Overview
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Marowak has two unique traits that make it stand out: Thick Club and Bonemerang. Thick Club doubles Marowak's Attack, while Bonemerang hits twice and thuserefore through Sturdy, Focus Sash, and Substitute. This gives Marowak a niche in NU as a powerful Ground-type attacker, with Thick Club maximizing Marowak's Attack at 568. With access to Stealth Rock, Marowak can also function as a lead, and it has decent physical bulk between its high Defense and its average HP. However, despite its massive power and decent utility, Marowak's low Speed and mediocre special bulk often hold it back.
Offensive
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Name: Offensive
Move 1: Bonemerang
Move 2: Double-Edge
Move 3: Substitute / Stealth Rock
Move 4: Knock Off
ability: Rock Head
item: Thick Club
evs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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Bonemerang is a STAB move that hits twice with 50 Base Power on each hit, allowing it to KO opponents through Sturdy, Focus Sash, and Substitute. However, it is only 90%does not have perfect accuratecy; Earthquake is an alternative with 100% accuracy. Double-Edge is a powerful coverage move with no recoil thanks to Marowak's ability, Rock Head. Substitute can be used to ease prediction, while Stealth Rock allows Marowak to function well as a lead. Knock Off is another great coverage move, hitting levitating Ghost-types that use Levitate. Stone Edge can be used instead of Double-Edge to hit Flying-types super effectively.
Set Details
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Maximum Attack investment is used for the largest possible damage output, while 216 Speed EVs allow Marowak to outpace uninvested base 70 Speed Pokemon and negative-natured Seismitoad. The remaining EvVs are placed in HP to slightly increase Marowak's bulk. Thick Club doubles Marowak's Attack, while Rock Head prevents recoil damage from Double-Edge.
Usage Tips
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Try to avoid being hit by Knock Off, because without Thick Club, Marowak has mediocre Attack. Bring Marowak in on Pokemon that it outspeeds, or on those that cannot do much to it offensively. If bringing it in on a slower offensive threat, do so through a double switch or a pivoting move such as Volt Switch and U-turn. Use Substitute on predicted switches or when you know a Pokemon is about to go for a support move. Marowak can be used as a goodn anti-lead, breaking Focus Sash and Sturdy with Bonemerang and limiting Spikes setters such as Garbador and Qwilfish to only one layer. However, be wary of Omastar, Torterra, and Seismitoad, as Omastar can always OHKO Marowak with Scald, and Torterra and Seismitoad can live Marowak's attack and hit back with super effective STAB attacks.
Team Options
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Fairy-types such as Granbull and Slurpuff are good teammates for Marowak, as they can switch in on Knock Off. Special walls such as Audino and Lickilicky can switch into Water- and Grass-type moves aimed at Marowak. Entry hazards support from a Pokemon such as Omastar and Crustle can give Marowak an easier time KOing opponents. Sticky Web setters such as Leavanny and Ariados can give Marowak the ability to outspeed several threats that arewould otherwise fasteroutspeed it. Paralysis support also accomplishes this.
Other Options
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Do not run any item other than Thick Club. Fire Punch is an option to OHKO Ferroseed and to hit other Grass-types slightly harder than with Double-Edge. Swords Dance boosts Marowak's Attack even more and can help it OHKO walls like Ferroseed or Vileplume, though Marowak will find few opportunities to use it.
Checks & Counters
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**Removal of Thick Club**: Moves that result in the removal of Thick Club, such as Knock Off and Trick, effectively halve Marowak's Attack stat, seriously hampering its offensive capabilities.
**Special Sweepers**: Faster special sweepers such as Sceptile and Ludicolo can take advantage of Marowak's low Special Defense to OHKO it with super effective STAB attacks.
**Defensive Grass-type Resists**: Tangela and Quilladin resist Marowak's STAB moves and can threaten Marowak with their Grass-type STAB moves; note that Ferroseed and Vileplume do not fall under this category as both of them are 2HKOed by Marowak's STAB moves.
**Will-O-Wisp**: Burns halve Marowak's Attack, tremendously reducing its offensive presence.
