Stratos
Banned deucer.
[QC: 3/3]
[GP: 2/2]
[OVERVIEW]
<p>Ah, Slowking. This poor fellow is often overlooked in favor of his cousin Slowbro, and for good reason. His typing is a mixed bag for a physical wall. Resisting the Fire- and Fighting-type attacks thrown around in RU is no joke, but neither is a weakness to Honchkrow's Sucker Punch and powerful U-turns from Primeape and Scyther. Compounding all these problems is the fact that Slowking is a special wall, where his Water/Psychic typing is definitely not welcome, no thanks to such threats as Lilligant, Rotom, and Ludicolo. All is not lost, however. Dream World gifted Slowking with the excellent ability Regenerator, which allows him to heal 1/3 of his HP simply by switching out. This trait alone makes him a good wall for obvious reasons, but also lends itself to be used with Choice Specs. He is arguably the best Trick Room setter in the tier, due to his ability to support or sweep.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulky Water
move 1: Scald
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Dragon Tail / Psychic
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm / Sassy
evs: 248 HP / 144 Def / 116 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>When Blastoise was moved to UU, the RU community all shed a single manly tear and searched for the best suitable replacement. This set was the result. Regenerator takes Slowking's already good bulk to insane levels, as he can take a hit, hit back, and switch out without losing much health. This makes Slowking a great pivot, able to force out multiple threatening Pokemon again and again, but make sure you know his place. Don't try to use him as a nerfed Cresselia, because staying in for long periods of time is not his thing, as most attackers are strong enough to 3HKO or better.</p>
<p>Scald functions as the obvious main STAB move, and is the move Slowking will be using more than half of the time. Coming off of 100 base Special Attack, it can still 2HKO or 3HKO most Pokemon, and fishing for burns never hurt anybody. Slack Off is mandatory to heal off damage when you don't want to switch, especially if your opponent has multiple layers of entry hazards up. Dragon Tail is his preferred third move to shuffle the opponent's team and rack up residual damage, although if you're not in the mood for stacking up layers of Spikes, you can go with Psychic as another attacking option. Lastly, you should almost always opt for Thunder Wave as a last-ditch stop to the many deadly sweepers in RU, but Toxic is an option if you're having trouble against Stall teams.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>248 HP EVs instead of 252 is not much of a difference, but it allows Slowking to hit a number divisible by three, maximizing the HP gained from Regenerator. The rest of the EVs allow him to be a solid counter to Entei while allowing him to be as specially bulky as possible. This set pairs incredibly well with Tangrowth to create an annoying Regenerator core, or it can be used in tandem with Steelix for its great resistances. Steelix takes the Electric-, Dark-, and Ghost-type attacks aimed at Slowking while Slowking eats Fire-, Fighting-, and Water-type moves aimed at Steelix for breakfast.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Surf
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Grass Knot / Ice Beam
item: Choice Specs
ability: Regenerator
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>When a Pokemon has 100 base Special Attack, great resistances and STABs, and reliable recovery even when choice-locked, there's no excuse to use anyone else for a bulky Choice Specs tank buster. Surf and Psyshock are slowking's main attacking options since hitting both physical and special defenses with powerful STAB makes Slowking incredibly hard to wall. Beyond that, it's mostly an issue of coverage. Fire Blast is always recommended to punch straight through Ferroseed, Tangrowth, and your average Sun team. You can decide between Grass Knot and Ice Beam for the final moveslot. Ice Beam will OHKO Altaria, but Grass Knot is typically more favorable, as Sharpedo is generally a much bigger threat.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Regenerator is the crux of this set, allowing Slowking to hit hard, possible score a 2HKO without fear, and switch back out no worse for the wear. It may be tempting to use Trick, but you should resist the urge at all costs, because doing so means that you have to run one of Slowking's two other abilities, as Trick is a Gen IV tutor move. This set has the power to punch through almost all walls anyway, so Trick is useless in most cases.</p>
<p>Defensive teammates here are the same as with the above set, but this one also greatly appreciates a teammate with Choice Scarf to take out the sweepers that will try to KO Slowking. Scarf Moltres would be the best option, as despite sharing an Electric weakness with Slowking, it can take on the troubling Grass- and Bug-types like nobody's business, and outspeed things such as Choice Scarf Rotom-C, Choice Band Scyther, +1 Lilligant, and +1 Sharpedo, and OHKO them all. Focus Blast can be used over Fire Blast to KO Sharpedo and Ferroseed and leave Ice Beam for Altaria; however, a miss is typically a lot more game-changing than an Altaria weakness. Lastly, Psychic can be used over Psyshock for the higher power but it's usually better to be able to break special walls.</p>
[SET]
name: Nasty Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Surf
move 4: Nasty Plot / Fire Blast
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Quiet
evs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This functions similar to the Choice Specs set, except it forbears a coverage move in exchange for Trick Room, which offsets Slowking's horrible speed to give him standalone sweeping potential. Even uninvested, he can still take a neutral STAB special hit and retaliate with crushing force. After a Nasty Plot, nearly every Pokemon in the tier is OHKOed, including notable foes like Sharpedo. Sadly, there is no way to keep Ferroseed from walking all over you unless you opt for Fire Blast over Nasty Plot. Team support to cover this weakness is usually recommended over this option, however. If you run Nasty Plot, you should choose Leftovers, as you aim to stay in for a long time and steamroll the opposition. However, if you pick Fire Blast, then Life Orb should be your item of choice, as switching out heals off three rounds of Life Orb recoil.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set should be used on teams with average Speed and no scarf users, as it allows you to take down most otherwise threatening sweepers with ease. Obviously, it also works on Trick Room teams, although those teams should use the bulky variant of TR Slowking for repeated setups. Remember not to overestimate the King's bulk; two good neutral hits should be enough to take him out, so make sure you aren't in over your head when you bring him in. Nasty Room users should fear Ferroseed, and, to a lesser extent, Munchlax, as they can outspeed you while under the effects of Trick Room and will be exceptionally hard to defeat.</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room Support
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Scald
move 3: Slack Off / Psychic
move 4: Yawn / Psychic
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Sassy
evs: 248 HP / 144 Def / 116 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Unlike the Trick Room sweeper set, this set is not supposed to take center stage in battle. Slowking should be setting up Trick Room and leaving immediately so that something else can sweep. When he can, though, Slowking doesn't mind being a cool tank, soaking up hits such as banded Entei Flare Blitzes and Choice Scarf Medicham Hi Jump Kicks while recovering off the damage with Slack Off. Yawn is preferable to Dragon Tail because although it does not deal damage, it gives you a free turn to set up Trick Room while your opponent switches. Scald should be your main STAB move to rack up burn damage and hit most things in RU for at least neutral effectiveness.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Though this set is easily forced out, it's more of a blessing than a curse, as with Regenerator, Slowking will have many times to come back in and set up Trick Room. The acute observer will also notice that this set is the exact same as the Bulky Water set, except instead of a status move, it runs Trick Room. It's still a bulky water, and you should treat it as such. Not surprisingly, this set works best on Trick Room teams.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p>Slowking hit the motherlode on special moves, having not only special moves of eight different types, but also usually multiples of each. Though only a few are listed, all are viable. For example, if you find low accuracy to be an issue, you can run Flamethrower over Fire Blast. Calm Mind and Curse sets are semi-viable, but waste Slowking's biggest asset, Regenerator. Furthermore, a very slow Substitute means that status conditions can usually cut boosting sets' lifespans short. Lastly, Future Sight can be used on the Specs set for wall breaking, hammering the opponent with two hard blows on the same turn. This is typically a poor idea, however, as it mandates a switch immediately after being used.</p>
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
<p>If you cannot outspeed Slowking, you are virtually guaranteed to lose. Fortunately, he has 30 base speed. Slowking has no way to cure or block status conditions, so they will typically be one of your best ways to tear him down. If you can hit him with multiple neutral STAB attacks from your sweepers, preferably on the switch, then he will also most likely fall. However, you must be aware that he can recover health without having to stay in and take a hit. As such, the best way to defeat Slowking is typically with strong, super effective STAB moves that will OHKO him, or at least come very close. The best Pokemon for this job are Galvantula, Scyther, Lilligant, Rotom-C, Sharpedo, Honchkrow, Vespiquen, Haunter and Tangrowth. Lilligant gets extra props for being able to use Slowking as setup fodder. Furthermore, unless Fire Blast is run, Ferroseed can wall him all day, as can Munchlax or Altaria, but beware of the fact that whenever you come up against a Slowking, a surprise coverage move could easily mean the end of the game.</p>
