[OVERVIEW]
With valuable resistances to Water, Ground, and Electric, as well as the even more valuable Spikes, Maractus blossoms in PU as the most versatile Spikes setter the tier has to offer. It can go either defensive or offensive, leveraging either its strong defensive synergies or its respectable power to force openings to lay down more Spikes. Maractus even has plenty of healing options in Giga Drain and Synthesis to make sure that it has plenty of opportunities to lay down even more Spikes throughout the match. Unfortunately, Maractus has neither the bulk to avoid being run over by stronger threats like Beheeyem and Stoutland nor the offensive prowess or coverage to be a true offensive threat, so it can struggle to keep up with other Grass-types like Torterra or Vileplume.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Synthesis
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Knock Off / Hidden Power Ice / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
The last move is a choice of three; Knock Off is recommended for its general utility in getting rid of useful items like Eviolite on targets such as Bronzor, Natu, and Duosion, and Hidden Power Ice adds coverage to counter Flying- and Grass-types like Natu and Torterra. Toxic can also be used for additional chip damage on top of the Spikes, and it notably targets Monferno that would switch in to force out Maractus. The Speed EVs are to outspeed Natu, giving Maractus the ability to remove Natu's Eviolite or finish it off with Hidden Power Ice before it switches out or heals with Roost. Maractus can also run 136 Speed EVs to outspeed neutral nature Marowak, but this digs heavily into Defense.
The Spikes that Maractus provides is a huge boon for offensive teammates like Zebstrika and Monferno because they help keep their offensive pressure up. Maractus tends to attract the attention of common Fire-, Ice-, and Flying-types such as Monferno, Sneasel, and Dodrio, so teammates that can switch into those threats such as Frillish and Bronzor make for good partners. Maractus also makes for a good switch-in for Ground- and Water-types like Stunfisk and Golduck, so Pokemon that appreciate having those threats handled such as Zebstrika and Monferno also make for good partners. Pokemon that can threaten common entry hazard removal Pokemon like Tentacool and Natu, such as Zebstrika and Banette, are also excellent additions to its team. As a final note, Maractus pairs up well with Zweilous, since Zweilous is able to absorb the Fire-type attacks thrown at Maractus and then utilize Roar to rack up Spikes damage on the opposing team.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Synthesis
move 3: Giga Drain / Seed Bomb
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Sucker Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb / Storm Drain
nature: Modest / Adamant
evs: 248 HP / 124 SpA / 136 Spe or 248 HP / 124 Atk / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set still focuses on setting Spikes over the course of the game but is able to use its offensive prowess to force out entry hazard control and threaten out certain Ground- and Water-types such as Marowak and Golduck. The Speed EVs are to outspeed maximum Speed neutral nature Marowak with enough offensive investment to OHKO 0 HP Marowak after Stealth Rock with Giga Drain. Seed Bomb is an alternative STAB option for 2HKOing the most popular hazard control option of 0 Defense Tentacool, which is something that the specially offensive variant can only dream of, so the choice of STAB attacks comes down to survivability with Giga Drain or better threatening Tentacool with Seed Bomb. Between the two, Giga Drain is the preferred STAB option for its useful healing and reasonable enough power. Hidden Power Ice is the preferred coverage option for hitting Grass- and Flying-types like Torterra and Natu, but Sucker Punch is the less useful option that can be used alongside Seed Bomb as an unusual priority option. While not mandatory, it is recommended that Hidden Power Ice is paired with Giga Drain and Sucker Punch is paired with Seed Bomb so that the EV spreads allow Maractus to get the most out of its coverage. Water Absorb is still the preferred ability due to the potential healing making up for Maractus's lower defenses, but more aggressive players might want to reach for Storm Drain for some potential Special Attack boosts to make Giga Drain even stronger. Two EV spreads are also listed, one for if Maractus is using Giga Drain and the other for if it is using Seed Bomb.
Even with an offensive spread, Maractus still struggles with being walled by most Steel- and Poison-types such as Bronzor and Vileplume, so Pokemon such as Simisear and Beheeyem that can break through those threats make for good partners. Wallbreakers like Simisear also appreciate the Spikes Maractus brings to help break through stubborn walls. Maractus also covers the Water-and Ground-type weaknesses of Simisear and Monferno. Maractus tends to attract Flying- and Ice-types such as Jumpluff, Dodrio, and Sneasel, so Pokemon like Bronzor and Mawile pair well with Maractus to absorb those hits while setting up Stealth Rock. It is important to note that offensive Maractus is not a wallbreaker and primarily serves to threaten certain common threats like Stunfisk and Tentacool, so teammates like Monferno and Swanna that tend to draw in these threats appreciate the synergy offensive Maractus offers the most by helping position Maractus in front of these threats.
