Slowking [QC 3/3] [GP 1/2]

kokoloko

kokoloko

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http://www.smogon.com/bw/pokemon/slowking

[Overview]

<p>Slowking is usually overlooked in UU in favor of Slowbro, whose higher physical defense lets it defend against dangerous offensive behemoths such as Darmanitan and Victini. However, there are a few specially offensive threats in UU, most notably Kingdra, that make Slowking worth looking into. With a specially oriented EV spread, Slowking becomes one of the most foolproof Kingdra switch-ins in the tier, and can also provide a reliable answer to Azelf, Nasty Plot Mew, offensive Nidoqueen, and Nidoking.</p>

<p>Aside from the ability to tank such powerful moves as Choice Specs-boosted Draco Meteor and Fire Blast from Kingdra and Chandelure, respectively, Dragon Tail is the one useful thing Slowking has over Slowbro. Phazing is one of the most traditional, and fundamental strategies of bulky Water-types—handy for blowing away enemies untroubled by their lower powered attacks, and critical against foes with means of getting around status like the aforementioned Kingdra. While Slowbro's lack of a phazing attack sometimes leaves it a liability, Slowking excels in utility where it lacks in physical brawn.</p>

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Dragon Tail
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Thunder Wave
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Relaxed
evs: 248 HP / 12 Atk / 248 Def

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This variant of Slowking has more general metagame utility than the more specially defensive variants, but often finds itself missing the sheer physical bulk that Slowbro has, which prevents it from checking obscenely powerful threats such as Life Orb Darmanitan. Instead, it trades this physical bulk for access to Dragon Tail and the ability to take on powerful special attackers which Slowbro cannot; Choice Specs Chandelure locked into Fire Blast, for example. Scald is Slowking's obligatory STAB move; it deals consistent damage and has a handy 30% burn rate. Dragon Tail is one of the main reasons to use Slowking over Slowbro, and is very useful for those free turns where Slowking forces a switch. It also throws out foes like Suicune, Kingdra, or Togekiss that use moves like Rest or Heal Bell to get rid of status as they boost. Slack Off provides additional recovery in case Regenerator is not enough. Thunder Wave spreads paralysis for Slowking's teammates to take advantage of, and allows it to cripple many of the Pokemon it'll be switching into.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The given EVs and nature allow Slowking to always break 4/0 Kingdra's Substitutes with Dragon Tail, and then maximize Slowking's physical bulk. Psyshock is a decent alternative in the fourth moveslot, as it gives Slowking a means of badly injuring the common Roserade. Specifically, it OHKOes offensive variants and does upwards of 80% to defensive ones. As another alternative, Fire Blast hits several common switch-ins to Slowking, namely Shaymin and Roserade, decently hard, and also maims threats such as Cobalion and Escavalier. It's worth noting that you should never even consider forgoing Dragon Tail on this set, otherwise you'll literally be using a statistically inferior Slowbro.</p>

<p>Although it might seem as though Slowking can take on offensive behemoths such as Life Orb Darmanitan and Choice Band Victini, it simply does not have the physical bulk to do so. Instead, this Slowking is meant to provide utility, and abuse Regenerator to scout against a wide variety of threats and handle them jointly with the appropriate teammates. Rhyperior thus makes an excellent partner to this set, as it can easily defeat the aforementioned threats, take advantage of the paralysis Slowking spreads, and lay down Stealth Rock for Slowking to take advantage of with Dragon Tail. Escavalier is another great partner to this set as it can take advantage of paralyzed opponents, easily switch into and take out Roserade with Pursuit, and tank Kingdra's Outrage so that Slowking doesn't have to.</p>

[SET]
name: Utility Counter
move 1: Scald
move 2: Dragon Tail
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Thunder Wave / Fire Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Sassy
evs: 248 HP / 12 Atk / 72 Def / 176 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Slowking might seem to be outclassed by its fellow bulky Water-types Slowbro and Milotic, it does fill a good niche in being one of the—if not the—best Kingdra switch-ins in the tier. This set steers away from the traditional role of bulky Water-types as physical tanks, and instead opts to check special attackers such as Nidoking and Azelf. Dragon Tail is vital for this purpose, as it allows Slowking to phaze away Dragon Dance Kingdra; phazing is generally useful to have as well. Scald gives Slowking a reliable STAB move with a handy 30% burn rate, which helps patch up its weaker defensive stat. Slack Off gives Slowking greater staying power and keeps it healthy throughout the game, while Thunder Wave spreads paralysis for Slowking's teammates to take advantage of. Alternatively, Fire Blast provides good coverage as it fends off Grass-type switch-ins by hitting Shaymin and Roserade for about 50%. At the same time, it gives Slowking a good move to combat other dangerous threats, such as Escavalier and Cobalion.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The given EVs guarantee Slowking can accomplish the following things: survive any two consecutive Dragon attacks from all special Kingdra after accounting for Stealth Rock and one round of Leftovers, break 4/0 Kingdra's Substitutes with Dragon Tail, and survive +1 Outrage from maximum Attack Kingdra after Stealth Rock. If Slowking is instead hit with an unboosted Outrage on the switch-in, it will be 2HKOed, but thanks to Regenerator, it can switch out to a Steel-type and regain most of the lost HP. It's worth noting that even with a Speed-hindering nature, Slowking still outspeeds Escavalier, which allows Slowking to roast it with Fire Blast before it can move. Slowking can also opt to run Psyshock in the fourth moveslot for a good secondary STAB; as it hits Roserade super effectively on its weaker defensive stat, Psyshock discourages it from switching in.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that this set fills a completely different niche to the typical bulky Water-type, and should be sure to steer clear of powerful physically offensive behemoths, such as Darmanitan and Flygon. Because of this, Pokemon such as Rhyperior and Bronzong, who can take on the aforementioned threats, make for excellent partners. Offensively, Pokemon that appreciate the paralysis support Slowking provides are also good partners. Machamp is one such Pokemon, and as a bonus, it will gladly switch into Bug-type attacks, such as Megahorn, aimed at Slowking.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Many of Slowking's alternative options are done better by Slowbro, whose physical bulk makes it a better fit for the metagame. However, it does receive several moves, such as Trick Room and Nasty Plot, that Slowbro does not, which it can use effectively, both separately and together. Slowking can also take a more offensive approach by utilizing Choice Specs along with a moveset of Surf, Psyshock, Grass Knot, and Fire Blast, but again, its more physically defensive cousin does this job better.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Countering Slowking is all about knowing which set it's running; even though its not very threatening offensively, it could easily cripple a few of your Pokemon if you let it. The physically defensive set shares many of its checks with Slowbro. Specifically, Shaymin and Roserade make excellent counters, especially if Slowking lacks a coverage move. Raikou can switch in as long as it avoids status, and proceed to set up with Substitute and possibly even Calm Mind. Zapdos also dislikes status, but it can demolish Slowking with its obscenely strong STAB Thunderbolt. More specially defensive variants of Slowking might take you by surprise by being able to tank a Thunderbolt or Seed Flare though, so you have to be careful. Heracross is another excellent check, as it can switch in relatively easily and destroy Slowking with its powerful Megahorn. Toxic Spikes are also a huge thorn in Slowking's side, as they prevent it from staying in for prolonged periods of time, and ensure it won't be able to stall out any of your Pokemon.</p>
 
You are wrong that Slowking's only advantage over Slowbro is the ability to tank hits from special Kingdra, and phaze the physical one.

Slowking can also beat most Mew, which Slowbro fails miserably to do. Slowking easily beats stall-breaking Mew with D-Tail, while Slowbro just gets stalled to death. NP Mew simply murders Slowbro, while Slowking can tank even a +2 Timid Shadow Ball after SR and phaze with D-Tail.

These facts mean that Slowking is a perfect candidate for stall teams, which love a poke that checks Mew, especially the Stall Breaker set, and checks all Kingdra sets pretty damn good, because Stall teams wouldn't want their physical wall to get seriously hurt from a DM, or their special wall to get set-up on from the DD variants.

We are not over yet though! Other benefits of Slowking over Slowbro are not giving chance to some pokes such as Houndoom to set-up, avoiding the 2hko from mixed and special Victini, being able to handle Azelf much better, being able to beat Nidoking if you come in on anything except Tbolt, being able to check choiced Rotom-H much better, check every CM Suicune without Roar and checking Togekiss. There are more, but this are the more solid pros!

Slowking is a very viable mon in UU, and it definitely has pros over it's water candidates in UU.
 
So basically, you're telling me Slowking can take special hits better? I knew this already...

Don't worry, that'll be covered when I do the write-up. The point stands though, the main reason you'd use Slowking over Slowbro / Milotic / whatever else is because of its ability to tank pretty much any Kingdra set and come out on top.
 
Taking special hits better is very vague, and doesn't mean anything, unless you explain it with some good examples. The main phrase which made me post all these stuff was: However, there is one threat in UU that makes Slowking worth looking into: Kingdra.

And this is simply and absolutely false. Do you not consider Mew a threat in UU? 'Cause i definitely do! What about Mixtini, Nidoking and Azelf? All these are handled just fine by Slowking but not by Slowbro.

And pls don't tell me about Milotic. Can Milotic counter Machamp? No. Can Milotic counter Cobalion? No. Can Milotic do anything to SubDD Kingdra? No. Can Milotic check CB Heracross? No.

And finally what about Regenerator, Psychic and Flamethrower? All these are advantages that Slowking has over any other bulky water in UU, except Slowbro.

So when you combine the useful traits that Slowking has, you realize that it can actually handle many threats that the other waters can't. And this means that your OP is false and misleading.

Sry if this comes as offensive, but it isn't meant to be. I am just wondering how are all the other threats that Slowking handles and other bulky waters can't, not relevant for you...
 
hey I know a little bit about slowking

This isn't a bulky water with a niche, Slowking is just straight up one of the best in UU and should be considered on par with Milotic. Max defense is the best way to go here, as it still counters all kingdra sets aside from specs, and regenerator takes the edge off in that regard. With max defense it can eat u-turns all day from stuff like Darmanitan and Flygon and just heal off the damage on the switch, even with hazard support. You also counter all fighters aside from Heracross. Its poor speed is really Slowking's downfall, as it can't switch in on Rhyperior and similar Pokemon easily the way Milotic can.

The second selling point this has is Thunder Wave, which should really be the first slash and perhaps only move in that fourth slot. Yes, Roserade and Shaymin are annoying, but you will need a counter to these Pokemon regardless, so you're not losing much by giving up the ability to hit these hard on the switch. Something like Escavalier can easily come in on a paralyzed grass type and threaten with Megahorn spam or just pursuit Roserade, as it can't fall to any HP Fire shenanigans. There's also the fact that Thunder Wave is an incredibly useful move right now in general, as a lot of teams really can't handle paralysis.

Of course Dragon Tail is mandatory, as a lot of Pokemon that treat Slowbro as setup bait like DD Kingdra and CM Suicune can just be phazed.

So here's how I want to see the set

name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Dragon Tail
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Thunder Wave ( / Fire Blast possibly, but Thunder Wave is one of the major reasons you want to use Slowking)
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Relaxed
evs: 248 HP / 12 Atk / 248 Def
 
ok we're going to have to disagree here. with max defense, slowking's really just a bad slowbro, despite dragon tail. don't get me wrong, d-tail's great, but that's just not enough to make it worth using over bro.

i can do with changing the 4th moveslot to thunder wave / fire blast and i'll obviously mention in ac how it can go full-on defensive while still differentiating itself from bro with d-tail, but the primary EV spread should be mine imo. being able to fearlessly switch into kingdra knowing you can tank anything it does is just too valuable--especially now that specs is being used a lot more.

not to mention cb versions of flygon/darmanitan/victini/whatever just straight-up destroy even max/max+ king, unlike bro, who can tank them as well. so yeah i'd rather steer away from trying to make king into a mini-slowbro with d-tail, it just doesn't have the stats for it imo.

can other qc peeps weigh in on this? i'll be more likely to change my mind if more people tell me to do so =p
 
My opinion is to definitely keep the spread that you already have kokoloko. With max HP/Def, you have only 40 more Sp.Def than Slowbro, while Slowbro has 66 more Def. With the right evs, Slowbro can have exactly the same stats, so you are basically using a Slowbro with Dragon Tail. And this is definitely not the way to go.

136 Calm Slowking has some awesome pros, such as checking/countering most Mew/ Kingdra sets, which is something no other UU poke can boast. Wasting this potential, to take better hits from U-turns is simply a waste, as you can heall of those damage anyway, by simply switching out. And even with 112 Def you still counter every fighter in the tier except Heracross.
 
Go with 248 HP / 12 Atk / 72 Def / 176 SpD. Calm, obviously. 136 SpD still has around a 60% chance of being 2hko'd by Modest LO Kingdra's Dragon Pulse -> Draco Meteor, so it's less a counter and more a shaky check. 176 SpD guarantees survival. 72 Def also guarantees survival against +1 Outrage from max attack Adamant Kingdra, as long as it doesn't use a Life Orb (if it does, even 112 Def variants face a 100% chance of ohko).
Another advantage of running a heavier SpD spread is that Nidoking no longer has a good chance of KOing with Sludge Wave -> Thunderbolt, Timid Specs Chandelure almost never ohkos you with Shadow Ball (useful in the event of a mispredict or a last stand). I'm not really seeing any benefits that 112 Def has over 72 Def, but I haven't done extensive calcs.

Regarding a max defense set: A Slowking with 0 SpD can't even take two Dragon Pulses from Modest Specs Kingdra. That's not okay.
 
Yeah I'm in agreement, FlareBlitz. I had not considered the possibility of LO Dragon Pulse + Draco Meteor, so I left it at 136, but 176 seems better.

And with that, this is probably ready for QC. Although I probably won't get a check from Snunch =P

(don't worry i'll give the full defense spread an extensive mention in ac)
 
FlareBlitz said:
Go with 248 HP / 12 Atk / 72 Def / 176 SpD. Calm, obviously. 136 SpD still has around a 60% chance of being 2hko'd by Modest LO Kingdra's Dragon Pulse -> Draco Meteor, so it's less a counter and more a shaky check. 176 SpD guarantees survival. 72 Def also guarantees survival against +1 Outrage from max attack Adamant Kingdra, as long as it doesn't use a Life Orb (if it does, even 112 Def variants face a 100% chance of ohko).
Another advantage of running a heavier SpD spread is that Nidoking no longer has a good chance of KOing with Sludge Wave -> Thunderbolt, Timid Specs Chandelure almost never ohkos you with Shadow Ball (useful in the event of a mispredict or a last stand). I'm not really seeing any benefits that 112 Def has over 72 Def, but I haven't done extensive calcs.

Regarding a max defense set: A Slowking with 0 SpD can't even take two Dragon Pulses from Modest Specs Kingdra. That's not okay.
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When i did the calcs, 188 SpD evs were needed to guaranteed survive the Dragon Pulse + DM combo after SR. With your evs, you have a 0,39% chance of getting 2hkoed after SR.
 
I think you guys are looking at Slowking too narrowly and ignoring that Water typing inherently benefits physical defense. Asking Slowking to use special defense is like asking Milotic to use special defense; you counter a couple of threats better but you're gonna end up with a mediocre pokemon in general because you are not playing to its strengths. Yes, this will struggle against specs kingdra, but it still handles every other set, and you can always switch to another mon and regen the lost health if you come across specs (hey, escavalier can pursuit kingdras locked into dragon moves).

But all of this is ignoring the real issue: max defense slowking is the only slowking that has been used effectively since the kyurem metagame. Both myself and one of the best players ever on smogon have used it effectively. Max defense has been used effectively, whereas spdef slowking has not.

I invite anyone to go and use spdef slowking and tell me it's anything other than an outclassed mon that needs to be piggybacked by similar mons because its poor uninvested defense doesn't let it counter a plethora of pokemon that its typing should allow it to.
 
I am not writing the analysis out of pure theorymon, thank you very much. I have actually used Slowking with the spread I originally posted -- that's how I came up with it!!

While I can understand where you are coming from, I can also say that you are completely ignoring the fact that if you are using Bold Slowking, you should really, really be using Slowbro. Dragon Tail alone is not enough to warrant the massive loss in Defensive capabilities.

You say the lack of SpD doesn't matter against special Kingdra here because you can switch out to a Steel-type and regain some HP, but how exactly is that a decent exchange when you're taking like 80% from Draco Meteor and only gaining 33% back?

