uploaded -tondas
[OVERVIEW]
Musharna serves as one of the most reliable answers in PU to Fighting-types such as Gurdurr and non-Toxic Hitmonchan thanks to its typing, great bulk, and access to reliable recovery in Moonlight while also being a decent answer to Victreebel and Eelektross. Musharna is also the only viable user of Future Sight in PU, offering massive levels of wallbreaking support to its teammates by setting up situations where the opponent is unable to switch to their checks to Musharna's teammates without taking a huge amount of damage. Healing Wish also allows Musharna to greatly support its teammates by restoring a wincon later in the match, allowing them to play more aggressively early-game, while also pairing well with Future Sight by potentially offering a teammate a free switch in to take advantage of it. Musharna can also viably run Calm Mind sets in order to serve as a late-game sweeper itself while still providing a strong answer to Fighting-types during the earlier stages of a match. Musharna can also forgo its defensive utility to act as a dangerous setup sweeper with a Calm Mind + Barrier set, allowing it to set up on strong physical attackers such as Stoutland, make itself harder to revenge kill, and prevent itself from being Toxic stalled via Rest. This set can also utilize Stored Power to act as a dangerous stallbreaker by breaking through Pyukumuku and more immediately threaten more offensive teams. Musharna is, however, held back by its low Speed, which usually forces it to take a hit before it is able to heal itself or attack, and the low PP of Moonlight, which limits the number of times it can switch in per battle, especially when entry hazards are present. Also, while Musharna's bulk is good, it falls short against targets such as Stoutland and Aggron. Musharna's typing gives it an unfortunate weakness to Dark-types such as Absol and Skuntank, which are capable of Pursuit trapping it and completely walling Stored Power versions of its Barrier set.
[SET]
name: Future Sight
move 1: Future Sight
move 2: Dazzling Gleam
move 3: Moonlight
move 4: Healing Wish
item: Psychium Z / Colbur Berry
ability: Synchronize
nature: Modest
evs: 128 HP / 252 SpA / 36 SpD / 92 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Future Sight helps to overwhelm defensive checks to Musharna's teammates by combining with other attacks two turns later and generate momentum by forcing in Pokemon that resist it. Dazzling Gleam allows Musharna to hit Dark-type Pokemon such as Skuntank, Absol, and Alolan Persian, OHKOing the latter two, preventing them from easily Pursuit trapping Musharna or using it as setup bait. Healing Wish allows Musharna to sacrifice itself to fully restore a teammate and cure it of status, offering it another chance to sweep or break through the opposing team.
Set Details
========
128 HP EVs allow Musharna to avoid a 2HKO from Gurdurr's Knock Off after damage from Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes, while 92 Speed EVs allow Musharna to outspeed Gurdurr. Maximum Special Attack ensures that Musharna hits as hard as possible, letting it OHKO Gurdurr with Future Sight and 2HKO Gurdurr with Dazzling Gleam. Psychium Z turns Future Sight into a powerful Shattered Psyche once per match, allowing Musharna to immediately threaten Pokemon such as Mudsdale, Eelektross, Lanturn, and Victreebel, as well as OHKOing Pokemon such as Carracosta and Omastar, preventing them from using Musharna as setup bait and swapping out before Future Sight hits them. It also allows Musharna to beat Audino, which would otherwise wall it, with Shattered Psyche followed by Future Sight. Colbur Berry is an alternative option if another Pokemon is holiding a Z-Crystal, allowing Musharna to stay in against Alolan Persian and Choice Band Absol and remove them with Dazzling Gleam and offering a one-time damage reduction when switching out against Pursuit users such as Absol and Skuntank. Synchronize is the ability of choice, allowing Musharna to punish Pokemon such as Oricorio-E, Mudsdale, and Regirock for using Toxic against it.
Usage Tips
========
Musharna should aim to use Future Sight to help break down the opposing team by combining it with other attacks to overwhelm their Pokemon, due to it allowing two attacks to hit in a single turn. This can also help Musharna's team gain momentum from the opponent swapping to Psychic switch-ins such as Ferroseed and Skuntank in order to absorb the Future Sight hit. Due to its Psychic typing and decent physical bulk, Musharna acts as a strong Fighting-type check and should be brought in on Pokemon such as Hitmonchan and Gurdurr. It can also punish Primeape for locking into a move other than U-turn, but swapping Musharna into Primeape directly is risky due to said U-turn. As a Psychic-type, Musharna is weak to Pursuit trapping from Dark-type Pokemon such as Absol and Skuntank. If predicting the opponent to swap to Absol, it is often wiser to use Dazzling Gleam, as it will OHKO Absol; however, it is advisable to double switch if expecting Skuntank instead, as Dazzling Gleam does not 2HKO it. If Musharna is running a Colbur Berry, however, it can afford to stay in and can also beat Alolan Persian one-on-one. Musharna should prioritize staying healthy and conserving Moonlight PP in matchups where it is needed to check Pokemon such as Gurdurr due to it easily being worn down by chip damage from entry hazards and status.
If running Psychium Z, Musharna should prioritize using Shattered Psyche against targets that would otherwise use it as setup bait such as Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G, as the move is capable of KOing them after Stealth Rock damage even if they have used Calm Mind. Other setup sweepers such as Carracosta and Turtonator are capable of using Shell Smash against Musharna, attacking once, and then either switching out before Future Sight hits or claiming a second KO and fainting, which Shattered Psyche can prevent. In matchups lacking these sort of Pokemon, or if Musharna's teammates adequately deal with them, Musharna can instead aim to use Shattered Psyche to remove Pokemon that might be problematic for its team such as Victreebel and Mudsdale. Musharna should avoid using Healing Wish until it is necessary in order to win the match by fully restoring a wincon such as Kangaskhan or Gurdurr. Healing Wish is particularly valuable when used directly after Future Sight, as it offers the recipient Pokemon a free switch in on the turn that Future Sight hits, granting valuable momentum for Musharna's team. If Musharna is no longer necessary, has run out of Moonlight PP, or cannot find opportunities to heal itself anymore, it can be brought in against status users such as Mudsdale and Regirock on a predicted use of Toxic to cripple them via Synchronize.
