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[OVERVIEW]
* Slowking checks Tapu Lele and Keldeo, two prominent threats in the metagame, as well as checking Mega Metagross if it doesn't have Thunder Punch.
* An amazing ability in Regenerator, which allows Slowking to recover health when switching, lets it to more easily outlast what it's supposed to check.
* Water / Psychic typing gives it many resistances that are important in the metagame, namely to Steel, Psychic, Water, and Fire.
* Slowking faces competition from Slowbro and Mega Slowbro, but its greater special bulk allows it to take on Tapu Lele, as well as strong Water-type special attackers like Kingdra in rain and Manaphy.
* It is weak to common Electric-type and Dark-type attacks, as well as U-turn. Grass-type attacks from the likes of Tapu Bulu and Mega Venusaur are also threatening.
* It can be Pursuit trapped by Pokemon such as Weavile and Tyranitar.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Scald
move 4: Psyshock
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Calm Mind allows Slowking to beat many special attackers, even threats like Tapu Lele and Volcarona without Bug Buzz.
* Slack Off allows Slowking to recover health.
* Scald is a go-to option for any defensive Water-type due to its chance to burn.
* Psyshock is its Psychic-type STAB move and is preferred over Psychic because it ignores the Special Defense boosts of foes like Volcarona and Calm Mind Tapu Lele. It also allows Slowking to deal with Chansey better after some Calm Mind boosts.
Set Details
========
* 252 HP EVs maximize overall bulk.
* 188 Defense EVs allow Slowking to take a Meteor Mash and then a Thunder Punch all of the time from full health and most of the time if switching in to Stealth Rock. This physical bulk also helps Slowking take hits it's expected to take, like Keldeo's Secret Sword and Tapu Lele's Psyshock, and lts it to survive Landorus-T's Supersonic Skystrike at full health.
* 68 Special Defese EVs combined with a Calm nature allow Slowking to avoid a 4HKO from Tapu Lele's Moonblast. It also helps Slowking take on special attackers like Volcarona, Kingdra, Heatran, Magearna, and Manaphy.
* Regenerator heals Slowking for 1/3 of its HP when it switches out, making it difficult to wear down.
* Leftovers is the preferred item, giving it a small amount of HP back each turn.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch Slowking into threats it can check, like Mega Metagross, Tapu Lele, Volcarona, Keldeo, and more.
* Be cautious of coverage moves that allow some of the aforementioned Pokemon to beat Slowking, such as Thunder Punch on Mega Metagross, Bug Buzz on Volcarona, and Bloom Doom on Heatran. Regenerator helps in scouting a foe's set.
* Keep Slowking healthy enough to check these threats by using Slack Off and switching in order to trigger Regenerator.
* When Slowking is in front of something that can't significantly damage it, the safest moves to use are Calm Mind and Scald, if Slowking doesn't need to heal up.
* Calm Mind can be used if no remaining Pokemon on the opponent's team threaten Slowking. It should also be used to combat Calm Mind Tapu Lele, which Slowking can usually beat due to Tapu Lele's lack of recovery.
Team Options
========
* Slowking should be paired with teammates that can cover its weaknesses.
* Grass-types like Ferrothorn, Amoonguss, and Mega Venusaur pair well with it, since Slowking can take on their Fire weaknesses, Ferrothorn's Fighting weakness, and Mega Venusaur's and Amoonguss's Psychic weakness. In return, they can take Electric and Grass attacks for Slowking. Tapu Bulu also pairs well with it, as it can take Electric-, Grass-, and Dark-type attacks; Slowking can switch in to Fire- and Steel-type attacks for Tapu Bulu. Slowking also benefits from the passive recovery that Grassy Terrain provides.
* With its weakness to Dark-types, Slowking pairs well with Fairy- and Fighting-types. Buzzwole is a good partner, as it is able to switch into physical Bug-, Dark-, and Grass-type attacks, whereas Slowking covers Buzzwole's Psychic and Fire weaknesses. Fairy-types like Clefable, Tapu Bulu, and Magearna are all good partners due to their ability to take Dark-type attacks.
* Hazard removal is important because if Stealth Rock and any number of layers of Spikes are on the field, it will be more difficult for Slowking to comfortably switch in to threats. Zapdos, Skarmory, and Excadrill are three sources of hazard removal that pair fairly well with Slowking.
* Teammates with Heal Bell or Aromatherapy are helpful, as Slowking's defensive ability is hampered by Toxic and burns. Clefable, Chansey, and Celebi are Pokemon that can use these moves.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Yawn can potentially put an opposing Pokemon to sleep and acts as a phazing option.
* Fire Blast allows Slowking to pose a larger threat to Mega Metagross, as well as roast Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor if they feel safe staying in on Slowking.
* Toxic is useful for spreading poison.
* Thunder Wave is useful for speed control. Slowking is unlikely to outspeed any Pokemon, even if they're paralyzed, and Thunder Wave is only 90% accurate, but a successful paralysis can still allow Slowking's teammates to more reliably handle the foe.
* Dragon Tail can phaze Pokemon, dealing okay chip damage combined with hazards, but Fairy-types are immune to it.
* Power Gem is capable of OHKOing Mega Charizard Y, allowing Slowking to check it more reliably.
* Slowking can run an offensive Trick Room set, with three attacks or Nasty Plot and two attacks.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: While they risk getting burned by Scald, Dark-types like Weavile, Tyranitar, and Hoopa-U can come in on Slowking and threaten major damage with their super effective Dark-type STAB moves. The former two can also Pursuit Slowking as it switches out, potentially removing it from the match; Pursuit is especially common on Tyranitar. Ash-Greninja can come in on Slowking with minimal risk and starting firing off powerful Choice Specs-boosted Dark Pulses, but it is crippled by Thunder Wave. Protean Greninja is also able to switch in to Slowking fairly easily, but it doesn't threaten it back without Dark Pulse. Alolan Muk is a solid check that doesn't fear anything except a Scald burn, does respectable damage with STAB Pursuit or Knock Off, and even threatens to poison Slowking.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Mega Venusaur, Tapu Bulu, and Tangrowth can switch in to Slowking, though Mega Venusaur is dented by Psyshock and Tapu Bulu doesn't appreciate burns. Tangrowth, however, risks losing to a boosted Slowking if it does not carry Sleep Powder, in other words if it not running its Assault Vest set. Serperior is a niche pick in OU, but it can effortlessly win a boosting war against Slowking with its Contrary Leaf Storms. Kartana threatens an OHKO after Stealth Rock with Leaf Blade and can switch in on any common move except for Scald.
**Electric-types**: Tapu Koko, Choice Specs Magnezone, Thundurus, and Zapdos all threaten major damage on Slowking with their Electric-type STAB moves.
**Water-types**: Certain Water-types like Tapu Fini and Mega Gyarados take little damage from Slowking's attacks. Tapu Fini doesn't do much damage in return with either of its STAB attacks, but it does force Slowking out with Taunt and Nature's Madness. Mega Gyarados threatens a powerful Crunch or can set up with Dragon Dance; if Mega Gyarados runs Substitute, it also nullifies anything Slowking can do to it.
**Mega Scizor**: Mega Scizor doesn't fear anything except a Scald burn or the rare Fire Blast, and it does significant damage with U-turn and is also capable of Pursuit trapping Slowking.
**Status**: Toxic wears Slowking down and limits its ability to check Pokemon. Burn and poison also hamper is bulk, but not to as large an extent.
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