**: Although Mantine can deal with most setup sweepers, it notably cannot handle certain physical setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Bisharp and Dragon Dance Dragapult. Physical setup sweepers do not appreciate Scald's burn chance, but this can be circumvented by Substitute.
**Water-types**: Although Mantine can take Water-type attacks from Urshifu-R and Barraskewda, it cannot meaningfully threaten Water-type Pokemon. Because of this, the opposing team can take advantage of Mantine by pivoting defensive Pokemon such as Toxapex and Slowking on Mantine to force it out, which allows the opponent to pivot the threatening Pokemon in again.
**Defensive Pokemon**: Mantine cannot threaten defensive Pokemon, as Scald deals negligible damage to Galarian Slowking, Aegislash, and Dragalge, while these Pokemon can cripple Mantine with poison or Toxic.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[fish sticks cat, 542526]]
- Flying analysis by: [[fish sticks cat, 542526]]
- Quality checked by: [[DugZa, 473171], [roxiee, 481576]]
- Grammar checked by: [[estronic, 240732]]
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