[OVERVIEW]
Psychic
========
Slowbro's high Defense and Water typing makes it a good defensive pivot on Psychic teams, able to easily check threats such as Diggersby and Excadrill. In addition, Slowbro's ability Regenerator complements its role as a defensive pivot by healing it every time it chooses to switch out, extending its longevity throughout the battle. Furthermore, upon Mega Evolution, Slowbro's massive Defense and access to Calm Mind allow it to serve as a potent wincon late-game, and its ability, Shell Armor, supports its ability to sweep with Calm Mind by protecting it from critical hits. Slowbro also helps in the Steel matchup because it is a good switch-in to Excadrill and can threaten many Steel-type Pokemon such as Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn with Fire Blast and Heatran with Scald. Mega Slowbro also does well in matchups such as Poison, as it is able to directly take on every Poison-type with Calm Mind-boosted Psychic and takes little damage from Alolan Muk's attacks while removing it with Scald. However, despite its high physical bulk, Slowbro's Special Defense stat is lackluster, leaving it open to many special attackers such as Latios and Landorus. Being a Water-type leaves Slowbro weak to Electric- and Grass-type attacks, a trait exploited by common metagame threats such as Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu. Mega Slowbro is vulnerable to status conditions, namely Toxic, which greatly hinders its role as a setup sweeper, and it faces competition from other Mega Evolutions on Psychic such as Mega Latias and Mega Gallade, with the former punching holes in types such as Normal and the latter doing well in matchups such as Water and Flying.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot (Psychic)
move 1: Scald
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Fire Blast
item: Colbur Berry
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Slowbro's main attack and can cripple physical attackers like Gyarados and Mega Lopunny with a burn. Slack Off is a form of reliable recovery and is used to ensure that Slowbro stays healthy throughout the battle. Thunder Wave is used to cripple fast Pokemon that cannot otherwise be beaten through Scald and Slack Off like Hydreigon, Greninja, and Latios. Fire Blast is used to hit Steel- and Grass-type Pokemon like Scizor, Bisharp, and Ferrothorn.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Defense EVs along with a Bold nature are used in order to let Slowbro serve as an effective physical wall. Colbur Berry is the preferred item on Slowbro, as it gives Slowbro the ability to take a Dark-type attack, which can be crucial when checking huge threats like Mega Sharpedo and Bisharp. A huge reason why Slowbro is an effective pivot lies in its ability Regenerator, which keeps it healthy throughout the duration of the game by healing it a bit every time it switches out.
Usage Tips
========
Send Slowbro in to soak up physical attacks like Mega Lopunny's Return and Excadrill's Earthquake and shield your other Pokemon from getting damaged. Use Slowbro as a pivot that can consistently heal itself with Slack Off and Regenerator. If Slowbro gets hit with a very strong attack, switch it back out in order to keep it healthy. Utilize Regenerator throughout the battle by constantly switching out Slowbro to keep its HP high. Because of the aforementioned reason, Slowbro is great for soaking up moves like U-turn. Avoid Toxic users such as Porygon2 and Gastrodon, as being badly poisoned wears Slowbro down and hinders its ability to check physical attackers reliably. In some situations, using Thunder Wave twice in a row is recommended, when the opposing player may switch a check directly into Slowbro, in order to cripple the Pokemon that is sent out. Use Scald frequently in order to inflict burns and wear down bulky Pokemon such as Toxapex and Celesteela. Preserve Slowbro's Colbur Berry until it is necessary to check Dark-type Pokemon, most notably Mega Sharpedo and Bisharp, later in the game. Use Thunder Wave in order to cripple Pokemon that cannot otherwise be beaten through using Slack Off and Scald such as Mega Lopunny and Mega Sharpedo. Thunder Wave is also useful in situations where you would need to cripple faster Pokemon such as Mega Sharpedo and Mega Pidgeot, while fishing for burns with Scald would be more useful against physical attackers or bulky Pokemon that can be crippled or worn down by burn such as Garchomp and Celesteela. Be wary of Taunt users like Mega Gyarados looking to shut Slowbro down; use Scald on a predicted Taunt in order to fish for burns, crippling the opposing Pokemon.
