Utility
Setup Sweeper
461Average
60Moderate
CTier

Don't let the raw stats fool you. Chlorophyll doubles its Speed in sun, and that completely changes the math for Maractus. 5 type weaknesses to keep in mind. Introduced in Gen 5. Known as the Cactus Pokemon.

Sp. Atk and Attack carry most of Maractus's stat budget. Speed's the obvious dump stat. Easy to catch and yields 2 Sp. Atk EVs. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
461Above
HP75
C
Attack86
C
Defense67
C
Sp. Atk106
B
Sp. Def67
C
Speed60
C
Total461
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Maractus yields +2 SpA
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe
Details
Catch255GuaranteedMedium Fast1M XP1m / 3'03"28kg / 61.7 lbs161Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It uses an up-tempo song and dance to drive away the bird Pokémon that prey on its flower seeds.

Omega Ruby

Arid regions are their habitat. They move rhythmically, making a sound similar to maracas.

Alpha Sapphire

Maractus Weakness

Fragile

Maractus is weak to Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, and Bug-type moves. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Water Absorb grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.

4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
5Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Scorei-6
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Water AbsorbAbsorbs water moves, healing for 1/4 max HP.
ChlorophyllDoubles Speed during strong sunlight.
Storm DrainHARedirects single-target water moves to this Pokémon where possible. Absorbs Water moves, raising Special Attack one stage.
Water Absorb grants Water immunity · Storm Drain grants Water immunity

No evolution chain to worry about here. Maractus is a standalone Pokemon with no compatible partners for breeding through one egg group. Eggs come out average hatch time.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Maractus
#556Maractus
Does not evolve
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Maractus easily from the Plant egg group. Pass egg moves like Bounce, Bullet Seed, Grass Whistle and 6 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Plant
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
9moves

For a defensive wall, Maractus wants max HP and Sp. Def EVs and Leftovers. The Bold nature tilts toward physical wall duty, and Stormdrain contributes without taking a move slot.

Best Build

Wall
Ability
Stormdrain
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Bold+DEF
EVs

Best Maractus Moveset

  • Cotton GuardSTAB
  • Giga DrainSTAB
  • Leech SeedSTAB
  • Helping Hand

Egg moves make a real difference. Maractus gets Bounce and Bullet Seed exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Flying and Bug coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Petal Dance and Solar Beam.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Absorb
2010025Grass
Lv 1
After You
15Normal
Lv 1
Cotton Guard
10Grass
Lv 1
Peck
3510035Flying
Lv 1
Spiky Shield+4
10Grass
Lv 3
Sweet Scent
10020Normal
Lv 6
Growth
20Normal
Lv 10
Pin Missile
259520Bug
Lv 13
Mega Drain
4010015Grass
Lv 15
Synthesis
5Grass
Lv 18
Cotton Spore
10040Grass
Lv 22
Needle Arm
6010015Grass
Lv 26
Giga Drain
7510010Grass
Lv 29
Acupressure
30Normal
Lv 33
Ingrain
20Grass
Lv 38
Petal Dance
12010010Grass
Lv 42
Sucker Punch+1
801005Dark
Lv 45
Sunny Day
5Fire
Lv 48
Petal Blizzard
9010015Grass
Lv 50
Solar Beam
12010010Grass
Lv 55
Cotton Guard
10Grass
Lv 57
After You
15Normal

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM100
Confide
20Normal
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM53
Energy Ball
9010010Grass
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM86
Grass Knot
10020Grass
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM96
Nature Power
20Normal
TM84
Poison Jab
8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM94
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM88
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM22
Solar Beam
12010010Grass
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Bounce
85855Flying
Egg
Bullet Seed
2510030Grass
Egg
Grass Whistle
5515Grass
Egg
Grassy Terrain
10Grass
Egg
Leech Seed
9010Grass
Egg
Seed Bomb
8010015Grass
Egg
Spikes
20Ground
Egg
Wood Hammer
12010015Grass
Egg
Worry Seed
10010Grass

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
After You
15Normal
Tutor
Bounce
85855Flying
Tutor
Drain Punch
7510010Fighting
Tutor
Endeavor
1005Normal
Tutor
Giga Drain
7510010Grass
Tutor
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
Tutor
Hyper Voice
9010010Normal
Tutor
Knock Off
6510020Dark
Tutor
Seed Bomb
8010015Grass
Tutor
Snore
5010015Normal
Tutor
Synthesis
5Grass
Tutor
Uproar
9010010Normal
Tutor
Worry Seed
10010Grass

2 encounter spots for Maractus at moderate rates starting from late-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.

Best Locations

Mirage Spots - Area 10
Omega RubyGrassLv.36-386%Late
CHALLENGING
Mirage Spots - Area 10
Alpha SapphireGrassLv.36-386%Late
CHALLENGING
  • Chlorophyll changes the entire equation for Maractus. The 461 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a setup sweeper.

  • Maractus's biggest threats include Arcanine (Fire), Walrein (Ice), and Crobat (Poison), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Flying and Bug-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.

  • Maractus doesn't evolve and has no evolutionary line. It's a Grass-type Pokemon with a 461 base stat total.

  • Chlorophyll is what you want on Maractus. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Water Absorb, Storm Drain) work on paper but Chlorophyll is what makes Maractus worth using.

  • At base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often. On offense, Maractus is leaning toward the special side (base 106 Sp. Atk). Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a setup sweeper.

  • Maractus appears in 7 games, including Black & White, Black 2 & White 2, and X & Y.

Maractus joined the series in Black & White and has been available in 7 titles so far. With 5 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.