Aside from it being everybody's favourite Pokémon, Malamar has also seen a wide range of usage in Pokémon's Video Game Championships (VGC) scene thanks to its incredibly unique abilities and moveset. This article will cover Malamar's many achievements and accolades ranging from 2014 to 2025, as well as taking a look to the future with a potential Mega Evolution appearing in Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Pokémon Champions.
How To Use Malamar in VGC
The main selling point of Malamar is its ability Contrary, which reverses all changes to its stats in battle—if it uses a move that boosts its stats, those stats are instead dropped, and if it uses a move that drops its stats, those stats are instead boosted. This makes set-up moves like Calm Mind or Nasty Plot entirely ineffective, but greatly increases the effectiveness of the Fighting-type attack Superpower, which typically drops the Attack and Defense stats of its user by one stage each. Flipping the script, Malamar uses this move to instead boost these stats, allowing it to quickly overwhelm opponents that rely on physical attacks.Its signature move Topsy-Turvy has a similar effect, reversing all stat changes on any Pokémon it targets. This helps to support teammates that have had their stats dropped, but can also be used offensively to practically prevent any opponents from attacking if they rely on boosting their stats with moves like Swords Dance or Nasty Plot. This also gives Malamar a very specific role as a counter to the terrifying Dondozo, a Pokémon that is infamous in Scarlet and Violet VGC due to its ability to raise all of its stats by two stages if paired with a Tatsugiri wielding the ability Commander. If hit by Topsy-Turvy, Dondozo's stats are all instead dropped by two stages, making its attacks laughably weak and its defenses horribly frail. On top of this, Dondozo is unable to switch out of battle while Tatsugiri is in its mouth, and since it struggles to deal a meaningful amount of damage with these stat drops, its opponents are able to switch in any Pokémon and set up with their own stat-boosting moves while Dondozo flops around like a fish out of water.
Malamar was also the very first Dark- and Psychic-type Pokémon released, and despite its immediate and dramatic rise in popularity, this previously unique type combination leaves a lot to be desired. Malamar has two weaknesses to Bug- and Fairy-type attacks on top of one immunity to Psychic-type attacks... and that's it. This Pokémon has an impressive total of zero resistances. On top of a base HP stat of 86, Defense stat of 88, and Special Defense stat of 75, Malamar becomes shockingly easy to knock-out. Even after boosting its Defense stat with Superpower, it still prefers to avoid taking any damage. This becomes an issue as Malamar is often used for its other utility moves, namely Trick Room and Knock Off, which it obviously can't use effectively if it's knocked out after one or two turns.
Malamar's Usage in 2014-2020
It's important to note that the moves, abilities, and held items used in many of these older teams are unavailable due to a lack of documentation.In the year 2014, Malamar made its first major debut in VGC by reaching 12th place at the 2014 Australian Nationals thanks to a trainer named Sam Benson. The beloved topsy-turvy Pokémon appeared alongside huge threats in Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Charizard Y, Mamoswine, Ferrothorn, and Politoed.
Dominic Scheffler, who recently competed at the 2024 Liverpool Regionals to reach an impressive Top 128 finish, would continue Malamar's legacy just under a year later, reaching the finals of the 2015 Italy Nationals. This team similarly paired Malamar with Mega Kangaskhan, but introduced new teammates in Aegislash, Jellicent, Landorus' Therian Forme, and Sylveon. Being one of the few teams to have been successfully recorded, we can see that Malamar unsurprisingly uses the aforementioned combination of Superpower and its ability Contrary, boosting its Attack and Defense stats every time the attack is used. Alongside a Brave nature to boost its Attack stat while lowering its Speed, Malamar also had the ability to take on a more supportive role with Knock Off and Trick Room, as it held a Sitrus Berry in an attempt to stick around for longer. This optional Trick Room mode was likely used to support Sylveon, Jellicent, and Aegislash, who all sit at a low base Speed stat of 60.
Scheffler has commented on the possibility of Malamar receiving a new Mega Evolution in the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A, expressing their confidence that "Mega Malamar will be skyrocketing [them] to [the World Championships] again."
After a short dip in usage, 2017 Guayaquil Special Champion Kelvin Quishpe would bring Malamar to the 2018 Ecuador Special Event to reach a similar 3rd place finish. Aegislash once again appears on this team, with newcomers in Incineroar, Mega Salamence, Tapu Bulu, and Naganadel. Just over a year later, 2x Regional Quarter-finalist and 2019 Worlds Top 64 Riccardo Appamea would bring Malamar to another victory by placing 6th at the 2019 Cannes Special Event alongside a new cast of teammates in Ho-Oh, Groudon, Tapu Fini, Nihilego, and Venusaur.
Malamar's final major result before VGC's hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic was thanks to Matt Tidd bringing the beloved Pokémon to a remarkable Top 128 finish at the 2020 Dallas Regionals alongside Butterfree, Polteageist, Dusclops, Grimmsnarl, and Gigalith. While we still have no information on Malamar's moveset, ability, or held item on this team, its success could potentially be due to the Dynamax phenomenon helping to strengthen Malamar's weaknesses by doubling its HP to help it stick around for longer. It also had access to a good range of valuable Max Moves, such as Max Airstream boosting its team's Speed stats, Max Strike to instead lower the opposing team's Speed stats, and Max Darkness to lower the opposing team's Special Defense stats.
