What is a good moveset for Marshadow?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Marshadow, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Marshadow Pokedex & learnset for reference.

Answer 1

OMFG I have been waiting for this to appear since Gen 4
Godly typing, Godly stat distribution, along with a Godly movepool?!
This thing won't last two weeks in OU lol

Marshadow@Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 atk/ 252 spe/ 4HP
Jolly Nature
-Close Combat
-Spectral Thief
-Poison Jab/Ice Punch
-Shadow Sneak/Force Palm

Atm, I cannot think of anything that can even take on both ghost and fighting coverage together, so spectral thief and CC can be spammed in almost any situation; those are basically the only two moves you will ever need. Poison Jab and Ice punch are to target specific mons that can come in and take a hit, albeit a big one. Lando-T, Gliscor, and Bulk-chomp will not appreciate an ice punch coming from 125 atk & life orb. Poison Jab is to hurt the ever-present fairy type. Even fairies don't appreciate a spectral thief, but poison jab makes it easier to pick off the bulkier ones such as Tapu Fini. Finally, the last slot is just to provide some reliability in Force palm if you don't feel like lowering your defenses. It's basically 90 power 30% paralysis thanks to technician and is like Keldeo running scald and hydro pump, but better since these moves are more powerful and Marshadow is much faster. Shadow sneak is another option as priority has its own perks when you are this speedy(lookin at Weavile here), able to pick off low health Scizors and Tapu koko's and such without taking much damage to yourself.

GG this thing is gonna be so fun to use until it gets banned

Comments

What about Drain Punch instead of Force Palm? It doesn't get the Technician boost but lets it heal off some Life Orb damage.

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I personally prefer force palm since it's so hard to switch into

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I think Shadow Sneak is definitely mandatory, Technician STAB priority is too good to pass up with such good coverage already attained by its main STABs.

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i think a marshadium would be better than life orb

Answer 2

Already in love with this 'mon and it hasn't even been released yet. Its perks include a great offensive typing which hits every Pokemon neutrally and a terrifying amount super-effectively, as well as an incredible stat distribution that gives it amazing 125/125 physical offense and decent 90/80/90 bulk. It has the movepool to fully take advantage of this, with great STAB moves in Close Combat, Spectral Thief, Drain Punch, Force Palm, and Shadow Sneak, phenomenal coverage in Acrobatics, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Poison Jab, Stone Edge and Thunder Punch, a boosting move in Bulk Up, and even utility in Will-O-Wisp and Pursuit. Marshadow does not even suffer from the four-moveset syndrome that usually plagues Pokemon with large movepools as its STAB moves give it such amazing coverage and almost always leave two moveslots open for it to use. All of this gives it amazing versatility and unpredictability, as it will more than likely be able to run several viable sets.

Bulk Up

Marshadow @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Spectral Thief
- Will-O-Wisp / Poison Jab
Due to Marshadow's decent bulk, amazing offensive typing that leaves it with open moveslots, and great Speed that allows it to invest in bulk, Marshadow seems like a perfect candidate for Bulk Up. Leftovers give Marshadow increased longevity and allow it to boost more often instead of worrying about its HP. 136 Speed EVs and a Jolly Nature allow Marshadow to outspeed base 110s and below such as Latios, Latias, Gengar, and Mega Metagross. Attack is maxed out to give Marshadow as much power as it can get, and the rest is dumped into HP to improve its bulk. Alternatively, Marshadow can run an Adamant Nature with a spread of 84 HP / 252 Atk / 172 Spe . This gives Marshadow more immediate power while still allowing it to outspeed base 100s such as Mega Gardevoir and Mega Medicham, although it comes at the cost of bulk and Speed. Drain Punch is the Fighting type STAB of choice, as it has decent power and greatly increases Marshadow's longevity, allowing it to heal off damage sustained while boosting. Spectral Thief is Marshadow's most powerful Ghost type STAB move. Will-O-Wisp is a great utility move that allows Marshadow to support its team, as well as cripple physical attackers which aids it in setting up. Alternatively, Marshadow can run Poison Jab to hit Fairy types. This is appealing as they can quickly bring an end to Marshadow's sweep by hitting its unboosted Special Defense super-effectively, and they also resist Drain Punch, its only form of recovery.

Answer 3

Marshadow @ Normalium Z
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Laser Focus
- Spectral Thief
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge/Ice Punch

Alright, this is some heat stuff right here. Normalium Z Laser Focus makes you always crit on the next hit, and give you an attack boost. So, if your opponent switches out to something that can deal with this, you can use Z-Laser Focus to sweep the rest of their team. Marshadow is fast, too, and is your opponent is setting up, you can knock them out with Spectral theif AND steal their stat boosts, at which point you've basically won. :]

Answer 4

Marshadow @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Poltergeist
- Close Combat
- Shadow Sneak
- Toxic

So Poltergeist gives Marshadow a bit more of a power boost. Spectral Thief isn't all that useful in the current metagame, because there is no Xerneas, and the setup sweepers that are in the tier can just destroy Marshadow (such as Necro-Dusk-Mane after a speed boost). Close Combat is another STAB move, Shadow Sneak is priority, and Toxic is just to break down the few things that will actually take a hit or two from Marshadow.

Comments

i don't understand choice band toxic. would you just switch out?

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Toxic helps Marshadow to wear down defensive walls such as Xerneas. Putting its checks on a death timer would help it immensely late-game; it would be able to muscle past them easily.

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Could you do something like a Life Orb or Spell Tag, so that he is not locked into Toxic, and would have to switch to use any other moves?

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The typical use for Toxic on a set like this is for when the opponent is going to make a predictable switch to a defensive Pokemon that your STAB isn't strong against. You at least manage to poison it before you switch out. You were never going to stay in anyway, so the choice lock doesn't matter.
With all of that said, you probably achieve more by just running another coverage move.

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thanks all! very cool info :)

Answer 5

Marshadow@life orb
Ability: Technician
EVs:252 atk/ 252 spe/ 4 hp
Jolly nature
-Close combat
-Spectral their
-Shadow sneak
-Swagger

So first off, since Swagger is currently legal(May change in the future), You can run Swagger on Marshadow. Marshadow's dual Stabs hit all 802 Pokemon in the game for at least neutral damage, which gives Marshadow quite a bit of options. This is just one set that you could run with Marshadow. Close Combat is your fighting Stab, and Spectral thief is your Ghost Stab. Shadow sneak is also Stab, while it is also boosted by Technician, and has priority. Swagger is mainly here since Marshadow lacks Swords dance, and the combination of Swagger and Spectral thief is basically a damaging swords dance that leaves your opponent's Pokemon confused.
Some usage tips: Spectral thief goes through substitutes. Use this to your advantage by forcing out opponents, no matter the situation. I would recommend bringing Marshadow for revenge killing a Pokemon that has set up. This will usually force a switch, where you can then Swagger whatever comes in. Follow this up with a Spectral thief (Or a Close Combat depending on what your opponent brings in). And don't worry about Chansey. Close combat is a guaranteed OHKO with a life orb boost alone.

Comments

typoed spectral thief

Answer 6

Marshadow
Marshadow @ Marshadium Z
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Spectral Thief
- Close Combat
- Shadow Sneak

I haven’t seen anyone put his special Z-move in theirs so I have.

Comments

FINNALY A MARSHADIUM Z

Answer 7

Do U a Sneak (Marshadow) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Rolling Kick / Force Palm / Close Combat
- Spectral Thief
- Shadow Sneak
- Rock Tomb

Pretty basic Life Orb set. Shadow Sneak STAB Technician priority, Rock Tomb Technician+coverage (it's actually more accurate than Rock Slide), three Fighting STAB options depending on what you want (power or an effect - beware of Rolling Kick's accuracy though), and Spectral Thief which is absolutely broken on a lot of setup opponents.

That's my two cents. Please forgive the dank nickname, it's a habit.

Comments

+1 (Filler)

Answer 8

Marshadow @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Punch
- Spectral Thief
- Shadow Sneak
- Close Combat

Answer 9

Bulk Up Life Orb for [Gen 8] Anything Goes
Role: Wallbreaker

MarshadOwO (Marshadow) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature

• Bulk Up
• Poltergeist / Spectral Thief
• Shadow Sneak
• Close Combat / Ice Punch / Rock Tomb

Unlike in previous Generations where there was the omnipresent Arceus-Fairy and other formes to hinder Marshadow, as well as bulky Pokemon such as Primal Groudon which posed a good defensive counter to it. But, now this Generation of Galar has removed Primal Reversion and Almighty Arceus, as well as awarding Marshdaow with the 110 BP awesome Poltergeist. A Life Orb boosted Poltergeist hits almost as hard as Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike, meaning you don't need it! There's also the lack of Ultra-Necrozma which would outsped and KO Marshadow as well.

Firstly, Marshadow has a long list of coverage moves ranging from Ice Punch, Rock Tomb, Iron Head, Outrage, Poison Jab, etc etc. but, we are gonna choose the moves that give a wide range of coverage that is only required to hit AG meta-game.

