
[SET]
name: Defensive Hazard Control
move 1: Scald
move 2: Roost
move 3: Defog
move 4: Toxic / Haze
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
As a bulky Water-type, Mantine has a valuable niche on balance teams, providing Defog support and a Ground-type immunity over competition like Milotic and Gastrodon. However, it struggles to compete with Rotom-W, which can perform these same roles without being overly passive thanks to Volt Switch, and unlike its competition, Mantine is unable to defensively check Gigalith and Rhyperior due to its Flying typing. Regardless, its great defensive stats, longevity, and useful defensive typing paired with Heavy-Duty Boots allow Mantine to safely remove hazards while serving as an effective switch-in to offensive threats such as Escavalier, Flygon, Lucario, and Golisopod. Notably, unlike Gastrodon and Milotic, Mantine's Flying typing allows it to better take on non-Stone Edge variants of Swords Dance Cobalion. Toxic is Mantine's best option in the last moveslot, pressuring switch-ins such as Rotom-W and Heliolisk, but Haze is also an option for teams that need a more reliable check to Pokemon like Swords Dance Cobalion, Doublade, and Incineroar. Air Slash can also be used to better its matchup against Roserade, Toxicroak, and Celebi. However, it is situational and can make Mantine more passive overall. Mantine may also choose to run a more mixed defensive set with an EV spread of 252 HP, 204 Defense, and 52 Special Defense EVs alongside a Calm nature, allowing it to better take hits from special attackers like Chandelure and Gardevoir while still avoiding a 2HKO from Cobalion's +2 Close Combat.
As Mantine is vulnerable to Rock-types like Rhyperior and Gigalith, it greatly appreciates teammates that can effectively check them. Celebi and Roserade are notable examples, as their Grass typings and offensive options complement Mantine well, being able to immediately punish attackers that Mantine lures in such as Heliolisk and Rotom-W. In return, Mantine checks Escavalier for Celebi and Roserade, which allows for them to more effectively function. Bronzong is also a good partner because Mantine pressures checks such as Escavalier and Incineroar, while Bronzong can set Stealth Rock and handle Pokemon like Roserade, Gardevoir, Gigalith, and Rhyperior. Steel-types such as Escavalier and Copperajah pair well with Mantine due to their vulnerability to Spikes and fantastic defensive synergy with Mantine. Rock-types such as Gigalith Rhyperior also pair well with Mantine for the same reasons, and they can cover for Mantine's Electric-type weakness and check common switch-ins to it like Toxtricity. Noivern appreciates Mantine running Defog so it can use another moveslot in its place, and it can offensively threaten common Mantine checks like Heliolisk, Rotom-W, Roserade, and Celebi. Lastly, Sylveon can provide Wish and Heal Bell support while checking Haxorus and Fighting-type wallbreakers like Machamp and Pangoro; in return, Mantine can handle common Sylveon checks such as Doublade, Darmanitan, Chandelure, and Cobalion.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ausma, 360720]]
- Quality checked by: [[Twilight, 344575], [Estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732]]
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