UU ADV Slowking [DONE]

[EllingtonReborn]

[OVERVIEW]

Slowking is one of UU's premier Calm Mind sweepers and bulky Water-types. Slowking can be immediately threatening even with a single boost thanks to its nearly unresisted dual STAB combination. Its huge bulk allows for ample setup opportunities against the tier's numerous Water- and Ground-types such as Omastar, Tentacruel, and Gligar, with most special coverage options bouncing off of it. This is complemented nicely by Rest, which allows Slowking to continue its sweep and remain threatening for the long haul. Slowking can be very hard to KO without enough offensive pressure, allowing it to easily punish most bulky builds that aim to take the game slower, and it is a great fit on bulky balance and offense teams that can open up opportunities for Slowking to wreak havoc.

Despite its great bulk and defensive typing, Slowking is very slow and can get easily overwhelmed by offensive pressure and forced into using Rest early, something further compounded by Spikes, which makes it difficult for it to switch in. Slowking's reliance on Rest for recovery is exploitable through lost momentum, especially by sweepers that can win the game on the spot, such as Swords Dance Scyther. Slowking is also very susceptible to critical hits, as only one can put it out of commission as it's getting pressured because it has a hard time finding another opportunity to use Rest.

[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Surf
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Rest
item: Leftovers
ability: Own Tempo
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Slowking should find opportunities to safely come in mid-game and set up Calm Mind on Pokemon such as Omastar, Tentacruel, Gligar, Arcanine, and non-Encore or Roar Walrein through passive entry points or double switches, though Slowking should be careful of the occasional Thief from some of these Pokemon. Its naturally high special bulk coupled with greatly invested physical bulk and a lack of common physical weaknesses means Slowking can survive numerous uses of STAB Earthquake, Hidden Power Electric, and Hidden Power Grass thrown its way, with the latter two doing little damage at +1 Special Defense. Psychic allows Slowking to hit Water- and Grass-types such as Tentacruel and Vileplume. Rest gives Slowking longevity to keep sweeping the opposing team and to offset the damage it takes from a multitude of attacks, Spikes, and Toxic.

Team Options
=========

Spikes are the bane of Slowking, so a Rapid Spin user such as Tentacruel, Blastoise, or Hitmontop is mandatory with it, allowing for safer switches on Pokemon like Gligar and Arcanine. A cleric such as Ampharos, Vileplume, or Altaria can wake up Slowking after it uses Rest, letting it hit the field again for another Calm Mind-boosted assault. Kangaskhan provides the team another special sponge for opposing Water- and Electric-types, and it can pass a Wish to Slowking to keep it healthy when needing to switch into certain threats with Spikes up or if it took prior chip damage. Since Choice Band Scyther is an immediate threat to Slowking, Pokemon that can check it such as Granbull, Arcanine, and Gligar are good partners, establishing their own offense that complements Slowking by cleaning up late-game. Pokemon that can check Electric-types such as Kangaskhan, Ampharos, Cradily, and Nidoqueen can passively damage or wallbreak through them to enable Slowking to sweep and be not as easily forced out.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Thunder Wave is useful for turning the tides on switch-ins like Kangaskhan, Scyther, and Electabuzz and allows for earlier opportunities to set up or use Rest. Dropping Psychic for Thunder Wave is useful on paralysis spam structures, though dropping Psychic will hurt Slowking's ability to hit other Water-types and Vileplume. Dropping Rest for Thunder Wave is situationally useful on hyper offensive structures where Slowking's bulky setup sweeper nature trades longevity for speed control, but it then loses out on crucial recovery to sustain itself through its sweep. A Psychic + Calm Mind + RestTalk set reduces Slowking's coverage, but it allows Slowking to maintain itself as an offensive threat while asleep and boost more freely without losing any momentum.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Kangaskhan**: Offensive variants of Kangaskhan can muscle through Slowking's physical bulk and prevent it from Rest looping with Double-Edge being a 3HKO. Specially defensive variants also work well in a pinch, forcing Slowking into a bad spot with Toxic and having reliable ways to recover off the damage Slowking deals with Wish and Early Bird Rest. Roar variants of Kangaskhan can hard stop Slowking's sweep, forcing it out of its Calm Mind boosts. However, Slowking can take advantage of Kangaskhan's Rest turns by setting up and hitting back hard with a boosted Surf.

**Bug-types**: Scyther and Pinsir pose a dangerous threat to Slowking, smashing through it with super effective STAB moves. Choice Band Scyther has a lot of immediate power with Hidden Power Bug or Silver Wind, KOing even from 60% and potentially OHKOing in Swarm range. Although Swords Dance Scyther and non-Adamant Pinsir need to set up to 2HKO Slowking, they can use Slowking's Rest turns to boost and threaten to sweep. Both Pokemon can hit Slowking very hard, but they get hit hard in return if they switch in.

**Electric-types**: Electric-types like Ampharos, Lanturn, and Electabuzz are great at handling Slowking, since their STAB Thunderbolts are mostly unperturbed by Special Defense boosts and prevent Slowking from Rest looping. However, if they have taken prior chip damage, Slowking can occasionally take the trade to KO them after Calm Mind, and the faster Electric-types have trouble directly switching into its attacks.

