#687 · Generation 6
Malamar
- Max CP (L40 / L50)
- 2,359 / 2,667
- Raid catch CP (L20 / L25)
- 1,347 / 1,685
- Research CP (L15)
- 1,011
- Buddy distance
- 3 km
- 2nd charged move
- 50,000 dust · 50 candy
- Shiny
- Shadow
- Tradable
- Mega
- Dynamax
Verdict: Keep
Malamar earns its spot: A-tier Great League (Shadow) and A-tier Ultra League (Shadow).
Battle roles
- AGreat Leagueshadow#42 of 1154 · score 89.7
The Shadow version is ranked #42 in Great League on PvPoke with Psywave / Foul Play / Super Power.
- AUltra Leagueshadow#52 of 851 · score 88.4
The Shadow version is ranked #52 in Ultra League on PvPoke with Psywave / Foul Play / Super Power.
Collection value
- Can Mega Evolve: keep your highest-Attack copy for raid days.
- Can Dynamax: only copies caught in Max Battles can Dynamax, so keep at least one Max copy.
- Shadow version exists: Shadows hit 20% harder and are worth a raid slot even with low IVs.
Tiers: S = meta-defining, A = strong, B = playable, C = niche. PvP from PvPoke overall rankings; raids from computed DPS/TDO within each attacking type; Max Battles from GO Hub tier lists.
Base stats
Base stats. Bars are scaled to the strongest Pokemon in the game.
Evolution line
Check your Pokemon's IVs
Ranks all 4,096 spreads for each leagueLoading IV checker…
PvP rankings (GO Battle League)
| League | Tier | Rank | Score | Recommended moves | Typical build |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great League | A | #45 / 1154 | 89.6 | Psywave · Super Power · Foul Play | L23.5 · 4/15/15 |
| Great LeagueShadow | A | #42 / 1154 | 89.7 | Psywave · Foul Play · Super Power | L23.5 · 4/15/15 |
| Ultra League | A | #60 / 851 | 88.1 | Psywave · Super Power · Foul Play | L50 · 4/13/15 |
| Ultra LeagueShadow | A | #52 / 851 | 88.4 | Psywave · Foul Play · Super Power | L50 · 4/13/15 |
| Ultra Premier | A | #25 / 689 | 93.6 | Psywave · Foul Play · Super Power | |
| Ultra PremierShadow | S | #13 / 689 | 95 | Psywave · Foul Play · Super Power |
Source: PvPoke overall rankings. Score is relative to the league meta (100 = best). Typical build is the IV spread PvPoke assumes.
Max Battles (Dynamax & Gigantamax)
Malamar can Dynamax. Only copies caught in Max Battles (or from Max research) can enter Power Spot battles.
Max Moves
Max Battle roles
Below the tier thresholds as a Max Battle attacker, tank, or healer.
Max Move power is per level 1 / 2 / 3; levels are unlocked with Max Particles and Candy. Tiers are computed from level-3 Max Move damage, Defence × HP and HP at level 40; thresholds on the guide page.
Raid attacker rankings
| Attacking type | Tier | Rank | DPS | TDO | Best moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| darkShadow | – | #87 / 363 | 11.7 | 174 | Psycho Cut · Foul Play |
| normalShadow | – | #121 / 354 | 9.6 | 144 | Psycho Cut · Hyper Beam |
| dark | – | #124 / 363 | 10.0 | 179 | Psycho Cut · Foul Play |
| psychicShadow | – | #138 / 248 | 9.4 | 140 | Psycho Cut · Psybeam |
| normal | – | #149 / 354 | 8.4 | 150 | Psycho Cut · Hyper Beam |
| psychic | – | #159 / 248 | 8.0 | 143 | Psycho Cut · Psybeam |
| fightingShadow | – | #187 / 283 | 9.9 | 148 | Psycho Cut · Super Power |
| fighting | – | #211 / 283 | 8.5 | 152 | Psycho Cut · Super Power |
Level 40, 15/15/15, neutral target. DPS = damage per second, TDO = total damage output before fainting. Rank is among every Pokemon using that attacking type.
Moves
| Fast move | Type | Raid power | Energy | Duration | DPS | PvP power | PvP energy | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peck | flying | 10 | +10 | 1.0s | 10.0 | 6 | +8 | 2 turns |
Psycho CutSTAB | psychic | 4 | +7 | 0.5s | 8.0 | 4 | +9 | 2 turns |
PsywaveSTAB | psychic | 4 | +7 | 0.5s | 8.0 | 3 | +4 | 1 turn |
| Charged move | Type | Raid power | Energy | Duration | Dmg/energy | PvP power | PvP energy | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PsybeamSTAB | psychic | 65 | -50 | 3.0s | 1.30 | 70 | -60 | |
Foul PlaySTAB | dark | 70 | -50 | 2.0s | 1.40 | 65 | -40 | |
Superpower | fighting | 85 | -50 | 3.0s | 1.70 | 85 | -40 | 100% chance: -1 own Atk, -1 own Def |
Hyper Beam | normal | 150 | -100 | 4.0s | 1.50 | 150 | -80 |
Questions people ask
- Is Malamar good in Pokemon GO?
- Yes. Malamar is A-tier for Great League and has 1 other ranked role.
- Should I keep or transfer Malamar?
- Malamar earns its spot: A-tier Great League (Shadow) and A-tier Ultra League (Shadow).
- What are the best Malamar IVs for Great League?
- The rank-1 Great League spread is 4/15/15 (Attack/Defense/HP), which reaches the 1500 CP cap at level 23.5. Low Attack with high Defense and HP wins in capped leagues. Use the IV checker on this page to rank your own copy among all 4,096 spreads.
- What are the best Malamar IVs for Ultra League?
- The rank-1 Ultra League spread is 4/13/15 (Attack/Defense/HP), which reaches the 2500 CP cap at level 50. Low Attack with high Defense and HP wins in capped leagues. Use the IV checker on this page to rank your own copy among all 4,096 spreads.
- Is Malamar a good raid attacker?
- Malamar ranks #124 of 363 dark attackers with 10.0 DPS. That is outside the top 15, so it is not a raid priority.
- Can Malamar be shiny in Pokemon GO?
- Yes. Shiny Malamar is available from evolution, photobomb, research, wild. A shiny is worth keeping for the collection no matter its IVs.
- Is Shadow Malamar worth keeping?
- Shadow Malamar hits 20% harder and takes 20% more damage. The Shadow form is A-tier for Great League, so keep it.
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