TONE
I don't have to take this. I'm going for a walk.
[OVERVIEW]
Musharna is one of the best Pokemon in the tier, as it has solid bulk combined with reliable recovery thanks to Moonlight, which makes it a solid response to Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan and Gurdurr as well as other physical attackers such as Archeops and Kangaskhan. It does face competition from Mesprit as a Psychic-type, though, due to Mesprit being faster and having more coverage options at its disposal, but Musharna sets itself apart from Mesprit thanks to its higher bulk allowing it to pull off a Calm Mind set more effectively and its access to reliable recovery, which Mesprit lacks, making it a solid wincon in most situations. Musharna's low Speed forces it to take a hit before retaliating, and it can be easily worn down through the means of status as well as entry hazards while also being susceptible to Taunt from Pokemon such as Pyroar and Archeops, which prevents Musharna from using Moonlight. It can also be overwhelmed by hard-hitting Pokemon such as Zangoose and Pyroar, which can easily 2HKO Musharna with their STAB attacks.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Moonlight
move 3: Psyshock / Psychic
move 4: Dazzling Gleam
item: Fairium Z / Colbur Berry
ability: Synchronize
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind boosts Musharna's Special Attack and Special Defense, giving it some added power behind its attacks while also allowing it to take special attacks from the likes of Pyroar and Magmortar. Moonlight provides Musharna with reliable recovery, allowing it to set up more easily on weaker attacks as well as on Pokemon that can't do much damage to Musharna such as Hitmonchan. Psyshock allows Musharna to do more damage to Pokemon such as Assault Vest Magmortar and Lanturn as well as other Calm Mind users such as Clefairy and Oricorio-Ghost. Psychic can be used instead to do more damage to the likes of Weezing and Carracosta, which have a solid Defense stat. Dazzling Gleam is Musharna's only attack to hit Dark-types such as Absol and Sableye, which are immune to its Psychic-type STAB moves.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in HP and Defense along with a Bold nature fortifies Musharna's physical bulk, allowing it to take attacks from the likes of Kangaskhan more easily. Synchronize is the preferred ability, allowing Musharna to hinder Pokemon such as Regirock and Gastrodon that try to cripple it with Toxic. Fairium Z provides Musharna with a one-time 160-Base Power Twinkle Tackle that allows it to OHKO Dark-types such as Shiftry and Absol, which it couldn't do otherwise without a Calm Mind boost and some prior damage, and it is generally stronger than an unboosted Psychic, which helps if you are in need of a KO against neutral targets. Fairium Z also allows Musharna to not have its item swithed with Trick by Pokemon such as Jynx and Mesprit. Colbur Berry is an alternative item if your team already carries a Z-Move user, as it allows Musharna to take on Dark-types better and retaliate with Dazzling Gleam. Leftovers can also be run on Musharna to provide passive recovery and ease its reliance on Moonlight, though it does make Musharna weaker to Dark-types, specifically Knock Off users. Psychium Z provides a powerful STAB Shattered Psyche, but this is generally overlooked for the former two items.
Usage Tips
========
Musharna should be used to pivot in on weaker attacks from Pokemon such as Gastrodon or resisted hits from Pokemon such as Hitmonchan and proceed to attack with a STAB-boosted Psychic-type move. Be mindful of when you attempt to set up Calm Mind when Pokemon such as Skuntank are still relatively healthy, since they can prevent Musharna from sweeping. Keep Musharna as healthy as possible, as Moonlight only has 8 PP, so try to minimize the amount of times you go for Moonlight, especially when pivoting into neutral attacks from Pokemon such as Archeops and Kangashkan. Make sure Musharna is not inflicted with status, which cuts down on its longevity. It is best to set up Calm Mind late-game either when Dark-types or bulkier Pokemon that can take a hit from Musharna are weakened or eliminated by a teammate or against Pokemon that can't do much back to Musharna such as Clefairy.
Team Options
========
Fighting- and Fairy-types such as Primeape, Gurdurr, and Granbull aid Musharna in handling Dark-types that threaten it. Granbull can also provide Heal Bell support for Musharna if it has been inflicted with status. Dark-types such as Skuntank and Absol can pressure the Psychic-types that resist Musharna's STAB moves, and they also appreciate Musharna's ability to pivot into Fighting-type attacks aimed at them. Skuntank also absorbs Toxic Spikes for Musharna, which can wear it down immensely, hindering a potential sweep. Entry hazard setters such as Regirock and Ferroseed help Musharna by wearing down its switch-ins while also appreciating Musharna's resistance to Fighting-type attacks aimed at them. Hazard removal from Pokemon such as Hitmonchan, Skuntank, and Togetic helps Musharna by removing entry hazards, which is greatly appreciated because Musharna is susceptible to all of them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A set consisting of Barrier, Calm Mind, Moonlight, and Stored Power can turn Musharna into a nearly unkillable force, but this set is unable to touch Dark-types, making it harder to pull off. A similar set consisting of Barrier, Calm Mind, Moonlight, and Dazzling Gleam with Fairium Z can allow Musharna to bait in Dark-types that wall the previous set while having no drawbacks in general. Musharna also gets access to utility moves such as Heal Bell to act as a cleric while removing any status it may have acquired, Thunder Wave to cripple faster Pokemon such as Floatzel, and Toxic to wear down bulkier Pokemon such as Gastrodon, but it generally struggles to find room for these moves. Thanks to Musharna's low Speed, it can reliably run a set consisting of Trick Room, Healing Wish, Psychic, and Dazzling Gleam with maximum Special Attack investment, a Quiet nature, 0 Speed IVs, and either Life Orb, Colbur Berry, or Mental Herb as the preferred item.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Absol and Shiftry are immune to Musharna's Psychic-type STAB move and can threaten it with their respective Dark-type STAB attacks, but none of these Pokemon want to switch into a predicted Dazzling Gleam. Skuntank is the only Dark-type that is hit neutrally by Dazzling Gleam, can 2HKO Musharna with Crunch, and is able to withstand an unboosted Twinkle Tackle.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: While Musharna is very bulky on the physical side, Pokemon such as Zangoose and Stoutland can still proceed to 2HKO it, the former with Facade after its Toxic Orb has been activated and the latter with a Choice Band-boosted Return after Stealth Rock damage. Special wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Pyroar, Abomasnow, and Choice Specs Alolan Exeggutor can 2HKO Musharna with their respective STAB attacks if Musharna doesn't have a Calm Mind boost, and Abomasnow can also weaken Musharna's Moonlight thanks to hail being set up.
**Passive Damage**: Being susceptible to all forms of entry hazards can easily wear down Musharna. Status, particularly poison from Toxic and Toxic Spikes, can also put Musharna on a timer and forces it to go for Moonlight to keep itself healthy.
**Steel-types**: Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Probopass resist both Musharna's Psychic-type moves and Dazzling Gleam. Probopass can prevent Musharna from healing with Taunt or can wear it down with of Toxic.
Last edited: