Competitive Information for Malamar [X/Y]
Dark / Psychic
Abilities:
If this Pokemon has a stat stage raised it is lowered instead, and vice versa.
Moves ignore substitutes and the foe's Reflect, Light Screen, Safeguard, and Mist.
This Pokemon cannot be forced to switch out by another Pokemon's attack or item.
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Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Malamar? These builds are optimized for X/Y Single Battles. The movesets and EVs are designed to maximize damage against common opponents and threats in the X/Y metagame. Check out the expert movesets below to boost your battle performance and dominate your opponents!
Get hyped for Malamar, a top-notch Pokémon with Dark and Psychic typing! It's to see Malamar show up as a X/Y opponent. It's an underrated pick that could surprise many in the meta. Its only type-related weaknesses are Bug and Fairy. Discover Malamar's movesets below and unleash its potential in battles!
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Contrary
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Knock Off / Night Slash
- Psycho Cut
- Superpower / Reversal
- Return / Slash
In single battles, Malamar is known as a remarkable Physical Sweeper. This technique aims to take down the opponent's team with formidable physical attacks. 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. With a Tanga Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective bug-type attack then the Tanga Berry gets consumed.
◆ Night Slash is a physical STAB-boosted 70-base power Dark-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ 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).
◆ Reversal is a physical 0-base power Fighting-type move (more power the less hp your Malamar has left).
◆ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
◆ Slash is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/iaa2af
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
Nature: Impish (+Def, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Moveset:
- Psycho Cut
- Night Slash
- Superpower
- Substitute
For those intense single battles, Malamar is a noteworthy Physical Tank. It's purpose is to take a decent amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Malamar last longer regaining it's HP 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/iba2af
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Malamar? These builds are perfect for VGC (Pokémon Video Game Championship) and other competitive X/Y Double Battles. The VGC is the ultimate test of strategy and skill, and these movesets and EVs are designed to excel against multiple opponents at once while providing essential support to your team. Dominate the X/Y metagame with these expert-crafted setups!
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Contrary
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Knock Off / Night Slash
- Psycho Cut
- Rock Slide
- Superpower / Reversal
Malamar is a noteworthy Physical Sweeper to use for double battles. This setup is intended to overwhelm foes with forceful physical moves. 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. With a Tanga Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective bug-type attack then the Tanga Berry gets consumed.
◆ Night Slash is a physical STAB-boosted 70-base power Dark-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ 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 make the foes flinch).
◆ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (increases your Malamar's attack and defense by 1 stage).
◆ Reversal is a physical 0-base power Fighting-type move (more power the less hp your Malamar has left).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/jaa2af
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Contrary
Nature: Sassy (+SpD, -Spe)
Nature: Relaxed (+Def, -Spe)
EVs: 252 Hp / 76 Def / 180 SpD
Moveset:
- Knock Off / Night Slash
- Psycho Cut
- Superpower / Reversal
- Trick Room
Prepare for single battles with Malamar as a high-quality Defensive Trick Roomer. 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. With a Tanga Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective bug-type attack then the Tanga Berry gets consumed.
◆ Night Slash is a physical STAB-boosted 70-base power Dark-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ 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).
◆ Reversal is a physical 0-base power Fighting-type move (more power the less hp your Malamar has left).
◆ Trick Room is a status move (goes last. For 5 turns, turn order is reversed).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/jba2af
Movepool
Want to know what moves Malamar can learn? Check out the full list of moves available in the Pokemon X/Y generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by type, category, accuracy, and power. Moves in bold get the same-type attack bonus (STAB) when used by Malamar.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Malamar can perform in X/Y. 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 XY Move and Ability Combos for Malamar
- Moves: Swagger + Flatter
- Moves: Swagger + Foul play
- Moves: Swagger + Psych up
- Moves: Flatter + Psych up
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Substitute + Reversal
- Ability: Contrary + Move: Superpower
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Protect, Snatch
- Moves that inflict status: Hypnosis, Toxic
Moves that boost Malamar's stats
- Calm Mind
Most notable and possible best moves for Malamar
- Destiny Bond
- Knock Off
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Reflect
- Rest
- Taunt
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Malamar in X and Y
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Jolly Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Timid Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Bold Nature ( 252/0/252/0/0/4 )
- Calm Nature ( 252/0/0/0/252/4 )
- Relaxed Nature ( 252/0/88/0/168/0 )
- Sassy Nature ( 252/0/4/0/252/0 )
- Optimize Malamar's Defensive EV-spread for Pokemon X and Y
Usage Data
Explore the latest analytical usage data for this Pokémon from various VGC and online competitions. We use this data to develop our strategies and movesets. The data is categorized by competition and skill level: top-ranking trainers, mid-level players, and entry-level players.
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Here are the best movesets for Malamar. Top rated Malamar X/Y movesets. You can find Malamar builds X/Y. Malamar movesets X/Y are listed here. VGC Malamar Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Malamar in X/Y along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution