Marowak

Marowak, The Bone Keeper Pokémon. It is small and was originally very weak. Its temperament turned ferocious when it began using bones.From its birth, this savage Pokémon constantly holds bones. It is skilled in using them as weapons.The bone it holds is its key weapon. It throws the bone skillfully like a boomerang to KO targets. Some whisper that a Marowak graveyard exists somewhere in the world.

Overview

Marowak is a Pokémon that we all just want to be good. It has a decent design and a really heartbreaking backstory through the original in Lavender Town. However, there are some elements where Marowak really doesn't hold up, but despite that it has its own niche that can easily decimate a team and even help it sweep. It has its own unique item that can double its already passable Attack stat and it has a couple of bone related moves that can break through Sturdy Pokémon with ease. It has decent defences to allow it to hold off for a while, but it has two areas that are lacking: Hit Points which can be seriously detrimental, and Speed, which is detrimental usually but in a Trick Room, Marowak can be a brutal Pokémon.
Positives
- Its Defense is very high and Special Defense is passable.
- Its Attack stat gets brutally high if it's holding the Thick Club item

Negatives
- It has very low Speed which could be detrimental outside of a Trick Room team
- It is weak to the common types
- Its abilities don't really fit what Marowak needs
- Its weakest defence stat, Special Defense, is the one that is needed the most

Abilities

Rock Head: Does not receive recoil damage from recoil-causing damages. - This can actually work well if you use Double-Edge on Marowak. With its high Attack stat with Thick Club, it's very brutal. However, that's Marowak's only recoil move
Lightningrod: Electric-type moves are drawn to this Pokémon. Electric-type moves will do no damage and the Pokémon's Special Attack is raised one stage. - This would be useful in a gimmick set, but Marowak's Special Attack is so low and its Special movepool is so shallow that it's just not worth it Hidden Ability (Available):
Battle Armor: Opponent’s moves cannot Critical Hit. - Always handy, especially as you want Marowak to survive in order to get a hit in

Movesets

We all need some Bone Marowak

- Double-Edge
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock
- Bonemerang
Item Attached: Thick Club
Ability: Rock Head
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature

This is essentially a very standard Marowak set. Double-Edge takes advantage of the ability Rock Head which means it can hit really hard. Stone Edge deals with the pesky Ice-type Pokémon that are likely to give Marowak some grief, as well as Flying-type ones that Marowak can't hit with Ground-type moves while Stealth Rock is self-explanatory due to its ability to do serious damage to a variety of teams, especially now Mega Charizard Y is becoming very common. Bonemerang is the unique choice here. While you may originally feel you should go for Earthquake, Bonemerang has the unique feature of being able to hit twice, breaking through Sturdy, Focus Sash and probably even Substitutes so it is clearly the top choice.

A Marowak To The Head

- Earthquake
- Fire Punch
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance / Stone Edge
Item Attached: Thick Club
Ability: Battle Armor
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature

This set is specifically focused in being used in a Trick Room team. With that in effect, this set fully capitalises on Marowak's beastly Attack brought on by the Thick Club. Earthquake is powerful and accurate, with STAB making it even more brutal. Fire Punch & Knock Off are both currently only available through transfer so this set can't be used in the XY native metagame just yet, but Fire Punch gives decent coverage against Ice & Grass-type Pokémon while Knock Off, especially now it has been buffed, can ruin so many Pokémon's strategies. Swords Dance can increase Marowak's Attack even more, but requires Marowak to stay alive and Stone Edge can do some decent damage

Other Options

Belly Drum, Brick Break, Iron Head, Iron Tail, Special, Substitute, Toxic
Belly Drum can boost Marowak's Attack to godly levels, making it capable of OHKOing practically anything that gets in its path
Brick Break gives more coverage, and can break through Reflect & Light Screen, which is always handy
Iron Head & Iron Tail can give some decent coverage against a variety of Pokémon, including Fairy-types
You can run a Special set with Lightningrod using moves like Flamethrower in order to catch an opponent off-guard
Substitute is a decent way to make sure that Marowak survives a hit and can do damage
Toxic works as we all know it does, and can be a decent thing to include on a Marowak set

Double & Triple Battle Options

Marowak has a niche in doubles. It's a ground type with lightning rod to redirect electric attacks, but still can do nothing to hit Rotom-W. Rock Head is there, but Double Edge is the only move Marowak gets that benefits from it. Marowak also has a specialized item in Thick club that doubles its attack, allowing it to reach a staggering 568, though, that still isn' the strongest Earthquake in the game. Choice Band Huge Power Diggersby gets the strongest Earthquake with a gargantuan 696 attack.

