Mantine is a large, manta ray-like Pokémon with wide fins and two ring-shaped marks on its back. Its back is a dark blue with a jagged outline on its wings. It has a streamer-like tail and long "antennae". Two pairs of gills are visible on its gray underside, as well as a pair of beady eyes and a small mouth. Generally, it is pictured with a Remoraid attached to the underside of one wing, much like a cleaner fish. Mantine can fly 300 feet into the air if it builds up enough speed, in a similar manner to how real-life manta rays breach the surface. Mantine is mostly docile. It thrives in open seas.
In Alola, many surfers ride waves and travel between islands on the backs of Mantine. This has made it an icon in the region, being featured on souvenir postcards and posters.
A Mantine appeared in the Eevee, Where Are You Going? segment at the end of SM094, where it gave Eevee a lift after it was knocked overboard from the ship it was sailing on. It reappeared in the Eevee, Where Are You Going? segment at the end of SM095, where it proceeded to do Mantine Surf with Eevee on its back.
A Mantine appeared in Steamboat Willies!, under the ownership of an old man who owned a ship. It helped Ash and Dawn save the ship from falling off a waterfall. This Mantine was bigger than usual.
Gold catches a Mantine and names him Tibo as he floats in the sea in Lively Lugia II, which helps him in his attempt to defeat Lugia, powered by the Remoraid Gold received for flight transport.
Mantine will not appear in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team until a rescue mission involving it has been completed, using a Wonder Mail code such as the following:
Despite the fact that Mantine evolve from Mantyke in the presence of a Remoraid, Remoraid has not been present on any of Mantine's sprites in the main series of games since Generation IV, in which this evolution method was introduced. This may be due to fact that the Remoraid used for evolution doesn't disappear after Mantine evolves from Mantyke.
Origin
It is similar to a manta ray, with some kite-like aspects. Its flying type seems to be a reference to flying rays, known as such due to their propensity for breaching. As Remoraid, a Pokémon based on a rifle, often attaches to the undersides of Mantine's wings, it may also be based on a fighter plane.
Name origin
Mantine may be a combination of manta and marine or brine.
Mantain may be a combination of manta and Tyne (pronounced tain).