QC: Magnemite / TONE114 / Raiza
GP: Weebl / GatoDelFuego
[OVERVIEW]
Slaking has amazing stats, with the greatest base Attack and HP in the metagame, as well as a wide movepool to handle specific threats, such as Thunderbolt for Pelipper, Poliwrath, and Carracosta; and Fire Blast for Gourgeist-XL and Tangela. However, the ability Truant completely holds Slaking back from being effective in competitive play, almost negates its amazing stats, and can make it lose to Protect and Substitute. Truant also makes Slaking setup fodder for, most importantly, Speed-boosting Pokemon such as Carracosta, Fraxure, Barbaracle, Regice, and Poliwrath; Slaking will then be outsped and unable to Encore the foe into a boosting move. Due to this, there is almost no reason to use Slaking over Ursaring or Stoutland.
[SET]
name: Wall Breaker
move 1: Return
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Night Slash
move 4: Encore
item: Life Orb / Silk Scarf
ability: Truant
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Slaking's STAB Return will most commonly be the move used to break down an opposing team. Earthquake takes on Steel- and Rock-types such as Probopass and Golem, which resist Return. Night Slash takes on Ghost-types such as Misdreavus and Gourgeist, which are immune to Return, and due to Levitate, many of them are immune to Earthquake as well, bar Dusknoir. Encore can lock foes into a setup or status move and force them to switch out, offering your team momentum as well as preventing Slaking from being setup fodder.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed EVs paired with a Jolly nature allow Slaking to be as fast and hit as hard as it can, when it isn't slacking off. Life Orb gives Slaking's attacks more power but quickly wears it down, making it easier to revenge kill or take out during a Truant turn. Silk Scarf only raises the power of Slaking's Normal-type moves, but doesn't chip away at its health. Truant is Slaking's only legal ability.
Usage Tips
========
Don't rely on Slaking, as Truant holds it back from being an effective sweeper. When using Slaking, it should switch in, fire off a hit, and then switch out so it can stay healthy. If the opponent has a Ghost-type Pokemon, the Slaking user has to predict if they will switch in and select the appropriate move. Most of the time, Slaking will use its STAB Return, which does the most damage against Pokemon that do not resist it. Slaking should use Encore against setup sweepers attempting to set up against it.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Carracosta, Roselia, Torterra, and Piloswine can break foes' Focus Sash and Sturdy, as well as weakening them in the process. Flying-types, such as Jumpluff, Dodrio, Articuno, and Chatot, can take on Fighting-types for Slaking, giving it an easier time surviving. Misdreavus, Dusknoir, Gourgeist-XL, and other Ghost-types can take on Fighting-types for Slaking, although they have to look out for a Knock Off from Machoke. Choice Scarf users, such as Simipour, Raichu, and Mr. Mime, can outpace Pokemon which attempt to set up on Slaking, although they have to be wary of attacking moves, as they are frail. Slow users of Volt Switch, U-turn, or Baton Pass, such as Probopass, Pelipper, and Vibrava, can give Slaking a free switch onto the field to fire off an attack. Kadabra will always live a hit with Focus Sash due to Magic Guard so can easily stop set up sweepers that try to set up on Slaking with Thunder Wave.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Slaking could run a Choice Band or Choice Scarf and an attacking move in place of Encore, but it loses out on its utility and is beaten by setup sweepers. Retaliate can hit extremely hard if Slaking is functioning as a revenge killer, but it takes up a moveslot and isn't always needed. Using Giga Impact might seem like a good idea, as the recharge turn and Truant turn match up, but Slaking cannot switch out while recharging, making it easily revenge killed or set up on. Facade can be used to allow Slaking to still function if it gets statused but takes up an important moveslot. Pursuit can trap threatening Psychic- and Ghost-types, such as Mr. Mime, Kadabra, and Misdreavus, and get extra damage on a switching foe, but more often then not, it's unneeded. Slaking can run Thunder Punch or Thunderbolt for Pelipper, Poliwrath, and Carracosta. Fire Blast or Ice Beam can be used to take on Tangela and Gourgeist-XL. Gunk Shot can be used to take on Tangela, but it in inefficient to run a move for just one Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Truant**: Truant is easily Slaking's largest flaw, as it can be revenge killed or taken advantage of when it cannot attack.
**Protect and Substitute**: Protect completely blocks Slaking's usefulness, as the foe can just Protect as Slaking is going to attack and either set up or weaken it when it cannot attack. Substitute can perform the same role, but doesn't have priority behind it, meaning the Pokemon using it has to be faster than Slaking, such as Simipour.
**Fighting-types**: Machoke and Poliwrath can take out Slaking when Truant comes into play or switch into a predicted Encore or Night Slash, although they need to watch out for Return.
**Setup Sweepers**: Simipour, Ninetales, Regice, and Torterra can set up on Slaking during Truant, with the first two using Nasty Plot and the last two using Rock Polish, make it switch out or outpace it the next turn, and fire off a huge hit against it or its teammate. Slower setup sweepers with priority moves, such as Pawniard and Adamant Carracosta, need to watch out for an Encore.
**Defensive Walls**: Tangela, Gourgeist-XL, Avalugg, Carracosta, and Air Balloon Probopass, among others, can take on Slaking remotely well and either recover when Truant comes into play or inflict it with a status.
