GP: Snobalt | The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Slowbro's solid Water / Psychic typing and excellent defensive stats allow it to handle various important threats such as Landorus-T, Mega Charizard X, Keldeo, Talonflame, and Mega Lopunny. The combination of Regenerator and reliable recovery in Slack Off makes it easy to keep Slowbro healthy and allow it to act as an all-around defensive pivot. Mega Slowbro sports an outstanding base 180 Defense that further increases its ability to take on physical attackers. With this massive increase in Defense, Mega Slowbro can utilize a more specially defensive spread in order to combat physical attackers as well as special attackers such as Keldeo. In addition, Slowbro sports two boosting methods in Calm Mind and Iron Defense, which is enhanced by Shell Armor, which makes Mega Slowbro immune to critical hits. Slowbro's wide offensive and support movepool allow it to tackle various foes comfortably.
However, Slowbro's typing renders it weak to Knock Off and Pursuit. It is also weak to quite a few common types, such as Grass and Electric. This is further exacerbated by Slowbro's lackluster Special Defense, which makes it vulnerable to special attackers such as Gengar, Mega Manectric, and Serperior. Lastly, Slowbro fears status moves and Taunt, as they put Slowbro on a timer and stop it from recovering health or inflicting its own status on the foe, respectively.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Psyshock / Fire Blast / Ice Beam
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is a great, spammable STAB move with a nifty burn chance that can cripple a wide variety of Pokemon such as Bisharp. Slack Off provides reliable recovery for Slowbro that, combined with Regenerator, makes it increasingly hard to wear down. Thunder Wave is a direct way of stopping Speed-boosting Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X and Volcarona and crippling Speed-reliant Pokemon immensely so that teammates are able to revenge kill them. The last slot is basically a choice between whichever move has more utility; Psyshock punishes Keldeo while breaking the Substitute of Gyarados and threatening Amoonguss and Venusaur that switch in. Fire Blast hits Ferrothorn and Scizor, as well as Skarmory looking to Taunt Slowbro or use Defog; the move also helps with Grass-types such as Celebi, which otherwise counter Slowbro. Ice Beam can help cover Gliscor and hits Dragon-types such as Dragonite, Mega Altaria, Latios, Mega Sceptile, and Garchomp. Calm Mind can be used to turn Slowbro into a defensive win condition for teams and patch up its lower Special Defense.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread maximizes Slowbro's physical bulk while allowing it to survive two Hydro Pumps from Choice Specs Keldeo after Stealth Rock. An alternate spread of 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD provides enough Special Defense for Slowbro to avoid the 2HKO from Mega Metagross's Grass Knot after Stealth Rock. If running Slowbronite, a spread of 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 SpD provides the same specially defensive benchmark of letting Slowbro avoid the 2HKO from Choice Specs Keldeo's Hydro Pump, while a spread of 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SpD avoids the OHKO from Latios's Draco Meteor after Stealth Rock. Regenerator and Leftovers let Slowbro keep itself healthy much more easily.
Usage Tips
========
This set should be played as a defensive pivot. Bring it into threats such as Keldeo, Mega Charizard X, and Mega Lopunny, which it easily checks, and proceed to use Scald or a status move as the foe switches out because they cripple a wide range of Pokemon. If Slowbro's health drops too low, use Slack Off.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that deal with Electric-types, Grass-types, Latios, Latias, Gengar, Gyarados, and Clefable are mandatory. Magic Guard Clefable is a great partner because of its decent mixed bulk, allowing it to deal with Latios, Mega Manectric, Raikou, Mega Sceptile, Celebi, Tyranitar, and Ferrothorn. It also provides a secondary answer to Keldeo and absorbs status. Choice Scarf Tyranitar matches up well against Gengar, Latios, and Latias and can trap them with Pursuit; it also checks Bisharp if running Superpower and Electric-types such as Mega Manectric if running Earthquake. If not running Psyshock, a secondary answer to Keldeo that can deal with Substitute + Calm Mind sets is great; Latios, Celebi, and Clefable are just some examples. Partners to deal with Latios and Latias, such as Choice Scarf Tyranitar, Mega Metagross, and Scizor, are prime candidates for teammates. Ferrothorn is a good partner, as it checks dangerous Electric- and Grass-types such as Raikou and Celebi for Slowbro and appreciates Slowbro's ability to tackle Fighting- and Fire-types.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald
move 3: Psyshock / Iron Defense
move 4: Slack Off
item: Slowbronite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind boosts Slowbro's Special Attack and its lackluster Special Defense, making it very difficult to break through after a few boosts. The increase in Slowbro's Special Attack is complemented by its solid base 130 Special Attack, which gives Slowbro a decent offensive presence to complement its defensive capabilities. Scald is a mandatory STAB move that has solid Base Power and the ability to cripple physical attackers with a burn, and it is also useful to get chip damage on various Pokemon. Psyshock targets a multitude of Pokemon including Calm Mind Clefable, Keldeo, and Suicune, as well as Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur, Azumarill, and Mega Altaria. Specifically, Psyshock allows Mega Slowbro to defeat Dragon Dance Mega Altaria should it carry Heal Bell and prevents Belly Drum Azumarill from setting up should it avoid a burn from Scald. Iron Defense forgoes coverage in order to boost Mega Slowbro's Defense, making it nearly impossible for boosting physical attackers to break through it, particularly Swords Dance Bisharp and Dragon Dance Mega Altaria. Slack Off provides reliable recovery to keep Mega Slowbro healthy throughout the match.
Set Details
========
Regenerator is the chosen ability in order to allow Slowbro to pivot around and stay healthy until it Mega Evolves. The given EV spread with a Bold nature avoids the 2HKO from Adamant Life Orb Diggersby's Return after Stealth Rock damage and, by extension, avoids the OHKO from Diggersby's +2 Return. The remaining EVs give a solid amount of special bulk to take on threats such as Latios and Keldeo and even allow Mega Slowbro to take some STAB-boosted super effective hits after a boost or two. An alternative spread with more physical bulk of 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SpD with a Bold nature still avoids the OHKO from Latios's Draco Meteor as well as the 2HKO from Choice Specs Keldeo's Hydro Pump after Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
Prolong Mega Evolving until later on in the game so that Slowbro can pivot around and keep its health high with Regenerator unless there is some threat that you really need the outrageous physical bulk afforded by Mega Evolving for. When its counters are out of the way, set it up on Pokemon such as Mega Lopunny, Mega Metagross, and Keldeo, which can't break Slowbro. Make sure you scout the foe's moves for any coverage or status moves that may cripple Slowbro, such as Hidden Power Electric from Keldeo and Toxic from Mega Lopunny.
Team Options
========
General status absorbers such as Gliscor, Clefable, and Chansey are useful partners for this set because Slowbro is heavily crippled by status such as Toxic. Unaware Clefable is a great partner on balanced teams, utilizing Heal Bell to get rid of status inflicted on Slowbro and checking dangerous setup sweepers such as Manaphy, which trouble Slowbro. Checks to common Electric- or Grass-types such as Mega Manectric and Celebi that can be annoying for this set are greatly appreciated, such as Magic Guard Clefable, Celebi, and Heatran. Celebi is also a great partner in general because it can function as a status absorber and deal with Energy Ball Manaphy and, in turn, appreciates Mega Slowbro's ability to counter strong physical attackers such as Mega Metagross and Talonflame. Gengar also poses a threat to this set, so the likes of specially defensive Gliscor and Choice Scarf Tyranitar are prime choices.
[SET]
name: Offensive Tank
move 1: Scald
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Fire Blast / Psychic
move 4: Ice Beam / Grass Knot / Psychic
item: Slowbronite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is an extremely spammable STAB move because of its nifty chance to burn foes, crippling and whittling down common switch-ins such as Latios and Ferrothorn. Slack Off keeps Mega Slowbro healthy, allowing it to tank hits much more easily. Fire Blast hits Ferrothorn, Scizor, Bisharp, Magnezone, Amoonguss, and Breloom. Psychic is a strong STAB move that is particularly useful against Water-types such as Keldeo, Rotom-W, Gyarados, Alomomola, and Azumarill, as well as certain Grass-types such as Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur, and Breloom. Ice Beam hits Dragon-types that shrug off Scald and Fire Blast easily, especially Latios, Mega Altaria, Dragonite, and Garchomp. Grass Knot is also an option to deal with Water-types such as Suicune, opposing Slowbro, Keldeo, Alomomola, Azumarill, and Mega Gyarados.
Set Details
========
40 Defense EVs in tandem with maximum HP prevent Jolly Mega Charizard X from 2HKOing Mega Slowbro at +1 with Dragon Claw. The rest of the EVs are invested into Special Attack for more power. Regenerator is the preferred pre-Mega ability, as it allows Slowbro to function as an effective pivot if the situation calls for it. 80 Special Defense EVs can be used to avoid the 2HKO from Choice Specs Keldeo's Hydro Pump after Stealth Rock if necessary, but it comes at the expense of Slowbro's power and physical bulk.
Usage Tips
========
This set should typically Mega Evolve as soon as possible to take advantage of the great power that it possesses, as well as gain the physical bulk that base Slowbro doesn't really have as much of with this spread. Usually, Slowbro should use Scald immediately to land chip damage and potentially burn foes that switch into Slowbro. It is advised to predict switches and hit the switch-ins with the appropriate coverage moves, such as using Psychic against Rotom-W and Ice Beam against Latios, to exert pressure. This set is best used as a tank, dishing out large amounts of damage and healing itself once in a while.
Team Options
========
Tank Mega Slowbro fits nicely on balanced and bulky offense builds where the defensive capabilities of Slowbro are wanted but the coverage and luring capability is appreciated. Chesnaught and Keldeo are good partners because of their ability to beat Dark-types such as Tyranitar, Bisharp, Mega Gyarados, and Mega Sableye. Checks to common Electric- and Grass-types such as Thundurus, Mega Manectric, Serperior, and Breloom, which can be annoying for this set, are prime partners; the best examples are Magic Guard Clefable, Celebi, and Heatran. In general, Celebi is a great partner because it can function as a status sponge and check dangerous Electric- and Grass-types such as Raikou and Mega Sceptile. Specially defensive Gliscor and Choice Scarf Tyranitar are also good partners, as they deal with Gengar; Gliscor checks Sableye as well and Tyranitar can deal with bulky Psychic-types, such as Latios, with Pursuit.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rest and Sleep Talk on Mega Slowbro is a viable option, preventing Mega Slowbro from being worn down by status, but this reduces its attacking options to only Scald and the turns spent asleep are a loss of momentum. Foul Play punishes setup sweepers, most prominently Mega Charizard X, in addition to Pokemon such as Dragon Dance Gyarados, Latios, Kyurem-B, Belly Drum Azumarill, Mega Gallade, Mega Metagross, Dragonite, and Mega Pinsir. Toxic could be used in place of Thunder Wave to wear down switch-ins such as Rotom-W and allow Slowbro to take on non-boosting sweepers better. An Assault Vest improves Slowbro's matchup against special attackers such as Gengar, Raikou, and Celebi, but then Slowbro misses out on utility and status moves such as Slack Off and Thunder Wave. Trick Room is also a viable option to patch up Slowbro's poor Speed stat, and Slowbro's stellar bulk makes it a good dedicated Trick Room setter.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Electric-type Pokemon such as Mega Manectric, Raikou, Rotom-W, Thundurus, and Magnezone can deal immense damage to Slowbro, if not outright OHKO it. However, they are crippled quite a bit by Scald burns.
**Grass-types**: Because of their natural resistance to Scald, Grass-types such as Celebi, Mega Venusaur, Tangrowth, and Serperior are big threats to Slowbro, as none are too bothered by Toxic or Thunder Wave; Celebi is effectively immune to both because of Natural Cure, and Mega Venusaur is immune to Toxic. In turn, they can deal a lot of damage to Slowbro with their respective STAB moves or set up on it.
**Dragon-types**: Dragon-types such as Latios, Mega Altaria, and Dragalge are resistant to Scald, making them prime checks to Slowbro. Latios, especially if it is carrying Roost, easily shrugs off all of Slowbro's moves bar Ice Beam and can replenish its health with Roost before KOing Slowbro with Draco Meteor. Mega Altaria carrying Refresh cancels out burns induced by Scald and can use Slowbro as setup fodder. Dragalge, similarly, is resistant to Scald, and it OHKOes Slowbro with a powerful Draco Meteor. However, Dragon-types must be wary of Ice Beam.
**Status Absorbers**: Because Slowbro relies quite a bit on status to damage foes, Pokemon that either aren't bothered by status or can clear it off easily are good checks to Slowbro. Clefable is one such example, as it is immune to passive damage and can use Slowbro as setup fodder; its Unaware Calm Mind set also beats Calm Mind Mega Slowbro with ease.
**Stallbreakers**: Stallbreakers with Taunt such as Mew and Mega Gyarados shut Slowbro down quite easily, as it means that Slowbro cannot inflict status without Scald, heal itself with Slack Off, or set up with Calm Mind or Iron Defense. Energy Ball Manaphy also fits into this category, as it can use Tail Glow to boost faster than Mega Slowbro's Calm Mind and proceed to KO it with Energy Ball or Shadow Ball, as can Calm Mind Sableye, which uses non-Mega Slowbro as setup fodder for Calm Mind and can proceed to beat it with Shadow Ball.
**Status**: Poison or burn inflicted onto Slowbro puts it on a timer, reducing its pivoting and walling capabilities. Toxic is especially troubling, as Slowbro has no way of clearing it by itself bar Rest.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Super effective moves deal a lot of damage to Slowbro. Bug-types such as Mega Heracross, Scizor, and Volcarona leave a massive dent in Slowbro with their respective STAB moves, possibly outright OHKOing it. Dark-types such as Bisharp, Crawdaunt, and Hydreigon also threaten Slowbro; while the first two are not as problematic due to Slowbro's great physical bulk, they can still whittle Slowbro down slowly with their Dark-type moves, and Hydreigon outright OHKOes with Dark Pulse. Gengar is also a big threat to Slowbro, as Shadow Ball OHKOes its base forme and deals significant damage to the Mega forme. Super effective coverage moves such as Keldeo's Hidden Power Electric and Mega Metagross's Grass Knot also deal great damage to Slowbro. However, none of these Pokemon can switch in against Slowbro for fear of Scald burns and status ailments.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Because of Slowbro's lower Special Defense stat, powerful special attackers such as Latios, Dragalge, and Landorus are capable of putting a big dent into Slowbro.
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