[OVERVIEW]
With a decent typing and solid Defense stat, Slowbro easily distinguishes itself as one of the tier's toughest walls, able to check threats such as Cloyster, Flygon, Mega Glalie, and Minior. Furthermore, an excellent ability in Regenerator allows it to heal by switching out, making Slowbro even more hard to wear down when used in tandem with Slack Off. Slowbro also has access to two STAB moves that provide good coverage, coupled with a good offensive movepool overall. Despite its good defenses, many of the prime physical attackers, such as Sharpedo, Feraligatr, and Heracross, often utilize super effective attacks that can overpower Slowbro, making it a much less desirable physical wall. Slowbro also faces competition with Mantine and Milotic, which have more utility such as access to Defog and Haze and fewer weaknesses. Lastly, Slowbro's lackluster Speed stat means that it will frequently move second, and it is also vulnerable to Taunt and Toxic that hinders its ability to win games.
[SET]
name: Defensive Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Slack Off
item: Leftovers / Waterium Z
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind is Slowbro's setup move and boosts its Special Attack to threaten the opponent's team, as well as patching up its average Special Defense stat to tank hits from special attackers easily. Scald is a very consistent STAB move with a 30% chance to burn the opposing Pokemon. Psyshock allows Slowbro to hit specially defensive Pokemon such as Snorlax, Mantine, and Florges harder and to beat Calm Mind Comfey and Calm Mind Florges in a one-on-one scenario. Slack Off provides reliable recovery for Slowbro that, combined with its ability, bulk, and Leftovers, makes it hard to wear down.
Set Details
========
Maximum EV investment in HP and Defense coupled with a Bold nature is used so that Slowbro can tank as many physical attacks as possible. Leftovers provides Slowbro with a source of passive recovery. Alternatively, Waterium Z grants Slowbro access to Hydro Vortex to drown checks and beat Pokemon that can tank +1 Scald, such as Sharpedo, Doublade, and Flygon; allows Slowbro to switch more freely into Knock Off; and shields it from Trick.
Usage Tips
========
Slowbro should be used as a defensive pivot; switch it into threats it checks, such as Flygon, Choice Scarf Tyrantrum, Feraligatr lacking Crunch, and Cloyster. Instead of relying on Slack Off to recover, you can typically attack with either Scald or Psyshock, as Regenerator recovers Slowbro's HP when it switches out. Use Slack Off only when Slowbro's HP is low. In the early- and mid-game, Slowbro should be used as a pivot and a blanket check to physical threats, and it can cripple or weaken foes with its STAB moves. Set up with Calm Mind in the late-game when Pokemon that threaten Slowbro are gone. Be aware of Toxic; Will-O-Wisp can also be annoying if its user runs a Z-Crystal. Avoid staying in against special attackers and Taunt users.
Team Options
========
Choice Scarf Heracross is a great teammate that can beat Grass- and Dark-types that threaten Slowbro such as Shaymin, Zoroark, and Rotom-C, as well as being able to beat Calm Mind Reuniclus. Guts variants can absorb status and threaten more bulky Pokemon such as Snorlax and Milotic. Umbreon and Bronzong are two Pokemon that can check most of the special attackers in the tier and fit well with Slowbro. Umbreon is a good check to Zoroark, Sharpedo, and Bruxish, can switch into Ghost-types, forces out threats such as Doublade and Attack-boosted Escavalier, and performs as a good cleric and Wish passer. Bronzong is a solid switch-in to Choice Specs Swellow, Shaymin, Gardevoir, Comfey, and Venusaur, and it can spread Toxic and set Stealth Rock. Dragalge can switch into Electric-type moves and Toxic due to its typing and removes Toxic Spikes from the field; it can also switch into Choice Scarf Heracross and Virizion and can beat Grass- and Fairy-types without big trouble. Fairy-types such as Florges, Comfey, and Diancie provide an appreciated switch-in to Dark- and Bug-types, as well as being able to check Fighting-types such as Heracross, Pangoro, and Kommo-o. The Fairy-types also carry Heal Bell or Aromatherapy most of time and profit from Slowbro's ability to both take Steel-type attacks and check many physical attackers that could pose a threat to them. Dragon-types such as Dragalge and Goodra give a solid switch-in to Electric- and Grass-types attacks, as well as being able to check Bloom Doom and Gigavolt Havoc users such as Moltres, Reuniclus, and Venusaur.