[OVERVIEW]
Slowbro is an excellent defensive pivot that can switch in against many common offensive threats such as Mega Medicham, Mega Metagross, Mega Swampert, and Galarian Darmanitan thanks to its great defensive typing, incredible physical bulk, and access to reliable recovery, using Teleport to take advantage of forcing them out. Access to Regenerator combined with slow pivoting via Teleport enables Slowbro to generate momentum for its team while simultaneously sustaining its health every time it switches out, making Slowbro a difficult wall to wear down. Upon Mega Evolving, Slowbro also gains additional physical bulk and Special Attack, enabling it to handle more dangerous threats such as Mega Medicham and Choice Band Dracovish. However, Slowbro's special bulk is quite lacking, meaning it can be forced out by many special attackers such as Ash-Greninja, Dragapult, Tangrowth, and Mega Alakazam. Slowbro is also weak to both U-turn and Volt Switch, meaning it can be heavily dented when trying to pivot out against opposing threats such as Choice Band Galarian Darmanitan, Rotom-W, and Mega Scizor. Mega Slowbro also loses Regenerator once it Mega Evolves, making it harder to proactively check offensive threats as a result compared to its base forme, as it tends to get chipped down more easily and loses quite a bit of its pivoting prowess. Slowbro tends to get poisoned quite often throughout the match, thus making it much more difficult to consistently check threats such as Mega Lopunny and Mega Metagross while being worn down at the same time.
[SET]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: Teleport
move 2: Scald
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Slack Off
item: Leftovers / Slowbronite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Teleport enables Slowbro to generate momentum for its teammates, allowing it to safely bring in frailer wallbreakers while simultaneously passively recovering its health via Regenerator. Scald allows Slowbro to cripple physical attackers such as Mega Metagross and Tyranitar and, in general, acts as a spammable STAB move that can also burn and wear down opposing walls. Ice Beam allows Slowbro to target Dragon- and Grass-types such as Hydreigon, Tangrowth, and Dragapult. Leftovers can be crucial when dealing with more immediately threatening wallbreakers such as Mega Medicham, Dracovish, and Mega Mawile, potentially enabling Slowbro to avoid the 2HKO from their incoming attacks as it switches in. Slowbro can also employ Slowbronite to Mega Evolve, enabling it to become an even sturdier physically defensive wall that can shrug off hits from even the most powerful of threats such as Mega Medicham and Choice Band Galarian Darmanitan. However, it is important to note that Mega Slowbro loses Regenerator upon Mega Evolving, making it more prone to chip damage.
Usage Tips
========
Slowbro is best used as a defensive pivot that can come in against physical attackers such as Mega Metagross, Galarian Darmanitan, and Mega Lopunny and force them out with the threat of a burn or its coverage options. Once Slowbro is in a position to force a switch, it can use Teleport to provide momentum for its team while benefiting from Regenerator recovery. When Slowbro is not pivoting out with Teleport, it prefers to spam Scald in order to cripple opposing physical attackers or generally wear down common switch-ins such as Ferrothorn, Magearna, Rotom-W, and Corviknight. Since Regenerator already provides Slowbro with recovery each time it switches out, Slack Off can be used more conservatively and may only be required in situations where Slowbro is incredibly weakened and needs more recovery than what Regenerator can provide. For instance, when going up against immediately hard-hitting wallbreakers such as Choice Band Galarian Darmanitan and Dracovish, Slowbro should try to stay as healthy as possible to adequately check these threats each time they have a chance to come in again. Slowbro should avoid facing off against special attackers due to its suboptimal special bulk, which often enables the majority of such offensive threats to dent it heavily. If holding Slowbronite, Slowbro should hold off from Mega Evolving until it's absolutely necessary, as it loses the ability to regain its HP via Regenerator upon transforming. Thus, Mega Slowbro should be opted for only when dealing with powerful physical wallbreakers such as Dracovish, Choice Band Galarian Darmanitan, and Swords Dance Landorus-T.