Team Options
========
Musharna fits mainly on bulky offense teams, where it acts as a strong Fighting-type check and can help its teammates break through the opposing team thanks to Future Sight. Entry hazards have great synergy with Future Sight, punishing the enemy for switching in Psychic-resistant Pokemon such as Metang and Skuntank on the turn that Future Sight hits. Stealth Rock users such as Mudsdale and Regirock fit nicely, helping to deal with Skuntank, which is one of Musharna's best checks, although Mudsdale must watch out for Acid Spray variants. They also help to deal with strong physical attackers that can overwhelm Musharna such as Choice Band Dodrio and Stoutland. Spikes setters such as Qwilfish and Ferroseed appreciate Musharna's ability to switch in on Psychic- and Fighting-type attacks from Pokemon such as Claydol and Gurdurr. Musharna can also act as a Knock Off sponge for Ferroseed, which does not appreciate losing its Eviolite.
Kangaskhan pairs well with Future Sight Musharna, as Fake Out allows it to make opposing Pokemon flinch on the turn Future Sight hits. Future Sight also helps to punish common switch-ins to Kangaskhan such as Mudsdale, which is KOed by the combination of Double-Edge and Future Sight after one layer of Spikes; Regirock, which is 2HKOed by Earthquake after taking damage from Future Sight; and Gurdurr. Kangaskhan also greatly appreciates Musharna's Healing Wish due to the recoil damage from Double-Edge. Fighting-types such as Primeape, Hitmonchan, and Gurdurr punish Dark-types such as Absol and Skuntank for swapping in to absorb the Future Sight hit. In return, Future Sight helps them break past physically bulky Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Tangela, Poison-types such as Qwilfish and Victreebel, and Flying-types such as Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G. Hitmonchan can also provide entry hazard removal via Rapid Spin, while Gurdurr greatly appreciates the Healing Wish support provided by Musharna, giving it a second chance to sweep. Physical Skuntank sets can Pursuit trap consistent Future Sight switch-ins such as Bronzor and Metang, Ghost-types that can threaten Musharna such as Haunter, offensive Jellicent, and Oricorio-G, opposing Musharna with Calm Mind that may attempt to set up against Musharna, and threats that try to avoid getting hit by Future Sight. Skuntank also appreciates Future Sight hitting its switch-ins such as Regirock and Mudsdale and Musharna's ability to pivot into Fighting-types such as Gurdurr. Cryogonal and Alolan Sandslash can also offer Rapid Spin support to Musharna's team and appreciate Musharna being able to swap into Fighting-types such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan. In return, Cryogonal can help beat Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G, which can freely set up on Musharna with Calm Mind if Musharna isn't running or has expended Psychium Z.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Moonlight
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Dazzling Gleam
item: Fairium Z / Colbur Berry
ability: Synchronize
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind allows Musharna to take advantage of its great bulk and good matchup versus Pokemon such as Gurdurr, Victreebel, and Cryogonal to set up and break through opposing teams. Moonlight provides Musharna with consistent recovery, allowing it to serve as a more consistent check to Pokemon such as Gurdurr, Kangaskhan, and Victreebel throughout the match. Dazzling Gleam allows Musharna to hit Dark-types such as Skuntank and Absol, which would otherwise wall and Pursuit trap it.
Set Details
========
Maximum Defense and HP investment with a Bold nature allows Musharna to take on physical attackers as well as possible, avoiding a 2HKO from Kangaskhan's Double-Edge and an OHKO from +2 Lycanroc's Splintered Stormshards. Fairium Z allows Musharna to use a more powerful Twinkle Tackle capable of OHKOing Absol, Sableye, and Alolan Persian without chip damage or Calm Mind boosts. It also allows Musharna to take less damage from Knock Off from Pokemon such as Gurdurr, prevents Pokemon such as Rotom-F from using Trick to cripple it with a Choice Scarf, and allows Musharna to deal with Skuntank better, having a chance to OHKO Skuntank at +1 after Stealth Rock damage. A Colbur Berry can be run instead if another Pokemon is using a Z-Crystal to allow +1 Musharna to survive +2 Black Hole Eclipse from Alolan Persian and Choice Band-boosted Knock Off from Absol while giving Musharna a one-time buffer against Pursuit users such as Absol and Skuntank. Synchronize allows Musharna to punish Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Claydol for using Toxic against it.
Usage Tips
========
Calm Mind Musharna will often struggle early-game to break teams featuring Pokemon such as Bronzor, Metang, and Clefairy, due to their ability to Toxic stall Musharna without repercussions from Synchronize; Clefairy can also use Calm Mind itself to PP stall Musharna. Early- and mid-game, Musharna should instead be used to check Pokemon such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan for its teammates if necessary; however, it should be wary of switching in too often due to the low PP of Moonlight, especially when entry hazards are present. Musharna should avoid setting up on Pokemon that carry Toxic such as Mudsdale and Regirock if possible, as it will need multiple turns to break through such Pokemon due to its low initial power. However, Synchronize will poison them back, which Musharna's teammates can potentially take advantage of. Furthermore, if Musharna's team features a cleric, Musharna can more freely do this. Musharna should also avoid trying to set up in hail due to the reduced healing from Moonlight. Musharna should instead prioritize setting up on targets such as Cryogonal, non-Toxic Hitmonchan, and Primeape that have already locked into a move due to their low damage output versus Musharna. If defensive checks to Musharna such as Metang and Toxic Audino or offensive checks such as Stoutland are still present, however, it is wiser for Musharna to either double switch, heal itself with Moonlight, or directly attack on the switch.
If Musharna is running Fairium Z, it should prioritize using Twinkle Tackle against Pokemon such as Absol and Skuntank, as these Pokemon can otherwise Pursuit trap Musharna or cripple it with Choice Band-boosted Dark-type moves. The Z-Move allows Musharna to OHKO Absol without a Calm Mind boost and have a decent chance to OHKO Skuntank after one Calm Mind boost. If Musharna is instead running a Colbur Berry, Musharna can use it as an opportunity to stay in against Absol, although against Skuntank, it is wiser to use the Berry to reduce the damage from potential Pursuit while switching out unless Skuntank has been significantly chipped, as +1 Dazzling Gleam only 3HKOes Skuntank.
Team Options
========
Musharna fits mainly on balance teams that appreciate its ability to serve as a Fighting-type check, secondary answer to Pokemon such as Kangaskhan and Victreebel, and late-game wincon with Calm Mind. Entry hazard setters such as Regirock and Metang help check strong physical wallbreakers that Musharna can't deal with such as Dodrio and Stoutland, while Metang can also pressure Skuntank with Earthquake. Regirock can also help deal with Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G, which can use Calm Mind against Musharna and beat it if Musharna has spent some PP on its attacking moves earlier in the match. In return, Musharna is able to switch into and counter Gurdurr. Alolan Sandslash is able to provide entry hazard removal and help against hail teams, which Calm Mind Musharna struggles against due to its passivity and low Speed, its reduced healing from Moonlight during hail, and its inability to hit opposing Alolan Sandslash hard. In return, Musharna provides Alolan Sandslash with a strong Fighting-type answer, patching up the latter's weakness to Pokemon such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan.