**Phazers**: Pokemon with Roar such as Altaria, Walrein, Blastoise, and occasionally Kangaskhan can tank any boosted attacks and force Slowking out, making Slowking start back at square one on its sweep and potentially forcing it to switch in with Spikes up. If Slowking is low without using Rest, it's very hard to find an opportunity to recover and Slowking's team becomes on the back foot. However, some of these Pokemon usually don't make much progress of their own on Slowking one-on-one.

**Encore**: Encore users like Walrein, Cacturne, Mr. Mime, and Raichu can lock Slowking into Calm Mind, hard stopping its sweep and preventing it from healing off damage while they use the free turns to pressure its team. Some of these Pokemon need a read on Calm Mind, as they don't comfortably switch into Slowking's attacks.

**Explosion**: An Explosion user such as Solrock, Electrode, Muk, or Glalie can stop Slowking's sweep by trading with it. This often opens up a gateway for a Slowking-weak Pokemon like Arcanine or Gligar to safely clean.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bouff.121672/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bigfatmantis.507497/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/deetah.297659/

 

[Bouff]

id probably remove granbull as a section in checks / counters, it can break through it yeah but like id never say its a desirable position for it especially because most of the time it means your granbull will be almost dead at best. id also add a bit about roar kanga, idk if it should go in the kanga paragraph or the phazers one but i think its a meaningful way to punish it.

also imo sleep talk can be an option in OO; yeah its adv and adv resttalk mechs are wacky, but it can really help get it going with boosts, and sometimes if you get enough boosts one attack can be all you really need. qc 1/2 after this is implemented

 

[EllingtonReborn]

id probably remove granbull as a section in checks / counters, it can break through it yeah but like id never say its a desirable position for it especially because most of the time it means your granbull will be almost dead at best. id also add a bit about roar kanga, idk if it should go in the kanga paragraph or the phazers one but i think its a meaningful way to punish it.

also imo sleep talk can be an option in OO; yeah its adv and adv resttalk mechs are wacky, but it can really help get it going with boosts, and sometimes if you get enough boosts one attack can be all you really need. qc 1/2 after this is implemented

implemented

 

[BigFatMantis]

Remove
Add
Consider
Comment

QC 2/2 after implemented

The King and I

View attachment 536718
[OVERVIEW]

Slowking is one of the tier's premier Calm Mind sweepers and bulky Water-types. Slowking can be immediately threatens anything threatening even with a single boost with a nearly unresisted dual STAB combination that threatens much of the tier. It's huge bulk allows for ample setup opportunities on the tier's numerous Water- and Ground-types (such as? Give a couple of examples of what it best sets up on), with most special coverage options bouncing off of it. This is complemented nicely by Rest, which allows Slowking to continue its sweep and remain threatening for the long haul. Slowking can feel very hard to kill without enough offensive pressure, allowing it to easily punish most fat builds that aim to take the game slower, and is a great fit onto bulky balances and offenses that can open up opportunities for Slowking to wreak havoc.

However, one very apparent aspect of Slowking holds it back and permeates into its entire gameplan. Slowking is the slowest Pokemon in the tier, meaning it can Despite its great bulk and defensive typing, Slowking is very slow and can get easily overwhelmed by offensive pressure and forced into early Rests, further compounded by Spikes which makes it difficult to switch in. Slowking's reliance on Rest for recovery is exploitable through lost momentum, especially by sweepers who can win the game on the spot, such as Swords Dance Scyther. Slowking is the Pokemon most also very susceptible to critical hits, only one can put it out of commission as it's getting pressured, because it has a hard time finding another opportunity to Rest.

[SET]
Name: Calm Mind
Move 1: Surf
Move 2: Psychic
Move 3: Calm Mind
Move 4: Rest
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Slowking should find opportunities to safely come in mid-game, and set up Calm Mind on threats (what do you mean by threats here, as these mons are not really threatening to Slowking), such as Omastar, Tentacruel, Gligar, Arcanine, and non-Encore or Roar Walrein, through passive entry points or double switches (Half of these can run Thief though which really hurts Slowking especially on the switch in). Its naturally high special bulk coupled with great invested physical bulk and a lack of common physical weaknesses means Slowking can live through STAB Earthquakes, Hidden Power Electrics, or Hidden Power Grasses thrown its way, doing little damage at +1 Special Defense. Psychic is a secondary STAB coverage option that allows Slowking to hit Water- and Grass-Types such as Tentacruel and Vileplume. Rest is Slowking's form of recovery, giving it longevity to keep sweeping the opposing team and to offset the damage it takes through the hits it bulks through, Spikes, and Toxic. With Heal Bell support, Slowking doesn't need to burn Rest turns, and can remain threatening even when it's not in battle. (This is more for Team Options, which you do mention there)

