[OVERVIEW]
Slowbro's excellent defensive typing and great defensive stats allow it to pivot into and check several key offensive Pokemon, such as Zygarde-10%, Stakataka, and Tyrantrum. Its resistance to Fighting-type moves is particularly noteworthy, letting it switch into various threats such as Medicham, Toxicroak, and Bewear with ease. Slowbro's exceptional longevity, due to the combination of Regenerator and Slack Off, ensures Slowbro will be able to pivot into physical attackers throughout the whole match. Unfortunately, Slowbro faces stiff competition from the other amazing Water- and Psychic-types in the tier, such as Milotic, Mantine, and Cresselia, although unlike them, it is able to avoid passivity issues due to its decent Special Attack combined with a good offensive movepool. Although its typing blesses it with important resistances, it is also cursed with multiple weaknesses to common offensive typings like Grass, Dark, and Electric. This makes Slowbro weak to powerful threats like Shaymin, Mega Blastoise, Drapion, and Raikou. Slowbro's Psychic-typing also leaves it a vulnerable target in such a Pursuit-heavy metagame. Although its high Defense and Regenerator mitigate this issue, it can get chipped for big damage or removed from the game entirely by trappers such as Drapion or Escavalier. Slowbro is unable to dent most Water-types like Milotic or Mega Blastoise unless running the niche Grass Knot or Toxic. Its mediocre Special Defense stat leaves it unable to wall specially offensive threats such as Noivern and Nidoqueen.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Scald
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Slack Off
item: Leftovers / Colbur Berry
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Slowbro's most spammable move thanks to its STAB boost and a nifty chance to burn, further antagonizing physical attackers. Psyshock hits many Pokemon that resist Scald, such as Virizion, Roserade, and Toxicroak. Ice Beam targets Grass-types, like Shaymin and Rotom-C, and Dragon-types, such as Flygon and Noivern, that resist Scald and take little damage from Psyshock. Slack Off extends Slowbro's longevity and makes it an extremely durable wall. Grass Knot allows Slowbro to hit Water-types like Milotic, Mega Blastoise, and Slowking, which otherwise completely wall it. Toxic lets Slowbro whittle its defensive checks such as Mega Blastoise, Cresselia, Mandibuzz, and non-Refresh Milotic.
Set Details
========
Leftovers allows Slowbro to passively regain health every turn, which can ease pressure off repeated uses of Slack Off or constant switching. Alternatively, Colbur Berry is an option that helps it when faced with a Dark-type like Drapion or Pangoro or Pokemon with Dark-type coverage like Mega Blastoise, Toxicroak, Machamp, and Donphan. Regenerator allows Slowbro to pivot into most neutral physical attacks with ease and takes pressure off using Slack Off repeatedly.
Usage Tips
========
Unlike other defensive Pokemon, Slowbro should avoid spamming Slack Off due to its ability to regain health through Regenerator; this usually makes attacking with its STAB moves or Ice Beam more beneficial, although neglecting Slack Off completely isn't ideal either. Use Slack Off when Slowbro can't KO the opposing Pokemon quickly and its HP is low. Scald should be used most of the time due to its decent power and useful chance to burn. However, if the opposing team has many Water-resistant Pokemon such as Shaymin, Goodra, or Toxicroak, try to predict if the opponent will switch into it and use the appropriate coverage move. Slowbro should exploit its access to Regenerator and high Defense by switching into Pokemon it walls or threatens such as Toxicroak, Stakataka, and Zygarde-10% throughout the game, forcing them out and regaining most of the health lost in the process. Slowbro should avoid staying in on special attackers such as Gardevoir and Ninetales due to its mediocre Special Defense stat, which means most decently strong special attacks can severely dent Slowbro. Walls such as Registeel or Cresselia often run Toxic to cripple Slowbro and severely limit its longevity on the field. Scout for potential Toxic users before sending Slowbro out to beat them.
Team Options
========
Dragon-type Pokemon such as Dragalge and Goodra appreciate Slowbro's ability to deal with most physical Dragon-types like Zygarde-10% and Tyrantrum while they easily switch into Grass- and Electric-types like Shaymin, Roserade, and Raikou. Fairy-types like Florges, Diancie, and Comfey can deal with most Dark- and Bug-types that Slowbro struggles with, like Pangoro and Yanmega. Additionally, they also beat Mega Ampharos, an Electric-type that can easily bypass the Dragon-types that resist its main STAB move. Pokemon that invite the threats Slowbro walls appreciate its ability to wall them. Some examples include Salazzle baiting in Flygon or Zygarde-10% and Virizion luring Toxicroak. Mega Abomasnow appreciates a switch-in to dangerous Fire-, Fighting-, and Rock-types, and in return it can switch into Grass- and Electric-type attacks thrown at Slowbro, as well as pressure the Water-types Slowbro hates. Specially defensive Pokemon such as Florges and Bronzong can take pressure off Slowbro from checking special attackers like Gardevoir and Noivern. Additionally, Florges can provide Aromatherapy support to rid Slowbro of pesky status, while Bronzong can set Stealth Rock to further support the whole team.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Protect allows Slowbro to avoid Pursuit mind games, bait Z-Moves, and rack up Leftovers healing. However, it is important to note that Slowbro really needs all its coverage to hit its targets. Waterium Z can prevent Slowbro from being crippled by Trick users like Medicham and Metagross, reduce the damage from Knock Off from the likes of Toxicroak and Machamp, and allow Slowbro to drop a Water-type nuke that heavily dents most offensive Pokemon such as Drapion, Pangoro, and Escavalier. Slowbro can be used as a bulky setup sweeper with Calm Mind. However, this set is easily stopped by status and defensive Water-types like Milotic, Mantine, and Vaporeon, making it somewhat inconsistent at sweeping. It is also unable to take advantage of Regenerator as much as the standard defensive pivot. Choice Specs turns Slowbro into an offensive pivot, which can maintain offensive pressure while still switching into some physical attackers. However, lacking Defense investment leaves it unable to wall Pokemon like Zygarde-10% and Tyrantrum. Thunder Wave allows Slowbro to punish fast attackers and cleaners like Salazzle and Swellow on the switch. Rindo Berry lets Slowbro deal with Grass-types better, particularly Virizion, which takes substantial damage from Slowbro's Psyshock. Assault Vest patches up its mediocre Special Defense and lets it wall several Pokemon like Salazzle and Nidoqueen. However, this set has few advantages over Slowking, which has higher natural Special Defense that makes it better suited to this role. Yawn can force switches versus Pokemon it loses to and help another teammate set up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass- and Electric-types**: Grass-types such as Shaymin, Roserade, and Virizion can all threaten to KO Slowbro with their STAB moves. Although most fear switching into Ice Beam or Psyshock, they become far more solid checks if they're running Synthesis. Although Electric-types are somewhat uncommon, Raikou, Mega Ampharos, and Rotom-C can all switch into it with ease and obtain momentum with Volt Switch, or in Raikou's case, set up with Calm Mind. Mega Ampharos can even switch in on its base forme to weaken Ice Beam.
**Water-types**: Slowbro is unable to dent Water-types unless running Toxic or Grass Knot. Most offensive Water-types carry super effective coverage, like Mega Blastoise's Dark Pulse or Feraligatr's Crunch, while defensive Water-types can abuse Slowbro by Defogging, recovering, or Wish-passing.
**Specially Offensive Pokemon**: Due to Slowbro's mediocre Special Defense, special attackers like Noivern and Nidoqueen can easily break through it.
**Toxic**: Toxic puts a timer on Slowbro's time on the field and negates Regenerator's healing effect. It forces Slowbro to either switch constantly or use Slack Off more than it would like. Additionally, Toxic completely invalidates Calm Mind variants from sweeping.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[zizalith,410251]]
- Quality checked by: [[phantom,180300], [Averardo,409096], [Chrisloud1,332202]]
- Grammar checked by: [[frostration,447027], [Electrolyte,148071]]
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