Pokémon Alola Marowak

[Jojobobo]

A while ago I decided to look back into Alolan Marowak, since I wanted to see how it should be run after its pre-Pokebank glory. Alolan Marowak saw some usage prior to the Pheromosa suspect test due to it being a pretty great counter, but people only seemed to be focused on that fact. After a couple of weeks of testing a NEW set that I made, I feel I have found Marowak's most optimal set to run in the OU Metagame. This set is actually Specially Defensive with offensive pressure and surprise factor. I say surprise factor because pokemon such as gengar would not expect Alolan Marowak to live a shadow ball and obliterate it in return (calcs below to back this up).

The set:

Marowak-Alola @ Thick Club
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 216 HP / 40 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Shadow Bone
- Flare Blitz
- Stealth Rock /Other desired utility
- Will-O-Wisp /Bonemerang

The goal with this Alolan Marowak is to preserve it and outpace any special attacker below in the calcs I provided (which is basically every specially attacking pokemon except some water types). Also included in the calcs below are the physical threats that this Alolan Marowak outpaces due to the side-effect of having this much HP. When I say "outpace," I mean that it scores a OHKO vs. the opponent's 2HKO, 2HKO vs. 3HKO, etc. The given spread hits key defensive benchmarks as shown in the clacs, as well as important offensive benchmarks shown in the calcs. The majority of the calcs are shown WITHOUT rocks damage, and I annotated any calc with an explanation of why it's important if it's not obvious (for example, check out the Tornadus-Therian annotations.) Also, as seen in the Magearna calcs, I would calc Alolan Marowak taking a hit from offensive Magearna, while dealing damage to a bulky one because BOTH Magearnas would be OHKO'd. This helps show the sheer power and combined bulk.

At the end, I also included a list of pokemon that it'd be a bad idea to leave Alolan Marowak in against, with annotations where necessary.
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Special attackers vs. Alolan Marowak (HUGE amount of calcs)

**This Alolan Marowak set excells against the following special attackers (Basically all except some water types)**

252 SpA Alakazam-Mega Shadow Ball vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 182-216 (57.7 - 68.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Shadow Bone vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Alakazam-Mega: 452-534 (180 - 212.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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+1 252+ SpA Celesteela Air Slash vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 147-174 (46.6 - 55.2%) -- 67.6% chance to 2HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 84 HP / 0 Def Celesteela: 440-518 (123.5 - 145.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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252 SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Fire Blast vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola in Sun: 130-153 (41.2 - 48.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Charizard-Mega-Y in Sun: 207-243 (69.6 - 81.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

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252 SpA Life Orb Greninja Extrasensory vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 121-144 (38.4 - 45.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO (Protean boost)

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Shadow Bone vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Greninja: 444-524 (155.7 - 183.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO (After type changed to psychic)

NOTE: The standard protean greninja does not run Hydro Pump or Dark Pulse. Ash-greninja does that. Find out which one you're facing first before you bring in Alolan Marowak to check it.

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252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Draco Meteor vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 264-312 (83.8 - 99%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Shadow Bone vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Latios: 384-452 (127.5 - 150.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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+2 252 SpA Magearna Twinkle Tackle (195 BP) vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 264-312 (83.8 - 99%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (Calcs at +1 and +0 are obviously less)

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Magearna: 402-474 (110.7 - 130.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO (This is the calc vs. Bulky AV magearna)

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252+ SpA Choice Specs Magnezone Thunderbolt vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 202-238 (64.1 - 75.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 128 HP / 0 Def Magnezone: 402-474 (128.4 - 151.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO (SPECS Magnezone)

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40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Skarmory: 338-398 (101.1 - 119.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO (Sp.Def Skarmory calc)

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0 Atk Tangrowth Earthquake vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Marowak-Alola: 134-158 (42.5 - 50.1%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO (Assault Vest Tangrowth)

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tangrowth: 372-438 (92 - 108.4%) -- 50% chance to OHKO (Same AV Tangrowth as above) (ALSO: AV Tangrowth usually runs a -speed nature, which lets this Marowak outspeed by 4 points)

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252 SpA Magnet Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola in Electric Terrain: 178-211 (56.5 - 66.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Koko: 258-304 (91.8 - 108.1%) -- 50% chance to OHKO

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252 SpA Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola in Psychic Terrain: 184-217 (58.4 - 68.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (SCARF Tapu Lele)

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Shadow Bone vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Tapu Lele: 404-476 (143.7 - 169.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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0 SpA Venusaur-Mega Sludge Bomb vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 48-57 (15.2 - 18%) -- possible 6HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 232 HP / 180+ Def Thick Fat Venusaur-Mega: 150-176 (41.7 - 49%) -- guaranteed 3HKO (You can add some more attack to push this to a possible 2HKO, but this is not advised due to Venusaur having Synthesis/Giga Drain)

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+2 252 SpA Volcarona Inferno Overdrive (185 BP) vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 258-303 (81.9 - 96.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+2 252 SpA Volcarona Hidden Power Ground vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 224-264 (71.1 - 83.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Volcarona: 321-378 (103.2 - 121.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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+1 252 SpA Xurkitree Thunderbolt vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 228-268 (72.3 - 85%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (Timid Scarf) (WARNING: Alolan Marowak can't take Thunderbolt after a Tail Glow)

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Xurkitree: 297-351 (96.7 - 114.3%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO

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0 SpA Zapdos Discharge vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 87-103 (27.6 - 32.6%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 248 HP / 244+ Def Zapdos: 181-214 (47.2 - 55.8%) -- 24.6% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

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+6 252 SpA Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 244-288 (77.4 - 91.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+4 252 SpA Serperior Hidden Power Ground vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 226-268 (71.7 - 85%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (+6 HP Ground has a 75% chance to OHKO)

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Serperior: 470-554 (160.9 - 189.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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252 SpA Life Orb Tornadus-Therian Hurricane vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 173-204 (54.9 - 64.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tornadus-Therian: 271-319 (90.6 - 106.6%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO (This 90.6% minimum guarantees that if the original Flare Blitz does not KO, then the Life Orb Recoil will make the Tornadus-T drop

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AV Tornadus-Therian

0 SpA Tornadus-Therian Hurricane vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 108-127 (34.2 - 40.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Tornadus-Therian: 271-319 (75 - 88.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

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252 SpA Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 218-258 (69.2 - 81.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (Scarf Set)

252 SpA Life Orb Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 283-335 (89.8 - 106.3%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO (IMO a great surprise factor against Gengar.)

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Shadow Bone vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Gengar: 480-566 (183.9 - 216.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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252 SpA Mew Genesis Supernova vs. 216 HP / 252+ SpD Marowak-Alola: 210-247 (66.6 - 78.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Shadow Bone vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 320-378 (93.8 - 110.8%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO

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AND ALL THINGS THAT ARE OBVIOUS like Pheromosa, grass types, etc.

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Physical attackers vs. Alolan Marowak spread

**Alolan Marowak performs well against the following PHYSICAL threats**

252 Atk Choice Band Buzzwole Poison Jab vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Marowak-Alola: 63-75 (20 - 23.8%) -- guaranteed 5HKO (Smogon Choice Band set does not list Earthquake, but if it is run on Buzzwole, CB EQ is a guaranteed OHKO to this set)

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole: 338-402 (95.2 - 113.2%) -- 75% chance to OHKO

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252 Atk Dugtrio Earthquake vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Marowak-Alola: 254-300 (80.6 - 95.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (SCARF SET. Choice Band OHKOs)


40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Shadow Bone vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Dugtrio: 274-324 (129.8 - 153.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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252 Atk Beedrill-Mega Drill Run vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Marowak-Alola: 180-212 (57.1 - 67.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Shadow Bone vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Beedrill-Mega: 322-379 (118.8 - 139.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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252 Atk Jirachi Iron Head vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Marowak-Alola: 51-60 (16.1 - 19%) -- possible 6HKO (Scarf set)

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Jirachi: 450-530 (131.9 - 155.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO (Shadow Bone has a 62.5% chance to OHKO)

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+2 252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Marowak-Alola: 174-205 (55.2 - 65%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Kartana: 712-844 (274.9 - 325.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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252+ Atk Huge Power Mawile-Mega Sucker Punch vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Marowak-Alola: 266-314 (84.4 - 99.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

WARNING: Mega Mawile will OHKO with Knock Off

-1 40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 92 HP / 0 Def Mawile-Mega: 248-294 (93.9 - 111.3%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO (This calc assumes the intimidate was applied. Without intimidate, this Marowak set gets the guaranteed OHKO.)

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252 Atk Metagross-Mega Earthquake vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Marowak-Alola: 218-258 (69.2 - 81.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Metagross-Mega: 318-374 (105.6 - 124.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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252 Atk Aerilate Pinsir-Mega Return vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Marowak-Alola: 210-247 (66.6 - 78.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (After a Swords Dance, Pinsir will OHKO with Return)

252 Atk Pinsir-Mega Earthquake vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Marowak-Alola: 230-272 (73 - 86.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (After a Swords Dance, Pinsir will OHKO with Earthquake)

40 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Pinsir-Mega: 386-456 (142.4 - 168.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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AND ALL THINGS THAT ARE OBVIOUS like Scizor, Tapu Bulu, etc.

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It is a bad idea to leave this Alolan Marowak set in against the following:

Hide

Ash Greninja,
Life Orb Protean Greninja with Hydro Pump (Can tank a LO Dark Pulse and OHKO back with Flare Blitz after Protean removes water type),
Heatran (Unless you're running Ground move)
Manaphy,
Nihilego,
Rotom-Wash,
Mega Sableye,
Tapu Fini (Can tank Moon Blast all day, but doesn't appreciate Nature's Madness),
Choice Specs Tapu Lele (Psychic has a 75% chance to OHKO, but Shadow Bone still OHKOs. Your call here),
Toxapex (Unless you're running Ground move),
Volcanion,
Primarina,
Keldeo,
Weavile (Doesn't tank Knock Off)

Given these pokemon that beat Alolan Marowak, fast electric types pair perfectly with Alolan Marowak. Scarf Tapu Koko with T-bolt, Dazzling Gleam, HP Ground, and filler move single-handedly annihilates 11 out of the 14 members on the threat list.
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Overall, I feel that Alolan Marowak performs similarly to Heatran, but it hits MUCH harder. Yes, Heatran has the bloom doom trapper set for water types and leftovers; however, I believe that building a offensive team around Alolan Marowak is better since it removes some of the most powerful threats in the game that other pokemon fear. The other 5 members of your team will have 1 or 2 pokemon that wreak havoc vs. them. The odds that Alolan Marowak can dispose of those threats is extremely high.

I like the set, but what's the basis behind the 40 Atk EVs? It seems like those EVs might be better stuck in bulk, as at least on some of your calcs you're close to the 75% damage from the things you're supposed to be checking - which is a problem with rocks in play.

While the set doesn't have recovery, there's definitely an advantage to being able to take out some extremely strong offensive mons to advantage your team. I also think the fear of Lightning Rod is enough to not make people spam electric moves willy-nilly too, so Rock Head is a perfectly reasonable choice and in a way running Flare Blitz over Fire Punch makes up for a lack of Atk investment. However, I do think vsomani is correct about the need to be careful around Protean Ninja.

 

[BLACK0UT]

specially defensive alolan marowak lacks any recovery, and can easily get worn down by stealth rocks. it also lacks the firepower of offensive alolan marowak which allows it to destroy most of its switchins. in a metagame with specially defensive alolan marowak being bad, rock head specially defensive is plain unviable and outclassed by heatran. you mentioned that protean greninja doesn't have dark Pulse or hydro pump directly listed, but they are very common coverage moves, dark pulse hits mega metagross, bronzong, and jirachi for maximum damage, while hydro pump destroys heatran, marowak-alola, and hits for the most damage against pokemon like mega sableye.some of the calcs require alolan marowak to be at full, which it is very rare to be, and on the other ones, alolan marowak should switch out.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying here. My claim, however, is that this Marowak set has the ability to 1v1 many things that would not expect to lose to a Marowak. You're right in saying that Rocks/recovery are an issue, but then we get ourselves into a Volcarona effect. Marowak won't sweep teams, but it can destroy the thing stopping your offensive win condition. IMO it can do that better than Heatran since Heatran doesn't hit as hard. Heatran with the fire/steel typing is better defensively, while Marowak has the calc'd ability to outperform offensive heatran and hang with Sp.Def heatran all in one package due to thick club giving this set 412 attack vs. Heatran's 359. Also I believe rock head should be the standard, as it allows for a huge increase in power with Flare Blitz over Fire punch. If Tapu Koko or Xurkitree want to stay in and hit it with an electric attack, then they'll fail to KO as shown and get destroyed as shown.

When you build a team, the first 5 pokemon will usually be good EXCEPT there's that one pokemon who will tear through them. This Marowak set takes on and disposes the common pokemon that do that with its offensive presence. My favorite examples are Mega Metagross, Mega Alakazam, Scarf Tapu Lele, Tornadus-T, and boosters like Serperior/Volcarona. Things like Chansey, Heatran, Tapu Fini, etc. just take the hits while they can't do much back and often resort to crippling threats rather than knocking them out.

And yes, Greninja should ALWAYS be scouted. but as soon as you know what it's up to, there's a good chance this set walls it and OHKOs it back

I like the set, but what's the basis behind the 40 Atk EVs? It seems like those EVs might be better stuck in bulk, as at least on some of your calcs you're close to the 75% damage from the things you're supposed to be checking - which is a problem with rocks in play.

While the set doesn't have recovery, there's definitely an advantage to being able to take out some extremely strong offensive mons to advantage your team. I also think the fear of Lightning Rod is enough to not make people spam electric moves willy-nilly too, so Rock Head is a perfectly reasonable choice and in a way running Flare Blitz over Fire Punch makes up for a lack of Atk investment. However, I do think vsomani is correct about the need to be careful around Protean Ninja.

The 40 attack EVs are to reach benchmark KO's on some of the calc'd pokemon. Without this much attack Tornadus, AV magearna, Sp.Def Skarmory, Zapdos, volcarona, Xurkitree, banded Buzzwole, Mega Metagross, and Mew all take an extra hit to KO. If Alolan Marowak was fast, then these 40 EV's wouldn't be needed. But the slow speed would mean that that extra now-needed hit wouldn't come out.

EDIT: It's also important to realize that 40 EVs turns into 80 EVs when thick club is the item of choice. Also, let's say I changed this to 252 EVs in attack with an Adamant nature BUT changed it to fire punch instead of Flare Blitz. The max attack adamant does 2% less damage to scarf jirachi than 40 attack Neutral nature Flare Blitz. Pretty cool eh? Jirachi is a great pokemon to test this on because it has en even 100/100/100 BST bulk distribution.

 

[volx757]

huge post

Cool set, will definitely try it out. trepidatious about SR being a killer for this set, but we shall see.