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Malamar

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Table of Contents

How Shiny is Acquired
Evolution
  • Original
  • Shiny

Pokemon Stats

Type
47.00 kg Weight
1.50 m Height
Pokemon Max CP
Level 50: 2,667
Level 40: 2,359
Level 25: 1,685 (Raid + Weather)
Level 20: 1,347 (Raid)
Level 15: 1,011 (Research Tasks)
ATK 177
DEF 165
STA 200

Pokemon Family

PVE Movesets Grades

Quick Charge ATK DEF
Psycho Cut
Psybeam
A
C
Psycho Cut
Foul Play
A
C-
Peck
Psybeam
C
A
Peck
Foul Play
B
B
Psywave
Psybeam
A
C
Psywave
Foul Play
X
B-
Psywave
Superpower
X
B-
Show Suboptimal/Unranked Movesets

PVE Offensive Moves Explanation

  • Psycho Cut or Psywave are the Fast Moves of choice, and they benefit from STAB.
  • Peck lacks STAB and typing synergy with Malamar's Charge Moves.
  • Psybeam isn't a very strong move, but pairs well to fulfill a budget Psychic-type role. 
  • Foul Play is the strongest move against a neutral target, but Malamar isn't exactly the best Dark-type attacker. 
  • Superpower is meant for PvP.
  • Hyper Beam has no use. 

PVE Defensive Moves Explanation

  • Peck is more favorable for defense, and its typing is useful against Malamar's double weakness to Bug-type Pokemon. 
  • Psycho Cut and Psywave have very poor defensive damage output, even with STAB. 
  • Psybeam is probably the best Charge Move for defense due to its earlier damage window, making it the hardest to dodge. 
  • Foul Play is the next best option, being resisted by Fairy attackers but not by Bug Pokemon.
  • Superpower shouldn't be used for defense due to it being resisted by both of Malamar's weaknesses. 
  • Hyper Beam is way too slow for defense. 

PVE Overview

Malamar has a relatively unique Psychic/Dark typing which is quite rare among Pokemon. Unfortunately its stats don't support it enough to be viable in the PvE meta as an attacker, and not resisting almost all typings does it no real favors for gym defense either. 

PVP Movesets Grades

Quick Charge ATK
Psycho Cut
Foul Play
Superpower
A

PvP Moveset Explanation

Psycho Cut + Foul Play and Superpower 

Psycho Cut is recommended for its very fast energy generation, letting Malamar utilize its Charge Moves much sooner. Peck lacks STAB and energy gains, and while its typing is useful against Malamar's double weakness to Bug Pokemon, it's not an option that's worthwhile. 

Foul Play is the most well-rounded Charge Move available, sporting solid STAB Dark-type damage output with a moderate energy cost. Superpower is a nice option to Malamar's movepool that gives it some very versatile Fighting-type coverage, though its self-debuff can make it more difficult to use. Psybeam is a poor move that doesn't deal a lot of damage relative to its high energy cost, even with STAB. However, it's the only option available for solid Psychic-type damage. Hyper Beam demands too much energy to be consistently viable. 

PvP Rating Explanation

Great League: 3 / 5

Malamar sports a relatively unique Psychic/Dark typing that is quite rare to come by, with stats that support average bulk in this league. Its typing and coverage with Foul Play makes it a hard wall against other primarily Psychic Pokemon such as Hypno, but Pokemon with coverage options like Deoxys Defense Forme or Cresselia aren't as bothered. Malamar's struggles against the ubiquitous Azumarill are a big factor, and while it's no surprise that Malamar will lose to "Charmers," losses against popular Dark-types like Umbreon and Sableye (despite having Superpower) can be discouraging. Overall Malamar is mostly a niche Pokemon that can perform well in specific limited formats, so don't overlook this squid!

