[QC Checks: quziel / Stan Soojung / Eternally]
[GP Checks: TDP / Fireflame479]
[OVERVIEW]
Malamar's ability Contrary in combination with its access to Superpower makes it a threatening setup sweeper and allows it to increase both its Attack and Defense, augmenting its offensive and defensive presence. Malamar also has solid bulk when invested and a decent defensive typing, meaning that it can effectively run a RestTalk set that pressures balance teams and capitalizes on defensive staples like Slowbro and Steelix while also shrugging off status conditions. Because of its access to Happy Hour, Malamar is also capable of running a more offensive set with Z-Happy Hour, which increases all of Malamar's stats by one stage and gives it an easier time sweeping teams late-game. Offensive and defensive teams alike can find dealing with Malamar difficult due to its near unresisted coverage in Knock Off + Superpower. However, Malamar's all-around average stats leave it fairly weak unboosted and can make setting up difficult, especially against more offensive teams. Malamar's typing also leaves it vulnerable two common attacking types in Bug and Fairy and provides Malamar with no useful resistances or immunities except Psychic. Fairy-types also resist Malamar's main coverage, which gives Malamar further difficulty in dealing with them.
[SET]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Contrary
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is a decently powerful STAB move that cripples Malamar's switch-ins by removing their item. Superpower increases Malamar's Attack and Defense courtesy of Contrary, which allows it to set up against and pressure bulkier teams while also giving it the ability to threaten Rock-, Steel-, and opposing Dark-types like Rhydon, Silvally-Steel, and Scrafty, though its reliability is hindered by its low PP. Rest gives Malamar a form of recovery that also rids it of any status ailments that may be plaguing it. Sleep Talk prevents Malamar from being completely helpless when its asleep by allowing it to use one of its moves.
Set Details
========
The investment in HP and Special Defense coupled with a Careful nature maximizes Malamar's special bulk, giving it an easier time taking attacks from Pokemon like Delphox and Sigilyph. Leftovers gives Malamar a form of passive recovery, which lessens the need for it to use Rest. Contrary reverses any stat changes, which allows Malamar to boost its Attack and Defense with Superpower and deters the use of moves like Defog, Sticky Web, and Parting Shot from Pokemon like Golbat, Smeargle, and Silvally-Steel.
Usage Tips
========
Since Malamar works best as a late-game sweeper, it should be preserved until its checks and counters, which are mostly Bug-, Poison-, and Fairy-types, are weakened or removed; however, against bulkier teams, Malamar can be used a bit more liberally in order to apply constant pressure. Knock Off should be the main move that Malamar uses early-game, since it cripples Malamar's checks by limiting the number of times they can be used to check it, which can make sweeping easier. Malamar should set up against Pokemon like non-Signal Beam Slowbro, Blastoise, and Silvally-Steel due to their passivity preventing them from threatening Malamar out. Use Rest once Malamar takes a noticeable amount of damage, as this prevents Malamar from being worn down too quickly and allows it to consistently check special attackers like Delphox throughout the match. Due to the combination of Rest and Sleep Talk, Malamar doesn't mind being statused very much, meaning that it can act as a status absorber against Pokemon like Slowbro, Steelix, and Vivillon if nothing else on its team wants to take a status condition.
Team Options
========
Malamar fits best on bulky offensive and balance teams as a bulky late-game sweeper that can pressure common defensive cores such as Slowbro + Steelix. Steelix itself pairs well with Malamar due to its ability to check both Bug-, Fairy-, and certain Poison-types, keep threatening physical attackers like Sneasel and Braviary in check, set Stealth Rock, and bait in Pokemon that Malamar can take advantage of like Blastoise. In return, Malamar can take on certain special attackers like Heliolisk and Guzzlord as well as pressure Xatu. In a similar vein, other checks to Bug- and Fairy-types like Silvally-Steel and Garbodor pair well with Malamar due to those types being able to threaten Malamar with super effective STAB moves. Garbodor can also set entry hazards and act as a Fighting switch-in, while Malamar can act as a Defog deterrent because of Contrary. Mega Audino provides beneficial cleric support, which can be very useful for keeping Malamar healthy and awake in case it cannot use Rest or isn't able to burn sleep turns. Mega Audino can also take on stronger special attackers like Vanilluxe and block Trick and Switcheroo for Malamar, which render it useless. Strong wallbreakers like Vanilluxe, Sceptile, and Medicham can weaken and remove bulky Pokemon like Pyukumuku, Golbat, and Altaria for Malamar, which gives it a much easier time finishing off weakened teams. Though Malamar mostly acts as a late-game sweeper, its ability to threaten defensive cores is appreciated by other sweepers and cleaners such as Klinklang, Braviary, and Choice Scarf Passimian.
[SET]
name: Z-Happy Hour
move 1: Happy Hour
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Psycho Cut / Taunt
item: Normalium Z
ability: Contrary
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
When powered up with Normalium Z, Happy Hour becomes Z-Happy Hour, which increases all of Malamar's stats by one stage and turns it into a threatening offensive force. Knock Off is Malamar's most reliable STAB move due to its fairly high Base Power and cripples Malamar's switch-ins by getting rid of their item. Superpower pairs well with Knock Off, threatening to hit bulky Steel-, Rock-, and opposing Dark-types like Steelix, Silvally-Steel, Gigalith, and Incineroar super effectively. Due to Contrary, Superpower also boosts Malamar's Attack and Defense, which bolsters its offensive and defensive presence. Psycho Cut rounds out Malamar's coverage by allowing it to hit Fairy- and Poison-types that don't mind either of its other moves like Aromatisse, Golbat, Toxicroak, Vileplume, and Garbodor. Alternatively, Taunt can be run to shut down defensive Pokemon like Pyukumuku and phazers like Steelix, which gives Malamar an easier time setting up and maintaining its boosts.
Set Details
========
The investment in Attack and Speed maximizes Malamar's offensive presence and makes it as fast as possible, with a Jolly nature allowing Malamar to outpace Pokemon like Modest Magmortar and Vanilluxe prior to setting up. Normalium Z turns Happy Hour into Z-Happy Hour, which boosts all of Malamar's stats by one stage. Contrary inverts stat changes, meaning that Superpower increases Malamar's Attack and Defense rather than decreasing them. Contrary also deters the use of moves like Defog and Sticky Web as well as Intimidate from Pokemon like Incineroar.
Usage Tips
========
Malamar performs best as a late-game sweeper that can finish off weakened teams, so preserving it until all checks and counters, such as Bug- and bulky Fairy-type Pokemon like Scyther and Aromatisse, are heavily weakened or removed is ideal, especially considering that Malamar can only boost all of its stats once. Malamar should preserve its HP to the best of its ability, since it cannot reliably finish off teams if it is weakened. Early-game, Malamar should mostly use Knock Off, as it's spammable and cripples defensive switch-ins, which can potentially make sweeping late-game easier for Malamar. After using Z-Happy Hour, Superpower should be used against Pokemon that cannot deal much damage to Malamar in return such as Piloswine and non-Roar Steelix. Though Malamar should be wary of switching directly in on attacks, it can be switched in on the predicted use of Defog against Pokemon like Silvally-Steel and Golbat in order to have its evasion increased due to Contrary, which can make taking it down more difficult. Silvally-Steel is notable, since it can also potentially increase Malamar's Attack with Parting Shot. Variants with Taunt should use the move against passive Pokemon that are overly reliant on status to deal damage like Pyukumuku and Mega Audino in order to use them as setup fodder.