Team Options
=========

Spikes are the bane of Slowking, so a Rapid Spin user, such as Tentacruel, Blastoise, or Hitmontop, is mandatory (I'd try not to use absolute words like this - it's not ideal but you can make a heavily offensive Slowking team work without a spinner) with it, allowing for safer switches on Pokemon like Gligar and Arcanine. A cleric Pokemon, such as Ampharos, Vileplume, and Altaria, can wake up Slowking after it uses Rest, letting it hit the field again for another Calm Mind-boosted assault. Kangaskhan provides the team another special sponge for opposing Water- and Electric-types, and can pass a Wish to Slowking to keep it healthy when needing to switch into certain threats with Spikes up or if it took prior chip damage. Since Choice Band Scyther is an immediate threat to Slowking, Pokemon that can safely switch in and check it, such as Granbull, Arcanine, and Gligar (I don't know if these really "safely" switch in unless it uses HP Bug, since Gligar is 2HKOd by HP Flying, but it's the best you can really do vs CB Scyther other than defensive Altaria), are good partners, establishing their own offense that compliments Slowking by cleaning up an end-game. Pokemon that can check Electric-types such as Kangaskhan, Ampharos, Cradily, and Nidoqueen can passively damage or wallbreak through to enable Slowking to make a cleaner sweep and be not as easily forced out.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Thunder Wave is useful for turning the tides on switch-ins like Kangaskhan, Scyther, and Electabuzz, and allows for earlier opportunities to set up or Rest. Dropping Psychic for Thunder Wave is useful on Paraspam structures, though dropping Psychic will hurt your ability to hit other Water-types and Vileplume. Dropping Rest for Thunder Wave is situationally useful on hyper offensive structures where Slowking's bulky setup sweeper nature kicks out the longevity for Speed control, but loses out on crucial recovery to sustain itself through its sweep. A Calm Mind + RestTalk set drops Slowking's coverage, but it allows Slowking to maintain an offensive threat while asleep and boost more freely without dropping any momentum (which move are you keeping, probably Psychic right?).

(Thoughts on adding Flamethrower here?)

Checks and Counters
===================

**Kangaskhan**: Offensive variants of Kangaskhan can muscle through Slowking's physical bulk, prevent it from Rest looping with Double-Edge being a 3HKO. Specially Defensive variants also work well in a pinch, forcing Slowking into a bad spot with Toxic, and having reliable ways to recover off the damage Slowking deals with Wish and Early Bird Rest. Roar variants of Kangaskhan can hard stop Slowking's sweep forcing it out of its Calm Mind boosts. However, Slowking can take advantage of Kangaskhan's Rest turns by setting up and hitting back hard with boosted Surfs.

**Bug-types**: Scyther and Pinsir pose a dangerous threat to Slowking, smashing through it with super effective STAB moves. Choice Band Scyther has a lot of immediate power with Hidden Power Bug or Silver Wind, KOing even from 60% and potentially OHKOing in Swarm range. Although Swords Dance Scyther and non-Adamant Pinsir need setup to 2HKO Slowking, they can use Slowking's Rest turns to boost and threaten to sweep. Both Pokemon can hit Slowking very hard, but get hit hard in return if they switch in.

**Electric-Types**: Electric-types like Ampharos, Lanturn, Electrode, and Electabuzz are great at handling Slowking, since their STAB Thunderbolts are mostly unperturbed by Special Defense boosts and prevent Slowking from Rest looping (the reason I bolded Electrode is because it actually loses to Slowking or is forced to explode if it switches in as it Calm Minds, since it will super fail to 3HKO with Slowking at +2.). However, if they have taken prior chip damage, Slowking can occasionally take the trade to KO them after Calm Mind, and the faster Electric-types have trouble directly switching into its attacks.

**Phazers**: Pokemon with Roar such as Altaria, Walrein, Blastoise, and occasionally Kangaskhan can bulk past any boosted attacks and force it out, making the Slowking user start back at square one on its sweep and potentially switch into Spikes. If Slowking is at low without Resting, then it's very hard to find an opportunity to recover and Slowking's team becomes on the back foot. However, some of these Pokemon usually don't make much progress of their own on Slowking one-on-one.

**Encore**: Encore users, like Walrein, Cacturne, Mr. Mime, and Raichu, can lock Slowking into a Calm Mind, hard stopping its sweep and preventing it from Resting off damage while they use the free turns to pressure the Slowking user's team. Some of these Pokemon need a read on Calm Mind, as they don't comfortably switch into Slowking's attacks.

**Explosion**: A backup Explosion user, such as Solrock, Electrode, Muk, and Glalie, can stop Slowking's sweep through force by exploding on it. This often opens up a gateway for a Slowking-weak Pokemon like Arcanine or Gligar to safely clean up.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bouff.121672/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/

 

[EllingtonReborn]

Remove
Add
Consider
Comment

QC 2/2 after implemented

The King and I

View attachment 536718
[OVERVIEW]

Slowking is one of the tier's premier Calm Mind sweepers and bulky Water-types. Slowking can be immediately threatens anything threatening even with a single boost with a nearly unresisted dual STAB combination that threatens much of the tier. It's huge bulk allows for ample setup opportunities on the tier's numerous Water- and Ground-types (such as? Give a couple of examples of what it best sets up on), with most special coverage options bouncing off of it. This is complemented nicely by Rest, which allows Slowking to continue its sweep and remain threatening for the long haul. Slowking can feel very hard to kill without enough offensive pressure, allowing it to easily punish most fat builds that aim to take the game slower, and is a great fit onto bulky balances and offenses that can open up opportunities for Slowking to wreak havoc.

However, one very apparent aspect of Slowking holds it back and permeates into its entire gameplan. Slowking is the slowest Pokemon in the tier, meaning it can Despite its great bulk and defensive typing, Slowking is very slow and can get easily overwhelmed by offensive pressure and forced into early Rests, further compounded by Spikes which makes it difficult to switch in. Slowking's reliance on Rest for recovery is exploitable through lost momentum, especially by sweepers who can win the game on the spot, such as Swords Dance Scyther. Slowking is the Pokemon most also very susceptible to critical hits, only one can put it out of commission as it's getting pressured, because it has a hard time finding another opportunity to Rest.