Clerics make good partners for Musharna, as being poisoned can severely limit its effectiveness by putting it on a timer, and cleric support can allow it to potentially make use of Synchronize against multiple Pokemon in a single battle. Lurantis can help break through Pokemon such as Audino and Metang, which can Toxic stall Musharna while taking very little from any of Musharna's attacks. In return, Musharna helps Lurantis deal with Victreebel and Articuno. Lurantis can also provide entry hazard removal with Defog if the role compression is necessary. Lanturn is another option for a Heal Bell user that can help beat non-Taunt Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G while providing momentum for its team with Volt Switch, helping to bring Musharna in on Pokemon such as Hitmonchan. In return, Musharna can help deal with Pokemon such as Gurdurr, Kangaskhan, and Victreebel.
Pokemon such as Gurdurr and Jellicent can help break through Steel-types such as Metang, Ferroseed, and Alolan Sandslash. In return, Musharna is able to check Victreebel and help break Sableye for Gurdurr. Strong wallbreakers such as Stoutland help break the opposing team and Musharna walls such as Audino early-game so that Musharna can act as a late-game wincon. In return, Musharna is able to swap into Pokemon that may attempt to revenge kill Stoutland such as Primeape and Kangaskhan, although it must watch out for U-turn from Primeape. Fighting-types such as Gurdurr and Combusken can help to break the bulky Steel-types that Musharna struggles to break through like Ferroseed, Metang, and Bronzor. Gurdurr, in particular, can remove Eviolite from these Pokemon and hit the latter two super effectively with Knock Off while taking advantage of status such as Toxic poison due to Guts.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind + Barrier
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Barrier
move 3: Rest
move 4: Dazzling Gleam / Stored Power
item: Leftovers
ability: Synchronize
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dazzling Gleam offers Musharna a reliable attack that no Pokemon are immune to and OHKOes threatening Dark-types such as Absol and Alolan Persian after a Calm Mind boost. Stored Power is an option over Dazzling Gleam that allows Musharna to capitalize on its stat boosts to hit much harder and break through Pyukumuku and Calm Mind Clefairy, allowing it to serve as an effective stallbreaker against teams lacking Sableye. The move, however, leaves Musharna unable to harm Dark-type Pokemon such as Absol and Skuntank, which can Pursuit trap it or set up on it with Swords Dance.
Set Details
========
Leftovers offers Musharna a form of passive recovery, making it harder to wear down, allowing it easier setup opportunities, and making it need to use Rest less often. Synchronize is Musharna's ability of choice, allowing it to punish Pokemon that attempt to use Toxic on it such as Regirock and Mudsdale.
Usage Tips
========
Musharna is capable of setting up with Barrier against strong physical attackers such as Choice Band Stoutland and Dodrio and subsequently walling them. However, as Musharna will usually be forced to use Rest after doing this, it is better to try setting up on weaker Pokemon such as Hitmonchan or Pokemon such as Primeape and Stoutland Choice-locked into non-super effective moves in order to preserve HP. This is especially wise when strong special attackers such as Choice Specs Drampa and Aurorus are still present, as they will force Musharna out if it has not already used Calm Mind. Musharna should avoid attempting to set up on Pokemon capable of inflicting it with passive damage from Leech Seed, such as Ferroseed and Tangela, as this will make it harder for Musharna to set up and force it to use Rest more often than it would like. Musharna should also be wary of setting up on Knock Off users such as Gurdurr if the passive recovery from Leftovers will be necessary for it to set up further.
As Musharna's only form of recovery is Rest, it should avoid taking unnecessary chip damage to make sure it can set up later in the match. Rest allows Musharna to break through bulkier teams reliant on Toxic stalling it with Pokemon such as Metang and Clefairy; however, you should be wary of the momentum loss created when it uses Rest, especially if it does not already have a significant number of boosts, as it will offer free turns for Pokemon such as Omastar and Zangoose to set up, break through it, and greatly threaten the rest of Musharna's team. Taunt users such as Oricorio-E, Jellicent, and Oricorio-G are capable of preventing Musharna from setting up or healing itself, and after they use Taunt, they can Toxic stall it, hit it with super effective coverage, or switch to a teammate that can break Musharna once it can't boost its defenses anymore. If Musharna has already boosted multiple times, however, it can greatly threaten them with Stored Power; therefore, it is vital that Musharna not reveal its set too early to prevent these Pokemon from immediately switching in to use Taunt on it. If Musharna is running Stored Power, it should avoid setting up when Dark-type Pokemon are present to prevent them from Pursuit trapping or setting up on it. If Musharna is running Dazzling Gleam instead, it should still be wary of Dark-type Pokemon, as it needs a Calm Mind boost to OHKO Pokemon such as Absol and Alolan Persian, while Choice Band Absol is capable of OHKOing Musharna with Knock Off if it hasn't used Barrier, and Alolan Persian is capable of OHKOing Musharna with +2 Black Hole Eclipse after it has used Calm Mind once. Musharna should therefore avoid setting up until these Pokemon have fainted or are in KO range of Dazzling Gleam, if possible.
Team Options
========
Barrier Musharna fits on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate a solid late-game wincon with a strong matchup against offensive and defensive teams alike, due to its ability to quickly boost its defenses while being able to utilize Rest to prevent itself from being Toxic stalled. Teammates that can punish Pursuit trappers and other Dark-types are essential for Musharna, especially if it is running Stored Power. Bulkier setup sweepers such as Carracosta, Gurdurr, and Torterra can punish Pokemon such as Choice Band Absol and Skuntank for locking into Pursuit as well as set up on physical Defog Skuntank sets. If Musharna is running Dazzling Gleam, teammates that can deal with opposing Calm Mind users such as Oricorio-E, Oricorio-G, and Clefairy are essential, as these Calm Mind users wall it. Regirock is capable of beating the former two and setting Stealth Rock for Musharna's team, while offensive support Alolan Sandslash can beat Clefairy and Taunt versions of Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G, the latter two of which can beat Stored Power Musharna as well, and offer Rapid Spin support and assistance against hail teams. Strong physical wallbreakers such as Stoutland are capable of considerably weakening the opposing team so that Musharna has an easier time sweeping late-game.
If Musharna is running Dazzling Gleam, other teammates that can break stall teams are helpful, as it will be unable to break through Pokemon such as Pyukumuku, Audino, and Articuno. Taunt Oricorio-E provides a Fighting-type check, which is a role Musharna can't perform well due to its lack of Moonlight, and can break through Pyukumuku. Substitute + Toxic Kangaskhan is another good option for a stallbreaker that can beat Audino, Articuno, and Carbink, although it cannot break through Pyukumuku due to Rest. Special setup sweepers such as Alolan Raichu and Turtonator can set up with Nasty Plot and Shell Smash faster than Musharna can with Calm Mind, allowing them to break through it; strong revenge killing options such as Choice Scarf Primeape and Dodrio therefore make for valuable teammates, preventing these Pokemon from sweeping the rest of Musharna's team after using it as setup fodder. Primeape can also bring Musharna in via U-turn on Pokemon such as Mudsdale, giving it opportunities to set up. Due to Musharna being shut down by Taunt users such as Qwilfish and Jellicent, Pokemon that can beat them such as Freeze-Dry Cryogonal also make for valuable partners, although Cryogonal must watch out for physical variants of Qwilfish. Cryogonal can also offer Defog or Rapid Spin support, allowing Musharna to set up more easily, while being able to beat Calm Mind variants of Oricorio-G and Oricorio-E that also annoy Musharna if running Frost Breath. Clerics such as Lanturn can allow Musharna to use Rest for emergency recovery more freely. Lanturn can also help Musharna against Oricorio-G and non-Taunt versions of Oricorio-E while being able to pivot Musharna in on Pokemon such as Clefairy and Audino.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An alternative EV spread of 128 HP / 192 SpA / 96 SpD / 92 Spe can be run on the Future Sight set if using a Colbur Berry, allowing Musharna to survive +2 Black Hole Eclipse from Alolan Persian, but this prevents Musharna from OHKOing Alolan Persian and lowers the chance to OHKO Absol with Dazzling Gleam. Psychic can be run over Future Sight to more immediately threaten Pokemon such as Victreebel and Qwilfish, but it lacks the breaking power that Future Sight offers when combined with other attacks. Hidden Power Fire can be run instead of Healing Wish on the Future Sight set to help break past Ferroseed and Alolan Sandslash, but the utility offered by Healing Wish is more valuable in general. Psyshock can be run on the Calm Mind set instead of Psychic, allowing Musharna to beat other Calm Mind users such as Clefairy and Oricorio-G while doing more damage to specially defensive Pokemon such as Audino. It does considerably less damage to Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Regirock, however, letting them Toxic stall Musharna more freely. Heal Bell can also be run on the Calm Mind set instead of Psychic, allowing Musharna to beat Pokemon that would otherwise beat it by Toxic stalling it, such as Audino and Metang, and allowing it to freely set up on Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Regirock. This, however, greatly reduces Musharna's offensive presence, making it unable to threaten Pokemon attempting to swap in such as Stoutland as much. Heal Bell can also be run with Normalium Z to allow Musharna to fully heal itself once while removing status at the same time and to more reliably heal itself under the effects of hail. Musharna can run an offensive Trick Room set with Psychic, Dazzling Gleam and Healing Wish, while holding Psychium Z. While this set has a nice matchup versus faster offensive teams and can make Musharna harder to revenge kill while Trick Room is active, it lacks the wallbreaking support the Future Sight set offers its team and the ability to break through bulkier Pokemon with recovery such as Torterra that the Calm Mind set offers.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Absol and Skuntank are able to Pursuit trap all Musharna variants and threaten it with powerful Choice Band-boosted Dark-type moves. Alolan Persian and Swords Dance variants of Absol are also able to freely set up on Stored Power variants of Musharna's Barrier set, which cannot touch Dark-types, and Dazzling Gleam variants that are asleep, while also being able to survive an unboosted attack from Musharna's Calm Mind set if necessary and OHKO it at +2 after Stealth Rock damage at even if Musharna is holding a Colbur Berry. Skuntank in particular is very threatening to all Musharna sets, as it does not take super effective damage from Dazzling Gleam. Absol and Alolan Persian must watch out for Dazzling Gleam from the Future Sight set, however, especially if Musharna is running Colbur Berry, as the move is capable of OHKOing both after Stealth Rock damage.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-type Pokemon such as Oricorio-G and Choice Specs Jellicent are able to greatly pressure Musharna with their super effective STAB moves. Oricorio-G in particular is able to use Taunt on Musharna and set up on it with Calm Mind. Taunt variants of Jellicent are also capable of shutting down Musharna's Calm Mind sets, while Choice Specs Jellicent is capable of 2HKOing Musharna even after a Calm Mind boost. Haunter is also capable of revenge killing Musharna, but it struggles to come in directly due to its frailty and Psychic weakness. Furthermore, none of these Pokemon are capable of switching into the Future Sight set freely.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users such as Oricorio-E and Qwilfish are able to pressure Musharna by preventing it from recovering its HP or setting up with Calm Mind. Qwilfish has to be wary of Psychic-type STAB moves, however, although it can use Destiny Bond to force Musharna to KO itself if Musharna is already under the effects of Taunt, while Oricorio-E has to watch out for Shattered Psyche and must be mindful of using Toxic against Musharna due to Synchronize.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Bronzor and Audino are capable of walling non-Stored Power variants of Musharna, Toxic stalling it without fear of Synchronize due to their Steel typing or access to Heal Bell and Regenerator. Audino must, however, watch out for the combination of Future Sight and Shattered Psyche, which will KO it after Stealth Rock damage and has a respectable chance to KO it from full health. Also, due to the passivity of these Pokemon, Musharna's teammates can take advantage of Future Sight; either the move can force them out and potentially KO one of their teammates, or they are forced to stay in to absorb the Future Sight hit while taking considerable damage or using Protect in Audino's case, potentially offering a free setup opportunity to Musharna's teammates.
