QC: Nedor, DennisEG, Gary
GP: fleurdyleurse
[OVERVIEW]
* Alolan Marowak's typing and Lightningrod ability coupled with decent bulk enable it to check notable threats such as Tapu Koko and Pheromosa.
* Thick Club lets Alolan Marowak hit extremely hard and with it's good STAB coverage is extremely difficult to counter.
* Alolan Marowak can run useful utility moves in Will-O-Wisp and Stealth Rock, which can cripple switch-ins.
* It is weak to many common attacking types such as Rock, Dark, Ground, Water, and Ghost.
* Alolan Marowak is worn down easily over a match, due to having low speed and a weakness to Stealth Rock.
* A lot of the Pokemon it’s meant to counter can U-turn out of it, which also wears it down.
[SET]
name: Utility Attacker
move 1: Shadow Bone
move 2: Fire Punch
move 3: Bonemerang / Stealth Rock
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Stealth Rock
item: Thick Club
ability: Lightningrod
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Shadow Bone has a high damage output.
* Fire Punch is used over Flare Blitz as it doesn't wear down Alolan Marowak and does respectable damage.
* Bonemerang is better than Earthquake due to its ability to hit Pokemon through Substitutes and Focus Sashes, as well as not being affected by Grassy Terrain, while still providing a method to hit Tyranitar, Mega Gyarados, and Toxapex trying to switch in.
* Stealth Rock can be run over Bonemerang on teams that don't necessarily need it to hit incoming targets and is an option for teams that need a Stealth Rock user.
* Will-O-Wisp can cripple Pokemon trying to switch in, reducing their longevity and lowering their Attack, making it easier to handle physical attackers.
Set Details
========
* The spread runs max speed and damage output to outspeed notable threats, such as Celesteela not running maximum Speed, bulkier variants of Mega Scizor, and Skarmory. Adamant allows Alolan Marowak to hit extremely hard, 2HKOing more or less the entire tier.
* An alternate bulkier spread of 184 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 68 Spe maximises damage output and outspeeds negative natured Celesteela while having much better bulk, enabling Alolan Marowak to take Tapu Koko's Brave Bird and repeated U-turns better. It also makes Alolan Marowak's HP odd to reduce damage taken from Stealth Rock. The rest of the EVs are placed in defense.
* Alolan Marowak can run different Speed investment to outspeed specific Pokemon at varying costs to bulk. 20 speed neutral nature will outspeed neutral uninvested Hippowdon and is the minimum you should run.
* Thick Club is mandatory due to how weak and passive Alolan Marowak is without it.
* Lightning Rod is mandatory on Alolan Marowak, as it's typing plus Lightning Rod is what makes it viable.
Usage Tips
========
* Keep Stealth Rock off the field if at all possible as Stealth Rock will wear Alolan Marowak down over repeated switches due to a lack of Leftovers.
* Bring it in on moves it's immune to, such as Electric attacks.
* Shadow Bone should be the attack you primarily click, as it does not wear Alolan Marowak down due to being non-contact and has great neutral coverage, hitting most of the tier very hard.
* Fire Punch only really needs to be clicked if the opponent has a Ghost resistant Pokemon.
* Bonemerang should only be used if the opponent has a bulky Pokemon that can take Alolan Marowak’s STAB moves but is weak/neutral to Bonemerang.
* Feel free to use Alolan Marowak's Electric immunity to take advantage of Electric types for free switches in, or just to pivot into a threatening attacker.
* Avoid pivoting it into a predicted U-turn, as that will let the opponent gain a free switch and cause Alolan Marowak to take unecessary damage.
Team Options
========
* Hazard control is very important, as Stealth Rock will wear down Alolan Marowak and prevent it from doing its job, especially as it lacks reliable recovery outside of the unreliable RestTalk.
* Water-types like Keldeo and Greninja can break the Ground-types that annoy Alolan Marowak; in return, Alolan Marowak checks the bulky Grass-types that pester them such as Ferrothorn. Tapu Fini is a bulky Defogger that can also handle Dark types by virtue of Tapu Fini's typing. Mantine is another bulky defogger, handling Ground-types for Alolan Marowak.
* Bulky Flying-types like Skarmory, Celesteela, and Landorus-T are good partners, as they are immune to Ground types aimed at Alolan Marowak. In turn, Alolan Marowak can take the Ice and Electric moves aimed at them. Landorus-T and Skarmory can also set hazards to wear down opposing checks.
