Amaroq
Cover me.
Slowbro
QC: [3/3]
GP: [2/2]
[OVERVIEW]
Slowbro's 95 / 110 physical bulk makes it extremely physically durable and lets it serve as an effective pivot in conjunction with Regenerator and reliable recovery in Slack Off. Additionally, base 100 Special Attack, STAB Scald, and a plethora of coverage options allow Slowbro to hit much of the tier for super effective damage and avoid being passive. As a result, Slowbro pairs well with common defensive Pokemon like Gliscor, Mega Altaria, and Alolan Muk. Slowbro's Water / Psychic typing provides six useful resistances and allows it to check Pokemon like Cobalion and Entei, but also leaves it vulnerable to common attacking types like Electric, Grass, Dark, and Bug. In particular, its weaknesses to Electric- and Bug-type attacks mean it takes super effective damage from U-turn and Volt Switch. Therefore, Slowbro has poor matchups against many of the tier's top threats, such as Scizor, Hydreigon, Serperior, Mega Manectric, and Latias. Finally, Slowbro's poor Speed stat and heavy competition for the bulky Water-type slot from Pokemon like Suicune, Azumarill, and Seismitoad hold it back, but its ability to check certain physical attackers gives it a niche. Overall, Slowbro has many flaws and is difficult to use effectively due to its poor matchups, but its benefits make it worth using on teams that need a bulky pivot, can take advantage of its strengths, and can mitigate its weaknesses.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Thunder Wave / Counter
item: Leftovers / Waterium Z / Psychium Z
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is a consistent, reliable, and spammable STAB move with good coverage and a 30% chance to burn the target. Psyshock is a secondary STAB move that threatens Pokemon such as Amoonguss, Tentacruel, and Heracross. Slack Off provides Slowbro with reliable recovery. Thunder Wave allows Slowbro to support its team by crippling offensive Pokemon that rely on their Speed. Counter is an alternative that allows Slowbro to KO physical attackers it normally cannot touch, such as Mega Sharpedo, Mega Altaria, and Alolan Muk, and punish strong U-turns from the likes of Scizor and Mega Beedrill by dealing considerable damage to or outright KOing whatever switches in. Flamethrower or Fire Blast allows Slowbro to OHKO Scizor, which can punish it with super effective STAB attacks otherwise. Toxic can catch Pokemon like Rotom-C and Serperior on the switch.
Set Details
========
252 HP EVs maximize overall bulk. 252 Defense EVs and a Bold nature augment Slowbro's ability to take physical attacks. Leftovers provides Slowbro with passive recovery, while Waterium Z and Psychium Z allow Slowbro to switch into Knock Off more freely and hit its checks with a powerful STAB move. Regenerator allows Slowbro to recover health upon switching out, enabling it to serve as a more effective pivot.
Usage Tips
========
Slowbro can pivot into strong physical attackers, such as Mega Aerodactyl, Cobalion, Infernape, and Azumarill, and fire off STAB attacks instead of using Slack Off to heal itself because Regenerator enables it to recover HP simply by switching out. Slowbro should take advantage of its bulk and innate recovery from Regenerator to spread status with Thunder Wave or Toxic or use Counter to punish U-turn or remove threatening physical attackers.
Team Options
========
Slowbro is vulnerable to status moves, particularly Toxic, and thus benefits from cleric support from Pokemon such as Sylveon, Togekiss, Blissey, and Umbreon. Most of these clerics are specially bulky and can take on common Grass-, Electric-, and Ghost-type Pokemon like Serperior, Mega Manectric, and Chandelure that threaten Slowbro, although Togekiss shares an Electric-type weakness with Slowbro. Amoonguss covers Slowbro's Electric- and Grass-type weaknesses and forms the second half of a core that can take advantage of Regenerator to pivot effectively. Hippowdon can check Electric-types, set Stealth Rock, and provide residual damage from Sand Stream to wear down opposing Slowbro checks. In return, Slowbro resists Water- and Ice-type attacks and can set up on bulky Water-types like Suicune that try to take advantage of Hippowdon. Fairy-types like Sylveon, Klefki, and Togekiss benefit from Slowbro's resistance to Fire- and Steel-type attacks and can switch in on Bug- and Dark-type attacks aimed at it. Many Fairy-types are also specially bulky and can handle special attackers that force Slowbro out. Steel-types resist Grass- and Bug-type attacks that give Slowbro trouble. In exchange, Slowbro can take on Fire- and Fighting-types like Cobalion, Infernape, and Entei. Scizor can remove entry hazards with Defog and pivot out to Slowbro with U-turn. Klefki can set up Spikes to punish the switches Slowbro forces. Cobalion deserves special mention, as it can switch in on Dark-type attacks aimed at Slowbro and receive an Attack boost from Justified. Other Fighting-types such as Infernape, Heracross, and the aforementioned Cobalion provide answers to offensive Dark-types that threaten Slowbro. Pursuit trappers such as Mega Aerodactyl and Choice Scarf Krookodile can remove Ghost-types that threaten Slowbro, such as Chandelure and Decidueye.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Slack Off
item: Leftovers / Waterium Z / Psychium Z
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind serves as Slowbro's boosting move and allows it to increase both its Special Attack and Special Defense. Scald is a consistent, reliable, and spammable STAB move with good coverage and a 30% chance to burn the target. Psyshock is a secondary STAB move that allows Slowbro to break through special walls such as Blissey with enough boosts, helps Slowbro defeat other Calm Mind users, and threatens Pokemon such as Amoonguss and Tentacruel. Finally, Slack Off provides Slowbro with reliable recovery.
