Mantine is a large, ray-likePokémon. Its body is dark blue on the overside, and it has large wing-like fins, with a black ring-shaped mark on the top of either fin, and a jagged outline on the front rim at the bottom. Its head has two long protrusions resembling horns or antennae, and two more black ring-shaped marks on the back. Two pairs of gills are visible on its pinkish gray underside, as well as a pair of beady eyes and a small mouth. Its body has a coarse texture.
Mantine thrives in open seas where it swims freely, often in schools where they race one another. It can breach out of the water and fly 300 feet (100 meters) into the air if it builds up enough speed. In the past, it was often misidentified as a bird Pokémon by observers who saw this behavior. Mantine is sometimes seen with a Remoraid attached to the underside of one of its fins, scavenging for its leftovers and fighting together with it when attacked. Mantine has a docile nature, and does not mind the Remoraid clinging onto its fin.
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 recurring Mantine first appeared in the second episode of the Where Are You Going, Eevee? shorts. It rescued Eevee after it was accidentally knocked off a boat by a passing by Wailord. In the third episode of the segment, they decided to try Mantine Surfing on a nearby wave. Eevee initially kept getting knocked off whenever Mantine did a flip, Eevee eventually learned how to time its jumps with Mantine's flips, allowing it to stay on Mantine's back. Mantine reappeared in the fourth episode of the segment, where, after arriving at Alola, it said its farewells to Eevee and headed back out to sea. It reappeared in a flashback in We Know Where You're Going, Eevee!.
It made its main series debut in Alola, Alola!, where it met up with Sandy again and helped it Mantine Surf with Lana. Later, it and several other Mantine were captured by Team Rocket before being rescued by Ash and his classmates. Afterwards, it and the other Mantine returned to the sea.
Mantine debuted in Spell of the Unown: Entei as one of the illusory Pokémon Molly Hale created in her dream world, thanks to the Unown. It was Molly's second Pokémon during her battle against Misty, where it faced off against Staryu. The outcome of the battle was ultimately left unknown.
In Alola, Alola!, Ash, his classmates, and Misty used multiple Mantine to travel to Treasure Island. They were later captured by Team Rocket before being freed through the efforts of Ash and the others.
In Lively Lugia II, Goldcaught a Mantine and nicknamed him Tibo. It was then used in his attempt to defeat Lugia, wherein it was powered by the Remoraid Gold received for flight transport.
This calm and gentle Pokémon swims gracefully through the sea. After building speed, it can leap out of the water. It is often misidentified as a bird Pokémon due to this behavior.
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 core seriesgames since Generation IV, in which this evolution method was introduced. This may be due to the fact that the Remoraid used for evolution doesn't disappear after Mantine evolves from Mantyke.
Origin
Mantine's appearance and behavior of breaching the water's surface is similar to a manta ray, a species belonging to the Mobula genus (also known as "flying rays"). It also has some kite-like aspects. Since Remoraid, a Pokémon based on a firearm, often attaches itself to the undersides of Mantine's wing-like fins, Mantine may also be based on a fighter plane.
Name origin
Mantine may be a combination of manta and marine.
Mantain may be a combination of manta and brine or tine (point on an implement; branch on a horn).