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Mythical Pokemon are special Pokemon that are usually obtained only through special events. With the exception of Arceus, most of these Pokemon have a base stat total of around 600. Appearing in 2017 was the Mythical Pokemon, Marshadow. This had a Fighting/Ghost-type and could only be received as a Mystery Gift in Pokemon Sun & Moon during certain dates and times. Players looking to add to their Pokemon Sword & Shield files have a few more steps to take.
Marshadow was available worldwide through an event for Sun & Moon. It arrived at level 50 with the Technician ability. In addition, Marshadow would be holding the Marshadium Z. Getting it into Sword & Shield means transferring it from Sun & Moon, and unfortunately for some, this method requires Pokemon Bank.
Updated March 29th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: Marshadow is easily one of the most unique Pokemon to ever grace the series. Not only is it adorable, it has the unique Fighting/Ghost typing, making it a cute Pokemon that can pack a punch. Unsuspecting players may find themselves on the losing end if they underestimate this specter, thanks to its impressive Base Stats and blazing speed. Those that are curious about how to get Marshadow in Pokemon Sword and Shield can use the following guide, which has been aptly updated to now include more information about the Pokemon itself. This latest update gives players a better look at its stats, abilities, and what it's capable of.
How to Get Marshadow
For a limited time in 2017, certain retailers (such as GameStop) were giving out serial codes for people who played Sun & Moon. Each country had different distribution dates. For example, the Europe deadline was from October 1st to November 16, 2017; the US was scheduled from October 9th to October 23, 2017.
To get it, players needed to access the Mystery Gift in Sun & Moon and connect to the event. Eventually, they were asked to input their code. If done successfully, they should've been able to receive their Marshadow from the deliveryman in one of Alola's Pokemon Centers. The Marshadium Z allowed Marshadow to use its Z-Move: Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike.
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, players who traded Marshadow from Sun & Moon could get the Z-crystal from a man in Heahea City.
Transferring Marshadow to Sword and Shield
Before Marshadow can cross over from Sun & Moon, players need to have Pokemon Bank and Pokemon Home. While Pokemon Home is free, Pokemon Bank costs $5 a year. The plus side to Pokemon Bank is that players could store their Pokemon from past installments and use it to transfer them to recent titles.
Pokemon Home is free, but people can spend $16 a year to have access to all the content locked behind the premium plan. Moving Pokemon from Pokemon Bank to Pokemon Homerequires a premium membership. This will also allow them to store up to 6,000 Pokemon compared to the unpaid 30.
Place Marshadow into Pokemon Bank and access Pokemon Home through the Switch to complete the longer part of the transfer. After this, it's easy to just move Marshadow from Home into Sword or Shield.
Most likely because of Dynamax and Gigantamax, Sword & Shield does not have Z-Moves. This means Marshadow can't turn its move, Spectral Thief, into Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike.
Finally, western players that missed out on Sun & Moon's Marshadow event will not be able to get this Mythical Pokemon for the time being. With any luck, future Pokemon games will allow trainers to catch Mythical Pokemon in the wild, such as Keldeo in the Crown Tundra DLC.
A Look At Marshadow's Stats
Marshadow is a curious creature, as it doesn't possess any evolutions. That said, it's by no means a common Pokemon. The creature bears the Mythical status for a reason. Not quite Legendary, but still an anomaly within the Pokemon universe, Marshadow has a lot of potential if players wish to slot it into their team structure. In fact, it's easily one of the stronger Ghost-type Pokemon available to players thanks to its 600 Base Stat Total, and its dual Fighting typing gives it additional coverage in battle.
Here's a look at Marshadow's stats:
- HP: 90
- Attack: 125
- Special Attack: 90
- Defense: 80
- Special Defense: 90
- Speed: 125
- Total: 600
Marshadow has a lot of Speed, making it a great option for players who need to set up their strategies by going first. It will out-speed many opponents and there are ways to increase this advantage even further. It also has a solid Attack stat, which pairs well with its Fighting typing, allowing it to deal solid physical damage to its opponents. Those that treat Marshadow as a fighter will be presently surprised how well it performs, especially since its Ghost typing gives it immunities that other Pokemon don't have.
It comes loaded with the Technician ability, which will power up its weaker moves and make it an even stronger opponent for unsuspecting rivals. Players that put extra work into tuning Marshadow's EVs, as well as find one with a suitable Nature -- Jolly is great for increasing Marshadow's Speed even further at the reduction of an already low Sp Attack -- will have a quick-footed Pokemon that can punish opponents that aren't prepared to deal with its rather unique dual typing.
Overall, Marshadow is one of the most interesting Mythical Pokemon available. It's stronger than it looks, can be used in unique situations, and acts as a bit of a wild card for rivals that are unprepared to deal with its immunities and resistances. Players that can take care of its own shortcomings and boost what it already does best as a Speedy Physical Attacker can create the perfect Fighting Ghost to complement their team.
Pokemon Sword & Shield is available now on Nintendo Switch.