Malamar's Usage in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
After Malamar was added to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, Malamar was again picked up by none other than the aforementioned Dominic Scheffler at the 2024 Utrecht Special, reaching the Top 256 with a record of 4 wins and 5 losses. Malamar even used the same ability and moves, Contrary alongside Superpower, Knock Off, Trick Room, and Protect, as well as making use of the terastal phenomenon to turn into a Poison-type to resist Fighting- and Fairy-type attacks when necessary. Instead of the Sylveon, Jellicent, or Aegislash seen on Scheffler's 2015 team, Malamar's Trick Room was instead used to support Bloodmoon Ursaluna, an incredibly powerful Pokémon with an incredibly low Speed stat. Its signature move, Blood Moon, is a Normal-type attack with an incredible base power of 140 with very little drawback—Ursaluna is unable to use this move two turns in a row. Unlike recharge moves like Hyper Beam or Giga Impact, however, Ursaluna is still able to select any other move the turn after using Blood Moon. With an extra 50% damage from the Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB), Bloodmoon Ursaluna can quickly sweep teams under Trick Room if they're not prepared. Tornadus joins the two as a secondary form of speed control with Tailwind given priority by its ability Prankster, and Landorus Therian, Tinkaton, and Wellspring Ogerpon round out the team.At the 2024 Orlando Regionals, Malamar once again reached the Top 256 alongside Kevin Guzman with an impressive record of 6 wins and 3 losses. This team leans much further into the Trick Room aspect of previous successful teams, similarly using Bloodmoon Ursaluna, but also introducing Male Indeedee, Iron Crown, and Araquanid, with the former two threatening huge amounts of damage with Expanding Force boosted by Indeedee's Psychic Terrain. The team is rounded out by Sneasler, a Pokémon that holds the Psychic Seed to boost its Special Defense when on Psychic Terrain, which also activates its ability Unburden to double its Speed stat.
With both events taking place in the Regulation Set F ruleset, allowing the use of all Pokémon in the game with the exception of Restricted Special Pokémon, Malamar would be forced to take huge hits from powerful Pokémon like Raging Bolt, Urshifu, and the Ruinous Quartet (minus Wo-Chien, which didn't appear in the Top 256 of the event). It's likely that having to spar against these top threats was simply too much for Malamar to handle.
Regulation Set G rolled around next, and Malamar would see even less usage due to the addition of the powerful Restricted Special Pokémon, including huge threats like Miraidon, Calyrex, Kyogre, and more. Malamar's saving grace came in the form of the next format—Regulation Set H— which banned the use of all Paradox and Legendary Pokémon, greatly reducing the power level of the game and giving Malamar the freedom to stretch its legs. Additionally, Dondozo would become a huge threat in Regulation H, and as discussed above, Malamar can easily shut Dondozo down if positioned well.
Malamar landed another Top 256 performance at the 2025 Dortmund Regionals, used by trainer German Francisco Tenza Rubio with a record of 5 wins and 3 losses alongside familiar teammates in Ursaluna's base form, Torkoal, Hisuian Lilligant, Female Indeedee, and Hatterene. The 2025 Louisville Regionals would set a shocking record for Malamar, reaching two Top 256 placements. Ryan Marshall similarly brought Malamar alongside Pokémon that thrived in Trick Room and the harsh sunlight, namely Ursaluna, Hisuian Lilligant, Female Indeedee, Torkoal, and Delphox, whereas Alvin Mo brought more niche picks in Noivern, Toxtricity, Incineroar, Gastrodon, and Hisuian Zoroark. Both players had a record of 5 wins and 3 losses.
2018 Portland Regional Semi-finalist Gary Qian, who recently claimed a very impressive Top 128 finish in the 2025 North America Internationals, would become the first player to bring Malamar to a Top 128 finish at the 2025 Latin America Internationals. Qian used the standard moveset for Malamar, notably dropping Topsy-Turvy from its moveset, alongside the powerful combination of Electabuzz and Bloodmoon Ursaluna which Carson Confer would go on to use to win the 2025 Sacramento Regionals. Qian's team was cleverly rounded out with the format's top threats in Hisuian Arcanine, Gholdengo, and Whimsicott. Not to be outdone, Alvin Mo would return to the 2025 Sacramento Regionals to earn Malamar another Top 128 finish. They used a team similar to their run from the Louisville Regionals, but made the smart choice to tweak their team, most notably swapping Gastrodon out for Kommo-o to greatly increase the team's damage output.
Malamar's run in the 2025 Championship Series would end with the 2025 Toronto Regionals, with aforementioned trainers Ryan Marshall and Gary Qian bringing Malamar two final Top 256 finishes.
This isn't the end for Malamar, however. It was recently announced that the Regulation H ruleset will be returning to in-person events from September 1st to November 30th, 2025. With Pokémon Champions likely releasing in early 2026, this may be the last chance for Malamar to achieve a Top 64 finish (or better) in Scarlet and Violet. With Malamar high on everyone's radar thanks to it being the most popular Pokémon to ever release, it's possible we can reach this achievement together as Malamar's friends and devout followers!
If Malamar does receive a Mega Evolution in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, as so many of us undoubtedly pray for, it's likely that Malamar will see an even wider range of results when it joins the Pokémon Champions roster alongside Mega Dragonite.