The goal here, imo, should be to take full advantage of the few assets Slowking has over Slowbro. Those being both Dragon Tail and its ability to tank Special hits. Even if its typing lends better to physical walling (which I agree with), that just means Slowbro is an overall better Pokemon. Slowking fills a much different niche, and that's what the analysis should focus on.
 
Snunch said:
I think you guys are looking at Slowking too narrowly and ignoring that Water typing inherently benefits physical defense. Asking Slowking to use special defense is like asking Milotic to use special defense; you counter a couple of threats better but you're gonna end up with a mediocre pokemon in general because you are not playing to its strengths. Yes, this will struggle against specs kingdra, but it still handles every other set, and you can always switch to another mon and regen the lost health if you come across specs (hey, escavalier can pursuit kingdras locked into dragon moves).

But all of this is ignoring the real issue: max defense slowking is the only slowking that has been used effectively since the kyurem metagame. Both myself and one of the best players ever on smogon have used it effectively. Max defense has been used effectively, whereas spdef slowking has not.

I invite anyone to go and use spdef slowking and tell me it's anything other than an outclassed mon that needs to be piggybacked by similar mons because its poor uninvested defense doesn't let it counter a plethora of pokemon that its typing should allow it to.
Click to expand...
I believe that you are looking to Slowking too narrowly. Just because it's typing is better for taking physical hits, doesn't mean that you should fully invest in Defense. Countering almost any single Mew/Kingdra out there, is something no other poke can do, and you want to forfeit this for what?

The only pokes that Slowking can check/counter with max/max HP/Def, are Scarf Flygon (BandGon beats both spreads), Band Darmanitan, Band Victini and i think that's it... And the only threatening pokes from those are the Banded fire types since ScarfGon's Outrage is pretty weak and can be abused by many mons, while Slowking can easily take the first hit, lose around 25% after Regenerator, while you go to something that can take the second one. By going fully physical bulky you can also avoid Pursuit users easier, such as Krookodile and Weavile but that's pretty much it.

And again you are not ending up with a mediocre pokemon. Slowking is pretty good in this meta if you know how to use it, and yes you are not the only one using it, others have experience with him also. Slowking can take so much punishment from the special attackers in the tier such as Chandelure, Kingdra, Mew, Nidoking, Porygon2, Azelf and Togekiss, while also being able to wall or check many physical attackers, and this is what sets him apart from Slowbro, along with D-Tail of 'course. Slowking is an excellent mixed wall, where Slowbro fails to take any strong special attacker in the tier,
 
C&C policy is to put the most effective set of a pokemon on-site. The only exception to this is when a pokemon is outclassed to the point where there is absolutely no valid reason under any circumstance to use it over a different pokemon. I completely disagree with your assertion that Slowking is outclassed by Slowbro, but it's an irrelevant point; the only thing that matters is that it's Slowking's most effective set, which I have demonstrated earlier in this thread.
 
Snunch said:
C&C policy is to put the most effective set of a pokemon on-site. The only exception to this is when a pokemon is outclassed to the point where there is absolutely no valid reason under any circumstance to use it over a different pokemon. I completely disagree with your assertion that Slowking is outclassed by Slowbro, but it's an irrelevant point; the only thing that matters is that it's Slowking's most effective set, which I have demonstrated earlier in this thread.
Click to expand...
I never said that Slowking is outclassed by Slowbro. I said that if you want a physical wall/tank you should stick to Slowbro, which simply does the work better, even though it lacks D-Tail (it beats the physical set-upers that he can tank anyway), but if you want a mixed wall/tank, or even a full special wall/tank, Slowking is better.

And you still haven't given me some examples as to why your spread is better, except from that Slowking's typing is better suited for taking physical hits, and to which point i answered that he can still take most physical hits that he should with kokoloko's spread. ''I have used this set a lot, and as a good player i can assure it is the best'' is not exactly a proper reason...
 
@Snunch: You're right, Slowking isn't inherently outclassed by Slowbro... until you give it a physically defensive spread. You are literally trading tons of useful physical bulk for Dragon Tail. Why would you do this when the spread that I'm giving you is 2HKOd by Outrage etc, just like 248/248+ is and all it can do is Dragon Tail?

Physically Defensive Slowking is outclassed by Slowbro. The spread in the OP is not.

I really fail to see why in the world you'd use physically defensive Slowking when Slowbro is available.
 
