[OVERVIEW]
Through its unique typing, solid physical bulk, and perfectly-fitting ability in Regenerator, Slowbro brings incredible defensive value to its team, checking premier physical attackers such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Medicham, Mega Swampert, Mega Lopunny, Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Hawlucha. Slowbro also has a respectable Special Attack stat and can spread status via Scald, Thunder Wave, and Toxic, preventing it from being overly passive. It has a great variety of moves it can slot on and even a variety of items, often running Leftovers, various Z-Crystals, and Slowbronite. Despite this, Slowbro is threatened by many prominent special attackers, such as Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, Serperior, and Mega Charizard Y, and even physical attackers like Kartana and Tapu Bulu if they can get in safely. Additionally, Slowbro hates status conditions and especially Toxic Spikes, so a lot of players decide that the poison-immune, Toxic Spikes-clearing Toxapex is much less hassle to fit onto a team.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Ice Beam / Counter
move 4: Future Sight / Thunder Wave / Toxic / Protect / Flamethrower
item: Leftovers / Psychium Z / Icium Z
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Slowbro's most common STAB move, fishing for burn against anything it doesn't outright threaten and preventing physical attackers like Kartana and Tapu Bulu from switching in comfortably. Slack Off, in conjunction with Regenerator, ensures that Slowbro can stay healthy enough to check the physical attackers it's tasked with. Ice Beam threatens out Swords Dance Gliscor and hits Serperior and Hawlucha super effectively, and it can be powered up with Icium Z to OHKO Hawlucha and Swords Dance Gliscor. Future Sight is great support for offensive teammates, threatening Pokemon like Toxapex and preventing double switches into the likes of Mega Medicham. It's also the most powerful Psychic-type attack to use with Psychium Z, with Shattered Psyche threatening weakened Toxapex and hitting hard neutrally. Thunder Wave is the most instantly punishing status option, stopping threats like Ash-Greninja, Mega Alakazam, and Serperior from wanting to switch in. Toxic is similarly good at punishing switches and is especially great at stopping setup sweepers like Mega Charizard X, Mega Latias, Volcarona, and Cresselia from getting out of control. Protect lets status damage rack up on foes, scout Choice-locked attackers, and lets Slowbro gain additional Leftovers recovery. Flamethrower hits Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor hard, additionally scorching any Kartana brave enough to switch directly in. Counter is a niche option, biting back instantly with an OHKO when Slowbro is hit by strong physical attacks like Thunder Punch from Mega Medicham, +1 Dragon Claw from Mega Charizard X, and most importantly boosted Earthquake from Swords Dance Gliscor.
Set Details
========
Slowbro generally prefers to run maximum HP and Defense to deal with prominent physical attackers, but the Psychium Z variant can use a spread of 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 SpA to OHKO physically defensive Toxapex with Shattered Psyche.
Usage Tips
========
Slowbro can be thrown into physical attackers like Mega Lopunny and Mega Medicham liberally early-game, as Regenerator makes it easy for it to keep healthy. It's important to note that while Regenerator does a great job, Slowbro does need to be careful about preserving its HP when tasked with handling multiple physical attackers; Pokemon like Mega Swampert, Hawlucha, and Excadrill can break through if Slowbro takes enough prior damage. Although Slowbro is a great switch-in to Mega Medicham, it does need to be careful of the Thunder Punch variant, which can 2HKO it after Stealth Rock, especially in Electric Terrain. Make sure Slowbro regularly throws off status-inflicting moves, like Scald, Thunder Wave, and Toxic, to prevent common threats like Greninja and Kartana from switching in unpunished. Future Sight is a great option to not only threaten Psychic-weak Pokemon like Toxapex and Hawlucha but also ease the task of getting teammates in safely if they need to heal in a pinch.
Team Options
========
Slowbro is best suited for balance teams that otherwise struggle to handle physical threats, as it serves as a blanket check to many such threats. It has a superb partnership with Chansey, as it can check Pokemon like Mega Medicham and Mega Charizard X that threaten Chansey, while Chansey invalidates special attackers like Ash-Greninja, Volcarona, and Mega Charizard Y for Slowbro. Gliscor appreciates Slowbro checking Mega Swampert, Hawlucha, and Mega Medicham, and in return, it feasts on Pokemon like Toxapex and Chansey that threaten Slowbro with status, either setting up on them with Swords Dance or clearing their entry hazards with Defog. Toxic Spikes are the bane of Slowbro's existence, so counterplay to them, such as Defoggers like Tornadus-T and Gliscor or Poison-types like Toxapex and Amoonguss, is required. Tornadus-T is an especially good partner, as it can check Grass-types like Kartana and Tapu Bulu while forming a Regenerator core with Slowbro. Magnezone can remove the aforementioned Kartana as well as Ferrothorn, which can pester Slowbro variants lacking Flamethrower with Spikes and Leech Seed.
[SET]
name: Paper Shell (Mega)
move 1: Scald
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Ice Beam / Psychic
move 4: Psychic / Calm Mind
item: Slowbronite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Atk
Moves
========
Slack Off becomes even more crucial for Mega Slowbro, allowing it to continue to keep healthy after Mega Evolution, as it loses out on Regenerator. The extra base Special Attack after Mega Evolving allows Ice Beam to OHKO Landorus-T, Garchomp, and utility Gliscor, as well as Swords Dance Gliscor after Stealth Rock. Psychic takes a more direct approach against Fighting-types, OHKOing Hawlucha, as well as being Slowbro's best STAB move to hit neutrally. Calm Mind makes great use of Mega Slowbro's ability, Shell Armor, which takes away counterplay via critical hits, improving its consistency as a Calm Mind sweeper.
Set Details
========
Using maximum HP and Defense investment and a Bold nature makes the most out of Mega Slowbro's Defense increase; however, a spread of 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpA can be used to 2HKO Mega Charizard X with Psychic.
Usage Tips
========
It's important not to understate how little Mega Slowbro wants to lose Regenerator, and there are many matchups where it's best to never Mega Evolve at all. The main benefit that Slowbro gets from Mega Evolving is a significantly higher Defense stat, which allows it to survive monstrous physical attacks like +1 Leaf Blade from Kartana and +2 Devastating Drake from Garchomp in a pinch. Mega Evolution also comes in handy when Slowbro has been chipped down, giving it extra consistency against the likes of Excadrill and Hawlucha. Additionally, Mega Evolving improves Slowbro's offensive prowess, letting it OHKO Pokemon that non-Mega Slowbro cannot, like the aforementioned Garchomp, and giving it an ability that better synergizes with Calm Mind. It's best to only Mega Evolve when necessary, keeping Regenerator for as long as possible.
Team Options
========
Mega Slowbro is often fit onto balance teams that cannot fit another Mega Evolution, as it can often be hard to justify using Slowbro as your Mega Evolution when it's already so good. Good team support options for Mega Slowbro are incredibly similar or the same as those for its non-Mega variant. Cleric support from the likes of Chansey and Clefable comes in handy, especially after Mega Evolving, as Regenerator no longer soaks up passive damage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Slowbro can use Zap Cannon in combination with Electrium Z to OHKO Greninja as it switches in as well as hit other Electric-weak Pokemon like Manaphy and Tapu Fini hard; however, outside of these interactions, it is a largely inconsistent move, and Slowbro already has so many moves that it wants to run.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types and Electric-type Coverage**: Electric-types such as Tapu Koko and Zapdos and Pokemon like Magearna and Life Orb Clefable can threaten Slowbro out with their super effective Electric-type attacks, targeting its weaker Special Defense.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Serperior and Ferrothorn can easily beat Slowbro one-on-one; however, they must be wary of being statused as they switch in, as well as of Flamethrower in the case of Ferrothorn and Kartana.
**Status**: Slowbro needs to steer clear of poison and, to a lesser extent, burn, as they cut down on its staying power dramatically and can prevent it from checking Pokemon it's tasked with. Slowbro is particularly susceptible to Toxic Spikes, which can entirely prevent it from switching in safely.
**Dark-types**: Slowbro can be easily threatened out by Dark-types like Ash-Greninja, Weavile, and Mega Tyranitar if they can switch in safely.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Powerful special attackers like Mega Charizard Y and Tapu Lele can easily threaten Slowbro out due to its middling Special Defense stat.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/skypenguin.462413/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Through its unique typing, solid physical bulk, and perfectly-fitting ability in Regenerator, Slowbro brings incredible defensive value to its team, checking premier physical attackers such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Medicham, Mega Swampert, Mega Lopunny, Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Hawlucha. Slowbro also has a respectable Special Attack stat and can spread status via Scald, Thunder Wave, and Toxic, preventing it from being overly passive. It has a great variety of moves it can slot on and even a variety of items, often running Leftovers, various Z-Crystals, and Slowbronite. Despite this, Slowbro is threatened by many prominent special attackers, such as Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, Serperior, and Mega Charizard Y, and even physical attackers like Kartana and Tapu Bulu if they can get in safely. Additionally, Slowbro hates status conditions and especially Toxic Spikes, so a lot of players decide that the poison-immune, Toxic Spikes-clearing Toxapex is much less hassle to fit onto a team.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Ice Beam / Counter
move 4: Future Sight / Thunder Wave / Toxic / Protect / Flamethrower
item: Leftovers / Psychium Z / Icium Z
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Slowbro's most common STAB move, fishing for burn against anything it doesn't outright threaten and preventing physical attackers like Kartana and Tapu Bulu from switching in comfortably. Slack Off, in conjunction with Regenerator, ensures that Slowbro can stay healthy enough to check the physical attackers it's tasked with. Ice Beam threatens out Swords Dance Gliscor and hits Serperior and Hawlucha super effectively, and it can be powered up with Icium Z to OHKO Hawlucha and Swords Dance Gliscor. Future Sight is great support for offensive teammates, threatening Pokemon like Toxapex and preventing double switches into the likes of Mega Medicham. It's also the most powerful Psychic-type attack to use with Psychium Z, with Shattered Psyche threatening weakened Toxapex and hitting hard neutrally. Thunder Wave is the most instantly punishing status option, stopping threats like Ash-Greninja, Mega Alakazam, and Serperior from wanting to switch in. Toxic is similarly good at punishing switches and is especially great at stopping setup sweepers like Mega Charizard X, Mega Latias, Volcarona, and Cresselia from getting out of control. Protect lets status damage rack up on foes, scout Choice-locked attackers, and lets Slowbro gain additional Leftovers recovery. Flamethrower hits Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor hard, additionally scorching any Kartana brave enough to switch directly in. Counter is a niche option, biting back instantly with an OHKO when Slowbro is hit by strong physical attacks like Thunder Punch from Mega Medicham, +1 Dragon Claw from Mega Charizard X, and most importantly boosted Earthquake from Swords Dance Gliscor.
Set Details
========
Slowbro generally prefers to run maximum HP and Defense to deal with prominent physical attackers, but the Psychium Z variant can use a spread of 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 SpA to OHKO physically defensive Toxapex with Shattered Psyche.
Usage Tips
========
Slowbro can be thrown into physical attackers like Mega Lopunny and Mega Medicham liberally early-game, as Regenerator makes it easy for it to keep healthy. It's important to note that while Regenerator does a great job, Slowbro does need to be careful about preserving its HP when tasked with handling multiple physical attackers; Pokemon like Mega Swampert, Hawlucha, and Excadrill can break through if Slowbro takes enough prior damage. Although Slowbro is a great switch-in to Mega Medicham, it does need to be careful of the Thunder Punch variant, which can 2HKO it after Stealth Rock, especially in Electric Terrain. Make sure Slowbro regularly throws off status-inflicting moves, like Scald, Thunder Wave, and Toxic, to prevent common threats like Greninja and Kartana from switching in unpunished. Future Sight is a great option to not only threaten Psychic-weak Pokemon like Toxapex and Hawlucha but also ease the task of getting teammates in safely if they need to heal in a pinch.
Team Options
========
Slowbro is best suited for balance teams that otherwise struggle to handle physical threats, as it serves as a blanket check to many such threats. It has a superb partnership with Chansey, as it can check Pokemon like Mega Medicham and Mega Charizard X that threaten Chansey, while Chansey invalidates special attackers like Ash-Greninja, Volcarona, and Mega Charizard Y for Slowbro. Gliscor appreciates Slowbro checking Mega Swampert, Hawlucha, and Mega Medicham, and in return, it feasts on Pokemon like Toxapex and Chansey that threaten Slowbro with status, either setting up on them with Swords Dance or clearing their entry hazards with Defog. Toxic Spikes are the bane of Slowbro's existence, so counterplay to them, such as Defoggers like Tornadus-T and Gliscor or Poison-types like Toxapex and Amoonguss, is required. Tornadus-T is an especially good partner, as it can check Grass-types like Kartana and Tapu Bulu while forming a Regenerator core with Slowbro. Magnezone can remove the aforementioned Kartana as well as Ferrothorn, which can pester Slowbro variants lacking Flamethrower with Spikes and Leech Seed.
[SET]
name: Paper Shell (Mega)
move 1: Scald
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Ice Beam / Psychic
move 4: Psychic / Calm Mind
item: Slowbronite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Atk
Moves
========
Slack Off becomes even more crucial for Mega Slowbro, allowing it to continue to keep healthy after Mega Evolution, as it loses out on Regenerator. The extra base Special Attack after Mega Evolving allows Ice Beam to OHKO Landorus-T, Garchomp, and utility Gliscor, as well as Swords Dance Gliscor after Stealth Rock. Psychic takes a more direct approach against Fighting-types, OHKOing Hawlucha, as well as being Slowbro's best STAB move to hit neutrally. Calm Mind makes great use of Mega Slowbro's ability, Shell Armor, which takes away counterplay via critical hits, improving its consistency as a Calm Mind sweeper.
Set Details
========
Using maximum HP and Defense investment and a Bold nature makes the most out of Mega Slowbro's Defense increase; however, a spread of 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpA can be used to 2HKO Mega Charizard X with Psychic.
Usage Tips
========
It's important not to understate how little Mega Slowbro wants to lose Regenerator, and there are many matchups where it's best to never Mega Evolve at all. The main benefit that Slowbro gets from Mega Evolving is a significantly higher Defense stat, which allows it to survive monstrous physical attacks like +1 Leaf Blade from Kartana and +2 Devastating Drake from Garchomp in a pinch. Mega Evolution also comes in handy when Slowbro has been chipped down, giving it extra consistency against the likes of Excadrill and Hawlucha. Additionally, Mega Evolving improves Slowbro's offensive prowess, letting it OHKO Pokemon that non-Mega Slowbro cannot, like the aforementioned Garchomp, and giving it an ability that better synergizes with Calm Mind. It's best to only Mega Evolve when necessary, keeping Regenerator for as long as possible.
Team Options
========
Mega Slowbro is often fit onto balance teams that cannot fit another Mega Evolution, as it can often be hard to justify using Slowbro as your Mega Evolution when it's already so good. Good team support options for Mega Slowbro are incredibly similar or the same as those for its non-Mega variant. Cleric support from the likes of Chansey and Clefable comes in handy, especially after Mega Evolving, as Regenerator no longer soaks up passive damage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Slowbro can use Zap Cannon in combination with Electrium Z to OHKO Greninja as it switches in as well as hit other Electric-weak Pokemon like Manaphy and Tapu Fini hard; however, outside of these interactions, it is a largely inconsistent move, and Slowbro already has so many moves that it wants to run.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types and Electric-type Coverage**: Electric-types such as Tapu Koko and Zapdos and Pokemon like Magearna and Life Orb Clefable can threaten Slowbro out with their super effective Electric-type attacks, targeting its weaker Special Defense.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Serperior and Ferrothorn can easily beat Slowbro one-on-one; however, they must be wary of being statused as they switch in, as well as of Flamethrower in the case of Ferrothorn and Kartana.
**Status**: Slowbro needs to steer clear of poison and, to a lesser extent, burn, as they cut down on its staying power dramatically and can prevent it from checking Pokemon it's tasked with. Slowbro is particularly susceptible to Toxic Spikes, which can entirely prevent it from switching in safely.
**Dark-types**: Slowbro can be easily threatened out by Dark-types like Ash-Greninja, Weavile, and Mega Tyranitar if they can switch in safely.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Powerful special attackers like Mega Charizard Y and Tapu Lele can easily threaten Slowbro out due to its middling Special Defense stat.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/skypenguin.462413/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
