You want a Marshadow. I get it. That smoky, spectral little gloom-dweller is easily one of the coolest Mythical Pokémon ever designed, but here’s the cold, hard truth: getting a Marshadow is a massive headache. It’s not like catching a Pidgey or even a legendary like Rayquaza where you can just fly to a specific spot and throw a ball.
Marshadow is a "Mythical" Pokémon. In the world of Nintendo and Game Freak, that’s code for "you can’t find this in the tall grass." It has never been available through normal gameplay in any mainline Pokémon title. Not in Sun and Moon, not in Sword and Shield, and certainly not in Scarlet and Violet.
If you see someone in a Tera Raid using one, they didn’t find it in a hidden cave. They either attended a physical event years ago, traded for it, or—and this is increasingly common—they're using a "genned" or hacked version.
The history of Marshadow distributions
Let's look at how this Pokémon actually entered the world. The first time anyone could legally get their hands on it was back in 2017. You had to physically walk into a GameStop or a Target and get a serial code for Pokémon Sun or Moon. That was it. If you missed that window, you were basically out of luck until 2020.
In 2020, during the Sword and Shield era, there was another chance, but it was messy. It was part of the "Pokémon Scrap" campaign in Japan, and later, some European retailers did a limited distribution. Fast forward to late 2022, and we saw the "Mythical22" event. This was the last major time Marshadow was officially "in the wild," distributed via codes at shops like Target in the US or GAME in the UK.
Since then? Silence.
We are currently in a drought. Game Freak tends to hold onto these Mythicals like they're national secrets. If you’re looking for a legitimate, 100% legal Marshadow right now, you aren't going to find an active mystery gift code. They have all expired. Every single one.
Is there any way to get Marshadow in Scarlet and Violet?
Short answer: No.
Longer answer: You can’t catch it in the Paldea region, the land of Kitakami, or the Blueberry Academy. It simply isn't in the game's encounter tables. However, Marshadow is compatible with the game. This means if you already own one in Pokémon HOME, you can transfer it into Scarlet or Violet.
The frustration is real. You see the empty slot in your National Dex and there's nothing you can do about it through solo play. This is the "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out) model that The Pokémon Company loves. They want you to stay subscribed to their news feeds so you don't miss the next one-month window that might not happen for another three years.
The Pokémon HOME trading gamble
If you don't have a Marshadow sitting in an old 3DS save file, your primary option is trading. But man, it’s a minefield out there.
The Pokémon HOME Global Trade System (GTS) is actually useless for this. Why? Because the GTS doesn't allow the trading of "Special Pokémon," which includes almost all Mythicals. You can search for Marshadow, see people asking for a Level 1-10 Enamorus, but you can't actually complete the trade. It’s a weird restriction that has annoyed the community for years.
To trade for a Marshadow, you have to do a "Friend Trade" in the mobile version of Pokémon HOME or a direct Link Trade in Sword/Shield or Scarlet/Violet.
- Discord Servers: Communities like r/pokemontrades are your best bet. They have strict rules against clones and hacks.
- The Price: People don't give Marshadow away for free. You’ll usually need to offer another rare Mythical (like Zarude or Celebi) or a legitimate "Shiny Legend" caught in a Premier Ball from Pokémon GO.
- The Risk: Honestly, 90% of the Marshadows floating around casual trade rooms are clones. If the Original Trainer (OT) name is a website URL, it's fake. If it has 6 perfect IVs and a "Competitive" nature but was caught in a weird year, it's probably genned.
What about Pokémon GO?
This is usually the "safety valve" for collectors. Eventually, every Pokémon hits Pokémon GO. Marshadow made its debut during Pokémon GO Fest 2024.
If you bought a ticket for that event and completed the Special Research "A Shadowy Adieu," you got a Marshadow. If you missed GO Fest 2024, you’re currently waiting for the "Global Release" research. Historically, Niantic eventually releases a free, much harder version of the Mythical research for all players about 6 to 12 months after the paid event.
Keep an eye on the "Special" tab in your research tasks. If you see a questline involving Ghost or Fighting types, that might be your path. Once caught in GO, you can transport it to HOME, and then to your console.
Just a heads up: To move a Marshadow from HOME into Scarlet/Violet if it came from Pokémon GO, you must have already had a Marshadow "registered" in your save file. It's a frustrating "anti-cheat" measure. To bypass this, you usually need a friend to touch-trade you their Marshadow first so the game "unlocks" the species for you.
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Why you should avoid "Buying" one
If you search for "how to get a Marshadow" on eBay or certain shady gaming sites, you’ll see listings for $5 or $10. Don't do it. These are almost always generated by a bot script. They aren't "real" in the sense that they were earned through an event. While they might pass the game's internal checks and let you play online, there is always a tiny risk with your Nintendo Account when it comes to "illegal" data. Plus, it just feels better to have a legit one, right?
Future prospects: When is the next event?
We are currently looking toward the future of the franchise. With Pokémon Legends: Z-A on the horizon, there is a slim chance we see Marshadow featured there, though it’s traditionally an Alolan Pokémon.
The most likely scenario for a "fresh" Marshadow is a distribution tied to a movie anniversary or a late-cycle Scarlet/Violet event. Game Freak likes to do "End of Life" distributions for consoles where they just give away the rarest Mythicals to keep people engaged before the next generation starts.
Actionable steps to take right now
Since you can't just go buy a Marshadow from an NPC, you need a strategy. Sitting around wishing won't fill that Pokédex.
- Check your old saves: Seriously. Dust off your 3DS. Check Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. Many people grabbed the code in 2017, redeemed it, and forgot about it.
- Monitor Pokémon GO: If you don't have one, this is your highest probability of success. Ensure you are checking the "News" section in the GO app every Monday.
- Prepare trade fodder: If you want to trade for a legit Marshadow, start hunting for "Value." This means catching Shiny Legendaries in Pokémon GO or finding "Marked" Shinies in Scarlet/Violet.
- Verify legitimacy: If you do find a trade partner, ask for "Wonder Card" proof. This is the digital receipt found in the "Mystery Gift" menu of the original game the Marshadow was redeemed in. If they can't show you the Wonder Card with their username written on a piece of paper next to the screen, be very skeptical.
Getting a Marshadow is a test of patience. It’s a waiting game. But that rarity is exactly what makes it so prestigious when you finally see that signature "Spectral Thief" animation on your screen. Keep your eyes on official Pokémon social media channels and ignore anyone promising a "free code generator"—those are scams, 100% of the time.