Actually, just to note, with near-max physical defense slowking and near-max special defense slowbro, you are getting almost identical stats. If the stats are almost identical, than a single attack like D. Tail can drastically swing the evaluation.

Now, I'm not sure how good max def slowking or max sp.def slowbro are (not enough experience), but assuming you wanted a stat spread somewhere smack-dab in the middle of the slowbro-slowking spectrum, I'd say Slowking would be superior (and Snunch's point would make sense).

I'm thinking it really comes down to which Pokemon you want to check (which Pokemon can be checked better).
 
Chou Toshio said:
Actually, just to note, with near-max physical defense slowking and near-max special defense slowbro, you are getting almost identical stats. If the stats are almost identical, than a single attack like D. Tail can drastically swing the evaluation.

Now, I'm not sure how good max def slowking or max sp.def slowbro are (not enough experience), but assuming you wanted a stat spread somewhere smack-dab in the middle of the slowbro-slowking spectrum, I'd say Slowking would be superior (and Snunch's point would make sense).

I'm thinking it really comes down to which Pokemon you want to check (which Pokemon can be checked better).
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Chou what you say is true and i have already addressed that, but the point is that if you go all the way to put 252 evs in Slowking's defense, then you might just as well use Slowbro and go for even more physical bulk, since you have already given up on tanking strong special hits anyway.

So if you want a physical/special wall use Slowbro/Slowking but if you want a mixed one, that can tank some of UU's stronger special attacks, while still taking most physical Fighting and Fire attacks like a boss, then use Slowking.
 
alexwolf said:
So if you want a physical/special wall use Slowbro/Slowking but if you want a mixed one, that can tank some of UU's stronger special attacks, while still taking most physical Fighting and Fire attacks like a boss, then use Slowking.
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^This bolded part is the point. Snunch's point is that he's suggesting a mixed wall with Slowking's natural univested special bulk and almost complete physical investment is Slowking's best set.

So, whether we're talking about fully special, or mixed bulk (created via SpD Slowbro or Def Slowking), Slowking is superior.

Slowbro is only better in the case of fully defensive-- so really, slowbro shouldn't come into this argument at all.
 
Chou Toshio said:
^This bolded part is the point. Snunch's point is that he's suggesting a mixed wall with Slowking's natural univested special bulk and almost complete physical investment is Slowking's best set.

So, whether we're talking about fully special, or mixed bulk (created via SpD Slowbro or Def Slowking), Slowking is superior.

Slowbro is only better in the case of fully defensive-- so really, slowbro shouldn't come into this argument at all.
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You have a point, but if Slowking uses max Def, you could as well use Slowbro and go for 350 Def, since you are not walling any Special attacker anyway, so why settle for 284 Def and get 2hkoed by things such as CBGon and not go with 350 Def to wall almost anything physically based?

So physically defensive is not worth it imo, since you lose the awesome ability to tank special hits and beat many special attackers, while having worse physical bulk than Slowbro... So you can't wall the stuff from the physical side as Slowbro can, you can't wall much from the special side, as Slowbro can't, and you have D-Tail, which is shit anyway, because you lose from the stuff you want to phaze, such as Azelf, Mew, Omastar, Gorebyss and Togekiss, with the exception of Kingdra.
 
I think Snunch needs to chime in and discuss what max def Slowking tanks well from both sides--

1-What it handles better than the OP spread on the physical side
2-What it handles better than Slowbro on the special side
3-Why the physical threats handled in 1 are more important than the special taken care of by the OP spread.

Really... I'd be fine with AC'ing one spread... :|
 
Chou, the answer to 1 is pretty much every physical attacker in the tier, including pokemon with stab super effective attacks like Krookodile and Sharpedo, and likewise the answer to 2 is pretty much every special attack in the tier. This includes pokemon like offensive cune, rain dance kingdra, rotom-h, +2 mew, special victini, mixed flygon, and specs chand fire blast. The volume of pokemon that defensive slowking handles is much greater than specially defensive, and it has enough natural special defense to give it a distinct edge over slowbro. In fact, I'm not sure why the comparison is being made to slowbro; the two play completely differently. A much more similar pokemon is Milotic, who has greater speed and special defense, but no thunder wave or regenerator. The two are plagued by some choice banders by Flygon, but that's why you use team preview and scouting before switching them in immediately.

At this point, I don't think any more discussion is productive. You will not get my stamp without a max defense spread. Other QC can overrule me of course, but I myself don't see the point in carrying on this conversation without their input.
 
Snunch said:
Chou, the answer to 1 is pretty much every physical attacker in the tier, including pokemon with stab super effective attacks like Krookodile and Sharpedo, and likewise the answer to 2 is pretty much every special attack in the tier. This includes pokemon like offensive cune, rain dance kingdra, rotom-h, +2 mew, special victini, mixed flygon, and specs chand fire blast. The volume of pokemon that defensive slowking handles is much greater than specially defensive, and it has enough natural special defense to give it a distinct edge over slowbro.
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I'd like for you to understand my perspective based on the examples that you've given and a few of my own. I am going to compare two spreads - 248 HP / 12 Atk / 248 Def Bold, and 248 / 12 Atk / 72 Def / 176 SpD.

Physical

Scarf Krook: 2hkos both at +0. Ohkos SpD spread at +1, only sometimes ohkos Def spread.
LO Sharpedo: Ohkos SpD spread, only ohkos Def spread sometimes.
CB Victini: 2hkos both spreads.
CB Flygon: 2hkos both spreads.
DD Kingdra: 2hkos both spreads.
CB Rhyperior: Sometimes ohkos SpD spread, always 2hkos Def spread.

Special

LO Kingdra: Basically never 2hkos SpD spread with Dragon Pulse -> Draco Meteor, always 2hkos Def spread with the same, and can sometimes 2hko with just Dragon Pulse or 2 consecutive Draco Meteors. Regenerator only takes you so far when you're getting slammed with 70%+ damage.
Specs Rotom-H: Thunderbolt never KOs SpD spread, always KOs Def spread. Def spread nearly ohko'd by Specs Volt Switch and takes a minimum of 45% from Scarf - not a reliable check at all.
Nidoking: Nidoking has to predict and use Thunderbolt to 2hko SpD spread. Def spread 2hko'd by Sludge Wave / Earth Power.
Suicune: SpD spread always 2hko'd by +1 HP Grass / Electric. Def spread never 2hko'd, unless LO, in which case it takes substantially less damage than the Def set.
Victini: Grass Knot has a 100% chance of 2hkoing Def spread. Never 2hkos SpD spread.
Chandelure: Def Slowking sometimes 2hko'd by Modest Specs Fire Blast, and not infrequently either. That's actually pretty distressing. 41 - 49% is the calc. SpD Slowking handles it just fine.
Mew: NP Mew has a very good chance of ohkoing Def Slowking with +2 LO Giga Drain. Shadow Ball / Dark Pulse clinches the KO. SpD spread is never ohko'd.

Slowking does handle some key physical threats better with a Defensive spread, but at the cost of failing to handle equally key special threats. This is the relevant point, though - physically defensive Slowking doesn't wall any common special attackers better than Slowbro. It has Dragon Tail and that's nice, but you should really not switch Def Slowking into something you wouldn't switch Slowbro into. Kingdra, Mew, Nidoking, Special Victini, even Chandelure all destroy Slowking with minimal SpD investment. Even the special attackers it can at least phaze (CM Cune and CM Slowbro) do massive damage to it, meaning that not even Regenerator will be enough to allow it to wall them again in the future.

In my opinion, Slowking should be played to its strengths - it can wall special attackers, even those that have SE coverage moves against it, and it's one of the few bulky waters that can handle special kingdra.

You brought up Milotic, but the primary difference is that there is not a Pokemon that basically has Milotic's exact movepool and stats except with Defense and Special Defense swapped. If there existed something like Miloduck, with 95 / 125 / 79 defenses, I can assure you that Milotic's analysis would focus more specially defensive - simply because Miloduck would handle physical bulky water duties much more effectively. So it's not so much that Slowking is outclassed, it's that if someone looks at Slowking over Slowbro, they're doing so because they want something that can take insanely powerful special attacks like Kingdra's Draco Meteor, not necessarily something that can take insanely powerful STAB SE hits like Sharpedo's Crunch - if that were the goal, they would have just stuck with Slowbro. Slowking has a niche, and we should probably focus on that niche.
 
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