Malamar [QC 1/3]

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Hilomilo

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[OVERVIEW]

* Malamar is a potent threat in NU due to its access to Z-Happy Hour, which boosts all of its stats by one stage and allows it to sweep fairly easily in the late-game.
* Its access to Contrary, which luckily doesn't affect the boosts from Z-Happy Hour, alongside Superpower allows Malamar to boost both its Attack and Speed stats as it attacks, which alongside its decent STAB coverage, further bolsters its offensive capabilities.
* Malamar also has the ability to run a RestTalk set to combat bulkier builds quite effectively, due to its general lack of weaknesses, decent bulk with investment, and ability to evade status conditions with Rest.
* Unfortunately, Malamar's lackluster Speed and bulk before boosts can make it hard to find reliable setup opportunities.
* This struggle is exacerbated by Malamar's lack of resistances and only one immunity, as well as its weaknesses to the tier's common Bug-type and Fairy-types, like Accelgor, Vikavolt, Granbull, and Aromatisse.
* Malamar also suffers from a general lack of power until it's boosted up a bit, and at +1 Speed, is still outsped by Accelgor and most of the tier's Choice Scarf users, including Medicham, Rotom-C, and Vanilluxe.

[SET]
name: Z-Happy Hour
move 1: Happy Hour
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Psycho Cut / Taunt
item: Normalium Z
ability: Contrary
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* When Normalium Z has been activated, the otherwise useless Happy Hour turns into Z-Happy Hour, which boosts all of Malamar's stats by one stage and makes it a fearsome sweeping threat.
* Knock Off is Malamar's strongest STAB attack, and annoys some its typical switch-ins in Granbull, Aromatisse, and Spiritomb with the removal of their items.
* Superpower boosts Malamar's Attack and Defense stats by one stage each by virtue of Contrary, which is quite useful for stacking up boosts alongside those acquired upon using Z-Happy Hour. The move also offers excellent coverage alongside Knock Off, hitting Dark- and Steel-types like Incineroar and Steelix for super effective damage.
* Psycho Cut is a powerful additional STAB attack that Malamar can use to nail bulky Poison-types, like Vileplume and Golbat, while also hitting Fairy-types like Aromatisse and Whimsicott for neutral damage.
* Taunt can be used over Psycho Cut for shutting down defensive Pokemon that may try crippling Malamar with status or phazing, such as Steelix, Vaporeon, and Shuckle.
* Substitute is another option for the fourth slot that Malamar can use on switches it predicts to reliably set up the next turn without taking any damage from a foe.

Set Details
========

* Maximum investment in Attack is important for Malamar as much power as possible with a neutral nature.
* Maximum investment in Speed with a Jolly is also quite important for giving Malamar Speed advantages against the majority of the tier's defensive Pokemon, as well as against Omastar, unboosted Scrafty, and Hitmontop.
* Normalium Z is required for granting Malamar access to Z-Happy Hour, while Contrary is also required as its ability for supplying it with boosts in Attack and Defense every time it uses Superpower.

Usage Tips
========

* This set's best function is as a sweeper in the late-game, since Malamar requires the removal of a few key threats in order to begin sweeping.
* Accelgor is a particularly important Pokemon to remove from play if it's on the opponent's team, as even when Malamar is at +1 Speed and Special Defense, it is outsped and OHKOed by Accelgor's Bug Buzz. Although they can't outright OHKO Malamar, Choice Scarf users like Vanilluxe and Emboar should also be removed before it sets up for similar reasons.
* Fairy-types like Granbull and Aromatisse are also often important to remove, as they can tank a boosted Psycho Cut, don't fear Knock Off or Superpower, and can KO Malamar with super effective STAB attacks.
* Knock Off should be used in the early game as much as possible in order to deny Malamar's typical switch-ins of their held items, which makes them easier to pick off with support from teammates.
* Setup opportunities are best found against generally passive Pokemon, like Piloswine and Qwilfish, or against Pokemon that Malamar can force out, such as Vileplume, Sneasel, and Slowking.
* Once Malamar has set up with Z-Happy Hour, it should try to further boost its Attack and Defense with Superpower, as this will make it increasingly harder to revenge kill or wall.
* If Taunt is being used, it should be used to shut down Pokemon that are predicted to phaze Malamar, like Garbodor or Vaporeon, or Pokemon that may try inflicting it with status, like Uxie and Seismitoad.

Team Options
========

* Pokemon capable of switching into and pressuring Bug-types, such as Golbat, Emboar, and Toxicroak, can take care of big threats to Malamar in Vikavolt and particularly Accelgor, and are thus good options for teammates.
* Fairy-type checks like Garbodor and Steelix make good teammates as well, due to their ability to take on the likes of Whimsicott, Aromatisse, and Granbull, which Malamar may struggle against from time to time.
* Entry hazard support from Pokemon like Garbodor, Steelix, and Druddigon can allow Malamar to punish its switches while also more easily damaging foes.
* Wallbreakers like Machamp, Sceptile, and Vikavolt can help wear down the opposing team to pave way for Malamar's sweep.
* Revenge killers such as Sneasel and Choice Scarf Emboar can also aide Malamar in sweeping later on, as they can take on opposing setup sweepers that would otherwise prevent Malamar from sweeping itself.

[SET]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Superpower
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Contrary
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Superpower boosts Malamar's Attack and Defense stats upon use, making it more offensively and defensively threatening as it continues to spam the attack.
* Knock Off is a reliable STAB attack that removes items from typical switch-ins that may rely on them, such as Aromatisse, Vaporeon, and Vileplume.
* Rest allows Malamar to take advantage of its Defense boosts and defensive typing to recover health after tanking some hits.
* Sleep Talk allows Malamar to attack while asleep, which is useful for potentially further boosting its Attack and Defense stats with Superpower.

Set Details
========

* Full investment in HP and Special Defense turns Malamar into a formidable specially defensive tank, while Leftovers is also important for providing it with passive recovery at the end of each turn.
* Contrary is mandatory as the ability due to allowing Malamar to boost its Defense stat every time it uses Superpower, thus turning it into a Pokemon with respectable mixed bulk.

Usage Tips
========

* Similarly to the Z-Happy Hour set, RestTalk Malamar will often look to sweep in the late-game. However, Malamar will generally try to take advantage of its defensive typing more with this set, and while less powerful, can find more setup opportunities due to the increased bulk.
* Opportunities to set up with Superpower are best found against foes that Malamar can force out, like Rotom and Uxie, or against generally passive Pokemon like Slowking and Piloswine.
* Knock Off should be used as much as possible in the early game to weaken opposing teams and make Malamar's late-game sweep easier, and can also dent typical switch-ins to Superpower, like Jellicent and Slowbro.
* Malamar should use Rest when it's low on health or is inflicted with a status ailment. It should also look to use Rest after tanking a hit from a Pokemon that outspeeds it that is expected to put it in range of a KO from the opposing Pokemon in question.
* It is important to remember that Malamar has two turns of sleep after using Rest, which means that Sleep Talk should never be used a third time in a row.
* Prior to cleaning up late-game, Malamar must make sure that its checks and counters, mainly Bug- and Fairy-types, are removed from play.

Team Options
========

* Pokemon capable of taking on Bug-types, such as Dodrio, Emboar, and Rhydon, make excellent teammates due to how heavily the likes of Accelgor and Scyther can impede Malamar's sweep.
* Fairy-type checks like Steelix, Skuntank, and Toxicroak are also often good teammates, due to Malamar's inability to break past defensive Fairy-types like Aromatisse.
* Entry hazard support from Pokemon like Shuckle, Steelix, and Garbodor can aid Malamar in securing KOs and more easily sweeping.
* Lastly, wallbreakers like Hitmonlee, Delphox, and Vanilluxe can heavily weaken opposing teams to make Malamar's late-game sweep easier.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* Malamar has access to interesting utility options in Topsy Turvy, Destiny Bond, Trick Room, and dual screens, but generally can't make good use of them due to its struggle to fit any onto a set.
* Rock Slide is an option for luring in and removing Bug-types like Accelgor and Scyther, though this is very prediction reliant and quite inconsistent as a result.
* A Tanga Berry on the RestTalk set can ease Malamar's matchup against Bug-types and foes with Bug-type coverage. However, the passive recovery provided by Leftovers will often prove more useful.
* Finally, Malamar can use Night Slash instead of Knock Off on its Z-Happy Hour set to deal better damage to foes that often wield Z Crystals, like Garbodor, Delphox, and Dodrio. However, this is extremely situationally useful, and all of these threats are either hit hard enough by Knock Off or Psycho Cut, or don't appreciate being hit with Taunt.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Bug-types and Bug-type coverage**: Bug-types like Vikavolt and Scyther can OHKO Malamar with their super effective STAB attacks, though none can outspeed it after it's boosted with Z-Happy Hour. Accelgor is particularly troublesome, as it can outspeed Malamar even when it's at +1. Bug-type coverage from Pokemon like Rotom-C and Mesprit is also quite threatening, as these are threats that Malamar could otherwise stay in on.

**Fairy-types**: Bulky Fairy-types like Mega Audino, Aromatisse, and Granbull can withstand any of Malamar's attacks while threatening it with super effective STAB moves in return. Offensive Fairy-types like Whimsicott can't reliably deal with the Z-Happy Hour set, but can easily revenge kill the RestTalk set with powerful STAB moves.

**Status**: Malamar's Z-Happy Hour set is often crippled by status ailments such as burn and paralysis unless it has Taunt, though the RestTalk set is often capable of shrugging any status off.

**Phazers**: If Malamar isn't using Taunt, phazers such as Vaporeon and Qwilfish can often tank a hit and proceed to remove its stat boosts. This is particularly troublesome for the Z-Happy Hour set, as Malamar will have no way of regaining its boosts to every stat.

**Pyukumuku**: Pyukumuku's colossal bulk in tandem with Unaware allows it to entirely wall Malamar. It is only mildly burdened with the loss of its Leftovers.
 
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I'd personally recommend using a tankier RestTalk set with Leftovers; it's done a great job for me in Showdown. :)
 

etern

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NU Leader
Checks & Counters:
  • Vivillon doesn't run Bug Buzz.
  • Remove Togetic, unranked mon.
  • Add Pyukumuku as it's own section.
  • Add Mega Audino to Fairy-types.
This is pretty good, just get rid of some outdated mentions like Drapion and Togetic and add some more relevant Pokemon. QC 1/3
 
* This struggle is exacerbated by Malamar's lack of resistances and only one immunity, as well as its weaknesses to the tier's common Bug-type and Fairy-types, like Accelgor, Vikavolt, Granbull, and Aromatisse.
Use more relevant examples then Granbull and Accelgor. Things like Scyther and Maudino would be better replacements. Also mention bug coverage moves such as Xatu, Braviary, or Passimian U-Turn.

* Malamar also suffers from a general lack of power until it's boosted up a bit, and at +1 Speed, is still outsped by Accelgor and most of the tier's Choice Scarf users, including Medicham, Rotom-C, and Vanilluxe.
Accelgor is hardly relevant enough to warrant as a first mention, use a more relevant mon, maybe like Scyther. Also Medicham isn't normally seen using a scarf and Rotom-C is no longer NU.

[SET]
name: Z-Happy Hour
move 1: Happy Hour
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Psycho Cut / Taunt
item: Normalium Z
ability: Contrary
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Taunt should be listed as an OO. With things like Venu being so common, you really really need the psychic coverage right now.

* Knock Off is Malamar's strongest STAB attack, and annoys some its typical switch-ins in Granbull, Aromatisse, and Spiritomb with the removal of their items.
Granbull tax. Not relevant enough to list.

* Psycho Cut is a powerful additional STAB attack that Malamar can use to nail bulky Poison-types, like Vileplume and Golbat, while also hitting Fairy-types like Aromatisse and Whimsicott for neutral damage.
Add Venu

* Maximum investment in Speed with a Jolly is also quite important for giving Malamar Speed advantages against the majority of the tier's defensive Pokemon, as well as against Omastar, unboosted Scrafty, and Hitmontop.
Use more relevant examples then Scrafty and Hitmontop.

* Accelgor is a particularly important Pokemon to remove from play if it's on the opponent's team, as even when Malamar is at +1 Speed and Special Defense, it is outsped and OHKOed by Accelgor's Bug Buzz. Although they can't outright OHKO Malamar, Choice Scarf users like Vanilluxe and Emboar should also be removed before it sets up for similar reasons.
Any mention of Accelgor can honestly just be switched to Scyther and it'll work out. Emboar also should be removed in account of it not being NU.

* Fairy-types like Granbull and Aromatisse are also often important to remove, as they can tank a boosted Psycho Cut, don't fear Knock Off or Superpower, and can KO Malamar with super effective STAB attacks.
Granbull tax. I'm not going to list anymore Granbull/ Accelgor fixes, just make sure you remove all mentions for more relevant examples.

* Wallbreakers like Machamp, Sceptile, and Vikavolt can help wear down the opposing team to pave way for Malamar's sweep.
* Revenge killers such as Sneasel and Choice Scarf Emboar can also aide Malamar in sweeping later on, as they can take on opposing setup sweepers that would otherwise prevent Malamar from sweeping itself.
Machamp isn't relevant so it should be removed, Emboar isn't NU so it should be removed.

* Pokemon capable of taking on Bug-types, such as Dodrio, Emboar, and Rhydon, make excellent teammates due to how heavily the likes of Accelgor and Scyther can impede Malamar's sweep.
* Fairy-type checks like Steelix, Skuntank, and Toxicroak are also often good teammates, due to Malamar's inability to break past defensive Fairy-types like Aromatisse.
Skunk recently got unranked from NU so it shouldn't be listed, and Dodrio really isn't relevant either.

**Phazers**: If Malamar isn't using Taunt, phazers such as Vaporeon and Qwilfish can often tank a hit and proceed to remove its stat boosts. This is particularly troublesome for the Z-Happy Hour set, as Malamar will have no way of regaining its boosts to every stat.
We have a lot of good phazers, but Vap and Qwil aren't some of them. Examples like Roar Lix or Dtail Slowking would be better mentions.

Implement these changes and I'll give it QC 2/3
 
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