[OVERVIEW]
* Slowbro has an excellent pre-Mega ability in Regenerator.
* A useful ability in Shell Armor allows it to stall out physical attackers with Toxic and Iron Defense without having to worrying about taking a critical hit.
* Slowbro has a solid defensive typing, resisting both Fire- and Psychic-type attacks.
* It also has excellent physical bulk, allowing it to take on strong physical attackers such as Mega Salamence, Swords Dance Arceus formes, and Mega Lucario.
* Its offenses are not terrible, with a decent base 130 Special Attack stat.
* It has access to reliable recovery as well as status moves and decent coverage options.
* However, it's hindered by its mediocre Special Defense.
* It is also weak to increasingly common Ghost- and Dark-types, notably Mega Gengar.
* Slowbro is relatively passive, being walled by balance and bulky offense staples such as Steel-types and Primal Kyogre.
[SET]
name: Physical Wall
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Iron Defense
item: Slowbronite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Toxic puts a timer on Pokemon without Rest or Aromatherapy and is especially useful for wearing down offensive threats.
* Slack Off helps maintain Slowbro's longevity.
* Ice Beam OHKOes Mega Salamence and Rayquaza, allowing Slowbro to check them.
* Iron Defense makes it impossible for physically boosting attackers, such as Primal Groudon and Mega Salamence, to break through Slowbro with Swords Dance or Dragon Dance.
Set Details
========
* Maximum HP and Defense investment with a Bold nature gives Slowbro as much physical bulk as possible.
* Slowbronite is required to Mega Evolve.
* Regenerator gives Slowbro a secondary form of recovery prior to Mega Evolving.
Usage Tips
========
* Keep Slowbro in its regular forme as long as possible to preserve Regenerator.
* Only Mega Evolve when Slowbro needs the extra bulk to tank hits, such as a boosted Precipice Blades from Primal Groudon.
* Switch into physical attackers, such as Extreme Killer Arceus, Mega Salamence, and Primal Groudon, and proceed to fire off status moves or boost Slowbro's walling capabilities with Iron Defense.
* It is important to switch Slowbro into setup sweepers before they accumulate too many boosts, as Slowbro needs a turn to use Iron Defense in order to adequately counter them.
* Keep Slowbro away from status, especially Toxic, which quickly wears it down and removes its ability to stall out physical setup sweepers.
* If the opponent has a Mega Gengar, double switch around if you expect it to come in, as it is easily able to trap and eliminate Slowbro.
* Slowbro's Special Defense is pitifully low, and it should not switch into any strong special attacks.
* Ice Beam can be used to chip opposing switch-ins that lack recovery and are either already poisoned or immune to Toxic.
* Due to the ease with which hazard setters can switch in and set entry hazards on Slowbro, it is often a good idea to double switch into a teammate that can apply pressure to such entry hazard setters, especially if your team lacks strong hazard control.
Team Options
========
* Arceus-Dark and Yveltal are able to take on the Ghost- and Dark-types that threaten Slowbro.
* Steel-types such as Magearna, Solgaleo, and Mega Scizor are able to take on Xerneas, which uses Slowbro as setup fodder.
* Alolan Muk can countertrap Mega Gengar with Pursuit.
* Giratina-Origin, support Arceus formes, and Mega Salamence can all remove entry hazards for Slowbro, which would otherwise limit its walling capabilities, especially as Slowbro can be easy bait for Spikes and Stealth Rock setters.
* Pokemon such as Zygarde-C and Primal Kyogre can absorb status for Slowbro.
* Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh are able to take on Steel-types that wall Slowbro as well as act as answers to Xerneas. Due to Regenerator, Ho-Oh can also absorb Toxic directed at Slowbro if the team no longer has an immunity.
* Pokemon that are vulnerable to strong physical attackers, such as Ho-Oh and Blissey, appreciate Slowbro's ability to stall them out.
* Pokemon weak to Mega Lucario, such as Xerneas, Arceus-Rock, and Steel-types, especially appreciate Slowbro for its ability to easily switch into any of Mega Lucario's attacks and counter it.
* Clerics, such as Chansey, Blissey, Xerneas, and Clefable can take on Dark-types and heal Slowbro of any status.
* Arceus-Ground is notable for its ability to provide Defog support and take on the Steel-types that wall Slowbro, as well as act as a secondary answer to Primal Groudon to alleviate pressure from Slowbro, which does not appreciate switching into a Lava Plume or Swords Dance.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Scald has a chance to burn switch-ins and is a decently strong STAB move, allowing Slowbro to avoid being completely shut down by opposing Steel-types.
* Psychic can be used for a decently powerful STAB move and prevents Mega Gengar from switching in freely on Slowbro.
* Calm Mind gives Slowbro a way to set up late-game and potentially sweep by shoring up its otherwise unremarkable Special Defense.
* Fire Blast provides another way to hit Steel-types and can surprise Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, though it doesn't have much further use.
* Thunder Wave can be used to slow down faster attackers and setup sweepers.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Mega Gengar**: Mega Gengar can switch into and trap any Slowbro set that doesn't carry the uncommon Psychic and proceed to OHKO it with Shadow Ball.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types, such as Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, Dialga, Klefki, and Magearna completely wall Slowbro, especially if it does not carry Fire Blast, and can status it or set entry hazards.
**Ghost- and Dark-types**: Ghost- and Dark types, such as Mega Gengar, Lunala, Yveltal, Darkrai, and Arceus-Dark are able to hit Slowbro super effectively, and Arceus-Dark is also able to heal itself of any status with Refresh. Arceus-Ghost, which, although is walled by Slowbro if their boosts are the same and it is not carrying a Z-Crystal, is able to break through Slowbro with a boosted Never-Ending Nightmare.
**Toxic users**: Toxic users can put Slowbro on a timer and drastically reduce its walling capabilities, especially given its lack of wallbreaking power.
**Calm Mind Arceus Formes**: Calm Mind Arceus formes, especially those with Refresh, are able to break past Slowbro due to its mediocre Special Defense.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre can burn Slowbro with Scald, heal off any status with Rest, or simply KO it with Thunder.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types, although less common, are all able to break through Slowbro with their super effective STAB attacks. Examples include Zekrom, Tapu Koko, and Arceus-Electric, although none appreciate taking a Toxic on the switch.
**Palkia**: Although it does not appreciate taking a Toxic, it can use Slowbro as fodder to boost with Z-Heal Block or just 2HKO it with Spacial Rend.
**Shaymin-S**: Although it dislikes Toxic and is OHKOed by Ice Beam, Shaymin-S can come in on any of Slowbro's other moves and OHKO it with Seed Flare.
* Slowbro has an excellent pre-Mega ability in Regenerator.
* A useful ability in Shell Armor allows it to stall out physical attackers with Toxic and Iron Defense without having to worrying about taking a critical hit.
* Slowbro has a solid defensive typing, resisting both Fire- and Psychic-type attacks.
* It also has excellent physical bulk, allowing it to take on strong physical attackers such as Mega Salamence, Swords Dance Arceus formes, and Mega Lucario.
* Its offenses are not terrible, with a decent base 130 Special Attack stat.
* It has access to reliable recovery as well as status moves and decent coverage options.
* However, it's hindered by its mediocre Special Defense.
* It is also weak to increasingly common Ghost- and Dark-types, notably Mega Gengar.
* Slowbro is relatively passive, being walled by balance and bulky offense staples such as Steel-types and Primal Kyogre.
[SET]
name: Physical Wall
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Iron Defense
item: Slowbronite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Toxic puts a timer on Pokemon without Rest or Aromatherapy and is especially useful for wearing down offensive threats.
* Slack Off helps maintain Slowbro's longevity.
* Ice Beam OHKOes Mega Salamence and Rayquaza, allowing Slowbro to check them.
* Iron Defense makes it impossible for physically boosting attackers, such as Primal Groudon and Mega Salamence, to break through Slowbro with Swords Dance or Dragon Dance.
Set Details
========
* Maximum HP and Defense investment with a Bold nature gives Slowbro as much physical bulk as possible.
* Slowbronite is required to Mega Evolve.
* Regenerator gives Slowbro a secondary form of recovery prior to Mega Evolving.
Usage Tips
========
* Keep Slowbro in its regular forme as long as possible to preserve Regenerator.
* Only Mega Evolve when Slowbro needs the extra bulk to tank hits, such as a boosted Precipice Blades from Primal Groudon.
* Switch into physical attackers, such as Extreme Killer Arceus, Mega Salamence, and Primal Groudon, and proceed to fire off status moves or boost Slowbro's walling capabilities with Iron Defense.
* It is important to switch Slowbro into setup sweepers before they accumulate too many boosts, as Slowbro needs a turn to use Iron Defense in order to adequately counter them.
