Physical
Balanced
BTier
73Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

Malamar's stats barely vary. 3 sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 2 Attack EVs, medium-fast 1M XP curve to max.

Base Stats
Above
HP86
C
Attack92
B
Defense88
C
Sp. Atk68
C
Sp. Def75
C
Speed73
C
Total482
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging80 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.5 m
4'11"Average
Weight47.0 kg
103.6 lbsLight
Base XP169
Average
Abilities
ContraryTop Pick
Inverts stat changes.
Suction Cups
Prevents being forced out of battle by other Pokémon's moves.
InfiltratorHARare
Bypasses light screen, reflect, and safeguard.
EV Yield
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training target
Pokedex Entries
No Legends Z A entries available

Gazing at its luminescent spots will quickly induce a hypnotic state, putting the observer under Malamar’s control.

Malamar Weakness

Malamar's Dark/Psychic typing leaves it vulnerable to Bug and Fairy. Bug hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Psychic-type attacks completely. With 86 HP and balanced defenses, Malamar can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.

Malamar Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Bug
2x (Weak)Fairy
0x (Immune)Psychic
Type ChartAvg
2Weak
0Resist
1Immune
Score-3
4xCritical
Bug
2xWeak
Fairy
½xResist
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
Psychic
STAB (4)
PsychicGhostFightingPoison
How to Beat Malamar in Legends: Z-A (Best Counters)
Scizor
Scizor
BugSteel
A
Bug deals 4x damage to MalamarView Scizor →

Legends: Z-A Evolution

Malamar is the evolved form of Inkay. Breeding produces Inkay eggs, and they're average hatch time. Evolving from Inkay gave Malamar the biggest boost in Attack (+38), bringing the total to 482 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Inkay
#686Inkay
30
Level 30 (Upside Down)
Malamar
#687Malamar
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Inkay
DarkPsychic
Malamar
DarkPsychic
HP
53
86+33
ATK
54
92+38
DEF
53
88+35
SP.ATK
37
68+31
SP.DEF
46
75+29
SPE
45
73+28
BST
288D-Tier
482B-Tier+194
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Breeding is not available in this game

Legends: Z-A Malamar Best Moveset

Bulk and offense in one package. Malamar runs Leftovers for passive recovery each turn with a Adamant nature, so it survives long enough to threaten with Superpower. Max HP and Attack EVs and Fighting coverage make it hard to safely switch into.

Best Build

Situational pick
Ability
Contrary
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Malamar
Adamant+ATK

Malamar best EVs are Attack and HP

EVs

Physical Tank Moveset

  • SuperpowerCoverage
  • Knock OffSTAB
  • Psycho CutSTAB
  • RestRecovery

Moves

Without TMs, Malamar's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get coverage across 9 types on top of Future Sight and Psychic for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Peck
—3510035Flying
Lv 1
Tackle
D4010035Normal
Lv 3
Hypnosis
C—6020Psychic
Lv 6
Fake Tears
B—10020Dark
Lv 14
Knock Off
S6510020Dark
Lv 15
Psybeam
—6510020Psychic
Lv 21
Slash
C7010020Normal
Lv 24
Night Slash
C7010015Dark
Lv 33
Psycho Cut
S7010020Psychic
Lv 37
Psyshock
C8010010Psychic
Lv 42
Topsy-Turvy
A——20Dark
Lv 54
Close Combat
S1201005Fighting

TM Moves

TM
TM11
Bulk Up
C——20Fighting
TM06
Calm Mind
C——20Psychic
TM129
Circle Throw-6
D609010Fighting
TM107
Close Combat
S1201005Fighting
TM108
Comet Punch
D188515Normal
TM90
Dark Pulse
C8010015Dark
TM132
Double Hit
D359010Normal
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM35
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM109
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM62
Flamethrower
C9010015Fire
TM60
Future Sight
B12010010Psychic
TM55
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM01
Headbutt
C7010015Normal
TM97
Heal Block
——10015Psychic
TM44
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TM45
Knock Off
S6510020Dark
TM16
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
TM76
Liquidation
C8510010Water
TM125
Mimic
D——10Normal
TM83
Nasty Plot
C——20Dark
TM34
Night Slash
C7010015Dark
TM77
Poison Jab
C8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
A——10Normal
TM63
Psychic
C9010010Psychic
TM03
Psyshock
C8010010Psychic
TM31
Reflect
C——20Psychic
TM12
Rock Slide
C759010Rock
TM37
Stealth Rock
C——20Rock
TM85
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM139
Swagger
C—8515Normal
TM95
Taunt
C—10020Dark
TM67
Thunderbolt
C9010015Electric
TM121
Torment
D—10015Dark
TM115
Trailblaze
D5010020Grass
TM59
Zen Headbutt
C809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Malamar doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Malamar can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Malamar in Legends: Z-A

Malamar can't be caught in Legends: Z-A. Transfer Inkay from X, Ultra Sun, or Sword and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.

How to Obtain Malamar in Legends: Z-A

  1. Inkay
    Step 1Obtain Inkay

    Also found in:

    XUltra SunSword
  2. Malamar
    Step 2Malamar ✓

Malamar Guide

  • In Legends: Z-A, Don't let Malamar's 482 base stat total fool you. Contrary is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it B-Tier. Superpower with Leftovers is the standard set.

  • Mega Evolution isn't available in Legends: Z-A, but Malamar does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Malamar hits 582 BST.

  • In Legends: Z-A, watch for Scizor (Bug) and Sylveon (Fairy) when using Malamar. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Scizor is the most dangerous since Bug moves deal 4x damage. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • In Legends: Z-A, Run Contrary on Malamar. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Malamar also gets Suction Cups and Infiltrator, but they don't compare.

  • In Legends: Z-A, Malamar fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 92 Attack. Base 73 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.

Game Availability

Malamar first appeared in X & Y and spans 7 games across 5 generations. It later gained a Mega form in Generation 6, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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