Marshadow, The Gloomdweller Pokémon. Able to conceal itself in shadows, it never appears before humans, so its very existence was the stuff of myth. It lurks in the shadows of others, copying their movements and powers. This Pokémon is craven and cowering.
Overview
Marshadow is the new pixie pokemon, barring the same stat total as the others at 600. However unlike the others Marshadow doesn't have the 100 stat per area, making it more specialized and arguable better than the others, further boosted with its special move Spectral Thief, stealing status boosts similar to Ditto. However, Marshadow has to compete with other designated wall breaker and revenge killers such as Arceus, Deoxys, and Pheromosa.
Positives
+ Spectral Thief is a solid move allowing Marshadow to steal stat boosts
+ Solid enough move pool
+ Ghost/Fighting is unresisted making coverage moves a bonus
+ Its ability, teamed with its movepool, can be seriously brutal
Negatives
-For Ubers, Marshadows a bit soft and competes with other faster attackers such as Pheromosa and Deoxys
-While it has a useable special move pool, Marshadow almost always will be physical
Abilities
Technician- Increase power of moves with 60 base power or less by 50% - Marshadow’s only ability but is still a solid ability making use of mostly priority moves like Shadow Sneak
Movesets
Trickster Spirit
-Shadow Sneak
-Ice Punch/Stone Edge
-Spectral Thief
-Force Palm/Close Combat/Drain Punch
Item Attached: Ghostium Z/Life Orb/Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs and Nature:
252Atk/4Def/252Spd
Adamant/Jolly Nature
With Marshadow's high speed Adamant is an option for ability, allowing it to hit harder with priority Shadow Sneak. Item wise Ghostium Z is great, proking on Shadow Sneak with the priority still, while a Life Orb allows more consistent boosted damage while finally a Choice Band can be used to muscle through walls that would take more hits such as offensive Ho-Oh. Shadow Sneak is a must use, benefiting from Technician, allowing it to pressure a lot of threats with a powerful ghost priority. Spectral Thief is also a strong move that should be run, stealing status changes from the target. This allows Marshadow to check threats such as Calm Mind Arceus and Kyogre. Fighting stabs come in a plethora of options, Force Palm gains the boost from Technician while Drain Punch heals but is just above the Technician threshold, while Close Combat just hits the hardest but makes you weaker to Dark types after such as Yveltal. Lastly Ice Punch is nice coverage for Rayquaza, Zygarde C, and Mega Salamence while Stone Edge hits Ho-Oh for a ton of damage and still hurts Mega Salamence and Rayquaza.
Other Options & Partners
Thunder Punch - Hurts Kyogre but not a lot harder than Spectral Thief or one of your Fighting stabs
Hidden Power - While it gains a buff from Technician, its a niche move due to Marshadow's average special attack
Choice Scarf - This turns Marshadow into a revenge killer/sweeper with Spectral Thief allowing it to stop sweepers such as Swords Dance Primal Groudon or Flame Charge Ho-Oh a bit easier
Teambuilding & Matchup
Solgaleo - Solgaleo pairs well with Marshadow due Solgaleo’s problem with Darks. While Marshadow can't really flat counter them, it can force them away with its strong Fighting stab moves.
Primal Groudon - Primal Groudon likes Marshadow’s ability to check most faster threats with Shadow Sneak as well as its ability to scare off Giratini, tho it has to be wary of the burn from Will-O-Wisp.
Palkia - Like Primal Groudon, Palkia has a hard time with threats like Lugia and Giratini which Marshadow handles pretty well. Palkia also checks Kyogre who's annoying for Marshadow to handle.
VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options
Like other mythical Pokemon before it such as Mew and Celebi, Marshadow will likely never be VGC-legal. Although this is not a surprise, it is still a shame as Marshadow has fantastic offensive potential. Should it be available in other future doubles formats (such as ones similar to the Enter the Dragon Type tournament on Battle Spot in 2015, which allowed mythicals), Marshadow deserves consideration as a core Pokemon.
Attacking from the Shadows!
