Competitive Information for Malamar [Sword/Shield]
Dark / Psychic
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Malamar? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
WhimsicottTorkoalCharizardExcadrillGothitelleTapu FiniIncineroarEldegossGrimmsnarlNaganadel
Malamar is a stupendous Dark and Psychic-typed Pokemon. It's pretty standard to find yourself dealing with Malamar when battling in the 8th generation meta. Malamar's only type-related weaknesses are Bug and Fairy.
Item: Assault Vest / Figy Berry
Ability: Contrary
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 192 Hp / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 60 Spe
Moveset:
- Superpower
- Liquidation
- Throat Chop
- Psycho Cut
Physical Tank Malamar (Popular/Trending)
Malamar is a spectacular Physical Tank. It's designed to take a decent amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. With Contrary, if Malamar has a stat stage raised it is lowered instead and vice versa.
♦ Liquidation is a physical 85-base power Water-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Throat Chop is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Dark-type move (for 2 turns, the target cannot use sound moves).
♦ Psycho Cut is a physical STAB-boosted 70-base power Psychic-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Contrary
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Knock Off / Foul Play
- Psycho Cut
- Superpower
- Slash / Facade
Physical Sweeper Malamar (Contrary)
Malamar is a marvelous Physical Sweeper. This moveset is designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Malamar from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Contrary, if Malamar has a stat stage raised it is lowered instead and vice versa. Facade's damage doubles when the user has a status affliction.
♦ Foul Play is a physical STAB-boosted 95-base power Dark-type move (uses target's attack stat in damage calculation).
♦ Psycho Cut is a physical STAB-boosted 70-base power Psychic-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (increases your Malamar's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Slash is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Facade is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if Malamar is burn/poison/paralyzed).
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
Nature: Impish (+Def, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Moveset:
- Psycho Cut
- Night Slash
- Superpower
- Substitute
Malamar Physical Tank (Psycho Squid)
Malamar is an astounding Physical Tank. It's designed to take a substantial amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Malamar last longer regaining it's stamina every turn. With Contrary, if Malamar has a stat stage raised it is lowered instead and vice versa. Substitute first then Superpower your Stats up while dealing nasty amounts of damage to your opponent!
♦ Night Slash is a physical STAB-boosted 70-base power Dark-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (increases your Malamar's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Substitute is a status move (Malamar takes 1/4 its max hp to put in a substitute).
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Malamar? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
WhimsicottTorkoalCharizardExcadrillGothitelleTapu FiniIncineroarEldegossGrimmsnarlNaganadel
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Contrary
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Knock Off / Foul Play
- Psycho Cut
- Rock Slide
- Superpower
Doubles Physical Sweeper Malamar (Contrary)
Malamar is a decent Physical Sweeper. It tries to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Malamar from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Contrary, if Malamar has a stat stage raised it is lowered instead and vice versa.
♦ Foul Play is a physical STAB-boosted 95-base power Dark-type move (uses target's attack stat in damage calculation).
♦ Psycho Cut is a physical STAB-boosted 70-base power Psychic-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (increases your Malamar's attack and defense by 1 stage).
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Contrary
Nature: Sassy (+SpD, -Spe)
Nature: Relaxed (+Def, -Spe)
EVs: 252 Hp / 76 Def / 180 SpD
Moveset:
- Toxic
- Knock Off / Foul Play
- Psycho Cut
- Trick Room
Defensive Trick Room Malamar (Contrary)
Malamar is a remarkable Defensive Trick Room. Focus Sash helps protect Malamar from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Contrary, if Malamar has a stat stage raised it is lowered instead and vice versa.
♦ Knock Off is a physical STAB-boosted 65-base power Dark-type move (1.5x damage if foe holds an item; Note: This will also remove that item).
♦ Foul Play is a physical STAB-boosted 95-base power Dark-type move (uses target's attack stat in damage calculation).
♦ Psycho Cut is a physical STAB-boosted 70-base power Psychic-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Trick Room is a status move (goes last. for 5 turns, turn order is reversed).
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Malamar learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Malamar can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Malamar
- Moves: Swagger + Flatter
- Moves: Swagger + Foul play
- Moves: Swagger + Psych Up
- Moves: Flatter + Psych Up
- Moves: Endure + Reversal
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Substitute + Reversal
- Moves: Stored Power + Psych Up
- Ability: Contrary + Move: Superpower
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect, Ally Switch
Most notable and possible best moves for Malamar
- Liquidation
- Protect
- Psycho Cut
- Superpower
- Throat Chop
- Topsy-Turvy
- Trick Room
Common Effort Values for Malamar in Sword and Shield
- Adamant Nature ( 192/252/0/0/4/60 )
- Adamant Nature ( 252/252/0/0/4/0 )
- Optimize Malamar's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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