**Residual Damage**: Due to Musharna potentially needing to switch into Pokemon such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan multiple times throughout a match and the low PP of Moonlight, Musharna is especially vulnerable to residual damage from entry hazards and status, forcing it to regularly heal instead of attacking, and limiting its longevity. This is especially noticeable on the Future Sight set, which needs to regularly switch in and out to fully take advantage of Future Sight. Musharna also heavily suffers from the effects of hail, which reduces the amount of health recovered from Moonlight.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Estarossa, 461329]]
- Quality checked by: [[gum, 434150], [TONE, 213583], [yogi, 252106]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
[OVERVIEW]
Musharna serves as one of the most reliable answers in PU to Fighting-types such as Gurdurr and non-Toxic Hitmonchan thanks to its typing, great bulk, and access to reliable recovery in Moonlight while also being a decent answer to Victreebel and Eelektross. Musharna is also the only viable user of Future Sight in PU, offering massive levels of wallbreaking support to its teammates by setting up situations where the opponent is unable to switch to their checks to Musharna's teammates without taking a huge amount of damage. Healing Wish also allows Musharna to greatly support its teammates by restoring a wincon later in the match, allowing them to play more aggressively early-game, while also pairing well with Future Sight by potentially offering a teammate a free switch in to take advantage of it. Musharna can also viably run Calm Mind sets in order to serve as a late-game sweeper itself while still providing a strong answer to Fighting-types during the earlier stages of a match. Musharna can also forgo its defensive utility to act as a dangerous setup sweeper with a Calm Mind + Barrier set, allowing it to set up on strong physical attackers such as Stoutland, make itself harder to revenge kill, and prevent itself from being Toxic stalled via Rest. This set can also utilize Stored Power to act as a dangerous stallbreaker by breaking through Pyukumuku and more immediately threaten more offensive teams. Musharna is, however, held back by its low Speed, which usually forces it to take a hit before it is able to heal itself or attack, and the low PP of Moonlight, which limits the number of times it can switch in per battle, especially when entry hazards are present. Also, while Musharna's bulk is good, it falls short against targets such as Stoutland and Aggron. Musharna's typing gives it an unfortunate weakness to Dark-types such as Absol and Skuntank, which are capable of Pursuit trapping it and completely walling Stored Power versions of its Barrier set.
[SET]
name: Future Sight
move 1: Future Sight
move 2: Dazzling Gleam
move 3: Moonlight
move 4: Healing Wish
item: Psychium Z / Colbur Berry
ability: Synchronize
nature: Modest
evs: 128 HP / 252 SpA / 36 SpD / 92 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Future Sight helps to overwhelm defensive checks to Musharna's teammates by combining with other attacks two turns later and generate momentum by forcing in Pokemon that resist it. Dazzling Gleam allows Musharna to hit Dark-type Pokemon such as Skuntank, Absol, and Alolan Persian, OHKOing the latter two, preventing them from easily Pursuit trapping Musharna or using it as setup bait. Healing Wish allows Musharna to sacrifice itself to fully restore a teammate and cure it of status, offering it another chance to sweep or break through the opposing team.
Set Details
========
128 HP EVs allow Musharna to avoid a 2HKO from Gurdurr's Knock Off after damage from Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes, while 92 Speed EVs allow Musharna to outspeed Gurdurr. Maximum Special Attack ensures that Musharna hits as hard as possible, letting it OHKO Gurdurr with Future Sight and 2HKO Gurdurr with Dazzling Gleam. Psychium Z turns Future Sight into a powerful Shattered Psyche once per match, allowing Musharna to immediately threaten Pokemon such as Mudsdale, Eelektross, Lanturn, and Victreebel, as well as OHKOing Pokemon such as Carracosta and Omastar, preventing them from using Musharna as setup bait and swapping out before Future Sight hits them. It also allows Musharna to beat Audino, which would otherwise wall it, with Shattered Psyche followed by Future Sight. Colbur Berry is an alternative option if another Pokemon is holiding a Z-Crystal, allowing Musharna to stay in against Alolan Persian and Choice Band Absol and remove them with Dazzling Gleam and offering a one-time damage reduction when switching out against Pursuit users such as Absol and Skuntank. Synchronize is the ability of choice, allowing Musharna to punish Pokemon such as Oricorio-E, Mudsdale, and Regirock for using Toxic against it.
Usage Tips
========
Musharna should aim to use Future Sight to help break down the opposing team by combining it with other attacks to overwhelm their Pokemon, due to it allowing two attacks to hit in a single turn. This can also help Musharna's team gain momentum from the opponent swapping to Psychic switch-ins such as Ferroseed and Skuntank in order to absorb the Future Sight hit. Due to its Psychic typing and decent physical bulk, Musharna acts as a strong Fighting-type check and should be brought in on Pokemon such as Hitmonchan and Gurdurr. It can also punish Primeape for locking into a move other than U-turn, but swapping Musharna into Primeape directly is risky due to said U-turn. As a Psychic-type, Musharna is weak to Pursuit trapping from Dark-type Pokemon such as Absol and Skuntank. If predicting the opponent to swap to Absol, it is often wiser to use Dazzling Gleam, as it will OHKO Absol; however, it is advisable to double switch if expecting Skuntank instead, as Dazzling Gleam does not 2HKO it. If Musharna is running a Colbur Berry, however, it can afford to stay in and can also beat Alolan Persian one-on-one. Musharna should prioritize staying healthy and conserving Moonlight PP in matchups where it is needed to check Pokemon such as Gurdurr due to it easily being worn down by chip damage from entry hazards and status.
If running Psychium Z, Musharna should prioritize using Shattered Psyche against targets that would otherwise use it as setup bait such as Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G, as the move is capable of KOing them after Stealth Rock damage even if they have used Calm Mind. Other setup sweepers such as Carracosta and Turtonator are capable of using Shell Smash against Musharna, attacking once, and then either switching out before Future Sight hits or claiming a second KO and fainting, which Shattered Psyche can prevent. In matchups lacking these sort of Pokemon, or if Musharna's teammates adequately deal with them, Musharna can instead aim to use Shattered Psyche to remove Pokemon that might be problematic for its team such as Victreebel and Mudsdale. Musharna should avoid using Healing Wish until it is necessary in order to win the match by fully restoring a wincon such as Kangaskhan or Gurdurr. Healing Wish is particularly valuable when used directly after Future Sight, as it offers the recipient Pokemon a free switch in on the turn that Future Sight hits, granting valuable momentum for Musharna's team. If Musharna is no longer necessary, has run out of Moonlight PP, or cannot find opportunities to heal itself anymore, it can be brought in against status users such as Mudsdale and Regirock on a predicted use of Toxic to cripple them via Synchronize.