Set Details
========
252 HP EVs maximize overall bulk. 252 Defense EVs and a Bold nature increase Slowbro's ability to take physical attacks. Leftovers provides Slowbro with passive recovery, while Waterium Z and Psychium Z allow Slowbro to switch into Knock Off more freely and hit its checks with a powerful STAB move. Regenerator allows Slowbro to recover health upon switching out, enabling it to serve as a more effective pivot.
Usage Tips
========
Slowbro is a self-sustaining late-game sweeper that also provides early- and mid-game defensive utility. Slowbro can pivot into strong physical attackers, such as Mega Aerodactyl, Cobalion, Infernape, and Heracross, and use its STAB moves instead of using Slack Off to heal itself because Regenerator enables it to recover HP simply by switching out. Slowbro should set up later in the match, after its checks and counters have been removed or sufficiently weakened.
Team Options
========
Slowbro is very vulnerable to status and thus benefits from cleric support from Pokemon such as Sylveon, Togekiss, and Blissey. Pokemon like Gliscor, Mega Altaria, Serperior, and Empoleon can use Defog to remove entry hazards from the field, especially the Toxic Spikes that Slowbro fears. Tentacruel, Mega Beedrill, Nihilego, Nidoking, and Nidoqueen can set up Toxic Spikes to wear down Slowbro's checks and help it break through bulkier teams. Specially bulky Pokemon such as Blissey and Alolan Muk can take on common Grass- and Electric-type Pokemon like Serperior, Rotom-C, and Mega Manectric that threaten Slowbro. Amoonguss covers Slowbro's Electric- and Grass-type weaknesses and forms the second half of a core that can take advantage of Regenerator to pivot effectively. Hippowdon can check Electric-types, set Stealth Rock, and provide residual damage from Sand Stream to wear down opposing Slowbro checks. In return, Slowbro resists Water- and Ice-type attacks and can set up on bulky Water-types like Suicune that try to take advantage of Hippowdon. Fairy-types like Sylveon, Klefki, and Togekiss benefit from Slowbro's resistances to Fire- and Steel-type attacks and can switch in on Bug- and Dark-type attacks aimed at Slowbro. Many Fairy-types are also specially bulky and can handle special attackers that force Slowbro out. Sap Sipper Azumarill can take on Serperior for Slowbro and break down stall teams with the right set, but its defensive typing overlaps heavily with Slowbro's. Steel-types resist Grass- and Bug-type attacks that give Slowbro trouble. In exchange, Slowbro can take on Fire- and Fighting-types like Cobalion and Entei. Scizor can remove hazards with Defog and bring Slowbro in safely with U-turn. Klefki can set up Spikes to punish the switches Slowbro forces. Fighting-types such as Cobalion, Infernape, and Heracross provide answers to offensive Dark-types that threaten Slowbro.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Slowbro has a variety of coverage options. Ice Beam, Signal Beam, Future Sight, and Grass Knot can all catch its checks off guard, but they require giving up a STAB move, Calm Mind, or a utility option like Thunder Wave or Toxic. Ice Beam covers Grass-types that Psyshock hits neutrally and Dragon-types like Hydreigon, Signal Beam hits Celebi harder than any other option while still covering Hydreigon and Latias, and Grass Knot pressures bulky Water-types. An offensive tank set can take advantage of Slowbro's coverage options, but it misses out on defensive utility and the ability to set up. Colbur Berry can be used to take on Dark-types like Mega Sharpedo and Mega Absol and is particularly useful with Counter. Foul Play is an alternative method of punishing physical setup sweepers. An Assault Vest set works well with Future Sight and can enable Slowbro to tank special attacks more effectively, but it comes at the cost of Slowbro's boosting, utility, and recovery options and is outclassed by Slowking. Slowbro can use Trick Room to circumvent the issues it faces due to its low Speed and is bulky enough to set Trick Room multiple times throughout the match.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types can take advantage of Slowbro. Celebi in particular gives Slowbro trouble, as it resists both of Slowbro's STAB attacks, hits it super effectively with Grass-type moves, and can set up Nasty Plots with impunity because Natural Cure allows it to remove status by switching out and Giga Drain enables it to recover from what little damage Slowbro can deal to it without Signal Beam. Serperior threatens Slowbro out with a super effective Leaf Storm, and Substitute + Swords Dance Decidueye can set up on it without fear unless Slowbro carries Fire Blast, Flamethrower, or Ice Beam.
**Latias**: Latias resists both of Slowbro's STAB attacks and can set up on it with Calm Mind or force it out with the threat of a powerful Draco Meteor. Slowbro's best way of threatening Latias is through either status or uncommon coverage options.
**Hydreigon**: Hydreigon can switch in on Slowbro's STAB moves almost with impunity and KO it with STAB Dark Pulse. Like Latias, Hydreigon fears only status or uncommon coverage moves.
**Electric-types**: Pokemon such as Mega Manectric and Rotom-C can threaten Slowbro with their powerful STAB attacks.
**Ghost-types**: Jellicent can switch into Slowbro freely and use Taunt to prevent it from boosting, recovering, or spreading status. It can also burn Slowbro and wear it down with Hex. Other Ghost-types, such as Gengar and Alolan Marowak, can pressure Slowbro with their super effective STAB attacks, but they have trouble switching in directly.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Powerful special attackers like Primarina, Kyurem, and Mega Altaria can break through Slowbro with strong neutral STAB attacks.
**Status**: Burn, poison, and especially Toxic poison cripple Slowbro and severely reduce its longevity.
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