I'm personally going to nominate a mon that should be on the Viability Rankings. Minccino is a mon that I didn't really care much for before today, as I had generally thought the Skill Link abuser was done better by Shellder. (Who I personally don't think is that good.)
Minccino is a good wallbreaker/cleaner due to Skill Link Tail Slap. This lets it break down walls that try to come in. Getting access to great support moves such as Knock Off and U-Turn is also highly appreciated. It also has a great speed tier for the meta, outrunning the extremely meta defining Mienfoo at Max Speed with a +Speed Nature. This also lets it outspeed many other metagame superstars such as Natu. There's three main sets I used for Minccino when playing with it on ladder.
The Sets
Minccino's role is simple: Break walls down. Most walls cannot switch in safely, as Tail Slap deals out a 2HKO to some of the best walls. Foongus also takes a hefty chunk from Triple Axel.
196 Atk Minccino Tail Slap (5 hits) vs. 36 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Koffing: 15-20 (71.4 - 95.2%) -- approx. 2HKO
196 Atk Minccino Tail Slap (5 hits) vs. 196 HP / 20+ Def Eviolite Mareanie: 15-20 (62.5 - 83.3%) -- approx. 2HKO
196 Atk Minccino Triple Axel (40 BP) (3 hits) vs. 124 HP / 156+ Def Eviolite Foongus: 18-24 (72 - 96%) -- approx. 2HKO
Choice Scarf was my more favored of the three sets, as it got the jump on two of the biggest mons in the meta: Abra, and Diglett. With this, Minccino cleanly OHKOs Abra with Tail Slap, and it's not even close. Same goes for Diglett, even if it has Eviolite.
196+ Atk Minccino Tail Slap (5 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Abra: 30-35 (157.8 - 184.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
196+ Atk Minccino Tail Slap (5 hits) vs. 116 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Diglett: 20-30 (105.2 - 157.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
But wait! What about priority such as Grookey's Grassy Glide? Fear not! Minccino can also run Eviolite over Choice Scarf. Before, it could take a grassy glide most of the time, but would get OHKO'd if Grookey's team got rocks up. Now, it completely turns the tables on Grookey, as Minccino can take a Grassy Glide, even with rocks up.
236 Atk Life Orb Grookey Grassy Glide vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Minccino in Grassy Terrain: 13-17 (59 - 77.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery.
This also brings the up the problem of Timburr. Wouldn't Timburr's Mach Punch stop Minccino from wrecking havoc? Well, if it's running a non-eviolite set, yes. But if the Minccino is running Eviolite, and Timburr switches into Tail Slap, Minccino can beat Timburr one on one.
196+ Atk Iron Fist Timburr Mach Punch vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Minccino: 14-18 (63.6 - 81.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
In some situations, Minccino can even deal with the best mon in the tier: Mienfoo. If Mienfoo tries to come in and eats a Tail Slap, (It does not matter if Minccino has a Life Orb or not.) Mienfoo cannot stay in, as it will die to the next Tail Slap. (I also forgot to mention that it doesn't even need Adamant to do so: Letting it run Jolly and beat Mienfoo that try to come in outspeed and OHKO.)
196 Atk Minccino Tail Slap (5 hits) vs. 0 HP / 196 Def Eviolite Mienfoo: 15-20 (71.4 - 95.2%) -- approx. 2HKO
With the variety of sets, Minccino's versatility can be very good for a team. Do you bring in your Abra and try to outspeed and risk getting demolished by Scarf? Or do you go to Mienfoo and get destroyed by the Life Orb set? I even heard mentions of using a move like Encore to lock a mon into a move that isn't convenient, or even Thunder Wave to cripple a switch-in like Ferroseed.
Counterplay
Minccino can very easily be abused by mons such as Ferroseed or Larvesta. The 5 hit nature of Tail Slap can be very bad for Minccino when facing a foe like these. However, neither of these mons want to switch into a Knock Off or U-Turn, leaving Ferroseed being vulnerable to a mon such as Trapinch, and leaving Larvesta vulnerable to a mon like Tyrunt.
Timburr's bulky attacker set can tank a Tail Slap and retaliate with a Drain Punch. However, Timburr must remain in good condition for most of the battle, or Minccino easily beats Timburr.
Minccino does not like facing SturdyJuice Onix too much. Triple Axel's first two hits brings it into Berry Juice range, with the third hit being the only one to actually do damage. Weak Armor Onix, however, gets completely destroyed by Triple Axel.
Steel Types can also deal with Minccino well. Pawniard doesn't enjoy eating a Knock Off, though.
In Conclusion: I believe Minccino is an underrated threat that should be noted whenever seen in team preview. For this, I believe Minccino should be nomiated to at least a C rank, Possibly even a B- rank in Viability Rankings.