[SET]
Name: Calm Mind
Move 1: Surf
Move 2: Psychic
Move 3: Calm Mind
Move 4: Rest
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Slowking should find opportunities to safely come in mid-game, and set up Calm Mind on threats (what do you mean by threats here, as these mons are not really threatening to Slowking), such as Omastar, Tentacruel, Gligar, Arcanine, and non-Encore or Roar Walrein, through passive entry points or double switches (Half of these can run Thief though which really hurts Slowking especially on the switch in). Its naturally high special bulk coupled with great invested physical bulk and a lack of common physical weaknesses means Slowking can live through STAB Earthquakes, Hidden Power Electrics, or Hidden Power Grasses thrown its way, doing little damage at +1 Special Defense. Psychic is a secondary STAB coverage option that allows Slowking to hit Water- and Grass-Types such as Tentacruel and Vileplume. Rest is Slowking's form of recovery, giving it longevity to keep sweeping the opposing team and to offset the damage it takes through the hits it bulks through, Spikes, and Toxic. With Heal Bell support, Slowking doesn't need to burn Rest turns, and can remain threatening even when it's not in battle. (This is more for Team Options, which you do mention there)

Team Options
=========

Spikes are the bane of Slowking, so a Rapid Spin user, such as Tentacruel, Blastoise, or Hitmontop, is mandatory (I'd try not to use absolute words like this - it's not ideal but you can make a heavily offensive Slowking team work without a spinner) with it, allowing for safer switches on Pokemon like Gligar and Arcanine. A cleric Pokemon, such as Ampharos, Vileplume, and Altaria, can wake up Slowking after it uses Rest, letting it hit the field again for another Calm Mind-boosted assault. Kangaskhan provides the team another special sponge for opposing Water- and Electric-types, and can pass a Wish to Slowking to keep it healthy when needing to switch into certain threats with Spikes up or if it took prior chip damage. Since Choice Band Scyther is an immediate threat to Slowking, Pokemon that can safely switch in and check it, such as Granbull, Arcanine, and Gligar (I don't know if these really "safely" switch in unless it uses HP Bug, since Gligar is 2HKOd by HP Flying, but it's the best you can really do vs CB Scyther other than defensive Altaria), are good partners, establishing their own offense that compliments Slowking by cleaning up an end-game. Pokemon that can check Electric-types such as Kangaskhan, Ampharos, Cradily, and Nidoqueen can passively damage or wallbreak through to enable Slowking to make a cleaner sweep and be not as easily forced out.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Thunder Wave is useful for turning the tides on switch-ins like Kangaskhan, Scyther, and Electabuzz, and allows for earlier opportunities to set up or Rest. Dropping Psychic for Thunder Wave is useful on Paraspam structures, though dropping Psychic will hurt your ability to hit other Water-types and Vileplume. Dropping Rest for Thunder Wave is situationally useful on hyper offensive structures where Slowking's bulky setup sweeper nature kicks out the longevity for Speed control, but loses out on crucial recovery to sustain itself through its sweep. A Calm Mind + RestTalk set drops Slowking's coverage, but it allows Slowking to maintain an offensive threat while asleep and boost more freely without dropping any momentum (which move are you keeping, probably Psychic right?).

(Thoughts on adding Flamethrower here?)

Checks and Counters
===================

**Kangaskhan**: Offensive variants of Kangaskhan can muscle through Slowking's physical bulk, prevent it from Rest looping with Double-Edge being a 3HKO. Specially Defensive variants also work well in a pinch, forcing Slowking into a bad spot with Toxic, and having reliable ways to recover off the damage Slowking deals with Wish and Early Bird Rest. Roar variants of Kangaskhan can hard stop Slowking's sweep forcing it out of its Calm Mind boosts. However, Slowking can take advantage of Kangaskhan's Rest turns by setting up and hitting back hard with boosted Surfs.

**Bug-types**: Scyther and Pinsir pose a dangerous threat to Slowking, smashing through it with super effective STAB moves. Choice Band Scyther has a lot of immediate power with Hidden Power Bug or Silver Wind, KOing even from 60% and potentially OHKOing in Swarm range. Although Swords Dance Scyther and non-Adamant Pinsir need setup to 2HKO Slowking, they can use Slowking's Rest turns to boost and threaten to sweep. Both Pokemon can hit Slowking very hard, but get hit hard in return if they switch in.

**Electric-Types**: Electric-types like Ampharos, Lanturn, Electrode, and Electabuzz are great at handling Slowking, since their STAB Thunderbolts are mostly unperturbed by Special Defense boosts and prevent Slowking from Rest looping (the reason I bolded Electrode is because it actually loses to Slowking or is forced to explode if it switches in as it Calm Minds, since it will super fail to 3HKO with Slowking at +2.). However, if they have taken prior chip damage, Slowking can occasionally take the trade to KO them after Calm Mind, and the faster Electric-types have trouble directly switching into its attacks.

**Phazers**: Pokemon with Roar such as Altaria, Walrein, Blastoise, and occasionally Kangaskhan can bulk past any boosted attacks and force it out, making the Slowking user start back at square one on its sweep and potentially switch into Spikes. If Slowking is at low without Resting, then it's very hard to find an opportunity to recover and Slowking's team becomes on the back foot. However, some of these Pokemon usually don't make much progress of their own on Slowking one-on-one.

**Encore**: Encore users, like Walrein, Cacturne, Mr. Mime, and Raichu, can lock Slowking into a Calm Mind, hard stopping its sweep and preventing it from Resting off damage while they use the free turns to pressure the Slowking user's team. Some of these Pokemon need a read on Calm Mind, as they don't comfortably switch into Slowking's attacks.

**Explosion**: A backup Explosion user, such as Solrock, Electrode, Muk, and Glalie, can stop Slowking's sweep through force by exploding on it. This often opens up a gateway for a Slowking-weak Pokemon like Arcanine or Gligar to safely clean up.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bouff.121672/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/

Implemented GP Team

 

[Gangsta Spongebob]

This is an amcheck, implement whatever you like

amcheck

Add Remove Comments (RC) = Remove Comma (AC) = Add Comma

[OVERVIEW]
Slowking is one of the tier's UU's To avoid repetition of "the tier" later on premier Calm Mind sweepers and bulky Water-types. Slowking can be immediately threatening even with a single boost with a thanks to its nearly unresisted dual STAB combination that threatens much of the tier. Sentence is changed assuming you mean it's immediately threatening at +1 because of its unresisted STAB combination. Otherwise ignore these changes It's Its huge bulk allows for ample setup opportunities on the tier's numerous Water- and Ground-types, (RC) such as Omastar and Tentacruel, with most special coverage options bouncing off of it. This is complemented nicely by Rest, which allows Slowking to continue its sweep and remain threatening for the long haul. Slowking can feel "be" is likely a better fit here than "feel" very hard to kill KO without enough offensive pressure, allowing it to easily punish most fat builds that aim to take the game slower, and it is a great fit onto bulky balances and offenses that can open up opportunities for Slowking to wreak havoc.

Despite its great bulk and defensive typing, Slowking is very slow and can get easily overwhelmed by offensive pressure and forced into early Rests using Rest early, something further compounded by Spikes which makes it difficult for it to switch in. Slowking's reliance on Rest for recovery is exploitable through lost momentum, especially by sweepers who which can win the game on the spot, such as Swords Dance Scyther. Slowking is also very susceptible to critical hits, as only one can put it out of commission as it's getting pressured, (RC) because it has a hard time finding another opportunity to Rest.

[SET]
Name: Calm Mind
Move 1: Surf
Move 2: Psychic
Move 3: Calm Mind
Move 4: Rest
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Slowking should find opportunities to safely come in mid-game, (RC) and set up Calm Mind on Pokemon, (RC) such as Omastar, Tentacruel, Gligar, Arcanine, and non-Encore or Roar Walrein, (RC) through passive entry points or double switches, though Slowking should be careful of the occasional Thief from some of these Pokemon. Its naturally high special bulk coupled with great invested physical bulk and a lack of common physical weaknesses means Slowking can live through STAB Earthquakes, Hidden Power Electrics, or Hidden Power Grasses numerous STAB Earthquake, Hidden Power Electric, and Hidden Power Grass thrown its way, with the latter two doing little damage at +1 Special Defense. Psychic is a secondary STAB coverage option that allows Slowking to hit Water- and Grass-Types Grass-types such as Tentacruel and Vileplume. Rest is Slowking's form of recovery, giving it longevity to keep sweeping the opposing team and to offset the damage it takes through the hits it bulks through, Spikes, and Toxic.

Team Options
=========

Spikes are the bane of Slowking, so a Rapid Spin user, (RC) such as Tentacruel, Blastoise, or Hitmontop, (RC) is mandatory with it, allowing for safer switches on Pokemon like Gligar and Arcanine. A cleric Pokemon, (RC) such as Ampharos, Vileplume, and Altaria, (RC) can wake up Slowking after it uses Rest, letting it hit the field again for another Calm Mind-boosted assault. Kangaskhan provides the team another special sponge for opposing Water- and Electric-types, and can pass a Wish to Slowking to keep it healthy when needing to switch into certain threats with Spikes up or if it took prior chip damage. Since Choice Band Scyther is an immediate threat to Slowking, Pokemon that can check it, (RC) such as Granbull, Arcanine, and Gligar, (RC) are good partners, establishing their own offense that compliments Slowking by cleaning up an end-game late-game. Pokemon that can check Electric-types such as Kangaskhan, Ampharos, Cradily, and Nidoqueen can passively damage or wallbreak through them to enable Slowking to make a cleaner sweep and be not as easily forced out.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Thunder Wave is useful for turning the tides on switch-ins like Kangaskhan, Scyther, and Electabuzz, (RC) and allows for earlier opportunities to set up or Rest. Dropping Psychic for Thunder Wave is useful on Paraspam paraspam structures, though dropping Psychic will hurt your Slowking's ability to hit other Water-types and Vileplume. Dropping Rest for Thunder Wave is situationally useful on hyper offensive structures where Slowking's bulky setup sweeper nature kicks out the trades longevity for Speed control, but it then loses out on crucial recovery to sustain itself through its sweep. A Psychic + Calm Mind + RestTalk set drops Slowking's coverage, but it allows Slowking to maintain an offensive threat while asleep and boost more freely without dropping losing Limiting repetition of "drop/dropping" any momentum.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Kangaskhan**: Offensive variants of Kangaskhan can muscle through Slowking's physical bulk, (RC) and prevent it from Rest looping with Double-Edge being a 3HKO. Specially Defensive defensive variants also work well in a pinch, forcing Slowking into a bad spot with Toxic, and having reliable ways to recover off the damage Slowking deals with Wish and Early Bird Rest. Roar variants of Kangaskhan can hard stop Slowking's sweep, (AC) forcing it out of its Calm Mind boosts. However, Slowking can take advantage of Kangaskhan's Rest turns by setting up and hitting back hard with boosted Surfs Surf.

**Bug-types**: Scyther and Pinsir pose a dangerous threat to Slowking, smashing through it with super effective STAB moves. Choice Band Scyther has a lot of immediate power with Hidden Power Bug or Silver Wind, KOing even from 60% and potentially OHKOing in Swarm range. Although Swords Dance Scyther and non-Adamant Pinsir need to setup to 2HKO Slowking, they can use Slowking's Rest turns to boost and threaten to sweep. Both Pokemon can hit Slowking very hard, but get hit hard in return if they switch in.

**Electric-Types**: Electric-types like Ampharos, Lanturn, and Electabuzz are great at handling Slowking, since their STAB Thunderbolts Thunderbolt are mostly unperturbed by Special Defense boosts and prevent Slowking from Rest looping. However, if they have taken prior chip damage, (AC) Slowking can occasionally take the trade to KO them after Calm Mind, and the faster Electric-types have trouble directly switching into its attacks.

**Phazers**: Pokemon with Roar, (RC) such as Altaria, Walrein, Blastoise, and occasionally Kangaskhan can bulk past any boosted attacks and force it Slowking out, making the Slowking user start back at square one on its sweep and potentially switch in with Spikes up. If Slowking is at low without Resting using Rest, then it's very hard to find an opportunity to recover and Slowking's team becomes on the back foot. However, some of these Pokemon usually don't make much progress of their own on Slowking one-on-one.

**Encore**: Encore users, (RC) like Walrein, Cacturne, Mr. Mime, and Raichu, (RC) can lock Slowking into a Calm Mind, hard stopping its sweep and preventing it from Resting healing off damage while they use the free turns to pressure the Slowking user's team. Some of these Pokemon need a read on Calm Mind, as they don't comfortably switch into Slowking's attacks.

**Explosion**: A backup An Explosion user, (RC) such as Solrock, Electrode, Muk, and Glalie, (RC) can stop Slowking's sweep through force by exploding on it trading with it. Cut down for conciseness + to avoid repetition of Explosion/exploding This often opens up a gateway for a Slowking-weak Pokemon like Arcanine or Gligar to safely clean up.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bouff.121672/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bigfatmantis.507497/
Grammar checked by:
(Add me here if the GPer tells you to)
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/

 

[deetah]

Add Remove Comments (AC) = Add Comma (RC) = Remove Comma
Credit both myself and Gangsta Spongebob for GP.

GP 1/1

Slowking

[OVERVIEW]

Slowking is one of UU's premier Calm Mind sweepers and bulky Water-types. Slowking can be immediately threatening even with a single boost thanks to its nearly unresisted dual STAB combination. Its huge bulk allows for ample setup opportunities on against the tier's numerous Water- and Ground-types such as Omastar and Tentacruel (Maybe provide an example of a Ground-type here as well), with most special coverage options bouncing off of it. This is complemented nicely by Rest, which allows Slowking to continue its sweep and remain threatening for the long haul. Slowking can be very hard to KO without enough offensive pressure, allowing it to easily punish most fat bulky builds that aim to take the game slower, and it is a great fit onto on bulky balances and offenses teams that can open up opportunities for Slowking to wreak havoc.

Despite its great bulk and defensive typing, Slowking is very slow and can get easily overwhelmed by offensive pressure and forced into using Rest early, something further compounded by Spikes, (AC) which makes it difficult for it to switch in. Slowking's reliance on Rest for recovery is exploitable through lost momentum, especially by sweepers which that can win the game on the spot, such as Swords Dance Scyther. Slowking is also very susceptible to critical hits, as only one can put it out of commission as it's getting pressured because it has a hard time finding another opportunity to use Rest.

[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Surf
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Rest
item: Leftovers
ability: Own Tempo
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Slowking should find opportunities to safely come in mid-game and set up Calm Mind on Pokemon such as Omastar, Tentacruel, Gligar, Arcanine, and non-Encore or Roar Walrein through passive entry points or double switches, though Slowking should be careful of the occasional Thief from some of these Pokemon. Its naturally high special bulk coupled with greatly invested physical bulk and a lack of common physical weaknesses means Slowking can live through survive numerous uses of STAB Earthquake, Hidden Power Electric, and Hidden Power Grass thrown its way, with the latter two doing little damage at +1 Special Defense. Psychic is a secondary STAB coverage option that allows Slowking to hit Water- and Grass-types such as Tentacruel and Vileplume. Rest is Slowking's form of recovery, giving it gives Slowking longevity to keep sweeping the opposing team and to offset the damage it takes through the hits it bulks through from a multitude of attacks, Spikes, and Toxic.

