[OVERVIEW]
Fire
========
Due to a great offensive typing in conjunction with a massive Attack stat thanks to Thick Club, Alolan Marowak makes for a strong wallbreaker on Fire teams. Its ability in Lightning Rod allows Alolan Marowak to block Electric-type moves, most notably Volt Switch, allowing it to be a great switch-in for Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and Magnezone, which can give Alolan Marowak opportunities to dish out attacks. Alolan Marowak is a far more threatening Stealth Rock setter than the passive and more common Torkoal due to its ability to pressure common Defoggers such as Zapdos, Mantine, Skarmory, and Crobat thanks to its sky-high Attack stat. Due to its Ghost typing Alolan Marowak serves as a great spinblocker, allowing it to keep up Stealth Rock versus Bug teams. However, its slow base 45 Speed and average bulk cause Alolan Marowak to get revenge killed easily. It is often outclassed by other physical wallbreakers such as Infernape and Victini, as they possess better Speed tiers. Alolan Marowak is also vulnerable to all entry hazards and weak to Stealth Rock, which can wear it down quickly. It also does not appreciate Knock Off due to it relying on Thick Club to double its Attack stat, as without it, Alolan Marowak's wallbreaking potential is subpar.
[SET]
name: Utility Wallbreaker (Fire)
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Shadow Bone
move 3: Flare Blitz / Fire Punch
move 4: Earthquake
item: Thick Club
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Jolly
evs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 228 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock provides the team with entry hazards, wearing down the opposing team throughout the match so Alolan Marowak's teammates can sweep easier. Shadow Bone hits a lot of the metagame hard, as a lot of teams lack Ghost-resistant Pokemon. Notably, it can be used to hit Slowbro for super effective damage. Flare Blitz is a powerful Fire-type STAB move that hits Pokemon such as Venusaur, Chansey, and Celesteela hard; however, using it alongside Lightning Rod may wear down Alolan Marowak. Fire Punch is a safer Fire-type STAB option for Grass and Steel teams, since Marowak's durability is valued more throughout the course of the match. Earthquake allows Alolan Marowak to hit Electric-, Poison-, and Rock-type Pokemon such as Alolan Golem, Alolan Muk, Toxapex, and Tyranitar for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
228 Speed EVs alongside a Jolly nature allow Alolan Marowak to outspeed all 200 Speed Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Mantine, and slower variants of Mandibuzz. Maximum Attack investment allows Alolan Marowak to hit as hard as possible in conjunction with Thick Club. The remaining EVs are put into HP to maximize its bulk and to give Alolan Marowak an odd HP value so it can switch in on Stealth Rock more times. Lightning Rod grants Alolan Marowak an Electric immunity, allowing it to counter Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and Magnezone, as well as block Volt Switch.
Usage Tips
========
Alolan Marowak is a utility wallbreaker, so try and get it into battle as early as possible and switch it into resisted attacks or predicted Electric-type moves so that it essentially gets a free turn to set up Stealth Rock or dish out a powerful attack. It is very critical to keep Alolan Marowak healthy in Electric matchups, as it stops Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Zapdos from going for their Electric-type STAB moves, which includes Volt Switch. Alolan Marowak should be used to wallbreak in the early-game to punch holes in the opposing team. It should prioritize getting up Stealth Rock versus Dragon, Dark, and other Fire teams, as Alolan Marowak does not have the best offensive matchups and can enforce entry hazard pressure on these teams. Alolan Marowak is also a great Stealth Rock user, as it can spinblock and thus keep up Stealth Rock versus Bug teams. It can also threaten potential Defoggers such as Zapdos, Skarmory, and Mantine. Choice Scarf Latios will also have to make a decision between going for a sacrificial Defog in order to get rid of Stealth Rock or attacking Alolan Marowak. It is critical for Alolan Marowak to avoid Knock Off users, as it will lose its Thick Club, which will then cut Alolan Marowak's Attack stat in half. Use Flare Blitz only to break through walls that resist or do not take enough damage from Shadow Bone, such as Mandibuzz, Mega Venusaur, and Chansey, as this will wear down Alolan Marowak unnecessarily.
Team Options
========
Mega Charizard Y is a complementary teammate for Alolan Marowak, as it provides sun support with its ability Drought and can threaten Water- and Ground-types with Solar Beam. Mega Charizard Y appreciates Alolan Marowak as a teammate due to its ability in Lightning Rod, as it can switch into threatening Electric-type attacks for Mega Charizard Y. Mega Charizard X is also great teammate for Alolan Marowak, as it has a much easier time sweeping Dragon teams once Stealth Rock is up. Mega Charizard X also appreciates Alolan Marowak's ability to punch holes through the opposing team, weakening them for Mega Charizard X to sweep. Volcarona also can get rid of Dark-types that threaten Alolan Marowak with Bug Buzz, and it appreciates Alolan Marowak setting up Stealth Rock for it, allowing it to sweep more easily. Infernape is another great teammate that can threaten Dark- and Rock-types and faster Pokemon that would otherwise be able to get rid of Alolan Marowak like Excadrill, Heatran, and Tyranitar. Heatran is also a great teammate, as it is able to trap and eliminate physical walls with Magma Storm, and without the need to run Stealth Rock on Heatran, it is free to run Flash Cannon in order to get rid of Mega Diancie. Victini can also benefit from Alolan Marowak's wallbreaking capabilities, as it can get rid of Psychic-types, which can then free up a late-game Z-Celebrate sweep. Rotom-H provides a Ground-type immunity, can pivot with Volt Switch, and can provide Defog support to aid Alolan Marowak from taking damage from entry hazards. Rotom-H also provides dual screens support and, in conjunction with Alolan Marowak's Stealth Rock, allows teammates to sweep more easily. Volcanion is a great partner for Alolan Marowak, as it provides a Water immunity and is a special wallbreaker that complements Alolan Marowak as a physical wallbreaker. Alolan Marowak also complements Volcanion, as it provides an Electric immunity with Lightning Rod.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Fire
--------
Swords Dance can be used to give Alolan Marowak monstrous wallbreaking potential; however, with its low Speed stat and subpar bulk, Alolan Marowak will rarely ever pull off a Swords Dance sweep.
Checks and Counters
===================
Fire
--------
**Super Effective Attacks**: Water-types such as Keldeo, Mega Swampert, and Rotom-W, Rock-types such as Tyranitar, Mega Diancie, Terrakion, and Nihilego, Ground-type Pokemon like Excadrill, Landorus, and Garchomp, as well as Dark-type Pokemon such as Hydreigon, Bisharp, and Mega Sharpedo can all outspeed and KO Alolan Marowak with their STAB attacks.
**Revenge Killers and Wallbreakers**: Faster offensive threats such as Kyurem-B, Dragonite, and Kommo-o will easily outspeed and OHKO Alolan Marowak, as it has poor bulk.
**Entry Hazards and Residual Damage**: Being a grounded Fire-type, entry hazard damage from Stealth Rock and Spikes can wear down Alolan Marowak quickly and significantly; Toxic poison and Flare Blitz recoil can do so as well.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Alolan Marowak cannot OHKO certain physical walls such as Mandibuzz, Hippowdon, and Porygon2, and these examples all carry moves that can KO Alolan Marowak, such as Foul Play and Earthquake.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[ Splashbrutha , 437289]]
- Fire analysis by: [[Splashbrutha, 437289]]
- Quality checked by: [[ Maroon, 305839 ], [Decem, 362454], [Moosical, 215618]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659], [Empress, 175616]]
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