Slowbro
[Overview]
<p>Having gained Regenerator, arguably the best ability in the game, through the Dream World, Slowbro is easily one of the top contenders for the title of "Top UU Bulky Water." Its typing is a mixed blessing though, as while it does let it take on Fighting-types, such as Machamp and Cobalion, much more easily than the likes of Suicune or Milotic, it also leaves it vulnerable to Ghost- Dark-, and Bug-type moves, such as U-turn. In addition, one of the more popular Fighting-types, Heracross, will still ruin its day with STAB Megahorn. It's also the one bulky Water-type who Grass-types can't come in on completely safely, thanks to its access to Fire Blast, and in Roserade's case, STAB Psyshock. It can run a multitude of sets, from a great support set, to a threatening Choice Specs set. Thanks to Regenerator, it doesn't have to spend most of its time healing like most other defensive Pokemon do, allowing it to keep up with the offensive pace of the current UU metagame. It's not all peaches for Slowbro though, as its subpar Special Defense and virtually nonexistent Speed stats can come back to haunt it. However, play it properly, and it will always pull its weight for your team.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Scald
move 2: Psyshock / Fire Blast
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is perfectly suited for balanced teams that need something to take on all Fighting-types, bar Heracross. Scald is Slowbro's primary STAB, and it is a fantastic attack to have due to the 30% chance to burn the opposition. The choice between Psyshock or Fire Blast as the second move is up to you, but keep in mind that Roserade cannot hope to tank the former, making Psyshock the superior choice. Slack Off lets Slowbro heal itself reliably in the event that Regenerator isn't enough. Thunder Wave is the primary choice of status for several reasons, the main one being that the metagame is so offensively oriented. It also lets Slowbro beat Roserade by subsequently blasting it with a STAB Psyshock. Toxic is also a good option, however, especially if your team is having trouble taking down bulkier threats.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The Special Attack EVs guarantee an OHKO on 252 HP / 0 Def Roserade after Stealth Rock damage with Psyshock, while the rest of the EVs maximize health gained from Regenerator and overall physical bulk. There is no need to use any Special Attack EVs if you opt against using Psyshock. Fire Blast is a good move on Slowbro, as it does about 50% damage to the standard Shaymin, who otherwise comes in for free. It also hits things like Cobalion and Escavalier much harder than its STABs. Ice Beam can be used to score an OHKO on Flygon, but you will need to hit it as it switches in, as Flygon tends to simply U-turn out against Slowbro. Grass Knot hits opposing bulky waters moderately hard, but it will be extremely underwhelming with such a low Special Attack investment. Yawn is also a usable support move, since it can force switches to take advantage of entry hazards, but since two of Slowbro's most common switch-ins have Natural Cure, it's really risky.</p>
<p>Slowbro pairs very well with Roserade and Snorlax, and together, they form a defensive core which is really hard to break if the opposition doesn't have Pokemon such as Weavile and Heracross. This set also detests Toxic, meaning cleric support will be very much appreciated. Coincidentally, Roserade has access to Aromatherapy, and can also absorb Toxic Spikes for Slowbro.</p>
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Psyshock
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set works best on stall teams which need something that can pose an offensive threat and win Calm Mind wars while keeping a good amount of bulk. Calm Mind is the crux of the set, allowing Slowbro to pull off sweeps by boosting its Special Attack and Special Defense. It also happens to have great synergy with its already amazing Defense. Scald is the primary STAB move because of its high chance to burn the opposition, which is especially useful on this set. Slack Off lets Slowbro heal reliably early in the battle, allowing it to continue tanking hits, but it also lets Slowbro continue boosting in front of Pokemon that can't 2HKO it (be wary of critical hits, though). Psyshock rounds off its coverage, also receiving a STAB boost. Psyshock's ability to hit the opposition's Defense stat is very important because it lets Slowbro win Calm Mind wars much more easily.