What it does
Population Bomb is a Normal-type physical move that hits between 1 and 10 times in one action. Each individual hit has its own accuracy check — miss one and it stops, or misses vary across the sequence. Maximum hits is theoretically the highest raw damage output of any move in this format. Reality is messier.
The multi-hit mechanic has one genuinely game-breaking property: Focus Sash and Sturdy are bypassed after the first hit lands. The most common survival tools for frail but dangerous Pokémon become useless the moment Population Bomb starts connecting — subsequent hits go straight through at full damage.
Technician boosts each individual hit because each single strike is low enough base power to trigger the ability. Stack Technician with good accuracy support and the total output is enormous.
Who runs it
Maushold at 11% is the only user — it's the signature move. An 11% usage rate is honest: this is a niche pick, not a format staple. It wins certain matchups decisively and can punish Focus Sash or Sturdy setups completely, but the accuracy variance means you can lose a turn to bad luck when the field state needed that turn.
How to use it
The standard configuration pairs Technician with Wide Lens for accuracy improvement — more hits land, and each hit is boosted. No Guard guarantees 100% accuracy on every strike but makes Maushold itself 100% hittable in return, which is a serious trade-off given its bulk.
Target Focus Sash or Sturdy users deliberately. Against those targets, Population Bomb does something nothing else can — it removes their safety net entirely rather than leaving them at 1 HP. Against targets that don't rely on those mechanics, you're often better served by a reliable high-power single-hit move instead.
Tips & strategy
Ghost-types are immune to Normal — if the opponent is running a Ghost-type on the board, Population Bomb does nothing and your turn is gone. Scout for Ghosts and either bring coverage or plan your target accordingly.
Accuracy variance is the honest weakness. Without Wide Lens or No Guard, expected hit count drops and so does consistency. The high ceiling only materializes when hits connect; the floor can be a wasted action.
At 11% usage, the surprise value is real — opponents who haven't seen Maushold in a game won't always have a counter-lead ready. That surprise window doesn't last past the first time they've seen it that tournament, though. The low adoption rate itself is feedback: the format rewards consistent damage, and Population Bomb asks you to accept variance in exchange for upside.