Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV)

Malamar Movesets and Best Builds

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This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Malamar in competitive play for the games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV). Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Tera Type, and Held Items to use with Malamar, as well as its strengths and weakness.

Malamar - Related Guides
Pokemon SV - Malamar Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SV - Malamar MovesetMoveset for Ranked Battle Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) - Malamar Tera Raid Builds IconTera Raid Build

Malamar Base Stats, Type, Ability and Weakness

Blueberry #81 Type
Malamar ImageMalamar
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Dark Icon Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Psychic Icon
Abilities
Contrary
Suction Cups
Infiltrator (Hidden)
Weak to: (4x)
Pokemon Bug Type Icon
(2x)
Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Damaged Normally
By:
(1x)
Pokemon Normal Type Icon Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Electric Type Icon Pokemon Ice Type Icon Pokemon Fighting Type Icon Pokemon Poison Type Icon Pokemon Ground Type Icon Pokemon Flying Type Icon Pokemon Rock Type Icon Pokemon Ghost Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon Pokemon Steel Type Icon
Immune to: (0x)
Pokemon Psychic Type Icon

What is Type Effectiveness?

Ability Name Description
Contrary Moves that changes stats now have the opposite effect.
Suction Cups The user negates moves that forces it to switch out.
Infiltrator
(Hidden)
The user ignores the opponent's protective moves and stat boosts from moves.

Base Stats

Base Stats
Lv. 50 Stats
Stat Value Rank
HP
86
217
Atk
92
278
Def
88
235
SpAtk
68
411
SpDef
75
325
Speed
73
372
Total
482
361
Explanation of Pokemon Stats
Stat Max 0Nat 0EV -Nat Min
HP 193 193 161 161 146
Atk 158 144 112 100 87
Def 154 140 108 97 83
SpAtk 132 120 88 79 65
SpDef 139 127 95 85 72
Spd 137 125 93 83 70
  • Max: Max IVs & EVs and a stat-boosting Nature
  • 0Nat: Max IVs & EVs and a neutral Nature
  • 0EV: Max IVs, 0 EVs, and a neutral Nature
  • -Nat: Max IVs, 0 EVs, and a stat-reducing Nature
  • Min: 0 IVs & EVs, and a stat-reducing Nature
Introduction to EVs, IVs, and Natures

Best Nature for Malamar

Best Natures
Impish
(+Def, -Sp.Atk)
Careful
(+Sp.Def, -Sp.Atk)

What are Natures?

Doubles Movesets for Malamar

Build Name Recommendation
Hydrapple ★★★★★

Hydrapple Support Moveset & Best Build

Nature Impish (+Def, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def 156 / Sp.Def 100
Final Stat Values HP 193 / Atk 112 / Def 156 / Sp.Def 108 / Spe 93
Ability Contrary
Tera Type Pokemon Steel Type Icon
Held Item Mental Herb
Moveset Skill Swap
Taunt
Helping Hand
Foul Play

Summary

Pokeball IconMain role is to pass Contrary to a partner Pokemon that can take advantage of it

Pokeball IconHas access to great utility moves such as Taunt and Helping Hand

Pokeball IconFoul Play allows it to threaten opposing physical set-up sweepers.

Ability and Held Item

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Malamar Image
Ability Held Item
Contrary Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Mental Herb ImageMental Herb

Contrary is the required Ability for this support build which reverses the stat changes of the Pokemon with this Ability. Malamar will not take advantage of this and will instead pass it on to its partner with Skill Swap.

Mental Herb is the best held item for this build to prevent Malamar from getting its status moves blocked by Taunt. Keep in mind that this only protects Malamar once during the battle as the herb is consumed when triggered.

Moves Breakdown

Skill Swap Taunt
Helping Hand Foul Play

Skill Swap allows Malamar to transfer its Contrary Ability to Hydrapple, which in turn can freely use Leaf Storm to receive +2 Special Attack every time it uses the move.

Taunt allows Malamar to assist its partner against opposing support Pokemon and prevents them from using their own status moves.

Helping Hand causes the next move used by Malamar's partner to increase by 50%.

Finally, Foul Play gives Malamar a way to attack if under the effects of Taunt and is a great move to use against opposing physical set up sweepers.

