[Overview]
[SET]
name: Physical Tank
move 1: Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Psychic / Thunder Wave
move 4: Slack Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
[Other Options]
[Checks and Counters]
- Slowbro received Regnerator this generation, allowing to to passively heal
- Regenetator + solid defenses allow Slowbro to wall out many threats in the metagame
- a vast attack movepool which allows Slowbro to take on a variety of threats
- despite being a solid physical tank, its weak to the common Scizor, Tyranitar, and Breloom
- thanks to its Psychic-typing, Slowbro is weak to Pursuit
- outside of directly taking down threats, Slowbro provides very little team support
- Slowbro is set up bait for most special attackers
- in order for one to use Slowbro effectively you need to cover its weaknesses to common threats, and provide team support on other Pokemon
[SET]
name: Physical Tank
move 1: Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Psychic / Thunder Wave
move 4: Slack Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
- Slowbro's best set which allows it to effectively counter and check many physical threats in the metagame
- Slowbro just has to switch into a threat it can take on and damage it with the appropriate move, Slowbro can do this without much worries thanks to Regenerator
- Scald is Slowbro's main STAB attack option, Scald can cripple opposing Pokemon with a burn. Scald is a great move to use on predicted switch ins as well, just for the chance to burn.
- With Ice Beam Slowbro can counter Dragon-types such such as Garchomp, Dragonite, and Salamence and Ground-types like physical Landorus, Landorus-T, and Gliscor.
- Psychic is a solid STAB attack which allows Slowbro to counter Toxicroak, Conkeldurr, Cloyster, and to more effectively combat Gyarados and Terrakion. With Psychic Slowbro can also check Keldeo, SubPunch Breloom, and Tentacruel
- Thunder Wave can be used to cripple opposing pokemon who think they can switch in for free, but you do lose coverage
- Slack Off is additional recovery so Slowbro can actively recovery damage if need be. Slack off is particular useful against U-Turn Pokemon, so you can recover the damage they did before they used U-Turn, and if Slowbro does get worn down by stronger hits like Mamoswine's Choice Band Earthquake.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- The EVs maximize Slowbro's bulk so it can take on physical threats. More special attack EVs can be used to take on specific threats, for example 60 special attack EVs guarantee a 1HKO on Garchomp after rocks. Losing physical bulk is rarely worth the trade. Slowbro is already close to being 1HKOed and 2HKOed by Swords Dance and Choice Band Terrakion respectfully.
- Relaxed and 29 speed IVs can be used to make sure you never take full damage from Conkeldurr's payback, however such a set is rare and the speed loss is rarely worth it when facing Forretress, Amoonguss, and opposing Slowbro.
- Slowbro has a wide movepool, so there are plenty of moves to toy with, if you use other moves, use them over Psychic, as it not necessarily required to be effective, or Slack Off, as Slowbro already has recovery in Regenerator.
- Fire Blast and Flamethrower roast Ferrothorn, Forretress, and Scizor, however they are useless against other threats. Also those 3 are very effectively crippled by Scald and its burn, Slowbro has no business staying in on any of these Pokemon anyway.
- Toxic can be used to cripple opposing Pokemon, particularly special attackers switching in, Slowbro's listed options are generally superior though.
- Psyshock is an alternative to hit Gyarados and Terrakion in the sand harder, but does little else and makes Slowbro vulnerable to Conkeldurr.
- Stealth Rock is appreciates to weaken down threats, in particular hazard damage allows Slowbro to better counter Garchomp, Cloyster, and Dragonite
- Slowbro weak to Scizor and is complete set up bait to Swords Dance Scizor, a counter for it is required. Gliscor and Skarmory make excellent partners. Jellicent can be used for Scizor, but the overlapping Water-type makes it difficult to pair with. Fire Punch Jirachi is an excellent Scizor check if need be.
- A Rock-type resist helps in taking Stone Edges for Slowbro if need be, Tyranitar, Jirachi and Hippowdon all make excellent partners, they also counter or check opposing Tyranitar as well and set up rocks.
- Amoonguss makes an interesting partner for their dual regeneration ability, however such a core is completely devoid on team support outside of countering threats.
- Skarmory and Amoonguss make great partners also to counter Breloom (after a sleep sack of course)
[Other Options]
- Specs set: Surf / Fire Blast / Ice Beam or Psychic / Grass Knot, there are better Pokemon for the job
- Calm Mind can be used, but there are better options both in moves and Pokemon (I was thinking calm mind could be an AC option to just tag on if you want, thoughts?)
- Blizzard > Ice Beam on hail teams
- Trick Room on trick room teams
- Hidden Power Electric allows Slowbro to counter Gyarados and Cloyster better
- Yawn, Disable, Light Screen, Substitute, Foul Play, Icy Wind I guess
[Checks and Counters]
- Despite its wide movepool, Slowbro is still easily check and counted by common special and physical attackers
- Gastrodon, Celebi, Starmie, Vaporeon, Jellicent, Blissey, Chansey and Reunicles take every move fine
- Calm Mind Latias likes to get burned (what a freak)
- Rotom-W, Kyurem, Magnezone and Latios are not to worried about getting burned and take all Slowbro's moves fine
- Ferrothorn can come in and proceed to set up Spikes or Stealth Rock if Slowbro lacks Flamethrower or Fire Blast
- Jolteon, Thundurus-T, Alakazam, Gengar, Volcarona and Hydregion can't come in easily, but they all 1HKO
- Tyranitar and Scizor to massive damage with Crunch and U-Turn or Bug Bite respectively, and can trap and kill a weakened Slowbro with Pusuit
- Swords Dance Breloom threatens to 1HKO with bullet seed