Team Options
=========

Spikes are the bane of Slowking, so a Rapid Spin user such as Tentacruel, Blastoise, or Hitmontop is mandatory with it, allowing for safer switches on Pokemon like Gligar and Arcanine. A cleric such as Ampharos, Vileplume, and or Altaria can wake up Slowking after it uses Rest, letting it hit the field again for another Calm Mind-boosted assault. Kangaskhan provides the team another special sponge for opposing Water- and Electric-types, and it can pass a Wish to Slowking to keep it healthy when needing to switch into certain threats with Spikes up or if it took prior chip damage. Since Choice Band Scyther is an immediate threat to Slowking, Pokemon that can check it such as Granbull, Arcanine, and Gligar are good partners, establishing their own offense that compliments complements Slowking by cleaning up late-game. Pokemon that can check Electric-types such as Kangaskhan, Ampharos, Cradily, and Nidoqueen can passively damage or wallbreak through them to enable Slowking to sweep and be not as easily forced out.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Thunder Wave is useful for turning the tides on switch-ins like Kangaskhan, Scyther, and Electabuzz and allows for earlier opportunities to set up or use Rest. Dropping Psychic for Thunder Wave is useful on paraspam paralysis spam structures, though dropping Psychic will hurt Slowking's ability to hit other Water-types and Vileplume. Dropping Rest for Thunder Wave is situationally useful on hyper offensive structures where Slowking's bulky setup sweeper nature trades longevity for speed (Lowercase) control, but it then loses out on crucial recovery to sustain itself through its sweep. A Psychic + Calm Mind + RestTalk set drops reduces Slowking's coverage, but it allows Slowking to maintain itself as an offensive threat while asleep and boost more freely without losing any momentum.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Kangaskhan**: Offensive variants of Kangaskhan can muscle through Slowking's physical bulk and prevent it from Rest looping with Double-Edge being a 3HKO. Specially defensive variants also work well in a pinch, forcing Slowking into a bad spot with Toxic, (RC) and having reliable ways to recover off the damage Slowking deals with Wish and Early Bird Rest. Roar variants of Kangaskhan can hard stop Slowking's sweep, forcing it out of its Calm Mind boosts. However, Slowking can take advantage of Kangaskhan's Rest turns by setting up and hitting back hard with a boosted Surf.

**Bug-types**: Scyther and Pinsir pose a dangerous threat to Slowking, smashing through it with super effective STAB moves. Choice Band Scyther has a lot of immediate power with Hidden Power Bug or Silver Wind, KOing even from 60% and potentially OHKOing in Swarm range. Although Swords Dance Scyther and non-Adamant Pinsir need to setup set up to 2HKO Slowking, they can use Slowking's Rest turns to boost and threaten to sweep. Both Pokemon can hit Slowking very hard, but they get hit hard in return if they switch in.

**Electric-types**: Electric-types like Ampharos, Lanturn, and Electabuzz are great at handling Slowking, since their STAB Thunderbolts are mostly unperturbed by Special Defense boosts and prevent Slowking from Rest looping. However, if they have taken prior chip damage, Slowking can occasionally take the trade to KO them after Calm Mind, and the faster Electric-types have trouble directly switching into its attacks.

**Phazers**: Pokemon with Roar such as Altaria, Walrein, Blastoise, and occasionally Kangaskhan can bulk past tank any boosted attacks and force Slowking out, making the Slowking user start back at square one on its sweep and potentially forcing it to switch in with Spikes up. If Slowking is at low without using Rest, then it's very hard to find an opportunity to recover and Slowking's team becomes on the back foot. However, some of these Pokemon usually don't make much progress of their own on Slowking one-on-one.

**Encore**: Encore users like Walrein, Cacturne, Mr. Mime, and Raichu can lock Slowking into a Calm Mind, hard stopping its sweep and preventing it from healing off damage while they use the free turns to pressure the Slowking user's its team. Some of these Pokemon need a read on Calm Mind, as they don't comfortably switch into Slowking's attacks.

**Explosion**: An Explosion user such as Solrock, Electrode, Muk, and or Glalie can stop Slowking's sweep by trading with it. This often opens up a gateway for a Slowking-weak Pokemon like Arcanine or Gligar to safely clean.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bouff.121672/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bigfatmantis.507497/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/

GP Team Done

 

[EllingtonReborn]

Add Remove Comments (AC) = Add Comma (RC) = Remove Comma
Credit both myself and Gangsta Spongebob for GP.

GP 1/1

View attachment 572193

Slowking

[OVERVIEW]

Slowking is one of UU's premier Calm Mind sweepers and bulky Water-types. Slowking can be immediately threatening even with a single boost thanks to its nearly unresisted dual STAB combination. Its huge bulk allows for ample setup opportunities on against the tier's numerous Water- and Ground-types such as Omastar and Tentacruel (Maybe provide an example of a Ground-type here as well), with most special coverage options bouncing off of it. This is complemented nicely by Rest, which allows Slowking to continue its sweep and remain threatening for the long haul. Slowking can be very hard to KO without enough offensive pressure, allowing it to easily punish most fat bulky builds that aim to take the game slower, and it is a great fit onto on bulky balances and offenses teams that can open up opportunities for Slowking to wreak havoc.

Despite its great bulk and defensive typing, Slowking is very slow and can get easily overwhelmed by offensive pressure and forced into using Rest early, something further compounded by Spikes, (AC) which makes it difficult for it to switch in. Slowking's reliance on Rest for recovery is exploitable through lost momentum, especially by sweepers which that can win the game on the spot, such as Swords Dance Scyther. Slowking is also very susceptible to critical hits, as only one can put it out of commission as it's getting pressured because it has a hard time finding another opportunity to use Rest.

