[OVERVIEW]
With an interesting type, good defensive stats, and an awesome ability in Regenerator, Slowking claim its spot in BW OU as one of the very few effective counters to Keldeo. Due to it high Special Defense, Slowking can even shrug off special hits from top tier threats, like Latios, Alakazam, and Tornadus. Its main problem, however, is it very low Speed stat alongside an average physical bulk, since this let Slowking be a target for U-turn users like Landorus-T and Scizor, or powerful physical attackers like Tyranitar, Excadrill, and Garchomp.
[SET]
name: Special Wall
move 1: Slack Off
move 2: Scald
move 3: Dragon Tail / Ice Beam / Thunder Wave
move 4: Fire Blast / Psychic / Thunder Wave
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Slack Off is Slowking best healing option and is what let it wall Keldeo, Latios, Alakazam and Reuniclus. Scald is the best offensive move option due to it high burn chance to cripple Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and bulky Water-types. Dragon Tail let Slowking phaze Pokemon that can try set up on it, like Calm Mind Reuniclus and Latios. Ice Beam is Slowking best option to not be a setup bait for Substitute users like Dragonite, Garchomp, and Breloom while still pressuring Latios and specially defensive Gliscor. Fire Blast damage Toxicroak and Grass-types, but its main target is Ferrothorn who can otherwise use Slowking to stack entry hazard. Psychic, however, let Slowking damage opposing Water-types, especially Keldeo, Jellicent, and Tentacruel, while also defeating Toxicroak, Amoonguss, and Breloom. Finally, Thunder Wave also let Slowking control dangerous setup sweepers like Quiver Dance Volcarona, while crippling other fast threats for its teammates, like Alakazam, Latios, Keldeo, and Tornadus. While Dragon Tail + Ice Beam is also a viable option, this moveset combination requires specific support from Slowking teammates to work, since it let Slowking be exploited by Water-types alongside Ferrothorn.
Set Details
========
252 HP with 180 SpD EVs alongside a Calm nature let Slowking never be 2HKOed by Keldeo's Specs-boosted Hydro Pump in rain even after Stealth Rock, and also let it never be OHKOed by a +1 Volcarona's Bug Buzz if there is no entry hazard on the field. An alternative spread of 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 SpD with a Calm nature can be used to improve Slowking general utility—not being 2HKOed by Mamoswine Earthquake and reducing Pursuit damage—while still not being OHKOed by Substitute Thundurus-T"s Thunder, but with this it can't check Volcarona or Choice Specs Keldeo in rain if Stealth Rock is up.
Usage Tips
========
Bring Slowking to wall strong special attackers like Keldeo, Latios, and Alakazam, and use Slack Off as soon as it HP drop bellow the 67% mark, since most of the time Slowking need to be at full health to safely check those Pokemon. Spam Scald in the early-game to burn Pokemon that can, otherwise, use Slowking as a free switch-in, like Ferrothorn and Rotom-W. Be smart with the coverage moves it has because it's the surprise factor that will make them work most of the time. If using Psychic, Ice Beam, or Fire Blast, only reveal them when you're sure Slowking will get the KO or permanently cripple its targets. If running Thunder Wave, use it cripple fast offensive Pokemon, like Latios, Alakazam, and Keldeo, or powerfull setup sweepers, like Volcarona and Dragonite. Use Dragon Tail if a Pokemon that can normally use Slowking as a setup bait enter the field, like Reuniclus, Latias, and Volcarona, and also if Spikes is up, as Slowking can force a lot of switches. Avoid getting Slowking statused, since a burn or a poison can put it into KO ranges and a badly timed paralyzes can prevent Slowking from healing with Slack Off.
Team Options
========
Slowking is vulnerable to all entry hazards so using it alongside Rapid Spin support is a must. Because of this, its best partner is Mold Breaker Excadrill who can also deal with Slowking Electric-type weakness and even defeat Rotom-W. Slowking also loves to be paired with Tyranitar since it can remove Reuniclus, one of the most problematic Pokemon for Slowking to deal, while setting up sand to help it defeat rain structures. Other Pursuit users are also valuable teammates so Scizor and even Weavile are valid choices. Slowking need entry hazard support to be used effectively, especially Spikes, so Ferrothorn or Skarmory are strongly recomended. Other Stealth Rock users like Landorus-T, Gliscor, Garchomp, and Heatran are very good choices. Celebi, Amoonguss, and Breloom are also good defensive options to deal with Slowking Electric-type weakness. On the offensive side, Pokemon that can help with setup sweepers that Slowking can't deal are apreciated. Choice Specs or Choice Scarf Latios is an awesome partner since it can check Thundurus-T and can cripple set up Pokemon with Trick. Choice Scarf Garchomp can check Volcarona and help with the Thundurus-T and DragMag matchup. Dragonite can also be used to check Volcarona and to revenge kill setup sweepers with Extreme Speed, but it doesn't like to be used on a sand structure. Mamoswine can deal with a weakened Thundurus-T and Dragon-types with Ice Shard, and loves the defensive support Slowking provides. Magnezone is also a recomended partner, as it can trap and remove from play the two most common Spikes users, Ferrothorn and Skarmory, while pressuring Excadrill if using Choice Scarf or Air Balloon. Celebi deserves a mention as an offensive partner because it can run a setup sweeper set as it isn't needed anymore to check strong Water-types like Keldeo.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Flamethrower can be used over Fire Blast to have a perfect accuracy move, but the power drop between the two is big and it can prevent Slowking from KOing its main target, Ferrothorn. Future Sight can be used alongside Dragon Tail to force damage into Pokemon that are weak to it, like Breloom and Keldeo, but the randomness of Dragon Tail makes this a bit unreliable. Toxic is another option to spread status into the opposing team, but Slowking moveslots are valuable and this is normally done better by other Pokemon. Protect let Slowking scout for Choice-locked moves while stacking Leftovers recovery or sand damge, but its hard to find a moveslot for it. Calm Mind can be used in a physically defensive set to have an alternative wincon, howerver this job is better done by Slowbro or Reuniclus. A offenisve set with Nasty Plot or Trick Room alongside a damage-boosting item is also possible, but Slowking low Speed stat make it a fringe Nasty Plot user while it didn't have enought Special Attack stat to be a good Trick Room sweeper. Grass Knot can be used to KO Gastrodon and Seismitoad while doing decent damage to Jellicent but lack other targets. Signal Beam can be used to pressure Celebi while damaging other Psychic-types, however it have very low utility in general. Magic Coat, Block, or Disable can be used as a way to defeat other balance structures, but it's very dificult to find a moveslot for them. Reflect can be used to prevent Slowking to be Pursuit trapped by Scizor and Tyranitar while supporting its teammates with the Defense boost, but Pursuit users are normally afraid of being burned by directly switch into a Scald anyway. Hail is an option in weatherless teams to remove sand, rain, and sun, however its a very fringe move outside of those matchups. Eject Button can be used alongside a Pursuit user to instantly remove an opposing Latios from play, but the lack of Leftovers reduces a lot Slowking utility during the game, especially if sand is up. A set with Choice Specs + Trick can be used to get surprise KOs or to criple Slowking common switch ins, but it becomes very mediocre once the surprise factor wore off. A set with 252 HP / 252 Def with a Bold nature is also possible to maximize Slowking defensive utility against sand structures, however this makes it a lot less reliable versus rain offense.
Checks and Counters
===================
**VoltTurn users**: Rotom-W can burn Slowking with Will-O-Wisp, use it as a Pain Split target, or direct damage it with Volt Switch, only fearing a Scald burn or the rare Toxic. Scizor scares Slowking away imediatly, since it threaten a KO with Band or Life Orb-boosted U-turn, but it must watch out for Scald burn or Fire Blast. Landorus-T can heavy damage Slowking with a combination of Earthquake + U-turn, however it can't directly switch into Slowking. Tornadus can also deal heavy damage to Slowking with a combination of Hurricane + U-turn, but it also doesn't like to directly switch into an attacking move. Both Thundurus-T and Magnezone can threaten Slowking imediatly with Volt Switch or a stronger Electric-type move, but they must watch out to not directly switch into an attacking move.
**Pursuit**: Tyranitar threaten an deadly mind game with Crunch and Pursuit, especially if it's a more offensive Tyanitar. Scizor also forces Pursuit mind games since it scares Slowking immediatly with item-boosted U-turn or Bug Bite. Weavile too, can trap and KO Slowking with an item-boosted Pursuit or Night Slash. However, all of those Pokemon must watch out for Scald burn.
**Grass-types**: Celebi takes little damage even from Fire Blast and can use Slowking to heal off damage, set up Stealth Rock or Nasty Plot, or threaten it imediatly with a Grass-type move. Ferrothorn can deal massive damage to Slowking with Power Whip, remove it item with Knock Off, or use it stack entry hazards, but must be wary from Fire Blast or Scald burn. Amoonguss can wall any Slowking lacking Psychic or Fire Blast with a combination of Stun Spore + Giga Drain. Breloom can threaten an imediate KO with Technician Bullet Seed or heavy damage Slowking with Seed Bomb from Poison Heal sets, but it can't enter directly into Psychic, Fire Blast, or Ice Beam.
**Dragon-types**: Kyurem-B doesn't care about anything Slowking can do, except Thunder Wave or Scald burn, and threaten an imediate KO with Outrage or Fusion Bolt. Hydreigon threaten a 2HKO with Specs-boosted Dark Pulse, but must be wary of Ice Beam and Thunder Wave. Latios and Latias can set up Calm Mind versus any Slowking lacking Dragon Tail, Thunder Wave, or the rarer Toxic. Similarly, Dragonite can use Slowking to set up Dragon Dance or Substitute, if Slowking didn't have Dragon Tail, as Ice Beam isn't a OHKO if Multiscale is up. Kyurem can use any Slowking variation to set up Substitute and can PP stall it with Roost or Protect. Lastly, Garchomp and Salamence can use Slowking to set up Swords Dance or Dragon Dance, respectively, if they are holding a Yache Berry, or if Slowking is lacking Ice Beam and Dragon Tail.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Caetano93, 394051]]
- Quality checked by: [[Finchinator, 114198], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
With an interesting type, good defensive stats, and an awesome ability in Regenerator, Slowking claim its spot in BW OU as one of the very few effective counters to Keldeo. Due to it high Special Defense, Slowking can even shrug off special hits from top tier threats, like Latios, Alakazam, and Tornadus. Its main problem, however, is it very low Speed stat alongside an average physical bulk, since this let Slowking be a target for U-turn users like Landorus-T and Scizor, or powerful physical attackers like Tyranitar, Excadrill, and Garchomp.
[SET]
name: Special Wall
move 1: Slack Off
move 2: Scald
move 3: Dragon Tail / Ice Beam / Thunder Wave
move 4: Fire Blast / Psychic / Thunder Wave
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Slack Off is Slowking best healing option and is what let it wall Keldeo, Latios, Alakazam and Reuniclus. Scald is the best offensive move option due to it high burn chance to cripple Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and bulky Water-types. Dragon Tail let Slowking phaze Pokemon that can try set up on it, like Calm Mind Reuniclus and Latios. Ice Beam is Slowking best option to not be a setup bait for Substitute users like Dragonite, Garchomp, and Breloom while still pressuring Latios and specially defensive Gliscor. Fire Blast damage Toxicroak and Grass-types, but its main target is Ferrothorn who can otherwise use Slowking to stack entry hazard. Psychic, however, let Slowking damage opposing Water-types, especially Keldeo, Jellicent, and Tentacruel, while also defeating Toxicroak, Amoonguss, and Breloom. Finally, Thunder Wave also let Slowking control dangerous setup sweepers like Quiver Dance Volcarona, while crippling other fast threats for its teammates, like Alakazam, Latios, Keldeo, and Tornadus. While Dragon Tail + Ice Beam is also a viable option, this moveset combination requires specific support from Slowking teammates to work, since it let Slowking be exploited by Water-types alongside Ferrothorn.
Set Details
========
252 HP with 180 SpD EVs alongside a Calm nature let Slowking never be 2HKOed by Keldeo's Specs-boosted Hydro Pump in rain even after Stealth Rock, and also let it never be OHKOed by a +1 Volcarona's Bug Buzz if there is no entry hazard on the field. An alternative spread of 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 SpD with a Calm nature can be used to improve Slowking general utility—not being 2HKOed by Mamoswine Earthquake and reducing Pursuit damage—while still not being OHKOed by Substitute Thundurus-T"s Thunder, but with this it can't check Volcarona or Choice Specs Keldeo in rain if Stealth Rock is up.
Usage Tips
========
Bring Slowking to wall strong special attackers like Keldeo, Latios, and Alakazam, and use Slack Off as soon as it HP drop bellow the 67% mark, since most of the time Slowking need to be at full health to safely check those Pokemon. Spam Scald in the early-game to burn Pokemon that can, otherwise, use Slowking as a free switch-in, like Ferrothorn and Rotom-W. Be smart with the coverage moves it has because it's the surprise factor that will make them work most of the time. If using Psychic, Ice Beam, or Fire Blast, only reveal them when you're sure Slowking will get the KO or permanently cripple its targets. If running Thunder Wave, use it cripple fast offensive Pokemon, like Latios, Alakazam, and Keldeo, or powerfull setup sweepers, like Volcarona and Dragonite. Use Dragon Tail if a Pokemon that can normally use Slowking as a setup bait enter the field, like Reuniclus, Latias, and Volcarona, and also if Spikes is up, as Slowking can force a lot of switches. Avoid getting Slowking statused, since a burn or a poison can put it into KO ranges and a badly timed paralyzes can prevent Slowking from healing with Slack Off.
Team Options
========
Slowking is vulnerable to all entry hazards so using it alongside Rapid Spin support is a must. Because of this, its best partner is Mold Breaker Excadrill who can also deal with Slowking Electric-type weakness and even defeat Rotom-W. Slowking also loves to be paired with Tyranitar since it can remove Reuniclus, one of the most problematic Pokemon for Slowking to deal, while setting up sand to help it defeat rain structures. Other Pursuit users are also valuable teammates so Scizor and even Weavile are valid choices. Slowking need entry hazard support to be used effectively, especially Spikes, so Ferrothorn or Skarmory are strongly recomended. Other Stealth Rock users like Landorus-T, Gliscor, Garchomp, and Heatran are very good choices. Celebi, Amoonguss, and Breloom are also good defensive options to deal with Slowking Electric-type weakness. On the offensive side, Pokemon that can help with setup sweepers that Slowking can't deal are apreciated. Choice Specs or Choice Scarf Latios is an awesome partner since it can check Thundurus-T and can cripple set up Pokemon with Trick. Choice Scarf Garchomp can check Volcarona and help with the Thundurus-T and DragMag matchup. Dragonite can also be used to check Volcarona and to revenge kill setup sweepers with Extreme Speed, but it doesn't like to be used on a sand structure. Mamoswine can deal with a weakened Thundurus-T and Dragon-types with Ice Shard, and loves the defensive support Slowking provides. Magnezone is also a recomended partner, as it can trap and remove from play the two most common Spikes users, Ferrothorn and Skarmory, while pressuring Excadrill if using Choice Scarf or Air Balloon. Celebi deserves a mention as an offensive partner because it can run a setup sweeper set as it isn't needed anymore to check strong Water-types like Keldeo.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Flamethrower can be used over Fire Blast to have a perfect accuracy move, but the power drop between the two is big and it can prevent Slowking from KOing its main target, Ferrothorn. Future Sight can be used alongside Dragon Tail to force damage into Pokemon that are weak to it, like Breloom and Keldeo, but the randomness of Dragon Tail makes this a bit unreliable. Toxic is another option to spread status into the opposing team, but Slowking moveslots are valuable and this is normally done better by other Pokemon. Protect let Slowking scout for Choice-locked moves while stacking Leftovers recovery or sand damge, but its hard to find a moveslot for it. Calm Mind can be used in a physically defensive set to have an alternative wincon, howerver this job is better done by Slowbro or Reuniclus. A offenisve set with Nasty Plot or Trick Room alongside a damage-boosting item is also possible, but Slowking low Speed stat make it a fringe Nasty Plot user while it didn't have enought Special Attack stat to be a good Trick Room sweeper. Grass Knot can be used to KO Gastrodon and Seismitoad while doing decent damage to Jellicent but lack other targets. Signal Beam can be used to pressure Celebi while damaging other Psychic-types, however it have very low utility in general. Magic Coat, Block, or Disable can be used as a way to defeat other balance structures, but it's very dificult to find a moveslot for them. Reflect can be used to prevent Slowking to be Pursuit trapped by Scizor and Tyranitar while supporting its teammates with the Defense boost, but Pursuit users are normally afraid of being burned by directly switch into a Scald anyway. Hail is an option in weatherless teams to remove sand, rain, and sun, however its a very fringe move outside of those matchups. Eject Button can be used alongside a Pursuit user to instantly remove an opposing Latios from play, but the lack of Leftovers reduces a lot Slowking utility during the game, especially if sand is up. A set with Choice Specs + Trick can be used to get surprise KOs or to criple Slowking common switch ins, but it becomes very mediocre once the surprise factor wore off. A set with 252 HP / 252 Def with a Bold nature is also possible to maximize Slowking defensive utility against sand structures, however this makes it a lot less reliable versus rain offense.