-Spectral Thief
-Close Combat
-Shadow Sneak / Ice Punch
-Protect / Ice Punch
Item Attached: Marshadium Z / Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
Maximum attack and speed are a given with Marshadow’s base stats that make it a strong offensive Pokemon. A Jolly nature helps it outspeed as much as possible, and the item choices boost its attack power. The decision between the three comes down to your personal preference, or what other items are already on the team. The Marshadium Z crystal is a fantastic choice if no other z move is already on the team, and turns Marshadow’s signature move into an incredibly powerful attack in Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike. A Life Orb is still a good choice should another Pokemon have a z crystal and you still want to run Protect. A Choice Band is an alternative that also opens up another move slot over Protect. Protect is still a great move to have, but is not as necessary to have as most other Pokemon since Marshadow is immune to most Fake Outs. Technician is the only ability available, but boosts moves like Shadow Sneak.
Spectral Thief is Marshadow’s signature move. While strong on its own, the ability to steal boosts from the opponent or unlock its signature z move are also great reasons to use it. Close Combat is the strongest fighting STAB move it can have. Shadow Sneak is a strong priority move with the STAB and Technician boosts, while Ice Punch is good coverage to hit dragons and other threats super-effectively. Protect is still the best move in doubles, allowing you to stall out your opponent’s speed control or keep Marshadow safe while you set up your own.
Other Options & Team Ideas
-Fightinium Z is another alternative for a z move, as All Out Pummeling can do massive damage.
-Marshadow still has good overall bulk, so a Bulk Up set paired with recovery from Drain Punch and Leftovers or a 50% recover pinch berry can create an interesting set.
-Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, and Poison Jab all provide coverage for various threats.
-Rock Tomb, Rock Slide, and Stone Edge all provide rock-type coverage and each has their own benefits. Rock Tomb receives a Technician boost and lowers the target's speed. Rock Slide provides spread damage and a chance for the opponents to flinch. Stone Edge is the strongest, but has the worst accuracy of the three.
-Hidden Powers (Ice, in particular) deserve consideration as they do respectable damage thanks to the Technician boost. Though they are not affected by Intimidate, they are still really only for specific Pokemon that are 4x weak to the Hidden Power type, as it uses Marshadow's lower special attack and takes up a valuable move slot (and may force you to sacrifice some bulk with a mixed nature like Naive).
-Feint also receives a Technician boost and provides another priority attack that goes through moves like Protect or Wide Guard.
-Redirection from Pokemon with Follow Me or Rage Powder can help Marshadow get off multiple attacks, especially if it is lowering its own defenses with Close Combat.
-Pokemon with Defiant and Competitive can ward off Intimidate from your opponent.
-Despite respectable defenses, Marshadow does not love fighting under Trick Room with its high speed, so ways to counter or prevent it are a good idea.
-Additionally, your own speed control can be useful if your opponent has their own or is running a Pokemon with a Choice Scarf to outspeed Marshadow.
Countering Marshadow
Primal Groudon - One of the best physical walls in tier, Primal Groudon only takes neutral damage from Marshadow and threatens it with powerful Earthquakes, which Marshadow can't take to well.
Yveltal - Yveltal runs similar to Primal Groudon but its strong Dark stabs can chew Marshadow up a bit easier, especial with its access to Sucker Punch to double hit Marshadow's.
Mega Gengar - More a check, while Shadow Sneak is a pain, Mega Gengar can trap and outpace it, easily OHKOing it with Shadow Ball. This isn't a reliable answer tho.
Ho-Oh - Ho-Oh boost huge bulk, resistance to Marshadow's Fighting stab, and a high burn chance on Sacred Fire makes Ho-Oh a solid answer to Marshadow, but it can run Stone Edge so Ho-Oh has to be careful of that.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Not in game
Black 2/White 2:
Not in game
X/Y:
Not in game
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Not in game
Sun/Moon:
Event only
Animé Appearences
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Marshadow has made a single appearance in the anime. In it, it followed Ash during an alternate version of his origin story and storted causing hassle.
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