GP: Weebl / GatoDelFuego
[OVERVIEW]
Slaking has amazing stats, with the greatest base Attack and HP in the metagame, as well as a wide movepool to handle specific threats, such as Thunderbolt for Pelipper, Poliwrath, and Carracosta; and Fire Blast for Gourgeist-XL and Tangela. However, the ability Truant completely holds Slaking back from being effective in competitive play, almost negates its amazing stats, and can make it lose to Protect and Substitute. Truant also makes Slaking setup fodder for, most importantly, Speed-boosting Pokemon such as Carracosta, Fraxure, Barbaracle, Regice, and Poliwrath; Slaking will then be outsped and unable to Encore the foe into a boosting move. Due to this, there is almost no reason to use Slaking over Ursaring or Stoutland.
[SET]
name: Wall Breaker
move 1: Return
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Night Slash
move 4: Encore
item: Life Orb / Silk Scarf
ability: Truant
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Slaking's STAB Return will most commonly be the move used to break down an opposing team. Earthquake takes on Steel- and Rock-types such as Probopass and Golem, which resist Return. Night Slash takes on Ghost-types such as Misdreavus and Gourgeist, which are immune to Return, and due to Levitate, many of them are immune to Earthquake as well, bar Dusknoir. Encore can lock foes into a setup or status move and force them to switch out, offering your team momentum as well as preventing Slaking from being setup fodder.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed EVs paired with a Jolly nature allow Slaking to be as fast and hit as hard as it can, when it isn't slacking off. Life Orb gives Slaking's attacks more power but quickly wears it down, making it easier to revenge kill or take out during a Truant turn. Silk Scarf only raises the power of Slaking's Normal-type moves, but doesn't chip away at its health. Truant is Slaking's only legal ability.
Usage Tips
========
Don't rely on Slaking, as Truant holds it back from being an effective sweeper. When using Slaking, it should switch in, fire off a hit, and then switch out so it can stay healthy. If the opponent has a Ghost-type Pokemon, the Slaking user has to predict if they will switch in and select the appropriate move. Most of the time, Slaking will use its STAB Return, which does the most damage against Pokemon that do not resist it. Slaking should use Encore against setup sweepers attempting to set up against it.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Carracosta, Roselia, Torterra, and Piloswine can break foes' Focus Sash and Sturdy, as well as weakening them in the process. Flying-types, such as Jumpluff, Dodrio, Articuno, and Chatot, can take on Fighting-types for Slaking, giving it an easier time surviving. Misdreavus, Dusknoir, Gourgeist-XL, and other Ghost-types can take on Fighting-types for Slaking, although they have to look out for a Knock Off from Machoke. Choice Scarf users, such as Simipour, Raichu, and Mr. Mime, can outpace Pokemon which attempt to set up on Slaking, although they have to be wary of attacking moves, as they are frail. Slow users of Volt Switch, U-turn, or Baton Pass, such as Probopass, Pelipper, and Vibrava, can give Slaking a free switch onto the field to fire off an attack. Kadabra will always live a hit with Focus Sash due to Magic Guard so can easily stop set up sweepers that try to set up on Slaking with Thunder Wave.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Slaking could run a Choice Band or Choice Scarf and an attacking move in place of Encore, but it loses out on its utility and is beaten by setup sweepers. Retaliate can hit extremely hard if Slaking is functioning as a revenge killer, but it takes up a moveslot and isn't always needed. Using Giga Impact might seem like a good idea, as the recharge turn and Truant turn match up, but Slaking cannot switch out while recharging, making it easily revenge killed or set up on. Facade can be used to allow Slaking to still function if it gets statused but takes up an important moveslot. Pursuit can trap threatening Psychic- and Ghost-types, such as Mr. Mime, Kadabra, and Misdreavus, and get extra damage on a switching foe, but more often then not, it's unneeded. Slaking can run Thunder Punch or Thunderbolt for Pelipper, Poliwrath, and Carracosta. Fire Blast or Ice Beam can be used to take on Tangela and Gourgeist-XL. Gunk Shot can be used to take on Tangela, but it in inefficient to run a move for just one Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Truant**: Truant is easily Slaking's largest flaw, as it can be revenge killed or taken advantage of when it cannot attack.
**Protect and Substitute**: Protect completely blocks Slaking's usefulness, as the foe can just Protect as Slaking is going to attack and either set up or weaken it when it cannot attack. Substitute can perform the same role, but doesn't have priority behind it, meaning the Pokemon using it has to be faster than Slaking, such as Simipour.
**Fighting-types**: Machoke and Poliwrath can take out Slaking when Truant comes into play or switch into a predicted Encore or Night Slash, although they need to watch out for Return.
**Setup Sweepers**: Simipour, Ninetales, Regice, and Torterra can set up on Slaking during Truant, with the first two using Nasty Plot and the last two using Rock Polish, make it switch out or outpace it the next turn, and fire off a huge hit against it or its teammate. Slower setup sweepers with priority moves, such as Pawniard and Adamant Carracosta, need to watch out for an Encore.
**Defensive Walls**: Tangela, Gourgeist-XL, Avalugg, Carracosta, and Air Balloon Probopass, among others, can take on Slaking remotely well and either recover when Truant comes into play or inflict it with a status.
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