[OVERVIEW]
When holding its signature item, Thick Club, Marowak gains a titanic Attack stat, which, along with its good coverage, allows it to 2HKO almost every Pokemon in the NU metagame. Unfortunately, Marowak suffers from various flaws that make it a very mediocre Pokemon. Chief among this is the competition from other Ground-types, as Marowak is very hard to justify using over the likes of Rhydon, Golurk, Torterra, and Pilowine, all of which possess better bulk and typings, allowing them to check far more of the metagame. In addition, Marowak is cripplingly slow, leaving it easily revenge killed, which isn't helped by its common weaknesses to Grass-, Water-, and Ice-type moves.
[SET]
name: Bone Crusher (Wallbreaker)
move 1: Bonemerang
move 2: Double-Edge / Stone Edge
move 3: Swords Dance / Substitute / Stone Edge
move 4: Knock Off
item: Thick Club
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Bonemerang allows Marowak to OHKO Sturdy and Focus Sash users; however, if its imperfect accuracy is unappealing, Earthquake can be chosen instead. Double-Edge has no recoil thanks to Rock Head and hits Grass- and Flying-types and Weezing neutrally. Stone Edge maims Flying-types such as Archeops and Pelipper in addition to these Pokemon, but it is weaker and less reliable than Double-Edge. Swords Dance lets Marowak beat walls with recovery and makes it an even more fearsome wallbreaker, but Marowak's low Speed stat makes it fairly hard to use, and a lot of times just attacking can be more useful. Substitute eases prediction, punishes Protect users, avoids Sucker Punch and status, and keeps Marowak from being revenge killed by priority users or once Trick Room or Tailwind turns are over. Knock Off nails the Gourgeist formes and Levitating Ghost-types, which otherwise wall Marowak. Stealth Rock can be used if it can't be fitted on anything else on the team. Fire Punch can be used in the third slot to nail Ferroseed and deal more damage to other Grass-types and Scyther.
Set Details
========
Thick Club doubles Marowak's Attack, which makes it insanely powerful. Rock Head prevents recoil damage from Double-Edge; however, Battle Armor is Marowak's only useful ability if it opts to run Stone Edge. The spread makes Marowak as fast and as powerful as possible, outspeeding the likes of maximum Speed Adamant Rhydon and Lanturn. A Jolly nature is also an option to outspeed Jolly Rhydon and Mawile. If you're using Marowak on a full Trick Room team, the Speed EVs should be moved to HP, and a Brave nature and a 0 Speed IV should be used to outspeed as many foes as possible under Trick Room.
Usage Tips
========
Send in Marowak against Pokemon that can't do too much to it, such as physical Skuntank, Garbodor, and defensive Mawile, preferably when Trick Room or Tailwind is up or by Baton Passing it Speed boosts; however, Marowak can certainly work without them as a wallbreaker to weaken its teammates' and its own checks. It can also be brought in through U-turn, Volt Switch, or Baton Pass support from the likes of defensive Mesprit, taking advantage of its teammates' switch-ins. Bonemerang is Marowak's most powerful move and thus the one Marowak will most often use, putting at least a dent on most Pokemon in the tier; however, when appropriate, Marowak can nail a switch-in such as Gourgeist-XL or Scyther with its coverage moves or even set up Swords Dance or Substitute. If necessary, Marowak can take a hit at full health thanks to its decent bulk and KO the opposing Pokemon. Late-game, once its checks are weakened and dangerous priority users are gone, Marowak can sweep with the speed control typically paired with it.
Team Options
========
When using Marowak, you should usually pair it up with some form of speed control. Trick Room is probably the best option, as it lasts several turns, supports the entire team, and allows Marowak to outspeed even Choice Scarf users. Mega Audino, Audino, Musharna, Mesprit, Carbink, and Exeggutor are all good setters; the former three also provide Healing Wish support, Mesprit and Carbink can set up Stealth Rock, and Exeggutor is a a nice offensive partner. Support Combusken can reliably pass multiple Speed boosts and let Marowak come in unscathed thanks to Substitute; offensive Combusken can also serve this role, but, due to its lack of Substitute and Marowak's poor matchup against most Combusken switch-ins, it can be difficult to pull off a Baton Pass. Sticky Web lets Marowak outspeed a fair number of grounded foes that would outspeed it otherwise; however, because of Marowak's low Speed stat, it will only outspeed up to fully invested base 90s with the same nature. Tailwind support from the likes of Shiftry, Scyther, and Mantine doubles Marowak's Speed, supports the entire team instead of just Marowak, and doesn't require Marowak to directly switch in, unlike Combusken support, but it doesn't last many turns, and most of the time, it involves sacrificing the Tailwind setter. Teammates with access to Thunder Wave, such as defensive Mesprit and Lanturn, can also provide speed control. Fire-, Ice-, Poison-, and Flying-types, such as Pyroar, Aurorus, Garbodor, and Swellow, maim the Grass-types that check Marowak, such as Tangela and the Gourgeist formes. Checks to Water-types, specifically Aqua Jet users, are also welcome partners, as they can revenge kill Marowak regardless of speed control; Pokemon such as Exeggutor and Vileplume fit well on the Trick Room teams Marowak most often finds itself in, while the likes of Lilligant and Zebstrika threaten the faster teams that Marowak can struggle against without speed control. Other wallbreakers, such as Aurorus and Magmortar, can also take advantage of the speed control that is often paired with Marowak. Pokemon such as Samurott and Klinklang share a lot of switch-ins with Marowak and can sweep after Marowak almost inevitably breaks through them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Facade is an option so that Marowak isn't useless if it's burned. Thunder Punch is more accurate than Stone Edge, but it should never be used over Double-Edge.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types and Levitate Users**: Flying-types and Levitate users can come in on Marowak's STAB move and threaten it out or at least make it waste a crucial Trick Room or Tailwind turn; however, most of them are subsequently KOed by Double-Edge or Knock Off, and switching them in is a fruitless strategy if Marowak has been passed Speed boosts. Weezing in particular is one of the better checks to Marowak, as it survives even a +2 Double-Edge, but it is worn down very quickly.
**Bulky Water- and Grass-types**: Although most bulky Water- and Grass-types are 2HKOed by Marowak, a lot of them can avoid the OHKO and KO Marowak back with their super effective STAB moves. Tangela and Gourgeist-XL in particular are bothersome; however, Tangela has a high chance to be 2HKOed by Double-Edge after taking Stealth Rock damage if its Eviolite has been removed, and Gourgeist-XL is OHKOed by a +2 Knock Off.
**Faster Pokemon**: Because of Marowak's low Speed, it is easily revenge killed by faster Pokemon such as Archeops, Jynx, and Lilligant. However, Marowak's acceptable bulk allows it to survive most neutral hits, and it can turn the tide against faster Pokemon with the speed control that it's often paired with.
**Priority**: Even if Marowak is under Trick Room or Tailwind or has been passed multiple boosts, if weakened, it can be revenge killed by priority; Aqua Jet, Ice Shard, and Fake Out are especially deadly for it, as the former two hit Marowak super effectively and the latter makes Marowak waste a Trick Room or Tailwind turn. It's important to note that Marowak can avoid Sucker Punch with Substitute and that its decent bulk allows it to tank most priority if it isn't weakened.
Last edited:
