Competitive Information for Malamar [X/Y]
Dark / Psychic
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Malamar? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in X/Y 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 X/Y generation metagame.
Malamar is an awesome Dark and Psychic-typed Pokemon. It's usual to see Malamar show up as a X/Y opponent. This Pokemon deserves to see more play in the meta. Malamar's only type-related weaknesses are Bug and Fairy.
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 / Reversal
- Return / Slash
Physical Sweeper Malamar (Contrary)
Malamar is an extraordinary Physical Sweeper. The purpose of this moveset is 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).
♦ 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/gs10a2af
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 pretty popular Physical Tank. It was designed to take a nice amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Malamar last longer regaining it's health points 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/gs11a2af
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Malamar? These builds have been optimized for X/Y 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 X/Y generation metagame.
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 / Reversal
Doubles Physical Sweeper Malamar (Contrary)
Malamar is a pretty decent Physical Sweeper. It's purpose is 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).
♦ 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/gd10a2af
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 spectacular 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gd11a2af
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 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: Toxic, Hypnosis
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 )
- Optimize Malamar's EV spread for Pokemon X and Y
Related Videos
Here are various how-to-use and competitive moveset analysis video guides for Malamar in X/Y. These featured videos will most likely contain additional strategies and combos not listed on our site. Disclaimer: All videos belong to their respective owners along with the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the videos. They belong solely to the author and not to us.
We currently do not have any competitive video guides for Malamar in X/Y
Want to have your Competitive Pokemon videos sponsored on our site? Contact us!
Some builds on this page have been hidden, click here to display them
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