Other Metagames Mix and Mega - Marshadow VoltTurn Balance

[Rio Vidal]

Banner by Moosical (Torkool)

Many of you probably don't know me as I mostly play Monotype, but I wanted to share a fun Marshadow team I had some success with on the ladder. This team was built around helping Marshadow with Lucarionite because it seemed overly broken and entertaining to use. Anyways, here is my RMT!

#9 on Ladder/48-0

Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb

Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 244 HP / 252 SpD / 12 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Roar / Toxic
- Precipice Blades
- Fire Punch / Stone Edge

The teams Stealth Rock setter and special tank. Groudon acts as a soft check to many different pokemon such as Xerneas, switching in on Blue Orb users, Xurkitree and much more. Roar allows Groudon to phase out setup sweepers such as Bulk Up Marshadow or Xerneas. However this team struggles with Arceus-Fairy, so using Toxic over Roar may allow the team to better check bulky Fairy types. Precipice Blades is fantastic stab that can do heavy damage and is Groudon's main STAB attack. Fire Punch was added due to somewhat of a problem with Sablenite Celesteela, being able to wall Stone Edge sets and Reflect hazards that Primal Groudon may try to set. 12 Speed is so I can outpace other fat Special Defensive Groudon.

Yveltal @ Choice Scarf

Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 32 HP / 4 Def / 232 SpA / 240 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Oblivion Wing
- Foul Play
- U-turn

Yveltal is the team's main form of speed control being able to outspeed a very large chunk of the metagame. Yveltal was initially added to help check opposing Marshadow and Luna, however, its done so much more. The set was directly ripped off the SM ubers analysis page. Such as being able to outspeed and OHKO Lopunnite Kartana, check Absolite Tapu Lele, and Pidgeotite Gengar which otherwise are somewhat of a nuisance to the team. Oblivion Wing helps me check obviously Marshadow as its biggest target and Golisopod as a close second. Dark Pulse is just fantastic STAB that allows me to clean up through opposing teams late game. Foul Play with Choice Scarf is to check annoying setup sweepers such as Pinsirite Zygarde. Finally, U-Turn was placed there to help gain momentum on predicted switches that would otherwise wall Yveltal.

Zapdos @ Sablenite

Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Defog
- Volt Switch

Zapdos is the team's main Physical Wall and helps semi-check pokemon such as Zygarde. Upon Mega Evolution, Zapdos gains the ability Magic Bounce, which, allows it to deflect hazards the opponent may try to set. This is why Zapdos is usually my lead pokemon. However, hazard setters such as Gyaradosite Shuckle can break past Zapdos's Magic Bounce. Roost allows Zapdos to continually tank attacks through the game making it a very reliable Physical Wall. Hidden Power [Ice] allows me to check Zygarde which otherwise really is a nuisance to the team at +1. However, Zapdos can't switch into Zygarde trying to setup when Rocks are present as Zapdos will be 2 OHKOed by +1 Thousand Arrows. Defog is the teams may get around hazards that were set up by either a Mold Breaker user or bad playing. Finally, Volt Switch is to pick up Momentum and bring in threats such as Marshadow.

Marshadow @ Lucarionite

Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Spectral Thief
- Close Combat
- Shadow Sneak

Marshadow, ahh, what a broken pokemon. Honestly, ban this thing from holding a mega stone. With Perfect STAB coverage with Ghost/Fighting type being unresisted by any type combination alongside Lucarionite giving Marshadow adaptability just makes this thing absolutely insane. With access to setup moves such as Bulk Up, which at +2 with Rocks allows you to blow through stall teams. Obviously, Spectral Thief is Marshadow's main STAB attack which allows it to steal boosts off the opponents pokemon, then continue to the damage phase. Close Combat allows Marshadow to absolutely invalidate any Normal or Steel-type pokemon.

Genesect @ Glalitite

Ability: Download
Shiny: Yes
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Frustration / Iron Head
- U-turn / Iron Head
- Shift Gear

Genesect is the teams -ite user, with Glalitite, Genesect's Normal type attacks become Ice-Type. Genesect is a tremendous help as it allows me to outspeed and OHKO Pinsirite Zygarde before it can even begin to setup. Frustration is so Genesect can take its Ice moves to the next level once I'm all setup allowing me to take on Bulkier teams with ease. Iron Head, however, is the second option in place of Frustration as the team struggles to deal with well played Arceus Fairy since Primal Groudon can't break past it and Marshadow doesn't even 3 hit OHKO. U-Turn while I realize seems weird on a setup pokemon isn't really for when Genesect wants to switch out but for instance, wants to bring in another pokemon such as Sablenite Zapdos to deflect possible rocks off the field. Finally, Shift Gear is the Genesect's main way of setting up and allows it to become an extremely threatening late game sweeper especially if it picks up the attack download boost when it switches in.

