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 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.
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:
Mantine is the first Pokémon whose official artwork features another Pokémon.
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 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. Since Remoraid, a Pokémon based on a rifle, often attaches itself to the undersides of Mantine's wings, Mantine 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 /ˈtaɪn/).