Best Tera Type: Steel

Steel Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
(2x)
Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Fighting Type Icon Pokemon Ground Type Icon
Damaged Normally
By:
(1x)
Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Electric Type Icon Pokemon Ghost Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon
Resists: (0.5x)
Pokemon Normal Type Icon Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Ice Type Icon Pokemon Flying Type Icon Pokemon Psychic Type Icon Pokemon Bug Type Icon Pokemon Rock Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon Pokemon Steel Type Icon Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Immune to: (0x)
Pokemon Poison Type Icon

Terastallizing Malamar into a Steel-type allows it to stay on the field against Fairy-type attackers such as Flutter Mane who can deal high damage and knock out Malamar in a couple of hits.

Best Steel Tera Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

Malamar's EV spread gives it as much bulk possible on both Defense and Special Defense since the opposing team will most likely target it first.

An Impish Nature is preferred makes it more physically bulky with the given EV spread.

Other Viable Moves

Knock Off A great alternative to Foul Play that allows Malamar to threaten Pokemon that rely on held items.

Key Damage Calculations

Defense Icon Pokemon SVDamage Received by Malamar
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Flutter Mane Image 176 Sp.Atk
Offensive EV Investment:
252 Sp.Atk
Item: Choice Specs
Mystical Fire
Malamar Tera Type: Pokemon Steel Type Icon
138 ~ 164 (71.5 ~ 84.90%)
Guaranteed 2-Hit KO
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Mimikyu Image 156 Atk
Offensive EV Investment:
252 Atk
Item: Life Orb
Play Rough
151 ~ 179 (78.2 ~ 92.7%)
Guaranteed 2-Hit KO
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Fezandipiti Image 101 Sp.Atk
Offensive EV Investment:
84 Sp.Atk
Item: Leftovers
Moonblast
102 ~ 122 (52.8 ~ 63.2%)
Guaranteed 2-Hit KO

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

How to Use Malamar Effectively

Pair it with the Right Partner Pokemon

Malamar's main niche is filling the role of a lead support Pokemon that can pass its semi-unique Contrary Ability to its partner.

Hydrapple is one of the best partners for Malamar since it can learn Draco Meteor and Leaf Storm, allowing it to continue boosting its Special Attack when one of its moves runs out.

How to Build a Team with Malamar

Malamar is a powerful ally to a Pokemon that can take advantage of its Contrary once it passes it with Skill Swap.

Sample Doubles Team

Lead Support Special Attacker
Malamar ImageMalamar Hydrapple ImageHydrapple
Offensive Pivot Special Attacker
Incineroar ImageIncineroar Landorus (Incarnate Forme) ImageLandorus (Incarnate Forme)

Malamar's main role is to use Skill Swap on Hydrapple to pass on its Contrary, which will then allow Apple Hydra Pokemon to boost and sweep with Draco Meteor and Leaf Storm.

Malamar should then use Skill Swap again, swapping Supersweet Syrup to the opposing Pokemon. This causes Hydrapple to get an increased evasion boost due to Contrary, making it hard to hit while it boosts its Special Attack.

Incineroar is the main offensive pivot that Malamar should switch with once it's done passing its Ability, with Landorus (Incarnate Form) providing secondary special offense with Life Orb and Sheer Force-boosted attacks.

Counters for Malamar

Take it Out with a Strong Attacker

Even with defensive EV investment, Malamar will go down fairly easily when facing a strong attacker that can take advantage of its weakness to Bug and Fairy-types, as well as have coverage moves against Steel-types.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Volcarona ImageVolcarona Ranking: ★★★★★
・Easily KOs Malamar with Bug Buzz even without setting up with Quiver Dance.
・Can take out Malamar once it terastallizes into a Steel-type with STAB Fire Blast or Fiery Dance.
▶️Volcarona Best Movesets
Flutter Mane ImageFlutter Mane Ranking: ★★★★
・Easily KOs Malamar with STAB Moonblast even without Life Orb or Choice Specs boost.
・Can 2HKO Malamar once it terastallizes into a Steel-type with Mystical Fire or Fire Tera Blast.
▶️Flutter Mane Best Movesets
Scizor ImageScizor Ranking: ★★★★
・Easily KO's Malamar with STAB X-Scissor even without Choice Band or Swords Dance boost.
・Easily KOs Malamar once it terastallizes into a Steel-type with Close Combat.
▶️Scizor Best Movesets

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