Marowak
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marowak | |
|---|---|
 National Cubone - Marowak (#105) - Hitmonlee Johto Cubone - Marowak (#204) - Kangaskhan |
|
| Japanese name | Garagara |
| Stage | Stage 1 |
| Evolves from | Cubone |
| Evolves to | None |
| Generation | First |
| Species | Bone Keeper Pokémon |
| Type | Ground |
| Height | 3 ft 3 in (1.0 m) |
| Weight | 99 lb (45.0 kg) |
| Ability | Rock Head/Lightning Rod |
Marowak (ガラガラ Garagara?) is one of 493 fictional species of the Pokémon franchise. The name "Marowak" is a portmanteau of marrow and whack (to strike), with "marrow" to represent Marowak's skull-like head, and "whack" to represent Marowak's nature of striking its opponent with bones. Its Japanese name most likely refers to がらがら garagara, the onomatopoeia for "clattering," as in of bones. In the English translation, it was originally going to be called "Guardia", a corruption of "Guardian".
Marowak always carries a thick bone in its hand, which it bludgeons foes with. Marowak and Cubone are known as the two Pokémon with three signature attacks (Bone Club, Bone Rush, and Bonemerang), the most of any other Pokémon.
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[edit] Biology
Marowak were generally weak creatures with a bit of experience when they just evolve. However, after they train hard and grow strong, they turns powerful. They began using thick bones (possibly a femur) as defense against foes and eventually evolved to be more aggressive. As a Cubone's instinct, Marowaks use the bones to club enemies, but have since learned to skillfully throw the bone like a boomerang. They can also use these bones to tap out messages to others in the vicinity.
It is rumored that "Marowak cemeteries" exist where Cubones collect the bones of deceased Marowak to be used as weapons. It is likely that these cemeteries are also where female Marowak give birth, as female Marowak have a 100% chance of death after or during the birthing process. But due to the fact that if you breed in the games the Marowak still survive, this may be due to wild pokémon possibly giving live birth; whereas captured pokémon lay eggs.
Cubone will wear the skull of its deceased mother as a memento of her. It is currently unknown where Cubone that you breed get the skulls, though it may be a natural growth and a true part of its head (compare to Bagon). This could happen as no person has seen Cubone without the bone. When Cubone evolves, the skull helmet (presuming it is a helmet) will seemingly fuse onto its face.
Marowak's appearance may have been based on the Pachycephalosaurs, a group of thick-skulled dinosaurs.
[edit] In the video games
Marowak can be obtained by evolving Cubone. It can also be obtained in Firered and Leafgreen on Victory road and Sevault Canyon. It can also be snagged in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness from Eldes.
Marowak is famous for its Thick Club item. This item can double Marowak's Attack power when held, having the luxury of potentially surpassing even Deoxys' max Attack strength, and can even allow its Attack to pass 1000 points if it uses Swords Dance. Marowak is the only Pokémon who can do this with one Swords Dance, and this ability has earned Marowak fame among serious Pokémon fans.
In Pokemon Gold and Silver, one of the best movesets for Marowak was Earthquake, Rock Slide, Hidden Power- Bug, and Sword Dance. The concept was essentially this: With the Thick Club equipped, Marowak’s Attack doubled, and with the move Sword Dance, it could go even higher. Marowak could basically defeat an enemy with 1 attack of Earthquake. The only problem is, Grass- and Bug-type Pokemon are resistant to the Ground-type attacks, and Flying-type Pokemon are completely immune to them, so Marowak needed 2 moves that were super effective against these types, while still being physical moves so they run off Marowak’s insanely high Attack. This is where Rock Slide and Hidden Power- Bug come in. These moves are physical, so their damage will depend on Marowak’s Attack, which will be very high, thanks to the Thick Club. They are also super effective against types that Earthquake won’t do so well against: Rock Slide beats Bug- and Flying-types, while Hidden Power- Bug beats Grass-types. With this moveset, a Marowak with a Thick Club could single-handedly win battles.
Marowak and Cubone have several unique moves, more than most other Pokémon. One which is particularly noteworthy is Bonemerang, an attack which hits the foe twice. Bonemerang is able to take apart Substitutes by striking the Substitute in one throw and hitting the enemy in the other. Bonemerang's total power equals that of an Earthquake, with only a slight drop in accuracy. Other unique moves are Bone Club and Bone Rush.
Marowak can destroy entire Pokémon teams with its attack strength, and it can stay in play with its high Defense. The appropriate counters for Marowak are Suicune, Ludicolo, Skarmory, Weezing, Claydol, and Celebi; but even so, care must be taken and prediction must be made to ensure that Marowak doesn't knock-out your Pokémon in a turn or two.
In Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Yellow, the ghost of a deceased Marowak haunted the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town. It appears as a spectre until the Silph Scope item is used, after which it shows its form as a Marowak. Although it is a wild Pokémon, it cannot be caught- any Pokeballs thrown at it miss, making it impossible (which makes a sort of sense, considering it is a ghost).
[edit] In the animé
Ash met a trainer (Otoshi) heading for the Elite 4 who owned a Marowak. When the trainer's 8 gym badges were stolen by Team Rocket, his Marowak ran away from him. The Marowak blamed his owner for losing the badges, and was angry with him. Marowak eventually reunited with Otoshi and helped Ash and friends save the day by defeating Team Rocket and getting the badges back. This was in Episode 20 of Season 2: "Bad to the Bone".
Ash encountered another Marowak in the third episode of season 3: "Pokémon Double Trouble". In order to earn the Jade Star Badge, Ash and his Pokémon had to win a two-on-two battle against Luana. Luana's Marowak fought alongside her Alakazam against Ash's Pikachu and Charizard. Pikachu and Charizard were indisposed towards working together as a team, but after rooting out this issue Ash's team was able to win against Luana's team, and thus Ash received the Jade Star badge.
In the Hoenn League Championships, Morrison used his Growlithe and Gligar in his first double battle against a man using Machamp and Marowak. The Marowak was powerful and even beat Morrison's Growlithe. But in the end Morrison's Gligar managed to beat Marowak and win the match.
[edit] In other properties
[edit] In the card game
Marowak has been one of the more ignored Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, with no Marowak card being released between the Jungle set and the Aquapolis set. The Marowak card from the Jungle set also appeared in the Base Set 2 set.
Marowak has made the following appearances as a Fighting-type Stage 1 Pokémon card:
- Jungle
- Aquapolis
- EX Firered and Leafgreen
- EX Team Rocket Returns (as Dark Marowak; as a Darkness/Ground dual-type)
- EX Delta Species (as a Delta Species Pokémon, with a dual ground-steel type)
[edit] References
- The following games and their instruction manuals: Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue; Pokémon Yellow; Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2; Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal; Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald; Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen; Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
- Publications
- Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
- Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
- Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
[edit] External links
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Marowak as a species
- Serebii.net’s 4th Gen Pokédex entry for Marowak
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke - Marowak Pokédex entry and Usage Overview
- Smogon.com - Marowak Tactical Data
- WikiKnowledge.net’s entry for Marowak Previously hosted by Wikibooks