* Bulky Grass-type like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, Ferrothorn, and Mega Venusaur are valuable Water-resistant Pokemon, with Tangrowth in particular also resisting Ground, while Alolan Marowak can take Ice and Fire attacks for them. Tapu Bulu, while not as bulky as the others, forms a formidable wallbreaking core with Alolan Marowak; Tapu Bulu also helps to mitigate Alolan Marowak's Ground weakness by setting Grassy Terrain.
* Latios provides Defog support and a Ground immunity, two valuable traits for Alolan Marowak in a teammate.
* Wish support is very useful, so Wish users like Alomomola, Chansey and Clefable make for good partners, though they only really fit on more defensively oriented teams.
* Alolan Marowak can be effective on Trick Room teams, as Trick Room remedies it's speed issue; however, Trick Room's viability as a playstyle is questionable.
* Secondary checks to what Alolan Marowak is supposed to check is ideal, as relying only on Alolan Marowak is dangerous.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Knock Off is an option to cripple switch-ins by removing their items, but it does not provide much coverage.
* Flare Blitz is stronger than Fire Punch but wears Alolan Marowak down a lot faster, making it not ideal in the long run.
* Toxic can be run to more heavily cripple defensive walls. However, the Attack-dropping aspect of Will-O-Wisp is often more desirable against offensive teams and effectively removing the foe's Leftovers is often enough to cripple it's longevity.
* Swords Dance gives slower teams a hard time, but prevents Alolan Marowak from crippling switch-ins with Will-O-Wisp or supporting the team with Stealth Rock and requires significant speed investment to pose a significant threat against balance teams, but a Swords Dance set can be effective if pulled off well.
* A Rock Head set with Shadow Bone / Flare Blitz / Bonemerang / Swords Dance can be run on Trick Room, but Trick Room as a playstyle is inconsistent. Alolan Marowak should probably still run speed investment on such a team, however, as being dependant on Trick Room is undesirable due to it's consistencies; it will still be slower than the offensive Pokemon it intends to beat.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: While it doesn’t directly pose a threat to Alolan Marowak it heavily reduces it’s ability to reliably check what it’s meant to, which means Pokemon like Pheromosa and Mega Scizor can wear it down by repeatedly using U-turn on it to the point where their other coverage moves can take it out. Tapu Koko can also accumulate chip damage on it by hitting it with Brave Bird on the switchin in tandem with Stealth Rock to eventually get past it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that can outspeed Alolan Marowak can either heavily weaken it for the things it is meant to check or just outright KO it. Both Greninja can KO it easily with Dark Pulse or Hydro Pump; Choice Specs Keldeo outright vaporises it; Latios hits it very hard with Draco Meteor or Surf; Mega Aerodactyl can hit it with Stone Edge; Tapu Lele deals large amounts of damage to Alolan Marowak with it's Psychic from any set. Note, however, that none of these can switch in.
**Pursuit Users**: While it can’t be trapped by trapping abilities and moves, Alolan Marowak can be trapped by Pursuit, either weakening it significantly or outright OHKOing it. Notable users include Tyranitar (which resists both of Alolan Marowak's STABS), Weavile, and Mega Metagross.
**Ground-types**: While most of them can't really switch in, they can all threaten Alolan Marowak out with their strong STAB moves, which usually OHKO or heavily damage it. Many can also set up Stealth Rock, punishing Alolan Marowak over the course of the battle. Defensive variants of Garchomp are notably only 3HKOd by Alolan Marowak's attacks while doing significant damage back with Eartquake. Garchomp does hate being burnt by Will-o-Wisp, however. Landorus-T is in a similar boat to Garchomp, only really fearing Will-O-Wisp. Hippowdon is bulky enough to take Alolan Marowak's attacks reasonably well and hit back, but hates being burnt by Will-O-Wisp.
**Dark-types**: While very few Dark-types can reliably switch in, they can all threaten Alolan Marowak out. Both Greninja can easily OHKO Alolan Marowak with either Dark Pulse or Hydro Pump. However, Protean Greninja lacking these moves can face issues with Alolan Marowak. Ash-Greninja can easily KO with it's STABs, and can use Alolan Marowak to get it's Battle Bond. Weavile threatens Alolan Marowak with a very fast and powerful Knock Off, removing it’s item and dealing huge damage, as well as potentially Pursuit trap it. Mega Gyarados can deal large amounts of damage with either STAB and does not take much from Alolan Marowak’s attacks; however, it can be crippled with Will-o-Wisp, though. Hoopa-Unbound can easily take out Alolan Marowak with it’s Dark STAB; it is also worth noting special sets don’t particularly care about Will-o-Wisp. Finally, Tyranitar can Pursuit trap Alolan Marowak and can take it’s STABs quite well, though it fears Bonemerang.
**Ghost-types**: Gengar can easily OHKO with it’s STAB moves, and opposing Alolan Marowak can either speed tie or outspeed it depending on investment while easily OHKOing with its own Shadow Bone. Fortunately, Gengar and Alolan Marowak are the only OU-viable Ghost-types.
**Bulky Water-types**: Few Water-types can take Shadow Bone but some are solid switch-ins to Alolan Marowak’s other moves. Tapu Fini doesn’t care about Will-O-Wisp and can fire off a Scald at Alolan Marowak, but risks being 2HKOd by Shadow Bone. Mega Gyarados resists both of Alolan Marowak’s STAB moves and bulky sets can take a Bonemerang reasonably well. Gyarados despises Will-O-Wisp, however. Offensive Mega Gyarados can be 2HKOed by Bonemerang, though. Azumarill can easily take out Alolan Marowak with its Water STAB moves but is 2HKOed by Shadow Bone. Defensive Suicune can take any of Alolan Marowak’s attacks; Toxapex can pivot into Alolan Marowak but has a chance to lose to more offensive variants; Pelipper can set rain to neuter Alolan Marowak's Fire-type attacks and take it out with rain-boosted Scald; Mantine can also hit it with Scald, though it's not the best switch-in due to Shadow Bone.
**Rock Types**: Tyranitar can take Alolan Marowak’s STAB moves quite well and Pursuit trap it, but fears Bonemerang and Will-O-Wisp. Mega Aerodactyl struggles to take any attack but can threaten it out with Stone Edge or Pursuit trap it, but it too is heavily crippled by Will-o-Wisp.
GP: fleurdyleurse
[OVERVIEW]
* Alolan Marowak's typing and Lightningrod ability coupled with decent bulk enable it to check notable threats such as Tapu Koko and Pheromosa.
* Thick Club lets Alolan Marowak hit extremely hard and with it's good STAB coverage is extremely difficult to counter.
* Alolan Marowak can run useful utility moves in Will-O-Wisp and Stealth Rock, which can cripple switch-ins.
* It is weak to many common attacking types such as Rock, Dark, Ground, Water, and Ghost.
* Alolan Marowak is worn down easily over a match, due to having low speed and a weakness to Stealth Rock.
* A lot of the Pokemon it’s meant to counter can U-turn out of it, which also wears it down.
[SET]
name: Utility Attacker
move 1: Shadow Bone
move 2: Fire Punch
move 3: Bonemerang / Stealth Rock
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Stealth Rock
item: Thick Club
ability: Lightningrod
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Shadow Bone has a high damage output.
* Fire Punch is used over Flare Blitz as it doesn't wear down Alolan Marowak and does respectable damage.
* Bonemerang is better than Earthquake due to its ability to hit Pokemon through Substitutes and Focus Sashes, as well as not being affected by Grassy Terrain, while still providing a method to hit Tyranitar, Mega Gyarados, and Toxapex trying to switch in.
* Stealth Rock can be run over Bonemerang on teams that don't necessarily need it to hit incoming targets and is an option for teams that need a Stealth Rock user.
* Will-O-Wisp can cripple Pokemon trying to switch in, reducing their longevity and lowering their Attack, making it easier to handle physical attackers.
Set Details
========
* The spread runs max speed and damage output to outspeed notable threats, such as Celesteela not running maximum Speed, bulkier variants of Mega Scizor, and Skarmory. Adamant allows Alolan Marowak to hit extremely hard, 2HKOing more or less the entire tier.
* An alternate bulkier spread of 184 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 68 Spe maximises damage output and outspeeds negative natured Celesteela while having much better bulk, enabling Alolan Marowak to take Tapu Koko's Brave Bird and repeated U-turns better. It also makes Alolan Marowak's HP odd to reduce damage taken from Stealth Rock. The rest of the EVs are placed in defense.
* Alolan Marowak can run different Speed investment to outspeed specific Pokemon at varying costs to bulk. 20 speed neutral nature will outspeed neutral uninvested Hippowdon and is the minimum you should run.
* Thick Club is mandatory due to how weak and passive Alolan Marowak is without it.
* Lightning Rod is mandatory on Alolan Marowak, as it's typing plus Lightning Rod is what makes it viable.
Usage Tips
========
* Keep Stealth Rock off the field if at all possible as Stealth Rock will wear Alolan Marowak down over repeated switches due to a lack of Leftovers.
* Bring it in on moves it's immune to, such as Electric attacks.
* Shadow Bone should be the attack you primarily click, as it does not wear Alolan Marowak down due to being non-contact and has great neutral coverage, hitting most of the tier very hard.
* Fire Punch only really needs to be clicked if the opponent has a Ghost resistant Pokemon.
* Bonemerang should only be used if the opponent has a bulky Pokemon that can take Alolan Marowak’s STAB moves but is weak/neutral to Bonemerang.
* Feel free to use Alolan Marowak's Electric immunity to take advantage of Electric types for free switches in, or just to pivot into a threatening attacker.
* Avoid pivoting it into a predicted U-turn, as that will let the opponent gain a free switch and cause Alolan Marowak to take unecessary damage.
Team Options
========
* Hazard control is very important, as Stealth Rock will wear down Alolan Marowak and prevent it from doing its job, especially as it lacks reliable recovery outside of the unreliable RestTalk.
* Water-types like Keldeo and Greninja can break the Ground-types that annoy Alolan Marowak; in return, Alolan Marowak checks the bulky Grass-types that pester them such as Ferrothorn. Tapu Fini is a bulky Defogger that can also handle Dark types by virtue of Tapu Fini's typing. Mantine is another bulky defogger, handling Ground-types for Alolan Marowak.
* Bulky Flying-types like Skarmory, Celesteela, and Landorus-T are good partners, as they are immune to Ground types aimed at Alolan Marowak. In turn, Alolan Marowak can take the Ice and Electric moves aimed at them. Landorus-T and Skarmory can also set hazards to wear down opposing checks.
* Bulky Grass-type like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, Ferrothorn, and Mega Venusaur are valuable Water-resistant Pokemon, with Tangrowth in particular also resisting Ground, while Alolan Marowak can take Ice and Fire attacks for them. Tapu Bulu, while not as bulky as the others, forms a formidable wallbreaking core with Alolan Marowak; Tapu Bulu also helps to mitigate Alolan Marowak's Ground weakness by setting Grassy Terrain.
* Latios provides Defog support and a Ground immunity, two valuable traits for Alolan Marowak in a teammate.
* Wish support is very useful, so Wish users like Alomomola, Chansey and Clefable make for good partners, though they only really fit on more defensively oriented teams.
* Alolan Marowak can be effective on Trick Room teams, as Trick Room remedies it's speed issue; however, Trick Room's viability as a playstyle is questionable.
* Secondary checks to what Alolan Marowak is supposed to check is ideal, as relying only on Alolan Marowak is dangerous.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Knock Off is an option to cripple switch-ins by removing their items, but it does not provide much coverage.
* Flare Blitz is stronger than Fire Punch but wears Alolan Marowak down a lot faster, making it not ideal in the long run.
* Toxic can be run to more heavily cripple defensive walls. However, the Attack-dropping aspect of Will-O-Wisp is often more desirable against offensive teams and effectively removing the foe's Leftovers is often enough to cripple it's longevity.
* Swords Dance gives slower teams a hard time, but prevents Alolan Marowak from crippling switch-ins with Will-O-Wisp or supporting the team with Stealth Rock and requires significant speed investment to pose a significant threat against balance teams, but a Swords Dance set can be effective if pulled off well.
