The three goals, countless squandered chances and crisp one-touch football all justified player-manger Carlton Palmer's decision to switch to a 4-4-2 formation and abandon his bold three-man attack.
Disappointing Torquay, who saw French debutant Carl Priso substituted after a lacklustre 68 minutes, rarely threatened to end their goal drought.
In the opening minutes the only winner was the weather as torrential rain left the players splashing across a sodden pitch.
Torquay initially adjusted better to the conditions and created the first chance, but Matt Hockley's long-range drive was easily held by Kevin Pressman.
However the Stags soon weathered the driving rain and after a spell of enterprising football deservedly took a 15th minute lead.
Adam Birchall's incisive pass allowed Matthew Tipton to race clear into the area before crossing low across the face of goal for Adam Rundle to slide in and score at the far post.
Mansfield's high tempo football created further chances for Richie Barker and Fraser McLachlan before full back Gavin Peers doubled their lead, heading in Rundle's in-swinging corner two minutes before half time.
Rundle and Stephen Dawson both went close from long range at the start of the second half before Torquay at last posed an attacking threat, Kevin Hill's low 15-yard shot acrobatically turned away for a corner by the diving Pressman.
15 minutes from time, after the Stags had squandered four chances to seal victory, the goals came close to forcing a tense finish.
First Alex Lawless' lob was only held at the second attempt by Pressman and then Jo Kuffour raced clear before poking his finish wide with the keeper stranded.
But nine minutes from time their hopes of a revival ended when substitue Simon Brown raced clear onto a clever Dawson pass and lobbed the stranded Andy Marriott.