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Slowbro can use utility moves such as Thunder Wave and Toxic or coverage options such as Fire Blast over Calm Mind. Another option is a physically defensive set with Slack Off and Scald; options for the remaining slots are Ice Beam for Flygon and specially defensive Gligar; Fire Blast to hit Doublade and Escavalier; Foul Play to punish physical setup sweepers; and status moves to cripple foes. Slowbro can run 44 EVs in Speed with Fire Blast to outspeed and beat Doublade and Escavalier. Slowbro can also pull off a set with Trick Room, as it is bulky enough to set it multiple times throughout the battle and can take advantage of it with its low Speed and great offensive abilities. Finally, Choice Specs turns Slowbro into a solid offensive pivot and threat due to its expansive offensive movepool.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Shaymin, Venusaur, Roserade, Virizion, Chesnaught, Ferroseed, and Rotom-C can all switch safely into Scald and pressure Slowbro heavily. Shaymin can even break boosted Slowbro with Seed Flare. Venusaur can beat Slowbro with Grassium Z + Solar Beam or if it is boosted, but it can't switch safely into Slowbro. Roserade fears Psyshock but can put Slowbro to sleep, beat it with Leaf Storm, or set up Spikes as Slowbro switches out. Rotom-C can easily break though boosted Slowbro. Ferroseed completely walls Slowbro without Fire Blast, and Chesnaught is bulky enough to tank unboosted Psyshock and set Spikes or deal heavy damage with Wood Hammer.
**Super Effective Moves**: Pokemon that can hit Slowbro for super effective damage, such as Heracross, Escavalier, Bruxish, Mega Glalie, Reuniclus, Durant, Yanmega, and Z-Move users such as Moltres and Reuniclus, can break through Slowbro with ease.
**Strong Special Wallbreakers**: Strong special attackers, such as Choice Specs Gardevoir, Shaymin, and Zoroark, can easily bring down Slowbro.
**Status**: Toxic is very detrimental to Slowbro, slowly wearing it down so that a strong attacker can overwhelm it. Roserade's and Dragalge's Toxic Spikes also annoy Slowbro.
**Trick Users**: Although most of them can fire off a super effective attack at Slowbro, Trick users can also cripple Slowbro with a Choice item if it lacks a Z-Crystal.
With a decent typing and solid Defense stat, Slowbro easily distinguishes itself as one of the tier's toughest walls, able to check threats such as Cloyster, Flygon, Mega Glalie, and Minior. Furthermore, an excellent ability in Regenerator allows it to heal by switching out, making Slowbro even more hard to wear down when used in tandem with Slack Off. Slowbro also has access to two STAB moves that provide good coverage, coupled with a good offensive movepool overall. Despite its good defenses, many of the prime physical attackers, such as Sharpedo, Feraligatr, and Heracross, often utilize super effective attacks that can overpower Slowbro, making it a much less desirable physical wall. Slowbro also faces competition with Mantine and Milotic, which have more utility such as access to Defog and Haze and fewer weaknesses. Lastly, Slowbro's lackluster Speed stat means that it will frequently move second, and it is also vulnerable to Taunt and Toxic that hinders its ability to win games.
[SET]
name: Defensive Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Slack Off
item: Leftovers / Waterium Z
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind is Slowbro's setup move and boosts its Special Attack to threaten the opponent's team, as well as patching up its average Special Defense stat to tank hits from special attackers easily. Scald is a very consistent STAB move with a 30% chance to burn the opposing Pokemon. Psyshock allows Slowbro to hit specially defensive Pokemon such as Snorlax, Mantine, and Florges harder and to beat Calm Mind Comfey and Calm Mind Florges in a one-on-one scenario. Slack Off provides reliable recovery for Slowbro that, combined with its ability, bulk, and Leftovers, makes it hard to wear down.
Set Details
========
Maximum EV investment in HP and Defense coupled with a Bold nature is used so that Slowbro can tank as many physical attacks as possible. Leftovers provides Slowbro with a source of passive recovery. Alternatively, Waterium Z grants Slowbro access to Hydro Vortex to drown checks and beat Pokemon that can tank +1 Scald, such as Sharpedo, Doublade, and Flygon; allows Slowbro to switch more freely into Knock Off; and shields it from Trick.
Usage Tips
========
Slowbro should be used as a defensive pivot; switch it into threats it checks, such as Flygon, Choice Scarf Tyrantrum, Feraligatr lacking Crunch, and Cloyster. Instead of relying on Slack Off to recover, you can typically attack with either Scald or Psyshock, as Regenerator recovers Slowbro's HP when it switches out. Use Slack Off only when Slowbro's HP is low. In the early- and mid-game, Slowbro should be used as a pivot and a blanket check to physical threats, and it can cripple or weaken foes with its STAB moves. Set up with Calm Mind in the late-game when Pokemon that threaten Slowbro are gone. Be aware of Toxic; Will-O-Wisp can also be annoying if its user runs a Z-Crystal. Avoid staying in against special attackers and Taunt users.
Team Options
========
Choice Scarf Heracross is a great teammate that can beat Grass- and Dark-types that threaten Slowbro such as Shaymin, Zoroark, and Rotom-C, as well as being able to beat Calm Mind Reuniclus. Guts variants can absorb status and threaten more bulky Pokemon such as Snorlax and Milotic. Umbreon and Bronzong are two Pokemon that can check most of the special attackers in the tier and fit well with Slowbro. Umbreon is a good check to Zoroark, Sharpedo, and Bruxish, can switch into Ghost-types, forces out threats such as Doublade and Attack-boosted Escavalier, and performs as a good cleric and Wish passer. Bronzong is a solid switch-in to Choice Specs Swellow, Shaymin, Gardevoir, Comfey, and Venusaur, and it can spread Toxic and set Stealth Rock. Dragalge can switch into Electric-type moves and Toxic due to its typing and removes Toxic Spikes from the field; it can also switch into Choice Scarf Heracross and Virizion and can beat Grass- and Fairy-types without big trouble. Fairy-types such as Florges, Comfey, and Diancie provide an appreciated switch-in to Dark- and Bug-types, as well as being able to check Fighting-types such as Heracross, Pangoro, and Kommo-o. The Fairy-types also carry Heal Bell or Aromatherapy most of time and profit from Slowbro's ability to both take Steel-type attacks and check many physical attackers that could pose a threat to them. Dragon-types such as Dragalge and Goodra give a solid switch-in to Electric- and Grass-types attacks, as well as being able to check Bloom Doom and Gigavolt Havoc users such as Moltres, Reuniclus, and Venusaur.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Slowbro can use utility moves such as Thunder Wave and Toxic or coverage options such as Fire Blast over Calm Mind. Another option is a physically defensive set with Slack Off and Scald; options for the remaining slots are Ice Beam for Flygon and specially defensive Gligar; Fire Blast to hit Doublade and Escavalier; Foul Play to punish physical setup sweepers; and status moves to cripple foes. Slowbro can run 44 EVs in Speed with Fire Blast to outspeed and beat Doublade and Escavalier. Slowbro can also pull off a set with Trick Room, as it is bulky enough to set it multiple times throughout the battle and can take advantage of it with its low Speed and great offensive abilities. Finally, Choice Specs turns Slowbro into a solid offensive pivot and threat due to its expansive offensive movepool.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Shaymin, Venusaur, Roserade, Virizion, Chesnaught, Ferroseed, and Rotom-C can all switch safely into Scald and pressure Slowbro heavily. Shaymin can even break boosted Slowbro with Seed Flare. Venusaur can beat Slowbro with Grassium Z + Solar Beam or if it is boosted, but it can't switch safely into Slowbro. Roserade fears Psyshock but can put Slowbro to sleep, beat it with Leaf Storm, or set up Spikes as Slowbro switches out. Rotom-C can easily break though boosted Slowbro. Ferroseed completely walls Slowbro without Fire Blast, and Chesnaught is bulky enough to tank unboosted Psyshock and set Spikes or deal heavy damage with Wood Hammer.
**Super Effective Moves**: Pokemon that can hit Slowbro for super effective damage, such as Heracross, Escavalier, Bruxish, Mega Glalie, Reuniclus, Durant, Yanmega, and Z-Move users such as Moltres and Reuniclus, can break through Slowbro with ease.
**Strong Special Wallbreakers**: Strong special attackers, such as Choice Specs Gardevoir, Shaymin, and Zoroark, can easily bring down Slowbro.
**Status**: Toxic is very detrimental to Slowbro, slowly wearing it down so that a strong attacker can overwhelm it. Roserade's and Dragalge's Toxic Spikes also annoy Slowbro.
**Trick Users**: Although most of them can fire off a super effective attack at Slowbro, Trick users can also cripple Slowbro with a Choice item if it lacks a Z-Crystal.
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