[OVERVIEW]
Ghost
========
With Thick Club doubling its Attack, Alolan Marowak serves as a formidable wallbreaker on Ghost-type teams. Its access to Stealth Rock also allows it to double as an entry hazard setter. Alolan Marowak's ability, Lightning Rod, grants it an Electric immunity, which is particularly useful for checking Electric-type Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Zapdos while also blocking Volt Switch. Its Fire typing along with Fire-type STAB moves grants it the ability to hit Grass-, Steel-, and Ice-type Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and Alolan Ninetales for super effective damage. However, its Fire typing also burdens it with a weakness to Stealth Rock, along with weaknesses to common types in Ground, Rock, and Water. Due to its underwhelming bulk, Alolan Marowak often can only switch in on attacks it resists or is immune to. Alolan Marowak is overreliant on Thick Club for wallbreaking, meaning if it loses its item, it loses most of its offensive prowess. It is also easily outsped and revenge killed due to its poor Speed.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock (Ghost)
move 1: Stealth Rock
Move 2: Fire Punch / Flare Blitz
move 3: Shadow Bone
move 4: Earthquake
item: Thick Club
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Jolly
evs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 228 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock gradually chips away at foes residually upon entering the battle. Fire Punch is Alolan Marowak's STAB attack and hits Steel-, Ice-, and Grass-type Pokemon such as Celesteela, Alolan Ninetales, and Tapu Bulu for super effective damage. Flare Blitz is a more powerful alternative to Fire Punch that can 2HKO bulky foes such as Mega Venusaur and Chansey but can be worse in matchups such as Steel and Grass where Alolan Marowak values longevity. Shadow Bone is Alolan Marowak’s other STAB move that can be used to hit Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Slowbro and Jellicent super effectively while hitting the vast majority of the metagame along with Pokemon that resist Fire such as Rotom-W neutrally. Earthquake hits Poison-, Fire-, and Rock-type Pokemon such as Toxapex, Mega Charizard X, and Tyranitar for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
228 Speed EVs along with a Jolly nature allow Alolan Marowak to outpace Mega Venusaur and most Mantine variants. Thick Club along with 252 Attack EVs maximize Alolan Marowak's Attack and allow it to serve as an effective wallbreaker. The remaining 24 EVs are placed into Alolan Marowak's HP in order to improve its poor bulk. Lightning Rod gifts Alolan Marowak with an Electric immunity along with the ability to effectively check threatening Electric-type Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and Magnezone while also blocking Volt Switch.
Usage Tips
========
Because Alolan Marowak is Ghost's premier physical wallbreaker, it should try to find as many opportunities as it can during a battle to switch in and punch holes in the opposing team. As a result of Alolan Marowak’s poor bulk, try to switch it into resisted attacks such as Celesteela’s Heavy Slam, as any strong attack may blow it away. Steer away from Knock Off users such as Mew, as Alolan Marowak will take an enormous amount of damage while losing its Thick Club along with its offensive prowess, hindering its ability to effectively wallbreak. In matchups such as Dragon where Alolan Marowak won’t be of much use due to its poor Speed, prioritize finding openings to get up Stealth Rock so that its teammates will benefit from it. Similarily, in matchups such as Poison, Grass, and Steel where Alolan Marowak’s wallbreaking prowess is valued, keep Alolan Marowak healthy throughout the game so it can come in multiple times and wallbreak. Try to preserve Flare Blitz for bulkier targets, as the recoil will unnecessarily wear Alolan Marowak down if it's used too liberally. Create opportunities to set Stealth Rock safely by forcing the foe into unfavorable positions. For example, Toxapex may want to switch out in order to avoid being threatened by Earthquake, giving Alolan Marowak an opportunity to lay down the entry hazard. Try to keep Stealth Rock off the field before sending Alolan Marowak in in order to prevent it from getting chipped. If threatening Electric-type Pokemon such as Tapu Koko are still present on the opposing side, make sure Alolan Marowak is still healthy enough to effectively check them with Lightning Rod by preserving it.
Team Options
========
The entire Ghost team appreciates Alolan Marowak's ability to break through defensive threats such as Toxapex, Celesteela, and Alolan Muk. Mega Sableye is an amazing partner for Alolan Marowak, as it can switch into a plethora of attacks for it, including Dark-type attacks such as Knock Off, while keeping entry hazards off of the field and therefore keeping Alolan Marowak healthy due to its amazing ability in Magic Bounce. Mimikyu is able to check Dark-type Pokemon such as Mega Sharpedo and Hydreigon for Marowak with Play Rough. In return, Alolan Marowak is able to set Stealth Rock for Mimikyu, chipping the opponent's team and thus allowing it to sweep more easily late-game while also beating Steel-type Pokemon such as Celesteela, Mega Scizor, and Ferrothorn that Mimikyu struggles to damage. Alolan Marowak appreciates Jellicent's ability to switch into and sponge Water-type attacks such as Suicune's Scald for it. In return, Alolan Marowak can switch into and check Electric-type Pokemon such as Tapu Koko for Jellicent. Decidueye is able to switch into Water- and Ground-type attacks such as Keldeo's Hydro Pump and Excadrill's Earthquake for Alolan Marowak while also using Defog to clear away hazards and thus keeping Alolan Marowak healthy by avoiding chip damage. Gengar and Blacephalon both appreciate Alolan Marowak's ability to set Stealth Rock and chip the opposing team down, allowing them to clean more efficiently. They are also able to check faster Pokemon that threaten Alolan Marowak such as Hydreigon with Focus Blast and Garchomp with Hidden Power Ice, respectively.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ghost
--------
Swords Dance can be utilized on Alolan Marowak over Earthquake in order to break defensive cores more easily by taking advantage of switches, although Alolan Marowak is rarely sweeping with the boosts due to its low Speed and bulk. Bonemerang can be used over Earthquake in order to effectively take down Focus Sash Alolan Golem; however, many Alolan Golem carry Air Balloon, making the accuracy drop not worth it. Rock Head can be used in conjunction with Flare Blitz in to negate recoil, but the lack of Lightning Rod makes Alolan Marowak unable to check threatening Electric-type Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Magnezone.
Checks and Counters
===================
Ghost
--------
**Super Effective Coverage**: Rock-, Dark-, Ground-, and Water-type Pokemon such as Mega Diancie, Hydreigon, Landorus, and Keldeo all knock Alolan Marowak out with their super effective STAB attacks.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Alolan Marowak has trouble breaking through certain physically defensive Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Porygon2, and Mandibuzz that it can't hit super effectively.
**Faster Threats**: Faster offensive Pokemon such as Mega Lopunny, Mega Gallade, and Kyurem-B take advantage of Alolan Marowak's poor Speed and bulk to threaten it.
**Residual Damage**: Chip damage obtained from entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes as well as poison and Flare Bliz's recoil wears Alolan Marowak down to the point where it has to rely on its low Speed to outspeed opposing Pokemon.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Decem, 362454]]
- Ghost analysis by: [[Decem, 362454]]
- Quality checked by: [[maroon, 305839], [Havens, 391540], [Kev, 314540]]
- Grammar checked by: [[martha, 384270], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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