[GP: 2/2]
[OVERVIEW]
<p>Ah, Slowking. This poor fellow is often overlooked in favor of his cousin Slowbro, and for good reason. His typing is a mixed bag for a physical wall. Resisting the Fire- and Fighting-type attacks thrown around in RU is no joke, but neither is a weakness to Honchkrow's Sucker Punch and powerful U-turns from Primeape and Scyther. Compounding all these problems is the fact that Slowking is a special wall, where his Water/Psychic typing is definitely not welcome, no thanks to such threats as Lilligant, Rotom, and Ludicolo. All is not lost, however. Dream World gifted Slowking with the excellent ability Regenerator, which allows him to heal 1/3 of his HP simply by switching out. This trait alone makes him a good wall for obvious reasons, but also lends itself to be used with Choice Specs. He is arguably the best Trick Room setter in the tier, due to his ability to support or sweep.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulky Water
move 1: Scald
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Dragon Tail / Psychic
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm / Sassy
evs: 248 HP / 144 Def / 116 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>When Blastoise was moved to UU, the RU community all shed a single manly tear and searched for the best suitable replacement. This set was the result. Regenerator takes Slowking's already good bulk to insane levels, as he can take a hit, hit back, and switch out without losing much health. This makes Slowking a great pivot, able to force out multiple threatening Pokemon again and again, but make sure you know his place. Don't try to use him as a nerfed Cresselia, because staying in for long periods of time is not his thing, as most attackers are strong enough to 3HKO or better.</p>
<p>Scald functions as the obvious main STAB move, and is the move Slowking will be using more than half of the time. Coming off of 100 base Special Attack, it can still 2HKO or 3HKO most Pokemon, and fishing for burns never hurt anybody. Slack Off is mandatory to heal off damage when you don't want to switch, especially if your opponent has multiple layers of entry hazards up. Dragon Tail is his preferred third move to shuffle the opponent's team and rack up residual damage, although if you're not in the mood for stacking up layers of Spikes, you can go with Psychic as another attacking option. Lastly, you should almost always opt for Thunder Wave as a last-ditch stop to the many deadly sweepers in RU, but Toxic is an option if you're having trouble against Stall teams.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>248 HP EVs instead of 252 is not much of a difference, but it allows Slowking to hit a number divisible by three, maximizing the HP gained from Regenerator. The rest of the EVs allow him to be a solid counter to Entei while allowing him to be as specially bulky as possible. This set pairs incredibly well with Tangrowth to create an annoying Regenerator core, or it can be used in tandem with Steelix for its great resistances. Steelix takes the Electric-, Dark-, and Ghost-type attacks aimed at Slowking while Slowking eats Fire-, Fighting-, and Water-type moves aimed at Steelix for breakfast.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Surf
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Grass Knot / Ice Beam
item: Choice Specs
ability: Regenerator
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>When a Pokemon has 100 base Special Attack, great resistances and STABs, and reliable recovery even when choice-locked, there's no excuse to use anyone else for a bulky Choice Specs tank buster. Surf and Psyshock are slowking's main attacking options since hitting both physical and special defenses with powerful STAB makes Slowking incredibly hard to wall. Beyond that, it's mostly an issue of coverage. Fire Blast is always recommended to punch straight through Ferroseed, Tangrowth, and your average Sun team. You can decide between Grass Knot and Ice Beam for the final moveslot. Ice Beam will OHKO Altaria, but Grass Knot is typically more favorable, as Sharpedo is generally a much bigger threat.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Regenerator is the crux of this set, allowing Slowking to hit hard, possible score a 2HKO without fear, and switch back out no worse for the wear. It may be tempting to use Trick, but you should resist the urge at all costs, because doing so means that you have to run one of Slowking's two other abilities, as Trick is a Gen IV tutor move. This set has the power to punch through almost all walls anyway, so Trick is useless in most cases.</p>
<p>Defensive teammates here are the same as with the above set, but this one also greatly appreciates a teammate with Choice Scarf to take out the sweepers that will try to KO Slowking. Scarf Moltres would be the best option, as despite sharing an Electric weakness with Slowking, it can take on the troubling Grass- and Bug-types like nobody's business, and outspeed things such as Choice Scarf Rotom-C, Choice Band Scyther, +1 Lilligant, and +1 Sharpedo, and OHKO them all. Focus Blast can be used over Fire Blast to KO Sharpedo and Ferroseed and leave Ice Beam for Altaria; however, a miss is typically a lot more game-changing than an Altaria weakness. Lastly, Psychic can be used over Psyshock for the higher power but it's usually better to be able to break special walls.</p>
[SET]
name: Nasty Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Surf
move 4: Nasty Plot / Fire Blast
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Quiet
evs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This functions similar to the Choice Specs set, except it forbears a coverage move in exchange for Trick Room, which offsets Slowking's horrible speed to give him standalone sweeping potential. Even uninvested, he can still take a neutral STAB special hit and retaliate with crushing force. After a Nasty Plot, nearly every Pokemon in the tier is OHKOed, including notable foes like Sharpedo. Sadly, there is no way to keep Ferroseed from walking all over you unless you opt for Fire Blast over Nasty Plot. Team support to cover this weakness is usually recommended over this option, however. If you run Nasty Plot, you should choose Leftovers, as you aim to stay in for a long time and steamroll the opposition. However, if you pick Fire Blast, then Life Orb should be your item of choice, as switching out heals off three rounds of Life Orb recoil.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set should be used on teams with average Speed and no scarf users, as it allows you to take down most otherwise threatening sweepers with ease. Obviously, it also works on Trick Room teams, although those teams should use the bulky variant of TR Slowking for repeated setups. Remember not to overestimate the King's bulk; two good neutral hits should be enough to take him out, so make sure you aren't in over your head when you bring him in. Nasty Room users should fear Ferroseed, and, to a lesser extent, Munchlax, as they can outspeed you while under the effects of Trick Room and will be exceptionally hard to defeat.</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room Support
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Scald
move 3: Slack Off / Psychic
move 4: Yawn / Psychic
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Sassy
evs: 248 HP / 144 Def / 116 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Unlike the Trick Room sweeper set, this set is not supposed to take center stage in battle. Slowking should be setting up Trick Room and leaving immediately so that something else can sweep. When he can, though, Slowking doesn't mind being a cool tank, soaking up hits such as banded Entei Flare Blitzes and Choice Scarf Medicham Hi Jump Kicks while recovering off the damage with Slack Off. Yawn is preferable to Dragon Tail because although it does not deal damage, it gives you a free turn to set up Trick Room while your opponent switches. Scald should be your main STAB move to rack up burn damage and hit most things in RU for at least neutral effectiveness.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Though this set is easily forced out, it's more of a blessing than a curse, as with Regenerator, Slowking will have many times to come back in and set up Trick Room. The acute observer will also notice that this set is the exact same as the Bulky Water set, except instead of a status move, it runs Trick Room. It's still a bulky water, and you should treat it as such. Not surprisingly, this set works best on Trick Room teams.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p>Slowking hit the motherlode on special moves, having not only special moves of eight different types, but also usually multiples of each. Though only a few are listed, all are viable. For example, if you find low accuracy to be an issue, you can run Flamethrower over Fire Blast. Calm Mind and Curse sets are semi-viable, but waste Slowking's biggest asset, Regenerator. Furthermore, a very slow Substitute means that status conditions can usually cut boosting sets' lifespans short. Lastly, Future Sight can be used on the Specs set for wall breaking, hammering the opponent with two hard blows on the same turn. This is typically a poor idea, however, as it mandates a switch immediately after being used.</p>
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
<p>If you cannot outspeed Slowking, you are virtually guaranteed to lose. Fortunately, he has 30 base speed. Slowking has no way to cure or block status conditions, so they will typically be one of your best ways to tear him down. If you can hit him with multiple neutral STAB attacks from your sweepers, preferably on the switch, then he will also most likely fall. However, you must be aware that he can recover health without having to stay in and take a hit. As such, the best way to defeat Slowking is typically with strong, super effective STAB moves that will OHKO him, or at least come very close. The best Pokemon for this job are Galvantula, Scyther, Lilligant, Rotom-C, Sharpedo, Honchkrow, Vespiquen, Haunter and Tangrowth. Lilligant gets extra props for being able to use Slowking as setup fodder. Furthermore, unless Fire Blast is run, Ferroseed can wall him all day, as can Munchlax or Altaria, but beware of the fact that whenever you come up against a Slowking, a surprise coverage move could easily mean the end of the game.</p>
