BP
Beers and Steers
[OVERVIEW]
Mareanie's access to Regenerator, decent mixed bulk, and expansive utility movepool allow it to excel on both balanced and defensive teams as a bulky pivot. Thanks to its solid defensive typing, Mareanie can check common threats such as Combusken, Silvally-Fighting, Silvally-Water, and Floatzel. Moreover, Toxic Spikes can wear down Pokemon such as Shiftry and Pinsir, and Haze allows Mareanie to prevent Pokemon such as Combusken and Muk from setting up. Unfortunately, Mareanie is overwhelmingly passive and can easily be forced out by common Electric- and Ground-types such as Electivire, Zebstrika, and Golem. Its passivity also means that it becomes Taunt and setup bait to Pokemon such as Floatzel, Vigoroth, Substitute Swords Dance Bouffalant, and Calm Mind Kadabra, though it can somewhat mitigate being setup fodder thanks to Haze. In addition, Mareanie's passiveness is an invitation to strong wallbreakers such as Beheeyem, Choice Specs Abomasnow, and Shiftry. This confines its role as a bulky pivot to mostly Balance and Stall. Finally, Mareanie fears being hit by Knock Off, as it loses most of its bulk when Eviolite is removed.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Recover
move 2: Scald / Sludge Bomb
move 3: Toxic Spikes / Toxic
move 4: Haze / Knock Off
item: Eviolite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Recover is necessary for Mareanie so that it can continue pivoting and not have to rely on Regenerator. Scald is useful for its burn utility, as it discourages physical attackers such as Golem, Crustle, and Electivire from switching into Mareanie. Alternatively, Sludge Bomb can be used to chip down Pokemon that Scald can't such as Floatzel, Silvally-Water, Swanna, and Abomasnow. Mareanie tends to struggle with Taunt Floatzel, and Sludge Bomb allows Mareanie to beat it. Toxic Spikes allows Mareanie to wear down the opposing team and thus support its teammates. Thanks to Regenerator, Mareanie can set up Toxic Spikes consistently throughout the match, allowing constant pressure. Toxic can be run over Toxic Spikes in order to punish incoming switch-ins and Pokemon that try to use Mareanie as setup fodder. Haze prevents Mareanie from becoming setup fodder for a majority of the metagame's setup sweepers such as Combusken, Komala, Shiftry, Swords Dance Silvally-Fighting, and more. Knock Off is an option that allows Mareanie to cripple switch-ins such as Electivire and Abomasnow. In addition, Knock Off is able to whittle down defensive Pokemon such as Altaria, Lickilicky, and Bronzor as well as remove helpful items such as Eviolite and Leftovers.
Set Details
========
In order to maximize Mareanie's physical bulk, 248 HP and 252 Defense EVs are required. This allows Mareanie to more reliably check Pokemon such as Swords Dance Combusken. Alternatively, Mareanie can run a set consisting of 220 Special Defense EVs and a Calm nature in order to better check Pokemon such as Choice Specs Abomasnow and Swanna. Regenerator increases Mareanie's longevity and makes it much harder to wear down throughout the match. Eviolite is the only item Mareanie runs because of the buff it provides to Mareanie's defensive stats.
Usage Tips
========
Mareanie should be brought in on Pokemon it walls such as Combusken, Silvally-Fighting, and Mawile. When in play, Mareanie should be setting up Toxic Spikes or firing off Scald or Sludge Bomb to fish for status or chip down wallbreakers that try to switch in. It's imperative that Mareanie stays healthy by utilizing Recover and Regenerator in order to maintain its role as a defensive pivot. When facing a setup sweeper, Mareanie should utilize Haze in order to negate the foe's stat changes. However, Mareanie may not be able to stomach boosted attacks from Pokemon such as Bouffalant and Pinsir, so it should mainly focus on setup sweepers it is able to check reliably such as Combusken and Swanna. Mareanie is incredibly reliant on its Eviolite, so its important that moves like Knock Off, Trick, and Switcheroo from Pokemon like Komala, Rotom-S, and Floatzel aren't used on Mareanie.
Team Options
========
Mareanie fits best on balanced and defensive teams due to its primarily passive nature and a handful of resistances. Entry hazard setters such as Golem, Crustle, and Bronzor wear down opposing offensive threats for Mareanie. Bronzor makes for a fantastic partner on both balance and defensive teams because Mareanie can check Pokemon like Combusken for Bronzor while Bronzor is able to check Golem and Zebstrika. Mareanie appreciates Pokemon that can switch into Electric- and Ground-type attacks such as Gourgeist-XL, Altaria, and Shiinotic. Pokemon that can switch into Knock Off such as Silvally formes and Z-Move users like Combusken, defensive Granbull, and Pinsir all pair well with Mareanie. Mareanie pairs well with Pokemon that discourage or negate hazard removal such as Pawniard, Servine, Purugly, Gourgiest-XL, and Dusclops, as Mareanie likes to whittle down the opposing team. Wallbreakers that appreciate Toxic Spikes support such as Abomasnow, Shiftry, Pinsir, Floatzel, and Choice Band Komala all appreciate Mareanie as a defensive pivot. Gourgiest-XL makes for a great partner for Mareanie because it's able to check Ground-types and take advantage of Pokemon that rely on Knock Off as a coverage move. In return, Mareanie is able to check Pokemon like Combusken.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mareanie has no other viable options that wouldn't take away from its only set.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types** Mareanie struggles with Electric-types such as Electivire, Raichu, and Zebstrika due to their super effective STAB attacks. Rotom-S should also be mentioned, as it is able to remove entry hazards and threaten Mareanie.
**Psychic-types** Psychic-types such as Mr. Mime, Beheeyem, and Kadabra all threaten Mareanie. Kadabra can bypass status and entry hazards thanks to its ability Magic Guard and KO Mareanie easily. Thanks to its Magic Bounce, Natu is able to completely shut down Mareanie, as it is not able to set up Toxic Spikes or spread status.
**Ground-types** Ground-types such as Golem, Sandslash, Marowak, and Silvally-Ground all threaten Mareanie but dislike switching into Scald. Gabite, in particular, is neutral to Water-type attacks and is able to pressure Mareanie more easily due to Earthquake.
**Strong Wallbreakers** Even with its decent bulk, Mareanie fears strong wallbreakers like Abomasnow, Rampardos, and Choice Band Komala.
**Eviolite Removal** Without Eviolite, Mareanie loses a majority of its bulk, so Pokemon with that run Knock Off such as Komala, Pawniard, Shiftry, and Mawile all threaten it. In addition to Knock Off, Trick and Switcheroo from Pokemon such as Mr. Mime, Rotom-S and Floatzel also threaten Mareanie.
- Written by: [[Broken Phobias, 272450]]
- Quality checked by: [[5gen, 296755], [[BloodAce, 435539], [Aaronboyer, 239454]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157]]
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