Friday, August 1, 2014

Malamar - XY VGC 2014

Malamar
Choice Scarf
Jolly (+Spd, -SAtk)
252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP

Superpower
Psycho Cut
Switcheroo
Destiny Bond

Idea:
When approaching an enemy lead, 205 Spd Switcheroo can shutdown a supportmon, giving it a choice scarf, while acquiring things like leftovers, or other beneficial items (Sitrus, Lum), thus allowing it to utilize its full movepool.

In the event that the lead lacks something worth switcheroo-ing, or using Malamar in the late game, a scarfed Superpower can begin a buff-sweep. Psycho Cut is also useful for poison type tanks such as Venusar, Gengar, and Amoongus, as well as something that can actually hit ghost types, like Aegislash.

Destiny Bond can be used as a last resort when it is clear that Malamar will be taken down that turn.
Alternatives moves:
Taunt - With choice scarf locking the opposing pokemon into whichever move they had used that turn, taunt can push the user into a struggle if said move was non-attacking. This can also be used to shut down sub users, will-o, and pranksters in general, should you rid yourself of the scarf.

Payback - Switcheroo-ing the scarf will make you slow, overall. Quicker pokemon that can't one-shot you can get wrecked with a 100 power STAB payback. This would also give you full STAB super-effective coverage to ghosts such as Aegislash and Chandelure (and Gengar, though Psycho Cut would be better for Gengar).

Torment - Similar to the taunt strategy, but this would cause any pokemon to Struggle the following turn after a scarf is passed.

Night Slash - Alternative to Payback, since Jolly Malamar hits 137 speed without scarf, so relying on going second for decent damage might not be the way to go. Night Slash gives you 70 power with a higher crit chance.

Trick Room - Yeah, he can use trick room. If you need a user, I guess. You generally wouldn't want a flimsy pokemon using it unless you run a sash.

Alternate movepools:

Switcheroo
Night Slash
Superpower
Psycho Cut

Switcheroo
Night Slash
Superpower
Torment