[OVERVIEW]
* In a metagame full of Intimidate, Alolan Marowak is nevertheless able to be one of the most prominent attackers in the format thanks to its Fire / Ghost typing granting it STAB coverage against influential foes like Celesteela, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Bulu.
* Fire- and Ghost-types being largely underrepresented leaves Alolan Marowak with very little competition in its role.
* Alolan Marowak is primarily a Trick Room attacker thanks to low Speed, although it can function without it thanks to Lightning Rod.
* Its typing does leave it weak to many common spread attacks, however, such as Earthquake and Rock Slide.
* The above, in combination with Flare Blitz's recoil, makes it challenging to keep Alolan Marowak healthy late-game.
* Rain as an archetype is popular and, problematically for Alolan Marowak, one which largely forces it to be benched.
* Nevertheless, these flaws are fixable with support such as Wide Guard, leaving Alolan Marowak a strong choice for many teams.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Shadow Bone
move 3: Bonemerang / Perish Song
move 4: Detect
item: Thick Club
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Adamant / Brave
evs: 252 HP / 180 Atk / 4 Def / 68 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Flare Blitz is Alolan Marowak's strongest attack at a whopping 120 Base Power with the drawback of some recoil.
* Shadow Bone, being the only physical Ghost-type attack available, is solid for providing secondary STAB coverage.
* Bonemerang deals with Fire- and Rock-types that resist Flare Blitz and provides good super effective coverage.
* Bonemerang's ability to hit twice is also useful for KOing frail Pokemon through Focus Sash or Sturdy.
* Perish Song forces defensive Pokemon to switch and closes out games when the opponent can no longer do so, and is also a good option against setup sweepers such as Extreme Evoboost Eevee, as they'll be forced to lose their boosts.
* Detect allows Alolan Marowak to shield itself while a partner eliminates a threat or switches for positioning.
Set Details
========
* Thick Club is realistically Alolan Marowak's only item option, as doubling its Attack stat is too good to pass up.
* Lightning Rod provides support to Alolan Marowak's teammates by redirecting potentially unfriendly Electric-type moves.
* Alolan Marowak's EVs are quite customizable. The spread provided is a general recommendation.
* 252 HP and 68 Special Defense EVs prevent an OHKO from Modest Tapu Lele's Psychic Terrain-boosted Psychic, which is important given how common Tapu Lele is and Alolan Marowak's ability to OHKO it with Shadow Bone.
* The remaining EVs are dumped into Attack to maximize Alolan Marowak's damage output.
* Speed investment is very customizable, as Speed is valuable even just to speed creep opposing Alolan Marowak.
* For example, 52 Speed EVs let it outrun Alolan Muk, 140 EVs let it outpace Celesteela, and 212 EVs will let it outspeed Metagross.
* With Tailwind, 124 EVs can be used to beat Tapu Lele, while 164 EVs let it outrun Nihilego, and 188 EVs will let it outspeed Kartana and Alolan Ninetales.
* A Jolly nature and 252 Speed EVs maximizes its chances of outspeeding Alolan Muk and opposing Alolan Marowak.
* On a full Trick Room team, use a Brave nature, drop the 4 Speed EVs, and use 0 Speed IVs to minimize Speed.
Usage Tips
========
* Alolan Marowak generally prefers being sent out mid- or late-game after speed control has taken effect and foes are weakened.
* This also helps it avoid Intimidate, since Intimidate users are often lead with, which keeps its damage output acceptable.
* Countering Celesteela also means Alolan Marowak must be kept healthy until late-game when it's often sent out.
* Avoid switching Alolan Marowak into attacks, as Flare Blitz alone easily whittles away its health.
* Speaking of which, try to finish off weakened foes without Flare Blitz if possible to avoid the unnecessary recoil.
* Make healthy use of Protect outside of Trick Room, as this enables the provision of risk-free Lightning Rod support.
Team Options
========
* Trick Room users such as Porygon2 and Oranguru make good partners, as Alolan Marowak functions well under its effect.
* Hariyama can not only aid in setting up Trick Room with Fake Out but can beat Dark-types for Alolan Marowak as well.
* Electric-type Pokemon like Tapu Koko, Alolan Raichu, and Magnezone cannot attack as freely with single target moves due to Lightning Rod, but they can beat the Water-types that bully Alolan Marowak and use Discharge safely.
* Water-type Pokemon of your own such as Gyarados, Araquanid, and Milotic beat Ground- and Rock-types and are protected against super effective Electric-type attacks thanks to Lightning Rod.
* Flying-type Pokemon such as Celesteela and Aerodactyl likewise enjoy being defended against Electric moves, and both can also use Wide Guard, which is valuable to provide protection from spread attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Earthquake serves as a spread attack alternative to Bonemerang, but it also targets Alolan Marowak's partner making it less convenient.