[CREDITS]
- Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
- Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
- Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
With valuable resistances to Water, Ground, and Electric, as well as the even more valuable Spikes, Maractus blossoms in PU as the most versatile Spikes setter the tier has to offer. It can go either defensive or offensive, leveraging either its strong defensive synergies or its respectable power to force openings to lay down more Spikes. Maractus even has plenty of healing options in Giga Drain and Synthesis to make sure that it has plenty of opportunities to lay down even more Spikes throughout the match. Unfortunately, Maractus has neither the bulk to avoid being run over by stronger threats like Beheeyem and Stoutland nor the offensive prowess or coverage to be a true offensive threat, so it can struggle to keep up with other Grass-types like Torterra or Vileplume.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Synthesis
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Knock Off / Hidden Power Ice / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
The last move is a choice of three; Knock Off is recommended for its general utility in getting rid of useful items like Eviolite on targets such as Bronzor, Natu, and Duosion, and Hidden Power Ice adds coverage to counter Flying- and Grass-types like Natu and Torterra. Toxic can also be used for additional chip damage on top of the Spikes, and it notably targets Monferno that would switch in to force out Maractus. The Speed EVs are to outspeed Natu, giving Maractus the ability to remove Natu's Eviolite or finish it off with Hidden Power Ice before it switches out or heals with Roost. Maractus can also run 136 Speed EVs to outspeed neutral nature Marowak, but this digs heavily into Defense.
The Spikes that Maractus provides is a huge boon for offensive teammates like Zebstrika and Monferno because they help keep their offensive pressure up. Maractus tends to attract the attention of common Fire-, Ice-, and Flying-types such as Monferno, Sneasel, and Dodrio, so teammates that can switch into those threats such as Frillish and Bronzor make for good partners. Maractus also makes for a good switch-in for Ground- and Water-types like Stunfisk and Golduck, so Pokemon that appreciate having those threats handled such as Zebstrika and Monferno also make for good partners. Pokemon that can threaten common entry hazard removal Pokemon like Tentacool and Natu, such as Zebstrika and Banette, are also excellent additions to its team. As a final note, Maractus pairs up well with Zweilous, since Zweilous is able to absorb the Fire-type attacks thrown at Maractus and then utilize Roar to rack up Spikes damage on the opposing team.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Synthesis
move 3: Giga Drain / Seed Bomb
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Sucker Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb / Storm Drain
nature: Modest / Adamant
evs: 248 HP / 124 SpA / 136 Spe or 248 HP / 124 Atk / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set still focuses on setting Spikes over the course of the game but is able to use its offensive prowess to force out entry hazard control and threaten out certain Ground- and Water-types such as Marowak and Golduck. The Speed EVs are to outspeed maximum Speed neutral nature Marowak with enough offensive investment to OHKO 0 HP Marowak after Stealth Rock with Giga Drain. Seed Bomb is an alternative STAB option for 2HKOing the most popular hazard control option of 0 Defense Tentacool, which is something that the specially offensive variant can only dream of, so the choice of STAB attacks comes down to survivability with Giga Drain or better threatening Tentacool with Seed Bomb. Between the two, Giga Drain is the preferred STAB option for its useful healing and reasonable enough power. Hidden Power Ice is the preferred coverage option for hitting Grass- and Flying-types like Torterra and Natu, but Sucker Punch is the less useful option that can be used alongside Seed Bomb as an unusual priority option. While not mandatory, it is recommended that Hidden Power Ice is paired with Giga Drain and Sucker Punch is paired with Seed Bomb so that the EV spreads allow Maractus to get the most out of its coverage. Water Absorb is still the preferred ability due to the potential healing making up for Maractus's lower defenses, but more aggressive players might want to reach for Storm Drain for some potential Special Attack boosts to make Giga Drain even stronger. Two EV spreads are also listed, one for if Maractus is using Giga Drain and the other for if it is using Seed Bomb.
Even with an offensive spread, Maractus still struggles with being walled by most Steel- and Poison-types such as Bronzor and Vileplume, so Pokemon such as Simisear and Beheeyem that can break through those threats make for good partners. Wallbreakers like Simisear also appreciate the Spikes Maractus brings to help break through stubborn walls. Maractus also covers the Water-and Ground-type weaknesses of Simisear and Monferno. Maractus tends to attract Flying- and Ice-types such as Jumpluff, Dodrio, and Sneasel, so Pokemon like Bronzor and Mawile pair well with Maractus to absorb those hits while setting up Stealth Rock. It is important to note that offensive Maractus is not a wallbreaker and primarily serves to threaten certain common threats like Stunfisk and Tentacool, so teammates like Monferno and Swanna that tend to draw in these threats appreciate the synergy offensive Maractus offers the most by helping position Maractus in front of these threats.
[CREDITS]
- Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
- Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
- Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