Bulk Up makes Marshadow a very potent wallbreaker. It boosts its mediocre Physical Defense stat to some levels, allowing it to set-up on common defensive Pokemon like Dusk Mane Necrozma, Ho-Oh (watch for Sacred Fire miss though), etc.
Poltergeist is a strong STAB with BP 110, 2HKOing many things. Most of the Pokemon have a non-consumable item, except probably Xerneas although you KO it with Shadow Sneak after a Poltergeist. Spectral Thief is a niche option due to having very less power and failing to 2HKO Specially Defensive Eternatus.

• 252+ Atk Life Orb Marshadow Spectral Thief vs. 240 HP / 0 Def Eternatus: 214-253 (44.4 - 52.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery

On the other hand, Poltergeist is guaranteed 2HKO.

• 252+ Atk Life Orb Marshadow Poltergeist (110 BP) vs. 240 HP / 0 Def Eternatus: 261-308 (54.2 - 64%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery

Shadow Sneak is strong priority boosted by Technician, for faster targets like Calyrex-Shadow which are generally very problematic. It generally also brings Choice Scarf Kyogre's HP to the range that it can't OHKO you with Water Spout as well.

• 252+ Atk Life Orb Technician Marshadow Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Kyogre: 149-177 (43.6 - 51.9%) -- 13.3% chance to 2HKO
• 252 SpA Kyogre Water Spout (84 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Marshadow in Rain: 252-297 (78.5 - 92.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Close Combat / Ice Punch / Rock Tomb is filler. Close Combat is STAB, 2HKOes Yveltal while Ice Punch hits Zygarde hard. Rock Tomb helps against Dynamax Yveltal, along with Ho-Oh. I prefer Close Combat or Ice Punch because Zygarde is hardest to break, Ho-Oh gets 2HKOed by Poltergeist while Dynamax Yveltal is something you would never want to stay to. Note that Ice Punch needs a Bulk Up before to OHKO Zygarde.

• +1 252+ Atk Life Orb Marshadow Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 208+ Def Zygarde: 442-525 (105.2 - 125%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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That's all about this set. Marshadow's Fighting+Ghost STABs hit all the meta neutrally, as well as getting Bulk Up to act as an solid Wallbreaker. Ditto is a worry but you had to improof it well. Marshadow acts well as an Dynamax sweeper, but take care of opponent's Zacian-C that still outsped and OHKO it. Choice Band along with one filler replacing Bulk Up is also an alternative. All in all, Marshadow is really fantastic physical attacker any team would appreciate.

Hope this helps!

Answer 10

Marshadow @ Life Orb / Choice Scarf
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Spectral Thief
- Shadow Sneak
- Rock Tomb
- Close Combat

Marshadow is really great with Technician, and gets Spectral Thief which screws those Baton Passes and Speed Boosters. Shadow Sneak is great Priority move, also gets the boost of Technician, becoming more powerful. Spectral Thief is signature move and main STAB move, also stealing boosts of Swords Dance users, allowing Marshadow to sweep. Rock Tomb is reliable coverage, having a Base Power of 90 after Technician, and also deals with flying types and bug types that resist fighting moves. Close Combat is powerful STAB. Choice Scarf is an option if you feel that Shadow Sneak is not reliable and that you will be outspeed by other Scarfers and quicker attackers.

Comments

There is no good reason to run Jump Kick or Force Palm over Close Combat as its only Fighting STAB move.

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Actually JarJar some people (like me) prefer not to use close combat because it lowers stats (unless u use contrary malamar)

Answer 11

Technician Boosted Marshadow
Marshadow @ Life Orb / Focus Sash / Marshadium Z
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
- Spectral Thief
- Force Palm
- Rock Tomb
- Shadow Sneak / Shadow Punch

Spectral Thief is STAB that lets you use the Z-Move. Force Palm is Technician boosted STAB. Rock Tomb is technician boosted and covers flying. Shadow Sneak is Priority STAB while Shadow Punch is stronger STAB.

Answer 12

This is the one I use for online, and it works very well.
Marshadow @ Marshadium Z
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Impish Nature
- Force Palm
- Spectral Thief
- Rock Tomb
- Poison Jab

Impish is to give Marshadow a more even Defense stat compared to his Special Defense, because Natures count as 17 EVs. Force Palm gets the Technician boost, is STAB, and can paralyse. Rock Tomb and Poison Jab are coverage, with the former getting a Technician boost.