Ultra League: 3 / 5

Malamar's typing might appear to be useful in the Ultra League, but with only one resistance and decent bulk at best, Malamar will take a lot of neutral STAB hits from meta Pokemon. Despite taking neutral damage from Ghost-type attacks, Malamar performs surprisingly well against most meta Ghost-types in this league, including Giratina, but can struggle in prolonged 2-shield fights. Just keep this Pokemon away from "Charmers" and Bugs. It should also be noted that Malamar requires XL candy to reach the 2500 CP cap of this league, which makes it somewhat expensive compared to other Pokemon. 

Master League: 0 / 5

The big dragons, birds, and beasts in Master League all need to eat in order to survive. Apparently fried squid is delicious. 

Fast Moves

10
Peck
More Info

Flying

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS EPU DPS DPS w/STAB True DPS
1.00
0.45
10.00
10.00
12.50
5
Psycho Cut
More Info

Psychic

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.51x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS EPU DPS DPS w/STAB True DPS
0.60
0.20
13.33
8.33
10.42
4
Psywave
More Info

Psychic

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.51x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS EPU DPS DPS w/STAB True DPS
0.50
0.30
14.00
8.00
10.00

Charge Moves

70
Psybeam
More Info

Psychic

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.51x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS DPE DPS DPS w/STAB DPE*DPS
3.20
1.40
0.00
 1.40
21.88
27.34
 30.63
70
Foul Play
More Info

Dark

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS DPE DPS DPS w/STAB DPE*DPS
2.00
0.20
0.00
 1.40
35.00
43.75
 49.00
85
Superpower
More Info

Fighting

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.51x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS DPE DPS DPS w/STAB DPE*DPS
3.00
0.70
0.00
 1.70
28.33
35.42
 48.17
150
Hyper Beam
More Info

Normal

.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.51x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS DPE DPS DPS w/STAB DPE*DPS
3.80
0.30
0.00
 1.50
39.47
49.34
 59.21

Secondary Charge Move Unlock Cost

Candy 50
Stardust 50,000

Other

Female Ratio 50.0 %
Male Ratio 50.0 %
Flee Rate 10.0 %
Buddy Distance 3 km
Capture Rate20.0 %

Pokemon Type Chart

Vulnerable

256% damage
160% damage

Resistant

24.4% damage

Related Articles

The Psychic Cup Meta
Malamar PvP IV Deep-Dive
Inkay Special Research Day
The Psychic Spectacular 2021

Pokemon Min/Max CP Values

How to use: You need to know your Pokemon's exact level. To find exactly what level your Pokémon is, power up your Pokémon following this chart until you're certain of your level from Stardust cost changes.

A Pokémon's minimum level is 1.

Every time you power up, your Pokémon gains half a level.

StardustLevelMin CPMax CP
20012833
2001.55868
200289104
2002.5119140
4003149175
4003.5179211
4004210246
4004.5240282
6005270318
6005.5301353
6006331389
6006.5361425
8007392460
8007.5422496
8008452531
8008.5483567
10009513603
10009.5543638
100010573674
100010.5602707
130011631741
130011.5659775
130012688808
130012.5717842
160013746876
160013.5774910
160014803943
160014.5832977
1900158601011
190015.58891044
1900169181078
190016.59461112
2200179751145
220017.510041179
22001810321213
220018.510611246
25001910901280
250019.511181314
25002011471347
250020.511761381
30002112041415
300021.512331449
30002212621482
300022.512911516
35002313191550
350023.513481583
35002413771617
350024.514051651
40002514341685
400025.514631718
40002614911752
400026.515201786
45002715491819
450027.515771853
45002816061887
450028.516351921
50002916641954
500029.516921988
50003017212022
500030.517352039
60003117502055
600031.517642072
60003217782089
600032.517932106
70003318072123
700033.518212140
70003418362156
700034.518502173
80003518642190
800035.518792207
80003618932224
800036.519072241
90003719222258
900037.519362274
90003819502291
900038.519652308
100003919792325
1000039.519932342
100004020082359
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