Pokemon Sword and Shield

Mienshao - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

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Mienshao - Movesets and Counters
This is a strategy guide for using Mienshao in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Mienshao, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Mienshao - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Mienshao Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Mienshao Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Mienshao

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Fighting Type
Abilities
Inner Focus The Pokemon is protected from flinching.
Regenerator Restores a little HP when withdrawn from battle.
Reckless (Hidden) Powers up moves that have recoil damage.

Mienshao Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
-
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Flying Image Pokemon Psychic Image Pokemon Fairy Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Bug Image Pokemon Rock Image Pokemon Dark Image
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
65 125 60 95 60 105

Best Nature for Mienshao

Best Natures
Jolly
(+Spd, -Sp.Atk)

Singles Movesets for Mienshao

Choice Scarf Revenge Killer Moveset & Best Build

Choice Scarf Revenge Killer Mienshao.png

Nature Jolly(+Spd, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values HP 140 / Atk 177 / Def 80 / Sp.Def 81 / Spd 172
Ability Regenerator
Held Item Choice Scarf
Moveset Close Combat
U-Turn
Knock Off
Stone Edge

Mineshao's great speed, high attack, and access to powerful physical moves make it a great revenge killer.

About Mienshao's Moves

Close Combat is Mienshao's most powerful STAB move, allowing it to revenge kill weakened or even outright KO frailer Pokemon.

Stone Edge covers Flying-type Pokemon that otherwise resists its main STAB move. U-Turn allows Mienshao to quickly pivot and switch out while dealing respectable damage.

Knock Off rounds up its coverage and has the added utility of getting rid of the opponent's held item. This allows Mienshao to cripple Pokemon that are rely on their held items, such as Eviolite Dusclops.

About Mienshao's EV Spread

We're using a straightforward EV spread with full investment in Attack and Speed, with the remaining 4 EVs on Special Defense.

About Mienshao's Ability

Regenerator is the best ability for this build. Mienshao will spend a lot of time switching in and out so the passive healing from this ability is much appreciated.

About Mienshao's Held Item

The speed creep this generation means Choice Scarf is necessary so that Mienshao can outspeed naturally faster Pokemon, such as Dragapult.

Other Viable Moves

Bounce A good alternative to Stone Edge that Mienshao that turns into Max Airstream when used during Dynamax, giving the rest of the team a much-needed speed boost.
Blaze Kick An alternative to Stone Edge that allows Mienshao to hit bulky Grass-types for super effective damage.
Rock Slide Has lower damage but better accuracy than Stone Edge and a nice flinch rate that Mienshao can abuse.

Doubles Movesets for Mienshao

Doubles Offensive Lead Moveset & Best Build

Doubles Offensive Lead Mienshao.png

Nature Jolly(+Spd, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values HP 140 / Atk 177 / Def 80 / Sp.Def 81 / Spd 172
Ability Reckless
Held Item Focus Sash
Moveset Fake Out
High Jump Kick
Knock Off
Quick Guard

This Mienshao is a great support lead in doubles. Unlike other leads that are meant to just annoy the opposing team, this one can also hit hard and cripple its targets.

About Mienshao's Moves

Fake Out allows Mienshao to scout moves and interrupt an opponent that might pose a threat to your team.

High Jump Kick is its strongest attack and gets a 20% damage boost from its ability. Knock Off on the other hand allows Mienshao to cripple opposing Pokemon that rely on their held items, such as Eviolite Clefairy and Dusclops.

Mienshao's final move is Quick Guard. This move blocks all of the opponent's priority moves - whether they're attacking or status moves. This gives Mienshao great team utility, allowing it to block Rillaboom's Grassy Glide, Whimsicott's Prankster Taunt, or Talonflame's Gale Wings boosted Brave Bird.

About Mienshao's EV Spread

We're using a straightforward EV spread with full investment in Attack and Speed, with the remaining 4 EVs on Special Defense.

About Mienshao's Ability

We're using Reckless this time to boost the power of Mienshao's High Jump Kick by 20%.

About Mienshao's Held Item

Focus Sash ensures Mienshao can survive a hit that can otherwise KO it and support its team before going down.

Other Viable Moves

Wide Guard This is a good alternative to Quick Guard that blocks multi-target moves like Surf and Earthquake from hitting your team.
Detect Another alternative to Quick Guard that protects Mienshao. We recommend Detect over Protect to avoid being crippled by Imprison.
Helping Hand Allows Mienshao to support it's teammate by boosting the power of their move by 50%.

How to Use Mienshao Effectively

Hit Hard and Fast in Singles

In Singles, Mienshao is meant to be played as a fast attacker that can hit hard and switch out at a moment's notice. Apart from filling the role of a revenge killer, it can also function as a late-game sweeper with its high-powered moves.

A Lead Supporter in Doubles

Despite its high powered moves, Mienshao meant to be played as a supporter first and an offensive lead second in Doubles.

How to Build a Team with Mienshao

Mienshao's high attack and speed and access to high-powered moves make it a great choice for offense-oriented teams that are in need of a fast sweeper for its offensive core.

A Fast Revenge Killer in Singles

Mienshao is a great addition to Hyper Offense teams in need of a fast revenge killer. It can also function as a back-up sweeper that can help its slower but more powerful teammates net KOs by providing valuable chip damage with its attacks.

Check out our article below to learn how to build an Offensive Team with a revenge killer like Mienshao.

How to Build an Offensive Team | Best Hyper Offense Team

A Tricky Lead in Doubles

Mienshao finds a niche in doubles as a lead support that can dish out damage afterwards. Access to the move Quick Guard allows it to protect its teammates from increasingly common priority moves from opposing offensive leads such as Rillaboom and Talonflame.

Check out our article below to learn how to build a Doubles Team with a lead Pokemon like Mienshao.

How to Build a Doubles Team

Counters for Mienshao

Mienshao
Weakness Pokemon Flying Image Pokemon Psychic Image Pokemon Fairy Image

Wall it with a Defensive Pokemon

Despite its access to high-powered moves, certain defensive Pokemon can still wall and even cripple Mienshao thanks to their massive defenses.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Toxapex ImageToxapex Ranking: ★★★★★
・Takes little damage from all of Mienshao's moves
・Can cripple Mienshao with Poison from Baneful Bunker or a Burn from Scald

Moveset & Best Build for Toxapex
Pokemon SWSH - Ferrothorn ImageFerrothorn Ranking: ★★★★★
・Mienshao can't knock it out with Close Combat or High Jump Kick
・Can inflict chip damage with its ability Iron Barbs and the move Leech Seed

Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothorn
Pokemon SWSH - Palossand ImagePalossand Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can cause Mienshao to crash and sustain recoild damage if it switches into High Jump Kick
・Can cripple Mienshao with a Burn from Scorching Sands

Moveset & Best Build for Palossand

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

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