[OVERVIEW]
Mega Manectric is a potent offensive pivot and revenge killer, capable of scouting opposing teams and generating momentum. Its blistering Speed tier lets it outpace a huge portion of the metagame, most notably including Tapu Koko and Mega Gengar. A sole weakness to Ground alongside Intimidate helps compensate for its mediocre bulk, and Intimidate in tandem with Volt Switch gives it the ability to easily scout and gain momentum. Mega Manectric also has a useful pre-Mega ability in Lightning Rod, which helps it switch into Electric-type moves such as Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt. However, Mega Manectric is held back by stiff competition from other Electric-types such as Tapu Koko, which has a Speed tier similar to Mega Manectric's but does not take a team’s Mega slot and deals greater damage with its Electric Terrain-boosted attacks. Even with outstanding coverage and a good Special Attack stat, Mega Manectric has slightly disappointing damage output for a Mega Evolution. Despite Intimidate and its decent typing, Mega Manectric struggles to take strong neutral hits, especially from special attackers such as Greninja and Tapu Lele, which limits its ability to pivot.
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Overheat / Flamethrower
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Manectite
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt is a mandatory STAB move that lets Mega Manectric hit prevalent Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Toxapex hard, while Volt Switch is important so that Mega Manectric can generate momentum for its team. Overheat or Flamethrower alongside Hidden Power Ice is vital because Fire- and Ice-type coverage on one set allows Manectric to hit Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Aegislash, which would otherwise wall Mega Manectric. This coverage also gives Mega Manectric a niche over Tapu Koko. Flamethrower is an option over Overheat that does not miss and conserves Manectric's Special Attack, though the power drop is very noticeable. Flamethrower misses out on the 50% chance Overheat has to OHKO Mega Metagross, and it cannot OHKO specially defensive Ferrothorn or Mega Mawile.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment allows Mega Manectric to outspeed most of the unboosted Battle Spot metagame, giving as much momentum to its teammates as possible. A Timid nature is vital to let Manectric outspeed the likes of Tapu Koko and Mega Gengar. The Special Attack investment lets Mega Manectric hit as hard as possible, while the 4 Special Defense EVs ensure Porygon2 receives an Attack boost from Download. Lightning Rod is the preferred pre-Mega ability so that Manectric can easily switch into Electric-type moves.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Manectric likes to lead battles and immediately use Volt Switch so that you can gain the upper hand or preserve Mega Manectric's health for a Pokemon that threatens its teammates. Throughout the match, Mega Manectric is best used to weaken physical attackers and provide chip damage for its teammates. While it may be tempting to Mega Evolve immediately, keeping regular Manectric's Lightning Rod is occasionally more beneficial to discourage opposing Electric-types such as Thundurus-T and Tapu Koko from spamming STAB moves; however, not Mega Evolving can be a risky play because normal Manectric is slower and very frail.
Team Options
========
Mega Manectric likes having Landorus-T as a partner because it provides a double Intimidate core and is immune to Ground. Landorus-T also can provide chip damage to opponents with Stealth Rock, Rocky Helmet, and U-turn, which lets it form a VoltTurn core with Mega Manectric. Similarly, Gyarados and Celesteela are good teammates because they are immune to Ground and Lightning Rod Manectric can switch into Electric-type attacks aimed at them and get a free Special Attack boost.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mega Manectric's barren movepool leaves very few choices outside of the moves listed in the set above. Toxic could be used to cripple a Porygon2 switching in on Mega Manectric, but this forces Mega Manectric to give up on an important coverage move, making it a poor choice in most scenarios. It is also possible to run Thunder over Thunderbolt to have a 50% chance to OHKO Mega Gyarados, but its shaky accuracy makes it unreliable. This could be alleviated by pairing Mega Manectric with a rain setter such as Pelipper or Politoed, but the rain lowers the power of Manectric's Fire-type coverage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Anything faster than Mega Manectric becomes problematic for it; the naturally faster Pheromosa and Choice Scarf users like Tapu Lele, Landorus-T, and Excadrill can easily weaken Mega Manectric if not outright OHKO it.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon like Porygon2, Heatran, and Chansey take pitiful damage from any attack that Mega Manectric can throw at them and slowly chip away at Manectric’s health.
**Ground-types**: Pokemon such as Mamoswine, Landorus-T, and Excadrill are immune to Mega Manectric’s Electric-type moves and threaten back with their STAB moves, though Landorus-T and Excadrill need to be cautious of Hidden Power Ice and Overheat.
Mega Manectric is a potent offensive pivot and revenge killer, capable of scouting opposing teams and generating momentum. Its blistering Speed tier lets it outpace a huge portion of the metagame, most notably including Tapu Koko and Mega Gengar. A sole weakness to Ground alongside Intimidate helps compensate for its mediocre bulk, and Intimidate in tandem with Volt Switch gives it the ability to easily scout and gain momentum. Mega Manectric also has a useful pre-Mega ability in Lightning Rod, which helps it switch into Electric-type moves such as Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt. However, Mega Manectric is held back by stiff competition from other Electric-types such as Tapu Koko, which has a Speed tier similar to Mega Manectric's but does not take a team’s Mega slot and deals greater damage with its Electric Terrain-boosted attacks. Even with outstanding coverage and a good Special Attack stat, Mega Manectric has slightly disappointing damage output for a Mega Evolution. Despite Intimidate and its decent typing, Mega Manectric struggles to take strong neutral hits, especially from special attackers such as Greninja and Tapu Lele, which limits its ability to pivot.
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Overheat / Flamethrower
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Manectite
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt is a mandatory STAB move that lets Mega Manectric hit prevalent Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Toxapex hard, while Volt Switch is important so that Mega Manectric can generate momentum for its team. Overheat or Flamethrower alongside Hidden Power Ice is vital because Fire- and Ice-type coverage on one set allows Manectric to hit Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Aegislash, which would otherwise wall Mega Manectric. This coverage also gives Mega Manectric a niche over Tapu Koko. Flamethrower is an option over Overheat that does not miss and conserves Manectric's Special Attack, though the power drop is very noticeable. Flamethrower misses out on the 50% chance Overheat has to OHKO Mega Metagross, and it cannot OHKO specially defensive Ferrothorn or Mega Mawile.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment allows Mega Manectric to outspeed most of the unboosted Battle Spot metagame, giving as much momentum to its teammates as possible. A Timid nature is vital to let Manectric outspeed the likes of Tapu Koko and Mega Gengar. The Special Attack investment lets Mega Manectric hit as hard as possible, while the 4 Special Defense EVs ensure Porygon2 receives an Attack boost from Download. Lightning Rod is the preferred pre-Mega ability so that Manectric can easily switch into Electric-type moves.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Manectric likes to lead battles and immediately use Volt Switch so that you can gain the upper hand or preserve Mega Manectric's health for a Pokemon that threatens its teammates. Throughout the match, Mega Manectric is best used to weaken physical attackers and provide chip damage for its teammates. While it may be tempting to Mega Evolve immediately, keeping regular Manectric's Lightning Rod is occasionally more beneficial to discourage opposing Electric-types such as Thundurus-T and Tapu Koko from spamming STAB moves; however, not Mega Evolving can be a risky play because normal Manectric is slower and very frail.
Team Options
========
Mega Manectric likes having Landorus-T as a partner because it provides a double Intimidate core and is immune to Ground. Landorus-T also can provide chip damage to opponents with Stealth Rock, Rocky Helmet, and U-turn, which lets it form a VoltTurn core with Mega Manectric. Similarly, Gyarados and Celesteela are good teammates because they are immune to Ground and Lightning Rod Manectric can switch into Electric-type attacks aimed at them and get a free Special Attack boost.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mega Manectric's barren movepool leaves very few choices outside of the moves listed in the set above. Toxic could be used to cripple a Porygon2 switching in on Mega Manectric, but this forces Mega Manectric to give up on an important coverage move, making it a poor choice in most scenarios. It is also possible to run Thunder over Thunderbolt to have a 50% chance to OHKO Mega Gyarados, but its shaky accuracy makes it unreliable. This could be alleviated by pairing Mega Manectric with a rain setter such as Pelipper or Politoed, but the rain lowers the power of Manectric's Fire-type coverage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Anything faster than Mega Manectric becomes problematic for it; the naturally faster Pheromosa and Choice Scarf users like Tapu Lele, Landorus-T, and Excadrill can easily weaken Mega Manectric if not outright OHKO it.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon like Porygon2, Heatran, and Chansey take pitiful damage from any attack that Mega Manectric can throw at them and slowly chip away at Manectric’s health.
**Ground-types**: Pokemon such as Mamoswine, Landorus-T, and Excadrill are immune to Mega Manectric’s Electric-type moves and threaten back with their STAB moves, though Landorus-T and Excadrill need to be cautious of Hidden Power Ice and Overheat.
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