Golisopod @ Blue Orb

Ability: Emergency Exit
EVs: 232 HP / 252 Atk / 24 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Liquidation
- Leech Life
- Aqua Jet
- Toxic

Golisopod, the teams main Primal Groudon check and the teams Blue Orb user. Ever since I started playing MnM I have been really fond of dual weather, especially the core of Primal Groudon and Genesect. The Speed EVs allow it to obviously beat most other Golisopod's in speed ties, making the opposing rain go down faster. Liquidation is extremely powerful, hitting even the bulkiest of walls with around 40% damage. Leech Life can help against pokemon such as Venusaurite Mandibuzz, which can take on Genesect until Liquidation gets a defense drop. However, Leech Life takes advantage of its Roost allowing Golisopod to hit Mandibuzz for super effective damage and gain some health back. Aqua Jet is to hit pokemon with priority such as Primal Groudon, especially if it has setup a Swords Dance, due to its ability to threaten Golisopod with Stone Edge. Finally, who doesn't like skilless winning battles by poisoning the opposing side's team? Which is exactly what Golisopod does also helping against fatter teams while trying to avoid using it on Magic Bounce switching.

Main Threats

Zygarde can sweep through the whole team at +1 with Stealth Rocks up, with access to Extreme Speed with OHKO's Genesect and Thousand Arrows which 2 OHKO's Zapdos. This pokemon needs to be extremely carefully played around or else you will get swept.

This thing just is a flat out frustrating wall, with the ability to Will-O-Wisp Genesect and Judgment Marshadow while easily living both their attacks makes this pokemon extremely annoying to take down. The best way is to chip it with Toxic and Stall it out with Primal Groudon.

Other ways to beat these 2 without Drastically changing the team would be appreciated.

Importable

Marshadow @ Lucarionite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Close Combat
- Spectral Thief
- Shadow Sneak

Yveltal @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 32 HP / 4 Def / 232 SpA / 240 Spe
Modest Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Oblivion Wing
- Foul Play
- U-turn

Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 244 HP / 252 SpD / 12 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Precipice Blades
- Fire Punch

Golisopod @ Blue Orb
Ability: Emergency Exit
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Liquidation
- Leech Life
- Aqua Jet
- Toxic

Genesect @ Glalitite
Ability: Download
Shiny: Yes
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Frustration
- U-turn
- Shift Gear

Zapdos @ Sablenite
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Defog
- Volt Switch

PokePaste
http://pokepast.es/50504d0b254721aa

Replays

http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmega-603493507 vs ADF Test's Stall
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmega-603483355 vs Jeran's Marshadow Stall
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmega-603498399 vs OM Room's Offense
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmega-603535493 vs iLlama
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmega-603152566 Marshadow Destroying Balance
More to come soon

Shoutouts

OM Lads
Fardin, Catalystic, Quantum Tesseract, Racool, Dream Eater Gengar, GL Volkner, ADF Test, dusk raimon, Chloe. [Noob]

Monotype Lads
iLlama, terrors, Izaya, Torkool, Tyke, Waszap, TheAveng92R, Sam Crowe, Vodoom, xRoy, Eien, zugubu royale, Trichotomy, Execute, KevinELF, CheezusBleezus, Prosaic, Hys, Arlaxeon, Carnies Vengance, Config, Sandman VILIX, Temperarious, p1ccolo, xTech, Seo., MiyoKa, Jo' Z, truedrew, GotCookies
So for those of you whom I forgot to tag!
Catalystic

Also All of The Littleroot Lotads, Den of Thieves and Imperium Lads. I would have tagged all you but I'm lazy and you can't get mass tags from me anyway.

 

[Hammerhead96]

Hey man, I really like the team! It's really solid and I don't have too much to suggest other than possibly looking at pinsirite genesect>glalitite. I honetly believe that it is much better than a glalitite variant, the only possible advantage over it being living an extreemespeed from pinsirite zygarde and ohko'ing it in return. The boost from STAB on top of the aerialte just makes it so much better of an option than glalitite, also allowing to be a check to oposing marshaows as well. I also like running a really nice mixed set with genesect, running extreme speed, blaze kick, techno blast and bug buzz, though it's not necessary for you to run that. But to show you the difference, let's take a look at some calcs.