Team Options
========
Musharna fits mainly on bulky offense teams, where it acts as a strong Fighting-type check and can help its teammates break through the opposing team thanks to Future Sight. Entry hazards have great synergy with Future Sight, punishing the enemy for switching in Psychic-resistant Pokemon such as Metang and Skuntank on the turn that Future Sight hits. Stealth Rock users such as Mudsdale and Regirock fit nicely, helping to deal with Skuntank, which is one of Musharna's best checks, although Mudsdale must watch out for Acid Spray variants. They also help to deal with strong physical attackers that can overwhelm Musharna such as Choice Band Dodrio and Stoutland. Spikes setters such as Qwilfish and Ferroseed appreciate Musharna's ability to switch in on Psychic- and Fighting-type attacks from Pokemon such as Claydol and Gurdurr. Musharna can also act as a Knock Off sponge for Ferroseed, which does not appreciate losing its Eviolite.
Kangaskhan pairs well with Future Sight Musharna, as Fake Out allows it to make opposing Pokemon flinch on the turn Future Sight hits. Future Sight also helps to punish common switch-ins to Kangaskhan such as Mudsdale, which is KOed by the combination of Double-Edge and Future Sight after one layer of Spikes; Regirock, which is 2HKOed by Earthquake after taking damage from Future Sight; and Gurdurr. Kangaskhan also greatly appreciates Musharna's Healing Wish due to the recoil damage from Double-Edge. Fighting-types such as Primeape, Hitmonchan, and Gurdurr punish Dark-types such as Absol and Skuntank for swapping in to absorb the Future Sight hit. In return, Future Sight helps them break past physically bulky Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Tangela, Poison-types such as Qwilfish and Victreebel, and Flying-types such as Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G. Hitmonchan can also provide entry hazard removal via Rapid Spin, while Gurdurr greatly appreciates the Healing Wish support provided by Musharna, giving it a second chance to sweep. Physical Skuntank sets can Pursuit trap consistent Future Sight switch-ins such as Bronzor and Metang, Ghost-types that can threaten Musharna such as Haunter, offensive Jellicent, and Oricorio-G, opposing Musharna with Calm Mind that may attempt to set up against Musharna, and threats that try to avoid getting hit by Future Sight. Skuntank also appreciates Future Sight hitting its switch-ins such as Regirock and Mudsdale and Musharna's ability to pivot into Fighting-types such as Gurdurr. Cryogonal and Alolan Sandslash can also offer Rapid Spin support to Musharna's team and appreciate Musharna being able to swap into Fighting-types such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan. In return, Cryogonal can help beat Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G, which can freely set up on Musharna with Calm Mind if Musharna isn't running or has expended Psychium Z.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Moonlight
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Dazzling Gleam
item: Fairium Z / Colbur Berry
ability: Synchronize
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind allows Musharna to take advantage of its great bulk and good matchup versus Pokemon such as Gurdurr, Victreebel, and Cryogonal to set up and break through opposing teams. Moonlight provides Musharna with consistent recovery, allowing it to serve as a more consistent check to Pokemon such as Gurdurr, Kangaskhan, and Victreebel throughout the match. Dazzling Gleam allows Musharna to hit Dark-types such as Skuntank and Absol, which would otherwise wall and Pursuit trap it.
Set Details
========
Maximum Defense and HP investment with a Bold nature allows Musharna to take on physical attackers as well as possible, avoiding a 2HKO from Kangaskhan's Double-Edge and an OHKO from +2 Lycanroc's Splintered Stormshards. Fairium Z allows Musharna to use a more powerful Twinkle Tackle capable of OHKOing Absol, Sableye, and Alolan Persian without chip damage or Calm Mind boosts. It also allows Musharna to take less damage from Knock Off from Pokemon such as Gurdurr, prevents Pokemon such as Rotom-F from using Trick to cripple it with a Choice Scarf, and allows Musharna to deal with Skuntank better, having a chance to OHKO Skuntank at +1 after Stealth Rock damage. A Colbur Berry can be run instead if another Pokemon is using a Z-Crystal to allow +1 Musharna to survive +2 Black Hole Eclipse from Alolan Persian and Choice Band-boosted Knock Off from Absol while giving Musharna a one-time buffer against Pursuit users such as Absol and Skuntank. Synchronize allows Musharna to punish Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Claydol for using Toxic against it.
Usage Tips
========
Calm Mind Musharna will often struggle early-game to break teams featuring Pokemon such as Bronzor, Metang, and Clefairy, due to their ability to Toxic stall Musharna without repercussions from Synchronize; Clefairy can also use Calm Mind itself to PP stall Musharna. Early- and mid-game, Musharna should instead be used to check Pokemon such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan for its teammates if necessary; however, it should be wary of switching in too often due to the low PP of Moonlight, especially when entry hazards are present. Musharna should avoid setting up on Pokemon that carry Toxic such as Mudsdale and Regirock if possible, as it will need multiple turns to break through such Pokemon due to its low initial power. However, Synchronize will poison them back, which Musharna's teammates can potentially take advantage of. Furthermore, if Musharna's team features a cleric, Musharna can more freely do this. Musharna should also avoid trying to set up in hail due to the reduced healing from Moonlight. Musharna should instead prioritize setting up on targets such as Cryogonal, non-Toxic Hitmonchan, and Primeape that have already locked into a move due to their low damage output versus Musharna. If defensive checks to Musharna such as Metang and Toxic Audino or offensive checks such as Stoutland are still present, however, it is wiser for Musharna to either double switch, heal itself with Moonlight, or directly attack on the switch.
If Musharna is running Fairium Z, it should prioritize using Twinkle Tackle against Pokemon such as Absol and Skuntank, as these Pokemon can otherwise Pursuit trap Musharna or cripple it with Choice Band-boosted Dark-type moves. The Z-Move allows Musharna to OHKO Absol without a Calm Mind boost and have a decent chance to OHKO Skuntank after one Calm Mind boost. If Musharna is instead running a Colbur Berry, Musharna can use it as an opportunity to stay in against Absol, although against Skuntank, it is wiser to use the Berry to reduce the damage from potential Pursuit while switching out unless Skuntank has been significantly chipped, as +1 Dazzling Gleam only 3HKOes Skuntank.
Team Options
========
Musharna fits mainly on balance teams that appreciate its ability to serve as a Fighting-type check, secondary answer to Pokemon such as Kangaskhan and Victreebel, and late-game wincon with Calm Mind. Entry hazard setters such as Regirock and Metang help check strong physical wallbreakers that Musharna can't deal with such as Dodrio and Stoutland, while Metang can also pressure Skuntank with Earthquake. Regirock can also help deal with Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G, which can use Calm Mind against Musharna and beat it if Musharna has spent some PP on its attacking moves earlier in the match. In return, Musharna is able to switch into and counter Gurdurr. Alolan Sandslash is able to provide entry hazard removal and help against hail teams, which Calm Mind Musharna struggles against due to its passivity and low Speed, its reduced healing from Moonlight during hail, and its inability to hit opposing Alolan Sandslash hard. In return, Musharna provides Alolan Sandslash with a strong Fighting-type answer, patching up the latter's weakness to Pokemon such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan.