* A Rock Head set with Shadow Bone / Flare Blitz / Bonemerang / Swords Dance can be run on Trick Room, but Trick Room as a playstyle is inconsistent. Alolan Marowak should probably still run speed investment on such a team, however, as being dependant on Trick Room is undesirable due to it's consistencies; it will still be slower than the offensive Pokemon it intends to beat.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: While it doesn’t directly pose a threat to Alolan Marowak it heavily reduces it’s ability to reliably check what it’s meant to, which means Pokemon like Pheromosa and Mega Scizor can wear it down by repeatedly using U-turn on it to the point where their other coverage moves can take it out. Tapu Koko can also accumulate chip damage on it by hitting it with Brave Bird on the switchin in tandem with Stealth Rock to eventually get past it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that can outspeed Alolan Marowak can either heavily weaken it for the things it is meant to check or just outright KO it. Both Greninja can KO it easily with Dark Pulse or Hydro Pump; Choice Specs Keldeo outright vaporises it; Latios hits it very hard with Draco Meteor or Surf; Mega Aerodactyl can hit it with Stone Edge; Tapu Lele deals large amounts of damage to Alolan Marowak with it's Psychic from any set. Note, however, that none of these can switch in.
**Pursuit Users**: While it can’t be trapped by trapping abilities and moves, Alolan Marowak can be trapped by Pursuit, either weakening it significantly or outright OHKOing it. Notable users include Tyranitar (which resists both of Alolan Marowak's STABS), Weavile, and Mega Metagross.
**Ground-types**: While most of them can't really switch in, they can all threaten Alolan Marowak out with their strong STAB moves, which usually OHKO or heavily damage it. Many can also set up Stealth Rock, punishing Alolan Marowak over the course of the battle. Defensive variants of Garchomp are notably only 3HKOd by Alolan Marowak's attacks while doing significant damage back with Eartquake. Garchomp does hate being burnt by Will-o-Wisp, however. Landorus-T is in a similar boat to Garchomp, only really fearing Will-O-Wisp. Hippowdon is bulky enough to take Alolan Marowak's attacks reasonably well and hit back, but hates being burnt by Will-O-Wisp.
**Dark-types**: While very few Dark-types can reliably switch in, they can all threaten Alolan Marowak out. Both Greninja can easily OHKO Alolan Marowak with either Dark Pulse or Hydro Pump. However, Protean Greninja lacking these moves can face issues with Alolan Marowak. Ash-Greninja can easily KO with it's STABs, and can use Alolan Marowak to get it's Battle Bond. Weavile threatens Alolan Marowak with a very fast and powerful Knock Off, removing it’s item and dealing huge damage, as well as potentially Pursuit trap it. Mega Gyarados can deal large amounts of damage with either STAB and does not take much from Alolan Marowak’s attacks; however, it can be crippled with Will-o-Wisp, though. Hoopa-Unbound can easily take out Alolan Marowak with it’s Dark STAB; it is also worth noting special sets don’t particularly care about Will-o-Wisp. Finally, Tyranitar can Pursuit trap Alolan Marowak and can take it’s STABs quite well, though it fears Bonemerang.
**Ghost-types**: Gengar can easily OHKO with it’s STAB moves, and opposing Alolan Marowak can either speed tie or outspeed it depending on investment while easily OHKOing with its own Shadow Bone. Fortunately, Gengar and Alolan Marowak are the only OU-viable Ghost-types.
**Bulky Water-types**: Few Water-types can take Shadow Bone but some are solid switch-ins to Alolan Marowak’s other moves. Tapu Fini doesn’t care about Will-O-Wisp and can fire off a Scald at Alolan Marowak, but risks being 2HKOd by Shadow Bone. Mega Gyarados resists both of Alolan Marowak’s STAB moves and bulky sets can take a Bonemerang reasonably well. Gyarados despises Will-O-Wisp, however. Offensive Mega Gyarados can be 2HKOed by Bonemerang, though. Azumarill can easily take out Alolan Marowak with its Water STAB moves but is 2HKOed by Shadow Bone. Defensive Suicune can take any of Alolan Marowak’s attacks; Toxapex can pivot into Alolan Marowak but has a chance to lose to more offensive variants; Pelipper can set rain to neuter Alolan Marowak's Fire-type attacks and take it out with rain-boosted Scald; Mantine can also hit it with Scald, though it's not the best switch-in due to Shadow Bone.
**Rock Types**: Tyranitar can take Alolan Marowak’s STAB moves quite well and Pursuit trap it, but fears Bonemerang and Will-O-Wisp. Mega Aerodactyl struggles to take any attack but can threaten it out with Stone Edge or Pursuit trap it, but it too is heavily crippled by Will-o-Wisp.
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