Team Options
========
Thanks to the incredible momentum Slowbro can provide, it is best paired with offensive wallbreakers that have a hard time switching in against opposing threats and thus benefit from Slowbro's ability to grant them a safe way to come in. The most notable examples may include Dragapult, Galarian Darmanitan, Mega Medicham, and Ash-Greninja. Specially defensive pivots such as Magearna, Heatran, and Ferrothorn can be crucial in aiding Slowbro against menacing threats such as Hydreigon, Ash-Greninja, Tornadus-T, and Dragapult, while Slowbro can help deal with most physical attackers such as Melmetal and Mega Swampert in return. Slowbro also forms great Regenerator cores with partners such as Tornadus-T and Tangrowth, enabling either pair to check a wide array of threats while constantly generating momentum, especially in the former's case. Assault Vest Tangrowth may also aid Slowbro in handling threats such as Ash-Greninja, Dragapult, and Rotom-W. Entry hazard removal may be crucial in order to prevent Slowbro from missing out on more Regenerator recovery every time it comes in. Therefore, entry hazard removers such as Corviknight, Tapu Fini, and Tornadus-T are also great teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic can be used to cripple walls such as Zapdos, Assault Vest Tangrowth, and opposing Slowbro on the switch. However, this makes Slowbro setup bait for Substitute sweepers. Slowbro can opt to run a Calm Mind set, especially when used in tandem with Slowbronite, to become a deadly late-game sweeper. However, such a set can take a while to set up and position properly and does not take advantage of the amazing pivoting potential that Slowbro can provide. If it does chose to run this set, however, an EV spread of 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe should be used in order to outspeed Toxapex and potentially OHKO it with either Psychic or Psyshock. Rocky Helmet may be used as an alternative to wear down physical attackers, especially those that like to use U-turn such as Landorus-T, Dragapult, and Galarian Darmanitan. Other coverage options such as Flamethrower and Psyshock can be used on the main set, where the former can help Slowbro dent Ferrothorn and beat Kartana on the potential switch, while the latter can threaten Fighting-types more immediately. However, Scald and Ice Beam usually offer Slowbro the most coverage in two slots and are nigh irreplaceable. In a similar vein, Thunder Wave can be used as a status move to cripple fast threats that may try to pivot into Slowbro safely such as Hydreigon, Ash-Greninja, and Serperior, although it does not see much use apart from that.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Slowbro's below-average special bulk leaves it vulnerable to Pokemon such as Ash-Greninja, Hydreigon, Dragapult, and Mega Blastoise, all of which can force it out with the threat of potentially OHKOing it with their specially offensive coverage. This can be extremely detrimental versus setup sweepers like Hydreigon and Mega Blastoise, in particular, as they may use this opportunity to boost and potentially sweep. However, it is important to note that most of the aforementioned threats do not appreciate switching into Slowbro.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Assault Vest Tangrowth and Ferrothorn can usually come in on Slowbro's attacks and threaten it out with their own STAB moves or use it as bait to set up entry hazards, respectively. Slowbro may circumvent the latter if it chooses to run Flamethrower, but that already is an extremely niche option.
**Opposing Walls**: If it's not running Toxic, Slowbro can struggle to deal with opposing bulkier threats such as Tapu Fini, Zapdos, Tornadus-T, and Alomomola. In particular, Magic Guard setup sweepers such as Reuniclus can take advantage of Slowbro's passivity to utilize it as setup bait, while Toxic-immune walls such as Toxapex and Corviknight can come in against Slowbro rather risk-free as well.
**Poison-status**: Slowbro hates being poisoned, in particular, and thus does not appreciate the presence of Toxic Spikes or status spreaders such as Heatran, Chansey, and Toxic Gliscor as a result, potentially forcing it out every time poison damage begins to rack up.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Funbot28, 255984]]
- Quality checked by: [[Jordy, 395754], [Guardsweeper, 360582], [SputnikGT, 475916]]
- Grammar checked by: [[bigtalk, 466663 ], [asa, 400292]]
Last edited:
