Mienshao - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

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
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Mienshao

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Mienshao
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Regenerator	Restores a little HP when withdrawn from battle.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
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage	-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Mienshao

Singles Movesets for Mienshao

Choice Scarf Revenge Killer Moveset & Best Build

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

Doubles Movesets for Mienshao

Doubles Offensive Lead Moveset & Best Build

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

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

Weakness

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
Toxapex	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
Ferrothorn	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
Palossand	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

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

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Slowbro	Alolan Marowak	Dragalge
Klefki	Lycanroc	Amoonguss
Poliwrath	Palossand	Mienshao
Starmie	Heracross	Comfey
Porygon-Z	Alakazam	Politoed