Manaphy

Legal regulations: regulation-m-a

Manaphy is the Water special attacker that brings one of the format's most flexible offensive profiles to Regulation M-A teams. Its Hydration ability makes it immune to status in rain, which turns it into a durable special presence on rain teams, and its special Attack is strong enough to pressure bulky cores. Its signature move, Tail Glow, provides a massive special Attack boost in a single turn, turning it into a terrifying sweeper once it sets up. Its speed is mediocre, so it relies on Tailwind, rain support or positioning to function. Its weaknesses are the ones Water-types always carry — vulnerable to Electric and Grass coverage — and its bulk, while decent, is not designed to absorb repeated super-effective hits. It functions best as a rain team's special sweeper that sets up with Tail Glow behind redirection, or as a bulky special presence that outlasts opponents. Manaphy pairs well with rain setters and with partners that handle the Electric and Grass threats it invites. It is a flexible, high-reward pick for rain and balanced teams alike.

Use this page to understand Manaphy's role in the current VGC metagame. Check the base stats and Level 50 benchmarks to plan your EV spreads. Review common moves, items, abilities and Tera types to see what the community uses most. The partners section shows which Pokémon pair well with Manaphy, while counters and checks highlight what to watch out for in team preview.

Last updated: July 2026 (Regulation Set M-A). Data is based on available competitive trends and editorial review.

Manaphy performs best when its role is clearly defined in team preview. As a Physical Attacker and Special Attacker Pokémon, focus on positioning it where it can execute its job without being forced into unfavorable exchanges.

When teambuilding, pair Manaphy with Pokémon that cover its type weaknesses (see counters section below) and provide the speed control or redirection it needs to function. Review the common moves and items section for established sets, then adjust based on your team's specific needs.