Unfortunately, using anything besides Thick Club on Marowak means that something else could do Marowak's job better, like Rhyperior. So for this suggestion, we'll proceed with Thick Club and Lightning Rod.

-Trick Room Attacker-

-Earthquake
-Rock Slide/Stone Edge
-Knock Off/Brick Break
-Protect
Item Attached: Thick Club
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 Atk/ 252 HP/ 4 Def
Brave Nature

This set functions best under Trick Room, as base 45 speed means that we're out sped by Azumarill and (Mega) Mawile, not good! Under Trick Room, Rock Slide might get a flinch or two, however if flinches aren't your thing but raw power is, the Stone Edge is there. Knock Off is very powerful and useful this Generation, though if you're unable to transfer Marowak from an older game then Brick Break is your next best bet. And lastly its hard to go wrong with Protect.

It's also worth mentioning that Marowak gets Perish Song. Why? Perish Trap teams featuring Mega Gengar and Gothitelle are becoming more common and Marowak offers very niche support for this playstyle in not only being a Perish Singer but can redirect unwanted Thunder Waves AND stop Pokemon trying to Volt Switch out of Perish Song dead in their tracks.

Overall, Marowak has its stats in the right places, but it's movepool feels limited, and it isn't exactly splashable on many teams. I fully recommend giving it a shot if you're running Trick Room or Perish Trap team.

Countering Marowak

Marowak is a slow Pokémon, so it's hard not to outspeed it, so what you want to do is hit it with powerful Special moves. Many Water-type Pokémon and Water moves such as Surf and Hydro Pump will likely take Marowak out with ease. Rotom-W, for example, is resistant to Marowak's STAB and can easily wall it, and take it down with Hydro Pump. Grass & Ice-type moves like Energy Ball and Ice Beam can also be used with great success. In addition to this, if you try and inflict Marowak with a Burn, such as through Will-O-Wisp, you will destroy all Marowak strategies.

Locations in Games

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen/XD

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Seavault Canyon, Victory Road

Colosseum/XD:
Snagged from Cipher Admin Eldes in Citadark Isle (XD)
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen (Colosseum)

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Cubone

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Rock Tunnel, Safari Zone

Black/White:
Route 15

Black 2/White 2:
Trade from Black & White

X/Y:
Friend Safari

Animé Appearences

Marowak has made several appearances in the anime, including in a Gym and owned by a trainer who had his badges stolen from him.

# -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics
75 Bad to the Bone Marowak's Bone Club Pics
101 The Mandarin Island Miss Match Lorelei of the Elite Four! Ice Duel! Pics
110 Pokémon Double Trouble Tag Match! The Last Gym! Pics
389 Showdown At Linoone Linoone! The Shape of Friendship!?! Pics
404 From Brags to Riches Opening! EverGrande Tournement!! Pics
444 What I Did For Love Decisive Game! May VS Brock! Pics
452 The Ole' Berate and Switch Team Rocket's Disbandment!? Respective Roads! Pics
476 Gymbaliar Croagunk & The Mysterious Gym!! Pics
517 Dawn's Early Night Pokémon Contest! Hearthome Convention! Pics
592 To Thine Own Pokemon Be True! Pokémon PingPong Competition! Ambipom Perseveres!! Pics
M12 Arceus & The Jewel of Life Arceus - Towards Conquering Space-Time Pics
641 Dealing With a Fierce Double Ditto Drama! Ditto - Transformation Battle! Which One Is It That's Real!? Pics
977 A Crowning Moment of Truth! A Fire Battle! Marowak Shows Up! Pics
978 Currying Favor and Flavor! A Curry-zy Beautiful Battle! The Dance of Lurantis! Pics
980 Rising from the Ruins! Rockruff and the Guardian Diety of the Ruins of Life! Pics
983 Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence! Popplio, Brionne and the An-chor-gry Dhelmise! Pics
985 Alola, Kanto An Alola! in Kanto! Brock & Misty! Pics
986 When Regions Collide Gym Battle! Z-Move VS Mega Evolution!! Pics
987 A Dream Encounter! Ash and Nebby! A Mysterious Encounter!! Pics
991 Night of a Thousand Poses! Strike a Fully Powered Pose for a Sleepover! Pics
993 Faba's Revenge! Faba Strikes Back! Nebby Gets Abducted!! Pics
996 Rescuing the Unwilling! Hurry Up! Operation: Rescue Lusamine!! Pics
997 10,000,000 Reasons to Fight! Shine, Z-Power Ring! A Super Fully Powered 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt!! Pics
998 The Professors' New Adventure! Thank You, Solgaleo! You are Our Nebby!! Pics
999 Let Sleeping Pokémon Lie! A Strong Sleeper: Komala's Secret Pics
1000 The Dex Can't Help It! Rotom Won't Stop Undergoing Forme Change! Pics
1002 Tasting the Bitter with the Sweet! Mallow & Lana: Bittersweet Memories! Pics
1003 Getting a Jump on the Competition! Lillie is Soaring Through The Air! The PokéSled Jump Tournament! Pics
1004 A Mission of Ultra Urgency! Set Off! You Are Our Ultra Guardians!! Pics
1005 Acting True to Form! The Dark Meowth is Alolan Meowth!? Pics
1006 Pushing the Fiery Envelope! Burn with Passion, Litten! Down with Incineroar!! Pics
1008 Turning Heads and Training Hard! Ilima and Eevee Have Ilimade Their Entrance!! Pics
1009 Smashing with Sketch! Smashing with Sketch! The Fierce Poké-Ping Pong Match!! Pics
1010 Love at First Twirl! Pika Pika Sparkling Love! Poipole Spins Round and Round!! Pics
1012 Rise and Shine, Starship! Shine On, Starship Celesteela! Pics
1013 The Young Flame Strikes Back! Protect the Farm! The Blue Flame Strikes Back!! Pics
1014 Dewpider Ascending! Dewpider Gets Lana!? Pics
1017 Tough Guy Trials! This Tough Old Geezer's the Island Kahuna? Pics
1021 Twirling with a Bang! Ultra Beast Clash! Operation: Boom Boom Crackle!! Pics
1023 Not Caving Under Pressure! A Sandshrew's Storm! An Ice Hole Double Battle!! Pics
1024 A Young Royal Flame Ignites! The Young Flame of Alola! The Birth of Royal Ash!! Pics
1025 All They Want to Do is Dance Dance! Won't You Give us a Dance Dance Evolution? Pics
1026 Dummy, You Shrunk the Kids! Ash Becomes Tiny Pics
1027 The Shape of Love to Come! The Shape of Family: Poipole's Feelings! Pics
1028 The Long Vault Home! Leap 'n' Climb: Stakataka! Pics
1029 I Choose Paradise! I Choose Here! The Pokémon Steam Paradise!! Pics
1030 Filling the Light with Darkness! Crisis in Alola! The Darkness that Eats Radiance!! Pics