Team Options
========
Malamar appreciates being paired with strong attackers such as Vanilluxe, Medicham, and Magmortar, since they can weaken or break through bulkier Pokemon like Slowbro, Diancie, and Altaria for Malamar in order to pave the way for a sweep. Magmortar can additionally check Bug-types and threaten them with Fire Blast. Checks to Bug-types such as Braviary and Magmortar are important due to Malamar's 4x weakness to their STAB moves and its vulnerability to faster Bug-types like Accelgor and Choice Scarf Scyther even after using Z-Happy Hour. Similarly, Malamar appreciates being paired with teammates that can check Fairy-types like Steelix, Ferroseed, and Haunter, since most Fairy-types can handle even a boosted Psycho Cut and KO Malamar in return with their STAB moves. Entry hazard setters like Steelix, Garbodor, and Diancie are appreciated, since the chip damage they provide can guarantee certain KOs such as on Guzzlord with +1 Superpower and give Malamar an easier time with sweeping late-game. Steelix and Garbodor appreciate Malamar pressuring Xatu and can act as Fairy-type checks, and all three are capable of checking Bug-types. While not necessary, Sticky Web support from Pokemon like Smeargle and Shuckle can prove useful for slowing down offensive checks like Choice Scarf Passimian and preventing them from revenge killing Malamar after it sets up. Smeargle can also put Pokemon to sleep with Spore, which can potentially create setup opportunities for Malamar. Malamar tends to lure in bulky Poison-types like Golbat and Vileplume and can deal heavy amounts of damage to them with a +1 Psycho Cut. Because of this, Pokemon that appreciate the removal of Poison-types, mainly Fighting-types such as Passimian, Scrafty, and Toxicroak, pair well with Malamar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Malamar can make use of Substitute, potentially in combination with Aguav Berry to grant it a form of recovery, which guards Malamar from status conditions and weaker attackers, allowing it to set up more easily. However, Malamar struggles against bulky Poison- and Fairy-types without Psycho Cut. Choice Scarf can be used to turn Malamar into more of a late-game cleaner, though it isn't very powerful unboosted and its ability to alternate between moves is a key element in what makes Malamar as threatening as it is. Z-Happy Hour variants can opt to run coverage moves like Rock Slide and Poison Jab in order to threaten Malamar's checks, though doing so means that it will have issues bypassing Poison-type Pokemon like Toxicroak.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bug-types and Bug-type Coverage**: Bug-types like Scyther and Vikavolt are capable of taking unboosted attacks from Malamar and OHKOing it with their respective STAB attacks, with Vikavolt not really minding Knock Off either due to it commonly running Buginium Z. Accelgor outspeeds Malamar even at +1 and can OHKO with Bug Buzz as well. Bug-type coverage from Pokemon such as Passimian, Xatu, and Slowbro can also threaten Malamar.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Diancie, Aromatisse, and Whimsicott threaten Malamar with a super effective Moonblast while not taking very much from any of Malamar's attacks bar Psycho Cut. The former two can also set up alongside Malamar with Calm Mind and Trick Room, respectively.
**Pyukumuku**: Pyukumuku's ability Unaware means that it walls Malamar, with Spite variants being able to PP stall Malamar. However, Taunt variants of Z-Happy Hour Malamar stop Pyukumuku in its tracks, while RestTalk variants can potentially PP stall Pyukumuku without Spite.
[GP Checks: TDP / Fireflame479]
[OVERVIEW]
Malamar's ability Contrary in combination with its access to Superpower makes it a threatening setup sweeper and allows it to increase both its Attack and Defense, augmenting its offensive and defensive presence. Malamar also has solid bulk when invested and a decent defensive typing, meaning that it can effectively run a RestTalk set that pressures balance teams and capitalizes on defensive staples like Slowbro and Steelix while also shrugging off status conditions. Because of its access to Happy Hour, Malamar is also capable of running a more offensive set with Z-Happy Hour, which increases all of Malamar's stats by one stage and gives it an easier time sweeping teams late-game. Offensive and defensive teams alike can find dealing with Malamar difficult due to its near unresisted coverage in Knock Off + Superpower. However, Malamar's all-around average stats leave it fairly weak unboosted and can make setting up difficult, especially against more offensive teams. Malamar's typing also leaves it vulnerable two common attacking types in Bug and Fairy and provides Malamar with no useful resistances or immunities except Psychic. Fairy-types also resist Malamar's main coverage, which gives Malamar further difficulty in dealing with them.
[SET]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Contrary
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is a decently powerful STAB move that cripples Malamar's switch-ins by removing their item. Superpower increases Malamar's Attack and Defense courtesy of Contrary, which allows it to set up against and pressure bulkier teams while also giving it the ability to threaten Rock-, Steel-, and opposing Dark-types like Rhydon, Silvally-Steel, and Scrafty, though its reliability is hindered by its low PP. Rest gives Malamar a form of recovery that also rids it of any status ailments that may be plaguing it. Sleep Talk prevents Malamar from being completely helpless when its asleep by allowing it to use one of its moves.
Set Details
========
The investment in HP and Special Defense coupled with a Careful nature maximizes Malamar's special bulk, giving it an easier time taking attacks from Pokemon like Delphox and Sigilyph. Leftovers gives Malamar a form of passive recovery, which lessens the need for it to use Rest. Contrary reverses any stat changes, which allows Malamar to boost its Attack and Defense with Superpower and deters the use of moves like Defog, Sticky Web, and Parting Shot from Pokemon like Golbat, Smeargle, and Silvally-Steel.
