Andy Snype
Mr. Music
[OVERVIEW]
<p>When one looks upon the mighty Kong, king of the jungle, they see a beastly base 160 Attack stat, a stellar physical movepool, godly base 150 / 100 / 65 defenses, and a solid base 100 Speed. With a stat line like that, this great ape will have most onlookers wonder why such a monster is yet struggling in the depths of Neverused. That is, until they see Truant.. Truant pretty much guarantees Slaking can never stay in for a full sweep and makes it complete setup bait to a whole variety of threats. Nonetheless, the eighth wonder of the world for all its worth functions extremely well as a hit-and-run truck.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Return
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Night Slash
move 4: Pursuit / Focus Punch
item: Choice Band
ability: Truant
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is the epitome of hit-and-run. With Truant, you're never going to stay in for more than one turn, so Slaking is going to use that one turn to weaken something and give an opportunity for a teammate to step up and sweep. STAB Return dents everything in the tier that does not resist it. Earthquake hits Steel-types, Rock-types, and Torkoal for super effective damage. Night Slash maims Ghost-types that come in on Slaking, expecting to take nothing from a Return. The fourth slot is mainly a filler. Pursuit traps and eliminates Ghost- and Psychic-types, or anything relatively weakened and looking to escape. If you're very gutsy, you can use Focus Punch and maul just about anything if you predict the opponent to switch out into a non-Ghost foe.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Slaking has a variety of physical attacks that can go on this set and still hit for a lot of damage. If you still want a nasty Fighting-type attack but do not want to predict, Hammer Arm is a viable alternative, as its malicious secondary effect is inconsequential since Slaking is going to switch out the next turn anyway. Rock Slide maims Rotom-S, Rotom-F, and Armaldo for super effective damage. Toxic is a great support option to cripple anything, bar Steel-types, that switches in, such as Eviolite Tangela. This EV spread gives maximum Attack to Slaking and the ability to outpace the Rotom formes by one Speed point. If the current EV spread is too frail for you, you can also take advantage of Slaking's bulk by going with 112 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spe with an Adamant nature. Slaking will maintain its massive power and outspeed positive-natured base 75 Speed Pokemon and below, most notably Jolly Absol and Adamant Sawk.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Slaking also has a bunch of moves that can support it if you are aiming to customize it. Giga Impact is Slaking's most powerful move and is capable of OHKOing the most physically bulky Weezing if it switches in while Stealth Rock is up. The downside to Giga Impact is that Slaking cannot switch out the next turn and will have no choice but to give the opponent a free turn. Only use this when you know you can handle whatever your opponent decides to set up. To assist with revenge killing, Retaliation is another option with just 10 BP less than Giga Impact once a teammate has died, and it also does not sacrifice the ability to switch after use. However, keep in mind that its massive Base Power will only last for that single turn before it reverts to its paltry 70 BP. Body Slam is another STAB alternative for its paralysis rate, but Slaking will really miss the extra power that Return provides. Sucker Punch also assists Slaking with revenge killing threatening sweepers; however, this is generally not recommended, as if Sucker Punch fails, you are giving the opponent at least two free turns to set up. Any of the elemental punches are an option, though STAB Return outdamages a super effective elemental punch. The only advantage they really have is their secondary effects, which only have a 10% chance of occuring.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Despite this great ape's amazing stats, it can be easily outplayed with a little bit of prediction. To beat it, you just need reliable switch-ins against its usual coverage moves. Regirock and Rhydon resist all of Slaking's STAB attacks and have the Defense to take all but a boosted Earthquake. Misdreavus is immune to Earthquake and Return, but fears a Night Slash or a Pursuit. If you do not have good resists, send out a physically bulky Pokemon with a recovery move. For example, Eviolite Tangela can come in on any of Slaking's attacks at full health, take the hit, and recover with Synthesis as it switches out. However, these generic walls must be wary of Toxic, as it makes it harder for them to handle Slaking's teammates. If worst comes to worst and you don't have that many good physical walls, anything with Protect and Substitute can work to take advantage of Truant and stall the one turn Slaking has to do anything. It can then use the free turn to do anything it wants. Your best bet at scaring Slaking off is to hammer it with hard attacks, especially special ones, as base 65 Special Defense is quite horrendous.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>As part of GameFreak's attempt to keep Slaking "balanced," Slaking is denied any Dream World ability to replace the pathetic Truant.</p>