Team Options
========
Choice Scarf Victini is a good partner for Slowbro, as it takes care of many of Slowbro's offensive checks such as Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu. When using a Choice Band, Victini can break past Slowbro's defensive checks such as Chansey and Porygon2. Victini will often need to switch out sooner or later because of V-create and U-turn, and Slowbro is an excellent partner for Victini to pivot out to, being able to switch into Water- and Ground-type Pokemon such as Mega Swampert and Excadrill for Victini. Choice Scarf Latios is able to offensively check many of Slowbro's checks such as Hydreigon and Blacephalon. Similarly to Victini, Choice Specs Latios can also beat defensive Pokemon that Slowbro struggles against. Latios also checks Grass- and Electric-types that would otherwise threaten Slowbro. Latios and Latias pair well with Slowbro for their Defog support, being able to remove Toxic Spikes and other hazards, while Latias is also able to heal Slowbro with Healing Wish. Celebi supports Slowbro using its Grass typing, which allows it to switch into Electric- and Grass-type attacks for Slowbro. Celebi can also use U-turn to pivot into Slowbro and can absorb Toxic poison with Natural Cure. Mega Latias pairs well defensively with Slowbro because Slowbro's physical bulk protects Mega Latias from strong wallbreakers such as Excadrill and Mega Lopunny that may threaten Mega Latias before it sets up with Calm Mind. Mega Gallade can beat defensive Pokemon such as Chansey and Porygon2 for Slowbro. Slowbro can also use Thunder Wave to slow down opposing threats such as Greninja that could otherwise check Mega Gallade. Jirachi forms a solid defensive core with Slowbro, since it appreciates Slowbro's ability to switch into Fire-type attacks aimed at Jirachi, while Jirachi can switch into special attackers such as Latios and Mega Diancie that threaten Slowbro thanks to its Steel typing. Mew is a good partner for Slowbro because it beats Slowbro's defensive checks with Knock Off and Taunt and can also run Defog, which is especially good because it clears hazards such as Toxic Spikes that can threaten Slowbro's health. Offensive Mew sets also appreciate the speed control that comes from Slowbro's Thunder Wave, which can cripple fast threats and pave the way for Mew to sweep.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind Mega (Psychic)
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Scald
move 4: Psychic
item: Slowbronite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind is Mega Slowbro's main form of setup, raising its Special Attack and Special Defense in order to sweep. Slack Off acts as Mega Slowbro's reliable recovery and works in tandem with Calm Mind in order to let it set up safety and heal off damage. Scald is Slowbro's most spammable attack and is useful for crippling physical attackers and wearing down Pokemon. Psychic allows Mega Slowbro to hit Poison-type Pokemon super effectively and is used over Psyshock in order to hit Toxapex harder.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Defense EVs with a Bold nature ensure that Mega Slowbro will be able to take physical hits comfortably after Mega Evolving, notably Choice Band Diggersby's Return, and safely boost with Calm Mind. Slowbro Mega Evolves through Slowbronite, increasing its Defense and Special Attack. Regenerator is the preferred ability before Mega Evolving because it allows Slowbro to serve as a defensive pivot. Shell Armor, Mega Slowbro's ability, protects Mega Slowbro from critical hits.
Usage Tips
========
Before Mega Evolution, utilize Slowbro as a defensive pivot that can heal itself with Slack Off and Regenerator. Be aware that Mega Slowbro loses Regenerator once it Mega Evolves. Thus, it is best to hold off on Mega Evolving and setting up until Mega Slowbro's checks and counters like Mantine and Tapu Koko have been removed. Mega Evolving Slowbro is also a good idea if the extra bulk is needed to check a certain threat that Slowbro wouldn't be able to otherwise such as Choice Band Diggersby or Dragonite. Take advantage of Pokemon Choice-locked into a move that does not threaten Mega Slowbro such as Victini's V-Create and Landorus-T's Earthquake in order to freely use Calm Mind. Try to remove entry hazards such as Toxic Spikes and Spikes before Slowbro comes in, as the former will leave Slowbro poisoned, putting a timer on it, and the latter will slowly wear it down when it switches in, hurting Slowbro's ability to switch into threats. Spikes aren't a huge threat to Slowbro until it has Mega Evolved, though, as then it cannot regenerate the chip damage caused by them as easily anymore. Steer Slowbro away from Toxic users like Porygon2, as being badly poisoned impedes its ability to set up and sweep. Similarly, in matchups such as Normal where Slowbro will be threatened by Toxic users, it is best to use it to bait burns or paralysis so that it cannot be affected by Toxic any longer. In matchups where Mega Slowbro does not have many setup opportunities, such as Fairy with Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu, prioritize attacking and fishing for burns with Scald over trying to set up.
Team Options
========
Victini in particular is a good partner for Mega Slowbro, as its Choice Scarf set helps keep faster foes in check and beats Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, while its Choice Band set serves as an effective wallbreaker that can punch holes in Pokemon that Mega Slowbro struggles against such as Chansey, Mantine, and Mega Venusaur. Mega Slowbro is also able to switch into Pokemon like Excadrill and Diggersby that could potentially harm Victini in return. Latios pairs well with Mega Slowbro because it can Defog away entry hazards, mainly Toxic Spikes, and it can support Mega Slowbro through the power it packs with its offensive Life Orb and Soul Dew sets. Latias, like Latios, is also able to support Mega Slowbro by checking many Pokemon that threaten it, such as Choice Scarf Heracross and Hydreigon, while also giving Mega Slowbro more setup opportunities by healing it with Healing Wish. Additionally, using Latias and Latios along with Slowbro can confuse the opposing player as to which Mega Evolution you are actually using. Mew is a good partner for Mega Slowbro because it is able to deal with many of Mega Slowbro's defensive checks by using Taunt and Knock Off with its stallbreaker set and use Defog to remove hazards such as Toxic Spikes that may potentially damage Mega Slowbro. Jirachi can switch into special attackers such as Latios and Mega Diancie thanks to its high Special Defense and can also heal Mega Slowbro with Healing Wish; in return, Mega Slowbro is able to protect Jirachi from physical attackers such as Excadrill and Garchomp.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rocky Helmet can be used on Slowbro instead of a Colbur Berry because of its ability to punish physical attackers, and Leftovers is an option to increase Slowbro's overall longevity; however, not using a Colbur Berry hinders Slowbro's ability to check Dark-type Pokemon such as Mega Sharpedo well. Ice Beam is an option over Thunder Wave to hit Dragon- and Flying-type Pokemon such as Dragonite and Garchomp; however, dropping Thunder Wave means that Slowbro cannot cripple Pokemon such as Mega Sharpedo and Hydreigon by spreading paralysis. An Iron Defense / Calm Mind / Scald / Rest set can be used, as Iron Defense lets Mega Slowbro wall setup sweepers such as Gyarados, Calm Mind raises its Special Defense, and Rest makes it immune to status, making Mega Slowbro very hard to knock out after it accumulates a few boosts. However, Rest makes Mega Slowbro vulnerable to attacks while it sleeps. Psyshock can be used over Psychic to hit more specially defensive Pokemon such as Mantine, although most specially defensive Pokemon have ways of dealing with Mega Slowbro, like Haze in Mantine's case.
Checks and Counters
===================
Psychic
--------
**Electric-types**: Electric-type Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Magnezone, and Alolan Raichu deal immense damage to Slowbro with their STAB attacks and can grab momentum using Volt Switch.
**Grass-types**: Grass-type Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Tapu Bulu, and Celebi threaten Slowbro with their Grass-type attacks, although some of them such as Breloom and Ferrothorn can't afford to get hit by Fire Blast.
**Bug-types**: Bug-type Pokemon such as Scizor, Heracross, and Volcarona threaten Slowbro with their STAB attacks. However, most Bug-type Pokemon are afraid of getting hit by Fire Blast or Thunder Wave.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Special wallbreakers such as Gengar, Blacephalon, and Hydreigon do immense damage to Slowbro because of its poor special bulk. However, Mega Slowbro is able to take on special attackers after boosting several times with Calm Mind.
**Toxic**: Toxic users such as Gastrodon, Chansey, and Swampert wear Slowbro down by using badly poisoning it with Toxic. Being badly poisoned puts Mega Slowbro on a timer, preventing it from sweeping late-game.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Mantine, Zapdos, and Chansey wall non-Calm Mind Slowbro, while Mega Slowbro cannot do much in return due to Toxic and Haze making an attempt to sweep futile.
**Haze and Phazers**: Pokemon such as Toxapex and Mantine that carry Haze check Mega Slowbro by wiping out its stat boosts, while phazers such as Whirlwind Skarmory and Roar Swampert force Mega Slowbro to switch and remove its stat boosts.
**Taunt**: Taunt users such as Mew and Hydreigon lock Slowbro into attacking moves, which means it cannot heal itself with Slack Off, cripple Pokemon with Thunder Wave, or set up with Calm Mind.
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