Overview
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With the devastating power possessed by special attackers like such as Aegislash, Landorus, and Mega Charizard Y, the need for Pokemon with good Special Defense has steadily increased. Coupled with Assault Vest and a good offensive move pool movepool, Slowking is able to tackle some of the toughest special attackers in OU. Due to the Assault Vest, Slowking is able to take on some of the most destructive special wall breakers wallbreakers in the game and come out victorious. His access to Regenerator, large offensive move pool movepool, and base 100 Special Attack only strengthens his case as an Assault Vest user.
However, Dark-type's resurgence in attack power has caused many issues for Slowking. Psychic, an already mediocre defensive typing, received another nerf this generation with Knock Off's Base Power increase. Fearsome attackers like such as Bisharp, Conkeldurr, Mega Mawile-mega, and Landorus all have access to this move, making Slowking's life considerably more difficult. Because of Slowking's low physical bulk, Slowbro is generally a more popular option. However, Slowking's high Special Defense serves him well against very strong special attackers, something Slowbro can't say. While keeping Slowking away from these ferocious physical attackers may require a good bit of work, Slowking's upside versus the special meta ability to take special hits is definitely worthy of note.
Assault Vest
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name: Assault Vest
move 1: Scald
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Dragon Tail / Psychic
move 4: Power Gem / Ice Beam
ability: Regenerator
item: Assault Vest
evs: 248 HP / 164 SpA / 96 SpD
nature: Sassy
Moves
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Scald is Slowking's best stab STAB move, used to scare physical switches. Fire Blast, in conjunction with the EV spread, allows Slowking to slay off KO Aegislash. The coverage, though, also allows Slowking to and take down Ferrothorn and Skarmory with relative ease. Dragon Tail is recommended to stop special set up setup sweepers like such as Manaphy. The EV spread and Assault Vest allows Slowking to survive a +6 Energy Ball from Manaphy and successfully force it out. Psychic is the best way to hit Mega Venusaur, which is commonly physically defensive. Psychic also allows Slowking to easily take down Keldeo. Power Gem is one of the major focuses of this set, allowing Slowking to disable and kill deal a substantial amount of damage to Mega Charizard-Y, Hitting Volcarona, Talonflame, and Thundurus on the switch will deal a substantial amount of damage. Lastly Alternatively, Ice Beam is a very solid way to deal with the Dragons in OU as well as consistent option than scald for, and hits Gliscor and Landorus-i harder than Scald.
Set Details
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With the EV spread presented, Slowking avoids a 2HKO from Mega Charizard-Y's Solar Beam and Aegislash's Shadow Ball. The Special Attack investment allows Fire Blast to knock out Aegislash with fire blast if Aegislash is in Blade forme. A Sassy nature allows Slowking's to use special attacks to do more damage without losing out on Dragon Tail damage.
Usage Tips
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Slowking's bulk allows it him to maneuver in and out on just about any special attacker. His special bulk and good move pool movepool allows him to become a very useful defensive pivot, applying pressure to the majority of the opponent's team. He can also scout most special attackers due to this major special bulk, and Slowking can regain a lot of health with Regenerator by pivoting in and out as a scout.. Playing against Aegislash and Mega Charizard-Y, it is advised that you use Slowking as a check, but a full health Slowking can still beat Aegislash when switching in.
Slowking does have the ability to take on some mixed attackers, but leaving Slowking in versus on any physical attack should be done rarely. Bisharp especially becomes a strong nuisance, being able to OHKO Slowking with Knock Off and possibly or Pursuit trapping Slowking.
Team Options
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Slowking appreciates Pokemon that can cover his Electric, Bug, and Dark weaknesses. Electric-type and Bug-type Pokemon that can Volt Switch or U-turn out on Slowking and pokemon like Scizor can constantly check Slowking, ruining any chance of your team maintaining momentum. Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss, who can absorb these attacks with relative ease, make great teammates.
Chesnaught holds a has near-perfect type synergy with Slowking, having dark, electric, as it resists Dark and Electric and is immune to Shadow Ball thanks to Bulletproof and shadow ball immunity while being neutral to bug attacks. Chesnaught's physical bulk coupled with Slowking's special bulk makes the pairing more evident. Conkeldurr is bulky enough to take many physical hits that would bother Slowking, and also resists Dark-types attacks. Due to Slowking's Psychic resistance and special bulk, the benefits are mutual.
