Overview
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Mamoswine is a great pick for a Pokemon thanks to its good coverage, alright bulk backed by a decent Speed and great Attack, and the fact that it is one of the only viable Ice-types in the metagame. Mamoswine, however, is heavily walled by the two most common Rotom formes, Rotom-W and Rotom-H. Ice and Ground is also a pretty terrible defensive typing which allows a lot of common Pokemon in the metagame to check Mamoswine, such as Terrakion, Rotom-W, and Mega Metagross. Being very susceptible to Intimidate and burn doesn't help Mamoswine's case either. On the other hand, Mamoswine is very anti-meta because it checks a lot of common Pokemon, such as Heatran, Aegislash, Garchomp, Thundurus, and Landorus-T.
Offensive
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name: Offensive
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Icicle Spear / Icicle Crash
move 3: Ice Shard
move 4: Protect
ability: Thick Fat
item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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Earthquake is Mamoswine's Ground-type STAB move and hits Fire- and Steel-types super effectively. Icicle Spear, while sometimes luck-reliant, allows Mamoswine to break Focus Sashes, while Icicle Crash is a more reliable Ice-type STAB move, as it always has a set power. Ice Shard is a priority move that allows Mamoswine to somewhat mitigate its only decent Speed and pick off weakened Dragon-types as well as Landorus-T. Protect guards Mamoswine from a potential OHKO or burn.
Set Details
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Maximum Attack EVs with an Adamant nature are used to ensure maximum damage output. Maximum Speed EVs allow Mamoswine to outrun Adamant Bisharp. Life Orb is generally the preferred item, as Mamoswine doesn't really mind the recoil too much and would much rather have boosted power. Focus Sash is an option so that Mamoswine can live a hit, such as an Iron Head from Mega Metagross, and potentially OHKO the opposing Pokemon back. The drop in power, however, is very noticeable. Thick Fat is by far the best ability, as it weakens Ice- and Fire-type moves, which helps increase Mamoswine's ability to tank hits.
Usage Tips
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Mamoswine has a very poor defensive typing, so it isn't recommended to switch it into moves unless the move is a weaker, non-super effective move. Mamoswine can generally switch in to weaker spread-reduced moves, such as Rock Slide. Mamoswine works great to pick off weakened Pokemon mid- and late-game. Mamoswine can also beat 4 HP Choice Scarf Landorus-T with Ice Shard if Mamoswine is given a chance to switch in.
Team Options
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Togekiss is a great partner, as it provides redirection support and speed control, which can mitigate Mamoswine's decent, but not great, Speed. Togekiss is also immune to Ground-type moves which allows Mamoswine to use Earthquake freely. Thundurus is also a great partner, as it is immune to Earthquake, can shut down Will-O-Wisp with Taunt, can offer speed control, and can check bulky Water-types that Mamoswine has trouble breaking through. Mamoswine, in return, checks Rock-types that threaten Thundurus. Aegislash can check Cresselia, which Mamoswine also has trouble breaking through, as well as Terrakion and Mega Metagross. Aegislash can also use Wide Guard to prevent taking damage from Mamoswine's Earthquakes. Mamoswine can help check Ground- and Fire-types that threaten Aegislash, such as Landorus-T and Heatran. By far the best partner for Mamoswine is Mega Charizard Y. Mega Charizard Y has near perfect synergy with Mamoswine, as it resists all of Mamoswine's weaknesses, except for Water; however, Drought can help mitigate that weakness. Drought greatly benefits Mamoswine as it alleviates Mamoswine's weakness to Water. Mega Charizard Y's insanely powerful spread move combined with Mamoswine's power can put a lot of pressure on your opponent, as it doesn't give them many opportunities to switch in. Mamoswine checks Heatran, one of Mega Charizard Y's biggest counters, as well as Electric- and Rock-types that threaten Mega Charizard Y and Dragon-types that resist Mega Charizard Y's attacks.
