[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Slack Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Calm Mind is what sets this Slowking set apart from others, turning it into an effective sweeper that uses its unique typing and stat allocation to both counter and set up on many prominent threats, most notably Keldeo, Volcanion, and Clefable. Scald is a mainstay on any Slowking set worth its salt, being a decently powerful STAB attack with a nasty 30% chance to burn, often letting Slowking overpower what would otherwise answer it. Psyshock gives Slowking the ability to bypass many of its would-be checks, such as other Calm Mind users like Suicune and Clefable, Grass-types like Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur, and opposing Water-types such as Volcanion, Keldeo, and Manaphy. Slack Off keeps Slowking healthy, letting it maintain its ability to check threats well throughout the game; Slack Off also complements Regenerator quite well.
Set Details
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With 68 Special Defense EVs alongside a Calm nature, Slowking can withstand two Hurricanes from Life Orb Tornadus-T. Moreover, this investment in Special Defense further solidifies Slowking's niche over its primary competition, Slowbro. The remaining EVs are put into Defense to better take hits from physical attackers such as Mega Metagross and Mega Lopunny. Regenerator is Slowking's ability of choice, giving it the passive recovery and resilience against residual damage that make it such an effective pivot.
Usage Tips
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In the early game Slowking will often want to use Scald to wear down and cripple its checks and counters to ease a late-game sweep with Calm Mind. While other Slowking sets might find themselves being setup fodder to popular sweepers such as Clefable and Suicune, this set turns the tides on them, with Slowking using them as fodder instead. On the other hand, it should also be kept in mind that Slowking may want to be used as a traditional defensive pivot to repeatedly switch into threats like Keldeo and Tornadus-T by utilizing its excellent recovery and mixed bulk. That being said, Slowking's resilience to residual damage only takes it so far; as such, residual damage from the likes of status and entry hazards should be avoided when possible. Moreover, Slowking's susceptibility to Pursuit trapping often hinders its ability to check what it needs to, creating an unfavorable situation if not played carefully around common Pursuit users such as Tyranitar and Metagross.
Team Options
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It should be kept in mind that, due to its bulky, slow nature, Slowking will tend to fit on more balanced or defensively oriented teams; as a result, many of Slowking’s best partners also fit this description. A leading example of this would be Clefable, which complements Slowking with its ability to absorb status, lure its checks and eliminate them with its extensive movepool (such as hitting Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn with Fire Blast), and provide an additional wincon. In return, Slowking can help defeat common checks to Clefable, most notably Heatran, Talonflame, and Volcanion. Mega Scizor is another premier partner for Slowking thanks to its ability to check Dark-types, such as Bisharp and Weavile, as well as its access to U-turn, which can make the most of the healing Slowking receives from Regenerator. In return, Slowking is able to check many of the Water- and Fire-types that can beat Scizor. Tyranitar makes a formidable teammate thanks to its ability to check the Electric-types that would plague Slowking while appreciating Slowking’s ability to reliably answer Keldeo. On the other hand, Hippowdon and Garchomp can set up Stealth Rock to aid a potential Slowking sweep, as well as check Electric-types and Bisharp, both of which can threaten Slowking. In return, Ground-types greatly appreciate Slowking's ability to check Water-types such as Keldeo and Volcanion. Entry hazard control from the likes of Mega Sableye and Latios can ensure that Slowking isn't gradually worn down via the chip damage, maximizing its longevity and ensuring its ability to check what it needs to. Heatran can prove to be a uniquely strong partner for Slowking, checking the Grass- and Electric-types that burden Slowking, while Slowking provides Heatran with a reliable answer to the Water-types like Keldeo and Volcanion that it falls prey to. Bulky Grass-types, most notably Mega Venusaur and Tangrowth, make for outstanding partners for Slowking due to their ability to check many of Calm Mind Slowking's traditional answers, such as Crawdaunt, Bisharp, and Ferrothorn. In return, Slowking can provide an answer to Heatran, a thorn in the side of almost any Grass-type. While it does stack a weakness to Electric, Tornadus-T forms an excellent duo with Slowking, forming a popular Regenerator core, whose success stems from their abilities and excellent type synergy, which let them act as a less passive take on the traditional defensive core. Moreover, Tornadus-T is one of the better checks to the Grass-types such as Serperior or Tangrowth that threaten Slowking.
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