Lastly, Slowking resists Sylveon's Steel weakness, while Sylveon can easily shoulder Dark- and Bug-type attacks. As Slowking can only heal by switching and cannot get rid of statuses, Sylveon's cleric support is much appreciated.
Specially Defensive Wall
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name: Specially Defensive Wall
move 1: Scald
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Slack Off
ability: Regenerator
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 44 Def / 212 SpDef
nature: Calm
Moves
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Scald is perhaps Slowking's most spammable move, allowing Slowking to keep the dangerous physical attackers from coming in safely without a safe switch. Thunder Wave gives Slowking the ability to provide good support to the team by lowering the Speed of many common switch-ins, such as Latias and Venusaur. Between Scald and Thunder Wave, Slowking becomes incredibly difficult to switch into in to. Psyshock allows Slowking to take on the very dangerous Keldeo and win in almost every situation, even vs against the rarer sub calm mind keldeo Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo. Slowking can also dent CroCune through Psyshock.
Set Details
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The EV spread allows Slowking to survive two Sacred Swords from +2 Keldeo, make +2 Keldeo only capable of 3hko'ing Slowking via Sacred Sword while maximizing his special bulk. Leftovers instead of an Assault Vest allows Slowking to use support moves such as Thunder Wave and his recovery move, Slack Off.
Usage Tips
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The only challenge this set can present is getting Slowking on the field safely. He has great special bulk, but has an issue with the plethora of Knock Off users taking advantage of knock off. Once in, Slowking can immediately apply offensive pressure through Scald and Thunder Wave. Psyshock doesn't have the ability to cannot be spammed as easily on most occasions, and should be reserved for hitting things currently on the field currently as opposed to threatening switch-ins.
Team Options
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With Thunder Wave, Slowking is a supporter that can assist slower wall breakers allows slower wallbreakers to become devastating sweepers due to thunder wave. In particular, Mega Gardevoir and Mega Heracross appreciate the Thunder Wave support on levitating Pokemon and Flying-types that sticky web can't provide are not affected by Sticky Web. The burn support is also useful for Gardevoir due to her lower physical bulk.
On more defensive teams, Gliscor is a fantastic teammate, taking advantage of slowed Pokemon (and toxic'ing any electrics) and hitting Electric-types with Toxic. While Slowking can take Ice and Water attacks from Pokemon like Keldeo, Gliscor is able to absorb the Electric, Bug, and Grass attacks that bother Slowking. Pokemon like Scizor that can do a great deal of damage to Slowking, such as Scizor, fear Gliscor's speedy Taunt set. Assault Vest Tornadus-Therian is a good match for Slowking, taking care of a few stall breakers stallbreakers Slowking can't cover, such as Landorus, unboosted Mega Gyarados, and Mega Heracross.
Other Options
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Slowking does have the movepool to support a few other roles. Slowking can use Trick Room effectively and beat Talonflame while doing so. His ability to absorb Fire-type moves allows him to work well with Mega Abomasnow-mega in these situations.; however, he is slightly outclassed by Slowbro if Slowking isn't running Nasty Plot. Slowking also has access to Trick as well as a base 100 Special Attack, so using a Choice Specs set is an option not as bad as it may seem at first. With his 100 base special attack, Slowking can take advantage of the choice specs while he has them. With access to dragon tail, Slowking can also run Thunder Wave and Dragon Tail to successfully parashuffle opponents.
Checks & Counters
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**Electric-types**: Electric attacks are generally unkind to Slowking. Rotom-Wash can pivot in and out of Slowking with relative ease and is not bothered by anything Slowking does. Other Volt Switch users, such as like Mega Ampharos and Mega Manectric, fear little Slowking does and can steal momentum away with Volt Switch.
**Dark-types**: Dark-type attacks are a constant issue for Slowking. Slowking rarely survives any physical Dark hits, and any Knock Offs that it he does survive will remove the his Assault Vest, making Pokemon such as Landorus that Slowking would normally counter a difficult matchups. Slowking is also subject vulnerable to Pursuit traps by Bisharp and Tyranitar, and; this is perhaps the easiest ways to get rid of Slowking.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Many prominent physical attackers, such as Mega Scizor, Azumarill, or Mega Mawile, along with many others, can force out or KO Slowking.