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Fire Blast or Flamethrower can be used as a coverage move with either one of Slowbro's STAB moves due to their ability to potentially beat some of Slowbro's counters, the most notable being Shaymin. Slowbro's coverage would be different, but not necessarily worse, as Fire- has good overall coverage with either one of Slowbro's STAB moves. If you plan on using this set as your main sweeper, you need to make absolutely sure that Toxic Spikes are removed. Because of this, Roserade is a very appealing partner to this set. As a bonus, it can also use Aromatherapy if Slowbro happens to get hit with a Toxic. Slowbro appreciates having Milotic and Suicune removed from the opposing team, so pairing it with something that can lure and KO them is a good idea. Expert Belt Mixed Victini is a good example of this, as the lack of Life Orb recoil will lure the aforementioned Pokemon in, allowing it to use Thunder(bolt) to heavily damage, or outright KO, those two.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Scald / Surf
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Grass Knot / Slack Off
item: Choice Specs / Life Orb
ability: Regenerator
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set encompasses a more offensive approach to a typically defensive pokemon, which will take most opponents by surprise. Despite the offensive nature of the set, Scald is still the superior choice to Surf as the primary STAB move, as no important KOs are missed, and the chance to burn the opposition is too good to pass up. However, Psychic becomes the primary option for the secondary STAB move here, as this set has enough power to muscle past incoming Roserade even without hitting its weaker Defense stat. Psyshock is still usable for Snorlax and other specially defensive Pokemon, however. Fire Blast scores an OHKO on standard Shaymin, Cobalion, Escavalier, and max HP Bronzong; it also does a number on Registeel. Grass Knot hits opposing bulky Water-types harder than anything else on the set; however, Slack Off can replace it if you opt to use Life Orb, as Psychic still hits them quite hard.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The main reason behind this set's effectiveness is undoubtedly Regenerator, as it gives Slowbro the opportunity to remain healthy despite being a slow offensive Pokemon. The EVs are simple: 252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature are used in order to maximize its damage output, 252 HP EVs optimize bulk, and 4 Speed EVs let Slowbro outpace uninvested Snorlax and opposing Slowbro. While Ice Beam might seem like an appealing option for this set, it doesn't offer coverage on anything that the listed moves do not hit. Unfortunately, due to breeding restrictions, Slowbro is unable to use Trick with Regenerator. Focus Blast can be used, but it only covers a single additional threat: Empoleon.</p>
<p>Due to Slowbro's virtually nonexistent Speed stat, this set truly appreciates paralysis support from the likes of Togekiss and Deoxys-D. Additionally, because of its utter reliance on Regenerator to keep healthy, Slowbro also prefers entry hazards to be removed from its side. Hitmontop is an excellent spinner that can also take Bug- and Dark-type attacks for Slowbro with ease, namely STAB Megahorn from Heracross. Other than that, however, this set is quite self-sufficient and should do just fine on just about any offensive team; just don't expect it to tank hits nearly as well as the above sets.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Slowbro has a decently sized movepool, both offensively and defensively, giving it plenty of alternatives it can viably use. Most of its offensive options have been covered above, but a few support options have not; the most notable are Disable, Light Screen, Psych Up, and Safeguard, any of which can be used if your team is in need of such support. Trick Room gets a special mention, as Slowbro is arguably the most reliable user of it. Aside from the moves listed in the above sets, Slowbro also has access to offensive options such as Shadow Ball, Ice Beam, and Focus Blast, which while interesting, provide redundant coverage for the most part.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>When it comes to defensive Slowbro sets, Shaymin is probably public enemy #1, since it only takes about half from an uninvested Fire Blast, has Natural Cure to heal status, and can smack Slowbro with a Seed Flare. Roserade can come in on anything but Fire Blast and Psyshock and threaten it with Sleep Powder, Giga Drain, or Leaf Storm. Deoxys-D can usually come in and start setting up Spikes or even Taunt Slowbro's attempts at Calm Minding. Rest variants of Dragon Dance Kingdra can literally set up on anything that Slowbro throws at it, bar a Choice Specs Psychic, and proceed to obliterate it with Outrage. Zapdos and Raikou fear status, but are otherwise pretty safe switch-ins. Opposing bulky waters, especially ones with Rest, also do just fine versus Slowbro.Heracross's Bug typing means that Slowbro will usually shy away from the giant beatle, which is a shame considering it is one of the premier physical walls in UU.</p>