Clerics make good partners for Musharna, as being poisoned can severely limit its effectiveness by putting it on a timer, and cleric support can allow it to potentially make use of Synchronize against multiple Pokemon in a single battle. Lurantis can help break through Pokemon such as Audino and Metang, which can Toxic stall Musharna while taking very little from any of Musharna's attacks. In return, Musharna helps Lurantis deal with Victreebel and Articuno. Lurantis can also provide entry hazard removal with Defog if the role compression is necessary. Lanturn is another option for a Heal Bell user that can help beat non-Taunt Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G while providing momentum for its team with Volt Switch, helping to bring Musharna in on Pokemon such as Hitmonchan. In return, Musharna can help deal with Pokemon such as Gurdurr, Kangaskhan, and Victreebel.
Pokemon such as Gurdurr and Jellicent can help break through Steel-types such as Metang, Ferroseed, and Alolan Sandslash. In return, Musharna is able to check Victreebel and help break Sableye for Gurdurr. Strong wallbreakers such as Stoutland help break the opposing team and Musharna walls such as Audino early-game so that Musharna can act as a late-game wincon. In return, Musharna is able to swap into Pokemon that may attempt to revenge kill Stoutland such as Primeape and Kangaskhan, although it must watch out for U-turn from Primeape. Fighting-types such as Gurdurr and Combusken can help to break the bulky Steel-types that Musharna struggles to break through like Ferroseed, Metang, and Bronzor. Gurdurr, in particular, can remove Eviolite from these Pokemon and hit the latter two super effectively with Knock Off while taking advantage of status such as Toxic poison due to Guts.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind + Barrier
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Barrier
move 3: Rest
move 4: Dazzling Gleam / Stored Power
item: Leftovers
ability: Synchronize
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dazzling Gleam offers Musharna a reliable attack that no Pokemon are immune to and OHKOes threatening Dark-types such as Absol and Alolan Persian after a Calm Mind boost. Stored Power is an option over Dazzling Gleam that allows Musharna to capitalize on its stat boosts to hit much harder and break through Pyukumuku and Calm Mind Clefairy, allowing it to serve as an effective stallbreaker against teams lacking Sableye. The move, however, leaves Musharna unable to harm Dark-type Pokemon such as Absol and Skuntank, which can Pursuit trap it or set up on it with Swords Dance.
Set Details
========
Leftovers offers Musharna a form of passive recovery, making it harder to wear down, allowing it easier setup opportunities, and making it need to use Rest less often. Synchronize is Musharna's ability of choice, allowing it to punish Pokemon that attempt to use Toxic on it such as Regirock and Mudsdale.
Usage Tips
========
Musharna is capable of setting up with Barrier against strong physical attackers such as Choice Band Stoutland and Dodrio and subsequently walling them. However, as Musharna will usually be forced to use Rest after doing this, it is better to try setting up on weaker Pokemon such as Hitmonchan or Pokemon such as Primeape and Stoutland Choice-locked into non-super effective moves in order to preserve HP. This is especially wise when strong special attackers such as Choice Specs Drampa and Aurorus are still present, as they will force Musharna out if it has not already used Calm Mind. Musharna should avoid attempting to set up on Pokemon capable of inflicting it with passive damage from Leech Seed, such as Ferroseed and Tangela, as this will make it harder for Musharna to set up and force it to use Rest more often than it would like. Musharna should also be wary of setting up on Knock Off users such as Gurdurr if the passive recovery from Leftovers will be necessary for it to set up further.
As Musharna's only form of recovery is Rest, it should avoid taking unnecessary chip damage to make sure it can set up later in the match. Rest allows Musharna to break through bulkier teams reliant on Toxic stalling it with Pokemon such as Metang and Clefairy; however, you should be wary of the momentum loss created when it uses Rest, especially if it does not already have a significant number of boosts, as it will offer free turns for Pokemon such as Omastar and Zangoose to set up, break through it, and greatly threaten the rest of Musharna's team. Taunt users such as Oricorio-E, Jellicent, and Oricorio-G are capable of preventing Musharna from setting up or healing itself, and after they use Taunt, they can Toxic stall it, hit it with super effective coverage, or switch to a teammate that can break Musharna once it can't boost its defenses anymore. If Musharna has already boosted multiple times, however, it can greatly threaten them with Stored Power; therefore, it is vital that Musharna not reveal its set too early to prevent these Pokemon from immediately switching in to use Taunt on it. If Musharna is running Stored Power, it should avoid setting up when Dark-type Pokemon are present to prevent them from Pursuit trapping or setting up on it. If Musharna is running Dazzling Gleam instead, it should still be wary of Dark-type Pokemon, as it needs a Calm Mind boost to OHKO Pokemon such as Absol and Alolan Persian, while Choice Band Absol is capable of OHKOing Musharna with Knock Off if it hasn't used Barrier, and Alolan Persian is capable of OHKOing Musharna with +2 Black Hole Eclipse after it has used Calm Mind once. Musharna should therefore avoid setting up until these Pokemon have fainted or are in KO range of Dazzling Gleam, if possible.
Team Options
========
Barrier Musharna fits on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate a solid late-game wincon with a strong matchup against offensive and defensive teams alike, due to its ability to quickly boost its defenses while being able to utilize Rest to prevent itself from being Toxic stalled. Teammates that can punish Pursuit trappers and other Dark-types are essential for Musharna, especially if it is running Stored Power. Bulkier setup sweepers such as Carracosta, Gurdurr, and Torterra can punish Pokemon such as Choice Band Absol and Skuntank for locking into Pursuit as well as set up on physical Defog Skuntank sets. If Musharna is running Dazzling Gleam, teammates that can deal with opposing Calm Mind users such as Oricorio-E, Oricorio-G, and Clefairy are essential, as these Calm Mind users wall it. Regirock is capable of beating the former two and setting Stealth Rock for Musharna's team, while offensive support Alolan Sandslash can beat Clefairy and Taunt versions of Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G, the latter two of which can beat Stored Power Musharna as well, and offer Rapid Spin support and assistance against hail teams. Strong physical wallbreakers such as Stoutland are capable of considerably weakening the opposing team so that Musharna has an easier time sweeping late-game.