Choice Scarf
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name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Icicle Crash / Icicle Spear
move 3: Superpower / Ice Shard
move 4: Rock Slide / Superpower / Stone Edge
ability: Thick Fat
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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Earthquake works well with Mamoswine's Ice typing because it checks Fire- and Steel-types. Icicle Crash is generally preferred over Icicle Spear, as it is more reliable as well as having a chance to cause flinches. Icicle Spear is still an option to break Focus Sashes. Superpower lets Mamoswine hit Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan and Ferrothorn super effectively while Ice Shard lets Mamoswine pick off weakened Pokemon that are still faster than it, such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T. Rock Slide can allow Mamoswine to check Mega Charizard Y and Talonflame and provides a nice flinch chance. Alternatively, Stone Edge is a stronger option should you want a stronger Rock-type move.
Set Details
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Maximum Attack EVs with an Adamant nature ensure the highest damage output with a Choice Scarf. Maximum Speed EVs are so that Mamoswine can function with a Choice Scarf. Choice Scarf alleviates Mamoswine's decent Speed and can allow it to outrun Pokemon that it normally cannot, including Mega Metagross and Terrakion.
Usage Tips
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Mamoswine has mediocre bulk so it isn't recommended to switch it into attacks unless the move is a weaker non-super effective move or a weaker spread move such as Rock Slide. With a Choice Scarf, Mamoswine works sort of like a hit-and-run Pokemon, as its decent Speed boosted by a Choice Scarf can allow it to outrun and OHKO a lot of common Pokemon in the metagame, such as Terrakion.
Team Options
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Mega Charizard Y is a great partner for Mamoswine, as it has near perfect synergy, resisting all of Mamoswine's weaknesses except for Water; however, Water-type attacks will have lowered power under Drought. Mega Charizard Y's powerful spread move combined with Mamoswine's power can put a lot of pressure on your opponents, as it doesn't give them many opportunities to switch in. Mamoswine checks Heatran, one of Mega Charizard Y's biggest counters, as well as Electric- and Rock-types that threaten Mega Charizard Y. Mamoswine also checks Dragon-types that resists Mega Charizard Y's attacks. Aegislash is also a great partner, as it can check Cresselia, which Mamoswine has trouble breaking through. With a Choice Scarf, Mamoswine can check both Metagross and Terrakion with Earthquake so Aegislash isn't pressured to check as much. Aegislash can use Wide Guard to prevent taking any damage from Mamoswine's Earthquakes. Mamoswine checks Ground- and Fire-types that threaten Aegislash, mainly Landorus-T and Heatran. Virizion pairs really well with Choice Scarf Mamoswine, as Virizion benefits greatly from Mamoswine's ability to remove Thundurus and Zapdos. Virizion helps Mamoswine by checking Rotom-W, a major Mamoswine counter, as well as Ferrothorn and Mega Kangaskhan, so that Mamoswine doesn't have to rely on Superpower to hit them. Speed control isn't needed much for Choice Scarf Mamoswine, but redirection is greatly appreciated. Amoonguss works well to redirect attacks aimed at Mamoswine as it resists three of the five types that Mamoswine is weak to. The other two types, Fire and Steel, can be checked through Mamoswine's Earthquake. Amoonguss can also provide sleep support which greatly benefits Mamoswine, allowing it to wreak havoc without worrying about one of your opponent's Pokemon.
Other Options
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On the Offensive set, Stone Edge and Rock Slide are both options to hit Talonflame and Mega Charizard Y. Superpower is also an option, as it allows Mamoswine to hit Mega Kangaskhan and Ferrothorn harder. If Mamoswine is running Focus Sash, Endeavor is an option too. Choice Band works should you choose to increase Mamoswine's damage output further while Lum Berry is another alternate item choice to alleviate Mamoswine's weakness to burns. Like the Focus Sash, the drop in power is very noticeable.
Checks & Counters
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**Rotom Formes**: Mamoswine is heavily walled by both Rotom-W and Rotom-H, as they resist both of its STAB moves and can threaten it with either Hydro Pump and Overheat, respectively, or burn it.
**Intimidate and Burns**: As Mamoswine is strictly a physical attacker, Intimidate shuffling or burning it will severely cripple it and lower its damage output.
**Typing Advantage**: While Mamoswine's bulk isn't bad, it isn't very good either, so a strong super effective move will more than likely OHKO it. Terrakion's Close Combat and Mega Metagross's Iron Head are among some of those moves.
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