maschiff
Generation IX · #0942 — Rascal Pokémon
Maschiff is a Dark-type Pokémon introduced in Generation IX, holding the National Pokédex number 942. Known as the Rascal Pokémon, Maschiff presents an interesting dichotomy between its intimidating appearance and its surprisingly non-threatening demeanor. Despite its constant scowl and aggressive posture, even young children find themselves laughing at its facial expressions rather than being frightened by them. This small quadrupedal canine Pokémon stands only 0.5 meters tall and weighs a modest 16.0 kilograms, making it one of the more compact Dark-type options available to trainers. With a base stat total of 340, Maschiff serves as an excellent starting point for those seeking a Dark-type companion that will grow into the more formidable Mabosstiff upon reaching level 30.
Base Stats
Height
0.5m
Weight
16.0kg
Category
Rascal Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
brown
Shape
quadruped
Abilities
Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.
Ensures success fleeing from wild battles.
This Pokémon's moves have double power against Pokémon that switched in this turn.
Maschiff Biology & Physical Characteristics
Maschiff is a brown, quadrupedal canine Pokémon with distinctly canine features that emphasize both its defensive capabilities and its peculiar appearance. Its body is covered in thick brown fur with a darker gray snout and underside, protecting a layer of thick fat beneath the skin that serves as excellent defense against incoming attacks. The Pokémon possesses yellow tufts of fur that form a crest-like appearance on its head and back, complemented by a long, yellow, brushy tail that adds to its somewhat disheveled look. Its most distinctive features include droopy triangular ears with yellow insides, small black beady eyes set beneath two prominent protuberances on its forehead that give it a perpetually anxious expression, and a large mouth containing strong jaws and sharp fangs capable of crushing boulders with ease. Each of its paws features four distinct toes, and despite its somewhat comical appearance, Maschiff's physical construction is genuinely formidable—its well-developed jaw and powerful bite force make it a capable physical threat in combat situations.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Maschiff Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Maschiff exhibits a perfectly balanced gender ratio of 50% male to 50% female, making it equally viable for breeders regardless of which gender they happen to encounter. The species belongs to the Field Egg Group, which encompasses a wide variety of terrestrial Pokémon and allows for diverse breeding combinations with other compatible species. With a base friendship value of 50, Maschiff begins with a neutral relationship toward its trainer that can be improved through care and bonding, making it receptive to training despite its initially gruff demeanor. The incubation period for Maschiff eggs is relatively moderate, requiring 20 egg cycles—equivalent to approximately 4,884 to 5,140 steps—to hatch into a new Maschiff. This moderate hatch time, combined with the species' medium-slow growth rate, means that trainers investing in breeding Maschiff can expect a reasonable timeline for developing competitive specimens.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm01
black white
tm01
black 2 white 2
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm01
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm01
x y
tm02
crystal
tm02
gold silver
tm02
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm03
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm05
ruby sapphire
tm05
emerald
tm05
gold silver
tm05
crystal
tm05
diamond pearl
tm05
black white
tm05
platinum
tm05
heartgold soulsilver
tm05
firered leafgreen
tm05
black 2 white 2
tm05
omega ruby alpha sapphire
+295 more TMs/HMs
Maschiff Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Maschiff evolves into Mabosstiff when it reaches level 30, a transformation that represents a significant power increase across most of its base statistics. This evolution marks the transition from a small, somewhat comedic Rascal Pokémon into a more imposing and serious Dark-type threat. While Maschiff's base stat total of 340 is respectable for a base form, Mabosstiff receives substantial boosts that transform it into a formidable physical attacker with enhanced defenses, making the level 30 evolution threshold a pivotal moment in any trainer's journey with this line. The evolution also grants access to additional moves and better stat distributions that favor offensive play, allowing trainers who have bonded with their Maschiff to unlock its true potential as a capable team member for mid to late-game challenges.
Where to Find
Location data not available for this Pokémon in the database.
Maschiff Behaviour and Natural Habitat
According to Pokédex entries and lore from Pokémon Legends: Z-A, packs of Maschiff are incredibly close-knit, forming strong social bonds within their groups. The Pokémon's behavior is characterized by its constant attempt to appear threatening through an exaggerated scowl and intimidating posture, yet this display of aggression proves highly ineffective even against young children, who find its grimace amusing rather than frightening. This contrast between intention and effect defines much of Maschiff's personality—it desperately wants to be taken seriously but lacks the natural presence to command respect through appearance alone. Maschiff inhabits the Paldea region and the Kitakami area in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, where it can be found in various locations throughout the landscape. The species seems to prefer environments where it can establish pack hierarchies and develop the strong social structures for which it is known, thriving in areas that support both its pack-based lifestyle and its carnivorous diet.
Pokedex Entries
It always scowls in an attempt to make opponents take it seriously, but even crying children will burst into laughter when they see Maschiff’s face.
Its well-developed jaw and fangs are strong enough to crunch through boulders, and its thick fat makes for an excellent defense.
Maschiff Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Maschiff appears to derive from a combination of linguistic elements suggesting both its mascot-like qualities and its canine nature. In Japanese, it is called Orachifu, which likely combines elements relating to its oracular or expressive face with references to its Chihuahua-like appearance. The design itself draws heavily from small dog breeds, particularly those known for their feisty personalities despite their diminutive size, while incorporating Dark-type characteristics through its coloration and demeanor. The physical exaggeration of its scowl and anxious facial features, combined with its small stature, creates a deliberately comedic contrast that reinforces its categorization as the Rascal Pokémon. This juxtaposition of intimidation attempts and inherent cuteness reflects the core concept behind Maschiff's design—a creature that tries to be formidable but ends up being endearing instead, much like a small dog barking at larger animals while possessing no real threat.
Learnable Moves
Maschiff can learn 43 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bite | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| charm | fairy | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| crunch | dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| dark pulse | dark | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| destiny bond | ghost | Status | — | — | 5 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| endeavor | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| fake tears | dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| fire fang | fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| helping hand | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| hone claws | dark | Status | — | — | 15 |
| ice fang | ice | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| jaw lock | dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| lash out | dark | Physical | 75 | 100 | 5 |
| leer | normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| lick | ghost | Physical | 30 | 100 | 30 |
| payback | dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| play rough | fairy | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| psychic fangs | psychic | Physical | 85 | 100 | 10 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| retaliate | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 |
| reversal | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| roar | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snarl | dark | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| tackle | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| taunt | dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| thief | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| thunder fang | electric | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| trailblaze | grass | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
Maschiff Competitive Battle Guide
Maschiff's competitive viability is primarily built upon its Attack stat of 78, which is respectable for an unevolved Pokémon and serves as the foundation for physical Dark-type movesets. Its base abilities provide different strategic options: Intimidate automatically lowers an opponent's Attack stat upon entry, offering immediate defensive utility and team support, while Run Away allows safe escapes from wild encounters. The hidden ability Stakeout provides a unique offensive advantage by doubling the power of Maschiff's moves against Pokémon that switched into battle that turn, potentially catching opponents off-guard. Maschiff learns a solid array of moves including Bite and Crunch for STAB Dark-type coverage, along with Headbutt, Lick, Roar, and eventually more powerful moves as it levels up. However, its relatively low Special Defense (51) and Speed (51) stats mean that Maschiff struggles against faster special attackers, making it most effective in early-game scenarios or as a breeding foundation rather than as a primary competitive threat. Trainers looking for more competitive potential should prioritize evolving Maschiff to Mabosstiff at level 30, where its stat distribution becomes significantly more threatening.
Commonly Asked Questions About Maschiff
What type is Maschiff?
Maschiff is a dark type Pokemon.
What does Maschiff evolve into?
Maschiff evolves into mabosstiff.
What are Maschiff's weaknesses?
Maschiff is weak to fighting, bug and fairy type moves.
Maschiff Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Though Maschiff is a relatively recent addition to the Pokémon franchise, introduced in Generation IX, it has already established a notable presence in fan communities through its endearing contrast between gruff appearance and comedic ineffectiveness. The Pokémon has garnered appreciation for its relatable quality—the idea of trying hard to appear intimidating while naturally coming across as approachable resonates with many trainers. Its appearance in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduced it to a new generation of players, and its evolution line has become a popular choice for trainers seeking Dark-type companions with personality and charm. Maschiff's role as the Rascal Pokémon has also made it a favorite subject for fan art and community discussions about underdog Pokémon that prove their worth through effort rather than inherent power. The species represents the franchise's continued evolution in character design, balancing competitive viability with personality-driven appeal.
Where to Find Maschiff in Every Pokémon Game
Maschiff is exclusively available in Generation IX, making its debut in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet where it can be found in the Paldea region as Pokédex entry number 196. The species is also available in the Kitakami region within the games' DLC content. With a catch rate of 150, Maschiff is relatively easy to capture compared to many other Pokémon, making it an accessible choice for trainers throughout their journey. The moderate catch rate means that a standard Poké Ball will succeed approximately 19.6% of the time when thrown at a full-health Maschiff, increasing the likelihood of successful capture compared to more elusive species. The species has also appeared in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, indicating its continued presence in the franchise's future generations. Its availability early in the regional Pokédex and its accessibility in the field make Maschiff an excellent choice for trainers who want to incorporate a Dark-type Pokémon into their team without excessive grinding or trading requirements.