etern
NU Leader
[OVERVIEW]
Slowking has a great defensive typing that grants it key resistances to Water-, Fire-, Fighting-, Ice-, Psychic-, and Steel-type moves. This typing is complemented by Slowking's impressive mixed bulk, good Special Attack, expansive movepool, and amazing ability Regenerator, making it the best Assault Vest user in the NeverUsed tier. Furthermore, Slowking can pull off an effective Trick Room set capable of speeding past offensive teams. However, Slowking faces great competition from Slowbro, which offers superior physical bulk and a more effective Calm Mind set. Slowking also struggles with the abundance of Dark-types in the tier, which can Pursuit trap it or simply KO it with their STAB moves.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Scald
move 2: Future Sight / Psyshock
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Dragon Tail
item: Assault Vest
ability: Regenerator
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Slowking's main Water-type STAB move and has a decent chance to burn. Future Sight is a very powerful Psychic-type move that allows Slowking to force switches and distrupt momentum. Alternatively, Psyshock can be used for a more reliable Psychic-type STAB move. Fire Blast roasts Grass-types such as Ferroseed, Sceptile, Shiftry, and Whimsicott. Dragon Tail phazes foes, prevents Slowking from becoming setup fodder, and works well in tandem with Future Sight.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs maximize Slowking's bulk and give it an HP stat divisible by three, thus augmenting the recovery gained through Regenerator. Maximum Special Attack investment with a Modest nature makes Slowking difficult to switch into. Regenerator is mandatory, providing Slowking with a form of recovery to stay healthy throughout matches.
Usage Tips
========
This set should be used as a special tank, so pivot Slowking into special attackers that it can wall like Sigilyph, Delphox, and Typhlosion. Scald is Slowking's safest move to throw out, as its high chance to burn can cripple many of the physical attackers Slowking draws in. Be cautious of switching Slowking in too recklessly if the opponent has a Pursuit trapper such as Sneasel or Spiritomb. Use Future Sight to pressure switch-ins and force the opponent to play aggressively. Dragon Tail should be used to prevent Pokemon such as Slowbro and Sigilyph from setting up on Slowking as well as phazing Pokemon that can stomach Future Sight.
Team Options
========
Fighting-types such as Hitmontop, Hariyama, Scrafty, and Hitmonlee can deal with Dark-types for Slowking, while Slowking can take on Poison-types and some Psychic-types in return. They also appreciate Slowking's Future Sight support, which can force in Dark-types to take the hit. Fire-types including Incineroar, Delphox, Magmortar, and Emboar can destroy Grass-types, which pressure Slowking. Ground-types like Steelix, Piloswine, and Rhydon can block Electric-type moves targeted at Slowking and set up Stealth Rock. Fighting-type checks such as Garbodor, Vileplume, Golbat, and Spiritomb work well with Slowking, as this set struggles with physical attackers. Poison-types including Vileplume and Garbodor work well with Slowking, as they can absorb Toxic Spikes and act as additional checks to Fighting-types; Garbodor also enjoys Slowking's Dragon Tail support, as it works well in conjunction with Spikes.
[SET]
name: Trick Room Sweeper
move 1: Scald / Surf
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Trick Room
move 4: Nasty Plot
item: Life Orb / Psychium Z
ability: Regenerator
nature: Quiet
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpA
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald deals good damage and has a chance to burn. Alternatively, Surf deals more damage than Scald at the cost of losing the burn chance. Psyshock gives Slowking good dual STAB coverage and can OHKO Virizion. However, Psychic can be used to hit physically bulky Pokemon such as Garbodor and Golbat harder. Trick Room allows Slowking to take advantage of its abysmal Speed and strike first. Nasty Plot turns Slowking into a fearsome sweeper capable of breaking through defensive and offensive teams alike.
Set Details
========
The given EVs amplify Slowking's good bulk, with Special Attack maximized to do as much damage as possible. A Quiet nature and 0 Speed IVs are used to make Slowking as slow as possible to outpace as much as possible under Trick Room. Life Orb boosts Slowking's damage output at the cost of inflicting recoil. Alternatively, Psychium Z provides Shattered Psyche, a one time nuke that can OHKO even the sturdiest walls after a Nasty Plot boost, such as Vaporeon, Aromatisse, and Jellicent. Waterium Z is also a great option to target Psychic-resistant Pokemon such as Scrafty.
Usage Tips
========
This set is best used as a late-game sweeper after Dark-types and bulky walls have been weakened or removed. Slowking can safely set up Trick Room on Choice-locked Pokemon such as Emboar and Medicham. Although Slowking has good bulk, it should not be used as a primary stop to offensive threats, as it lacks the necessary bulk from Assault Vest to consistently check special attackers. Instead, Slowking should be played offensively to plow through teams and make way for other sweepers to clean up. If using Shattered Psyche, save it for especially bulky walls such as Vaporeon that will not go down to a +2 Psychic-type STAB move. Slowking can switch out after it has nuked something in order to restore its health and come back in again later on in the match.
Team Options
========
Wallbreakers such as Sceptile and Emboar can soften up the opponent's team and give Slowking an easier time cleaning up. Grass-types in general, such as Virizion, Whimsicott, Shiftry, and Rotom-C, all work fantastically with Slowking, as they can clear out any bulky Water-types, particularly opposing Assault Vest Slowking, Jellicent, and Calm Mind Slowbro. Ground-types including Rhydon and Steelix can pivot in on Electric-type attacks and set up Stealth Rock, which makes Slowking's sweep easier to pull off. Fire-types also work well with Slowking, as they can cover its weakness to Grass-type moves, Freeze-Dry, and, in the case of Houndoom and Incineroar, Ghost-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A defensive Calm Mind set could be used to set up on Fire-types such as Delphox slightly more easily, but this set is outclassed by Slowbro for the most part. Likewise, any pivot set with Toxic or Thunder Wave can be performed better by Slowbro, although Slowking has a more favorable matchup against special Fire-types such as Delphox. Inferno Overdrive is an option to roast Grass-types on the switch but isn't very useful outside of that. Shadow Ball is a niche option on the Assault Vest set to deal more damage to Jellicent, opposing Slowking, and Slowbro. Grass Knot can hit Water-types such as Seismitoad, Vaporeon, and Slowbro harder.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: As Slowking doesn't invest into its Defense, it is quite vulnerable to Pursuit trappers such as Sneasel, Absol, and Spiritomb. However, they all hate switching into Scald.
**Grass-types**: Choice Specs Rotom-C, Sceptile, and Virizion all OHKO Slowking with their Grass-type attacks and take little damage from Scald. However, the first two cannot switch into Fire Blast, while the last takes huge damage from Psyshock.
**Electric-types**: Vikavolt, Rotom, Manectric, and Alolan Raichu can deal heavy damage to Assault Vest Slowking and outright OHKO Trick Room variants. Lanturn can comfortably pivot into Slowking's attacks; however, it can get worn down quickly between Future Sight and potential Scald burns.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Pokemon such as Choice Band Emboar, Braviary, and Druddigon can muscle past Slowking with their brute force, but they cannot safely switch in for the most part.
**Toxic**: Once Slowking is crippled with Toxic from either Garbodor's Toxic Spikes, Golbat, Slowbro, or Vaporeon, it is forced to switch much more often to heal off the residual damage.
Slowking has a great defensive typing that grants it key resistances to Water-, Fire-, Fighting-, Ice-, Psychic-, and Steel-type moves. This typing is complemented by Slowking's impressive mixed bulk, good Special Attack, expansive movepool, and amazing ability Regenerator, making it the best Assault Vest user in the NeverUsed tier. Furthermore, Slowking can pull off an effective Trick Room set capable of speeding past offensive teams. However, Slowking faces great competition from Slowbro, which offers superior physical bulk and a more effective Calm Mind set. Slowking also struggles with the abundance of Dark-types in the tier, which can Pursuit trap it or simply KO it with their STAB moves.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Scald
move 2: Future Sight / Psyshock
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Dragon Tail
item: Assault Vest
ability: Regenerator
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Slowking's main Water-type STAB move and has a decent chance to burn. Future Sight is a very powerful Psychic-type move that allows Slowking to force switches and distrupt momentum. Alternatively, Psyshock can be used for a more reliable Psychic-type STAB move. Fire Blast roasts Grass-types such as Ferroseed, Sceptile, Shiftry, and Whimsicott. Dragon Tail phazes foes, prevents Slowking from becoming setup fodder, and works well in tandem with Future Sight.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs maximize Slowking's bulk and give it an HP stat divisible by three, thus augmenting the recovery gained through Regenerator. Maximum Special Attack investment with a Modest nature makes Slowking difficult to switch into. Regenerator is mandatory, providing Slowking with a form of recovery to stay healthy throughout matches.
Usage Tips
========
This set should be used as a special tank, so pivot Slowking into special attackers that it can wall like Sigilyph, Delphox, and Typhlosion. Scald is Slowking's safest move to throw out, as its high chance to burn can cripple many of the physical attackers Slowking draws in. Be cautious of switching Slowking in too recklessly if the opponent has a Pursuit trapper such as Sneasel or Spiritomb. Use Future Sight to pressure switch-ins and force the opponent to play aggressively. Dragon Tail should be used to prevent Pokemon such as Slowbro and Sigilyph from setting up on Slowking as well as phazing Pokemon that can stomach Future Sight.
