[OVERVIEW]
Slowking is a very well-rounded Pokemon with a solid typing, strong STAB attacks, and access to Thunder Wave. The reason Slowking isn't at the very top of GSC UU in terms of viability is that it competes with Slowbro, which is almost identical to Slowking, except Slowbro has higher Defense, whereas Slowking has higher Special Defense. Unfortunately for Slowking, Defense tends to be more valuable, meaning it can be hard to justify using it. However, Slowking does offer some perks against special attackers and notably Nidoqueen, the most commonly seen Pokemon in the tier.
[SET]
name: Special Tank
move 1: Surf / Psychic
move 2: Thunder Wave / Psychic
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Slowking can take on a significant portion of the metagame one-on-one with this set. While it doesn't take physical hits fantastically unlike its main competition, Slowbro, Slowking can somewhat make up for this with its ability to take powerful special attacks, such as Thunder from Mr. Mime and Haunter, and retaliate with debilitating paralysis. This increased ability to take risks with the opponent's special and mixed attackers makes Slowking less predictable than Slowbro and makes it more effective at using Thunder Wave against the dangerous special attackers in the tier. Slowking's STAB attacks provide excellent coverage; should Slowking use both Surf and Psychic, the only Pokemon that resist both attacks are Slowbro and Slowking. However, as Slowking often has Thunder Wave, it will often drop a STAB attack. RestTalk allows Slowking to remain healthy and threaten physical attackers that may be eager to come in and hit it on its weaker side while it is asleep. This combination also makes it one of the tier's best status absorbers. If Slowking reveals dual STAB attacks, it is more likely to see Scyther switching in on an anticipated Rest turn, since without Thunder Wave, the worst that can happen is taking a hit. If Slowking has Thunder Wave, Scyther is taking a much greater risk switching in, but Pokemon like Qwilfish will switch in if it lacks Psychic, and Ground- and Psychic-types like Sandslash and Girafarig become far more dangerous without Surf. Sleep Talk can be dropped to run both STAB attacks alongside Thunder Wave, but this decreases Slowking's flexibility and resilience.
In addition to competing with Slowbro, Slowking also competes with Blastoise and Hypno. Blastoise lacks a resistance to Psychic and access to Thunder Wave but outspeeds Nidoqueen and Sandslash and has access to Rapid Spin and Roar. Hypno is almost equal to Slowking in terms of special bulk and has better utility options, but it is quite a bit worse off in terms of physical bulk as well as Special Attack, making it a much worse Nidoqueen check. However, its lack of a weakness to Electric makes it a better blanket check to special attackers. Slowking's decent physical bulk and high Special Attack mean it is somewhat capable of taking on physical threats like Granbull and Dodrio if it needs to, although Slowbro is far better suited to this, which arguably leaves Slowking in the awkward position of "jack of all trades, master of none." Nevertheless, its solid utility alongside its excellent ability to switch into Nidoqueen safely—Slowking is not even consistently 3HKOed by Nidoqueen's Thunder, whereas there is a small chance of Slowbro getting 2HKOed after Spikes—makes it a worthy consideration for one's team.