Usage Tips
========
Since Malamar works best as a late-game sweeper, it should be preserved until its checks and counters, which are mostly Bug-, Poison-, and Fairy-types, are weakened or removed; however, against bulkier teams, Malamar can be used a bit more liberally in order to apply constant pressure. Knock Off should be the main move that Malamar uses early-game, since it cripples Malamar's checks by limiting the number of times they can be used to check it, which can make sweeping easier. Malamar should set up against Pokemon like non-Signal Beam Slowbro, Blastoise, and Silvally-Steel due to their passivity preventing them from threatening Malamar out. Use Rest once Malamar takes a noticeable amount of damage, as this prevents Malamar from being worn down too quickly and allows it to consistently check special attackers like Delphox throughout the match. Due to the combination of Rest and Sleep Talk, Malamar doesn't mind being statused very much, meaning that it can act as a status absorber against Pokemon like Slowbro, Steelix, and Vivillon if nothing else on its team wants to take a status condition.
Team Options
========
Malamar fits best on bulky offensive and balance teams as a bulky late-game sweeper that can pressure common defensive cores such as Slowbro + Steelix. Steelix itself pairs well with Malamar due to its ability to check both Bug-, Fairy-, and certain Poison-types, keep threatening physical attackers like Sneasel and Braviary in check, set Stealth Rock, and bait in Pokemon that Malamar can take advantage of like Blastoise. In return, Malamar can take on certain special attackers like Heliolisk and Guzzlord as well as pressure Xatu. In a similar vein, other checks to Bug- and Fairy-types like Silvally-Steel and Garbodor pair well with Malamar due to those types being able to threaten Malamar with super effective STAB moves. Garbodor can also set entry hazards and act as a Fighting switch-in, while Malamar can act as a Defog deterrent because of Contrary. Mega Audino provides beneficial cleric support, which can be very useful for keeping Malamar healthy and awake in case it cannot use Rest or isn't able to burn sleep turns. Mega Audino can also take on stronger special attackers like Vanilluxe and block Trick and Switcheroo for Malamar, which render it useless. Strong wallbreakers like Vanilluxe, Sceptile, and Medicham can weaken and remove bulky Pokemon like Pyukumuku, Golbat, and Altaria for Malamar, which gives it a much easier time finishing off weakened teams. Though Malamar mostly acts as a late-game sweeper, its ability to threaten defensive cores is appreciated by other sweepers and cleaners such as Klinklang, Braviary, and Choice Scarf Passimian.
[SET]
name: Z-Happy Hour
move 1: Happy Hour
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Psycho Cut / Taunt
item: Normalium Z
ability: Contrary
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
When powered up with Normalium Z, Happy Hour becomes Z-Happy Hour, which increases all of Malamar's stats by one stage and turns it into a threatening offensive force. Knock Off is Malamar's most reliable STAB move due to its fairly high Base Power and cripples Malamar's switch-ins by getting rid of their item. Superpower pairs well with Knock Off, threatening to hit bulky Steel-, Rock-, and opposing Dark-types like Steelix, Silvally-Steel, Gigalith, and Incineroar super effectively. Due to Contrary, Superpower also boosts Malamar's Attack and Defense, which bolsters its offensive and defensive presence. Psycho Cut rounds out Malamar's coverage by allowing it to hit Fairy- and Poison-types that don't mind either of its other moves like Aromatisse, Golbat, Toxicroak, Vileplume, and Garbodor. Alternatively, Taunt can be run to shut down defensive Pokemon like Pyukumuku and phazers like Steelix, which gives Malamar an easier time setting up and maintaining its boosts.
Set Details
========
The investment in Attack and Speed maximizes Malamar's offensive presence and makes it as fast as possible, with a Jolly nature allowing Malamar to outpace Pokemon like Modest Magmortar and Vanilluxe prior to setting up. Normalium Z turns Happy Hour into Z-Happy Hour, which boosts all of Malamar's stats by one stage. Contrary inverts stat changes, meaning that Superpower increases Malamar's Attack and Defense rather than decreasing them. Contrary also deters the use of moves like Defog and Sticky Web as well as Intimidate from Pokemon like Incineroar.