[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Surf
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Rest
item: Leftovers
ability: Own Tempo
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Slowking should find opportunities to safely come in mid-game and set up Calm Mind on Pokemon such as Omastar, Tentacruel, Gligar, Arcanine, and non-Encore or Roar Walrein through passive entry points or double switches, though Slowking should be careful of the occasional Thief from some of these Pokemon. Its naturally high special bulk coupled with greatly invested physical bulk and a lack of common physical weaknesses means Slowking can live through survive numerous uses of STAB Earthquake, Hidden Power Electric, and Hidden Power Grass thrown its way, with the latter two doing little damage at +1 Special Defense. Psychic is a secondary STAB coverage option that allows Slowking to hit Water- and Grass-types such as Tentacruel and Vileplume. Rest is Slowking's form of recovery, giving it gives Slowking longevity to keep sweeping the opposing team and to offset the damage it takes through the hits it bulks through from a multitude of attacks, Spikes, and Toxic.

Team Options
=========

Spikes are the bane of Slowking, so a Rapid Spin user such as Tentacruel, Blastoise, or Hitmontop is mandatory with it, allowing for safer switches on Pokemon like Gligar and Arcanine. A cleric such as Ampharos, Vileplume, and or Altaria can wake up Slowking after it uses Rest, letting it hit the field again for another Calm Mind-boosted assault. Kangaskhan provides the team another special sponge for opposing Water- and Electric-types, and it can pass a Wish to Slowking to keep it healthy when needing to switch into certain threats with Spikes up or if it took prior chip damage. Since Choice Band Scyther is an immediate threat to Slowking, Pokemon that can check it such as Granbull, Arcanine, and Gligar are good partners, establishing their own offense that compliments complements Slowking by cleaning up late-game. Pokemon that can check Electric-types such as Kangaskhan, Ampharos, Cradily, and Nidoqueen can passively damage or wallbreak through them to enable Slowking to sweep and be not as easily forced out.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Thunder Wave is useful for turning the tides on switch-ins like Kangaskhan, Scyther, and Electabuzz and allows for earlier opportunities to set up or use Rest. Dropping Psychic for Thunder Wave is useful on paraspam paralysis spam structures, though dropping Psychic will hurt Slowking's ability to hit other Water-types and Vileplume. Dropping Rest for Thunder Wave is situationally useful on hyper offensive structures where Slowking's bulky setup sweeper nature trades longevity for speed (Lowercase) control, but it then loses out on crucial recovery to sustain itself through its sweep. A Psychic + Calm Mind + RestTalk set drops reduces Slowking's coverage, but it allows Slowking to maintain itself as an offensive threat while asleep and boost more freely without losing any momentum.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Kangaskhan**: Offensive variants of Kangaskhan can muscle through Slowking's physical bulk and prevent it from Rest looping with Double-Edge being a 3HKO. Specially defensive variants also work well in a pinch, forcing Slowking into a bad spot with Toxic, (RC) and having reliable ways to recover off the damage Slowking deals with Wish and Early Bird Rest. Roar variants of Kangaskhan can hard stop Slowking's sweep, forcing it out of its Calm Mind boosts. However, Slowking can take advantage of Kangaskhan's Rest turns by setting up and hitting back hard with a boosted Surf.

**Bug-types**: Scyther and Pinsir pose a dangerous threat to Slowking, smashing through it with super effective STAB moves. Choice Band Scyther has a lot of immediate power with Hidden Power Bug or Silver Wind, KOing even from 60% and potentially OHKOing in Swarm range. Although Swords Dance Scyther and non-Adamant Pinsir need to setup set up to 2HKO Slowking, they can use Slowking's Rest turns to boost and threaten to sweep. Both Pokemon can hit Slowking very hard, but they get hit hard in return if they switch in.

**Electric-types**: Electric-types like Ampharos, Lanturn, and Electabuzz are great at handling Slowking, since their STAB Thunderbolts are mostly unperturbed by Special Defense boosts and prevent Slowking from Rest looping. However, if they have taken prior chip damage, Slowking can occasionally take the trade to KO them after Calm Mind, and the faster Electric-types have trouble directly switching into its attacks.

**Phazers**: Pokemon with Roar such as Altaria, Walrein, Blastoise, and occasionally Kangaskhan can bulk past tank any boosted attacks and force Slowking out, making the Slowking user start back at square one on its sweep and potentially forcing it to switch in with Spikes up. If Slowking is at low without using Rest, then it's very hard to find an opportunity to recover and Slowking's team becomes on the back foot. However, some of these Pokemon usually don't make much progress of their own on Slowking one-on-one.

**Encore**: Encore users like Walrein, Cacturne, Mr. Mime, and Raichu can lock Slowking into a Calm Mind, hard stopping its sweep and preventing it from healing off damage while they use the free turns to pressure the Slowking user's its team. Some of these Pokemon need a read on Calm Mind, as they don't comfortably switch into Slowking's attacks.

**Explosion**: An Explosion user such as Solrock, Electrode, Muk, and or Glalie can stop Slowking's sweep by trading with it. This often opens up a gateway for a Slowking-weak Pokemon like Arcanine or Gligar to safely clean.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bouff.121672/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bigfatmantis.507497/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/

GP Team Done

Implemented, ready for upload!!!