One of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's most bizarre new mons has played an unexpected role within Gen 9's competitive meta. Maushold has seen a rise and fall across Pokemon Scarlet and Violet VGC Series 1 and Series 2, playing a variety of roles on competitors' teams. However, while it initially saw use as an offensive threat with its signature move Population Bomb, shifts in the recent meta surrounding the introduction of Paradox Pokemon have seen Maushold used less as an offensive mon and more as a supporter.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Maushold was not a mon that many expected to be competitively viable with a base stat total of 470 and a strange gimmick centered on it being made up of 3 to 4 individual creatures. In the first VGC series, Maushold was able to carve out a place in the meta due to the lack of availability of many more powerful options like Paradox Pokemon. However, now that these stronger monsters have risen to the top of competitive usage, Maushold users have had to adapt resulting in the critter being used in a completely different role within the current Pokemon Scarlet and Violet VGC Series 2 meta.
Maushold Has Been a Surprisingly Versatile Competitive Mon
The initial usage of Maushold took advantage of its signature move, Population Bomb, which had extremely high damage potential with the chance to deal 20 base damage up to ten times in a single attack. Combined with Maushold's Hidden Ability Technician granting the move another 50% of its base damage, and a Wide Lens as a held item to ensure the move hit as many times as possible, the family of mice suddenly became a power physical sweeper. It also could deal with entry hazards like Spikes and Stealth Rock with its move Tidy Up, giving it a diverse skill set.
However, Maushold saw a decline in usage going into VGC Series 2 with Paradox Pokemon available for trainers to use. Mons like Iron Hands, Great Tusk, and Roaring Moon were better physical attackers and more capable of taking hits from Maushold, making it mostly obsolete. Despite this reduced presence in the initial meta for Series 2, Maushold has started to make a comeback by redefining its role in the meta to one of a support mon that can help more powerful attackers deal with common walls.
Instead of taking advantage of Population Bomb as a physical attacker, Maushold users now take advantage of its Ability Friend Guard to reduce the damage done to their teammates in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet VGC's Double Battle format. Additionally, Maushold can help prevent teammates from being affected by Spore, a common move used by opposing Amoonguss to neutralize offensive threats. Using Follow Me to direct all opposing attacks to itself while holding Safety Goggles, Maushold can force Amoonguss to target it with Spores and render it useless with its held item.
Another way Maushold can be used as a support mon is to power up certain offense-oriented team members who gain buffs when hit with moves. Annilhilape's Rage Fist increases in power each time it is hit by an attack, meaning Maushold can use a move like Beat Up on its ally to hit multiple times for minimal damage, boosting the power of Rage Fist in the process. Armarouge can also benefit from being hit with Beat Up from Maushold with its Hidden Ability Weak Armor lowering its Defense one stage but raising its Speed two stages each time its hit by an attack, and a Weakness Policy held item boosting its Special Attack at the same time.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.