+1 128 SpA Aerilate Genesect Techno Blast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Groudon-Primal: 249-294 (61.7 - 72.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
as opposed to glalitite:
+1 252 Atk Refrigerate Genesect Frustration vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Groudon: 163-192 (40.4 - 47.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
This is probably the biggest threat you'll face when trying to sweep, and even at +2 attack:
+2 252 Atk Refrigerate Genesect Frustration vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Groudon: 217-256 (53.8 - 63.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
you're STILL doing less than techno blast. here are some other things to consider:
+1 128 SpA Aerilate Genesect Techno Blast vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Arceus-Fairy: 276-325 (62.3 - 73.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
and this is the return damage:
0 SpA Pixie Plate Arceus-Fairy Judgment vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Genesect: 135-159 (47.7 - 56.1%) -- 82.4% chance to 2HKO
Doesn't come close to ohking. This set can help you beat those bulky fairy's without too much problem. The only downside is that your weakness to pinsirite zygarde is worse. You don't even need steel coverage against fairies since techno blast deals more damage in spite of that.
Here's two sets I suggest:

Mixed sweeper:
Genesect @ Pinsirite
Ability: Download
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 128 Atk / 128 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Blaze Kick/Gunk Shot
- Techno Blast
- Ice Beam/ Bug Buzz

Ice beam is for that all important ice coverage you mentioned, while bug buzz is for strong stab that can allow it to 1v1 bulky psychics such as sablenite cresselia. Blaze kick is for steel coverage which it needs desperately, while gunk shot can be used to take down spdef bulky fairies. And here's the other set:

Physical set-up sweeper:

Genesect @ Pinsirite
Ability: Download
Shiny: Yes
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Iron Head
- Frustration
- Shift Gear

To be real with you, U-turn just doesn't work on this mon, if you're going to set up, then run with it. Switching into a spDef bulky pokemon and then shift gearing is probably going to win you the match, as an extreme speed has a small chance of ohking pinsirte zygarde after SR.

Other than that, your team is really solid, and I like it a lot. Thanks for reading this, and congrats on making top ten with this team!

 

[QT]

Hey man, I really like the team! It's really solid and I don't have too much to suggest other than possibly looking at pinsirite genesect>glalitite. I honetly believe that it is much better than a glalitite variant, the only possible advantage over it being living an extreemespeed from pinsirite zygarde and ohko'ing it in return. The boost from STAB on top of the aerialte just makes it so much better of an option than glalitite, also allowing to be a check to oposing marshaows as well. I also like running a really nice mixed set with genesect, running extreme speed, blaze kick, techno blast and bug buzz, though it's not necessary for you to run that. But to show you the difference, let's take a look at some calcs.

+1 128 SpA Aerilate Genesect Techno Blast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Groudon-Primal: 249-294 (61.7 - 72.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
as opposed to glalitite:
+1 252 Atk Refrigerate Genesect Frustration vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Groudon: 163-192 (40.4 - 47.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
This is probably the biggest threat you'll face when trying to sweep, and even at +2 attack:
+2 252 Atk Refrigerate Genesect Frustration vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Groudon: 217-256 (53.8 - 63.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
you're STILL doing less than techno blast. here are some other things to consider:
+1 128 SpA Aerilate Genesect Techno Blast vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Arceus-Fairy: 276-325 (62.3 - 73.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
and this is the return damage:
0 SpA Pixie Plate Arceus-Fairy Judgment vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Genesect: 135-159 (47.7 - 56.1%) -- 82.4% chance to 2HKO
Doesn't come close to ohking. This set can help you beat those bulky fairy's without too much problem. The only downside is that your weakness to pinsirite zygarde is worse. You don't even need steel coverage against fairies since techno blast deals more damage in spite of that.
Here's two sets I suggest:

Mixed sweeper:
Genesect @ Pinsirite
Ability: Download
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 128 Atk / 128 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Blaze Kick/Gunk Shot
- Techno Blast
- Ice Beam/ Bug Buzz

Ice beam is for that all important ice coverage you mentioned, while bug buzz is for strong stab that can allow it to 1v1 bulky psychics such as sablenite cresselia. Blaze kick is for steel coverage which it needs desperately, while gunk shot can be used to take down spdef bulky fairies. And here's the other set:

Physical set-up sweeper:

Genesect @ Pinsirite
Ability: Download
Shiny: Yes
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Iron Head
- Frustration
- Shift Gear

To be real with you, U-turn just doesn't work on this mon, if you're going to set up, then run with it. Switching into a spDef bulky pokemon and then shift gearing is probably going to win you the match, as an extreme speed has a small chance of ohking pinsirte zygarde after SR.

Other than that, your team is really solid, and I like it a lot. Thanks for reading this, and congrats on making top ten with this team!

While I agree that he could probably stand to swap to pinsirite, Pinsirite Genesect (and also glalilite if he doesnt change it) isn't viable without uturn; you should always be running it. The other three moves should be some combination of espeed, explosion, techno blast, and fire coverage.