Usage Tips
========
Malamar performs best as a late-game sweeper that can finish off weakened teams, so preserving it until all checks and counters, such as Bug- and bulky Fairy-type Pokemon like Scyther and Aromatisse, are heavily weakened or removed is ideal, especially considering that Malamar can only boost all of its stats once. Malamar should preserve its HP to the best of its ability, since it cannot reliably finish off teams if it is weakened. Early-game, Malamar should mostly use Knock Off, as it's spammable and cripples defensive switch-ins, which can potentially make sweeping late-game easier for Malamar. After using Z-Happy Hour, Superpower should be used against Pokemon that cannot deal much damage to Malamar in return such as Piloswine and non-Roar Steelix. Though Malamar should be wary of switching directly in on attacks, it can be switched in on the predicted use of Defog against Pokemon like Silvally-Steel and Golbat in order to have its evasion increased due to Contrary, which can make taking it down more difficult. Silvally-Steel is notable, since it can also potentially increase Malamar's Attack with Parting Shot. Variants with Taunt should use the move against passive Pokemon that are overly reliant on status to deal damage like Pyukumuku and Mega Audino in order to use them as setup fodder.
Team Options
========
Malamar appreciates being paired with strong attackers such as Vanilluxe, Medicham, and Magmortar, since they can weaken or break through bulkier Pokemon like Slowbro, Diancie, and Altaria for Malamar in order to pave the way for a sweep. Magmortar can additionally check Bug-types and threaten them with Fire Blast. Checks to Bug-types such as Braviary and Magmortar are important due to Malamar's 4x weakness to their STAB moves and its vulnerability to faster Bug-types like Accelgor and Choice Scarf Scyther even after using Z-Happy Hour. Similarly, Malamar appreciates being paired with teammates that can check Fairy-types like Steelix, Ferroseed, and Haunter, since most Fairy-types can handle even a boosted Psycho Cut and KO Malamar in return with their STAB moves. Entry hazard setters like Steelix, Garbodor, and Diancie are appreciated, since the chip damage they provide can guarantee certain KOs such as on Guzzlord with +1 Superpower and give Malamar an easier time with sweeping late-game. Steelix and Garbodor appreciate Malamar pressuring Xatu and can act as Fairy-type checks, and all three are capable of checking Bug-types. While not necessary, Sticky Web support from Pokemon like Smeargle and Shuckle can prove useful for slowing down offensive checks like Choice Scarf Passimian and preventing them from revenge killing Malamar after it sets up. Smeargle can also put Pokemon to sleep with Spore, which can potentially create setup opportunities for Malamar. Malamar tends to lure in bulky Poison-types like Golbat and Vileplume and can deal heavy amounts of damage to them with a +1 Psycho Cut. Because of this, Pokemon that appreciate the removal of Poison-types, mainly Fighting-types such as Passimian, Scrafty, and Toxicroak, pair well with Malamar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Malamar can make use of Substitute, potentially in combination with Aguav Berry to grant it a form of recovery, which guards Malamar from status conditions and weaker attackers, allowing it to set up more easily. However, Malamar struggles against bulky Poison- and Fairy-types without Psycho Cut. Choice Scarf can be used to turn Malamar into more of a late-game cleaner, though it isn't very powerful unboosted and its ability to alternate between moves is a key element in what makes Malamar as threatening as it is. Z-Happy Hour variants can opt to run coverage moves like Rock Slide and Poison Jab in order to threaten Malamar's checks, though doing so means that it will have issues bypassing Poison-type Pokemon like Toxicroak.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bug-types and Bug-type Coverage**: Bug-types like Scyther and Vikavolt are capable of taking unboosted attacks from Malamar and OHKOing it with their respective STAB attacks, with Vikavolt not really minding Knock Off either due to it commonly running Buginium Z. Accelgor outspeeds Malamar even at +1 and can OHKO with Bug Buzz as well. Bug-type coverage from Pokemon such as Passimian, Xatu, and Slowbro can also threaten Malamar.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Diancie, Aromatisse, and Whimsicott threaten Malamar with a super effective Moonblast while not taking very much from any of Malamar's attacks bar Psycho Cut. The former two can also set up alongside Malamar with Calm Mind and Trick Room, respectively.
**Pyukumuku**: Pyukumuku's ability Unaware means that it walls Malamar, with Spite variants being able to PP stall Malamar. However, Taunt variants of Z-Happy Hour Malamar stop Pyukumuku in its tracks, while RestTalk variants can potentially PP stall Pyukumuku without Spite.
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