[OVERVIEW]
Despite being slightly overshadowed by Slowbro, Slowking holds its own by being able to check powerful special attackers that Slowbro cannot, as well as reliably countering Grass Knot Mega Metagross. Its decent defensive typing also allows it to switch into many other Pokemon such as Keldeo and Latios with ease, making it a very good blanket check to special attackers in general. Slowking's ability, Regenerator, allows it to pivot into powerful attackers throughout the match and, along with reliable recovery in Slack Off, makes it very hard to take down. Slowking has a good movepool as well, with coverage options such as Fire Blast to hit foes such as Bisharp and Mega Metagross and, unlike Slowbro, has a utility move in Dragon Tail, allowing Slowking to phaze problematic Calm Mind users such as Mega Latias and Reuniclus. However, Slowking's typing leaves it weak to common moves such as Knock Off, Pursuit, U-turn and Volt Switch. Slowking also has lower physical bulk than its counterpart, so it is even more vulnerable to being trapped by Pursuit and is vulnerable to physical attackers in general. It does not help that Slowking is horrendously slow, forcing it to take two hits as switches into attacks before making a move itself.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest Pivot
move 1: Scald
move 2: Psychic / Future Sight
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Ice Beam / Dragon Tail
item: Assault Vest
ability: Regenerator
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Slowking's most reliable Water-type STAB move, and its chance to burn the foe discourages Pokemon such as Azumarill from switching in. Psychic is a secondary STAB move that allows Slowking to hit Keldeo, Mega Venusaur, and Rotom-W for decent damage. Future Sight is an alternative to pressure the opponent into switching and forcing some checkmate scenarios such as preventing Keldeo from switching in on Heatran, allowing it to safely set up Stealth Rock. Fire Blast hits switch-ins to Slowking such as Scizor, Bisharp, Serperior, and Ferrothorn. Ice Beam mainly targets Dragon-types such as Latios, Mega Altaria, and Dragonite, which otherwise take little damage from Slowking's attacks. Dragon Tail is an alternative to phaze Calm Mind users such as Reuniclus, Suicune, and Mega Latias and phaze a Quiver Dance-boosted Volcarona in a pinch.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature allow Slowking to always OHKO Mega Diancie with Scald and OHKO defensive Garchomp most of the time with Ice Beam. 248 HP EVs are used to maximize Slowking's bulk while minimizing Stealth Rock damage. 136 Special Defense EVs are another option to take on special attackers such as Mega Alakazam and Mega Charizard Y much more easily. Regenerator allows Slowking to recover some of its HP as it pivots in and out into attacks, giving it good longevity. Assault Vest enables Slowking to sponge special attacks with ease and works well in tandem with Regenerator.
Usage Tips
========
This set is to be played more like a bulky pivot that is able to dish out decent damage back, so make sure to switch often to keep Slowking healthy via Regenerator. Try to avoid Knock Off at all costs, as it deals heavy damage to Slowking and significantly lowers its special bulk due to its Assault Vest being removed. Make sure to be careful when switching around when the opponent has Pokemon that can use Pursuit, and try to use the appropriate coverage move against whatever Pokemon Slowking has switched into. If using Future Sight, it is best to use the move as soon as Slowking is brought out to prevent Pokemon such as Keldeo from switching in on another teammate. If Slowking is carrying Dragon Tail, switch into defensive Calm Mind users to phaze them.
Team Options
========
Generally , this set best fits on balance teams that are in need of a blanket check to many powerful special attackers such as Keldeo and Latios. Slowking pairs well with Grass-types such as Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur, as they cover Slowking's Electric weakness, while Slowking covers their Psychic weakness as well as the former's Ice- and Fire-type weaknesses in return. Amoonguss also forms a Regenerator core with Slowking, allowing both to pivot and recover HP throughout the match. Heatran is another decent partner, as it has good synergy with Slowking while having moves such as Toxic and Stealth Rock to wear down Pokemon that Slowking pivots into. Latios, Mega Altaria, and Mega Diancie pair well with Slowking because it is able to take on Mega Metagross, which is very problematic for all of them. Slowking is crippled by Knock Off as well as status effects such as poison and burn, so Pokemon such as Gliscor and Magic Guard Clefable make for great partners.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Psyshock / Fire Blast
move 3: Thunder Wave / Toxic / Dragon Tail
move 4: Slack Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 184 Def / 76 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is a decently powerful and reliable Water-type STAB move that can inflict burns, deterring physical attackers from switching in. Psyshock is used to 2HKO all variants of Keldeo and allows Slowking to hit other Pokemon weak to Psychic on the switch, such as Gengar and Breloom. Fire Blast is an alternative to 2HKO Ferrothorn, OHKO Scizor on the switch, and 2HKO Mega Metagross after Stealth Rock. Thunder Wave is used to cripple many fast Pokemon such as Keldeo, Mega Lopunny, Mega Metagross, and Latios. Toxic is used to wear down Pokemon that switch into Slowking, limiting their chances to do so. Dragon Tail is useful to enable Slowking to phaze many defensive Calm Mind users such as Reuniclus, Suicune, and Mega Slowbro; it can even phaze Tail Glow Manaphy and a Quiver Dance-boosted Volcarona in tight situations. Slack Off ensures Slowking stays healthy throughout the match. Ice Beam is another alternative to hit Pokemon such as Latios, Thundurus, and Gliscor while still having coverage for Grass-types.
