[OVERVIEW]
Mienshao is a premier Fighting-type that combines its stellar attacking power with its base 105 Speed, which outpaces a majority of top threats. It holds the distinction of being the fastest common Choice Scarf user, getting the jump on others like Heracross, Flygon, and Victini. Additionally, Mienshao has two abilities in Regenerator and Reckless that complement its strongest move in High Jump Kick; the former alleviates recoil damage it takes if it misses, while the latter boosts its already scary power. However, its defenses are quite terrible; strong neutral attacks can immediately KO Mienshao, and even resisted STAB attacks will do considerable damage. Mienshao is also super reliant on inaccurate moves, with its strongest attack further having the aforementioned drawback of recoil damage on misses.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Aerial Ace
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Regenerator / Reckless
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
High Jump Kick is Mienshao's strongest move, dealing immense damage to targets that don't resist it. Stone Edge offers valuable coverage against threats like Victini and Zapdos that resist High Jump Kick. U-turn deals considerable damage to Psychic-types like Mew and Slowbro and allows Mienshao to effectively revenge kill Azelf. Additionally, U-turn acts as a valuable momentum grabber, which works in tandem with Regenerator to patch up any damage it has taken. Finally, Aerial Ace is Mienshao's best option in its last moveslot, allowing it to revenge kill Heracross, Virizion, and opposing Mienshao. Choice Scarf allows Mienshao to not only outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, but also most of the other common Choice Scarf users. Regenerator patches up any damage Mienshao takes through entry hazards and High Jump Kick misses, extending its longevity, while Reckless allows Mienshao to net KOs it otherwise wouldn't get by running Regenerator, including OHKOing Flygon and offensive Kingdra and 2HKOing bulky Zapdos lacking any Defense investment all after Stealth Rock damage.
Choice Scarf Mienshao fits well on most balance and offense teams due to its self-sufficiency. Entry hazard setters like Rhyperior, Druddigon, Roserade, and Qwilfish help to deal crucial chip damage to Mienshao's switch-ins, opening up avenues for it to clean late-game. Pokemon such as Weavile and Togekiss can help break through some of Mienshao's best answers in Ghost-types and Gligar, so they are effective teammates. Other partners that appreciate being pivoted in, like Nidoking and Raikou, can help threaten Mienshao's checks. Finally, other U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Victini and Flygon allow Mienshao to come in more frequently and pick off targets.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Fake Out
item: Life Orb
ability: Regenerator
nature: Naive / Hasty / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
High Jump Kick in conjunction with Life Orb dishes out severe damage to targets that aren't Ghost-types or physically defensive Fighting-resistant foes like Gligar, Slowbro, and Qwilfish. Stone Edge is able to immediately KO threats like Victini and Zapdos after Stealth Rock damage. U-turn chips away at Mienshao's switch-ins and gains momentum while also allowing Mienshao to recover HP lost from any recoil damage via Regenerator. Hidden Power Ice allows Mienshao to severely dent Gligar, which would otherwise wall it; it also has the added utility of picking off weakened targets like Zapdos, Nidoqueen, and Xatu without the risk of missing. On the other hand, Fake Out is a good tool to use if Gligar is not an issue for the team, allowing Mienshao to get off some chip damage, revenge kill faster foes with low health, and even stall rain turns. Regenerator synergizes well with this set, allowing Mienshao to heal off recoil damage upon switching out.
Life Orb Mienshao works best on balance and offense teams that appreciate Mienshao's ability to break through a wide swath of the metagame. Bulky Pokemon like Rhyperior, Snorlax, and Bronzong are able to withstand strong attacks aimed at Mienshao and provide Stealth Rock support or powerful attacks of their own. Weavile, Kingdra, and Choice Scarf Heracross complement Mienshao's ability to break down their checks and set up endgames of their own, while U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Gligar, Flygon, and Raikou allow Mienshao to safely come in more often and wreak havoc.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=========
Mienshao has a few other usable fourth moveslot options to soften up its switch-ins like Cofagrigus, Slowbro, and Gligar; Knock Off removes important items like Leftovers and Eviolite, while Toxic puts foes on timers. Swords Dance can be run on Mienshao's Life Orb set to boost its already fantastic Attack to terrifying heights, but its setup opportunities are severely limited by its lack of defensive qualities. Choice Band, alongside Reckless, can be run to maximize its wallbreaking prowess without the drawback of Life Orb recoil, but at the cost of being more easily revenge killed.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Cofagrigus and Sableye have an immunity to High Jump Kick and take relatively insignificant damage from Mienshao's other moves while they threaten to either burn it or, in the former's case, set up a potential Trick Room sweep.
**Gligar**: Gligar can effectively shut down any of Mienshao's physical attacks but must be wary of the occasional Hidden Power Ice.
**Other Physically Defensive Fighting-resistant Foes**: Physically defensive Fighting-resistant foes such as Slowbro, Qwilfish, and Mew are able to avoid extensive damage from any of Mienshao's common attacks while threatening to either KO it back, cripple it with status, or set up entry hazards. Others like defensive Zapdos and Crobat can also take an unboosted High Jump Kick with ease, but must be wary of Stone Edge.
