PARTNER BUILD GUIDE

Marshadow build: Fighting melee and Ghost coverage

Start Marshadow with Karate Chop, then add Shadow Ball and Harden through two earned Bonds. The result mixes physical Fighting strikes with special Ghost projectiles instead of treating both attacks as the same damage category.

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Marshadow
Karate Chop
Default starting move
2
Bonds for the planned group
3
Moves in the finished group
Unlock first
Partner availability

Moves, damage categories and recipes

These pieces form the target group. Evolutions and fusions are earned during the run, rather than assumed at the opening.

MoveType and categoryEvolutionRun card
Karate ChopFighting · PhysicalClose CombatPower
Shadow BallGhost · SpecialPhantom ForceReflexes
HardenNormal · SupportNo evolutionNo recipe required

Each evolving attack needs level 5, its required run card and its own gold evolution choice. When two recipes share a card, one obtained card can meet both prerequisites; it does not automatically evolve both attacks.

Check all move evolution recipes →

From the opening to the completed group

  1. Start with the real opening: Karate Chop

    Keep Karate Chop active and improve its ability to clear enemies before searching for every support piece.

    This route assumes you already own Marshadow. Check its Alola collection before planning the run.

  2. Develop the attacks and their recipes

    Karate Chop → Close Combat (Power); Shadow Ball → Phantom Force (Reflexes).

    Prioritize the attack handling your current pressure. Permanent upgrades and held items do not replace the evolution card obtained in that run.

  3. Form the group with 2 earned Bonds

    Karate Chop + Shadow Ball + Harden.

    Join Karate Chop and Shadow Ball with the first Bond. Add each remaining move with another Bond. Keep that group selected: separate slots do not attack simultaneously.

Positioning and combat decisions

Approach the edge of a group rather than walking into its center. Use the ranged component to maintain pressure across open ground while leaving enough space for the melee attack and your next dodge.

The main tradeoff

Marshadow’s physical multiplier is higher than its special multiplier. Shadow Ball adds coverage, not equal scaling. Normal targets heavily reduce Ghost damage, while Ghost targets heavily reduce Fighting damage.

One held item: compare the benefit

IF FOUND

Leftovers

Recovers 1.5% of HP per second.

ALTERNATIVE

Shell Bell

Recovers health through damage dealt.

Leftovers gives recovery independent of landed attacks. Shell Bell ties recovery to damage dealt, so its usefulness falls when resistant targets or poor positioning reduce your hits.

Items are found in chests and from defeated bosses. You can hold only one; finding an alternative means choosing between them, and the recommended drop is not guaranteed.

Base stats and permanent upgrades

110
Base HP
×1.39
Physical Attack
×1.20
Special Attack
130
Base movement speed

These are game base values before account upgrades and run cards. They are not a DPS measurement and do not include target defenses, type matchups or actual landed hits.

  • Permanent upgrades belong to each Pokémon; investing in another partner does not strengthen this one.
  • Strength and Vitality help damage and health; Reflexes and Stride support frequency and movement. Prioritize the problem limiting your next attempt.
  • Ban and Card reroll can shape offers, but do not guarantee a particular card sequence.
Separate permanent upgrades from run effects →

Marshadow build questions

Which move does Marshadow start with?

Its default opening is Karate Chop. The Starting move upgrade can change a configured opening; this guide describes the default.

How many Bonds does this build need?

2 to combine the 3 planned moves in one group. You can play before completing it, but only the selected slot is active.

Which cards unlock its evolutions?

Power, Reflexes. Each attack must reach level 5 and receive its own gold offer. The support moves in this route do not evolve.

Game data & sources

Sprites: PMD SpriteCollab · CC BY-NC 4.0.

PUT THE BASICS INTO PRACTICE

Ready for your next run?

Choose a partner and put what you have learned into practice.

Open the game