Pokémon Mienshao

[Lily]

Mienshao

Base Stats - 65 HP / 125 Atk / 60 Def / 95 SpA / 60 SpD / 105 Spe

Abilities - Inner Focus / Reckless / Regenerator

List of all moves

Level Up Moves:
- [01] Quick Guard
- [01] Pound
- [01] Detect
- [01] Fake Out
- [01] Reversal
- [15] Fury Swipes
- [20] Wide Guard
- [25] Force Palm
- [30] U-turn
- [35] Drain Punch
- [40] Hone Claws
- [45] Aura Sphere
- [53] Bounce
- [59] Calm Mind
- [66] High Jump Kick

TMs:
- [TM00] Mega Punch
- [TM01] Mega Kick
- [TM08] Hyper Beam
- [TM09] Giga Impact
- [TM15] Dig
- [TM18] Reflect
- [TM21] Rest
- [TM22] Rock Slide
- [TM24] Snore
- [TM25] Protect
- [TM31] Attract
- [TM33] Rain Dance
- [TM34] Sunny Day
- [TM39] Facade
- [TM40] Swift
- [TM41] Helping Hand
- [TM42] Revenge
- [TM43] Brick Break
- [TM48] Rock Tomb
- [TM52] Bounce
- [TM56] U-turn
- [TM57] Payback
- [TM58] Assurance
- [TM59] Fling
- [TM63] Drain Punch
- [TM75] Low Sweep
- [TM76] Round
- [TM78] Acrobatics
- [TM79] Retaliate
- [TM97] Brutal Swing

TRs:
- [TR00] Swords Dance
- [TR07] Low Kick
- [TR12] Agility
- [TR13] Focus Energy
- [TR20] Substitute
- [TR21] Reversal
- [TR26] Endure
- [TR27] Sleep Talk
- [TR29] Baton Pass
- [TR37] Taunt
- [TR41] Blaze Kick
- [TR48] Bulk Up
- [TR49] Calm Mind
- [TR53] Close Combat
- [TR56] Aura Sphere
- [TR57] Poison Jab
- [TR64] Focus Blast
- [TR75] Stone Edge
- [TR77] Grass Knot
- [TR83] Ally Switch
- [TR85] Work Up

Tutor Moves:
- Coaching

Egg Moves:
- Feint
- Knock Off
- Vital Throw
- Focus Punch

Tranfer-only Moves:
- Toxic
- Double Team
- Aerial Ace
- Psych Up
- Swagger
- Confide
- Dual Chop
- Role Play
- Laser Focus
- Rock Smash
- Power-Up Punch
- Strength

Newly Obtainable Moves - Mega Punch, Mega Kick, Revenge, Agility, Focus Energy, Close Combat, Assurance, Brutal Swing, Blaze Kick

Notable Moves - Swords Dance, Close Combat, High Jump Kick, Knock Off, Taunt. Drain Punch, U-turn, Stone Edge, Calm Mind, Aura Sphere, Focus Blast, Grass Knot

Mienshao is an interesting case. Losing Hidden Power was a surprisingly big hit to it; its mixed sets were previously pretty solid, with Hidden Power Ice letting it cleave through Pokemon like Gliscor without much effort (or Gligar in UU). It got some new toys to make up for it, most notably Close Combat, which means it doesn't need to use the risky High Jump Kick as a STAB move on Regenerator sets anymore. Its decent movepool and good speed tier means it can act as a pretty fearsome wallbreaker, notably harassing a lot of OU staples with the combination of Close Combat and Taunt - Pokemon like Hippowdon, non-Brave Bird Corviknight, and Mandibuzz can't really deal with it, since it just prevents their recovery and U-turns out to heal off any damage they may have done. Reckless High Jump Kick is also a massive nuke, capable of destroying even the most physically bulky Pokemon if they don't resist it:

Reckless HJK calcs

252 Atk Choice Band Reckless Mienshao High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Corviknight: 259-306 (64.7 - 76.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Choice Band Reckless Mienshao High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 248+ Def Hippowdon: 238-282 (56.6 - 67.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Choice Band Reckless Mienshao High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Clefable: 239-282 (60.6 - 71.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Choice Band Reckless Mienshao High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 200+ Def Kommo-o: 237-280 (66.9 - 79%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Choice Band Reckless Mienshao High Jump Kick vs. 248 HP / 80 Def Primarina: 214-252 (58.9 - 69.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 Atk Choice Band Reckless Mienshao High Jump Kick vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro: 125-147 (31.8 - 37.4%) -- 0% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Choice Band Reckless Mienshao High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 99-117 (32.5 - 38.4%) -- 2.2% chance to 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery

Unfortunately, Toxapex and Slowbro being presumably everywhere will probably spell doom for our sleeved friend. It can most certainly have a niche; there are multiple potential sets that could work for it, all fulfilling specific roles like that of a wallbreaker, utility pivot, or cleaner.

Mienshao @ Black Belt / Life Orb
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Taunt

I think this set will be Mienshao's best shot at accomplishing something unique in OU. Black Belt or Life Orb boosted Close Combat is really strong, and Taunt + U-turn gives it a niche over other Fighting-types in OU minus Hawlucha (and potentially Urshifu). This set is not likely to be common, but could work as a sort of balance breaker that harasses Corviknight and Hippowdon pretty well, among other things.

Some other sets that might be solid

Mienshao @ Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- U-turn

This set is a very fierce wallbreaker as shown before. CC is used over other coverage because Mienshao's best option is Stone Edge, which doesn't hit anything notable that CC/HJK misses out on, and not having to risk misses when picking off a target/cleaning late game is much more valuable. None of the fairies in the tier really take HJK, but you could replace CC with Poison Jab if you're paranoid about physdef Clefable or something.

Mienshao @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge / Rock Slide / Poison Jab
- Knock Off
- U-turn

Decent revenge killer. There's not a lot to say about this set, its good speed tier means it can revenge kill stuff like +1 Excadrill and unboosted Dragapult, as well as Zeraora, and Regenerator + U-turn means it's pretty hard to wear it down with hazards and such. It's also good at revenge killing Volcarona - thanks nikore for pointing that out!

Mienshao @ Life Orb
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab

Mienshao @ Life Orb
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Focus Blast
- Grass Knot
- Aura Sphere

These two are probably not really gonna be viable at all, but I figured I'd mention them. SD Mienshao suffers from stiff competition with Hawlucha which is pretty much just better, and CM Mienshao has absolutely nothing in its movepool following the loss of Hidden Power. Not really worth using either of these.

Mienshao is a really cool mon and I can see it putting in some work in OU. It's probably destined to be a UU staple, unfortunately, thanks to big competition with options like Terrakion, Urshifu, and Hawlucha, but it could carve itself a niche with its own unique traits. There's a decent chance I missed something, so if anyone has any unique Mienshao sets I encourage them to post them here. :>

 

[nikore]

Stone Edge should be slashed on the Choice Scarf set (probably over Poison Jab) as a way to RK Volcarona, which will be crucial for any scarfer with >100 speed.

 

[Martin]

Mienshao @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 188 HP / 120 SpD / 200 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Fake Out

The combination of Regen, U-turn and Fighting typing give Mienshao a unique niche as a fast Assault Vest pivot that can pressure Hydreigon and Kyurem effectively. While it does face competition from Magearna in this role, which acts as a hard counter rather than a moderate response, Mienshao's ability to also pivot through Pokemon like Rotom-H and provide Knock Off utility lets it differentiate itself beyond just the higher base speed, and Regenerator means it can be a little more self-sufficient throughout the course of a drawn out game, especially if your opponent is able to lay down Spikes or smth like that. The listed EVs take 1 Specs Draco from Kyurem at full health in a pinch (you take Ice Beam fairly comfortably—one round of Regen is enough to take a second Beam) while outpacing timid Hydreigon by 1 point. Technically if Kyurem will KO with Draco from full if it gets the absolute maximum roll, but running 188 HP / 120 SpD (as opposed to 184 HP / 124 SpD for the hit) hits a Regen number, which will add up quickly over the course of a match. If you don't give a flying fuck about preserving overall bulk for anything else, 56 HP / 252 SpD can be run to minimise the chance of Draco OHKOing after Stealth Rock. This is worth considering as it also means Freeze Dry has a very small chance to 2HKO from full health, potentially giving you an extra turn to attempt to thaw if you get frozen on switch-in. Either way I recommend pairing with something that stops it having free rein to click Draco tho, as you really should only switch into Draco in a last ditch scenario (or, at worst, off of a guessing game).

 

[readytolose]

Mienshao @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 140 HP / 152 SpD / 216 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Rock Slide

Here is my custom Mienshao spread. As you can see by the Rock Slide and 216 Speed EVs, it is explicitly anti-Volcarona. By being faster than max speed Volcarona, you can come in on it even if it clicks Psychic, then threaten it out or OHKO it with Rock Slide. Mienshao always lives a +1 Psychic from Volcarona too, taking 94.7% maximum from it. The given division of HP and SpD EVs give a regenerator number and also guarantee that Mienshao always lives Kyurem's Specs Draco Meteor. This all comes at the cost of lowered HP giving it poorer physical bulk but it's worth it.

 

[FlameOrb]

Has anyone thought about Blaze Kick?

 

[Martin]

Has anyone thought about Blaze Kick?

Super Effective Blaze Kick = 85*2 = 170 BP
Neutral STAB Close Combat = 120*1.5 = 180 BP

Not worth. The only things it targets are Scizor and Amoognuss, which probably aren't worth dedicating an entire moveslot to most of the time when you can just click U-turn instead.