Team Options
========
Fighting-types such as Hitmontop, Hariyama, Scrafty, and Hitmonlee can deal with Dark-types for Slowking, while Slowking can take on Poison-types and some Psychic-types in return. They also appreciate Slowking's Future Sight support, which can force in Dark-types to take the hit. Fire-types including Incineroar, Delphox, Magmortar, and Emboar can destroy Grass-types, which pressure Slowking. Ground-types like Steelix, Piloswine, and Rhydon can block Electric-type moves targeted at Slowking and set up Stealth Rock. Fighting-type checks such as Garbodor, Vileplume, Golbat, and Spiritomb work well with Slowking, as this set struggles with physical attackers. Poison-types including Vileplume and Garbodor work well with Slowking, as they can absorb Toxic Spikes and act as additional checks to Fighting-types; Garbodor also enjoys Slowking's Dragon Tail support, as it works well in conjunction with Spikes.
[SET]
name: Trick Room Sweeper
move 1: Scald / Surf
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Trick Room
move 4: Nasty Plot
item: Life Orb / Psychium Z
ability: Regenerator
nature: Quiet
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpA
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald deals good damage and has a chance to burn. Alternatively, Surf deals more damage than Scald at the cost of losing the burn chance. Psyshock gives Slowking good dual STAB coverage and can OHKO Virizion. However, Psychic can be used to hit physically bulky Pokemon such as Garbodor and Golbat harder. Trick Room allows Slowking to take advantage of its abysmal Speed and strike first. Nasty Plot turns Slowking into a fearsome sweeper capable of breaking through defensive and offensive teams alike.
Set Details
========
The given EVs amplify Slowking's good bulk, with Special Attack maximized to do as much damage as possible. A Quiet nature and 0 Speed IVs are used to make Slowking as slow as possible to outpace as much as possible under Trick Room. Life Orb boosts Slowking's damage output at the cost of inflicting recoil. Alternatively, Psychium Z provides Shattered Psyche, a one time nuke that can OHKO even the sturdiest walls after a Nasty Plot boost, such as Vaporeon, Aromatisse, and Jellicent. Waterium Z is also a great option to target Psychic-resistant Pokemon such as Scrafty.
Usage Tips
========
This set is best used as a late-game sweeper after Dark-types and bulky walls have been weakened or removed. Slowking can safely set up Trick Room on Choice-locked Pokemon such as Emboar and Medicham. Although Slowking has good bulk, it should not be used as a primary stop to offensive threats, as it lacks the necessary bulk from Assault Vest to consistently check special attackers. Instead, Slowking should be played offensively to plow through teams and make way for other sweepers to clean up. If using Shattered Psyche, save it for especially bulky walls such as Vaporeon that will not go down to a +2 Psychic-type STAB move. Slowking can switch out after it has nuked something in order to restore its health and come back in again later on in the match.
Team Options
========
Wallbreakers such as Sceptile and Emboar can soften up the opponent's team and give Slowking an easier time cleaning up. Grass-types in general, such as Virizion, Whimsicott, Shiftry, and Rotom-C, all work fantastically with Slowking, as they can clear out any bulky Water-types, particularly opposing Assault Vest Slowking, Jellicent, and Calm Mind Slowbro. Ground-types including Rhydon and Steelix can pivot in on Electric-type attacks and set up Stealth Rock, which makes Slowking's sweep easier to pull off. Fire-types also work well with Slowking, as they can cover its weakness to Grass-type moves, Freeze-Dry, and, in the case of Houndoom and Incineroar, Ghost-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A defensive Calm Mind set could be used to set up on Fire-types such as Delphox slightly more easily, but this set is outclassed by Slowbro for the most part. Likewise, any pivot set with Toxic or Thunder Wave can be performed better by Slowbro, although Slowking has a more favorable matchup against special Fire-types such as Delphox. Inferno Overdrive is an option to roast Grass-types on the switch but isn't very useful outside of that. Shadow Ball is a niche option on the Assault Vest set to deal more damage to Jellicent, opposing Slowking, and Slowbro. Grass Knot can hit Water-types such as Seismitoad, Vaporeon, and Slowbro harder.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: As Slowking doesn't invest into its Defense, it is quite vulnerable to Pursuit trappers such as Sneasel, Absol, and Spiritomb. However, they all hate switching into Scald.
**Grass-types**: Choice Specs Rotom-C, Sceptile, and Virizion all OHKO Slowking with their Grass-type attacks and take little damage from Scald. However, the first two cannot switch into Fire Blast, while the last takes huge damage from Psyshock.
**Electric-types**: Vikavolt, Rotom, Manectric, and Alolan Raichu can deal heavy damage to Assault Vest Slowking and outright OHKO Trick Room variants. Lanturn can comfortably pivot into Slowking's attacks; however, it can get worn down quickly between Future Sight and potential Scald burns.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Pokemon such as Choice Band Emboar, Braviary, and Druddigon can muscle past Slowking with their brute force, but they cannot safely switch in for the most part.
**Toxic**: Once Slowking is crippled with Toxic from either Garbodor's Toxic Spikes, Golbat, Slowbro, or Vaporeon, it is forced to switch much more often to heal off the residual damage.
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