In-battle formes
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| Tier |
| HP: | 95 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 75 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 100 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 110 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 30 |
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Formes
- Base
- Galar
Overview
Slowking's great typing, excellent ability in Regenerator, and special bulk make it one of the most reliable pivots and special walls in the metagame, and these traits with the combination of Future Sight and Teleport let it help its teammates to force progress against opposing teams. Regenerator allows Slowking to keep itself healthy, which helps it switch into threats more easily and gives it more opportunities to use Future Sight. With its great bulk and defensive typing, Slowking is able to check threatening specially offensive Pokemon such as Heatran, Nidoking, Tapu Lele, and Latios and use them as Future Sight fodders. However, Slowking is very vulnerable to physical wallbreakers like Landorus-T and Garchomp, as its physical bulk is mediocre and doesn't allow it to tank strong hits from them. Slowking's typing and mediocre physical bulk also leave it very vulnerable to Knock Off and U-turn. This is an issue, as these moves are very frequently run and often safe to use, further limiting Slowking's utility as a defensive pivot. In addition, Toxic is worrisome, as it forces Slowking to use Slack Off more often and limits its potential to consistently switch into dangerous Pokemon such as the aforementioned Heatran, Nidoking, and Tapu Lele.
Specially Defensive Pivot
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Scald is a reliable STAB move and can severely punish potential checks such as Rillaboom, Kartana, Zeraora, and Ferrothorn with a burn if they attempt to hard switch into it. Future Sight pressures opposing teams and works well with Slowking's teammates to increase their wallbreaking potential and force progress. Slack Off lets Slowking stay healthy to reliably check special wallbreakers without having to rely on Teleport or switches. Teleport is not only a solid pivoting option, but it works well in tandem with Future Sight, as Slowking can bring in a more offensive teammate safely to capitalize on the Future Sight. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Slowking pivot in more freely without getting whittled down by entry hazards and helps to maintain healing from Regenerator. 0 Speed IVs with a Sassy nature allow for it to underspeed or Speed tie with opposing Slowking and Slowbro with Teleport.
Slowking fits best on bulky offense and balance, as it is able to check dangerous Pokemon such as Heatran and Nidoking, which are threatening to those team archetypes, while being able to maintain momentum. A lot of offensive Pokemon appreciate the additional pressure of Future Sight as well as Slowking's ability to bring them in safely with Teleport. Garchomp likes having its defensive answers like Tangrowth and Landorus-T pressured by Future Sight, providing it with easier wallbreaking opportunities. Slowking is weak to strong physical attackers such as Rillaboom and Kartana, so switch-ins like Tangrowth and Mandibuzz make great partners; in return, Slowking checks problematic Pokemon such as Heatran for them. Dark- and Ghost-types such as Dragapult and Hydreigon can threaten Slowking, making Mandibuzz and Clefable effective partners. In return, Slowking can check Heatran, Tapu Lele, and Nidoking for them. Additionally, Clefable can capitalize on Dark-types such as Hydreigon and Mandibuzz that Slowking pivots against. Electric-types such as Tapu Koko and Zeraora are threatening, making defensive Landorus-T and Grass-types like Ferrothorn and the aforementioned Tangrowth good partners that can help keep them at bay. When pivoted into battle via Teleport, both Landorus-T and Ferrothorn can force progress with their own Knock Off or set their respective entry hazards. Furthermore, Slowking checks Tapu Lele, Heatran, and Nidoking for them in return.
Other Options
Flamethrower is a great option to make Slowking a lure to Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, but it comes at the opportunity cost of pressuring the opposing team with Future Sight. Thunder Wave is another good option to cripple threatening setup sweepers such as Hydreigon and Nasty Plot variants of Tornadus-T, but losing the utility of Future Sight for it is not recommended.
Checks and Counters
Grass-types: Common Grass-types like Rillaboom and Kartana threaten Slowking with their super effective STAB options. Ferrothorn is especially annoying, as it can use Slowking as Spikes fodder and it can dish out a strong Power Whip. However, all of them have to fear a possible burn by Scald.
Electric-types: Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and Zeraora threaten Slowking with their respective STAB moves and can easily wear it down with pivoting moves. However, Zeraora can't risk switching into a Scald.
Ghost-types: Dragapult and Aegislash threaten Slowking with their strong STAB moves, but the former has to be wary of a Scald burn if it's running Dragon Darts.
Dark-types: Both Hydreigon and Mandibuzz threaten Slowking, as the former isn't scared by Scald and can use it as setup fodder, while the latter can threaten a Knock Off to remove its Heavy-Duty Boots.
Physical Wallbreakers: Physical wallbreakers such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Melmetal can all easily overwhelm Slowking. Landorus-T can easily pivot with U-turn on it or use Knock Off, Garchomp can dish out heavy damage with its STAB moves, and Melmetal can overwhelm it with coverage options. However, they must be wary of Scald's burn chance.
Toxic: Toxic is annoying for Slowking, as it limits its utility on the field by forcing more switches and uses of Slack Off. Although Slowking can normally check it, Heatran can lure in Slowking and cripple it with a debilitating Toxic.