[CREDITS]
- Previous analysis by: [[Mazz, 75904], [kokoloko, 38358]]
- Written by: [[dingbat, 194981]]
- Quality checked by: [[choolio, 193495], [Lily, 481709]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estarossa, 461329], [UT, 523866], [Autumn, id]]
Mienshao is a premier Fighting-type that combines its stellar attacking power with its base 105 Speed, which outpaces a majority of top threats. It holds the distinction of being the fastest common Choice Scarf user, getting the jump on others like Heracross, Flygon, and Victini. Additionally, Mienshao has two abilities in Regenerator and Reckless that complement its strongest move in High Jump Kick; the former alleviates recoil damage it takes if it misses, while the latter boosts its already scary power. However, its defenses are quite terrible; strong neutral attacks can immediately KO Mienshao, and even resisted STAB attacks will do considerable damage. Mienshao is also super reliant on inaccurate moves, with its strongest attack further having the aforementioned drawback of recoil damage on misses.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Aerial Ace
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Regenerator / Reckless
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
High Jump Kick is Mienshao's strongest move, dealing immense damage to targets that don't resist it. Stone Edge offers valuable coverage against threats like Victini and Zapdos that resist High Jump Kick. U-turn deals considerable damage to Psychic-types like Mew and Slowbro and allows Mienshao to effectively revenge kill Azelf. Additionally, U-turn acts as a valuable momentum grabber, which works in tandem with Regenerator to patch up any damage it has taken. Finally, Aerial Ace is Mienshao's best option in its last moveslot, allowing it to revenge kill Heracross, Virizion, and opposing Mienshao. Choice Scarf allows Mienshao to not only outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, but also most of the other common Choice Scarf users. Regenerator patches up any damage Mienshao takes through entry hazards and High Jump Kick misses, extending its longevity, while Reckless allows Mienshao to net KOs it otherwise wouldn't get by running Regenerator, including OHKOing Flygon and offensive Kingdra and 2HKOing bulky Zapdos lacking any Defense investment all after Stealth Rock damage.
Choice Scarf Mienshao fits well on most balance and offense teams due to its self-sufficiency. Entry hazard setters like Rhyperior, Druddigon, Roserade, and Qwilfish help to deal crucial chip damage to Mienshao's switch-ins, opening up avenues for it to clean late-game. Pokemon such as Weavile and Togekiss can help break through some of Mienshao's best answers in Ghost-types and Gligar, so they are effective teammates. Other partners that appreciate being pivoted in, like Nidoking and Raikou, can help threaten Mienshao's checks. Finally, other U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Victini and Flygon allow Mienshao to come in more frequently and pick off targets.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Fake Out
item: Life Orb
ability: Regenerator
nature: Naive / Hasty / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
High Jump Kick in conjunction with Life Orb dishes out severe damage to targets that aren't Ghost-types or physically defensive Fighting-resistant foes like Gligar, Slowbro, and Qwilfish. Stone Edge is able to immediately KO threats like Victini and Zapdos after Stealth Rock damage. U-turn chips away at Mienshao's switch-ins and gains momentum while also allowing Mienshao to recover HP lost from any recoil damage via Regenerator. Hidden Power Ice allows Mienshao to severely dent Gligar, which would otherwise wall it; it also has the added utility of picking off weakened targets like Zapdos, Nidoqueen, and Xatu without the risk of missing. On the other hand, Fake Out is a good tool to use if Gligar is not an issue for the team, allowing Mienshao to get off some chip damage, revenge kill faster foes with low health, and even stall rain turns. Regenerator synergizes well with this set, allowing Mienshao to heal off recoil damage upon switching out.
Life Orb Mienshao works best on balance and offense teams that appreciate Mienshao's ability to break through a wide swath of the metagame. Bulky Pokemon like Rhyperior, Snorlax, and Bronzong are able to withstand strong attacks aimed at Mienshao and provide Stealth Rock support or powerful attacks of their own. Weavile, Kingdra, and Choice Scarf Heracross complement Mienshao's ability to break down their checks and set up endgames of their own, while U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Gligar, Flygon, and Raikou allow Mienshao to safely come in more often and wreak havoc.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=========
Mienshao has a few other usable fourth moveslot options to soften up its switch-ins like Cofagrigus, Slowbro, and Gligar; Knock Off removes important items like Leftovers and Eviolite, while Toxic puts foes on timers. Swords Dance can be run on Mienshao's Life Orb set to boost its already fantastic Attack to terrifying heights, but its setup opportunities are severely limited by its lack of defensive qualities. Choice Band, alongside Reckless, can be run to maximize its wallbreaking prowess without the drawback of Life Orb recoil, but at the cost of being more easily revenge killed.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Cofagrigus and Sableye have an immunity to High Jump Kick and take relatively insignificant damage from Mienshao's other moves while they threaten to either burn it or, in the former's case, set up a potential Trick Room sweep.
**Gligar**: Gligar can effectively shut down any of Mienshao's physical attacks but must be wary of the occasional Hidden Power Ice.
**Other Physically Defensive Fighting-resistant Foes**: Physically defensive Fighting-resistant foes such as Slowbro, Qwilfish, and Mew are able to avoid extensive damage from any of Mienshao's common attacks while threatening to either KO it back, cripple it with status, or set up entry hazards. Others like defensive Zapdos and Crobat can also take an unboosted High Jump Kick with ease, but must be wary of Stone Edge.
[CREDITS]
- Previous analysis by: [[Mazz, 75904], [kokoloko, 38358]]
- Written by: [[dingbat, 194981]]
- Quality checked by: [[choolio, 193495], [Lily, 481709]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estarossa, 461329], [UT, 523866], [Autumn, id]]
Last edited: