Introduced in generation five, with the Pokemon Black and White games, Mienfoo is a monotype fighting Pokemon. It is the first stage evolution of its two stage evolution line and evolves into Mienshao once it reaches the level threshold. Mienfoo is classified by the Pokedex as the “Martial Arts Pokemon” which is likely a reference to its general design. This guide will showcase Mienfoo’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Mienfoo.
About Mienfoo
As a generation five Pokemon, Mienfoo first appeared in the Black and White season of the anime in the episode The Beartic Mountain Feud!. In this episode, a trainer named Cliff uses a Mienfoo to help him guad the mountain. The Pokedex mentions that Mienfoo takes pride in how fast it can use different moves. What Mienfoo lacks in power, it makes up for in quantity.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: Black and White The Beartic Mountain Feud! |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Black and White |
| Region | Unova |
| Evolution | Base evolution of Mienshao, not known to evolve from another Pokemon |
| 1st Evo level | 50 |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | In fights, they dominate with onslaughts of flowing, continuous attacks. With their sharp claws, they cut enemies. |
Mienfoo Base Stats
| HP | 45 |
| ATTACK | 85 |
| DEFENCE | 50 |
| SP. ATTACK | 55 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 50 |
| SPEED | 65 |
| TOTAL | 350 |
Appearance
Mienfoo is a small brown and red humanoid Pokemon that is meant to resemble a martial artist. Most of its body is brown but it is red around its arms, the tip of its tail, its legs, and around its neck.It has two white eyes with red pupils, a pointed red nose, and can be seen in a martial arts pose. It has two arms and legs that extend into three digits on each hand and foot. Mienfoo is a small Pokemon at 2 feet and 11 inches, or 0.9 meters, tall.
Behavior
Mienfoo spends much of its time training its moves and learning new ones. It prides itself in flowing, continuous attacks and it becomes more precise as Mienfoo becomes focused. While each of its attacks are not particularly damaging, the number of attacks that Mienfoo can inflict adds up. It can also use its sharp claws to cut its foes and the Pokedex mentions that Mienfoo can throw 100 arm chops in just one minute.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As the base evolution of its evolution line, Mienfoo is still weak overall. It has a decent physical attack stat and a speed stat that can help it function offensively. However, its resistances are weak and it has a low health pool. With the Regenerator ability, Mienfoo can be surprisingly resilient in pivot strategies. As a monotype fighting Pokemon, Mienfoo takes 2x damage from flying, psychic, and fairy type moves. It has no immunities but will resist rock, bug, and dark type moves.
Best Moveset
In competitive play, Mienfoo is typically reserved for the LC (Little Cup) bracket and in this format, its higher than average physical attack and its abilities can be used offensively with ease. Using either Regenerator or Reckless as its ability will ensure that Mienfoo lasts longer in battle. With Eviolite, as a held item, it is capable of surviving more than one hit. Consider running Drain Punch, Knock Off, U-Turn, and Taunt/Stone Edge/Poison Jab. This set is aimed at keeping Mienfoo healthy through Drain Punch and U-Turn coupled with Regenerator. Knock Off is a useful move and should be included whenever available. Taunt/Stone Edge/Poison Jab are interchangeable depending on how supportive/aggressive you want your Mienfoo to be.
| Drain Punch | Knock Off |
| U-Turn | Taunt/Stone Edge/Poison Jab |
How to Catch Mienfoo in Pokemon Go?
If you would like to obtain a Mienfoo in Pokemon Go, there are a few different ways of doing so. Since Mienfoo is the base evolution of its line, it is much easier to find than its final evolution. You can find it spawning in the wild, at a boosted rate, near gyms, recreational centers, and stadiums. Mienfoo can also be hatched from 10 km eggs but unfortunately, neither Mienfoo or Mienshao have been featured as raid bosses at Pokemon Gyms. In order to evolve Mienfoo into a Mienshao, it will require 50 candies.
Trivia
- The inspiration for Mienfoo’s design is likely based on a combination of a mustelid and a kung fu user.
- The name Mienfoo is a combination of the words ermine and kung fu.
- In the anime, Mienfoo is shown to be able to attack 100 times in one minute.
FAQ
Where do you catch Mienfoo?
In generation five you can catch Mienfoo at Dragonspiral Tower, Victory Road, and on Route 14. With generation six, you can find Mienfoo spawning naturally on Route 8 or in Fighting type Friend Safaris. While Mienfoo was not originally available in generation seven, the Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon iterations have Mienfoo spawning naturally at Vast Poni Canyon.
What is Mienfoo?
Mienfoo is based on a mustelid. It is similar to stoats, but Mienfoo obviously has a martial arts aspect included with its design. Its design may also be referencing a kamaitachi, an evil Japanese spirit. The martial arts that Mienfoo uses is likely Kung Fu considering the connection in its name and general style.
What region is Mienfoo from?
Mienfoo is a generation five Pokemon making it from the Unova region. Its region only really implies the generation it was introduced in and not necessarily which games they can be found in. The Pokedex describes Krokorok’s natural living habitat as tall mountains or urban environments.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Martial Arts Pokemon”. While Mienfoo’s involvement in competitive play is typically limited to a unique bracket, Mienfoo can perform as a powerful offensive Pokemon. With access to many different types of moves and its abilities keeping Mienfoo healthy, Mienfoo can be a menacing Pokemon. Reserve a slot on your team for Mienfoo if you want a well rounded fighting type Pokemon.