* Keep Slowbro away from status, especially Toxic, which quickly wears it down and removes its ability to stall out physical setup sweepers.
* If the opponent has a Mega Gengar, double switch around if you expect it to come in, as it is easily able to trap and eliminate Slowbro.
* Slowbro's Special Defense is pitifully low, and it should not switch into any strong special attacks.
* Ice Beam can be used to chip opposing switch-ins that lack recovery and are either already poisoned or immune to Toxic.
* Due to the ease with which hazard setters can switch in and set entry hazards on Slowbro, it is often a good idea to double switch into a teammate that can apply pressure to such entry hazard setters, especially if your team lacks strong hazard control.
Team Options
========
* Arceus-Dark and Yveltal are able to take on the Ghost- and Dark-types that threaten Slowbro.
* Steel-types such as Magearna, Solgaleo, and Mega Scizor are able to take on Xerneas, which uses Slowbro as setup fodder.
* Alolan Muk can countertrap Mega Gengar with Pursuit.
* Giratina-Origin, support Arceus formes, and Mega Salamence can all remove entry hazards for Slowbro, which would otherwise limit its walling capabilities, especially as Slowbro can be easy bait for Spikes and Stealth Rock setters.
* Pokemon such as Zygarde-C and Primal Kyogre can absorb status for Slowbro.
* Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh are able to take on Steel-types that wall Slowbro as well as act as answers to Xerneas. Due to Regenerator, Ho-Oh can also absorb Toxic directed at Slowbro if the team no longer has an immunity.
* Pokemon that are vulnerable to strong physical attackers, such as Ho-Oh and Blissey, appreciate Slowbro's ability to stall them out.
* Pokemon weak to Mega Lucario, such as Xerneas, Arceus-Rock, and Steel-types, especially appreciate Slowbro for its ability to easily switch into any of Mega Lucario's attacks and counter it.
* Clerics, such as Chansey, Blissey, Xerneas, and Clefable can take on Dark-types and heal Slowbro of any status.
* Arceus-Ground is notable for its ability to provide Defog support and take on the Steel-types that wall Slowbro, as well as act as a secondary answer to Primal Groudon to alleviate pressure from Slowbro, which does not appreciate switching into a Lava Plume or Swords Dance.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Scald has a chance to burn switch-ins and is a decently strong STAB move, allowing Slowbro to avoid being completely shut down by opposing Steel-types.
* Psychic can be used for a decently powerful STAB move and prevents Mega Gengar from switching in freely on Slowbro.
* Calm Mind gives Slowbro a way to set up late-game and potentially sweep by shoring up its otherwise unremarkable Special Defense.
* Fire Blast provides another way to hit Steel-types and can surprise Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, though it doesn't have much further use.
* Thunder Wave can be used to slow down faster attackers and setup sweepers.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Mega Gengar**: Mega Gengar can switch into and trap any Slowbro set that doesn't carry the uncommon Psychic and proceed to OHKO it with Shadow Ball.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types, such as Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, Dialga, Klefki, and Magearna completely wall Slowbro, especially if it does not carry Fire Blast, and can status it or set entry hazards.
**Ghost- and Dark-types**: Ghost- and Dark types, such as Mega Gengar, Lunala, Yveltal, Darkrai, and Arceus-Dark are able to hit Slowbro super effectively, and Arceus-Dark is also able to heal itself of any status with Refresh. Arceus-Ghost, which, although is walled by Slowbro if their boosts are the same and it is not carrying a Z-Crystal, is able to break through Slowbro with a boosted Never-Ending Nightmare.
**Toxic users**: Toxic users can put Slowbro on a timer and drastically reduce its walling capabilities, especially given its lack of wallbreaking power.
**Calm Mind Arceus Formes**: Calm Mind Arceus formes, especially those with Refresh, are able to break past Slowbro due to its mediocre Special Defense.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre can burn Slowbro with Scald, heal off any status with Rest, or simply KO it with Thunder.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types, although less common, are all able to break through Slowbro with their super effective STAB attacks. Examples include Zekrom, Tapu Koko, and Arceus-Electric, although none appreciate taking a Toxic on the switch.
**Palkia**: Although it does not appreciate taking a Toxic, it can use Slowbro as fodder to boost with Z-Heal Block or just 2HKO it with Spacial Rend.
**Shaymin-S**: Although it dislikes Toxic and is OHKOed by Ice Beam, Shaymin-S can come in on any of Slowbro's other moves and OHKO it with Seed Flare.
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