In this special edition, we're spreading the word on what makes My Friend Malamar the strongest and most desirable Partner Pokémon out there.
Our Bestie Malamar!
Main article: My Friend Malamar
The amazing Malamar has of course finally got its own campaign. What took so long??? It’s obvious that Malamar will be the star of Legends: Z-A, so its only natural that this Topsy-Turvy Celebutante is at the center of celebrations for the upcoming Switch 2 title!
The campaign launched this week on September 4 with a promotional video showcasing Malamar’s many adoring fans UwU
Pokémon Trading Card Game Live also updated its Battle Board to feature Malamar. Why this wasn’t already a thing is beyond us! The game also has some new catchphrases about Malamar. We all love Malamar!
Additionally, remember to dive into the Japanese Pokémon Twitter to catch yourself some Malamar wallpapers for your mobile device ❤
As for IRL realness, the Pokémon Center stores in Japan have been redecorated with Malamar memorabilia, and customers can receive free Malamar paper hats and detailed handouts. Spread the word hoomans!!
Main article: Malamar (Secluded Springs 52)
We quickly used the last of our Pack and Wonder Hourglasses to chance just a fleeting glance of our beloved beauty, captured so majestically by the talented Masakazu Fukuda on this, its auspicious debut in Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket! At last! 90HP and an attack that hits every opponent for just a single Darkness Energy? Remarkable! The perfect luminaire to share some Bubble Flair and pair with the rare Darkrai ex to ensnare that pesky Zoroark in some psychic warfare during this month's Drop Event extraordinaire!
Our deck, My Friend Malamar, contains all the various staples you need in any Darkness archetype. Deal extra damage per turn with Darkrai ex's Nightmare Aura, and then use Dawn to move that Energy to an Active Malamar to use Mental Surge for only a single Energy! Disrupt your opponent with Dark Pendant, and use Pokémon Flute to revive a low HP Basic Pokémon to your opponent's Bench to Mental Surge all over again. A Revolving Door of Pokémon! Use Cyrus to Switch In a damaged opponent and you too can achieve a Malamarvellous Victory! Card of the Game! Malamar! We wouldn't have it any other way.
Be sure to check out this award winning deck!
Their World Turned Upside Down - Origins of Malamar
Main article: Malamar (Pokémon)
The innocent Malamar was just a baby, but one day, its whole world turned upside down! This upside down squid is always drawn in books the wrong way up. So misunderstood >.<
No wonder it uses hypnosis just like a cuddlefish to make friends. But why would it need it?! Malamar’s so cool, with its vampire squid-like tentacles and its ability to glow!! That’s Bioluminescence Babes!!!
Some people think Malamar is an alien supervillain, but the Overturning Pokémon is a hero in our hearts~
Malamar’s true name EXPOSED
Our bestest friend Malamar’s Japanese name is Calamanero! Like, excuse me?? That’s probably from the Italian words for squid and black/ink - calamaro and nero! BUT WAIT, it might also be tangled up (literally) with the Japanese words karamasu (to entangle) and ma (demon). DEMON SQUID?!?!
And the Chinese name? Oh, it’s just casually built from the words for black, evil/thief, and king. Emphasis on King. Not sure about that other stuff though. What’s there not to trust????
A Malamar Memoir
We asked our Editor-in-Chief, Maverick Nate, to recount his experience at the Pokémon Fit Shop XY pop up shop in Osaka, Japan.
June 2024 was a magical time. A simpler time. A time before I knew how deep one's love could be for the glorious Malamar.It was June 15, the ides of June: opening day. I made my way to the HOOP shopping mall in Osaka, right outside Abenobashi station, the locale of that fateful encounter. The mood and atmosphere were soothing...no. Hypnotic. I made my way up to the 4th floor.
It was not my first pop-up shop in Japan--I knew the drill. Get my timed entry ticket for later in the day and come back. Luckily, they hadn't run out this time. My journey to Kalos was to begin at 3:00pm. Hopefully MY sitting cutie would still be available! I had heard rumors of taxi cab drivers buying up all the stock. Fingers crossed.
But, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her. Those luminescent spots. That irresistible shape. The blues, the blacks the purples! I was...struck. I just had to get her! I dove straight for the shelf, picking the one with the most elegant pattern. I was in love! For the mere price of ¥1,760, she was mine. "But wait, there's more!" the cashier exclaimed. "For every purchase, you receive a random postcard of one of the 107 plush released today." How lucky was I feeling... less than a 1% chance? With My Friend Malamar, there's no job I can't do!
I started the hours long journey back to my home in the mountains, with my sitting cutie and a new postcard in hand. What Pokémon postcard had I encountered that day? You'll just have to click the spoiler below to find out.
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Our team of Malamanatics is able to bring this special edition thanks to the contributions of our dedicated community volunteers. We're always welcoming new friends as we continue to enhance and broadcast our shared knowledge of Our Friend Malamar. If you'd like to help out, check out our guide on getting started, or come chat with us on the Malagarden Discord server. We look forward to seeing you!
- Sources
- Special thanks to @Landfish7 for helping write parts of this article.