Answer 13

Marshadow @ Marshadium Z
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 Def
Brave Nature
- Spectral Thief
- Swagger
- Drain Punch
- Assurance

This is a strange set, but not many people will expect it. You will want to use him in Doubles with a Pokemon that is faster than him. Have the partner use a move that hits your target, then use Assurance. Not only will it get the Technician boost, but it's power will also double since the target has already been hit that turn! If your partner gets KO'd, use Swagger, which will confuse them and raise their attack by 2. You can then follow up with Spectral Thief and steal their Attack boost. Drain Punch can heal you if needed, and his Z-move can often get OHKOs. What do you think of the moveset?

Answer 14

I received a Marshadow from Wondertrade and saw a sweep like this
This is not mine it's from PIMPNITE

Marshadow @ Marshadium Z
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Spectral Thief
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Grass Knot

Spectral Thief: To steal Special Attack boosts from opponent (If you don't have Tail Glow Smeargle)
Focus Blast: STAB + 120 Base Power
Shadow Ball: STAB + Chance of dropping Special Defense
Grass Knot: Coverage
Feel free to try if you have Modest Marshadow!!!

Answer 15

Marshadow @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch / Close Combat
- Shadow Sneak / Spectral Thief
- Stone Edge
- Poison Jab

Analysis
Marshadow has a lot of options and a great typing that allows it to hit every Pokemon neutrally.

Drain Punch is STAB + it heals. Close Combat is for when you want more power for less bulk.

Shadow Sneak is boosted by Technician and STAB + it is priority. Spectral Thief is for the power and stat boosts.

Stone Edge takes care of your flying weakness + coverage.

Poison Jab takes out the fairies. Choose it over Iron Head because your fighting STAB already takes care of rock and ice.

As always, physical sweeper EVs + EVs in defense because it needs slight physical bulk.

Comments

Why Leftovers?

Answer 16

Imagine; this insane stats and typing; and that crazy-coverage moveset. Tho I haven't had a marshadow; Imma share a moveset I randomly thought off--and this answer's pretty late tho since I JUST DISCOVERED THIS SITE.

Marshadow @ Life Orb / Leftovers / Expert Belt
Ability: Technician
252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 UP
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Close Combat / Force Palm / Drain Punch
- Spectral Thief
- Ice Punch
- Stone Edge

Close Combat/Force Palm/Drain Punch - Fighting-type STAB. Covers 5 types (Rock, Ice, Steel, Dark and Normal). Close Combat if you wanna go ooga booga and don't care, Force Palm for that tasty technician boost (IF YOU ACTUALLY CARE FOR IT), Drain Punch for those tasty heals.
Spectral Thief - Setters gone dead and their stat increase stolen; and even if they're normal/dark types--Fighting-type moves does the trick, and Marshadow obviously has one. If you think you need Priority not set-up steals; use Shadow Sneak (since it's also boosted by technician.)
Ice Punch - Permafrost the ground and grass as well as make those annoying ground/flying + dragon type combo extinct.
Stone Edge - Swats all nuisance that has wings and is an effective insecticide/pesticide, with that crazy critical hit ratio.

Try using the moveset calculator; in Gen 8--there's 776 Pokemon Species/Forms (74.25% of the entire Pokedex overall) weak to it; and none can resist your glorious assaults.

If you wanna go fast use Jolly Nature; If you think you're fast enough, use Adamant. For the items, if you run Adamant; I think Leftovers could do better to survive, if you're not ooga booga and unless you use Drain Punch, Life Orb just dooms damage; though you won't last long--but I guess they won't either. And if you're crazy--use expert belt and enjoy the crunchy super-effective damage, since the moveset covers: Normal, Dark, Steel, Ice, Rock, Ghost, Psychic, Flying, Dragon, Bug and Fire; Only Electric, Water and Fairy types survive your glory lmao--and this means; almost everyone recieve a crunchy super effective hit; be wary of a Tapu Koko with Brave Bird (there's a small chance that some of them runs Acrobatics with some gimmicks; like Flying Gem), since no attacks can hit it super-effectively (Though it's not resistant), and it MIGHT outspeed you if it's running a scarf or is just perfect combo of natures, EVs and IVs; as Tapu Koko has 5 Points faster in Base Speed (though that's low, but still faster).

The EVs are self-explanatory.

I'm asking; is a Pokemon like this allowed to exist? How unfair lmao.

Comments

Rock Tomb is a better option than Stone Edge as it’s boosted by Technician also, and has a sometimes useful side effect of lowering the speed.
Plus it doesn’t go left often.