If Musharna is running Dazzling Gleam, other teammates that can break stall teams are helpful, as it will be unable to break through Pokemon such as Pyukumuku, Audino, and Articuno. Taunt Oricorio-E provides a Fighting-type check, which is a role Musharna can't perform well due to its lack of Moonlight, and can break through Pyukumuku. Substitute + Toxic Kangaskhan is another good option for a stallbreaker that can beat Audino, Articuno, and Carbink, although it cannot break through Pyukumuku due to Rest. Special setup sweepers such as Alolan Raichu and Turtonator can set up with Nasty Plot and Shell Smash faster than Musharna can with Calm Mind, allowing them to break through it; strong revenge killing options such as Choice Scarf Primeape and Dodrio therefore make for valuable teammates, preventing these Pokemon from sweeping the rest of Musharna's team after using it as setup fodder. Primeape can also bring Musharna in via U-turn on Pokemon such as Mudsdale, giving it opportunities to set up. Due to Musharna being shut down by Taunt users such as Qwilfish and Jellicent, Pokemon that can beat them such as Freeze-Dry Cryogonal also make for valuable partners, although Cryogonal must watch out for physical variants of Qwilfish. Cryogonal can also offer Defog or Rapid Spin support, allowing Musharna to set up more easily, while being able to beat Calm Mind variants of Oricorio-G and Oricorio-E that also annoy Musharna if running Frost Breath. Clerics such as Lanturn can allow Musharna to use Rest for emergency recovery more freely. Lanturn can also help Musharna against Oricorio-G and non-Taunt versions of Oricorio-E while being able to pivot Musharna in on Pokemon such as Clefairy and Audino.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An alternative EV spread of 128 HP / 192 SpA / 96 SpD / 92 Spe can be run on the Future Sight set if using a Colbur Berry, allowing Musharna to survive +2 Black Hole Eclipse from Alolan Persian, but this prevents Musharna from OHKOing Alolan Persian and lowers the chance to OHKO Absol with Dazzling Gleam. Psychic can be run over Future Sight to more immediately threaten Pokemon such as Victreebel and Qwilfish, but it lacks the breaking power that Future Sight offers when combined with other attacks. Hidden Power Fire can be run instead of Healing Wish on the Future Sight set to help break past Ferroseed and Alolan Sandslash, but the utility offered by Healing Wish is more valuable in general. Psyshock can be run on the Calm Mind set instead of Psychic, allowing Musharna to beat other Calm Mind users such as Clefairy and Oricorio-G while doing more damage to specially defensive Pokemon such as Audino. It does considerably less damage to Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Regirock, however, letting them Toxic stall Musharna more freely. Heal Bell can also be run on the Calm Mind set instead of Psychic, allowing Musharna to beat Pokemon that would otherwise beat it by Toxic stalling it, such as Audino and Metang, and allowing it to freely set up on Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Regirock. This, however, greatly reduces Musharna's offensive presence, making it unable to threaten Pokemon attempting to swap in such as Stoutland as much. Heal Bell can also be run with Normalium Z to allow Musharna to fully heal itself once while removing status at the same time and to more reliably heal itself under the effects of hail. Musharna can run an offensive Trick Room set with Psychic, Dazzling Gleam and Healing Wish, while holding Psychium Z. While this set has a nice matchup versus faster offensive teams and can make Musharna harder to revenge kill while Trick Room is active, it lacks the wallbreaking support the Future Sight set offers its team and the ability to break through bulkier Pokemon with recovery such as Torterra that the Calm Mind set offers.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Absol and Skuntank are able to Pursuit trap all Musharna variants and threaten it with powerful Choice Band-boosted Dark-type moves. Alolan Persian and Swords Dance variants of Absol are also able to freely set up on Stored Power variants of Musharna's Barrier set, which cannot touch Dark-types, and Dazzling Gleam variants that are asleep, while also being able to survive an unboosted attack from Musharna's Calm Mind set if necessary and OHKO it at +2 after Stealth Rock damage at even if Musharna is holding a Colbur Berry. Skuntank in particular is very threatening to all Musharna sets, as it does not take super effective damage from Dazzling Gleam. Absol and Alolan Persian must watch out for Dazzling Gleam from the Future Sight set, however, especially if Musharna is running Colbur Berry, as the move is capable of OHKOing both after Stealth Rock damage.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-type Pokemon such as Oricorio-G and Choice Specs Jellicent are able to greatly pressure Musharna with their super effective STAB moves. Oricorio-G in particular is able to use Taunt on Musharna and set up on it with Calm Mind. Taunt variants of Jellicent are also capable of shutting down Musharna's Calm Mind sets, while Choice Specs Jellicent is capable of 2HKOing Musharna even after a Calm Mind boost. Haunter is also capable of revenge killing Musharna, but it struggles to come in directly due to its frailty and Psychic weakness. Furthermore, none of these Pokemon are capable of switching into the Future Sight set freely.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users such as Oricorio-E and Qwilfish are able to pressure Musharna by preventing it from recovering its HP or setting up with Calm Mind. Qwilfish has to be wary of Psychic-type STAB moves, however, although it can use Destiny Bond to force Musharna to KO itself if Musharna is already under the effects of Taunt, while Oricorio-E has to watch out for Shattered Psyche and must be mindful of using Toxic against Musharna due to Synchronize.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Bronzor and Audino are capable of walling non-Stored Power variants of Musharna, Toxic stalling it without fear of Synchronize due to their Steel typing or access to Heal Bell and Regenerator. Audino must, however, watch out for the combination of Future Sight and Shattered Psyche, which will KO it after Stealth Rock damage and has a respectable chance to KO it from full health. Also, due to the passivity of these Pokemon, Musharna's teammates can take advantage of Future Sight; either the move can force them out and potentially KO one of their teammates, or they are forced to stay in to absorb the Future Sight hit while taking considerable damage or using Protect in Audino's case, potentially offering a free setup opportunity to Musharna's teammates.
**Residual Damage**: Due to Musharna potentially needing to switch into Pokemon such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan multiple times throughout a match and the low PP of Moonlight, Musharna is especially vulnerable to residual damage from entry hazards and status, forcing it to regularly heal instead of attacking, and limiting its longevity. This is especially noticeable on the Future Sight set, which needs to regularly switch in and out to fully take advantage of Future Sight. Musharna also heavily suffers from the effects of hail, which reduces the amount of health recovered from Moonlight.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Estarossa, 461329]]
- Quality checked by: [[gum, 434150], [TONE, 213583], [yogi, 252106]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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