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Slow Start
- Attack and Speed are halved for 5 turns.
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Level 100 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
110
|
- |
361 |
424 |
- |
| Atk |
160
|
320 |
356 |
419 |
460 |
| Def |
110
|
230 |
256 |
319 |
350 |
| SpA |
80
|
176 |
196 |
259 |
284 |
| SpD |
110
|
230 |
256 |
319 |
350 |
| Spe |
100
|
212 |
236 |
299 |
328 |
Overview
"I am Regigigas: the King of Kings. Look on my stats, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Despair may be the perfect word to describe Regigigas. Slow Start is its defining characteristic, which leaves Regigigas offensively incapable for the first five turns it's on the field. If you were lured by its glorious offensive stats and the prospect of dealing quick damage, you would be quite correct to label Regigigas as irrevocably hopeless. The Goliath is extremely vulnerable to status, phazing, and other silly tricks that prevent it from ever reaching its full potential. However, Regigigas is not a complete disappointment. It has very viable defensive capabilities for the tier, and it can cripple opponents with paralysis. Its Substitute is notoriously hard to break, and Regigigas is fully capable of stalling for five turns with its superb bulk, given a little help from Lady Luck. If Slow Start is no longer in play, Regigigas can easily rampage through the tier with its unique combination of bulk and power; at that point, the best your opponent can do is stare at the pure horror that is Regigigas, and despair.
Thanks to its great bulk, Regigigas finds no trouble spreading paralysis and supporting its team. Thunder Wave is an incredible move in an offensive metagame, slowing down common switch-ins, namely Sawk and Haunter. Thunder Wave does more than support too: it has incredible synergy with Substitute, and a timely full paralysis can allow Regigigas to set up a free Substitute. With the combination of Thunder Wave and Substitute, Regigigas can easily wait out five turns of Slow Start. Substitute also denies any attempts at a status move, and it is sturdy enough to take abuse from any defensive Pokemon. Return is a solid STAB that hurts everything bar Rock-types, Steel-types, and Ghost-types. Finally, a choice of Drain Punch or Earthquake provides coverage for Steel- and Rock-types. Ghost-types with Levitate sadly wall this set, but you will lose to the two most common Ghost-types regardless. After Slow Start wears off, Regigigas can power through teams quite easily.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
The EVs and nature are designed to maximize Regigigas's bulk. As Regigigas has no special weaknesses, a specially defensive spread with Careful nature is listed as the main choice, but a physically defensive spread with Impish nature is just as viable. In fact, Regigigas is rather flexible with its EV spread. 252 HP / 252 Atk is another viable option if you want a balance of bulk and power. Leftovers is the item of choice, as it further augments Regigigas's usable bulk, especially as Substitute is a big part of its success. Zen Headbutt is an option for hitting Fighting-types harder and damaging Ghost-types, but it leaves Regigigas helpless against Rock-types. Also, Confuse Ray leaves Regigigas walled by both Ghost-types and Rock-types, but the dreaded parafusion combination will allow Regigigas to be a general nuisance and stall out Slow Start more reliably.
Regigigas is not a Pokemon that can be simply put on any team, and requires much team support. While Regigigas can paralyze Sawk, more reliable solutions, such as Misdreavus, are good teammates. Vileplume can also switch into Sawk, while absorbing the Toxic Spikes that Regigigas hates. Throh and Gurdurr are relatively rare, but they benefit from Thunder Wave due to Guts, making them a bigger threat to Regigigas. As a result, Musharna is another great teammate to cover these threats. Of course, teammates that can handle opposing Ghost-types are a must. Even with Zen Headbutt, Regigigas has trouble powering through Misdreavus. To remedy this, Skuntank can reliable handle Misdreavus, while benefiting from Thunder Wave support due to its relatively low Speed. Also, Regigigas appreciates Wish support from the likes of Alomomola, as its bulk is compromised by lack of recovery.
Supporting Regigigas is important, but Regigigas is also fully capable of supporting its teammates. Slow attackers such as Marowak and Choice Specs Exeggutor greatly benefit from Thunder Wave support. Pokemon with Substitute, especially Substitute + Swords Dance Leafeon, may find it easier to set up with the opposing Pokemon paralyzed. Other Pokemon that can spread paralysis, namely Paraflinch Rotom-S, are also good partners.
Unlike the first set, this set aims to set up a late-game sweep when all its counters are removed. Substitute and Rock Polish together are the crux of the set. Substitute blocks status and allows Regigigas to set up in front of Misdreavus, while Rock Polish allows Regigigas to outspeed every Pokemon in the tier. After a Rock Polish, repeatedly using Substitute can quickly stall out Slow Start, and Regigigas will be fully ready to wreak havoc. Return is a reliable STAB, while Zen Headbutt is the preferred offensive move in order to hit Misdreavus, which this variant uses as setup bait. However, if you carry a Pursuit user such as Skuntank, Drain Punch is also a viable option for recovering health lost to Substitute.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
The EVs focus on Regigigas's sweeping potential by maximizing its Attack and Speed. As Regigigas has an acceptable base 100 Speed, there is no need for it to run a Jolly nature. Leftovers is, again, the item of choice for counteracting the HP lost by Substitute. By definition, all late-game sweepers need to be saved until endgame, and this set is no exception. As Regigigas is still bulky even without investment, it is best to set up on defensive Pokemon that are unable to break its Substitute. To take care of the bulky Fighting-types which counter this set, Vileplume is always a great choice. Depending on its coverage move, Gorebyss and Skuntank are both great teammates: Gorebyss can put Rock-types in severe danger, while Skuntank can easily trap Ghost-types. Thunder Wave support from Rotom-S is also very welcome, as this Regigigas does not have a moveslot dedicated to crippling the opponent. Paralysis support is especially helpful as this way Regigigas can be faster than the opponent and continuously Substitute until the opponent is fully paralyzed: a single setup turn is enough to completely destroy the opposition, so increasing Regigigas's chances for setting up are always welcome.
Other Options
Regigigas can pull off a defensive set with no intention of stalling out the Slow Start turns, instead capitalizing on its defenses. While largely outclassed by Lickilicky, such a set can utilize Knock Off and Toxic for crippling the enemy. Special attacks such as Thunderbolt, Earth Power, and Icy Wind are relatively viable in defensive sets, as Regigigas will have a higher Special Attack than Attack with Slow Start taken into account. For other offensive options, Regigigas has access to elemental punches, but they provide little coverage. Superpower and Focus Punch are more powerful Fighting-type attacks that Regigigas has access to, but Superpower's stat drop is counterproductive with Slow Start. Also, Foresight allows Regigigas to beat Misdreavus and Haunter with Normal-type attacks, but Regigigas is already strapped for moveslots. Finally, Headbutt is a weaker offensive choice over Return, with an extra flinch chance to further enrage the opponent.
Checks and Counters
Regigigas's worst enemy is Toxic Spikes. They ruin its hopes of staying in for 5 turns, and they take away any offensive potential. Similarly, Misdreavus with Perish Song can force out Regigigas rather easily. However, it is rather hard to counter Regigigas without knowing its coverage move. If Regigigas has Earthquake or Drain Punch, Ghost-types such as Misdreavus and Haunter can effortlessly wall it; if it carries Zen Headbutt, Rock- / Steel-types will give Regigigas headaches. Fighting-types, such as Sawk, Throh, and Gurdurr can easily blast through Regigigas with their STAB moves. Throh and Gurdurr even benefit from Thunder Wave thanks to Guts, making them ideal counters. Lastly, Rock-types have high Defense, and will withstand several Earthquakes before Slow Start wears off. Golem and Regirock are the most threatening, as they do not have a 4x weakness to Ground and Fighting, and are strong enough to break Regigigas's Substitute. If you do not carry these Pokemon, then pummeling Regigigas with strong STAB moves is your best chance at downing this behemoth. Without recovery, Regigigas will soon get KOed, but perhaps at the cost of paralyzing a few of your Pokemon. As a result, Aromatherapy or Heal Bell support on an offensive team is another great way to combat Regigigas. Also, Regigigas hates Choice items as they practically deny any chance of wearing out Slow Start; note that Trick will not work if it already has a Substitute.