Minccino is a good wallbreaker/cleaner due to Skill Link Tail Slap. This lets it break down walls that try to come in. Getting access to great support moves such as Knock Off and U-Turn is also highly appreciated. It also has a great speed tier for the meta, outrunning the extremely meta defining Mienfoo at Max Speed with a +Speed Nature. This also lets it outspeed many other metagame superstars such as Natu. There's three main sets I used for Minccino when playing with it on ladder.
The Sets
Minccino @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Tail Slap
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Triple Axel
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Tail Slap
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Triple Axel
Minccino @ Life Orb
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Tail Slap
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Triple Axel
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Tail Slap
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Triple Axel
Minccino @ Eviolite
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Tail Slap
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Triple Axel
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Tail Slap
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Triple Axel
Minccino's role is simple: Break walls down. Most walls cannot switch in safely, as Tail Slap deals out a 2HKO to some of the best walls. Foongus also takes a hefty chunk from Triple Axel.
196 Atk Minccino Tail Slap (5 hits) vs. 36 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Koffing: 15-20 (71.4 - 95.2%) -- approx. 2HKO
196 Atk Minccino Tail Slap (5 hits) vs. 196 HP / 20+ Def Eviolite Mareanie: 15-20 (62.5 - 83.3%) -- approx. 2HKO
196 Atk Minccino Triple Axel (40 BP) (3 hits) vs. 124 HP / 156+ Def Eviolite Foongus: 18-24 (72 - 96%) -- approx. 2HKO
Choice Scarf was my more favored of the three sets, as it got the jump on two of the biggest mons in the meta: Abra, and Diglett. With this, Minccino cleanly OHKOs Abra with Tail Slap, and it's not even close. Same goes for Diglett, even if it has Eviolite.
196+ Atk Minccino Tail Slap (5 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Abra: 30-35 (157.8 - 184.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
196+ Atk Minccino Tail Slap (5 hits) vs. 116 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Diglett: 20-30 (105.2 - 157.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
But wait! What about priority such as Grookey's Grassy Glide? Fear not! Minccino can also run Eviolite over Choice Scarf. Before, it could take a grassy glide most of the time, but would get OHKO'd if Grookey's team got rocks up. Now, it completely turns the tables on Grookey, as Minccino can take a Grassy Glide, even with rocks up.
236 Atk Life Orb Grookey Grassy Glide vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Minccino in Grassy Terrain: 13-17 (59 - 77.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery.
This also brings the up the problem of Timburr. Wouldn't Timburr's Mach Punch stop Minccino from wrecking havoc? Well, if it's running a non-eviolite set, yes. But if the Minccino is running Eviolite, and Timburr switches into Tail Slap, Minccino can beat Timburr one on one.
196+ Atk Iron Fist Timburr Mach Punch vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Minccino: 14-18 (63.6 - 81.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
In some situations, Minccino can even deal with the best mon in the tier: Mienfoo. If Mienfoo tries to come in and eats a Tail Slap, (It does not matter if Minccino has a Life Orb or not.) Mienfoo cannot stay in, as it will die to the next Tail Slap. (I also forgot to mention that it doesn't even need Adamant to do so: Letting it run Jolly and beat Mienfoo that try to come in outspeed and OHKO.)
196 Atk Minccino Tail Slap (5 hits) vs. 0 HP / 196 Def Eviolite Mienfoo: 15-20 (71.4 - 95.2%) -- approx. 2HKO
With the variety of sets, Minccino's versatility can be very good for a team. Do you bring in your Abra and try to outspeed and risk getting demolished by Scarf? Or do you go to Mienfoo and get destroyed by the Life Orb set? I even heard mentions of using a move like Encore to lock a mon into a move that isn't convenient, or even Thunder Wave to cripple a switch-in like Ferroseed.
Counterplay
Minccino can very easily be abused by mons such as Ferroseed or Larvesta. The 5 hit nature of Tail Slap can be very bad for Minccino when facing a foe like these. However, neither of these mons want to switch into a Knock Off or U-Turn, leaving Ferroseed being vulnerable to a mon such as Trapinch, and leaving Larvesta vulnerable to a mon like Tyrunt.
Timburr's bulky attacker set can tank a Tail Slap and retaliate with a Drain Punch. However, Timburr must remain in good condition for most of the battle, or Minccino easily beats Timburr.
Minccino does not like facing SturdyJuice Onix too much. Triple Axel's first two hits brings it into Berry Juice range, with the third hit being the only one to actually do damage. Weak Armor Onix, however, gets completely destroyed by Triple Axel.
Steel Types can also deal with Minccino well. Pawniard doesn't enjoy eating a Knock Off, though.
In Conclusion: I believe Minccino is an underrated threat that should be noted whenever seen in team preview. For this, I believe Minccino should be nomiated to at least a C rank, Possibly even a B- rank in Viability Rankings.
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