[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. Slowking has Its decent defensive typing that also allows it to switch into many other Pokemon such as Mega Metagross, Keldeo (RC) and Latios with ease, (AC) making it a very good blanket check for to special attackers in general. Slowking's ability, Regenerator, allows it to pivot throughout the match into powerful attackers and, (AC) 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, (AC) unlike Slowbro, has a utility move in Dragon Tail, allowing Slowking to phaze out problematic Calm Mind users such as Mega Latias and Reuniclus. However, Slowking's typing is both a blessing and curse, as it is weak to common moves (RC) such as Knock Off, Pursuit, U-turn and Volt Switch. Slowking also has lacking physical bulk unlike its counterpart, (AC) so it is even more prone to being trapped by Pursuit as well as being 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
item: Assault Vest
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Slowking's most reliable Water-type STAB move, (AC) that has a and its chance to burn the opponent discouraging 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, (AC) so it is able allowing it to safely set up Stealth Rock. Fire Blast is great coverage move that hits switch-ins (add hyphen) to Slowking such as Scizor, Bisharp, Serperior, and Ferrothorn. Ice Beam mainly targets Dragon-types such as Latios, Mega Altaria, and Dragonite, (AC) which otherwise take little damage from Slowking's attacks. Dragon Tail is an alternative to phaze out (redundancy error, the 'out' part is implied with 'phaze' to begin with) Calm Mind users (RC) such as Reuniclus, Suicune, and Mega Latias as well as phazing out and phaze a Quiver Dance-boosted Volcarona in a pinch.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack EVs plus a Modest nature (RC) allow Slowking to OHKO Mega Diancie with Scald and OHKO Tank defensive Garchomp most of the time with Ice Beam. 248 HP is EVs are used to maximize Slowking's bulk and also lets it take one less point of HP from while minimizing Stealth Rock switch ins 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 is absolutely mandatory, as it allows Slowking to recover some of its HP as it pivots in and out into attacks, making the set have good longevity. Assault Vest is the item of choice, as it 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, (comma) Also 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 out.
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, andin while in return Slowking covers their Psychic weakness, while also covering as well as the former's Ice- and Fire-type weakness. Amoonguss also forms a Regenerator core with Slowking, (AC) 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, (AC) which are is very problematic for all of them. Slowking is crippled by status effects such as poison and burn, as well as crippled and by Knock Off, so Pokemon such as Gliscor and Magic Guard Clefable make 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
item: Leftovers
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, (AC) deterring physical attackers from switching in. Psyshock is used to 2HKO all variants of Keldeo and allows it Slowking to hit other Pokemon weak to Psychic on the switch, (AC) 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 switch in on Slowking do so. (or specify if you meant something more specific, but this is kinda too repetitive) Dragon Tail is useful to enable Slowking to phaze out many defensive Calm Mind users such as Reuniclus, Suicune, (AC) and Mega Slowbro; it can even phaze out Tail Glow Manaphy and a Quiver Dance-boosted Volcarona in tight situations. Slack Off is reliable recovery that ensures Slowking stays healthy throughout the match. Ice Beam is another alternative to hit Pokemon such as Latios, Thundurus, (AC) 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 investment 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 being able enabling it to take a LO 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 are is needed in order to have for passive recovery as well as to avoid 2HKOs from some attacks.
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 from via Regenerator, as Slowking is an excellent pivot for many Pokemon such as Grass Knot Mega Metagross. Use Slack Off to keep it healthy throuhgout throughout the match to 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, (AC) so Heatran and Ferrothorn and Heatran form an excellent defensive core with Slowking. Amoonguss in particular (RC) pairs well with Slowking, (AC) as they have great synergy and form a Regenerator core, (AC) allowing both of them to pivot into each other's (apostrophe) 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 also has access to Spikes to wear down opposing Pokemon. Dragalge is able to switch in on Gengar and Mega Charizard Y (RC) while supporting Slowking with Toxic Spikes, allowing it to wear down its checks. Gliscor is another good partner, as Gliscor is able 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, (AC) making it a decent bulky win condition, (comma) while Nasty Plot is another good boosting move that can allow Slowking has at its disposal to become an immediate threat, as it can be either used with a three attacks set or with and an offensive Trick Room set to become an immediate threat. Rocky Helmet is decent item that 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 (hehe) move and can keep Clefable, which is immune to Dragon Tail, from from setting up Calm Mind against Slowking because it is immune to Dragon Tail. Power Gem is an option to hit Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, Talonflame, and Volcarona harder than anything else. Foul Play is useful move to punish physical setup (remove space) 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 Dark STAB moves and are all capable of trapping Slowking with Pursuit. Though 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, (AC) force out Slowking with their Grass-type STAB moves, while Celebi is also able to set up on it and cures any status afflictions Slowking caused (probably should be 'has caused' but it feels kinda fluffy anyway) with Natural Cure.
**Electric-types**: Pokemon such as Thundurus, Mega Manectric, Raikou, and Magnezone all force out threaten (less repetitive) 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 toxic (RC) greatly hamper Slowking's longevity, (AC) 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(space)up Calm Mind on Slowking with impunity. Clefable is also immune to Dragon Tail, (AC) therefore meaning Slowking cannot phaze it out once it has started setting up.
**Water-types**: Starmie and Azumarill are able to take any hit Slowking throws at them, (AC) but (RC) Scald's burn chance discourages Azumarill discouraged from switching in due to be being burned by Scald and offensive variants of Starmie are crippled by getting paralyzed or being hit by Toxic. Mega Gyarados takes any hit Slowking throws at it (RC) while using Substitute freely to avoid status and setting up with Dragon Dance. Manaphy, in particular its Tail Glow Rain Dance set, also uses Slowking as setup (remove space) bait, threatens it with Energy Ball, and heals off any status conditions with Hydration; (SC) however, Manaphy can be phazed out if Slowking carries Dragon Tail.
**Scizor**: Both Scizor and Mega Scizor threaten Slowking with U-turn and are capable of using Pursuit, but neither likes getting burned by Scald or being hit by Fire Blast.
