Maushold is the format’s specialist. Its only standout move is Population Bomb (Normal-type, multi-hit), but with Loaded Dice and Technician boost, it lands 4-5 hits at 30 effective base power per hit — a 120-150 BP single-target attack that also breaks every Focus Sash, multi-hit shield, and Substitute on the way through.
Why it’s foundational
Population Bomb’s mechanics are unusual. The base move has 90% accuracy and hits 1-10 times at 20 BP per hit, which sounds risky — but Loaded Dice (the item) locks the multi-hit count to 4 or 5 hits when the move lands, and Technician (Maushold-Four’s hidden ability) raises ≤60 BP moves by 50%. The result: 4-5 hits at 30 BP each, totaling 120-150 BP of damage that breaks every shield-style mechanic (Focus Sash, Sturdy, Substitute) in a single turn.
Friend Guard does the rest. Maushold’s regular ability reduces partner damage by 25% — passive support that’s particularly strong when paired with slow Trick Room sweepers or Mega-Evolved attackers that need a turn to come online.
Common sets
- Loaded Dice attacker (most common, Maushold-Four variant) — Population Bomb, Tidy Up, Bite, ProtectProtectmoveA move that makes the user immune to all moves for one turn. Fails if used consecutively.Click to read more →. Loaded Dice mandatory. Adamant nature with full Speed and Attack investment. Technician ability.
- Friend Guard support — Population Bomb, Beat Up, Encore, Helping HandHelping HandmoveA +5 priority move that boosts the partner's next move by 1.5× — doubles-only support that amplifies damage without attacking.Click to read more →. Focus Sash. Friend Guard ability for 25% partner damage reduction. Less offensive but supports slow sweepers.
- Choice Band Tidy Up — Tidy Up, Population Bomb, Bite, Endeavor. Tidy Up boosts Speed and Attack while clearing screens; locks Maushold into damage but post-Tidy-Up Population Bomb can two-shot most non-Ghost threats.
Common partners
- Tinkaton — Wide Guard support. Tinkaton blocks opposing spread moves like Earthquake and Rock Slide, which would otherwise OHKO Maushold’s 74/70 physical bulk.
- HattereneHatterenepokemonMagic Bounce setter and Trick Room anchor. Reflects status, sets terrain, and powers slow attackers under reversed Speed.Click to read more → — Trick RoomTrick RoomstrategyFor 5 turns, slower Pokémon move first. Reverses the entire speed game — a strategy that builds teams around very slow attackers.Click to read more → anchor. Maushold’s 111 Speed becomes reverse-fast under TR, which lets Population Bomb fire before opposing priority moves can play around it.
- Sand teams — Tyranitar’s Sand StreamSand StreamabilityAn ability that summons permanent sandstorm on entry, dealing 1/16 HP chip to non-Rock/Ground/Steel types each turn.Click to read more → chips Maushold’s targets while Friend Guard chip-protects Maushold’s slow sand abusers; the puzzle-piece pipeline flagged sand + Maushold as one of the highest-win-rate substitution finds.
What beats it
Ghost-type Pokémon are immune to Population Bomb (Normal-type doesn’t hit Ghost), turning Maushold’s primary attack into a wasted move. Dragapult is the cleanest answer — it outspeeds Maushold pre-Tailwind (142 vs 111) and OHKOs with Phantom Force or Shadow Ball. Strong physical attackers also exploit the 50/70 defenses; GarchompGarchomppokemonThe premier spread attacker under Tailwind. Earthquake hits both opponents, Scale Shot chains Speed boosts, and Dragon Claw threatens opposing dragons.Click to read more → Earthquake and VolcaronaVolcaronapokemonThe format's most explosive special setup sweeper. One Quiver Dance turns its 135 Special Attack into a wallbreaker that outspeeds the field.Click to read more → Heat Wave both threaten clean two-shots. Status (Will-O-Wisp, Burn) halves Maushold’s Attack and roughly halves Population Bomb’s damage output.