Set Details
========
A Calm nature and the given EV spread lets Slowking avoid the 2HKO from Metagross's Meteor Mash after an Attack raise to ensure it reliably walls it, as well avoid the 2HKO from Mega Lopunny's Return without Stealth Rock on the field, while still having enough Special Defense to take on powerful special attackers such as Keldeo and Latios. The EV spread also lets Slowking avoid the 2HKO from neutral-natured Mega Diancie's Moonblast and Timid Mega Gardevoir's Hyper Voice, as well as enabling it to take a Life Orb-boosted Thunderbolt from Thundurus after Stealth Rock if needed. Regenerator allows Slowking to heal while pivoting in and out during the match. Leftovers is chosen for passive recovery, furthering Slowking's longevity.
Usage Tips
========
Use Slowking to pivot into special attackers such as Latios and Keldeo and apply immediate pressure by using the appropriate coverage move or by spreading around status. Pivot around often to restore HP via Regenerator, as Slowking is an excellent pivot against many Pokemon such as Grass Knot Mega Metagross. Use Slack Off to keep it healthy throughout the match so that it is able to consistently check the Pokemon it needs to. Slack Off should generally be used against Pokemon that cannot do much in return or when attempting to Toxic stall the foe. It is best to spread status on predicted switches to cripple the opponent's Pokemon. If Dragon Tail is being used, switch into defensive Calm Mind users such as Reuniclus and Suicune to stop them.
Team Options
========
Naturally, Slowking pairs very well with a Grass- and a Fire-type Pokemon, so Ferrothorn and Heatran form an excellent defensive core with Slowking. Amoonguss in particular pairs well with Slowking, as they have great synergy and form a Regenerator core, allowing both of them to pivot into each other's checks. Magic Guard Clefable is another good partner, as it absorbs status and Knock Off very well, while in return, Slowking is able to switch into Mega Metagross and Heatran. Similarly, Mega Altaria pairs well because it is able to take on Mega Charizard Y and Mega Charizard X, while Slowking is able to switch in on Mega Metagross and Heatran. Chesnaught is another Grass-type that pairs well with Slowking, as it covers problematic Pokemon to Slowking such as Bisharp and Tyranitar and has access to Spikes to wear down opposing Pokemon. Dragalge is able to switch in on Gengar and Mega Charizard Y while supporting Slowking with Toxic Spikes, allowing it to wear down its checks. Gliscor is another good partner for its ability to absorb status effects and Knock Off, while Slowking is able to switch in on Water- and Ice-type attacks that threaten Gliscor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Slowking has an assortment of boosting moves to use. Calm Mind makes its Special Attack and Special Defense even higher, making it a decent bulky win condition, while Nasty Plot can allow Slowking to become an immediate threat, either with a three attacks or alongside Trick Room. Rocky Helmet can be used to wear down physical attackers, but Slowking really appreciates the passive recovery from Leftovers and usually takes on special attackers. Yawn has use as a pseudo-phazing move and can keep Clefable, which is immune to Dragon Tail, from from setting up Calm Mind against Slowking. Power Gem is an option to hit Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, Talonflame, and Volcarona harder than anything else. Foul Play is useful to punish physical setup sweepers that try to set up on Slowking.
Checks and Counters
=================
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Bisharp, Tyranitar, and Weavile all force Slowking out with their STAB moves and are all capable of trapping Slowking with Pursuit. However, none of these Pokemon appreciate Scald burns or being hit by Thunder Wave.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types, such as Serperior, Celebi, and Mega Sceptile, force out Slowking with their STAB moves, while Celebi is also able to set up on it and cures any status afflictions with Natural Cure.
**Electric-types**: Pokemon such as Thundurus, Mega Manectric, Raikou, and Magnezone all threaten Slowking with their STAB moves and are immune to Thunder Wave, but none of them like being burned by Scald.
**Status**: Status effects such as burn and poison greatly hamper Slowking's longevity, with Toxic in particular limiting how long Slowking is able to stay in.
**Pokemon with Magic Guard**: Pokemon such as Clefable and Reuniclus do not care about Scald burns or Toxic and can set up Calm Mind on Slowking easily. Clefable is also immune to Dragon Tail, meaning that Slowking cannot phaze it.
**Water-types**: Starmie and Azumarill are able to take any hit Slowking throws at them, but Scald's burn chance discourages Azumarill from switching in and offensive variants of Starmie are crippled Thunder Wave and Toxic. Mega Gyarados takes any hit Slowking throws at it while using Substitute freely to avoid status and setting up with Dragon Dance. Manaphy, particularly its Tail Glow Rain Dance set, also uses Slowking as setup bait, threatens it with Energy Ball, and heals off any status conditions with Hydration; however, Manaphy can be phazed if Slowking carries Dragon Tail.
**Scizor**: Both Scizor and Mega Scizor threaten Slowking with U-turn and are capable of using Pursuit, but neither appreciates getting burned by Scald or being hit by Fire Blast.
Last edited:
