[OVERVIEW]
- Slowking is one of the best defensive pivots in the metagame thanks to its wonderful typing, reliable recovery, access to Regenerator, and an incredibly powerful momentum-generating tool in Teleport.
- It acts as one of the sturdiest checks to Pokemon like Victini, Salamence, Keldeo, Nidoqueen, and Kommo-o in the entire tier.
- The combination of Future Sight and Teleport lets Slowking easily support wallbreakers like Lycanroc-D, Zeraora, and Krookodile, making it much easier for them to bust through Pokemon like Tangrowth and Amoonguss.
- Pairs excellently with Tangrowth and Amoonguss to create a Regenerator core that's very difficult to break through. Heavy-Duty Boots make it really easy for it to last an extremely long time against attackers like Victini.
- It can struggle with being a poor check to certain special attackers like Alakazam, Primarina, and Chandelure.
- Somewhat lacking physical bulk makes it easy for extremely powerful physical threats like Terrakion and Conkeldurr to power through it. Also makes it a somewhat poor check to Choice Band Victini.
[SET]
name: The Dapper One
move 1: Scald
move 2: Future Sight / Psyshock
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Teleport
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Regenerator
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Paragraph 1
- Scald is a frustrating STAB move to switch into thanks to its ability to cripple Pokemon like Tapu Bulu with a burn.
- Future Sight can be used to support Pokemon like Terrakion and Keldeo, allowing them to more easily break through Grass-types like Tangrowth and Amoonguss.
- Psyshock can be used on teams that are very weak to Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo and Kommo-o, though it should be noted that Future Sight can handle Keldeo in combination with a faster teammate that can threaten it such as Zeraora, Lycanroc-D, or Alakazam. Slowking should attempt to use Teleport to pivot out on the turn Future Sight hits the opponent's Substitute so that its partner doesn't need to take a hit.
- Slack Off allows Slowking to more reliably check Pokemon like Nidoqueen over the course of a game.
- Teleport is an extremely important move for momentum generation, allowing Slowking to bring in Pokemon like Lycanroc-D in on Kyurem, Salamence in on Tangrowth and Amoonguss, and Scizor in on opposing Slowking.
- A Sassy nature and 0 Speed IVs are used to attempt to get a slower Teleport against opposing Slowking. 16 Special Defense EVs ensure that Slowking isn't 2HKOed by Nidoqueen's STAB moves.
- Slowking pairs very well with Amoonguss, which forms a Regenerator core with it. Together, they stand tall in the face of much of the metagame, combining to check Pokemon like Victini, Primarina, and Krookodile.
- Tangrowth can also be an effective partner for similar reasons, though it struggles with handling special attackers that Amoonguss can deal with, most notably Primarina. Both Tangrowth and Amoonguss can check Zeraora for Slowking and don't mind having their items removed too much, so they can handle Knock Off too.
- Checks to Pokemon like Alakazam such as Zeraora, Choice Scarf Krookodile, and Galarian Moltres can help with Slowking's inability to handle it, though it can bring its partners in on Alakazam via Teleport.
- Wallbreakers that appreciate Slowking's Future Sight support such as Terrakion, Zeraora, and Keldeo all appreciate it as a teammate.
- Checks to Chandelure such as Incineroar and Diancie are also helpful, with Slowking handling threats such as Keldeo, Volcanion, and Nihilego for them.
- Checks to Substitute Kyurem are important, as Slowking often gives it free turns. It can bring a teammate like Keldeo, Salamence, or Noivern in via Teleport, especially if it sets up a Future Sight as Kyurem comes in, allowing them to handle it with ease.
- Other checks to Pokemon like Lycanroc-D and Terrakion that Slowking can't handle are appreciated. The aforementioned Tangrowth works, as do partners such as Skarmory and Palossand. Skarmory's Spikes support is also very helpful for other teammates such as Zeraora which find it much easier to break through bulky Pokemon like Amoonguss with Spikes and Future Sight.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thunder Wave can be used but Slowking struggles to find the room for it on its set, though it does support slower wallbreakers like Toxtricity and Conkeldurr quite well. Ice Beam can also be used to deal heavy damage to Salamence but it's hard to make it fit for the same reason.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: While they can't all switch in to Slowking, Pokemon such as Obstagoon, Krookodile, and Galarian Moltres cause it major issues thanks to their powerful STAB moves.
**Electric-types**: Pokemon such as Thundurus, Zeraora, and Toxtricity can break through Slowking with ease using their STAB attacks.
**Scizor**: Scizor's U-turn does massive damage to Slowking that it can struggle to heal off, though it doesn't appreciate being burned by Scald.
**Bulky Setup Sweepers**: Reuniclus, Galarian Slowbro, and Raikou can all take advantage of Slowking and set up for free. Substitute Kyurem, while not necessarily a sweeper, can also get a free Substitute and proceed to threaten Slowking with Freeze-Dry.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lilburr, 481709]]
- Quality checked by: [[Estarossa, 461329], [username2, userid2], [username3, userid3]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
Last edited:
