[OVERVIEW]
Slowking's higher Special Defense compared to Slowbro's allows it to much more safely check dangerous Pokemon such as Choice Specs Keldeo and Latios. A good defensive typing provides it with many useful resistances, and its ability Regenerator allows it to pivot consistently throughout a match. Slowking also has good coverage in Flamethrower and great utility options in Thunder Wave, Toxic, and Protect. However, Slowking's Defense stat is much lower than Slowbro's, forcing it to use Protect to have a chance in Pursuit mind games and making it a much more shaky check to physical attackers such as Mega Lopunny, Mega Metagross, and Gliscor. Its Water / Psychic typing also leaves it weak to common utility and coverage moves attacks like U-turn, Volt Switch, Knock Off, Pursuit, and Thunder Punch.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Protect
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic / Flamethrower
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm
evs: 244 HP / 196 Def / 68 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Scald is highly spammable and offers a 30% chance to burn, threatening potential switch-ins like Tornadus-T, Ferrothorn, and Amoonguss. Protect is used to gain an extra turn of Leftovers recovery and scout opposing Choice-locked Pokemon. Slack Off in tandem with Regenerator helps Slowking stay healthy throughout the match. The last moveslot can be occupied by a number of viable options. Thunder Wave prevents Slowking from being unable to threaten Clefable and other switch-ins. Toxic is an alternative status choice that can cripple Pokemon that don’t mind Thunder Wave, such as Mega Slowbro and Rotom-W. Flamethrower prevents common Steel-types from getting free turns versus Slowking, such as Mega Scizor and Bisharp trying to set up with Swords Dance, Ferrothorn trying to lay entry hazards, and Mega Metagross and Magnezone looking to threaten Slowking with their Electric-type moves.
Set Details
=========
The given Special Defense investment along with a Calm Nature lets Slowking hit a number of defensive benchmarks, such as avoiding the 2HKO from Choice Specs Keldeo's Hidden Power Grass after Stealth Rock damage, the KO from Mega Charizard Y’s Flamethrower into Solar Beam, and the OHKO from Modest Choice Specs Hydreigon's Dark Pulse. The Defense investment allows Slowking to avoid the 2HKO from Adamant Mega Medicham's High Jump Kick after using Protect. Other notable benchmarks include Mega Metagross's Meteor Mash into Thunder Punch, Mega Diancie's Diamond Storm after Stealth Rock damage, and Mega Lopunny's Return, all of which either do not 2HKO or have a very small chance to do so.
Usage Tips
=========
Slowking should be used as a defensive pivot into Pokemon that cannot KO it like Mega Metagross, Keldeo, and Tornadus-T. From there, feel free to apply pressure with the threat of a Scald burn or Thunder Wave. Pivoting to heal with Regenerator after using Slack Off is unnecessary, as it makes you lose momentum. Protect helps scout whether the opponent is going to attempt to Pursuit trap Slowking or not and is useful in general to restore more HP with Leftovers. Use Slack Off when necessary, as Slowking needs to stay healthy to be able to check the Pokemon it's supposed to.
Team Options
========
Clefable is a great partner, serving as a late-game sweeper with Calm Mind; switch-in to Weavile, Latios, and Mega Altaria; and status absorber. Slowking can switch into Steel- and Fire-types like Mega Metagross, Excadrill, Heatran, and Mega Charizard Y in return. Tornadus-T forms a Regenerator core with Slowking, functions as a fast pivot with U-turn, and helps cover Slowking's Grass-type weakness. Dragon Dance Mega Altaria is a late-game sweeper and appreciates Slowking switching into Ice-types. It can also remove status from Slowking with Heal Bell and pivot into Electric-types that threaten Slowking, such as Magnezone and Rotom-W. Heatran and Excadrill make for great partners, as both are able to counter Clefable and set Stealth Rock. Excadrill can also remove hazards with Rapid Spin and switch into Electric-types. On the other hand, Heatran counters Grass-types like Serperior and Mega Venusaur. Slowking can cover Excadrill's weaknesses by switching into Water- and Fighting-types like Keldeo and Mega Lopunny. Tangrowth and Amoonguss are two defensive Grass-types that also form a Regenerator core with Slowking. Tangrowth checks physical attackers such as Mega Metagross and Gliscor, which Slowking may be unable to check alone. Amoonguss can act as a switch-in to Clefable and backup counter to Keldeo, while Slowking can switch into Heatran, Latios, and Tornadus-T.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
=========
Other Options
=========
Calm Mind and Nasty Plot are two options that allow Slowking to function as a standalone defensive sweeper, but Mega Slowbro is a better Calm Mind sweeper because it has better physical bulk and is less vulnerable to status. Fire Blast can be used over Flamethrower to deal more damage but suffers from inaccuracy and low PP. Colbur Berry can be used without Protect to help Slowking versus Pursuit and free up a coverage or status option. Dragon Tail is useful for phazing a boosted Suicune, Volcarona, Gliscor, or Reuniclus. Power Gem is a coverage option that does more damage to Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, and Talonflame, but it is generally an inferior option to the listed moves.
Checks and Counters
=========
**Status-immune Pokemon**: Clefable and Reuniclus both have Magic Guard and are able to use Slowking as setup fodder, only fearing Thunder Wave. Mega Slowbro with Rest is also able to use Calm Mind in front of Slowking and heal off any damage and status conditions. Gliscor is able to comfortably use Slowking as setup fodder once its Toxic Orb has activated, and it avoids the 2HKO from Scald. Mega Altaria can use Refresh or Heal Bell to remove status conditions. Chansey and Starmie both have Natural Cure and can remove status simply by switching out.
**Physical Attackers**: Mega Metagross and Mega Medicham with Thunder Punch are able to easily break through Slowking. Mega Scizor fears Scald burns and the occasional Fire-type coverage but is able to cripple Slowking with a strong U-turn or Knock Off. Strong neutral physical attacks only need a small amount of prior chip to be able to 2HKO Slowking, such as Mega Diancie's Diamond Storm, Mega Lopunny's Return, and offensive Landorus-T’s and Excadrill's Earthquake.
**Dark-types**: Weavile and Bisharp can OHKO Slowking with Knock Off, and Bisharp can even set up with Swords Dance. Tyranitar can easily 2HKO Slowking with Crunch and only fears a Scald burn or Thunder Wave. Hydreigon can use Dark Pulse to heavily damage Slowking but has to risk a Scald burn or Thunder Wave in retaliation.
**Status Effects**: Burn and Toxic poison severely limit Slowking's ability to switch into its usual checks and are dealt out by common Pokemon such as Heatran, Rotom-W, Slowbro, Garchomp, Excadrill, Keldeo, and more. Paralysis from Rotom-W, Clefable, and Ferrothorn will not wear Slowking down but can prevent it from safely scouting the foe's move or getting off an attack.
**Grass-types**: Amoonguss, Venusaur, and Tangrowth take little damage from any of Slowking's attacks and threaten it out with sleep in the case of Amoonguss, Knock Off in the case of Venusaur, or both in the case of Tangrowth. Serperior is a more offensive counter that does not switch in continually but can set up with Leaf Storm against Slowking. However, none of these Pokemon appreciate being burned or paralyzed, and switching into Flamethrower repeatedly can be troublesome for them.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[jonfilch, 472436]]
- Quality checked by: [[Savouras, 409438], [Splash, 437289]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [Rabia, 336073]]
Slowking's higher Special Defense compared to Slowbro's allows it to much more safely check dangerous Pokemon such as Choice Specs Keldeo and Latios. A good defensive typing provides it with many useful resistances, and its ability Regenerator allows it to pivot consistently throughout a match. Slowking also has good coverage in Flamethrower and great utility options in Thunder Wave, Toxic, and Protect. However, Slowking's Defense stat is much lower than Slowbro's, forcing it to use Protect to have a chance in Pursuit mind games and making it a much more shaky check to physical attackers such as Mega Lopunny, Mega Metagross, and Gliscor. Its Water / Psychic typing also leaves it weak to common utility and coverage moves attacks like U-turn, Volt Switch, Knock Off, Pursuit, and Thunder Punch.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Protect
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic / Flamethrower
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm
evs: 244 HP / 196 Def / 68 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Scald is highly spammable and offers a 30% chance to burn, threatening potential switch-ins like Tornadus-T, Ferrothorn, and Amoonguss. Protect is used to gain an extra turn of Leftovers recovery and scout opposing Choice-locked Pokemon. Slack Off in tandem with Regenerator helps Slowking stay healthy throughout the match. The last moveslot can be occupied by a number of viable options. Thunder Wave prevents Slowking from being unable to threaten Clefable and other switch-ins. Toxic is an alternative status choice that can cripple Pokemon that don’t mind Thunder Wave, such as Mega Slowbro and Rotom-W. Flamethrower prevents common Steel-types from getting free turns versus Slowking, such as Mega Scizor and Bisharp trying to set up with Swords Dance, Ferrothorn trying to lay entry hazards, and Mega Metagross and Magnezone looking to threaten Slowking with their Electric-type moves.
Set Details
=========
The given Special Defense investment along with a Calm Nature lets Slowking hit a number of defensive benchmarks, such as avoiding the 2HKO from Choice Specs Keldeo's Hidden Power Grass after Stealth Rock damage, the KO from Mega Charizard Y’s Flamethrower into Solar Beam, and the OHKO from Modest Choice Specs Hydreigon's Dark Pulse. The Defense investment allows Slowking to avoid the 2HKO from Adamant Mega Medicham's High Jump Kick after using Protect. Other notable benchmarks include Mega Metagross's Meteor Mash into Thunder Punch, Mega Diancie's Diamond Storm after Stealth Rock damage, and Mega Lopunny's Return, all of which either do not 2HKO or have a very small chance to do so.
Usage Tips
=========
Slowking should be used as a defensive pivot into Pokemon that cannot KO it like Mega Metagross, Keldeo, and Tornadus-T. From there, feel free to apply pressure with the threat of a Scald burn or Thunder Wave. Pivoting to heal with Regenerator after using Slack Off is unnecessary, as it makes you lose momentum. Protect helps scout whether the opponent is going to attempt to Pursuit trap Slowking or not and is useful in general to restore more HP with Leftovers. Use Slack Off when necessary, as Slowking needs to stay healthy to be able to check the Pokemon it's supposed to.
Team Options
========
Clefable is a great partner, serving as a late-game sweeper with Calm Mind; switch-in to Weavile, Latios, and Mega Altaria; and status absorber. Slowking can switch into Steel- and Fire-types like Mega Metagross, Excadrill, Heatran, and Mega Charizard Y in return. Tornadus-T forms a Regenerator core with Slowking, functions as a fast pivot with U-turn, and helps cover Slowking's Grass-type weakness. Dragon Dance Mega Altaria is a late-game sweeper and appreciates Slowking switching into Ice-types. It can also remove status from Slowking with Heal Bell and pivot into Electric-types that threaten Slowking, such as Magnezone and Rotom-W. Heatran and Excadrill make for great partners, as both are able to counter Clefable and set Stealth Rock. Excadrill can also remove hazards with Rapid Spin and switch into Electric-types. On the other hand, Heatran counters Grass-types like Serperior and Mega Venusaur. Slowking can cover Excadrill's weaknesses by switching into Water- and Fighting-types like Keldeo and Mega Lopunny. Tangrowth and Amoonguss are two defensive Grass-types that also form a Regenerator core with Slowking. Tangrowth checks physical attackers such as Mega Metagross and Gliscor, which Slowking may be unable to check alone. Amoonguss can act as a switch-in to Clefable and backup counter to Keldeo, while Slowking can switch into Heatran, Latios, and Tornadus-T.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
=========
Other Options
=========
Calm Mind and Nasty Plot are two options that allow Slowking to function as a standalone defensive sweeper, but Mega Slowbro is a better Calm Mind sweeper because it has better physical bulk and is less vulnerable to status. Fire Blast can be used over Flamethrower to deal more damage but suffers from inaccuracy and low PP. Colbur Berry can be used without Protect to help Slowking versus Pursuit and free up a coverage or status option. Dragon Tail is useful for phazing a boosted Suicune, Volcarona, Gliscor, or Reuniclus. Power Gem is a coverage option that does more damage to Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, and Talonflame, but it is generally an inferior option to the listed moves.
Checks and Counters
=========
**Status-immune Pokemon**: Clefable and Reuniclus both have Magic Guard and are able to use Slowking as setup fodder, only fearing Thunder Wave. Mega Slowbro with Rest is also able to use Calm Mind in front of Slowking and heal off any damage and status conditions. Gliscor is able to comfortably use Slowking as setup fodder once its Toxic Orb has activated, and it avoids the 2HKO from Scald. Mega Altaria can use Refresh or Heal Bell to remove status conditions. Chansey and Starmie both have Natural Cure and can remove status simply by switching out.
**Physical Attackers**: Mega Metagross and Mega Medicham with Thunder Punch are able to easily break through Slowking. Mega Scizor fears Scald burns and the occasional Fire-type coverage but is able to cripple Slowking with a strong U-turn or Knock Off. Strong neutral physical attacks only need a small amount of prior chip to be able to 2HKO Slowking, such as Mega Diancie's Diamond Storm, Mega Lopunny's Return, and offensive Landorus-T’s and Excadrill's Earthquake.
**Dark-types**: Weavile and Bisharp can OHKO Slowking with Knock Off, and Bisharp can even set up with Swords Dance. Tyranitar can easily 2HKO Slowking with Crunch and only fears a Scald burn or Thunder Wave. Hydreigon can use Dark Pulse to heavily damage Slowking but has to risk a Scald burn or Thunder Wave in retaliation.
**Status Effects**: Burn and Toxic poison severely limit Slowking's ability to switch into its usual checks and are dealt out by common Pokemon such as Heatran, Rotom-W, Slowbro, Garchomp, Excadrill, Keldeo, and more. Paralysis from Rotom-W, Clefable, and Ferrothorn will not wear Slowking down but can prevent it from safely scouting the foe's move or getting off an attack.
**Grass-types**: Amoonguss, Venusaur, and Tangrowth take little damage from any of Slowking's attacks and threaten it out with sleep in the case of Amoonguss, Knock Off in the case of Venusaur, or both in the case of Tangrowth. Serperior is a more offensive counter that does not switch in continually but can set up with Leaf Storm against Slowking. However, none of these Pokemon appreciate being burned or paralyzed, and switching into Flamethrower repeatedly can be troublesome for them.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[jonfilch, 472436]]
- Quality checked by: [[Savouras, 409438], [Splash, 437289]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [Rabia, 336073]]
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