Is Alolan Marowak or Kanto Marowak Better in Pokemon GO?

Do alternate regional forms have any significance in Pokemon GO? Let's find out by comparing Marowaks.
Do alternate regional forms have any significance in Pokemon GO? Let's find out by comparing Marowaks. / Niantic Labs

Do alternate regional forms have any significance in Pokemon GO? Let's find out by comparing Marowaks.

Marowak was originally a Kanto region native, but recently gained an alternate appearance in the Alola region. Its PokeDex number is 105. As the evolved form of Cubone, Marowak is best known for the bone club it wields in combat—the reason for its namesake as marrow can be found inside bones and, well, it quite literally "whacks" opponents. Alolan Marowak has added some flames onto either side of its bone club, providing both a distinct appearance and change in its type.

Pokemon GO: Alolan Marowak vs. Kanto Marowak

Like any Pokemon with alternate regional form, its basic stats don't change. Alolan Marowak and its original counterpart from Kanto both have the following stats:

  • Maximum CP: 2075
  • Maximum HP: 142
  • Attack: 144
  • Defense: 186
  • Stamina: 155

Their real difference comes from their typing. We'll explain that below with each occupying its own subheading.

Alolan Marowak

Alolan Marowak not only changes its type but picks up a secondary category as a fire and ghost-type. It is vulnerable to ground, rock, ghost, water, and dark-types, but has a massive list of resistances, including poison, steel, fire, grass, ice, and fairy-types—with twice the strength to stand against normal, fighting, and bug-types.

Its best moveset contains the quick move(s) Fire Spin and Hex paired with the charged move Shadow Ball.

The only way to find an Alolan Marowak is in the wild or by battling it as a Raid boss. There is currently no Alolan Cubone to evolve it from—the reason for which we have yet to discover.

Kantonian Marowak

The original Marowak from the Kanto region is a ground-type. It has vulnerabilities to water, grass, and ice-types but is strong against poison and rock-type attacks—with a double resistance to electric-types.

The best moveset for Kanto's Marowak contains the quick move Mud-Slap and charged move Earthquake.

This is the only Marowak available via evolution through Cubone. Currently, an Alolan Cubone does not exist.

Alolan Marowak vs. Kanto Marowak: Which is Better?

The only real way to measure this is by the utility of each form. Essentially, when comparing Marowaks, we're looking for which region will perform better in battle. In this case, we'd have to go with Alolan Marowak as the better of the two.

Kanto Marowak has a long list of competitors as a ground-type and is easily outclassed by the likes of Rhyperior and others.

Meanwhile, Alolan Marowak not only has a longer list of resistances that heavily outweighs its vulnerabilities, but also features two-types for double the opportunity to fight back against opponents. It does face competition in either category—fire and ghost-types, alone—but enjoys that unique advantage of having the two together.