1031 Full Moon and Many Arms! Lunala VS UB: BLACK! A Battle at Full Moon!! Pics
1032 The Prism Between Light and Darkness! A Prism of Light and Darkness: Its name is Necrozma! Pics
1033 Securing the Future! Connect to the Future! The Legend of the Blinding One!! Pics
1036 Lillier and the Staff! The Hero Lilliel and the Alolan Cane! Pics
1037 A Haunted House for Everyone! Ghost Pokémon Everywhere! Everyone's Haunted House!! Pics
1038 Sparking Confusion! Wela Volcano: The Golem, the Graveler and the Hikers! Pics
1040 No Stone Unturned! Dartrix the Master!!! Rowlet the Sleeperzzz Pics
1041 Bright Lights, Big Changes! The Duo Splits Up!? Ash & Rotom Pics
1042 We Know Where You're Going, Eevee! Where is Eevee Going? To the End of the World for the Sake of a Meeting! Pics
1044 Parallel Friendships! Fire it Off! The Twin Gigavolt Havoc of Friendship!! Pics
1045 Alola, Alola! An Alola! in Alola! Brock and Misty! Pics
1046 Heart of Fire! Heart of Stone! A Passionate Heart That Smashes Even Rocks! Olivia and Brock!! Pics
1047 That's Some Spicy Island Research! Research Projects on Poni Island! Find the Island Kahuna!! Pics
1048 Showdown on Poni Island! Lycanroc Showdown! Ash VS Gladion!! Pics
1049 Evolving Research! We Have the Sea and We Have Valleys! Pokémon Evolution Training!! Pics
1050 Run Heroes Run! Run, Kiawe! Surpass Yourself!! Pics
1051 Memories in the Mist! In Tapu Fini's Mist Pics
1052 A Grand Debut! An Island Kahuna is Born! Ash's Grand Trial!! Pics
1053 Keeping Your Eyes on the Ball! Hole in One at PokéGolf Pics
1054 Show Me the Metal! Arrival in Alola! Melty Metal Panic!! Pics
1055 Got Meltan? A New Species Has Been Discovered! I Got a Meltan!! Pics
1056 This Magik Moment! A New Show?! The Tiny Melody of Magikarp Pics
1057 Beauty is Only Crystal Deep! Beauty and the Meowth Pics
1058 The Dealer of Destruction! Guzma, Emperor of Destruction! Pics
1059 The Secret Princess! Lillie and the Secret Ingenuity Princess! Pics
1061 Aiming for the Top Floor! Aim for the Top Floor! The Explosive Dragon Gym!! Pics
1064 A Recipe for Success! Mallow's Valiant Effort! The Forest Pokémon Café!! Pics
1066 A Fiery Training Camp Trick! Master the Z-Move! Kiawe's Fierce Boot Camp!! Pics
1067 Living on the Cutting Edge! Perfect Sharpness! Kartana has Arrived! Pics
1070 Chasing Memories, Creating Dreams! Gladion & Lillie! Chasing a Father's Phantom!! Pics
1074 The Battlefield of Truth and Love! Jessie VS James! A Battlefield of Love and Truth!! Pics
1075 Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Strategy! Overcome Decidueye!! Pics
1077 The Road to the Semifinals! Everyone's Fully Powered! The Road to the Semifinals!! Pics
1078 The Final Four! The Semifinals! Kiawe VS Gladion! Pics
1079 Getting Down to The Ire! Rising Fire! More Than One Rival!! Pics
1080 The Wisdom Not to Run! Guzma the Undefeated! Pics
1081 Final Rivals! The Finals! The Ultimate Rival Showdown!! Pics
1082 Enter the Champion! He's Born! The Alolan League Winner! Pics
1084 Exhibition Unmasked! Final Battle! Ash VS Kukui!! Pics
1085 A Full Battle Bounty! Burn with Passion! Get Filled with Intensity! A Full Battle!!! Pics
1086 Fiery Surprises! Conclusion! Incineroar VS Torracat!! Pics
1087 From Z to Shining Z! The Greatest Z in Alola! Tapu Koko VS Pikachu! Pics
1088 Dreaming of the Sun and Moon! The Sun, the Moon and Everyone's Dreams! Pics
1089 Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues! Thank You, Alola! Respective Departures!! Pics
1113 A Little Rocket R & R! Rest, Team Rocket! Pics
1126 The New Old Gang of Mine I Am Back! Nice to See You, Alola! Pics
1148 When a House is Not a Home! The Lost Grookey! Who is its Trainer!? Pics
1201 Helping the Hometown Hero! A Triumphant Return! The Alola Champion!! Pics