Team Options
========
Slowking's well-rounded abilities lend it to supporting more offensive and balanced teams as a kind of anchor that can help take on the behemoth tanks of the tier like Nidoqueen and Slowbro while punishing the opponent's attempts to go on the offensive with Thunder Wave. Therefore, it will often find itself on teams with offensive Pokemon like Scyther, Pinsir, Sandslash, and Kabutops. Nidoqueen and Piloswine are obvious choices for teammates owing to their immunity to Thunder from the likes of Ampharos and Magneton; they also offer the ability to take on Scyther reasonably well, with Nidoqueen being particularly well suited for taking on the Hidden Power Bug variants Slowking fears most. Haunter and Magneton also make good partners for Slowking due to their ability to take on mono-attacking Granbull. Qwilfish is a good choice for a teammate for its access to Spikes, ability to function as a check to Pinsir, and ability to threaten Bellossom with Sludge Bomb. Grass-types like Bellossom and Jumpluff can help to spread paralysis and sleep beyond the opponent's designated status absorber by forcing switches with Leech Seed and Encore, which can help to set up slower sweepers like Pinsir and Sandslash. Jumpluff also serves as a check to Scyther and Pinsir, which often try to set up against Slowking. Victreebel and Vileplume can also help to spread status with Slowking by forcing switches with Leech Seed or the threat of setting up with Swords Dance, although their weakness to Psychic can make it more difficult to find opportunities to do so. Lastly, Slowking can be used alongside other bulky Water-types such as Omastar, Slowbro, and Blastoise to offer redundant defensive coverage and take advantage of their resilience and power to outlast foes. This works because most Pokemon with powerful attacks that hit them super effectively can be checked fairly safely by Pokemon like Nidoqueen, Chansey, Hypno, Jumpluff, and Bellossom.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Slowking has access to a few other coverage attacks such as Zap Cannon, Fire Blast, and Ice Beam, which can be used to threaten Slowbro, Scyther, Pinsir, Jumpluff, and Bellossom, all of which may try to take advantage of Slowking. However, it is difficult to fit these alongside its existing moves without sacrificing other important coverage. Slowking also has access to Reflect, which can be used to shore up its Defense and support its teammates. Swagger can be used alongside Thunder Wave and dual STAB attacks to give Slowking a chance at getting past specially bulky foes, although this leaves it susceptible to status and without any recovery. A final gimmick is Belly Drum, which can be used with Earthquake, a STAB attack, and a Normal-type move alongside paralysis support to take advantage of the opponent responding to Slowking with their own Slowbro or Slowking. However, using this set leaves Slowking unable to perform its usual roles as effectively.
Checks and Counters
========
**Special Tanks and Bulky Water-types**: Opposing Slowking, Hypno, Chansey, and Lanturn are specially bulky Pokemon that can either neutralize or beat Slowking as well as absorb status from Thunder Wave adequately. Chansey can threaten Slowking if it has Present, and Lanturn can beat it with STAB Thunder; however Thunder Wave is a bigger threat to them than the others because of Heal Bell's limited PP and the possible threat of a Moonlight Nidoqueen teammate paired with Slowking. Slowbro and Blastoise can also take Slowking's attacks well and don't mind status too much due to RestTalk, although Special Defense drops and critical hits threaten Blastoise, and the rare Zap Cannon may put them in a precarious position if it lands. If Slowbro or Slowking is being depended on for handling Slowking, the one carrying Thunder Wave will have the advantage in a PP war, despite full paralysis resulting in some PP being saved.
**Electric-types**: Ampharos is a fantastic answer to Slowking with its powerful STAB Thunder and commonly uses RestTalk, which improves its ability to take Thunder Wave. Electabuzz and Magneton can threaten Slowking with STAB Thunder too, but they lack the defenses to take repeated hits, fear Thunder Wave, and need to be aware of Slowking's potential to trade hits—unlike Slowbro, Slowking can afford to take a Thunder and not be put out of commission for the rest of the game.
**Grass-types**: Bellossom and Jumpluff make great checks to Slowking that lack Thunder Wave. Jumpluff depends heavily on its high Speed and therefore cannot risk taking Thunder Wave, but while Bellossom dislikes paralysis due to normally lacking Rest, it can shoulder the burden of paralysis for its team and still function reasonably well, especially in terms of pressuring Slowking. As Slowking sometimes drops Psychic for Thunder Wave, Victreebel and Vileplume can occasionally be used as checks, though they are significantly impaired by paralysis.
**Physical Attackers**: Slowking's Defense is not as high as Slowbro's, so it fears hard-hitting physical attackers like Dodrio, Granbull, Scyther, and Pinsir. Unlike Slowbro, Slowking will typically lose to Granbull when switching in due to being 3HKOed by unboosted Return and 2HKOed by +1 Return. Slowking also particularly fears Hidden Power Bug variants of Scyther and Pinsir, which can deal massive amounts of damage boosted or unboosted.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Earthworm, 15210]]
- Quality checked by: [[Century Express, 234737], [Diophantine, 370164]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [Oglemi, 40358]]
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