**Draft Order**: Round 7 onwards
**Price Range**: 8-10 points
**Overview**: Slowbro is a defensive Water-type that, thanks to its typing, can act as a blanket check to a large variety of physical attackers. Regenerator enables it to switch in multiple times, and with the ability to spread status in Yawn, Scald, and Thunder Wave, it can also act as a utility Pokemon. It has an offensive profile that is good enough to prevent opposing Pokemon from freely setting up on it, but it is a slow momentum sink that has to be careful about giving foes control of the field.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Defensive Pivot**: Slowbro can use its high Defense stat to switch in on physical attackers and threaten them with Scald burns and Thunder Wave. It can also use its reliable recovery in Slack Off alongside Regenerator to consistently and safely switch in and out of attacks.
**Defensive Setup Sweeper**: With access to multiple ways of setting up its Special Attack and maintaining longevity on the field, Slowbro can set up and slowly wear foes down multiple times thanks to Regenerator.
**Physical Tank**: Thanks to its access to IronPress, Slowbro can act as a tank that still has respectable damage output.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Scald, Surf, Hydro Pump, Psychic Noise, Psychic, Psyshock, Future Sight
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind, Iron Defense, Nasty Plot, Amnesia
**Utility Moves**: Disable, Trick, Endure, Light Screen, Thunder Wave, Slack Off, Yawn, Foul Play
**Coverage**: Body Press, Earthquake, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Focus Blast, Grass Knot, Ice Beam, Shadow Ball
Niche Moves
========
**Trick Room**: Slowbro can opt for a more offensive set with Trick Room + Nasty Plot to take advantage of its perceived passiveness.
**Stored Power**: On an Iron Defense + Calm Mind set, Stored Power can be used as a higher-damage alternative to Slowbro's other Psychic-type moves.
**Block / Whirlpool**: Slowbro is a unique trapper that can use Block or Whirlpool to trap both passive Pokemon and offensive switch-ins that might have trouble breaking through it.
Common Items
========
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet is especially good at getting chip off on U-turn users that look to gain momentum on Slowbro and punishing the physical attackers it wants to switch in on.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Since Slowbro is prone to the constant chip damage entry hazards deal, nullifying the healing Regenerator provides, Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to let it switch into more attacks safely.
**Resistance Berries**: With Colbur Berry being the standout for Knock Off, Slowbro gets a lot of mileage from resistance Berries, keeping super effective coverage from picking it off.
**Leftovers**: While Slowbro typically wants to pivot in and out of the field to heal with Regenerator while preventing its foe from taking advantage of it, Leftovers can be ran on setup sets to maintain longevity, allowing it to set up easier.
Niche Items
========
**Eject Button**: On more offensive teams, Slowbro with an Eject Button can act as a one-time free switch for the rest of its team.
**Red Card**: Slowbro is tanky enough that it can almost always survive a hit on the physical side even from Pokemon that have set up, forcing the opposing Pokemon out with a Red Card.
**Assault Vest**: Acting more as a mixed tank that uses Regenerator as its sole recovery method, Assault Vest can be worn by Slowbro to assist it in tanking special hits while using useful utility attacks like Psychic Noise and Scald to still have substantial impact on the field.
**Lagging Tail / Other Trick Items**: To be used with Trick, Slowbro can debilitate an opposing Pokemon by giving it a Lagging Tail while not being affected too much itself. Toxic and Flame Orb are alternative options, but they would have to be given to the foe before Slowbro receives the negative effect.
Tera
========
Slowbro should very rarely be a Tera Captain. Its defensive typing gives it key resistances to Fighting-, Water-, and Steel-types, which it doesn't want to lose. On the offensive side, it has good enough STAB options and coverage by nature that Terastallization is not necessary. In most cases, Slowbro is actually hurt in the long run by Terastallizing and losing its Water typing. In the case it is chosen as a Tera Captain, Tera Fairy lets it maintain a good natural defensive typing and Tera Water removes its weaknesses to Bug-, Dark-, and Ghost-type moves while turning its Water-type STAB moves into real damage dealers.
Draft Strategy
========
Slowbro fits best on balance drafts that have enough bulky Pokemon that can benefit from its longevity to take full advantage of its defensive prowess. These bulky Pokemon have to be comfortable with Slowbro hard switching to them because of its inability to switch using a pivot move, and its greatest strength lies in being able to constantly keep itself healthy with Regenerator. Additionally, having strong attackers that can take advantage of its status spreading ability while being able to deal damage is a must.
**Tanks**: Bulky Pokemon like Terapagos, Ting-Lu, and Tinkaton that can tank special hits are essential in compositions with Slowbro due to its relatively low special bulk.
**Bulky Pivots**: Pokemon that are unafraid to switch in and pivot out such as Landorus-T, Zapdos, and especially Tornadus-T thanks to the Regenerator core the two form, are vital in taking some of the pressure off of Slowbro to be the sole tank of the team.
**Wallbreakers**: In order for setup sweeping Slowbro to have top efficiency, Pokemon like Chi-Yu, Urshifu-S, and Roaring Moon need to soften up or even KO the walls.
**Stallbreakers**: Slowbro without a setup move can easily be stalled out by bulky Pokemon with reliable recovery, so it also needs a Pokemon or two like Heatran, Gholdengo, and Iron Valiant to help deal with them.
**Speed Control**: Faster Pokemon like Darkrai, Sneasler, and Ogerpon that can outspeed foes are a must, as Slowbro does not outspeed much.
Checks and Counters
========
**Electric-types**: Electric-types including Rotom-W, Raging Bolt, and Thundurus can hit Slowbro with their super effective STAB moves while also ignoring its Thunder Wave.
**Grass-types**: Although Grass-types like Ogerpon-W, Ogerpon, and Rillaboom do not appreciate being hit with an Ice Beam or Thunder Wave, they still threaten Slowbro out with their super effective STAB moves.
**Dark-type coverage and Dark-types**: Powerful Knock Off users such as Great Tusk, Quaquaval, and Metagross threaten to remove Slowbro's item while dealing substantial chip damage, while Dark-types that do not rely on Knock Off to damage it, such as Urshifu-S, Darkrai, and Greninja, are especially threatening for it, as they are not concerned with missing out on subsequent damage if the Slowbro is holding a Colbur Berry.
**Entry Hazards**: On Slowbro sets without Heavy-Duty Boots, it is easily worn down by entry hazards, greatly reducing the efficacy of Regenerator.
**Disruptive Moves**: Although it can run Oblivious in niche scenarios, moves such as Taunt and Encore that lock Slowbro out of being able to set up and recover are an easy way for foes to nullify it.
**Special Walls**: Pokemon like Scream Tail, Terapagos, and Galarian Slowking that shrug off Slowbro's attacks and answer back in varied ways can pretty easily keep up with it or pivot to a Pokemon that answers it better.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Pokemon like Enamorus, Kyurem, and Iron Moth can typically muscle through an unboosted Slowbro with little to no issue.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf2.608304/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Price Range**: 8-10 points
**Overview**: Slowbro is a defensive Water-type that, thanks to its typing, can act as a blanket check to a large variety of physical attackers. Regenerator enables it to switch in multiple times, and with the ability to spread status in Yawn, Scald, and Thunder Wave, it can also act as a utility Pokemon. It has an offensive profile that is good enough to prevent opposing Pokemon from freely setting up on it, but it is a slow momentum sink that has to be careful about giving foes control of the field.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Defensive Pivot**: Slowbro can use its high Defense stat to switch in on physical attackers and threaten them with Scald burns and Thunder Wave. It can also use its reliable recovery in Slack Off alongside Regenerator to consistently and safely switch in and out of attacks.
**Defensive Setup Sweeper**: With access to multiple ways of setting up its Special Attack and maintaining longevity on the field, Slowbro can set up and slowly wear foes down multiple times thanks to Regenerator.
**Physical Tank**: Thanks to its access to IronPress, Slowbro can act as a tank that still has respectable damage output.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Scald, Surf, Hydro Pump, Psychic Noise, Psychic, Psyshock, Future Sight
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind, Iron Defense, Nasty Plot, Amnesia
**Utility Moves**: Disable, Trick, Endure, Light Screen, Thunder Wave, Slack Off, Yawn, Foul Play
**Coverage**: Body Press, Earthquake, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Focus Blast, Grass Knot, Ice Beam, Shadow Ball
Niche Moves
========
**Trick Room**: Slowbro can opt for a more offensive set with Trick Room + Nasty Plot to take advantage of its perceived passiveness.
**Stored Power**: On an Iron Defense + Calm Mind set, Stored Power can be used as a higher-damage alternative to Slowbro's other Psychic-type moves.
**Block / Whirlpool**: Slowbro is a unique trapper that can use Block or Whirlpool to trap both passive Pokemon and offensive switch-ins that might have trouble breaking through it.
Common Items
========
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet is especially good at getting chip off on U-turn users that look to gain momentum on Slowbro and punishing the physical attackers it wants to switch in on.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Since Slowbro is prone to the constant chip damage entry hazards deal, nullifying the healing Regenerator provides, Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to let it switch into more attacks safely.
**Resistance Berries**: With Colbur Berry being the standout for Knock Off, Slowbro gets a lot of mileage from resistance Berries, keeping super effective coverage from picking it off.
**Leftovers**: While Slowbro typically wants to pivot in and out of the field to heal with Regenerator while preventing its foe from taking advantage of it, Leftovers can be ran on setup sets to maintain longevity, allowing it to set up easier.
Niche Items
========
**Eject Button**: On more offensive teams, Slowbro with an Eject Button can act as a one-time free switch for the rest of its team.
**Red Card**: Slowbro is tanky enough that it can almost always survive a hit on the physical side even from Pokemon that have set up, forcing the opposing Pokemon out with a Red Card.
**Assault Vest**: Acting more as a mixed tank that uses Regenerator as its sole recovery method, Assault Vest can be worn by Slowbro to assist it in tanking special hits while using useful utility attacks like Psychic Noise and Scald to still have substantial impact on the field.
**Lagging Tail / Other Trick Items**: To be used with Trick, Slowbro can debilitate an opposing Pokemon by giving it a Lagging Tail while not being affected too much itself. Toxic and Flame Orb are alternative options, but they would have to be given to the foe before Slowbro receives the negative effect.
Tera
========
Slowbro should very rarely be a Tera Captain. Its defensive typing gives it key resistances to Fighting-, Water-, and Steel-types, which it doesn't want to lose. On the offensive side, it has good enough STAB options and coverage by nature that Terastallization is not necessary. In most cases, Slowbro is actually hurt in the long run by Terastallizing and losing its Water typing. In the case it is chosen as a Tera Captain, Tera Fairy lets it maintain a good natural defensive typing and Tera Water removes its weaknesses to Bug-, Dark-, and Ghost-type moves while turning its Water-type STAB moves into real damage dealers.
Draft Strategy
========
Slowbro fits best on balance drafts that have enough bulky Pokemon that can benefit from its longevity to take full advantage of its defensive prowess. These bulky Pokemon have to be comfortable with Slowbro hard switching to them because of its inability to switch using a pivot move, and its greatest strength lies in being able to constantly keep itself healthy with Regenerator. Additionally, having strong attackers that can take advantage of its status spreading ability while being able to deal damage is a must.
**Tanks**: Bulky Pokemon like Terapagos, Ting-Lu, and Tinkaton that can tank special hits are essential in compositions with Slowbro due to its relatively low special bulk.
**Bulky Pivots**: Pokemon that are unafraid to switch in and pivot out such as Landorus-T, Zapdos, and especially Tornadus-T thanks to the Regenerator core the two form, are vital in taking some of the pressure off of Slowbro to be the sole tank of the team.
**Wallbreakers**: In order for setup sweeping Slowbro to have top efficiency, Pokemon like Chi-Yu, Urshifu-S, and Roaring Moon need to soften up or even KO the walls.
**Stallbreakers**: Slowbro without a setup move can easily be stalled out by bulky Pokemon with reliable recovery, so it also needs a Pokemon or two like Heatran, Gholdengo, and Iron Valiant to help deal with them.
**Speed Control**: Faster Pokemon like Darkrai, Sneasler, and Ogerpon that can outspeed foes are a must, as Slowbro does not outspeed much.
Checks and Counters
========
**Electric-types**: Electric-types including Rotom-W, Raging Bolt, and Thundurus can hit Slowbro with their super effective STAB moves while also ignoring its Thunder Wave.
**Grass-types**: Although Grass-types like Ogerpon-W, Ogerpon, and Rillaboom do not appreciate being hit with an Ice Beam or Thunder Wave, they still threaten Slowbro out with their super effective STAB moves.
**Dark-type coverage and Dark-types**: Powerful Knock Off users such as Great Tusk, Quaquaval, and Metagross threaten to remove Slowbro's item while dealing substantial chip damage, while Dark-types that do not rely on Knock Off to damage it, such as Urshifu-S, Darkrai, and Greninja, are especially threatening for it, as they are not concerned with missing out on subsequent damage if the Slowbro is holding a Colbur Berry.
**Entry Hazards**: On Slowbro sets without Heavy-Duty Boots, it is easily worn down by entry hazards, greatly reducing the efficacy of Regenerator.
**Disruptive Moves**: Although it can run Oblivious in niche scenarios, moves such as Taunt and Encore that lock Slowbro out of being able to set up and recover are an easy way for foes to nullify it.
**Special Walls**: Pokemon like Scream Tail, Terapagos, and Galarian Slowking that shrug off Slowbro's attacks and answer back in varied ways can pretty easily keep up with it or pivot to a Pokemon that answers it better.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Pokemon like Enamorus, Kyurem, and Iron Moth can typically muscle through an unboosted Slowbro with little to no issue.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf2.608304/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