Answer 17

Gen 8 Anything Goes

I haven’t seen anyone post a Dynamax abuser Marshadow yet, so here is my set:

Marshadow @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bounce
- Close Combat
- Poltergeist
- Shadow Sneak

With one Max Airstream Marshadow can outspeed much of the metagame, and with unresisted Dual STABs it can be a fearsome wallbreaker.

Bounce has the highest Base Power as a Max Move, and is also the most useful best outside of Dynamax as a niche Dynamax staller, but you really shouldn’t be using it outside of Dynamax. Close Combat is a powerful STAB that also boosts Attack once Dynamaxed, turning Marshadow into a potential sweeper. Poltergeist is chosen over Spectral Thief as it has more regular and Max Move power, as well as not taking chip from Necrozma-DM’s Rocky Helmet. Shadow Sneak is mandatory for any Marshadow set in order to successfully check non-Focus Sash Calyrex-S.

An Adamant nature is preferred for extra power, as +1 Marshadow at Adamant is already enough to outspeed almost every single Pokemon. However, Jolly can be used instead if… honestly I don’t even know lol.

Comments

Bounce sounds awful on a Pokemon that has a really high speed tier. If you need set-up then Bulk Up makes it a strong non-Dynamax sweeper. For boosting Spe and taking advantage of Max Airstream, Dynamax Yveltal is just so much better.

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I mean, it's kinda just a gimmick set; but I don't see anything wrong with something faster than Calyrex-S, Offensive Eternatus, and Zacian-Crowned having unresisted STABs in conjunction with possible Max Knuckle boots.

Answer 18

Bulk Up variant Marshadow.

Marshadow @ Focus Sash or Fightinium-Z/Marshadium-Z
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Spectral Thief
- Drain Punch
- Shadow Sneak

Fighting and Ghost are unresisted, so just go for overwhelming power and sweep away! Bulk Up is obvious for boosting, Spectral Thief is the signature move and extremely useful, Drain Punch for STAB fighting and recovery and Technician boosted priority in Shadow Sneak for picking things off (after a boost however can KO if supereffective).

As for item choice, I prefer Focus Sash best, as it allows for a Bulk Up boost pretty much guaranteed, and also allows you to come in on a sweeper that is set up while Spectral Thief can steal the boosts! Fightinium-Z is an option for a second Atk boost while using Bulk Up OR for a nuke Fighting STAB, finally we have Marshadium-Z which by now needs no introduction, signature extremely powerful Z-move.

Answer 19

Marshadow @ Focus sash
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Impish Nature
- Spectral Thief
- Thunder Punch / Drain Punch
- Poison Jab
- Swagger

imagine free stat boost and free status problem, could I even ask for more? XD, the rest of the move are coverage for his weakness, focus sash because there is little chance that the enemy might be able to attack with swagger, and since swagger boost attack stat in 2 stages you can definitely get 1 shotted, so this will prevent it and give you time to harass your enemy with it.

Comments

did i do something wrong?

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First of all, Swagger sets are gimmicks and are always frowned upon, and easily countered. Secondly, Focus Sash is a bad item for marsh; you can do "/rfaq marshadow" in the AG room on Showdown for why. Thirdly, Drain Punch is inferior to Close Combat and Poison Jab is inferior to Ice Punch (you shouldn't be staying in on Fairies, and IP hits Zygarde hard). Lastly, Impish nature is bad for Marsh, you should go Adamant in Gen 8 and Jolly in Gen 7 and NDAG.
Hope that clarifies!

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Dude every Marshadow I have seen runs focus sash.

Answer 20

I soft resetted for a jolly one in my game. I've been testing this set in showdown and I believe this strategy is brilliant.

I'm going to name this set:

TableTurner

Marshadow @ Focus Sash
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spectral Thief (Steals buffs and signature move obvious choice)
- Force Palm (STAB, Technician boost, 30% paralysis chance)
- Shadow Sneak (priority, STAB, Technician boost reliable OHKO)
- Poison Jab/Rock Tomb (coverage, poison jab for pesky fairies and 5 more accuracy + 30% poison chance. Rock Tomb for more power from technician boost, flying coverage and speed stage decrease)

Focus sash can save you from a complete sweep of your team. You can stop a sweeper with buffs by stealing them and using the buffs against them and you don't have to worry really about other priority moves as extreme speed has no effect on you and if you are worried you can just use shadow sneak to move first and one shot them before they can mess you up.

A great set overall and much more reliable than these other sets. An upvote would be appreciated for such a great set!