* Rock Slide provides decent coverage, particularly against Fire-types, and can flinch foes under Trick Room.
* Stone Edge likewise provides Rock-type coverage but circumvents Wide Guard, although its accuracy is less than ideal.
* Substitute shields Alolan Marowak against Intimidate and is easy to set up, given that foes are likely to use Protect to stall Trick Room.
* Will-O-Wisp can be used to neuter opposing physical attackers, but Alolan Marowak often prefers to simply attack.
* Specially defensive EV spreads, such as those utilizing at least 212 HP and 164 Special Defense EVs with a Careful nature, which lets Alolan Marowak survive a Dazzling Gleam and Psychic from Tapu Lele in Psychic Terrain often, can help it switch into foes it checks.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-type Pokemon**: Dark-type Pokemon such as Alolan Muk, Incineroar, and Alolan Persian resist Ghost-type attacks and hit Alolan Marowak super effectively with their respective STAB moves.
**Ghost-type Pokemon**: Ghost-type Pokemon like Gengar and Mimikyu can outspeed and deal STAB super effective damage to Alolan Marowak. Gengar can KO it directly, while Mimikyu revenge kills it with priority Shadow Sneak
**Ground-type Pokemon**: Ground-type Pokemon such as Garchomp and Mudsdale hit Alolan Marowak super effectively with their STAB attacks. Garchomp also resists Fire, Mudsdale's Stamina boosts its Defense when it's hit.
**Rock-type Pokemon**: Rock-type Pokemon such as Gigalith, Nihilego, and Aerodactyl resist Fire and deal super effective damage with their STAB attacks. With that said, the former two must still be wary of a retaliatory Bonemerang.
**Water-type Pokemon**: Water-type Pokemon such as Milotic, Pelipper, and Golduck resist Fire and deal massive damage to Alolan Marowak with their STAB moves. Pelipper's Drizzle is particularly troublesome for summoning rain.
**Intimidate**: Intimidate users such as Arcanine and Salamence will automatically lower Alolan Marowak's Attack stat when they are switched in, reducing its damage output.
**Knock Off*: Given Alolan Marowak's reliance on Thick Club to maintain a high damage output, even non-STAB Knock Off, such as from Hariyama, is debilitating.
* In a metagame full of Intimidate, Alolan Marowak is nevertheless able to be one of the most prominent attackers in the format thanks to its Fire / Ghost typing granting it STAB coverage against influential foes like Celesteela, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Bulu.
* Fire- and Ghost-types being largely underrepresented leaves Alolan Marowak with very little competition in its role.
* Alolan Marowak is primarily a Trick Room attacker thanks to low Speed, although it can function without it thanks to Lightning Rod.
* Its typing does leave it weak to many common spread attacks, however, such as Earthquake and Rock Slide.
* The above, in combination with Flare Blitz's recoil, makes it challenging to keep Alolan Marowak healthy late-game.
* Rain as an archetype is popular and, problematically for Alolan Marowak, one which largely forces it to be benched.
* Nevertheless, these flaws are fixable with support such as Wide Guard, leaving Alolan Marowak a strong choice for many teams.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Shadow Bone
move 3: Bonemerang / Perish Song
move 4: Detect
item: Thick Club
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Adamant / Brave
evs: 252 HP / 180 Atk / 4 Def / 68 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Flare Blitz is Alolan Marowak's strongest attack at a whopping 120 Base Power with the drawback of some recoil.
* Shadow Bone, being the only physical Ghost-type attack available, is solid for providing secondary STAB coverage.
* Bonemerang deals with Fire- and Rock-types that resist Flare Blitz and provides good super effective coverage.
* Bonemerang's ability to hit twice is also useful for KOing frail Pokemon through Focus Sash or Sturdy.
* Perish Song forces defensive Pokemon to switch and closes out games when the opponent can no longer do so, and is also a good option against setup sweepers such as Extreme Evoboost Eevee, as they'll be forced to lose their boosts.
* Detect allows Alolan Marowak to shield itself while a partner eliminates a threat or switches for positioning.
Set Details
========
* Thick Club is realistically Alolan Marowak's only item option, as doubling its Attack stat is too good to pass up.
* Lightning Rod provides support to Alolan Marowak's teammates by redirecting potentially unfriendly Electric-type moves.
* Alolan Marowak's EVs are quite customizable. The spread provided is a general recommendation.
* 252 HP and 68 Special Defense EVs prevent an OHKO from Modest Tapu Lele's Psychic Terrain-boosted Psychic, which is important given how common Tapu Lele is and Alolan Marowak's ability to OHKO it with Shadow Bone.
* The remaining EVs are dumped into Attack to maximize Alolan Marowak's damage output.
* Speed investment is very customizable, as Speed is valuable even just to speed creep opposing Alolan Marowak.
* For example, 52 Speed EVs let it outrun Alolan Muk, 140 EVs let it outpace Celesteela, and 212 EVs will let it outspeed Metagross.
* With Tailwind, 124 EVs can be used to beat Tapu Lele, while 164 EVs let it outrun Nihilego, and 188 EVs will let it outspeed Kartana and Alolan Ninetales.
* A Jolly nature and 252 Speed EVs maximizes its chances of outspeeding Alolan Muk and opposing Alolan Marowak.
* On a full Trick Room team, use a Brave nature, drop the 4 Speed EVs, and use 0 Speed IVs to minimize Speed.
Usage Tips
========
* Alolan Marowak generally prefers being sent out mid- or late-game after speed control has taken effect and foes are weakened.
* This also helps it avoid Intimidate, since Intimidate users are often lead with, which keeps its damage output acceptable.
* Countering Celesteela also means Alolan Marowak must be kept healthy until late-game when it's often sent out.
* Avoid switching Alolan Marowak into attacks, as Flare Blitz alone easily whittles away its health.
* Speaking of which, try to finish off weakened foes without Flare Blitz if possible to avoid the unnecessary recoil.
* Make healthy use of Protect outside of Trick Room, as this enables the provision of risk-free Lightning Rod support.
Team Options
========
* Trick Room users such as Porygon2 and Oranguru make good partners, as Alolan Marowak functions well under its effect.
* Hariyama can not only aid in setting up Trick Room with Fake Out but can beat Dark-types for Alolan Marowak as well.
* Electric-type Pokemon like Tapu Koko, Alolan Raichu, and Magnezone cannot attack as freely with single target moves due to Lightning Rod, but they can beat the Water-types that bully Alolan Marowak and use Discharge safely.
* Water-type Pokemon of your own such as Gyarados, Araquanid, and Milotic beat Ground- and Rock-types and are protected against super effective Electric-type attacks thanks to Lightning Rod.
* Flying-type Pokemon such as Celesteela and Aerodactyl likewise enjoy being defended against Electric moves, and both can also use Wide Guard, which is valuable to provide protection from spread attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Earthquake serves as a spread attack alternative to Bonemerang, but it also targets Alolan Marowak's partner making it less convenient.
* Rock Slide provides decent coverage, particularly against Fire-types, and can flinch foes under Trick Room.
* Stone Edge likewise provides Rock-type coverage but circumvents Wide Guard, although its accuracy is less than ideal.
* Substitute shields Alolan Marowak against Intimidate and is easy to set up, given that foes are likely to use Protect to stall Trick Room.
* Will-O-Wisp can be used to neuter opposing physical attackers, but Alolan Marowak often prefers to simply attack.
* Specially defensive EV spreads, such as those utilizing at least 212 HP and 164 Special Defense EVs with a Careful nature, which lets Alolan Marowak survive a Dazzling Gleam and Psychic from Tapu Lele in Psychic Terrain often, can help it switch into foes it checks.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-type Pokemon**: Dark-type Pokemon such as Alolan Muk, Incineroar, and Alolan Persian resist Ghost-type attacks and hit Alolan Marowak super effectively with their respective STAB moves.
**Ghost-type Pokemon**: Ghost-type Pokemon like Gengar and Mimikyu can outspeed and deal STAB super effective damage to Alolan Marowak. Gengar can KO it directly, while Mimikyu revenge kills it with priority Shadow Sneak
**Ground-type Pokemon**: Ground-type Pokemon such as Garchomp and Mudsdale hit Alolan Marowak super effectively with their STAB attacks. Garchomp also resists Fire, Mudsdale's Stamina boosts its Defense when it's hit.
**Rock-type Pokemon**: Rock-type Pokemon such as Gigalith, Nihilego, and Aerodactyl resist Fire and deal super effective damage with their STAB attacks. With that said, the former two must still be wary of a retaliatory Bonemerang.
**Water-type Pokemon**: Water-type Pokemon such as Milotic, Pelipper, and Golduck resist Fire and deal massive damage to Alolan Marowak with their STAB moves. Pelipper's Drizzle is particularly troublesome for summoning rain.
**Intimidate**: Intimidate users such as Arcanine and Salamence will automatically lower Alolan Marowak's Attack stat when they are switched in, reducing its damage output.
**Knock Off*: Given Alolan Marowak's reliance on Thick Club to maintain a high damage output, even non-STAB Knock Off, such as from Hariyama, is debilitating.
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