Arven's Mabosstiff (Japanese: ペパーのマフィティフPeper's Mafitiff) is a Pokémon and a character in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. It is Arven's best friend, who's been with him while his parents were away and the reason Arven went after the Herba Mystica.
In the core series games
History
Background
Mabosstiff was with Arven since it was a Maschiff and Arven was a kid, both living in Poco Path's lighthouse alongside Professor SadaS/Professor TuroV. At one point, Arven's parent left them to go back to their research on Area Zero's Zero Lab, leaving both Arven and Maschiff to take care of themselves, which greatly strengthened their bonds, since Maschiff was everything Arven had left. At some point, Maschiff evolved into a Mabosstiff.
Sometime prior to the events of Scarlet and Violet, Arven and Mabosstiff tried to go down Area Zero to see his parent, however, they were attacked by an unknown Pokémon, greatly injuring Mabosstiff. After leaving the crater, Arven tried to heal Mabosstiff with potions and at the Pokémon Center, but nothing worked, forcing him to go after the Herba Mystica as described in the Scarlet BookS/Violet BookV.
After defeating the second Titan Pokémon, Arven finally reveals to the player why he wanted to find the Herba Mystica, to heal the wounds that Mabosstiff had received in Area Zero. As the duo defeated the titans Klawf, Bombirdier, Orthworm, Great TuskS/Iron TreadsV, and Tatsugiri, they obtained the Sweet, Bitter, Salty, Sour, and Spicy Herba Mystica, allowing Arven to make sandwiches with each of them to help his wounded Mabosstiff recover from its injuries. After it ate all five of them, Mabosstiff finally makes a full recovery. After SadaS/TuroV asked the player's help in Area Zero, Arven decided to come along and used Mabosstiff in a battle for the first time in the game to make sure they're ready.
Mabosstiff took care of Arven back in Poco Path lighthouse when his parents weren't around to do so, growing to be Arven's best and only friend.
In battle
Arven will begin using Mabosstiff after it had fully recovered at the end of "Path of Legends". Mabosstiff will always be sent out last and be Terastallized by Arven at the first opportunity. During Multi Battles however, Mabosstiff will always be sent out first and will not be Terastalized.
Mabossiff uses the same moveset in all of his battles, with his level varying:
Level 63 during the second battle with Arven in Poco Path and during Multi Battles in Area Zero.
Level 76 after completing The Indigo Disk and winning the Academy Ace Tournament for the first time, as an opponent in the Academy Ace Tournament (prior to Mochi Mayhem).
Some time before the events of the Scarlet & Violet arc, Mabosstiff suffered injuries that couldn't be healed by conventional methods. Arven decided to search for the Herba Mystica, hoping they could cure Mabosstiff's condition. It debuted in Discover! The Quaking Earth Titan!!, where Arven showed Violet it inside its Poké Ball really weakened. In order to catch a Pokémon to help take down the Titan Pokémon guarding the Herba Mystica, Arven reluctantly traded Mabosstiff to Violet for a Scovillain. He then caught a Smoliv and used her to trade back for his partner.
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Arven's Mabosstiff in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Arven's Pokémon Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Arven is shown with a Maschiff in Battle Studies classes, despite Mabosstiff already being fully evolved prior to the beginning of the game. After completing Path of Legends, Arven instead uses his Mabosstiff during Battle Studies classes. Its relation to Arven's Mabosstiff is unknown.
Related articles
For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Maschiff and Mabosstiff.
This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.