Checks and Counters
===================
**VoltTurn users**: Rotom-W can burn Slowking with Will-O-Wisp, use it as a Pain Split target, or direct damage it with Volt Switch, only fearing a Scald burn or the rare Toxic. Scizor scares Slowking away imediatly, since it threaten a KO with Band or Life Orb-boosted U-turn, but it must watch out for Scald burn or Fire Blast. Landorus-T can heavy damage Slowking with a combination of Earthquake + U-turn, however it can't directly switch into Slowking. Tornadus can also deal heavy damage to Slowking with a combination of Hurricane + U-turn, but it also doesn't like to directly switch into an attacking move. Both Thundurus-T and Magnezone can threaten Slowking imediatly with Volt Switch or a stronger Electric-type move, but they must watch out to not directly switch into an attacking move.
**Pursuit**: Tyranitar threaten an deadly mind game with Crunch and Pursuit, especially if it's a more offensive Tyanitar. Scizor also forces Pursuit mind games since it scares Slowking immediatly with item-boosted U-turn or Bug Bite. Weavile too, can trap and KO Slowking with an item-boosted Pursuit or Night Slash. However, all of those Pokemon must watch out for Scald burn.
**Grass-types**: Celebi takes little damage even from Fire Blast and can use Slowking to heal off damage, set up Stealth Rock or Nasty Plot, or threaten it imediatly with a Grass-type move. Ferrothorn can deal massive damage to Slowking with Power Whip, remove it item with Knock Off, or use it stack entry hazards, but must be wary from Fire Blast or Scald burn. Amoonguss can wall any Slowking lacking Psychic or Fire Blast with a combination of Stun Spore + Giga Drain. Breloom can threaten an imediate KO with Technician Bullet Seed or heavy damage Slowking with Seed Bomb from Poison Heal sets, but it can't enter directly into Psychic, Fire Blast, or Ice Beam.
**Dragon-types**: Kyurem-B doesn't care about anything Slowking can do, except Thunder Wave or Scald burn, and threaten an imediate KO with Outrage or Fusion Bolt. Hydreigon threaten a 2HKO with Specs-boosted Dark Pulse, but must be wary of Ice Beam and Thunder Wave. Latios and Latias can set up Calm Mind versus any Slowking lacking Dragon Tail, Thunder Wave, or the rarer Toxic. Similarly, Dragonite can use Slowking to set up Dragon Dance or Substitute, if Slowking didn't have Dragon Tail, as Ice Beam isn't a OHKO if Multiscale is up. Kyurem can use any Slowking variation to set up Substitute and can PP stall it with Roost or Protect. Lastly, Garchomp and Salamence can use Slowking to set up Swords Dance or Dragon Dance, respectively, if they are holding a Yache Berry, or if Slowking is lacking Ice Beam and Dragon Tail.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Caetano93, 394051]]
- Quality checked by: [[Finchinator, 114198], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
Last edited:
